Not so good AAA TA?

[Tracy Savage]

We booked our trip thru the local AAA. I hadn't been there in a while and don't know any of the agents, so I took the first available. I came armed with all my info, questions and such. She had the Disney certificate but I felt I was more knowledgable than her. I guess I read the forums too much! Anyway , I booked it and left feeling uneasy. Will she keep up to date on things? Like codes and discounts or any thing special going on that we might want to look in too? What can I do? Am I stuck? I hear about all these TAs that really keep you up to date, I don't think she will. Any advice?

 

[monkeyboy]

OHH TA i read T&A

me bad

 

[Tracy Savage]

Behave Monkeyboy!!!!!!!!!

 

[HOGFAN]

our AAA guy sits at a desk shaped like a castle,turrets and all. There is no mistaking what his specialty is. He is a bit of a nerd too. But he has done a great job booking our 5-6 trips.

 

[Tracy Savage]

I would love that! Can you work with a TA out of your area with AAA?

 

[AllyandJack]

When I booked with AAA, I just booked and left....I never expected to hear back from them (and I didn't!). The trip was fine, but I planned it all on my own.

However, a good friend of mine booked with AAA. It was her 1st trip. She booked The Swan. A week before her trip, her TA called her up and told her she'd be moved to POFQ - and told her it was comparable, so no need to adjust the price. Umm....no offense to the POFQ, but it is NOT The Swan!

 

[Tracy Savage]

That's not cool! Did your friend want to switch? I've just heard stories of TAs going to bat for their clients (in a good way). But this lady almost looked bothered to be booking ANOTHER Disney trip.

 

[Luv'sTink]

We knew more than our AAA TA too! I don't think we will hear from her except to remind us the remainder is due.

 

[kelleigh1]

I honestly believe that your almost better off keeping up to date on things yourself and lucky for you, you've found the DIS so you have a better shot of actually keeping up to date.

Some people get lucky with their AAA TA's, but not every office has a Disney expert and even those who claim to be aren't always. When I was planning our trip last year, I called Disney and priced everything out myself. I booked it and then I went by a AAA office to speak with someone to see if they could do better or had anything special to offer. The guy claimed to really know Disney well having been there himself a number of times, but the rate he quoted me wasn't any better than what I'd gotten. And he tried to tell me that Disney wasn't supposed to have quoted me the AAA rate themselves. Um, why not? He also couldn't answer any other questions that I had about what the benefit would be of booking through AAA over Disney, so I figured I'd just cut out the middleman and do it myself. I did get the AAA rate but I didn't need to use a AAA TA in order to get it.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I have yet to find a AAA agent that knew more than the basics about Disney. I just book with them to get the discount, then do everything else on my own.

Where is the castle guy located? I wonder, too, if it'd be OK to use him from a distance.

 

[buzzlady]

We used AAA three years ago. Never again. We booked at POFQ. After we booked it was announced that POFQ was closing for renovations. I had to call my TA and tell her the info (which I found out here of course ). Then I had to tell her what our choices were - upgrade to deluxe and the price - again info that I found here. Then I was reading DIS and found out about codes. I called TA and she didn't know about codes. She called Disney Travel to find out. Since it was a package it had to be a 4 letter code instead of the 3 letter code. She told me that if I found one to call her and she'll see what she can do. I of course did find one.

When we went to pay our balance she was on vacation. We had 2 reservations because my mother was also going. Both sets of paperwork were messed up. It took a manager to finally sort everything out.

 

[HOGFAN]

He is located right here in Richmond. His name is Ron Sleeth

I would suppose that you can use non-local AAA agents

what I really like about him is that he will keep an eye on deals even after you book. If a deal pops up he will call you to see if you want to change your plans. He has gotten me better rooms,upgrades, etc.

 

[Tracy Savage]

So basically I'll be working for the $200 we saved by booking thru AAA!!!!

 

[Tracy Savage]

Thanks Hogfan! I think I'll give your guy a call. I'll tell him HOGFAN sent me!

 

[budbeerlady]

I am using a non-local AAA, I am in MI and she is in another state. PM if you want her contact info, she has been great and even automatically applied the dec code to both of our ressies. Good luck!