Travel Agent Dilemma - Help!

[jaff87]

I all -
I need your help! For the past 3 years, I have booked my WDW vacation through my local AAA agent.

I have been reading on various forums about booking through Florida agents specializing in Disney who will continue to look out for your best interest as far as rates/discounts, go. and adjust accordingly, i.e., Magical Journeys Travel, Small World Vacations, etc.

My questions:

1. Who do you recommend I contact and Why?
2. Am I really getting a better deal as far as savings are concerned than going through AAA?

I know on one of the agents websites, they specifically state they work only on commission, so I would hate to contact them and have them price a package for me only to find out in the end that I am getting a better deal at AAA. I know people's time is valuable, so I don't want to waste theirs if I end up not going with their package.

However, the reason for this email is this past summer, we went to PO Riverside for 7 nights, 8 days, rented a car through AAA (which I later found a better rate and had to contac my agent to get that rate),, etc. and was told by my agent that it would cost me $8 a day to park at the parks. I questioned her about it especially after reading on forums just the opposite, but she stood firm on her reply.

Naturally, once we got to WDW, we were given the hotel guest parking permit to show at the front gates.

Also, as an aside, I suppose I could do this on my own as I know exactly what I want, but I am not privy to all the discounts there could be out there. I can tell you all that we will again (DH, DD, DS) do 7 nights/8 days in August, most likely PO Riverside. I will most likely need only a 5 day park hopper since I have a freebie park hopper day from Hurricane Charley that expires in 2006, will add the Disney Dining Plan, and will need air fare from Connecticut, but even with a travel agent, I can probably do that on my own - would Magical Express service still apply if I booked my own airfare? Also, do all travel agents handle the Disney Dining Plan?

So many questions and no answers. Looking forward to your replies.

Also, can anyone tell me exactly how to get the countdown icons to appear in my posts?

Thanks in advance and have a magical day!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

The nice thing about the disney travel specialists (like Small World Vacations and Dreams Unlimited, etc) is that they know how to use the code rates and often times know about the codes before they even come out. I'm not sure what kind of deals you get with a AAA agent, because I've never used them.

Of course I'm also a strong believer in booking yourself. If you read this board enough you can become an expert pretty quickly.

As for the countdown I got mine at Ticker Factory.

 

[vanyel]

I worked with Wendy at Magical Journeys and loved her.

 

[Tikiman]

Magical Vacations is just like any other travel planner and they do not charge you and they all have access to the same discounts so it all depends on who is the most responsive and what other things do they offer.

Magical Vacations is the only place I have trusted with my plans and I could not be happier. They also offer some extras for free to help them stand out in the crowd. They will also be honest with you if you can get a better deal using the AAA agent but remember they can also get AAA rates on rooms.

http://www.wdwvacationplanners.com/

 

[dizplanner]

Right now, if you are booking a package, the only discount you can get is through a AAA agent. The Disney specialist TA can't book it , you can't book it. So to get that discount, you have to use your AAA agent.

If you book room only, both the Disney specialist or you can book the room with the AAA discount.

Other known discounts are the Best Rate program for Annual passholders (must be booked online, either by you or a TA - must have a AP or voucher for one, must be booked at least 60 days in advance, rates up through Feb?) or FL resident. These are room only. There are also discounts that are mailed or emailed to specific people. They have PIN numbers so that only that person can get the discount. They can be room only or package discounts.

Who knows what discounts will be available next summer. You might just want to book with your AAA agent if you want a package. Just make sure you understand any cancellation fees and dates. Right now, they will have the best rates (make sure they have discounted your package - it sounds like some people get AAA TA who don't really know what they are doing and they don't get their AAA discount).

If you book your airfare yourself, just tell your TA they details and have them set up your Magical Express for you. I don't know if you can call yourself or not. Since the TA will own the reservation, Disney may not let you set up ME yourself. But you do qualify for it.

 

[jaff87]

Oh Boy - now I really am scratching my head. I thought I had this all figured out. When you say "booking a package", I just assumed that all travel agencies offer packages. Is this not the case? If I went to Magical Travel or Small World or even Magical Journeys, they would still be able to get me the room, dining plan, park tickets - isn't this then considered a "package"?

I find it hard to believe that AAA is the only place to get a package - then my next question is - How do you really know you got a good deal from AAA if you can't compare their final cost to another agencies final cost.

 

[Tikiman]

Yes you can get Disney packages from travel planners. AAA has their own packages that you can only get through them.

Go to the link I posted (above) and it will outline all the Disney Packages and things like the Dining plan.

 

[2dogmom]

I have been very happy with Magical Memories Travel. I have used them a couple of times and will not switch. They have set up some group rate packages that help lower the costs if there isn't a special pin for the time you are going.

 

[petchie]

As someone else said-it is not the rate you start with, its the rate you end up with. There were MANY unhappy people who booked with AAA when the last discount was released.

Here are a few

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=926652&highlight=AAA

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=925370&highlight=AAA

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=923841&highlight=AAA

 

[belleandthebeast]

As long as the AAA discount is availabe, it offers at least a 10% discount off the room portion of the package. You have to book a package if you want the dining plan.

I'm sorry that so many people were disappointed w/ AAA. I have lots of clients who were booked well before the discount came out. When I found out about the discount, I went through all my files and tried to apply the discount to every reservation I could (based on dates of travel). I DID NOT charge a fee to my clients for doing this. IF they were w/in 45 days, Disney most certainly did. I have never charged a fee to change. Nor do I charge a cancellation fee if they cancel before the penalty period. If they make a habit of booking and then cancelling, I would certainly charge a fee.

As another poster said, not all AAA's are alike. I pride myself on being a true "Disney expert" and love sharing all my knowledge of Disney w/ my clients. The package extras (i.e. diamond pass), I usually don't share w/ my clients until their documents are in so that I can show them and explain to them. Makes it easier that way.

 

[WillCAD]

I have never been a believer in travel agents, or in packages. I have always booked my own trips, a la carte, and been pretty happy with the results.

However, I have also booked with Nanci Rosetti at Magical Journeys. Nanci and the rest of her team of agents are some of the most knowledgable people I have ever met when it comes to WDW and DCL. They are all Disney nuts like us - but with the added benefit of being graduates of the College of Disney Knowlege, and having personal contacts at WDTC and DRC, and of course all of the special access that travel agents have to Disney information.

I know there are other agencies out there with reputations as good as MJ, but I have only booked through MJ so I can only comment on them.

And to clarify, yes all of the agencies mentioned in this thread can book either packages or room-only (remember, Disney considers it a package if ANYTHING is added to a room - park passes, PI passes, dining plan, etc.) AAA, because of thier business relationship with DIsney, have packages designed for them that none of the other agencies have, but any agency that specializes in WDW can put together a custom package for you.

Your average travel agent in the local mall usually has a list of 4 or 5 Disney packages and will not even try to tailor anything to your needs.

 

[jaff87]

Everyone is giving me great information and it sounds like you guys travel a heck of a lot more than I do.

This past August, my final total with AAA was $3,386. This price included the following for myself, husband and 2 children under age 9:

7 night/8 days at PO Riverside
Non Refundable Airfare
Non Refundable Travel Insurance
Dining plan
5 day Park hopper tickets
Magical Express Service

Can anyone provide their initial reaction to this price? Good/Bad - I got suckered? Stay where you are? Time to look around?

BTW: We go in August because we celebrate my daughter's birthday and my birthday as well as having the job/childcare/school issues to deal with, hence, not being able to go any other time except August.

 

[Joan1]

The bottom line is that if you want the package with the dining and the AAA discount on the room you can only book it through a AAA office. You cannot book it through Disney directly or non AAA agents

If you want just a room only with AAA then you can book it directly with Disney or through any travel agent

I would also check to see if the AAA agent you use has a cancellation/ change fee

 

[Joan1]

Everyone is giving me great information and it sounds like you guys travel a heck of a lot more than I do.

This past August, my final total with AAA was $3,386. This price included the following for myself, husband and 2 children under age 9:

7 night/8 days at PO Riverside
Non Refundable Airfare
Non Refundable Travel Insurance
Dining plan
5 day Park hopper tickets
Magical Express Service

Can anyone provide their initial reaction to this price? Good/Bad - I got suckered? Stay where you are? Time to look around?

BTW: We go in August because we celebrate my daughter's birthday and my birthday as well as having the job/childcare/school issues to deal with, hence, not being able to go any other time except August.

What dates in August did you go and what airport out did you fly out of?
Going by the price for this coming August (early) with air from Disney out of Hartford and no discounts including insurance the total is $3900

 

[MiknMinMouse]

I have used Small World Travel several times and have recommended them to friends who've been very happy. I'm also one of those do it yourselfers and never used an agent when planning my Disney trips UNTIL. My dream had always been to stay at the GF. Hubby said if I could find a really good deal we would go there. I called Disney, I checked online, I checked boards, I did everything. Finally someone told me about Mousesavers. So I checked that out. They recommend Sue from Small World Travel. I contacted her and she put me in touch with Denise. I got an AMAZING rate. Denise checked and checked and checked until I got a rate I could handle. Since then I don't waste my time I call them when I need a little help. Denise booked our Poly trip for this January. I had debated whether or not to use my AAA discount or try for an annual passholder discount since we're buying annual passes this year (we're going twice ) she did the research and we've got our reservations. I highly recommend a Disney specialist, whichever you choose. Of Couse my pick is Small World.

 

[vanyel]

One of the great things about having a disney travel expert book your vacation is that they make the phone calls to CRO to make and change your reservations. You don't have to hold or get up early to call.

Wendy (at Magical Journeys), answered a slew of questions and helped me work out what we wanted to do. I've planned my own trips in the past and this was the easiest thing for me plus I knew that if anything came up (discounts, specials etc), Wendy would get me the best plan for us.

She didn't try to talk us into doing anything we didn't want. She went over our style and our needs and did a great job.

I'm sure other Disney specialists do similar things. I can only speak from my own experience and I would definitely go through MJ & Wendy again. I still read the bulletin boards, planned my adrs and schedule so I had more than enough to do.

 

[allshookup]

I was wondering if someone could answer a AAA question for me also...I booked a pkg. including rd trip airfare non-stop to Orlando from Boston & a standard room for 7nts at POP @ $2012. for 4 people. Since this is for Christmas week I thought it was a great deal until I saw my credit card smt. It is broken down on my stmt. with 972.00 in airfare & 1040. for travel impressions. That comes out to 148.57 pr nt & it says standard room on my confirmation. I checked & the rate should be 132.69 (including tax) for a standard. When I called AAA & asked about it they said that travel impressions is the vendor they use & that is the rate they were quoted from Disney & if I try to change now I will have to pay a penalty. Does this seem right? I am really confused.

 

[skbasnett]

As long as the AAA discount is availabe, it offers at least a 10% discount off the room portion of the package. You have to book a package if you want the dining plan.

I'm sorry that so many people were disappointed w/ AAA. I have lots of clients who were booked well before the discount came out. When I found out about the discount, I went through all my files and tried to apply the discount to every reservation I could (based on dates of travel). I DID NOT charge a fee to my clients for doing this. IF they were w/in 45 days, Disney most certainly did. I have never charged a fee to change. Nor do I charge a cancellation fee if they cancel before the penalty period. If they make a habit of booking and then cancelling, I would certainly charge a fee.

As another poster said, not all AAA's are alike. I pride myself on being a true "Disney expert" and love sharing all my knowledge of Disney w/ my clients. The package extras (i.e. diamond pass), I usually don't share w/ my clients until their documents are in so that I can show them and explain to them. Makes it easier that way.

I agree with belleandthebeast I too am a TA and I tried as hard as possible to get the discounts on my clients already booked trips. Unfortunately, this was just not possible. AAA gets a bad rep on these boards, probably for some legitimate reasons, but we are not miracle workers. We do try as hard as possible to get the discounts when issued.

 

[jaff87]

What dates in August did you go and what airport out did you fly out of?
Going by the price for this coming August (early) with air from Disney out of Hartford and no discounts including insurance the total is $3900

Our dates this year will be 8/7 - 8/14 (maybe 8/15). We flew out of Bradley (BDL) (Windsor Locks, CT), but the airfare during that time when it was booked was only half of what it is now. This year, so far on Song, with taxes, it will be about $272 per person. Last year, it was around $174 per person.

Believe me, my person at AAA is a lovely individual and I have no real grievences with AAA. But it does bother me that even after I informed her of what I kept reading about paying for parking at the parks, she stood firm and told me that I would have to pay $8/day.

 

[skbasnett]

AAA should be booking directly through Disney...not travel impressions. Maybe you should mention that to them.