First timer booking: Disney vs. AAA Question

[SeeJ]

We will be visiting Disney World in November. I am running in the Wine & Dine half-marathon and will be getting our discounted park tickets through their website. We aren't interested in the dining plan and so just need a room only package. When the new discounts became available, I called and got a decent rate on All-Stars Music for 8 nights (11/8-16). I believe it was a 15% discounted rate. I didn't book right away because I was hoping the AAA agent I had been working with would be able to get this same discount.
I contacted my agent and gave her all the info and asked her to book the deal for me. She said she would work on getting through but there were 300 calls on hold so it might take a while. This was last Thursday, the day the rates were released. I didn't hear back from her Friday morning, so I decided to call Disney and try to book the room myself. I somehow managed to get immediately through with hardly any hold time and booked the room at the 15% off discount.
She called me Friday night and told me she still hadn't been able to get through but a co-worker would be calling all day Saturday for me and I would be contacted as soon as they got through....
Finally, moments ago (Monday morning), I heard back from my AAA agent. She managed to get through, but the quote she had is almost $50 more than what I am booked for.
So, the big questions are:
1. She said that my Disney quote probably does not include parking, resort fees, and taxes. I was under the impression that parking was free all over Disney if you stay on property and that the price the Disney agent gave me over the phone was the final price including all taxes and fees. Is this correct?
2. What are the AAA member perks and can you only get them if you book through AAA?
3. I read a post that said something about having a AAA travel agent take over your Disney made reservation. Has anyone ever done this?

I am a little disappointed because my agent assured me she was a "Disney Specialist" but she has given me incorrect information multiple times. :

I feel bad not using her but I fear that I am somehow going to get screwed over if I keep working with her.

Please share your thoughts with me.

 

[clutter]

I found out a few weeks ago that my neighbors were taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disney in two weeks. They booked through AAA to stay at All-Star Sports. Great hotel for them, but did they know the food court was being renovated? Fortunately, they were able to change to All Stars Movies. But, they would have booked at AoA if they'd' known about the food court.

Makes me think that using one of the Disney specialist travel agents would be a better idea than AAA.

 

[jmartinez1895]

I tried to answer your questions point by point below.

I contacted my agent and gave her all the info and asked her to book the deal for me. She said she would work on getting through but there were 300 calls on hold so it might take a while.
TA's use a different line so it is possible that the number she called had a long hold time
So, the big questions are:
1. She said that my Disney quote probably does not include parking, resort fees, and taxes. I was under the impression that parking was free all over Disney if you stay on property and that the price the Disney agent gave me over the phone was the final price including all taxes and fees. Is this correct?
This is not correct information. Anytime you area a resort quest your parking is included. It is one of the "perks" of staying on property. Also, anytime I have been giving a quote by Disney it has included taxes. You can always call back and confirm, but the total they gave you should be the total that you will pay.
2. What are the AAA member perks and can you only get them if you book through AAA?
Other than the discount, there are no perks of booking a room only reservation with AAA. If you book a package with tickets and dinning then you get a savings card, parking card, special viewing of Wishes and a story time in Epoct.

3. I read a post that said something about having a AAA travel agent take over your Disney made reservation. Has anyone ever done this?

You can do this and your AAA office should know how and have the proper paper work, however I would think twice before I did this. It sounds to me that this agent does not know much about Disney, or they are trying to scare you into booking with them. And for what it is worth, I called my AAA TA and she said they can match any quote that you get, but it can decrees the commission that they receive so I have a feeling that might be what is going on.
I am a little disappointed because my agent assured me she was a "Disney Specialist" but she has given me incorrect information multiple times. :

I feel bad not using her but I fear that I am somehow going to get screwed over if I keep working with her.

Don't feel bad, it's your trip and your money.
Please share your thoughts with me.

I hope that you have a great trip

 

[dminnie]

She said that my Disney quote probably does not include parking, resort fees, and taxes. I was under the impression that parking was free all over Disney if you stay on property and that the price the Disney agent gave me over the phone was the final price including all taxes and fees. Is this correct?

This sounds incorrect to me. Disney owned hotels do not charge a resort fee or parking. Parking at the parks is also free for Disney resort guests. There aren't any hidden fees when you book a Disney hotel. The taxes are included in the quote also. Now, if you stay at the Dolphin or Swan, those are not owned by Disney and they do charge resort fees (and I'm not sure, I think they also charge parking). She doesn't sound like a specialist...more of a "make it up as I go along".

 

[SeeJ]

Thanks guys! I am relieved I was able to get the reservation at 15% off and a bit disappointed that I wasted time with a less than stellar AAA agent. I guess I'll (politely) let her know that I am no longer in need of her services and use a DisBoard recommended AAA Disney Specialist in the future.
My AAA travel agent implied that I would get all the perks if I booked anything through her, even if it was just a room. I would be pretty disappointed had I just booked the room and not ended up getting the story time or Wishes viewing. Glad I came to DisBoards to ask the experts!

I do have one other set of questions about my reservation: Since it is a room only reservation, the only thing I have to pay up front is the deposit and the rest isn't due until I check-in (or out?) at the hotel, correct? If I book room only through AAA, is it the same way or do I need to pay everything off within 45 days of checking in?

 

[belleandthebeast]

If it's room only, it's just a one night deposit + tax with the balance due at check in. The 45 day rule only applied to packages. Have a great trip!

And I'm sorry for your experience with your AAA Agent. Not all are that clueless when it comes to Disney.

 

[SeeJ]

Thanks for the help. The AAA agent told me that if I book anything for Disney there is a $200 deposit and all the money is due 45 days prior. Guess she needs to spend a little time reading these forums.

 

[Zim]

I think you made the right decision. I've booked room only reservations straight through Disney's site using my AAA discount with no problems. I've also gone the TA route and concluded it's only good for people who don't do their own research. I have not found a AAA "Disney Expert" yet that I wasn't one step ahead of on special packages (particularly free dining). And what frustrated me more than anything was having to wait for my TA to contact Disney when I knew I could be talking to them at any hour! That was particularly frustrating when I was trying to book the LM rooms last September when they were just starting to open AoA (try explaining to a TA how to book a room they say isn't available yet!)

And the prices my AAA agent gave me were always the same as what I found on Disney's site. Okay okay off my soapbox. I rely on AAA now for side of the road car problems and their discounts at Universal Studios parks and that's about it.

 

[OhStuffandFluff]

I think you made the right decision. I've booked room only reservations straight through Disney's site using my AAA discount with no problems. I've also gone the TA route and concluded it's only good for people who don't do their own research. I have not found a AAA "Disney Expert" yet that I wasn't one step ahead of on special packages (particularly free dining). And what frustrated me more than anything was having to wait for my TA to contact Disney when I knew I could be talking to them at any hour! That was particularly frustrating when I was trying to book the LM rooms last September when they were just starting to open AoA (try explaining to a TA how to book a room they say isn't available yet!)

And the prices my AAA agent gave me were always the same as what I found on Disney's site. Okay okay off my soapbox. I rely on AAA now for side of the road car problems and their discounts at Universal Studios parks and that's about it.

I am curious what the AAA discount is for universal studios. Thanks!

 

[Rose23]

I tried to answer your questions point by point below.


I hope that you have a great trip

Since I book room only reservations every year, I can confirm everything said by JMartinez. AAA is not always the cheapest and they are in the business of "Sales."

There is some savings in purchasing your park passes at your AAA store. If you get a nice AAA desk person, they may give you the Diamond Parking Pass for free (this pass lets you park closer in the theme park lots). Not guaranteed you will get one. Some of the restaurant in Swan/Dolphin also provide 15% discount on food when you show your AAA card when dining.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Zim]

I am curious what the AAA discount is for universal studios. Thanks!

I believe it's 10% off restaurants and some gift shops not only in the parks but also that general area of restaurants and shops between the parks. Basically show your card everywhere you buy stuff because they aren't allowed to ask if you have a aaa discount card . According to one CM who worked at one of the in park restaurants.

If there is a ticketing discount I don't know about it because I always get those a Costco.

 

[belleandthebeast]

I am curious what the AAA discount is for universal studios. Thanks!

Our AAA sells the actual tickets at a better discount than you can get at the park. Every AAA club discounts their tickets differently. At the gate you can show your AAA card, I believe for a 10% discount. It will list it on the AAA website. It's been years since we've visited Universal. Call your local club and ask.

 

[OhStuffandFluff]

Our AAA sells the actual tickets at a better discount than you can get at the park. Every AAA club discounts their tickets differently. At the gate you can show your AAA card, I believe for a 10% discount. It will list it on the AAA website. It's been years since we've visited Universal. Call your local club and ask.

Is there a room discount as well?

 

[jenny105]

It makes me sad to read about the issues people have with AAA agents. I work for them and it's true it was very difficult to get through to Disney on Thursday and Friday but....we managed! I switched a bunch of my clients over without them even having to ask for it. Some of these agents need to be more on top of their game!

 

[Darcy03231]

I would stick with booking your reservations yourself. There's a thread over on the community board right now about someone have difficulty getting an answer from her AAA travel agent.

I once called to book through AAA (trying to give my local business some business). After not receiving a call back I booked it myself. When the agent called 2 weeks later she was really peeved when I told her that I had already booked!

 

[SeeJ]

I think what bugged me the most about the whole situation with this AAA TA was she told me the first time I talked to her that she was a Disney Specialist. After talking to her a few more times, I discovered that she had been to Disney 1 time... and I knew much more about the parks and such that she did. I certainly do not consider myself an expert on Disney but I'm sure I know a bit more than the average Disney go-er thanks to DisBoards. Had she been upfront about her Disney knowledge, I would have gone with a DisBoards verified Disney AAA travel agent since I received a few recommendations from members here.
OK, enough ranting! I am excited to be going to Disney World and I am so glad that I can come here for help. You guys are great! This is going to be a great trip. Our 5 year old daughter doesn't even know about it... Hopefully I can keep it a surprise!

 

[Fire14]

I don't think you will do any better than the 15% discount but you can book at AAA room only direct thru Disney I just did it few days ago myself.

 

[whatisgoofy?]

Ultimately, each agent you may encounter is an individual...some are stellar (we've had some great experiences with AAA, as have our friends), and some may be downright lousy. AAA has a decent reputation, but if you get a bad vibe from your agent there's absolutely nothing wrong with moving on. Sure, nobody wants to hurt anyone's feelings...but this is a business transaction, and it's your vacation and money. Be polite, and then take your business to someone you feel comfortable with. If you prefer working with AAA, you don't necessarily have to deal with an office in your town...you can always talk to a Disney Specialist in a different office in your particular region. I have a friend who goes to Disney very frequently, and prefers an agent in an office two hours away.