Magical Express/TA issue!!

[Ltl Mermaid]

OK, I am having a little trouble with my TA. I booked through AA (I usually book myself, but this time her price was considerably cheaper for the WDW package...I booked airfare myself as she was more $$). The magical express is included in our MYW package, so I asked if she needed our flight info, she said "no, just p/u your luggage and head down to the ME terminal and they will take you there." Well, I did ME last year and knew that didn't sound right at all. I called Disney directly and told them my predicament of course they confimed that the flight info needed to be noted in the reservation, and then they would send us luggage tags for the luggage pick up. I called my TA to relay the info and she just would NOT listen at all. She said oh, they just say that as a back up but they will send the luggage tags anyway! This was contrary to both what I was told by Disney and what she told me herself earlier. Obviously I cannot force her to put my info in and I cannot work with Disney directly...so what are my options???? How much would a taxi run? If I do walk up with my luggage is there any chnace I will get lucky and Disney will take me?? I am so upset at my TA and I feel as though she is ruining all my planning....HELP!

 

[Iluvthemouse]

I would call and either talk to her again or a manager and get the info added to your record. Hope it gets straightened out soon for you.

 

[goofy4tink]

How assertive are you? If you are comfortable being assertive, I would call her back (the TA) and tell her what you know to be true. That you have paid for a package through her, she gets her commission, you want the entire service! That DME needs to be correct. If she refuses to take your flight info, and send it along to DME, then she needs to realize that she won't be used again. In fact, I would be tempted to tell her that you are pulling your entire reservation and booking through someone else. There are plenty of good, reliable TA's out there, who are knowledgable in all things Disney. No one should be forced to work with one who isn't. I would be concerned with her not getting the luggage tags to me in time on top of all that other stuff. DME sends the info packet, with tags in it, to whoever booked the trip. In your case it's going to be this agent...who in turn has to get it to you.

 

[travelgoddess]

1-866-599-0951 Magical express customer service.
I am a TA, I call them for my clients all the time, whether or not
I do their airfare, they will take your flight info over the phone. They may
ask your reservation number.

Please don't let one bad TA sway you away from the rest of us.

Best of luck to you

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

Thanks for the suggestions and the phone #. I am not going until december but I don't want to have to worry about it later! I will try to call her again later today and hopfully she'll listen this tim! Thanks again!

 

[CarolA]

She has a boss, find out who and call them. Request to have your reservation moved to someone how (A) has a clue and (B) understands that they need YOU for thier job.

(And once again I am reminded never to use AAA to book my Disney trips... why risk the hassle)

 

[kaytieeldr]

And since you're not going until December, you CAN cancel your trip with no penalty and rebook it through someone else (okay, fine, first get the someone else to put a hold on a new reservation for you, to be sure your resort is available).

Then, as a couple of other posters have suggested, contact that AAA office's manager. If you're still not satisfied, keep going up the ladder until you ARE happy.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm confused. Did the AAA TA refuse to make a DME reservation for you? or Did they refuse to call and add your flight information to your DME reservation?

DME doesn't need your actual flight information, although I'd make sure they have it if I was taking a late flight. Some passengers fly standby.

Don't get me wrong the TA should still call if you ask them to.

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

My TA told me that I have magical express added to my ressie, and that they *should* send me luggage tags for my bags ahead of time, but that they didn't need my flight information and I could just go to the ME check in counter. I called Disney reservations and they told me that they HAD to have my flight ino, and that if they didn't I would not get my luggage picked up and would not be able to take ME. I called her and she said that she did not need to put the info in...and would not do it even after i asked her to just in case! The thing is, if what she said is true...then I have no problems. It just worries me that Disney Online (when you try to book ressies) and the Disney agent state that you DO need the info to be eligible for ME!! If I don't have the info in their system, then how will they know to send me luggage tags and where/when to pick up the luggage?? Plus, I am getting in early (637am) what if they arent running busses yet? I don't want to stress over nothing, but I want to make sure that we (and our luggage) get to where we are going in a reasonable amount of time! Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[CarolA]

I think they can do it without your flight arrangements. BUT it helps make your process smother if they have it.

And if you ask the TA to do that, then they should regardless of the "requirement" part or not, YOU are the customer. The fact that she won't do it, pretty much tells me that she doesn't give a "you know what" about your trip and your comfort level. Bet she will be NO help if something does go wrong... Find a new TA! One who understands that helping the customer is not a burden, but the JOB!!!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Technically yes, you can have a DME reservation without flight information.

However, it sounds to me as if you don't even have a DME reservation, and she's just having you do a "Walk-Up" -- Which technically is not allowed.

Call the 866 number yourself, and confirm that there is indeed a reservation, and add the flight information. Also make sure that the address is proper. The flight information really isn't that important at this stage of the game... but the address is KEY. If the address is for your travel agents... who knows if she'll get you the tags. The tags are really what's important.

 

[bobcat]

Run from this TA as fast as you can! If she is this much of a PITA now when you know you are right what else is she wrong about. You can get the AAA discount yourself without using her, and if you still want a TA find one that actually cares.

 

[Lewisc]

Many of us book our resort before we make our flight reservations. Some book the resort before their airline, SW for many, even has flights available. The AAA TA I used asks if you're planning to fly and then just books DME without the flight information. My AAA confirmation showed that DME was requested. I suspect this would be enough for me to get DME even if AAA didn't make the reservation.

Tags are another issue. Disney sends them to the TA but the name of the guest or even the TA isn't on the envelope. The larger offices have to open the envelope and then look up the guest, their address and TA.

DME really should have the option of sending the tags directly to the customer.

My TA had no problem calling Disney to add my flight information but I don't think that was required.

I'll echo those posters who suggest a new TA. Even if not required by DME, the TA still should have called with the flight information.

Technically yes, you can have a DME reservation without flight information.

However, it sounds to me as if you don't even have a DME reservation, and she's just having you do a "Walk-Up" -- Which technically is not allowed.

Call the 866 number yourself, and confirm that there is indeed a reservation, and add the flight information. Also make sure that the address is proper. The flight information really isn't that important at this stage of the game... but the address is KEY. If the address is for your travel agents... who knows if she'll get you the tags. The tags are really what's important.

 

[seashoreCM]

Get some evidence that the reservation was made. For example a written letter from your travel agency or the name of the person on the phone (Disney's, not the TA's) who confirmed the reservation to you.