Disappointed in AAA

[Atchley]

I book through AAA, but I have a pretty good agent. When we went in she had Disney stuff all over her "office" (not just posters-staplers, clocks, pencil holders, picture frames, ink pens, desk lamp....) so I'm guessing she is a fan herself.
The first trip we had a different agent and it didn't go so well. They booked our rooms for June instead of July. I had all of the paperwork that AAA had sent me and Disney got everything straightened out in about 10-15 minutes, but if they hadn't....I don't want to even think about what would have happened when I walked into that AAA office there! Ruin my family's first WDW vacation. I Don't Think So! FIX IT!!!
I guess it just depends on your agent. The one I have now is Great!!
I still make my own ADRs though.

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

Sorry to hear about your AAA experience.
I agree, it is hit or miss with them. We happen to have a fantastic TA at the local AAA office. She is a fan herself, and tells us about her family's trips, gives tips, her opinions on resorts and etc. After we returned home from our trip Jan 07 she called to ask how it was and get some feedback from us She's actually a lot fun to plan trips with. For our upcoming trip we booked a room, then changed resorts and then changed them back again she was super through it all...she ordered our P&PP tickets with no problems....however I do make our ADR's because it's easier for me to know what we're doing on what days and times. BTW I've never had the Disney website be cheaper than any AAA qoute

 

[jey]

We've had great luck with AAA! Sandy is always friendly and takes good care of us. This trip we are saving around $350. For those of you who receive poor service need to make sure you contact AAA management and let them know about your situations. You can't fix something if you don't know that it is broken.

 

[nebo]

A few thoughts concerning this thread.
Forget call centers, if you want a AAA agent, look up an office and call them directly. We have used a pretty good one in downtown Chicago, without ever havein to go into it. But I have tried one closer to my home, it took 3 days to get a quote, and I ended up getting quoted the rack rate. So it's hit or miss, just make sure you know the rack rates before you start.
The only reason to really book through AAA is because they do have a few perks that add to the trip. Special parking at all 4 parks, the Diamond card comes with booking through them, which includes up to 20% off on tours, boat rentals, and minigolf, and, if you book in January, we got a 25 buck gift card that we used for food in the parks.

As far as room rates go, you can get the same prices if you call Disney, and just ask for the AAA rate. But,,,,again, you may have to try a couple of times till you get the best ressie taker. We just booked FQ last month at the last minute, when I asked for the AAA rate, he quoted me the rack rate. After I told him that, he just said that's what keeps coming up.
So I hung up and tried again. This time I was quoted 135 a night for the 149 a night room. I asked him if that's the best he could do, it was still too much for me, and he said hold on, let me try a different code. Then he said how's 115 sound? Yep, that'l work. So be persistent, they have codes that we never hear of, but you need a smart worker there to find them.
Hope any of this helps.

 

[chyam]

Oh...will the Disney people factor in a AAA discount? If memory serves (and most often it doesn't) Disney directed me to call AAA directly the last time I asked them about AAA rates? Am I using the wrong lingo. I'd prefer to book through Disney if I can but I don't want to give up the savings.

I was told by a CR agent that I should ask for the AAA discount through them, it is alot easier to cancel that way, with AAA sometimes you have to pay a $25.00 fee if you cancel or change the ressie, I have never had any problem when calling CR getting a AAA rate applied to a ressie, I just ask for the AAA rate.
In fact today I just changed from my AAA rate to an AP rate and saved about $50.00 for a 3 day stay in Feb.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I posted yesterday that I was viewing all options before booking our April trip. Originally we planned on going the 9th - 15th but then Dh called and informed me that due to a 2 week inspection going on at the military base where we are stationed at during that time we had to push our trip back to the 23rd - 29th. I was rather miffed as Dh will not be turning 40 at WDW but rather here slaving away for Uncle Sam. But, I accepted it - I had to.

We did end up booking through our AAA agent who was awesome! She is a Disney specialist and helped us save about $200. I know it's not much but that's $200 we could spend on meals or souvenirs, etc. What we paid through AAA included our travel insurance and with Disney it did not.

I think travel agents period are hit or miss. We lucked out and got a good one.

 

[Brian Noble]

A few AAA agents are really tremendous. Most are no more than glorified resellers of pre-packaged plans. My experience has been that as commissions in the travel industry generally have declined, the quality of AAA agents overall has really suffered. I used to book most of my leisure travel through them, but now I either do it myself, or use a speciality agency (Dinsey, cruise, etc.)

 

[Chris]

I just found out when I called Disney tonight to tell them about my AAA rate, they actually gave me a rate of 8.00 less!! Total! but I wanted to book with Disney \but didn't want to pay all the extra $$!!

SO, if you call Disney directly and have AAA make sure you mention it!!

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

I haven't had a chance to read through the whole thread but be careful when booking this year especially if you are doing the ddp b/c I wasn't paying attention I was just excited to finally get the resort I wanted that I didn't realize they had me down for deluxe dining which was about 300 dollars more just for me and my dd7.

 

[karen l]

We always book through AAA & it is hit or miss. The TA we used last year was no longer there so we had to use a different one. The first thing she said that turned me off was - "I don't know why some people go to WDW every year." Then she said, "You could go to Europe for the cost of a WDW trip." (Has she checked the curency exchange rates lately?)
We ended up booking with her because the price savd us a few hundred dollars. When we got the paperwork from AAA, I checked it over & was concerned. I called my DSis & asked if she received her info. I told her I thought the TA only booked 1 room instead of 2. She looked her paperwork over and agreed with me. My DSis had to go back to AAA (NH office - I live in MA) & check with them. Sure enough, she only booked 1 room.
My DSis got it corrected but you have to make sure you check everything when you receive your confirmation. Next trip, I'd like to avoid AAA & look for discounts elsewhere.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

My trips are always booked thru AAA. The first year, I was late in making my ressie so, I was unable to participate in the Magic Moments discount. But last year I was and I saved almost $600 over WDW web site, for 9 nights with DDP and no hoppers for a family of 4. She is already looking at 2009 for me and will book as soon as she can, and she has already quoted me almost $800 savings based on 2008s rates (give or take a little). My agent is absolutely wonderful, and I wouldn't go anyplace else, unless I did it myself, but I don't think I can get the discount she gets.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Mine came back with a rate that was $400 lower than everyone else.

 

[DizneeMommy]

We've only been on once vacation to Disney World last summer. I've since joined AAA and have a question--can you book a package with the DDP through AAA? Our next trip won't be until summer of 2009, but it's never too early to plan!

 

[BarleyJack]

We've only been on once vacation to Disney World last summer. I've since joined AAA and have a question--can you book a package with the DDP through AAA? Our next trip won't be until summer of 2009, but it's never too early to plan!

Yep, that's what we did for our upcoming trip.

 

[MommyBuzz909]

I called and got quotes from both Disney & AAA and if I book with AAA I will save over $1000!!! It's amazing........I can't believe the price difference!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Then she said, "You could go to Europe for the cost of a WDW trip." (Has she checked the curency exchange rates lately?)

No, see, you apparently weren't listening with enough skepticism. She said, "...go to...", not "...stay in..."