AAA Discounts...Can someone help me?

[mousefan215]

I have been reading all of the threads about the AAA discounts that people are getting and it has made me very curious! I am not, nor have I ever been a AAA member, but I was wondering...Would it be a wise move to become a member just to get the discounts for WDW? If I could get around a 20% discount off of our rooms ($240/night for the WL) it would be a savings of $240!!! Just wanted to know what you guys thought and also if it's even possible since I've already booked our package through WDW...Thanks for any info you can give me about AAA!

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

It was worth it for me and I think it would be for anyone but since you have already booked w/ disney unless you have a room only ressie they will not be able to do the discount you have to book a package plan through AAA to get the discount.

 

[mousefan215]

Does AAA offer the dining plan along with tickets?

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

yes.

BTW~ I just saw you are in LA where at I am originally from New Orleans

 

[YolantasKids]

AAA saved us $374 off our reservation, so it was well worth the $50 membership fee!

 

[brentalex]

Does AAA offer the dining plan along with tickets?

You can get a package through AAA that includes tickets and the dining plan. The package will contain the discount on the room portion of the package. Dining and tickets are at full rate. To get this you need to book through a AAA travel agent, which would mean cancelling the package you have already booked. If you want to do this, I would book the new one first then cancel the existing one. There are a limit on how many rooms are available with a AAA discount, so you need to make sure you can get one before cancelling the first reservation.
Don't forget, being a member of AAA can also get you many other discounts at other hotels and stores all over the country. It is not just discounts at disney hotels that the membership can get for you.

 

[mousefan215]

Cool! Hi there I live about 1 hour north of N.O...love to visit beautiful Naw'lins! Geaux Tigers! and I can't forget the Saints!

Thanks for all the info!!!

 

[nickandlarisa]

I'm by no means an expert on the subject, but in trying to figure out the best way to book our June 09 trip, and several phone conversations with WDW and AAA, I can answer some of your questions ...

AAA discounts are only on the rooms, whether its a package or room only ressie, it is in fact only the room portion of the cost that is discounted. Also, if you do want a package, you have to book through AAA to get the AAA discount. WDW can only book AAA "room only" discounts. This doesn't entirely make sense because the only thing discounted is the room anyway, but for whatever reason, if its a package, must go through AAA.

Those discounts are pretty well locked in, depending on the time of year. Summer season for my trip next year is only a 10% discount on a moderate resort. You do get a higher discount in the value season and the discount varies for value - deluxe resorts.

If you book through WDW, not a TA, but actually WDW, you can have AAA take over the package and apply discounts. I've heard though that there are only so many rooms at a given resort that are eligible to receive the AAA discount so best to book early.

For us AAA is probably what we are going to use to book our trip since it is the only "guaranteed" discount I can find. We are on a budget and waiting to maybe get a code, or even an AP discount probably will not work for us this trip, though from what I've read, those can mean even greater discounts. But even a 10% discount off of 10 nights outweighs the annual membership of AAA.

Plus AAA is great for all the car related stuff too!

 

[Minniekins]

You can book a room only ressie directly when calling WDW, no need to go through AAA if you don't want a package and do room and tickets separately. I thought that Mods were usually discounted at 15%, at least that's been my experience when booking using a AAA discount on various trips, prior to 2007. Actually, now for my Nov ressie, as well, but I expect a Disney visa discount will be coming out and I will switch and apply that discount instead, but at the moment the discount on my Mod room for regular season in mid Nov is 15%. Good luck!

 

[ILuvCrush]

I can get discount tix thru our AAA (southern PA) and room discount too... but only if purchased seperately (ie no dining plan) So if you're not going to do the DP then check out the $$ of purchasing tix thru AAA vs Maple leaf or another discounter

 

[cheerful chickadee]

We've been AAA members for 5 years or so and on our upcoming trip we saved a little over $400 (10 nights at ASMu family suite) so I definitely think the $50/$60 membership fee is worth it. Plus like a PP said, it is a guaranteed discount whereas a post card pin code or other public discount code isn't.

We're not doing the dining plan and can get discount park tix elsewhere so we booked room only. I'm still debating on going for the DDP but then I will have to go through AAA to do a package.

 

[bluwater]

Don't forget that you will get more than just room discounts with AAA. You will aslso receive a free Dining Discount Card with anywehre from 5-20% off of dining at select restaurants. Many of the restuarants in the Swan and Dolphin are 20% off with the Card. There are also discounts for Dining at DTD. You receive a $15 meal voucher for Planet Hollywood, vouchers for extra time on the sea racer (water mice) rental, mini-golf rounds, etc.

Also, something I used was the free Diamond Parking Pass. When you enter the parks with a car, you can drive up to the front of the lot and park in a special area that is reserved for AAA Diamond Pass holders. For me, this was huge. We didn't always want to use Disney transportation - and this completely eliminated parking/tram shuttle hassles. You show the pass to the parking attendants and they just keep waving you up to the front of the lot.

And, although I booked with AAA, our room was lovely and faced the garden - not the parking lot. We were placed in a newer building, which was our request - on the top floor - at Poly. So, I don't think you can believe it when people tell you that you'll get a crappy room if you book AAA. Also, my AAA travel agent was absolutely the best. You will also receive the Disney maps and luggage tags, just like Disney sends you if you book direct.

Only problem I had was that I did not receive any Dining Plan info prior to departure.