Do I want to go through AAA?

[tlbwriter]

We're getting ready to make reservations for our December trip - my mom is paying, but I just found out she wants me to make all the reservations. I had communicated with a local AAA agent (no one I picked out, just the one the website sent me too when I clicked the link for a quote) earlier to get rates, and she wasn't very fast or responsive. Can I go with a different agent, and if so, can anyone recommend someone? Or at this late in the game, are we unlikely to get a discount anyway? And if we go through an agent, will we get our own confirmation number so we can make ADRs?

 

[lilyv]

Are you trying to get a package, or room only? If room only, you can call Disney and ask if AAA rate is available for your dates/resort. This is the only way you'll have control of your reservation. If you use AAA or other travel agent, they hold the reservation until you check in.
You can make dining reservations without a resort reservation confirmation #. Just tell them you're using a travel agent if they ask. I think the phone prompt allows you to use either a confirmation # or your home phone#.

Personally, I wouldn't just use any AAA person. I would want someone who specializes in Disney. At the very least, I'd want to go down to the office and talk to them-see if they truly know Disney, or if they are just know how to book hotel rooms. I would also want them to be reasonably prompt and responsive to my requests.

Mousesavers has lots of good tips on planning a trip. They also have a very helpful page on travel agents. http://www.mousesavers.com/travelagent.html
Good luck!!

 

[tlbwriter]

Are you trying to get a package, or room only?

Package.

You can make dining reservations without a resort reservation confirmation #. Just tell them you're using a travel agent if they ask. I think the phone prompt allows you to use either a confirmation # or your home phone#.

Okay, so I'll be able to make ADRs within the resort-guests-only window?

At the very least, I'd want to go down to the office and talk to them-see if they truly know Disney, or if they are just know how to book hotel rooms. I would also want them to be reasonably prompt and responsive to my requests.

And this person wasn't even in my city. I'd much rather work with someone who's a Disney expert!

Thanks for the info.

 

[irky416]

Okay, so I'll be able to make ADRs within the resort-guests-only window?

Yup, you can make ADR's even if you're staying offsite. All you need is a phone number.

 

[tlbwriter]

Yup, you can make ADR's even if you're staying offsite. All you need is a phone number.

But onsite guests can make them sooner than offsite guests. That's what I'm talking about. I'll need a way to prove I'm an onsite guest. Or has that changed since my last trip?

 

[lilyv]

But onsite guests can make them sooner than offsite guests. That's what I'm talking about. I'll need a way to prove I'm an onsite guest. Or has that changed since my last trip?

I'm not quite sure how the 180+10 works in your possible situation. If it were me, and I was about 4 months out, I'd get a quote from a Disney specialist. See what the cost will be for everything you'd like in your package. Most of them will help with your dining reservations.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[tlbwriter]

I'm not quite sure how the 180+10 works in your possible situation. If it were me, and I was about 4 months out, I'd get a quote from a Disney specialist. See what the cost will be for everything you'd like in your package. Most of them will help with your dining reservations.

Have a great trip!!!

I'm already within the 180 day window. So is it 180 days for everyone, and the +10 is for onsite guests? (I'm embarassed at how out of touch I am - the last time I went, it was 90 days!) If so, that won't be an issue anyway.

 

[irky416]

I'm already within the 180 day window. So is it 180 days for everyone, and the +10 is for onsite guests? (I'm embarassed at how out of touch I am - the last time I went, it was 90 days!) If so, that won't be an issue anyway.

If you're already within the 180 day window, then I don't think it matters unless not all of your days are in the window yet.

My understanding is that everyone can make them 180 days out. However, if you're offsite you'd have to call every day to get ADR's for the whole week of your vacation. Where people staying onsite can make them for their first day at 180 and then use the +10 to make them for the rest of the stay so they don't have to keep calling each day. I could be wrong and hopefully someone will correct me if I am.

 

[pipervali]

I honestly think the best option and bottom line would be to go to your local AAA office. When the clerk asks you to sign in, ask them for their resident Disney expert and go from there. If the person you're assigned doesn't gel for you, then go about doing things yourself. But it doesn't hurt to check with them first if you have a convenient local office that you can pop into.

 

[Castle crazy]

We have always booked through AAA. To be quite honest that is the only reason I keep my AAA membership. I've tried booking twice and both times the AAA was cheaper and for I believe $24 you can purchase their insurance just in case you had to cancel. Now, with that said, I'm looking at my reservations from them right now and they are booked through Walt Disney Company. The address on the bottom of the sheets is: secure.reservations.disney.go.com
When I went in to make a room upgrade, the agent picked up the phone, called Disney reservations and made the change which I could have done but he did it for $30 cheaper per night.

As far as ADRs you have the choice to give your ressie # or your home phone number.

Have fun! December is a great time to go!

 

[PoohPhan]

Compare apples to apples. Call a Disney agent and see how much your trip would be compared to what your local AAA agent can offer. The AAA room discounts are worth investigating. Sometimes as much as $300 less. Plus you get the AAA perks: AAA Diamond Card, AAA Diamond Parking, AAA Disney Story Time Experience at MK, and Hertz rental car perks.

 

[Halbleib1]

I booked through AAA for my upcoming trip in Sept. and I made all my dining reservations at the 180 +10 window for onsite guests. I just gave them the reservation number that was on my AAA paperwork. I had no problems nor any questions about if it was or was not a travel agent booking. But you do have to give them that reservation number in order to book the full 10 days or you will have to call back each day. If you are passed the 180 day mark for all of your days than you do not need that reservation number just your phone number although some CMs still ask for the reservation number anyway. I would book through AAA just for the extra perks. As others have said def. ask for an agent that knows disney. For our very first trip last year to Disney World we also booked through AAA and did not think to ask for an agent that knows disney. It was a nightmare and I had to do everything myself. Thank goodness for the disboards. I was told by her supervisor that she specializes in European vacations and has never been to disney. I said well thats great if I was going to EUROPE but IM NOT im going to disney. They should automatically try to match you with the agent that best fits your needs but they do not even ask what you are there to book when you ask to speak with a travel agent. So be sure to be specific when you ask. This year we have a great travel agent that has been to disney many times. A good clue to look for is to look at their desks. I have found that the ones that know disney have pictures of their family at disney world in disney frames and other disney related things. If you know that you will be going again a great time to book is in January when they have disney month at AAA. This is when we booked both of our trips. With packages they give you a gift as well as a disney gift card. Last year we received a disney snowglobe-not a small one either it was the larger size that you would find at the disney stores and a 25 dollar gift card. This year we will be getting a 25 dollar gift card as well as a disney suitcase.

Good luck planning your trip. I think if you decide to use AAA and ask for a disney specialist you will not have any problems at all. Be aware that if you have them make your airline reservations they charge a $25.00 fee per person to make those reservations even if you are a member. You can do it yourself and save yourself that money just as easy as they can. You do not receive any discounts from them for airfare.

AAA will give you a discount card that you can use at the world of disney store in downtown disney which will save you 10 percent off any purchase of $50.00. We bought most of our stuff here last year because of the discount since they had most everything we saw in the parks and wanted for the same price.

Also if you are getting mickeys christmas party tickets you can order them from AAA and they will ship them to the agent for free so that you do not have to pay that $3.00 per ticket handling fee. My agent also told me that they have been able to get these tickets refunded when things have come up and the people were not able to make it even though they are non refundable tickets to the general public. They do not offer a discount on these tickets though.

 

[Halbleib1]

sorry double post

 

[CarlisleMom]

I used AAA for our November 2007 trip.

My travel agent made all arrangements - even dining reservations. I was in the office when these calls were placed in case of schedule conflicts. We ordered Christmas party tickets and Princess Tea Party. The agent held all documents until the week we left. I liked it because if somehting happened to the papers/tickets before then AAA was responsible.

Our trip went great! I'll be using them again for our next trip - April/May 2009. Can't wait!

 

[67tink40]

We booked through AAA and I would do it again. However, I would NOT do it over the phone. I would find a AAA office in your area and do it face to face.

 

[Fawkes]

We booked a package with AAA, there are pros and cons. We book early and change our minds often. Booking with AAA is more of a hassle if you want to change anything about your reservation, you will need to go through your AAA agent. Our's original agent was very good, but during our booking and now, she left the company. So, our booking was passed on to a new agent, who seems very uninformed. (I'd call with any questions.) That is definitely a con.

On the pro side though, we did save about $400.00 booking with AAA, and we did make our own ADR's.

 

[thruthelookinglass19]

We've booked our last two trips through a AAA agent. Think my mom had just dialed AAA out of curiosity and ended up speaking with a fabulous agent. She actually sent us a "Welcome Back/Thank You" card after both trips. We've never met her live, but she's a really amazing agent...don't know if she has some sort of database to remember our likes/dislikes, but when I called to book last year, we talked about value vs. moderate and when I decided that mod was too expensive, she remembered what price range I was comfortable with and called back a week later to let me know that new rates had come through! I've been so pleased with her services, I've recommended her to friends.

It's probably a case of finding someone you're happy with.

Good luck to you!