Switching from AAA Travel agent to myself

[Disneyhenry]

Well my AAA travel agent has been a nightmare, from day one. Now being on the other end of it, I myself was a travel agent for 3 years, then I went to work for Alaska Airlines, so I know a bit about it.
She didn't know the difference between value and moderate, shoulda been my clue she is no Disney expert like she claimed.

2nd she was rude, and when my sister and I talked about celebrating my nephews Bday at WDW, the TA let us know it was gonna cost a lot of money. Well it is our money and he does turn 6 while we are there.

3rd she took 3 days to make our reservations.

4th (not really my problem but) my boss was using her too, cuz before I knew how she was I suggested AAA, she isn't traveling right away, but needed to change a name on a airline ticket since she already bought them and someone cant go, this gal made her cancel it! Sure it would have been $50 to change the name but it cost my boss $600 to cancel cuz she said airlines don't do name changes.

5th I made a payment two weeks ago and she refused to give me a receipt.

I then wanted to take over my reservation, she was rude and just refused to do so (I even explained to her the steps on how to do it) she told me that WDW Travel doesn't allow it! I called WDW travel, they told me to fax them my info (rez numbers, names, address and they will let AAA know they are not involved in the reservation.
What is crazy is WDW travel said that usually AAA is the best!
Sorry I just had to vent, I was looking forward to all the pluses AAA has to offer, but its not worth it

 

[aaarcher86]

Well my AAA travel agent has been a nightmare, from day one. Now being on the other end of it, I myself was a travel agent for 3 years, then I went to work for Alaska Airlines, so I know a bit about it.
She didn't know the difference between value and moderate, shoulda been my clue she is no Disney expert like she claimed.

2nd she was rude, and when my sister and I talked about celebrating my nephews Bday at WDW, the TA let us know it was gonna cost a lot of money. Well it is our money and he does turn 6 while we are there.

3rd she took 3 days to make our reservations.

4th (not really my problem but) my boss was using her too, cuz before I knew how she was I suggested AAA, she isn't traveling right away, but needed to change a name on a airline ticket since she already bought them and someone cant go, this gal made her cancel it! Sure it would have been $50 to change the name but it cost my boss $600 to cancel cuz she said airlines don't do name changes.

5th I made a payment two weeks ago and she refused to give me a receipt.

I then wanted to take over my reservation, she was rude and just refused to do so (I even explained to her the steps on how to do it) she told me that WDW Travel doesn't allow it! I called WDW travel, they told me to fax them my info (rez numbers, names, address and they will let AAA know they are not involved in the reservation.
What is crazy is WDW travel said that usually AAA is the best!
Sorry I just had to vent, I was looking forward to all the pluses AAA has to offer, but its not worth it

That stinks! At least Disney is handling it for you!

Not sure when you're going, but if it's any consolation I believe Disney removed some of the AAA perks for 2014 so you may not be missing much!

 

[TaraTink3]

I too had a problem with AAA. I owned and operated a travel agency for years. I usually book our trips with WDW Travel Co myself. I decided to give AAA a try. Well after we had all booked I was informed that I could not pay with my Debit card as WDW Travel does not accept them. I knew darn well that this is not the case as I have used my debit card to pay in the past . It is something with AAA. I ended up booking everything myself and let the AAA res cancel. I was even able to get the 35% off room discount and save.

 

[mickeynut1]

I'm sorry you had such a horrible experience with AAA, but I'm glad Disney is taking care of it for you .

 

[kaytieeldr]

4th (not really my problem but) my boss was using her too, cuz before I knew how she was I suggested AAA, she isn't traveling right away, but needed to change a name on a airline ticket since she already bought them and someone cant go, this gal made her cancel it! Sure it would have been $50 to change the name but it cost my boss $600 to cancel cuz she said airlines don't do name changes.

That's not changing the name, that's changing the passenger. That's not a $50 change. Most airlines will make simple name changes like spelling corrections or even a marital status change. But passenger cNt circumvent nonrefundable fare restrictions by swapping out passengers. Now, if she'd purchased refundable fares the travel agent was entirely wrong.

 

[Mom2Luci]

I had big issues with AAA last year...I refuse to use them again.

 

[Disneyhenry]

Yes Disney Travel has been just wonderful, they couldnt believe that I never got a receipt for my last payment. Thanks everyone for the supporting post, just glad to know that I am not the only one who has had problems. In the past I have always booked it myself but the AAA perks looked good so I thought I would try it - never again

 

[Sue M]

There are a few AAA agents that are good, and very experienced with wdw bookings. But most know nothing about wdw, even if they are supposed to be wdw specialists. None in my area. AAA has messed up my friends holiday (non WDW) too.
I got a quote from one so called wdw specialist here, and the quote I got from her was higher then the one I got from wdw, by several hundred. she used some secondary Vacation seller like Sun Fun holidays or something.

I either book myself, or use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner TA, who does nothing but Disney vacations.

 

[hforman]

This is food for thought. I'm going to get a suite at AoA for the first week of August 2014. I got a package quote from AAA and it was $150 less than via the Disney web site. Is it worth it? If I book via Disney, will I likely be able to make up the savings with PIN codes that come out anyway?

 

[francie57]

Sorry you had so many problems. Thankfully I have a terrific AAA TA and she does everything right away and makes any changes I ask for with no questions asked. She is also extremely diligent with keeping an eye out for better discounts than the standard AAA discount. She handled our trip for next week and everything was done on time and the info was in hand weeks ago.

 

[hforman]

Sorry you had so many problems. Thankfully I have a terrific AAA TA and she does everything right away and makes any changes I ask for with no questions asked. She is also extremely diligent with keeping an eye out for better discounts than the standard AAA discount. She handled our trip for next week and everything was done on time and the info was in hand weeks ago.

Southern New England AAA?

 

[minniemomRN]

Southern New England AAA?

I am not the original poster, but I used AAA Southern New England for my upcoming trip. Never again...

Unknown to me, my TA was vacation the day the Disney discount came out. I called so tell her I wanted to apply the discount to the reservation and got only voicemail, saying leave a message. No message on voicemail stating " I am away on vacation please direct all questions to So-and-so who will be covering my clients". I left message, since I figured she was on the other line/away from her desk. I called the corporate office to find out why my calls were not returned, and I was told "oh, she's on vacation. That's why she didn't return your call". They applied the discount, but by that time, my reserved room category had already sold out.

Then when MDE was showing errors on my reservation, I asked that she call Disney to have it resolved (AAA owned the res and so they had to call) and it was like pulling teeth to convince her to call. She just continued to tell me that she *thought* the reservation was fine. Yes, I know the issue was probably Disney's, but heck, when we paid $$$ for this trip, I want any potential issues that are uncovered prior to the trip ironed out PRIOR to the trip! She told me I should just call myself, since Disney had just opened up another promo that day and she probably wouldn't be able to get through on the phones. Hmmm.... I called Disney direct (explaining that I was not getting help through AAA) and it was fixed. But this was my time spent on the phone, and I thought that not spending my time on the phone was one of the benefits to using a TA.

My AAA agent knew far less about Disney than I, I had to funnel all changes/requests through her, and there was no value-add benefit to using AAA for my family (we don't drive there, so we do not use the parking pass). I had booked through AAA because I had thought that if no discounts were to come at the time of my trip at least I would get the AAA discount. I have since learned that you can still get that discount through calling Disney.

I am 100% with the OP. Never, never, never again!

 

[lilkimmyk]

I am in the beginning stages of planning our Jan. 2015 trip for DS 4th birthday and was undecided if to do it myself or use AAA since we have it anyway why not? We are located in the middle between 2 AAA offices in 2 towns. The first I stopped in and casually asked about planning a trip for Jan 2014 (I knew they would not be very helpful if they knew it was so far out). The woman there was not very nice and said I would just have to make appt with the actual TA. After questioning her she matter of factly informed me she did not deal with travel, TA was busy with other customer, and stared at me. I asked for any literature they might have she gave me one flyer, I left. 2 wks later went to other office this women was much more rude when I asked for info on Disney vacation. She told me they have nothing to offer me until I know my exact dates and where I want to stay. I told her I don't know and to pretend I have never been there before and I am starting from scratch as far as info goes. After dirtier look and stare I was told I could buy a guide book for 13.95(?) to make those decisions, i said no way. That's when very nice TA came over and began answering my general questions, gave me her card, brochures, planning dvd and chatted with me for a little while about Disney. Thank God for her but I had to go through 2 horrible representatives to find one good one! Really?

 

[dminnie]

So, what are the advantages of going with a TA and/or AAA? It seems like, if you do your research, you can do just as well on your own and actually own the reservation in case you need to make changes to it. How do you know the TA is really looking to find you the best deals? Don't they make more money if they sell a more expensive vacation?

note: I'm not trying to be judgemental with these questions. I'm just wondering what the advantages are in using a TA. Am I missing something(like bigger discounts) by just booking it myself?

 

[aaarcher86]

So, what are the advantages of going with a TA and/or AAA? It seems like, if you do your research, you can do just as well on your own and actually own the reservation in case you need to make changes to it. How do you know the TA is really looking to find you the best deals? Don't they make more money if they sell a more expensive vacation?

note: I'm not trying to be judgemental with these questions. I'm just wondering what the advantages are in using a TA. Am I missing something(like bigger discounts) by just booking it myself?

Lots of great TAs will essentially do all the work for you. People don't always have the time to stay up to date or schedule their own stuff.

It's more a personal choice of how much effort you want to put into planning and doing the leg work, IMO.

They make a commission from Disney I believe, so they aren't charging the actual guests and upcharge.

 

[aaarcher86]

This is food for thought. I'm going to get a suite at AoA for the first week of August 2014. I got a package quote from AAA and it was $150 less than via the Disney web site. Is it worth it? If I book via Disney, will I likely be able to make up the savings with PIN codes that come out anyway?

You could add a discount if you qualify after booking, yes.

 

[bumbershoot]

This is food for thought. I'm going to get a suite at AoA for the first week of August 2014. I got a package quote from AAA and it was $150 less than via the Disney web site. Is it worth it? If I book via Disney, will I likely be able to make up the savings with PIN codes that come out anyway?

TAs can't really discount Disney packages from what Disney charges. The only way they can have a different price is if they had a block of rooms that are discounted and can't be accessed by Disney, and they pass along savings (this often happens with cruises, iv'e heard). The issue is that the changes you can do are minimal.

Otherwise, that $150 sounds like they dropped something from what you checked with disneyworld; insurance or park hopping or something like that. Doesn't sound like apples to apples.

So, what are the advantages of going with a TA and/or AAA? It seems like, if you do your research, you can do just as well on your own and actually own the reservation in case you need to make changes to it. How do you know the TA is really looking to find you the best deals? Don't they make more money if they sell a more expensive vacation?

note: I'm not trying to be judgemental with these questions. I'm just wondering what the advantages are in using a TA. Am I missing something(like bigger discounts) by just booking it myself?

I only book with a TA (for hotel or cruise) if I'm almost certain I won't be changing anything and if there's something in it for me. If I'm getting something in the package that I cannot get otherwise and WANT to get, or (in the case of a cruise) if there's a giftcard or on board credit that I otherwise cannot get.

Some proper Disney TAs (like dreamsunlimitedtravel.com or mouseunlimited.com) will even book ADRs for you and really help you. If I needed that sort of help, I would book with one of them. I don't have TAs do that, though, so then it's just down something else that makes it worthwhile.

Some AAA agents really ARE experts at disney travel, but unless you get a specific referral to someone who has used them and knows the difference, IMO the likelihood of stumbling upon one of them is low.


I'm glad WDW travel is helping the OP get out from under the AAA agent.

 

[hforman]

TAs can't really discount Disney packages from what Disney charges. The only way they can have a different price is if they had a block of rooms that are discounted and can't be accessed by Disney, and they pass along savings (this often happens with cruises, iv'e heard). The issue is that the changes you can do are minimal.

Otherwise, that $150 sounds like they dropped something from what you checked with disneyworld; insurance or park hopping or something like that. Doesn't sound like apples to apples.

I just double checked--it is an apples to apples quote but says it is a "AAA Magic Moments" rate.

If you make reservations through Disney and tell them you are a AAA member, can they apply that rate?

 

[qits]

I also had a bad experience with AAA. Wish I read this thread before booking my Disney Cruise and AOA stay. The ageny had offered perks with the cruise so I fell for the bait not knowing that I would have to check behind every thing she did. I needed a cabin that would sleep 3 and she put us in one that only had 2 beds, this was confirmed by calling DCL. When I told her about the new AOA resort, she did not know anything about it, you would think a TA in the know would mention the new resorts. I will never use AAA again no matter what they are offering. I now know that I can get benefits from TA who only deal with the Disney vacations.

 

[qits]

I also had a bad experience with AAA. Wish I read this thread before booking my Disney Cruise and AOA stay. The ageny had offered perks with the cruise so I fell for the bait not knowing that I would have to check behind every thing she did. I needed a cabin that would sleep 3 and she put us in one that only had 2 beds, this was confirmed by calling DCL. When I told her about the new AOA resort, she did not know anything about it, you would think a TA in the know would mention the new resorts. I will never use AAA again no matter what they are offering. I now know that I can get benefits from TA who only deal with the Disney vacations.