AAA discount at Hrh or Rpr

[jillybeene71]

Can you get a AAA discount on a room reservation at one of the hotels?...if so, is it as good as having the AP discount?
What about on tickets?
Im seriously thinking about the Bealls BOGO offer just to have the AP discount for when we go in 2007 and 2008
What I guess im trying to ask is Which one offers the better discounts?

 

[lindalinda]

I have both AAA and an AP. You get discounts with both, but usually , the AP rate will drop lower than the AAA rate if you keep checking and wait it out. It doesnt always for all types of room and at all times of the year. I would advise getting the AP, the odds are in your favor it will be a better discount.



Ps...you can check your rates at loews.com just put AAA or APH in the code.

 

[jillybeene71]

Thank you so much!!

 

[mtblujeans]

Good information! In comparing the rates for the Portofino Club Deluxe (2 queen beds), 2 adults, 3 nights; AAA rate is $40 cheaper than APH!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

For my 2 trips this year, I booked about 6 mos in advance. For both, the AAA rate was the best. When I called closer to my travel dates, the AP rates had dropped and I switched. For my RPR trip, the rate went from AAA $183.20 down to $159 Fri & Sat, and $129 for Sun, Mon, Tues!

 

[bubba's mom]

Speaking of...i have a question......
We have AAA and are buying the Bealls BOGO offer on AP's......
We are Loew's First Members....did I read somewhere you can only get your bennie's from First membership club if you book w/ AAA? ....you can't get "perks" by booking AP rate??? AND, what if I book w/ AAA (because better rate at the time) and then switch to AP rate?? ....will we still get our Loew's First bennies??

 

[Syndrome]

It always seems like the best rates are with AAA. Unless its really close to the date you want to stay.......AAA always seems better than APH.
Maybe, I just dont like to wait for the "last minute" to plan. If you dont mind waiting it out......APH may be cheaper. But you may get stumped.
With AAA, at least you still get your Loews first benefits and upgrades, including moving up from blue,gold.....to platinum. APH has always seemed like more of a hassle to me. At least with AAA there are a LOT of other perks.......and some peace of mind, if you are driving to Orlando, from a distance away. Just about EVERYTHING Universal, has AAA discounts! Dining, shopping.....etc. All you have to do is ask........and most of the time, you are asked first at Universal.....if you have AAA. Its like they are trying to help you. I like that.
Not so in WDW.......AAA usally means squat at WDW!

Oh yea,.....and you dont have to book "with" AAA to get a AAA discount. You can pull it up yourself on the rates and availability screen with Loews. Just Print in .....AAA...... in the promotional code box.....or APH for that matter......to compare rates. Or.....just tell the person on the phone with reservations that you want the AAA rate, if its availabile. The earlier you go for the AAA rate the better.......usually!

Later Syndrome

 

[bubba's mom]

Just about EVERYTHING Universal, has AAA discounts! Dining, shopping.....etc. All you have to do is ask........and most of the time, you are asked first at Universal.....if you have AAA. Its like they are trying to help you. I like that.

while we were there for 5 full days, not one time did anyone ask me for AAA card for discount....I had to tell them I had it...and, check-in at RPR didn't ask me for my card either (and I had booked w/ AAA code for rate).

 

[patster734]

It always seems like the best rates are with AAA. Unless its really close to the date you want to stay.......AAA always seems better than APH.
Maybe, I just dont like to wait for the "last minute" to plan. If you dont mind waiting it out......APH may be cheaper. But you may get stumped.
With AAA, at least you still get your Loews first benefits and upgrades, including moving up from blue,gold.....to platinum. APH has always seemed like more of a hassle to me. At least with AAA there are a LOT of other perks.......and some peace of mind, if you are driving to Orlando, from a distance away. Just about EVERYTHING Universal, has AAA discounts! Dining, shopping.....etc. All you have to do is ask........and most of the time, you are asked first at Universal.....if you have AAA. Its like they are trying to help you. I like that.
Not so in WDW.......AAA usally means squat at WDW!

Oh yea,.....and you dont have to book "with" AAA to get a AAA discount. You can pull it up yourself on the rates and availability screen with Loews. Just Print in .....AAA...... in the promotional code box.....or APH for that matter......to compare rates. Or.....just tell the person on the phone with reservations that you want the AAA rate, if its availabile. The earlier you go for the AAA rate the better.......usually!

Later Syndrome

The strategy I use is to book the AAA rate early so that I'm guaranteed a room for my trip. Then if the APH rate drops below the AAA rate, I'll call and have them change my rate from AAA to APH.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

....did I read somewhere you can only get your bennie's from First membership club if you book w/ AAA? ....you can't get "perks" by booking AP rate??? AND, what if I book w/ AAA (because better rate at the time) and then switch to AP rate?? ....will we still get our Loew's First bennies??

This is the official word. However, implementation varies. At RPR I have always gotten my welcome amenity, even though to my recollection I have always stayed either APH or Entertainment sad1) rate. The first time we stayed, I told them the welcome amenity I wanted. It did not arrive. I called. It was then I was informed about the no welcome amenity if I did not pay a qualifying rate. Oh well, a bit disappointed, but no big deal. At the concierge desk later that day, the concierge asked me about my stay. Among all the good things I had to stay about the hotel, I mentioned my disappointment about the welcome amenity. No fussing, no screaming. Just a mention. The concierge said he thought it was nuts not to give the welcome amenity based on rate. I thought that was the end of it. Nope. I received the welcome amenity each night of my stay! The next time I stayed, was told at check in that since I had not booked at a qualifying rate, I would not get my amenity. No biggie, I was aware of the policy this trip. Besides, the savings on the room more then made up for it. Well, when we returned to our room that evening, the welcome gift was waiting. I went with my son last year at the AP rate. I was asked at check in what amenity I wanted and it was delivered to my room later that day.

Both of my stays at PBH I also received the welcome amentity. The first time I had booked at the AP rate. This past trip I had a two bedroom suite. One room was booked at a AAA rate and I was upgraded to a Portofino Suite with my Loews Platinum. When I needed to add a second room, they let me book it at the AP rate. When I arrived I was given a wecome amenity for both of the rooms and the parlor as well! So, we had milk and cookies, wine and nuts and water and fruit!

Now the HRH is another story. I have never received the welcome amenity there. Never been upgraded either, but that is another story.

 

[bubba's mom]

......... I was informed about the no welcome amenity if I did not pay a qualifying rate

thanks for your detailed explanation.. i assume the "qualifying rate" is either rack or AAA rate? Gee, if you have an AP, you'd think they'd still give it to you cuz you frequent the place....jeez!

 

[princesspumpkin]

My experience with qualifying rate was even crazier. I booked RPR with AAA rate. When I mentioned the welcome gift, the customer service rep at check-in informed me that because my rate was so cheap ($183), I couldn't get it. After researching on the Dis for months beforehand, I knew that AAA rates were qualifying rates. He said yes, but because the rate itself was so low, I couldn't get it. Not one to make a fuss, I left it alone. Later in the day, I stopped back at the desk and asked someone else about the gift. This person said that I did qualify, and I got my milk and cookies that night. Funny thing is, others in our travel party booked with the Florida resident rate ($179) and I asked for them to get a welcome gift - and they got them without any problem

 

[bubba's mom]

Guess it goes to show....just be persistant and ask somebody different each time.

 

[LOLA2]

Question, I just got AAA a couple weeks ago. I booked months ago at Royal Pacific and was charges the one night rate. So what do I do now, can I call them and they credit me or is it too late, they only do it at time of booking?

 

[bubba's mom]

call them and tell them you have AAA now and would like to have that rate. If they don't do it, call back and reserve same kind of room and then cancel your other ressie...but, they should credit you and change you to the AAA rate with no problem.