AAA Discounts

[DisneyFreaks]

Just wondering, do the AAA discounts for all of 2003 still come out this coming Monday, July 29th? I haven't heard anything about this lately and am wondering if this is still so. Thanks

[Trekker]

bump it up!

[Cheryl N. WI]

I have been wondering (and hoping) about this myself so I just called CRO. The cast member I spoke to checked and said they would be available on July 29! I guess I'll be getting up a little earlier on Monday so that I can call before I go to work!

Cheryl:sunny:

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by DisneyFreaks
Just wondering, do the AAA discounts for all of 2003 still come out this coming Monday, July 29th? I haven't heard anything about this lately and am wondering if this is still so. Thanks

Hi,

I was able to book a room at the Dolphin for May 24th through the 28th of 2003 using a AAA discount. The discount is 50% at the Dolphin. I called the 1-800 number for the Swan/Dolphin directly to make my ressie.

[DisneyFreaks]

Whooo Hoooo!!! Thanks everyone! I am so happy to hear this. One of us here will definitely be calling early on Monday.

[summerrluvv]

OK I have AAA, so would I call CRO or the AAA office to find out what their rate is for the YC? I already booked for $199 with the CKO code (i think that was it), and had my Ultimate Park Hoppers included so our total is like $1622 for four nights for 2 adults and a child. Do you think AAA will beat this price?

[DisneyFreaks]

Summerrluvv........

You have to call CRO for the AAA discount. Someone told me once that for regular time period at Disney AAA discount was 10 or 15% and 20% for value time. Don't quote me on this because I'm not positive. I do know that we had a 20% discount during value time at a moderate resort. I'm pretty sure where you are staying may determine how much discount you get as well as when you are going so I don't know if it would be better than your code discount or not. I'm sure someone here can be alot more helpful than I have been or I'd call CRO and ask.

[cindala]

Tiffany,
You were able to get 50% off rack rates with the AAA discount?

DisneyFreaks,
Your %'s sound about right. AAA varies their discount with the season at WDW, and remember there are different seasons for values, moderates, and deluxes. :):D:)





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[Tiffany]

Originally posted by cindala
Tiffany,
You were able to get 50% off rack rates with the AAA discount?
:

Hi cindala,

Yes. Both for my upcoming trip in two weeks and for my May 2003 trip. Both at the Dolphin.

I booked my upcoming Aug 2002 trip via the Starwood website got a rate of $162.50 plus tax a night for a Standard view room from Mon Aug 12th through Friday Aug 16th. Rack Rate for a standard view room is $325 a night.

For my May 2003 trip I called the Swan/Dolphin directly at their 1-800 number and the dates in May of 2003 were limited so I went with May 24th through the 28th of 2003. I booked a Lake View room for $174.50 plus tax a night which is 50% of Rack Rate $349.

I did not go through CRO for these rates and the posters that have been posting that for "Disney" resorts the discount is from about 10% to 20% are correct but becuase the Swan/Dolphin are owned/operated by Starwood they can offer different and deeper discounts if they so choose.

Good luck code hunting and hope you have a great trip.

[cindala]

Tiffany,
Thanks for the information. We really love the YC, but the Swan/Dolphin is in the same area and offers pretty good discounts too. Maybe one day we'll try them!

Have a great trip!!!:):D:)




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[Tiffany]

Originally posted by cindala
Tiffany,
Thanks for the information. We really love the YC, but the Swan/Dolphin is in the same area and offers pretty good discounts too. Maybe one day we'll try them!
Have a great trip!!!:):D:)
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Thanks cindala,

We are also big fans of the YC but we went with the better rate at the Dolphin for this August. I am hoping that in Sept 2003 we will be staying at the YC again.

[wdisneyaholic]

To get a AAA rate at a Disney resort do you have to alreay be a member? Let's say I am not a member yet but would join if the discount is good enough. Does anyone know? Thanks.

[DisneyFreaks]

I can only speak from my own experience wdisneyaholic but last year when we got our 20% AAA discount at CBR we were never even asked for our AAA member number when we booked but they did say we would have to show our card at check-in. Now whether or not some of the other CRO cast members ask for the number I can't say but I don't think you have to be a member when ressies are made.

[cindala]

When we booked our reservation with the AAA discount, we were asked for our membership number. This was thru CRO. I guess it depends on the CM that you get. :):D:)




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[dg39]

Since the AAA rates should be coming out soon, I have a questin...If I book a room for 2003 using the AAA discount and then a code or ap rates come out that are better is it a pain to switch over to the better rate or is it done the same way as booking a code and switching to ap or dc. I hope I make sense. Also can I book two rooms using AAA. Are all resorts, deluxes, available for the AAA discount and is there a site where I can find out there seasons. THANKS so much....

[christianweecare]

Are the AAA discounts comparable to DC? I have both. Have a ressie for January 2003 that needs discount --but which one would be best?

[cindala]

AAA discount rates and DC discount rates are virtually the same, the difference comes in the deposit and cancellation policy.

With AAA, you pay a one night's deposit, and have until 5 days before arrival to cancel. You don't pay anything else until you arrive.

With DC, you pay $100 deposit, and must pay the balance in full, 21 days before arrival. I'm not sure if their cancellation policy is the same.

Personally, I have both memberships, but I use the AAA to make initial reservations until better codes or the AP rates come out for my dates. :):D:)




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[TJA]

The best discount I've received with AAA was a 20% discount during value season at a deluxe resort. This year, I used a code and got 40% off. AK for $119/night!! It sure beats whatever AAA or DC could offer, I believe.

We also had to give the CM our AAA member number last year and then I had to show it upon check-in also.

[christianweecare]

Thanks, Cindala! I think I'll use AAA, too. I like AAA's policies better. I did not know that. Thanks for sharing!

[DisneyFreaks]

dg39......

I guess it would depend on the cm you are dealing with for the answer about it being a pain to switch over to a better discount. Everytime we have done this we have never had any problem at all. The people at CRO have always been very cordial to us. This time the girl actually apologized because she had to book us at rack rate and told us to keep our eyes and ears open for discounts when they become available. Last time we booked three rooms and got the AAA discount of 20% {moderate resort, value time} I don't know if there is a place where you can find out the exact dates and discount amounts for AAA. Sorry. I'm sure if there is someone will post it for you. The people here are so terrific with their help.

[DisneyFreaks]

Can anyone tell me how early can you call CRO? My DH and I both leave early and cannot call from work so I was wondering if they have a set starting and closing time to call for discounts? Thanks!

[Cheryl N. WI]

The AAA rates for 2003 are out! I just booked our first stay at YC for 1 night before Magic Cruise, Jan.3, 2003, with AAA discount! It did take me 2 calls to accomplish this. The first CM didn't seem to know what AAA was and then after putting me on hold for 10 minutes she told me to call back for those rates Dec.19. I hung up and called back and the CM was able to find the AAA rate for Jan. 2003 without any problem! The AAA discount for Jan. 2003 was 15% off at the YC so I would thik it would be the same at all the Deluxes. Sorry I didn't ask what it would be at Moderates or Value resorts. Good luck everyone!

Cheryl:bounce:

[DisneyFreaks]

My DH was able to get a call in to CRO this morning. We got 15% also for PO/FQ in May,2003. He said he didn't have any problems at all and they did not ask him for our AAA number but did remind him that we do have to show it at check-in. We saved about $556.00 total on three rooms!! Whoo Hoo!! I am doing the happy dance here. Do you think when the AP's for May come out they will be better than that? Does that sound greedy? Sorry. We just need to save as much as we can. LoL We are paying for all three rooms so it really adds up.

[christianweecare]

Got AAA rate applied to our Jan. 2003 ressie for 3 rooms. Received a 20% discount and saved @$150. The CM did not know what I was talking about AAA rates, either. She told me that I would have to call AAA. I said, "No, I call you." She then put me on hold to go ask her supervisor, I guess. Anyway, everything turned out well. I got my AAA discount!

[crazelion]

I have question. I was wondering can get the AAA discount in August 2003. Do have make the revvestion now to get the discount. Or can i wait until August 2003 to get the discount. I don't have a set time in Ausgust I won't go. It might be a last minute trip. It depends on how much I have the change jar I have.

[christianweecare]

2003 AAA discounts are now available for the entire year. I would make reservation as soon as you make a decision as when you want to go. I would not wait until Aug. 2003. You may be disappointed. I usually make our ressies 6 months to a year ahead of time. That way, you have time to adjust your travel plans accordingly. This also gives me time to budget our trip out so we can have our trip paid in full before we leave. I also save change and one dollar bills, as well as deduct from each paycheck towards our Disney funds. I can enjoy our trips a whole lot more knowing that we have everything already paid for.

[lizzie64]

Anyone ever have a problem switching from a AAA discount to an AP or code discount?

[christianweecare]

This is the first time that I have used AAA discount. I have used DC discount before, but decided to use AAA this time since I liked their payment policy better (first night's deposit and balance due at check-in). That being said, I have never had a problem switching from DC to code or AP (which is what I did this past week for Nov. ressie). Others have reported getting the run around which I think depends on the CM that takes your call. If I don't get the response that I know is correct, I call back.

[cindala]

lizzie64,
I have switched from AAA to AP to a code without any problems. I just have my deposit transferred, and hope I get a CM who knows what they are doing!:rolleyes:




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[BarbaraMB]

I don't understand why there are different policies with different discounts. Don't you talk to the same person when making your reservations? If I want to use AAA discounts why would it have a different policy (deposit, balance due, etc) than if I called with a code or went through DC or AP? You guys are pretty Disney-smart because I find the whole thing really confusing. When I get ready to finalize my plans I hope I don't mess everything up!

[Chance's Mom]

It is an extremely confusing system. The thing to remember is that to make Disney Club reservations (using DC discount)you must book through the Walt Disney Travel Company (WDTC).

To book ressies that use other codes, including AAA and codes anyone can use, as well as Annual Passholder rates, you can call 407-WDISNEY and speak to someone in CRO (Central Reservations). WDTC and CRO have very different policies as far as deposits and payment in full. WDTC is much more restrictive.

I would never use WDTC unless I had to (to get a Disney Club discount). They seem to be pushy and try to sell you added things that you don't usually want or need.

Now, to add to all of this confusion----WDTC operators sometimes answer the CRO line --AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHH! Just make it clear from the start that you want a room only ressies through CRO. I've been known to hang up and call back until I get CRO.

This probably makes eveything clear as mud:D Hope this helps!

[BarbaraMB]

How do you know if you are speaking to someone from CRO or WDTC? Thanks.

[wdisneyaholic]

I know when I called the other day and dialed the 407-WDisney # they answered it Walt Disney Travel. I decided just to get some info and then called later to check some other dates and they answered it CRO. I would not book my room only with WDTC. Seems to confusing.

[DisneyFreaks]

I always ask to talk to someone in CRO and then make them answer that they are indeed central reservations. I've heard too many horror stories of peoples ressies getting messed up so I make sure.

[Nolcrest]

I believe the CM's at WDTC are cross-trained to use the CRO system. At least that was my experience with them. I call the toll free number from the DC club, which is WDTC, but I was able to book room only using the CRO system. CRO send out the yellow confirmation letters and WDTC is a white one. Lucky me, I've always had great experiences with WDTC. No problem when I say I want to book thru CRO.