? Prob. With Travel Agent

[CRMOM]

Has anyone ever had any prob. with AAA travel? Our travel agent was ok at the beginning. I wish she had told us about the different rooms at the Contemporary first but she had recc. South wing. (Very 1st trip to Disney). Now I've had her try and inquire about rooms in the tower which she says are not available all though it took her over a week to get back to us. I know I'm not the only client they have but we are spending a lot of money for this vacation and I would like her to try and help us with our requests. She said only if someone cancels we would be able to get a tower room. The only problem there is it would depend on her calling back periodically to see if anything has opened up and I'm not sure how often she would do that. I also don't want to get her mad since we haven't went on our vacation yet. Has anyone else had any prob. and what is the best way to handle this prob. Thanks for any input!!!!!!!!!!confused3

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would call her back and ask her how often she's checking. Call Disney yourself and check on availability, too.

 

[shoegirl1020]

I"ve called my local AAA a few times, throughout the years and have NEVER been happy with the response, if any, that I received. I remember having to repeatedly call one TA at AAA just to get a response. Then, she was downright rude and didn't know anything about Disney. Hello, that's your job, correct? I've also booked myself.

For the first this trip I'm using a TA (don't know if I can mention names) and she is absolutely WONDERFUL!!! She goes beyond the call of duty and always gets back to me before the end of the day.

 

[Mulan82]

I would call her back and ask her how often she's checking. Call Disney yourself and check on availability, too.

you can't call disney and check availibility IF you give them your booking number and you have booked through AAA Travel. i just tried to do this myself about 2 hours ago. she couldn't even find my reservation. finally she found me.. but she said she couldn't see my ressie because i had booked under AAA ( which i will never do again...) because they are separate ( in a manner of speaking..) from the ressies you make yourself directly through WDW.

my AAA TA although she is pretty nice.. doesn't seem to know anything about disney. I even had to tell her about the free DDP promotion AND give her the stupid code. i don't know how often she is calling for me ( im trying to readjust my resort booking..) but i hope she is doing is as much as i would like her.

next time i am going to book myself. especially if they offer free DDP next year because you don't even get the AAA discount with that promo. i don't know what came over me and i thought booking through a TA would be a good idea. the only reason i used the AAA TA last year ( not the same TA that i have this time.. ) was because i was going in May and she gave me a fantastic deal on POR including airfare that i couldn't resist!

 

[MarksMom2006]

I feel as a former AAA travel agent that I need to say something here. Sadly, AAA does NOT get the information in advance regarding such deals as 40% off, and even free dining. I had worked at AAA last year as well as the year before and needed to rely HEAVILY on the clients I had to get me that information (granted the second year, I did look for it...but still was not sent anything through corporate OR by my district manager).

Disney should be (one would assume) a destination that all travel agents know in and out. It just isnt. I happen to know as much as I do because I have an extreme desire to know it. I would never put a first time guest in any form of a wing (unless they wanted it) at the Contemporary, but unfortunately those towers just book up so quickly and once they are gone ... it is extremely difficult to get a room. Some people...even though they are agents, do NOT like booking Disney! (The horror, I know!) Though it should not be an excuse, unless you ask for a Disney Specialist or change your agent early on in your time with her/him, then you are pretty much stuck with them (I am not saying good service should be put on the back burners though. You should be able to get how they really feel about Disney on the first interview or meeting.

We found in our agency that we would need someone on the phone roughly 6 hours a day (Dedicated to just Disney!) to get all bookings done, dining reservations, looking for room upgrades, adding ME. Unfortunatley, unless the agency does have someone willing to do just that and forefit all other sales to their other clients (cruises, Europe, etc) then they have basically a crappy job. Yes, it is sad to hear that people can't get the rooms that they want, but it does happen. I am sure the agents are trying as hard as they can to get it done. (And if you think they aren't, you can of course always call and speak to a Supervisor).

As for me, I got a good number of my clients from these boards while I worked for AAA. Again it is a place I love dearly and I want everyone to have the best experience when they are there...first or fiftieth time. I try to do my best when booking them...that is all I can assume that the other agents for AAA work in the same manner. Currently I am a TA from home, and I miss doing as many Disney bookings. I do jump on anyone who crosses my path though and wants to book!



Sorry if I am stirring any pots...I am not meaning to. But just keep in mind that Disney and AAA...although they book the most Disney trips, they do not keep up with each other very well with communication. I guess just having worked for AAA for a couple of years, and knowing I took pride in everything I did, I have to feel wholeheartedly that other agents would not purposely do something that was going to ruin a clients vacation.

Kristin

 

[Deb & Bill]

We stayed in a south wing room prior to renovation there and loved it. It was so nice not having to wait for an elevator everytime we decided to go to the parks. We were able to park our car right outside the building and it was a breeze to walk to the MK. You might like the south wing. We did.

 

[UtzigTravel]

As a travel agent, I know this. If I do not do a good job, my client can go somewhere else.

That is why I try to learn about the product. That is why I took the course to become a Disney Expert and than followed up with a on-site course.

I am sorry to hear that you had a bad time with your agent. Try to see if you can speak with a supervisor and let them know your concerns.