AAA? & Opinion on my May travel dates plz!

[SeiterClan]

Hi DISers!

2 questions...

1) Besides the free parking, does AAA park hopper tickets offer any other perks besides free parking, like Aladdin preferred seating tickets or MM?

2) Which dates should I choose for my DH & I's first trip without our 4 kiddos:
Wed. May 11th-Sat. May 14th leaving on the 14th sometime OR
Wed. May 18th-Sat. May 21st.

I can actually go anytime after May 10th once my DH is done with law school so summer dates are open too, but i just assumed with summer so busy with new rides opening that May would be better.

Any and all thoughts and opinions are welcomed! TIA

Jenn

 

[Butterfly123]

The information I have on AAA tickets is:

--"souvenir" ticket...which means a plastic ticket like a credit card...more sturdy than the paper tickets.
--one free MM entry...but this is not exclusive to AAA...all 3 day (and over) park hoppers come with one free MM entry.
--preferred seating for Aladdin.
--a "diamond" card, which offers discounts at some stores at DLR.
--free parking.

Last time I bought tickets through AAA they also charged a $10.00 fee for purchasing the tickets because they were more than the average three day park hopper (we bought 4 day park hoppers). And it took a few days to get them.

Can't help on your dates...I've never been in May. Have a great trip!

 

[Mama Who]

We get better prices through Get Away Today than AAA. We are going in May and compared AAA, Costco and GAT and GAT was best, if you're interested in exploring other options.

 

[pixiewings71]

I don't think you get the preferred seating vouchers unless you book a full package....I think if you get the hoppers only you just get the free parking (which is worth $15 per day)......that's what I can find on AAA.com about this. I'm wondering as well tho, I want to get us park hoppers from AAA and if it came with the extras that would be amazing!

 

[Butterfly123]

The info on AAA I got from the AAA Vacations 2011 DLR brochure, on page 22 under Ticket Options..Passport Plus. The cost for a 5 day hopper is $211.00, and it is $206.00 at Gateway for a 5 day hopper. So I guess it depends on if the extras are worth it.

 

[Butterfly123]

I forgot to mention...if you book a hotel through them in addition to the ticket stuff I mentioned you get stuff like a lanyard, luggage tags, Toontown Morning Madness and a Character Call, ...that you don't get if you just get the tickets.

 

[Butterfly123]

That's Getawaytoday, not Gateway. Sorry.

 

[CrazyDuck]

The info on AAA I got from the AAA Vacations 2011 DLR brochure, on page 22 under Ticket Options..Passport Plus. The cost for a 5 day hopper is $211.00, and it is $206.00 at Gateway for a 5 day hopper. So I guess it depends on if the extras are worth it.

Not to mention the fact that AAA actually sends you the tickets while GetAwayToday will make you go to the ticket booth to retrieve them. Not a lot of fun standing in line at the ticket booth while everyone is inside the park enjoying their Magic Morning (if you want to try and do your MM on your first day).

To the OP. Besides AAA you may want to also compare the other companies that book through Walt Disney Travel Company (WDTC). They each offer different perks but most of the stuff will remain the same. The other companies that use WDTC are Costco and ARES. You can also book a trip direct through WDTC using a Disney Rewards credit card and get even more perks. While AAA offers the diamond card, Costco offers a character meal. I'm not sure what ARES offers. And if you use your Disney Rewards card to book direct you get a backpack. Price em out at each of the places and see what works best for you!

~MK

 

[marcemc]

Regarding your dates, I would choose may 18th till the 21 st. There are a lot of rumors that ST might have a soft opening on those days, might be worth the try

We will arrive on the 22nd, keeping our fingers crossed!!

 

[Mama Who]

The info on AAA I got from the AAA Vacations 2011 DLR brochure, on page 22 under Ticket Options..Passport Plus. The cost for a 5 day hopper is $211.00, and it is $206.00 at Gateway for a 5 day hopper. So I guess it depends on if the extras are worth it.

Yes, the big savings are when you take into account the room rates as well.

 

[jernysgirl]

Not to mention the fact that AAA actually sends you the tickets while GetAwayToday will make you go to the ticket booth to retrieve them. Not a lot of fun standing in line at the ticket booth while everyone is inside the park enjoying their Magic Morning (if you want to try and do your MM on your first day).

If it is an option, you can always pick up your tickets the night before your first day in the parks so that you can be in line and ready to go with everyone else early in the AM.

 

[helenb]

What does the Diamond Card actually offer? Does anyone have a list of the discounts that go with it?

 

[Butterfly123]

The diamond card offers 30 different discounts...I guess how useful they are depends on the person using them.. The bigger ones seem to be 20% off Disneyland park tours, 10% off Photopass prints, 10% off a single purchase of $75.00 or more at World of Disney (we lump our souvenier buying into one visit to make the most of this discount), and then a lot for various restaurants and stores in downtown disney...10% off Jamba Juice, free kids meal with adult entree purchase at Rainforest Cafe, 10% off Tortilla Jo's food pruchase, Buy 3 pretzels, get 1 free at Wetzel's Pretzels, 10% off Haagen Dazs, 10% off a $10.00 purchase at La Brea Bakery Cafe, One free kids meal with an adult entree purchase at ESPN zone, etc. To be honest, we usually only end up using the card a couple of times, but the discount at World of Disney is nice!

 

[joelybelly]

This is all good to know! Thanks for the info!!