AAA ? I'm confused!

[vicki845]

Should I booked my trip through Disney or AAA.? I know I can only get a discount on the room since AAA doesn't discount park tickets. If that's the case then why would I need to go through AAA besides getting some vouchers for Diamond Parking, Mini Golf and Meet and Greet?. I won't used them anyway. Am I missing something?

One more thing if I book a room only through Disney using the AAA discount. Could I add the dining plan later on. I hoping for free dining in August/Sept. 2008

 

[fla4fun]

If you want to book a Disney package, with tickets and dining, and get the AAA discount on the room portion, you have to book through AAA.

If you are booking a room only reservation with an AAA discount, you can book through either AAA or directly through Disney.

 

[vicki845]

So can I book a room only reservation through disney, get my park tickets elewhere and later on add ddp to my reservation? Sorry I'm just not getting this.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

No, if you book a room only AAA reservation through Disney that is all you are going to get; no dining, no tickets.

If you want Dining and park tickets with that room and want the AAA discount, you have to book through AAA.

In order to use the ddp, you have to purchase at least a 1 day base ticket with a package thorugh Disney or AAA. I don't think you can add ddp later. If the free dining plan comes back, you can change your reservation to include it, if Disney has the room you want with the offer included.

I would book a room only with a AAA discount through Disney and purchase discount tickets through AAA at their office.

Hope this helps. PM me if you need more info.

Suzanne

 

[Mickiethepooh]

1. Through Disney you may purchase ROOM ONLY with AAA discount
2.if you want the Dining plan at all now or later you MUST book a package including at least 1 days base ticket per person on the reservation FROM AAA
3. If you purchase a package from AAA that includes the room and that base ticket per person, then you can add the dining plan up to 5 days prior to arrival.
4. If you book room only with either one that is all you get and you cannot change it to a package without cancelling and rebooking.

 

[suffolkprincess]

We went all through this ourselves and basically found that, barring a GREAT discount code or free dining, for most folks the AAA PACKAGE is a good deal, and better than you can cobble together on your own. BUT if there is a crazy good PIN number deal or free dining or such released, what basically happens is that you will cancel the AAA ressie and rebook.

From everything I have seen here, there is no great advantage to having a room booked way way out for the free dining because they will limit the number of rooms at the resorts for that deal and it is possible you could book, say, the Contemporary now, have a room, they release free dining, and you can't get it because the "free dining" set aside for the Contemporary is full. Then you have to change resorts, which would be worth it for free dining. But the point is-- this is nearly one full year out. If you book now you will have to put down a deposit now and then pay in full sooner than you would if you wait a bit and the more money you have paid, the more complicated all that changing might be when free dining time comes. Since you can't just "convert" the reservation over at that time because the availability varies there is no advantage to booking it this far out, really.

I might be wrong!

 

[vicki845]

I think I understand it now. I want the ddp but I am going to wait if disney comes out with free dining first. I can book a package only through AAA to get the discount, then I can add the dining later on. Are there any discounts on the park tickets? Would I be saving any money if i were to get just a 1 day ticket through AAA, then buy the remaining days at some discounted place?

 

[vicki845]

We went all through this ourselves and basically found that, barring a GREAT discount code or free dining, for most folks the AAA PACKAGE is a good deal, and better than you can cobble together on your own. BUT if there is a crazy good PIN number deal or free dining or such released, what basically happens is that you will cancel the AAA ressie and rebook.

From everything I have seen here, there is no great advantage to having a room booked way way out for the free dining because they will limit the number of rooms at the resorts for that deal and it is possible you could book, say, the Contemporary now, have a room, they release free dining, and you can't get it because the "free dining" set aside for the Contemporary is full. Then you have to change resorts, which would be worth it for free dining. But the point is-- this is nearly one full year out. If you book now you will have to put down a deposit now and then pay in full sooner than you would if you wait a bit and the more money you have paid, the more complicated all that changing might be when free dining time comes. Since you can't just "convert" the reservation over at that time because the availability varies there is no advantage to booking it this far out, really.

I might be wrong!

This happened to us last year when we went in August. I booked everything including air in Jan., then free dining comes along in April. Of course I was a month off to get the free dining so I had to cancel everything, then rebooked. I also had to change my airline tickets which cost me extra $$$. It still was a good deal. This trip I won't booked so far in advance. I'm hoping for free dining or a code.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

I think I understand it now. I want the ddp but I am going to wait if disney comes out with free dining first. I can book a package only through AAA to get the discount, then I can add the dining later on. Are there any discounts on the park tickets? Would I be saving any money if i were to get just a 1 day ticket through AAA, then buy the remaining days at some discounted place?

IF you plan on trying to get FREE DINING if it is offered then you will not book it through AAA because there is no discount on the Free dining special you pay full rack rate for the room in that case. Also if you have booked a package with AAA rate including at your ticket, you will need to cancel that package if you want to apply the Free dining code should there be one and should it be available. As to the ticketing though you could book your package with one day base for each person on the package, then as you say buy tickets through AAA office, they are discounted but they only have 5 day park hoppers. or you could order from one of the other discount places.
But what ever package you do you will need that base ticket per person on your package in order to add any dining plan paid or free.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

they are discounted but they only have 5 day park hoppers.

That may hold true for your local office, but not for all of them. If you want to know which ones your local office discounts, give them a call or visit their office, I am working with a great AAA TA just let me know and I will PM you her number, she is also helping another Diser. I got discounted AP's for my family. Our local office starts the discounts with the 3-day base ticket, but they also sell a one day base at no discount.

Suzanne

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

That may hold true for your local office, but not for all of them. If you want to know which ones your local office discounts, give them a call or visit their office, I am working with a great AAA TA just let me know and I will PM you her number, she is also helping another Diser. I got discounted AP's for my family. Our local office starts the discounts with the 3-day base ticket, but they also sell a one day base at no discount.

Suzanne

Same at our AAA office - I got discounted Fl. Res. Seasonal AP's for us & it made a big difference. They also sell others too & they're listed on their website. That's how I convinced hubby it was a great anniversary present. AP's & a vacation at the Mouse House!! I'm ready to go back...maybe in a few weeks for a day or two at least..........

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Same at our AAA office - I got discounted Fl. Res. Seasonal AP's for us & it made a big difference. They also sell others too & they're listed on their website. That's how I convinced hubby it was a great anniversary present. AP's & a vacation at the Mouse House!! I'm ready to go back...maybe in a few weeks for a day or two at least..........

The office I use is for AAA South which includes FL, GA, TN, and Puerto Rico. I am actually in Alabama, but the closest office is in GA, so I get their discount. I don't think the discount is a good for AL or includes the same tickets.

Suzanne

 

[JenSop]

I've always booked through AAA. For us, though, we only got discount on our rooms. But I like that I just called my AAA guy, told him when we wanted to go and where we wanted to stay, and he took care of EVERYTHING. I didn't have to do anything else.

We just joined DVC so I won't be needing to use AAA for WDW trips. But I've always preferred just to go through AAA in the past.

 

[Hornsfan]

I just booked my package through AAA for March 2008 and went through the same questions pretty much. I was even considering doing a split stay between several resorts but finally chose Pop Century for the whole stay and chose to get the tickets and room through AAA.

By the time you add in tax, it isn't cheaper to get the tickets separately at the disney store. We wouldn't get the extras that AAA offers either. The 20% off retail/dining card for Downtown Disney sounds interesting. Plus I just like having the tickets taken care of already. Seems like a smoother process to just book everything through AAA, except for the airfare.

I don't think we're going to get the dining plan for 2008. With no appetizer, tax, tip and less restaurants accepting the plan - this takes major benefits of the plan away. It will be much cheaper for my wife and I to pay out of pocket and go to more counter service places.

 

[chickenskin]

Just an observation but people seem hesitant to book through AAA yet I've read literally dozens of posts how Disney res. has screwed up their booking, in fact they've done it to us on a simple room only. However the many times we've booked our package through AAA there was not a single thing wrong with the reservation and we've had wonderful visits. Unless you have some other fantastic discount I would book everything through AAA, they save us quite a bit of money. Just an opinion.

 

[CleveRocks]

As to the ticketing though you could book your package with one day base for each person on the package, then as you say buy tickets through AAA office, they are discounted but they only have 5 day park hoppers. or you could order from one of the other discount places.
But what ever package you do you will need that base ticket per person on your package in order to add any dining plan paid or free.

It would cost MUCH more money to buy a 1-day base ticket as part of a package, and then search elsewhere for a separate, discounted multi-day pass.

Just buy the number of days' passes you want directly through Disney as part of the package. There's no requirement to buy a 1-day base ticket in order to qualify for the DDP (free or otherwise) ... the requirement is to buy at least a 1-day base pass, not specifically a 1-day base pass.

There's no discount in the world that would make it worth it to buy a 1-day base pass and then a 5-day park hopper, as compared with buying a 6-day hopper directly through Disney.

Currently, a 6-day hopper through Disney is $279.03.

The AAA price I found on their website is $266.00 for a 5-day hopper. Add the price of a 1-day base pass through Disney ($75.62) and your 6 days of tickets costs you $341.62. Obviously, paying Disney $279.03 is a lot cheaper than paying a total of $341.62.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Cleverocks,
I was suggesting they order at least a one day ticket, because that would be the minimum needed and they asked if they could get the tickets elsewhere, not because I recommend that option as the best. Personally I would book with the full number of days I was going at least if I were planning to book the package with the dining. I would only buy AAA or other discounted tickets if I were doing room only.
I find for the times I tend to go that there are better code deals than the AAA deal anyway. My upcoming trip I booked with AAA because it was 250 cheaper than Disney price, then they came out with a code and I booked that instead saving another 450 a total of over the original Disney quote.

 

[Amyshubby]

We currently have a room only res booked at ASMo for the end of January. We booked direct through Disney with a AAA discount. We are waiting (and hoping) on a code that gives us free hoppers and water parks. If that code comes out, do we need to book direct through Disney, or can AAA get it as well? It seems AAA gives a few minor perks, but nothing that would match the free hoppers and water parks.

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

We currently have a room only res booked at ASMo for the end of January. We booked direct through Disney with a AAA discount. We are waiting (and hoping) on a code that gives us free hoppers and water parks. If that code comes out, do we need to book direct through Disney, or can AAA get it as well? It seems AAA gives a few minor perks, but nothing that would match the free hoppers and water parks.

We recieved the free upgrade park hoppers & water parks in Jan and still got the AAA room discount Our AAA TA booked it for us with no problems. Then right before we left my DH went to the local office and changed our tickets to 10-day (from 3-day) and added on the no expiration option We paid for the 7 extra days (base price w/ free upgrades and paid for the no expiration on all 10 days) Very smart the DH was on that one. Now we each have 7 days at last years prices and free upgrades for our next trip in Jan 08 and we will only be using 4 of those seven days....it's like getting three trips in one ticket

We did have a vaction pkg through AAA ~ it wasn't just a room only ressie