Question on the difference between DIS v. AAA reservations...?

[ajf3]

Hi all,

We currently have two reservations - one via the disney website and another we booked through AAA for ~$250 less on 9 days at CBR.

We're going to be cancelling the Disney website reservation and keeping the AAA reservation since it's saving us money, but my wife is a little concerned...

This is the 1st time we've booked anywhere else but through the disney website & she's worried about meal & show reservations and has a general concern about it be an 'outside' reservation.

Basically, when she calls Disney, the only meal plan they see is on the one via the website (which will be cancelled soon) - when they look for the AAA resv, they can't see any many of the details - only that were 'going to be there'.

Will this change at some point, or will Disney agents only have limited access to the details of the resv made through AAA? She's kind of hesitant to cancel the website resv since she's not been able to verify all of the details with both sides (Disney & AAA).

Thanks!

 

[clombardi]

We have always booked packages through AAA and have never had any problems with reservations for restaurants or shows like HDDR or Laua at the Poly. Hope you guys have the same experience.

 

[DisneyGeek2000]

Will this change at some point, or will Disney agents only have limited access to the details of the resv made through AAA? She's kind of hesitant to cancel the website resv since she's not been able to verify all of the details with both sides (Disney & AAA).

In general, when you book with a travel agent and not Disney direct, Disney will only be able to confirm that you have a reservation. If you want to make any changes to your reservation, you need to contact your agent and not Disney directly.

AAA is just another travel agency, except that are so large they are able to negotiate discounts with Disney.

Michael

 

[mommyoeo]

For our December trip, we opted out of saving a few dollars with AAA and booked with dis instead for that very reason. The last time I booked with an outside agent, I saved money but then had to call the agent to make changes or check on payments, etc. I could not call dis direct and when I had a serious problem with my reservation, it took me lots of work to get it fixed. Now I only use AAA when I'm not doing a package and can use the AAA discount with a dis agent. No more packages because the money I saved was not worth the worry! JMO!

 

[WorldlyWise]

still grumbling

 

[Shagley]

A few weeks ago I booked a room only reservation through the AAA website, and a few days later I needed to cancel it because it was for the wrong dates. I looked up my reservation information on the AAA website and clicked on the link to cancel. The page said that I couldn't cancel online and I had to call AAA at 1-800 etc. I called the number, and the person that answered for AAA was very confused as to why I was calling with a travel question because she was apparently not in the travel department. She was very nice and transferred me to a person who was also not in the correct department, so she transferred me to a third person. The third lady I spoke to was in the travel department, so she took my reservation confirmation number which I got off of the confirmation e-mail from AAA. After looking for about 5 minutes, she could not find any listing of that confirmation number at all. When I gave her all the information and told her the hotel was Disney's Pop Century, she told me that since my reservation was with Disney, I would have to call the hotel directly to cancel. I asked if she meant I should call the Disney reservation number, she said "no maam, you will need to call directly to the hotel". So I call Pop Century and hear "You need to call the Disney reservation number". So I call the Disney reservation number and I am told "If you made a reservation through AAA, you will need to go through them to cancel. We don't have any information on reservations made through AAA".

So, the next day (I was too frustrated to pursue it any further that day), I went back on the AAA website, and found a different link to cancel my reservation. Luckily that link worked and stated my reservation was cancelled.

ANYWAY - After that experience, I am seriously thinking about paying the extra $100.00 or so to book my package through Disney, because I don't want to mess with that again. Otherwise, I will make sure to book with a specific AAA travel agent so I can have direct contact with someone in case of any questions or problems.

 

[Samsma]

I have a great AAA agent, but I can get nowhere on the website when it comes to checking prices, etc. I run her to death checking prices and availability because the website is so confusing. If you still want to save that money with a AAA package, find a good agent. They need to improve their website and train more agents in Disney matters IMHO! It is really hard to find an agent who knows what he or she is talking about.

 

[DisneyaholicRaquel]

I have a great AAA agent, but I can get nowhere on the website when it comes to checking prices, etc. I run her to death checking prices and availability because the website is so confusing. If you still want to save that money with a AAA package, find a good agent. They need to improve their website and train more agents in Disney matters IMHO! It is really hard to find an agent who knows what he or she is talking about.

Are there service fees involved? If, you don't mind what is the range of the fees involved? I'm thinking of booking a AAA package but, don't know much about it!!!

 

[emmabelle]

bump

 

[deelam]

I booked a AAA package for the fist time and I am also a little worried. First, I knew more then my agent about Disney. So I didn't feel very confident in him. But more inmportantly, I never received a confimation showing my reservation number. I booked it like 6 weeks ago. Will Disney still send me a confirmation?

 

[clombardi]

Are there service fees involved? If, you don't mind what is the range of the fees involved? I'm thinking of booking a AAA package but, don't know much about it!!!

No fee at all for AAA booking your trip. You just have to pay the membership fee.

 

[clombardi]

I booked a AAA package for the fist time and I am also a little worried. First, I knew more then my agent about Disney. So I didn't feel very confident in him. But more inmportantly, I never received a confimation showing my reservation number. I booked it like 6 weeks ago. Will Disney still send me a confirmation?

You will get a conformation about 3-4 weeks prior to your trip.

 

[mommyoftwinfants]

I just booked through AAA with an agent that has been mentioned here many times, she is located nowhere near me but knows everything there is to know about disney..... I feel 100% confident in the reservation especially since she saved me $370....