AAA Diamond Parking Question

[zackchan]

Hello everyone!

We are visiting WDW in Sept- we are staying off site. We have purchased
our airline tickets and will be purchasing our rental car through
AAA. We were planning on purchasing our 10 day tickets with
the Park Hopper option at Shades of Green as my husband is in the Military.

However- I have heard about the Diamond parking from AAA.
We will be with my parents who still get around but any extra
walking that we don't have to do will be a help...

I have seen on different sites that the parking pass is available
with a whole package (hotel and all)- but some sites also say with
the purchase of Park Hopper tickets ONLY (and again we did purchase
airline tickets and will be getting the rental car through them).
We called AAA- but I am not convinced that they understood
what we were talking about and kept trying to sell us a package...

So my questions are- Has anyone every gotten the Diamond
AAA parking with a purchase of tickets ONLY and not the
hotel/package? Do I have to ask for it separate or is it there when
you receive your tickets? Is this something that can be
"negotiated" of if you don't buy the certain packages there is
no way to get it?

Thanks for any help!

 

[JoiseyMom]

Yes, my family has purchased tickets only for the past two years, 2003 & 2004 trips, and we did receive the AAA Parking pass. All we did was ask for the pass when we purchased the tickets.

 

[umaangel00]

I have a AAA membership and I didn't purchase anything through them and still go them. I just asked.

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

Our local AAA had no idea what we were talking about when we asked about them.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I would try to call their 800# and ask them. Explain that you have purchased your tickets and rental through them can you please get the AAA diamond parking pass sent to you.

 

[Kycha]

I have a AAA membership and I didn't purchase anything through them and still go them. I just asked.

I didn't even have to ask at my local AAA office. When I told them we were going to WDW they gave us the Diamond parking pass with the guidebooks we requested. I didn't even know what it was for until we got to Disney. You should just stop in and ask them.

 

[zackchan]

Thanks for the replies-

Those of you that just walked in and got one- are you in Fla?

We did walk in to one in Northern CA an were told "we don't plan
for Orlando".

We were also told on the 800 on the phone last night that
AAA doesn't sell Universal Orlando tickets?! I am almost
postive that is not true- but perhaps they don't?

Thanks again for the replies...

 

[betterlatethannever]

Before you spend too much time and effort trying to get a AAA diamond parking pass, you may be disappointed with where you end up parking.

You mentioned you are traveling with your parents and

any extra
walking that we don't have to do will be a help

The parking pass entitles you to park in a section near the heandicap parking. While the handicap parking is the closest public spots you can get to the front gate, it is not serviced by the tram (since the tram cannot handle wheelchairs or scooters). So, in most cases, even though you are very close to the front gate, you will have a longer distance to walk than those using the tram, or will have a longer distance to walk to where the tram picks up.

IMO, the pass eliminates the time waiting for the tram and making the may stops inthe parking lot. It does not cut down the amount of walking.

Ed

 

[zackchan]

Ed- thanks for that info- if we park in that section- does that still mean
we need a tram to get to MK? What does the "gate" lead to.

I haven't been to WDW in more than 20 years- no MGM and AK and EPCOT
was pretty new at that time- as I remember it was a long drive into
the parking lot (at that time they had a station that you tuned you
car radio into and they gave park info- quite impressive to us kids!).
After parking we took what I think are the trams you are speaking of-
which brought us "someplace" (can't remember details here) and then
we had to board the monorail to get to the MK park through the Contempory.
I also can't remember at which point in that process we had to give
admission tickets (is this the "gate"?)- and we had the separate ride tickets...

So from what I remember- I am imagining we would be parking closer
to the entrance and would be just walking to get on the Monorail. If that
is not the case- then you are right- it won't matter where we park and
we can use the tram.

Are AK and MGM the same way?

Thanks!!

 

[CalvaryMike]

I am in Southern California and I already have plane tickets and a hotel. I waked into a couple of AAA offices and they have told me that they don't sell WDW tickets without a package (even though their tour book says they do). I called the 800# and they are also clueless.

So, I also ask the question, where did y'all exactly get the AAA parking passes?
Thanks so much!

 

[Kycha]

I am in Southern California and I already have plane tickets and a hotel. I waked into a couple of AAA offices and they have told me that they don't sell WDW tickets without a package (even though their tour book says they do). I called the 800# and they are also clueless.

So, I also ask the question, where did y'all exactly get the AAA parking passes?
Thanks so much!

I am in South Central Pennsylvania. I was able to purchase the WDW tickets w/o a package at my local AAA office, and they gave me the parking pass without question.

 

[Carrie230]

Hi!

Each AAA club is their own company so to speak. They are all "governed" by the National office, but each club sets their own dues, selects which attraction tickets they will sell, and sets their own policies for the most part. This might explain why everyone gets a different answer- depending on where they live. Keep in mind that as a AAA member you can visit one of the offices in Orlando to get the tickets your club might not offer!

Hope this helps!

 

[CalvaryMike]

Thanks, Carrie for the info.

I was doing some investigation on my own and found out what you said is true. It depends on the region the AAA office is in. No. CA and So. CA do not sell Disney tickets without a package. If you call the 800#, it asks for your membership number and then you are routed to your regional office.

I called the AAA South Regional offices directly and they do have discount tickets. The AAA South handles FL, TN and GA. The offices in FL only offer a few options for Non FL residents. The TN and GA offices offer more options, but you must belong to AAA South region to get the discounted tickets.

The AAA Mid-Alantic region sells Disney tickets, but again only to members of their own region.

The AAA ticket prices are lower than the gate prices, but Ticketmania still beats AAA, especially if you use the newsletter link.

 

[jeminni]

I bought my Universal tickets at my local AAA office in SW PA. I also have an unused AAA parking permit, pm me if anyone needs it .

 

[tiggersgal19]

I just pm'd you.