How good is your AAA agent?

[jakethejrt]

Any recommendations for a good AAA/TA would be oh soooo appreciated!!!
We booked w/AAA already but not real sure about the agent!?! Thanks for the help!!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I would like a recommendation for a good agent as well. Thank you!

 

[cepmom]

All right ~ I called a AAA TA that was recommended to my by a Diser. Her price didn't seem to add up correctly though. I priced it out myself separately first.

1 adult, three kids (17,10,7)
5 nights, Pop Century
room only w/AAA discount $369
10 day hoppers, non-expiring from Disney $1705 (including tax)
total $2074

AAA quote
5 nights Pop Century package (no dining)w/10 day hoppers, non-expiring
$2217.75

She told me the AAA discount was only on the room portion of the package (which I already knew) but the tickets were $1848. Why so much higher than through Disney directly?? She told me that if I found a better deal elsewhere I should take it

The only reason I wanted a AAA package quote was in hopes of adding free dining should it be offered this year.

Has anyone here priced these out both ways and had a better price with the package? I though they would come out the same in the end, with the package only being better because of being able to add dining if I want later (free or not)

 

[photo_chick]

MY understanding is that to get the free dining, if it is actually offered, you have to pay rack rate. So there would really be no reason to have to book with AAA. IF you are not otherwise doing a DDP then just book directly with Disney yourself and get the room only AAA rate. You can always change that to a package later if free dining is offered, right?

 

[mickeysaver]

We booked using a AAA agent that was recommended to me via the DIS. Our local AAA is a nightmare when it comes to Disney vacations. I figured up the rack rates for myself and using the info based on the season that we are travelling in I consulted MouseSavers for the correct AAA discount rate to apply to the room. My AAA agent was pretty surprised by my accuracy in guestimating the AAA discounted rate for our package.

The AAA discount only applies to the room. The tickets, dining, and ins rates remain the same. Of course the tax rate for the hotel portion of the bill changes because of the discounted rate on the room.

You do not have to pay rack rates when you use AAA, unless of course there is no AAA discount available for your dates or resort choice. There is no upcharge on MYW tickets sold by AAA either. The tickets are sold as part of the package deals at the exact same rate as you would receive from booking directly with Disney. Oh, and there is no discount stacking possible at Disney. Either you have a discount like AAA or you have a code based discount....there is no mix and match.

I hope this helps. Maggie

 

[cepmom]

MY understanding is that to get the free dining, if it is actually offered, you have to pay rack rate. So there would really be no reason to have to book with AAA. IF you are not otherwise doing a DDP then just book directly with Disney yourself and get the room only AAA rate. You can always change that to a package later if free dining is offered, right?

I thought it would be easier if I already had a package booked to simply add the free dining(if it is offered for my dates).If I book room only, then I would need to cancel that and make a new reservation for a package. That's the only reason I would even bother to go through AAA.

We booked using a AAA agent that was recommended to me via the DIS. Our local AAA is a nightmare when it comes to Disney vacations. I figured up the rack rates for myself and using the info based on the season that we are travelling in I consulted MouseSavers for the correct AAA discount rate to apply to the room. My AAA agent was pretty surprised by my accuracy in guestimating the AAA discounted rate for our package.

The AAA discount only applies to the room. The tickets, dining, and ins rates remain the same. Of course the tax rate for the hotel portion of the bill changes because of the discounted rate on the room.

You do not have to pay rack rates when you use AAA, unless of course there is no AAA discount available for your dates or resort choice. There is no upcharge on MYW tickets sold by AAA either. The tickets are sold as part of the package deals at the exact same rate as you would receive from booking directly with Disney. Oh, and there is no discount stacking possible at Disney. Either you have a discount like AAA or you have a code based discount....there is no mix and match.

I hope this helps. Maggie

Yes, this is all my understanding too. That's why I don't understand how my numbers varied from the AAA agents numbers. I ahve not had a chance to call her back to verify what type of tickets she priced for me (did not want water parks etc added)

 

[rdsx28]

to the person who got a higher quote from AAA did the Disney price include the tax? They don't usually give the tax when they give you the quote where as AAA does.

 

[cepmom]

to the person who got a higher quote from AAA did the Disney price include the tax? They don't usually give the tax when they give you the quote where as AAA does.

yes, the price I got myself included tax. I did clear up what the price difference was ~ the AAA agent price out the tickets with water parks & more option. I didn't want that option. I ended up booking room only myself and I'll just change it if free dining or another discount becomes available for my dates. I just didn't feel comfortable leaving her in charge of my reservation ~ she was misinformed on a few things and it just didn't feel right.

 

[JeninTN]

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?

So far, so good. My local agent did not return phone calls or e-mails so I used an agent that someone recommended and it has worked out great so far.

My suggestion for those using AAA is to know exactly what you want. Don't expect a AAA TA to know everything Disney because it is likely they will not. You do the research yourself and just use them to actually book the vacation so you can get the discount.

 

[vicki845]

Can anyone tell me what exactly do you get from AAA once you book your trip? I received a conformation letter for our accomadations. I emailed her asking if she had a brochure listing all the perks. She said she was out of them but would mail me one when she gets them. So today I get it but it really tells me nothing in detail. It did mention there's is a 40 page how to book which you get when you book your trip and they receive you $200 deposit which I sent. Anyway I'm trying to find out who do I call to reserve the storytime with a character. Do I need a voucher, how far in advance do I need to book, which days is it offered? I feel my ta really isn't much help. I feel like I might miss on somethings that I should be getting with AAA but how am I suppose to know what, if she doesn't tell me. kwim?

 

[Kansasdreamers]

So a couple of questions, how much is AAA a year and what is the discounts. Thanks!

 

[cepmom]

So a couple of questions, how much is AAA a year and what is the discounts. Thanks!

the AAA discount varies based on which hotel level(deluxe, mod, value etc) and which season you are in.You can either get a room only reservation with AAA discount or if you book through a AAA agent for a MYW package, the discount is only off the room portion of the package ~ dining and ticket prices remain the same.

I copied this from Mousesavers

During Value Season you can get up to 15% off at the Disney Deluxe and Disney Vacation Club resorts, or 20% off at the Value and Moderate resorts and the Ft. Wilderness campsites.

During Regular Season you can usually get up to 10% off at the Disney Deluxe and Disney Vacation Club resorts, or 15% off at the Value and Moderate resorts and the Ft. Wilderness campsites.

During Peak Season and Summer Season you can usually get up to 10% off at the Disney Deluxe and Disney Vacation Club resorts, or 15% off at the Value and Moderate resorts.

The only time AAA/CAA discounts don't usually apply is Holiday Season (around Christmas) at the Value and Moderate resorts.

I think a AAA membership is around $48 plus a $11 enrollment fee....sometimes you can catch a special where they will waive the $11 enrollment fee and you can add an additional household member for free. My membership expired this month so I'm waiting for a special to come out so I can sign up again. They offer discounts at lots of other places on top of their roadside assistance, so it's pretty good membership to have besides the Disney discounts

 

[QueenGoblin]

AAA is definately worth it IMHO. They've changed my flat tire on a rainy night and got my keys out of my trunk when I accidently locked them in while parked at a shopping center. You also get discounts at amtrak and many major hotel/motel chains...I think car rentals too. So even if you never use their Disney discount, there are lots of other programs and services.

 

[Tam1067]

Can anyone tell me what exactly do you get from AAA once you book your trip? I received a conformation letter for our accomadations. I emailed her asking if she had a brochure listing all the perks. She said she was out of them but would mail me one when she gets them. So today I get it but it really tells me nothing in detail. It did mention there's is a 40 page how to book which you get when you book your trip and they receive you $200 deposit which I sent. Anyway I'm trying to find out who do I call to reserve the storytime with a character. Do I need a voucher, how far in advance do I need to book, which days is it offered? I feel my ta really isn't much help. I feel like I might miss on somethings that I should be getting with AAA but how am I suppose to know what, if she doesn't tell me. kwim?

You will get all the official paperwork a few weeks after you pay the total balance on your package. That total balance is due 45 days before your trip. A few weeks after that final payment (about a month or maybe 3 weeks before you leave), you'll get the official paperwork from Disney which will include all that stuff you're describing, including the voucher for and number to reserve the AAA Storytime at MK. When we went last year, it was offered twice a week, several times each day. You do cannot make that reservation until you've got the final paperwork, which again is a couple of weeks after the whole balance has been paid.

Relax! What you're describing is completely normal and typical for AAA packages.

 

[hugabearjo]

Add me to the list of people who gave up on AAA when I went to my local agent and she told me that," Disney never has and never will offer free dining"

Then after visiting with her a bit more realized that she didn't even know the difference between WDW and DLR. We are in Oregon so she assumed that I meant DLR even though I clearly said WDW.

 

[vicki845]

You will get all the official paperwork a few weeks after you pay the total balance on your package. That total balance is due 45 days before your trip. A few weeks after that final payment (about a month or maybe 3 weeks before you leave), you'll get the official paperwork from Disney which will include all that stuff you're describing, including the voucher for and number to reserve the AAA Storytime at MK. When we went last year, it was offered twice a week, several times each day. You do cannot make that reservation until you've got the final paperwork, which again is a couple of weeks after the whole balance has been paid.

Relax! What you're describing is completely normal and typical for AAA packages.

thank you

 

[marcyinPA]

My AAA agent was great. She only does Disney, and is a Disney Specialist. Her "cubicle" is awesome....they built her a castle when they re-built our AAA office! It's got a drawbridge and everything...very cool!!

I had a ball talking to her when we booked our trip. It was nice to talk Disney with someone knowlegable (Ok, with someone who knows as much as I do! )

 

[hilaryjudsong]

My agent, Susan, was wonderful. She helped with all my ressies. She was great when we changed weeks and hotels to go with some friends. Shechanged all my reservations, and continued to check with the hotel to get us the room we wanted. We are staying at AKL and wanted a Pool view. There were none available when we changed dates, but she persevered and got us one. She has been great. SHe is in Maine, and I live in Massachusetts. Email is a wonderful thing!

 

[safetymom]

Just a reminder, if you would like to share information please just PM the person. There is no need to post please PM me. Thank you.