Needing some advice on booking AAA package

[LisaRay]

Right now I have a AAA discount on room only for Nov. for 8 nights which I booked through disney. I have not yet joined AAA but fully intend to do so in the next couple weeks before our big long driving trip to the beach.

I have researched the dining plan and I think it would work well for our family and would like to add it on. But from all that I have read I can't do this through disney but need to book directly through AAA. The closest office is a little over an hour from where I live (central il.) and I am not certain they know a whole lot about Disney! So I have thought about calling Michelle Shears from North Carolina since I have read so much about her on the these boards. However I am a little nervous calling someone up out of the blue and asking for prices and such and I have NEVER in all 12 trips to WDW EVER had anyone else book things for me. I like doing it all myself so it does worry me that if I have to make a change I can't just do it myself!

What all do I need to know about booking a package through AAA?
I guess I just need someone to hold my hand through this!!

 

[KristiMc]

I live in PA but called Michelle Shears and booked through her. She is great and always got back to me pretty quickly. She just went to some Disney training a few weeks ago so she is up on all of her stuff.

Kristi

 

[Lorix2]

I'm in NH and have booked a AAA package thru Michelle Shears as well, she's a doll.

All you need to know is you're dates, preferences, etc...and she'll tell you the rest, it's very easy. She did confirm that you will need you're AAA ID when checking in though...

 

[Rootskate]

Im in Connecticut and I called last week and booked a package through her! She was very helpful and really seems to know her stuff!

 

[Lorix2]

Just received an email response from her actually...forgot to mention that she's in awe of all the attention she's getting from the DIS, she said she can't believe how quickly word gets around over here. LOL! She has no idea how fast we can refer and help each other out

 

[flamanar]

Hopefully I won't be bashed for saying this, but I haven't had good luck with Michelle. I want to book a room-only, and she keeps trying to direct me to a package (or says that everyone else is buying the packages). She also hasn't been punctual with getting back in touch with me. Maybe it's chemistry. Maybe it's fate. I don't know. I also submitted online for a quote from Dreams Unlimited and haven't heard anything back from them. I called a rep that gave me a quote from MouseEarVacations, and she's on vacation for the next week! The only really helpful person I've contacted works for Small World Vacations (who I'll be using to book). I've had several sales/customer service jobs, so I'm pretty easy to deal with and consider myself to be a pleasant, non-confrontational type of person. Maybe I should just stay home.......

flamanar

 

[Lorix2]

No flames here because I think I know more about Disney than she does (I think most of us do actually). I have to book through AAA to get the room portion discounted with AAA, so it may as well be her.

I've always had quick responses from DU too, in fact, I just applied for a quote 1/2 hour ago to compare.

Just keep checking, something will come up that you'll be happy with.

 

[LisaRay]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who responded!
I called Michelle today and got a quote.
I got her voice mail and she called back later to see what all I needed. Then we hung up so she could get me a price and she called me again with a price in about 5 minutes!
Now I just have to deciede if I want to go for it! I just hate packages! I hate having all the cancelation rules and paying for it in full so far ahead of time! I have control issues!!

 

[christianweecare]

I'm from Georgia and I just used Michelle Shears to put together packages for our party of 12 for Feb. 2006. I always make my own ressies myself, too, and have never done a package either, but I think that the AAA package with dining will work very well for our group. I gave Michelle a call after several Disers recommended her, and I found her to be very knowledgeable and helpful. She was very easy to talk to and always got back to me promptly. She did tell me the last time that I spoke to her that she would be out of town for a few days. Also, I believe that the AAA package will save us $$$ both with the room discount and dining expenses. I'm thinking of using her again next year for our annual Christmas trip!

 

[dbal]

How would I go about getting Michelle's phone #? Thanks

 

[Rootskate]

1-800-643-5332

 

[DznyDreams]

No flames here because I think I know more about Disney than she does (I think most of us do actually). I have to book through AAA to get the room portion discounted with AAA, so it may as well be her.

I've always had quick responses from DU too, in fact, I just applied for a quote 1/2 hour ago to compare.

Just keep checking, something will come up that you'll be happy with.

I'm not going to flame you because everyone has a right to their own opinion.

The fact is that as far as AAA Travel Agents go, Michelle is wonderful. Sure, there are other TAs who may or may not have more knowledge of Disney than Michelle, but the sad truth is that AAA TA's who actually know how to get your AAA discount on a package through Disney are few and far between. There are too many people on these boards reporting rack rate quotes or higher from their own local AAA offices not to get this point. So, although I'm sorry for those who don't get the service they expect from Michelle, I'm still going to go out on a limb and say that she is the best AAA TA I've ever worked with (and I HAVE dealt with a few).

And as far as booking a AAA room-only reservation, why wouldn't you want to go directly through Disney to do this? When booking room only, cut out the middle man, IMO.

 

[FoodLover]

I called a rep that gave me a quote from Mousesavers, and she's on vacation for the next week! The only really helpful person I've contacted works for Small World Vacations (who I'll be using to book).

I'm very puzzled by this statement. MouseSavers.com is not a travel agency. It's an information site only, owned and operated by one person -- me. No one from MouseSavers could have given you a quote!

However, MouseSavers does recommend a travel agency, Small World Vacations, which you say you're planning to use.

I just want to clarify that whoever you are talking about that is "on vacation," it's not me! I think you have MouseSavers confused with something else.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[flamanar]

I'm not going to flame you because everyone has a right to their own opinion.

The fact is that as far as AAA Travel Agents go, Michelle is wonderful. Sure, there are other TAs who may or may not have more knowledge of Disney than Michelle, but the sad truth is that AAA TA's who actually know how to get your AAA discount on a package through Disney are few and far between. There are too many people on these boards reporting rack rate quotes or higher from their own local AAA offices not to get this point. So, although I'm sorry for those who don't get the service they expect from Michelle, I'm still going to go out on a limb and say that she is the best AAA TA I've ever worked with (and I HAVE dealt with a few).

And as far as booking a AAA room-only reservation, why wouldn't you want to go directly through Disney to do this? When booking room only, cut out the middle man, IMO.

OK. She told me on Friday that she'd get back to me on Monday. It is now Tuesday and still no reply. I've talked to other AAA reps and I agree: she is the best...but only among AAA reps! Maybe she doesn't make enough off 'room only' ressies, so she pushes the packages. I don't like when people try to hard-sell me. I'm sure that if I was spending much more on a package that the service would be better. Why not book through CRO?? Because a good TA will keep an eye out on other offers that may come up which might be a better deal...without me having to do it.

flamanar

 

[flamanar]

I'm very puzzled by this statement. MouseSavers.com is not a travel agency. It's an information site only, owned and operated by one person -- me. No one from MouseSavers could have given you a quote!

However, MouseSavers does recommend a travel agency, Small World Vacations, which you say you're planning to use.

I just want to clarify that whoever you are talking about that is "on vacation," it's not me! I think you have MouseSavers confused with something else.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

Thanks for pointing that out. I meant to say MouseEarVacations. Sorry for the confusion! Edited prior post to correct error. Deepest apologies from the depths of my heart. Mary is awesome and what she does with MouseSavers.com is amazing. Keep up the good work, Mary....and no hard feelings???

flamanar

 

[Lorix2]

DznyDreams - I agree that Michelle is wonderful, very sweet woman. I mean't no disrespect to her at all by saying that we know more than she does, I actually said that because we have first hand knowledge here on the DIS what is going on presently at the parks and resorts...I'm truly sorry for sounding arrogant. I just reread my post and I can see that is sounded that way.

Michelle has always replied quickly and efficiently with me, that's why I booked with her.

I will refer her to everyone I know looking to book a package with AAA for sure.

 

[DznyDreams]

. . . I've talked to other AAA reps and I agree: she is the best...but only among AAA reps! . . . .

That is why I underlined "AAA" AND highlighted it in bold in my post. That is my way of emphasizing the fact that I too was referring only to AAA travel agents.

This thread is titled "Needing some advice on booking AAA package," which, by the way, can ONLY be done by a AAA travel agent. I'd be willing to bet this is why she tried to "hard-sell" the package to you -- she knows that her ability to book the MYW packages, WITH the AAA discount on the room portion of the package, is the best reason for booking a Disney vacation through AAA Travel.

To be perfectly honest with you, I only use AAA Travel when they have some sort of special that only they can get for me. Such is the case with the AAA MYW plus dining package.

. . . . Why not book through CRO?? Because a good TA will keep an eye out on other offers that may come up which might be a better deal...without me having to do it.

Yes, I agree with you. I'm happy to know that you have hooked up with a Disney specialist who'll provide you with magical service (Small World Vacations). Regardless of the size of your reservation (room-only or MYW package), AAA does not claim to provide this type of personal service. You've made the best decision possible for your needs.

 

[DznyDreams]

DznyDreams - I agree that Michelle is wonderful, very sweet woman. I mean't no disrespect to her at all by saying that we know more than she does, I actually said that because we have first hand knowledge here on the DIS what is going on presently at the parks and resorts...I'm truly sorry for sounding arrogant. I just reread my post and I can see that is sounded that way.

Michelle has always replied quickly and efficiently with me, that's why I booked with her.

I will refer her to everyone I know looking to book a package with AAA for sure.

Oh, Lorix2! No problems here. I'm not knocking your opinion at all because I know that for every person who has a good experience with anything, there is a person who will have the opposite experience.

I do agree with you that we all are much more "in the know" when it comes to the present happenings at WDW. There's such a plentiful buffet of WDW info on the DISboards that we could eat this information for dinner every day of the week if it would just satisfy our stomachs! (HEY! Now there's a GREAT way to drop some pounds!)

 

[Lorix2]

Dzny- aww..here's a hug back at ya! I should weigh a million pounds if that were true from all the time I've spent here

 

[Lorix2]

Here's a question I hope can be answered here. Can I make my ADR's myself or does that have to be done by AAA (Michelle) since it's a package?

Thanks