AAA Discounts

[HdnMickeyGrl]

I was thinking about getting a AAA membership pretty much for Disney World purposes only but I'm not sure if it will save us any money. The information on the web is sort of vague. Can anyone tell me generally what the savings are? Specifically for park tickets and any other benefits that do not include a stay at a Disney resort. We always stay offsite so the discounts on the Disney hotels and dining plans etc... are not helpful to us. Also, someone told me that you can get access to the extra magic hours by being a AAA member. Is that correct? That sounded kind of off to me.

Basically, I'm just trying to figure out if the AAA benefits are even worth it for offsite guests.

Thanks!

Jen

 

[PictureJumpr]

You're right, there is no EMH unless you are staying at a Disney resort on property. You have to have your room card to use EMH privileges.

As for AAA and staying offsite, there isn't much. There is a discount on some tours, and some states' members can get discounted tickets (not all state chapters do this) without buying a package through AAA. There is free parking somehow, not sure if this is in general or another perk of a AAA package.

No dining or merchandise discounts to speak of.

 

[kirrrby]

AAA has never really helped us out money wise. In the 90's they would give a free gift with your trip, that was about it. Then we found out we could save more by getting pin codes and using the magic your way tickets. We use AAA for regular hotels (you get a 10 percent discount) and for roadside assistance. Sometimes they come out over the top, but for Disney not so much. They claim to know a lot about Disney, but I've yet to see them. One TA we talked to at AAA did not know what EMH or ADR meant, didn't know a lick about Fantasmic or how the buses ran.. I'd suggest talking around the DIS and asking about best deals, signing up for the Disney site to get deals, and thinking about if you'd rather stay on site and get the perks of Free Parking & EMH or if you'd rather stay at an offsite hotel.

 

[RMulieri]

Not sure about how well it would serve you offsite...Onsite it can be a good thing though....I have AAA and I also have a great Disney AAA agent..I only use it if i can't come up with any other discount.It has saved me anywhere from 10-30% depending on the resort category and time of year.They can also apply a better discount if one comes along, but they can not obviously allow you to keep both the AAA discount and whatever other discount ..Meaning you couldn"t have BOTH free dining AND a AAA resort discount.I have never had an issue with the agent I have used.I still book ALL my own adrs, and that is simply because typically my agent does not get into her office till 830a-900a most mornings and that is too late for the hard to get ressies.

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Not sure about staying offsite? But, we ALWAYS renew our AAA membership just for WDW. We get a Diamond parking card (parking spots next to handicap spots); Diamond Discount Card (10% or 15%? off World of Disney, 10% off Ghiradelli, & other places); AAA parade viewing; AAA Character Storytime & Greet; room only discounts; and probably some other benefits I've forgotten! Plus, you get the AAA 1 yr membership, which is always nice to have

 

[DebbieB]

You're right, there is no EMH unless you are staying at a Disney resort on property. You have to have your room card to use EMH privileges.

As for AAA and staying offsite, there isn't much. There is a discount on some tours, and some states' members can get discounted tickets (not all state chapters do this) without buying a package through AAA. There is free parking somehow, not sure if this is in general or another perk of a AAA package.

No dining or merchandise discounts to speak of.

No free parking. You can get the diamond card for preferred parking, most offices only give these out if you buy a package or tickets through them.

 

[PictureJumpr]

Not sure about staying offsite? But, we ALWAYS renew our AAA membership just for WDW. We get a Diamond parking card (parking spots next to handicap spots); Diamond Discount Card (10% or 15%? off World of Disney, 10% off Ghiradelli, & other places); AAA parade viewing; AAA Character Storytime & Greet; room only discounts; and probably some other benefits I've forgotten! Plus, you get the AAA 1 yr membership, which is always nice to have

To clarify, the AAA Diamond program only applies if you book a Disney package through AAA. This includes the Diamond discount card, the fireworks viewing, and the character event as well as the preferred parking pass. The parking pass is the only one also available without a package - but you must buy your WDW tickets from AAA to get one.

These are all perks to booking an on-site WDW package through AAA instead of through WDTC.

 

[PictureJumpr]

No free parking. You can get the diamond card for preferred parking, most offices only give these out if you buy a package or tickets through them.

Thanks

I have never used my AAA to book WDW so I wasn't sure... WDTC/promo codes/AP discount always beats the AAA pricing for me.

 

[csjordan]

I was thinking about getting a AAA membership pretty much for Disney World purposes only but I'm not sure if it will save us any money. The information on the web is sort of vague. Can anyone tell me generally what the savings are? Specifically for park tickets and any other benefits that do not include a stay at a Disney resort. We always stay offsite so the discounts on the Disney hotels and dining plans etc... are not helpful to us. Also, someone told me that you can get access to the extra magic hours by being a AAA member. Is that correct? That sounded kind of off to me.

Basically, I'm just trying to figure out if the AAA benefits are even worth it for offsite guests.

Thanks!

Jen

Among small item things, AAA offers AAA Diamond parking which is preferred parking around the handicap areas (generally) and a $15 dining coupon for Planet Hollywood. If you are staying offsite, I would highly recommend it. We are staying onsite May 2011 and used them to book. Another poster indicated you only receive these things if you purchase a package. That could be true, as we have only purchased packages and have received these items.

 

[DisGal520]

There is one dining perk that I know of.

It is at DTD and its 10% off food at the Earl of Sandwich. BTW the AP gets no discount there.

 

[.snow.white.]

Call Disney to ask what the room only AAA rate will be, then you can decide if it's worth it. In the past, I've called to see what the discount is, then compared it to current special offers to see what the best deal is. We've never done the meal plan so have no problem booking our packages ourselves and separately.

You do not have to book through AAA to get the AAA discounts on rooms. Most other AAA perks are only for those who book through AAA, and their packages are comparable to Disney's current special offers. Any ticket discount is negligible and unless you have a number of people traveling with you, you probably won't make your money back.

Often when you start comparing offers you'll find it's all smoke and mirrors, ie. free meal plan with full priced room is the same as a certain % off packages.

 

[mollybeasley]

Before I bought my AAA card they told me that the savings for Disney tickets was 5-10%, but they couldn't tell me exactly until I actually bought the membership (which should have made me suspicious). The discount turned out to be only about 3%, more if we got parkhoppers. Every AAA office is different though.

The AAA prices for Universal were HIGHER than the prices on Universal's website.

For some reason AAA just dropped their agreements with many car rental agencies, so that was a let down too.

AAA won't save us much money in Orlando, but DH got a decent discount on a hotel on a business trip. Overall, it will pay for itself, but it won't save us a lot more.

 

[2shortpeopleruleme]

We just purchased our tickets through our Chapter this weekend and we did get the Diamond parking passes. All we did was ask for two of them (my parents are coming with us) and we got them. We paid $1671 for 4 adults 3 kids base on the Disney website it was $1730 + shipping (unless you willcall). It saved us about $54. We first got our membership for Disney only, but it has saved us money with other hotel stays. We find it worth it. HTH

 

[CdnCarrie]

Thanks

I have never used my AAA to book WDW so I wasn't sure... WDTC/promo codes/AP discount always beats the AAA pricing for me.

But can you not book with AAA and get the promo codes. A good TA will get you the best discount. An AAA TA should be able to book for any promo including their own if that happens to be best. And if you book with them you would get their perks.

I've never done this I'm just asking.

We use AAA at US for food and merchandise.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I'm glad I read this thread. I am a AAA member, and we just bought 10-day PH w/NE back in July. We are planning on using them over the next several years. I never thought to ask about the parking pass because I thought that was available only with a package. I just called my local AAA and was told that I could bring my receipt by and they would give me one. I asked if I would get only this year since this was when I purchased them, and she told me that anytime I needed one, no matter what year, just to stop in and they would give me a complimentary pass as long as they had some available. This just may be the way to get my DH off the buses!

 

[V1RAL]

So I don't think it was answered but how much money do you save buying your tickets with AAA? Say a 3 day park hopper.

 

[tinka-belle]

Comparing the AAA website with the WDW site, about $6 savings on an adult 3 day park hopper.

 

[Dano1182]

We have used AAA many times for off site hotels
Generaly you can get a decent dicount at Marriotts.
There was good discount at DTD marketplace but they eliminated it years back.
Other attractions offer AAA discounts we always ask.
Also in New york thier roadserice is excellent.

 

[Eljay]

I got 20% off of food at the Swan & Dolphin a while back. It was a nice surprize. I asked the cashier at a CS restaurant if they offered an AP discount, since they do for room rates and she said, "Sorry, no, but we do offer 20% off if I can see your AAA card." You would have to confirm with them to see if that's still being offered.

 

[Spencerfamilynj]

We bought our 5 day passes (our Chapter has a minimum # of days, don't think you can get a 3 day pass) park hopper option. We did save money compared to buying through Disney. One caveat - we can only get the discount if we buy in person at our Chapter. Using the AAA website gives you the same Disney prices. Many hotels will give you a AAA price break so it may be worthwhile.