AAA membership worth it?

[sparky129]

I'm going to US and staying at HRH . Would it be worthwhile to get an AAA membership before I leave? I've already have my room,airlines, and park passes bought. Cost of new memebership is $58. Will be there for 5 nights.

 

[patster734]

Yes. Most restaurants give an AAA discounts (except on alcohol). I think there's even an AAA discount on souveniers!

 

[MarilIncredible]

I would say it depends. If you are not using it for the room rate, and the membership costs $58, do you think you will spend $580 on food (not booze) and souvies? [Assumes a 10% discount - spending amt would be less if it is 15% discount, of course]?

Do you already have roadside assistance with your car insurance plan?

Would you travel again within a year and make use of the AAA discounts at some other time?

 

[sparky129]

Thanks for the input. I'm sure we would spend over $580 because we don't have a meal package and 3 yrs ago at WD we spent more than that. Probably will get it, hope most places we go to will take AAA discounts. Don't travel much but if we come close to breaking even than we have a membership for almost free. Also is there a shuttle that runs from airport to HRH?

 

[pixeegrl]

What kind of room discount do you have at HRH? You can call them and see if the AAA rate is lower. If so they will change it for free no hassle!

 

[TIGGERGUY]

AAA is absolutely worth it! In addition to hotel discounts the card will get you minimum 10% off on food and merchandise inside and outside the parks. It works virtually everywhere except for curbside carts. This doesn't even count the myriad of benefits AAA gives you during the year.

 

[Cajun28]

IMHO, AAA is definitely worth the dues, not even considering the discounts. A few months after we joined last year, my son's car died on his way back to school. He was 30 miles from his apartment, 250 miles from us, and it was 2:00 in the morning. He called AAA and they sent a tow truck to bring his car to one of their authorized dealers, gave him a ride home and it didn't cost a dime. The piece of mind we receive from being members is more than worth the price. The discounts we receive from being members are icing on the cake.

 

[Purseval]

He called AAA and they sent a tow truck to bring his car to one of their authorized dealers, gave him a ride home and it didn't cost a dime.

That depends on which level of AAA you have. You won't get a free 30-mile tow with the $58 membership, more like 5 miles. We have AAA Plus which is about $85. At that level they will tow you 100 miles. The nice feature of AAA is that it is for the user, not the car, so if you are in a friend's car and it breaks down they will come and help you. They also change flat tires, bring you gas if you run out, start your dead battery, get you in your car if you lock your keys in. The only actual AAA discount we ever use is when we renew our annual passes for us the benefits that are car-related are well worth it on their own.

One of my coworkers locked his keys in the car a couple of weeks ago. One call and he didn't have to make a family member drive over with another set. It's a great service for the money even if you never ever use it for tickets or hotels.

 

[Cajun28]

That depends on which level of AAA you have. You won't get a free 30-mile tow with the $58 membership, more like 5 miles. We have AAA Plus which is about $85. At that level they will tow you 100 miles.

Yes, you're right, we have the upgraded membership. I was talking in general terms about the piece of mind the membership gives us (and they actually provide what is advertised). Even if he would have had to pay for the tow, it was nice that he was able to call AAA and get a truck at 2:00AM. Another benefit to us is my wife has a habit of locking her keys in her car. After paying Pop-a-Lock enough money to build a wing to their office, it's nice to have that covered also.

 

[macraven]

i use my AAA card for many things!

what really pays off for me is the $75 service i don't have to pay when i lock my keys inside my car.


it's an annual thing for me.
i plead blondness........


i have been able to use my AAA card every time i travel out of state for motel discounts.

it has and still is worth it for me.

like purseval said, there are many things you can use your AAA card for besides hotels at universal.

 

[sparky129]

Just got the membership for $50. I checked on my hotel rate for 5 nights and AAA doesn't even come close to the rate I got from universal's website. Booked HRH room through expedia with a code for $10 off per night for total of $950 for 4 people for 5 nights. Still think what you guys are saying about the discounts for food will probably pay for the membership. Do the better resturants around US take AAA?

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I think AAA is worth not only for the roadside service but the discounts. Many attractions have a AAA rate, always ask.

 

[taliategan]

We tend to average about 2 flat tires (lots of nails and potholes on the roads in Pittsburgh) and 1 dead battery a year - so it always worth it to us regardless of the discounts.

 

[donaldduck352]

i use my AAA card for many things!

what really pays off for me is the $75 service i don't have to pay when i lock my keys inside my car.


it's an annual thing for me.
i plead blondness........

I should be A blond cause I do this at least 2times A year!!
AAA is def worth every penny,but get the premier service,well worth it.

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

For some reason we have been very, very lucky in regards to our vehicles (hope this doesn't cause the universe to rain down misery on us) so if I purchased AMA (AAA in Canada) it would be for restaurant/souvenir discounts and the chance we may use it for a vehicle breakdown.

I did ask for a quote on our room from their travel and it was way above what I was able to get on my own (about $55 a night more) - I also saw that Bubba Gumps does not take AAA - is that right - how about Margaritaville? Are they all 10% none higher? Do the resort/parks restaurants take AAA ie: Mama Dellas and Mythos? What about shops? Do most give a discount?

I don't think the 10% discount will pay off the card for us, as we will use it a max four times in sit downs (including Mythos and Bubba Gumps) but if I could then flip around my reasoning and consider it a 50% discount on an AMA membership for our vehicles I could probably justify it....

Thanks to all for their help

 

[macraven]

Calgary, it is only 10% off of food and merch in the parks and city walk.

Bubba's, i don't know if they honor the AAA.
been there before and never again for us.

the membership card is honored at most hotels, motels throughout the States.
even disney gives the (between) 10-20% if you book room only at their resorts.
Universal AAA discounts can be up to 35% off depending on dates.

you also get the online shopping discounts on the internet.
you go through the AAA website and order from any store they have up.
Target.com is really cheap when you use them with your membership card.

it is subjective on how peeps justify the cost of the membership card.
my cost is $48 a year.

we have used it for towing over the 5 miles but our cost was minimal.
we paid $3 for it.

we don't have any road side assistance with our insurance company or private company so AAA works good for us.

AAA also gives you free travel maps for anywhere you desire or plan to go.
they can also map out routes and assist you.
and they do discounts when you book through them.

 

[sparky129]

Just got back last night. Most places in City walk do accept AAA but not Bubba Gumps. We used it at Nascar, NBA, Cinnabon, TCYB, and Starbucks. I also think HRH kitchen takes it also but we got the free all access card and can't remember which one we used. Also Mama Dellas at the Portofino Hotel does not take it. Also I have to agree with macraven on Bubba Gumps as I wouldn't go there again. No one in our family liked their meal and I ordered a dinner that the waiter highly recommended and I love seafoood. High priced for below average bar food. NBA and Nascar are average with prices a few dollars higher than my local Fridays / Max and Ermmas in the Cleveland, Oh. area. Our meals at Mama Dellas were average for good Italian resturant but the atmosphere was great. Mama came to our table with the band to sing and we requested a high energy song and boy could she belt it out! Also eat at the Kitchen at HRH for the breakfast buffet and its alot better than the buffet at the Portifino Hotel.

 

[JAL2525]

I'm going to US and staying at HRH . Would it be worthwhile to get an AAA membership before I leave? I've already have my room,airlines, and park passes bought. Cost of new memebership is $58. Will be there for 5 nights.

I would definitely as someone posted earlier call about your room ressies and apply the AAA discount. We have AAA for all the obvious automotive related reasons...but we use it everywhere we can while on trips. Why not...

 

[DisneyGerry]

20% off at Earl of Sandwich

Diamond parking--but are they still doing this for 2010??

 

[mackay_j]

can anyone tell me the hotel discounts with this for RPH for the 23rd dec and the 28th dec to see if it worth me joining the AA in the UK