How good is your AAA agent?

[Dallas_Lady]

Okay, I have become a wee bit planning obsessive after being on the boards for so many years, and the idea of handing over ressie control to a TA is making my palms sweat. So, those of you who have booked a package with AAA, how did it go?

 

[Fionasmommy]

My agent is absolutely wonderful, I've booked through her several times and have always received excellent service. I've read some AAA horror stories here on the DIS, but I've never had a single complaint with our agent. She finds us the room type we want, gives me AAA rate and rack rate to compare, is always on top of new codes before I even hear about them, never applies insurance or anything else without us requesting it, and best of all - she hasn't killed me for all of my changes or stupid questions! It's been a great experience, and I found her here on the DIS, so I have these boards to thank for it!

I use my AAA agent to book our packages or room ressie and then I do all the ADR's and activity reservations myself because I enjoy doing planning it all. With any TA, you can't "see" your ressie online, but my agent sends me both the WDW confirmation and the AAA confirmation which notes all requests, payments, etc. So, depsite being a obsessive planner I've never felt like it's out of my control or like there was something more I could have had by doing it myself through WDW directly. Really, the only thing missing is the extra price of booking rack!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I love my AAA TA. She is smart and efficient and responsive. I've booked 3 trips with her and zero snafus. I make my own ADRs, but she is willing to do them. I used her on the recommendation of another Diser. Couldn't be happier.

 

[Maliki2]

Okay, I have become a wee bit planning obsessive after being on the boards for so many years, and the idea of handing over ressie control to a TA is making my palms sweat. So, those of you who have booked a package with AAA, how did it go?

Everything has gone great. When I got married in 2003....I had a wonderful agent, Dee. To my surprise when I booked this years trip I had Dee again!

 

[Tamara]

My agent is absolutely wonderful, I've booked through her several times and have always received excellent service. I've read some AAA horror stories here on the DIS, but I've never had a single complaint with our agent. She finds us the room type we want, gives me AAA rate and rack rate to compare, is always on top of new codes before I even hear about them, never applies insurance or anything else without us requesting it, and best of all - she hasn't killed me for all of my changes or stupid questions!

I just booked through AAA for the first time too. I hated giving up the "power" of being able to do what I want, when I want to my reservation.

Fionasmommy - I noticed you said that your AAA agent knows about the codes before you do.....does that mean that if a better code (than the AAA discount) comes out, she will apply it? I'm not sure if my AAA/TA is keeping up with the codes and discounts, she didn't even know the Wilderness Lodge charges a different rate for Bunk Bed rooms now (I had to tell her) so, needless to say, I don't expect her to know when the discounts come out but I will be happy to call her if she'll apply them.
This is one reason I hesitated about going through AAA, I thought if a better code came out, I was pretty much out of luck but now, after reading your post, I think there may be hope!

 

[Fionasmommy]

Fionasmommy - I noticed you said that your AAA agent knows about the codes before you do.....does that mean that if a better code (than the AAA discount) comes out, she will apply it? I'm not sure if my AAA/TA is keeping up with the codes and discounts, she didn't even know the Wilderness Lodge charges a different rate for Bunk Bed rooms now (I had to tell her) so, needless to say, I don't expect her to know when the discounts come out but I will be happy to call her if she'll apply them.
This is one reason I hesitated about going through AAA, I thought if a better code came out, I was pretty much out of luck but now, after reading your post, I think there may be hope!

Absolutely. If a code comes out she's on the phone at 7am (thankfully she's on the east coast!) seeing if it can be applied to our ressie and if it would help. Sometimes AAA savings have still been better, like when the hopper and water park code came out last year, so she'll leave our reservation alone but email me the numbers for comparison. And sometimes she'll find ways to save us money, like just recently when she switched us from an AAA standard room at WL to an AP woods view/courtyard split stay - for less! But she knows about offers right away and is always quick to try them to lower the total cost for the client. I swear the girl must have Disney holding on line two permanently.

I think the key factor in our success with her is that I found her here on the DIS. She's a veteran DIS'er and has been to WDW countless times, so she knows Disney really well. She could probably tell you most of the rack rates and seasons off the top of her head, and has been there enough to be able to give great recommendations for restaurants or activities.

So much of the issues people have with AAA seem to be related to a lack of Disney knowledge. The DIS is a fantastic resource for finding a reliable agent and I wish more people would ask around here before mechanically calling up their local office! You don't have to book locally, I don't! I'm probably 2,000 away from the agent I use, but it probably works out even easier because I never have to leave the house, we do everything via phone, email or regular mail. So, shop around! Gets recs from people, ask those agents for quotes and see how you feel about them: how quickly they respond, how detailed the breakdown is, etc. Lots of us here have had really good experiences booking with AAA, so I'm sure we can help you find a great agent!

 

[mama2ella]

my lady was not much help. She did call Disney and switch us from an AAA room only to an AAA package but beyond that I knew more then she did

 

[Tamara]

I never really thought about using a AAA agent that wasn't local. I wish I had! It sounds like there have been some great experiences as long as they have the "Disney know-how". Unfortunately, the agent I booked with seems to have the whole Royal Carribean cruise thing down but when it comes to Disney, I know more than she does. Also, I don't get that warm fuzzy feeling I think I should have when I'm booking a trip, I get the feeling that I'm bugging her and I've only spoken with her twice! Once for the quote and then I went into the office to pay 1/2.....I guess I can chalk this one up to live and learn and next time I'm going thru the DIS boards!
Thanks

 

[JeninTN]

Your AAA agent does not even have to be from the same state. I had trouble dealing with my local AAA office and ended up using a AAA agent from these boards and so far I am VERY pleased. I really did not need any help or suggestions as I knew EXACTLY what I wanted, just could not get the local office to even return phone calls or e-mails.

I HIGHLY suggest getting someone that knows Disney. If you planning a trip right now and need an agent, let me know and I can suggest one.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I'm in CA (most of the time) and my AAA agent is in South Carolina. Never a glitch...

Good luck!

 

[Tam1067]

My AAA agent is good. Though I also prefer to do my own dining plans, she's offered to do them for me. She got my requests right last time, and I assume she'll get them right this time too.

The best part to me is saving about $400 off our 8 nights at the Polynesian in July, something I would not be able to do without any special codes (which are hard to come by in July).

 

[DJEd]

I could use the name of a good AAA agent. Not so sure about the one I currently have.

I already have a deposit on a package with AAA for POFQ from 11/3 to 11/10 w/ 8 Day Hopper & Dining.

After some checking, WL was in our budget (with the AAA discount). I called my agent and asked her to check for availability (the Disney site showed Standard View availability). She came back with a higher priced view than what I asked for saying I would like it better. I told her Standard View was fine. She checked and said there was no availability. I told her the Disney Site showed availability. She eventually came back and said there was availabiity but without the AAA discount.

I didn't take it, and kept our current POFQ reservation, but am wondering if there is availability for the WL, Standard View with the AAA discount, but she just couldn't be bothered.

There seems to be a lack of interest - and that she just wants to do the minimal amount of work for her - without my interests in mind.

Ed

 

[Tamara]

I didn't take it, and kept our current POFQ reservation, but am wondering if there is availability for the WL, Standard View with the AAA discount, but she just couldn't be bothered.

I definitely think the standard view with AAA discount is one that books up pretty fast.

 

[mommyoftwinfants]

I'm in CA (most of the time) and my AAA agent is in South Carolina. Never a glitch...

Good luck!

Same here, she is absolutely great!!!!!

 

[cepmom]

Can you get a AAA discount on a package if you book through AAA? I know I can get room only discount if I book myself through Disney (or another TA), but I thought I read somewhere that if you book through AAA, you can also get discounted packages. Anyone???

 

[derekw]

My agent while nice just isn't as knowledgable as myself and I'm the one on top of codes/happenings etc. Honestly wish I could deal with my AAA Magic Your Way package myself...but its working out ok.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Yes, you can.

Can you get a AAA discount on a package if you book through AAA? I know I can get room only discount if I book myself through Disney (or another TA), but I thought I read somewhere that if you book through AAA, you can also get discounted packages. Anyone???

 

[cepmom]

thanks Expirateshopgirl. I have received a couple of recommendations for a AAA TA so I will give them a call.

 

[ratchet75]

I could use some recommendations....for a AAA TA...thanks!

 

[WildGrits]

I too would love some referals to AAA TA's who are Disney knowledgable. I haven't had much luck here with a local one.

Thanx