AAA Discount - Worth it?

[boomhauer]

I don't have AAA, but it seems for the $48, it may be worth getting. Going to Disney in February, and it appears that you generally save 15% per night. So, with the price at $77 a night, I would save $92 plus tax, for the 8 nights.

Sound about right?

 

[tkldisney]

I purchased AAA membership just for disney discount. So yes, it's worth it for 48.00 price. Your calculations look right too. If you purchase membership then create login on AAA, use lake buena vista as hotel location and you can get AAA rates. You can either book thru them or thru Disney's CRO if you are just booking room only. If you want package (room, dining & tkts) then you must go directly thru AAA.
I'd use CRO if you just want room & tkts. Then you have access to your reservation on disney.com and can do some planning.

 

[LoveMickey]

And AAA discounts can be used at Hampton Inns and just in case your car breaks down.

 

[paladin]

Though the price of AAA membership does vary by area. Here in the Chicago area it is $54.00 for the basic membership.

 

[LakeAriel]

I purchased AAA membership just for disney discount. So yes, it's worth it for 48.00 price. Your calculations look right too. If you purchase membership then create login on AAA, use lake buena vista as hotel location and you can get AAA rates. You can either book thru them or thru Disney's CRO if you are just booking room only. If you want package (room, dining & tkts) then you must go directly thru AAA.
I'd use CRO if you just want room & tkts. Then you have access to your reservation on disney.com and can do some planning.

How do you get the AAA discount if you book through CRO?

 

[sunkissed212]

I have AAA and my family had always booked our WDW trips directly through CRO. This year I decided to contact AAA and see if it would be worth it to book through them. The quote that I got on the disney website for our trip was $4880.26 and the quote that I got through AAA was $4488.89 So,roughly $400 savings! I think it's worth it! I'm kind of a "control freak" and really would rather book my own stuff rather than have a TA do it for me (am I crazy?) but to save $400 possibly more if codes come out before next October, seems like I can give up some control for that!

 

[lark]

How do you get the AAA discount if you book through CRO?

You ask CRO for an AAA rate. If it's available, you'll get it.

This is an important point that, from reading the posts, many here don't seem to understand.

There are basically two AAA discounts. One is the room-only discount available at WDW (and DL, by the way) for any AAA member. (Actually, you don't even need to be an AAA member when you make the reservation -- just when you show up at the hotel.) You just call CRO, or have any travel do it, and you can book the rate if it's availble -- from 5 to 15 percent off.

The other AAA discounts are on packages. These must be made through an AAA travel agent. In general, the primary utility of these discounts are that when you do this, you can get the AAA rate on the room portion of the package, and also get the dining plan. This is generally important if you want the dining plan, because without a code or special package discount from disney, often AAA packages are the only way to get the dining package and not pay rack for the room. Finally, in the most recent go-around of codes, there also were special package codes only available to AAA travel agents.

Make sense?

 

[whacked]

Just so you know.

You can book room only AAA rates through CRO.

If you want a package discount you need to go through AAA.

If you book a pacakage, you get better parking (AAA diamond), a certificate for a free lounge visit with soda in the MK (Whoopie) and some random discounts you don't get with the room only stuff.

If you are driving or renting a car, the parking is significant, as the AAA parking is up in the front of the lots near the handicap parking.

I usually go with room only, but this year we're going with a package to get the (not free) dining plan.

 

[LakeAriel]

Just so you know.

You can book room only AAA rates through CRO.

If you want a package discount you need to go through AAA.

If you book a pacakage, you get better parking (AAA diamond), a certificate for a free lounge visit with soda in the MK (Whoopie) and some random discounts you don't get with the room only stuff.

If you are driving or renting a car, the parking is significant, as the AAA parking is up in the front of the lots near the handicap parking.

I usually go with room only, but this year we're going with a package to get the (not free) dining plan.

Yikes!
So what if I book on the AAA site a room only and add the dining. Then when the time comes I want to take advantage of the AP discount (same resort) can I do it and keep the dining? (paid for) or does AP also offer dining?? Do I give up the parking pass? It's not easy being frugal. Jeez this is work! Worth it though for significant savings

 

[cobbler]

You can't book a room only discount and add dining. It has to be a package with tickets. Like a previous poster said you have to get the package discount through your AAA agency/rep, not through CRO.

As for AP, no they don't have a dining add on. You can only get the dining add on if you get a package. You can get the DDE card if you get the AP discount and receive 20% off most sit-down restaurants. If you are staying onsite you get free parking at the parks anyway.

And the only way to get the AP rate now is book 60+ days in advance through the best rate program online which means you have to have the AP or voucher in hand to log in and get that discount. I guess they are out through mid Feb right now.

 

[LakeAriel]

Thanks Cobbler I had a feeling you would need the ticket package. Since I have an AP I won't be needing tickets.
There is a rumor on these boards that the dining may be added as a benefit for AP. After experiencing it free last week I would definately purchase it!
It was great!

 

[WDWBetsy]

IMHO, AAA is well worth it. My car's 6-year-old battery died on Friday and a super nice AAA guy came to our house and used an industrial strength device to jump my battery. I then drove it to our mechanic to get a new one and make sure that was the only problem. We were expecting to have AAA tow it (we only have the basic which covers under 3 miles I believe), so this was great. Even if I had to have it towed, it would have been like $2 per mile over the 3 miles if I recall what the AAA agent said. Way cheaper than a regular tow service. We're talking a max of 5 miles to get to our mechanic.

We also use the discount for almost all of our hotel stays throughout the year. The savings pay for the membership. Our discount for this vacation is saving over $329 off the regular prices. Not to mention help with flat tires, keys locked in the car, towing, etc. Very good peace of mind.

 

[LakeAriel]

I absolutely would recommend AA for it's origianl use...help with your auto. Unless you have a new car that comes with road service included, it is well worth it. If you need them once it pays for itself!