AAA package/No membership

[PA2DISNEY]

Will I need a AAA card at check in? I booked my MYW package ressie with a local AAA travel agent several months ago and today I realized that I don't have a membership card. So I called her to ask about my card to make sure I have it during travel and I find out that I don't even have a membership. She says a different department handles the memberships. Which is weird to me because I didn't think they would even book a package without it. I just assumed the AAA membership fee was included in the price she quoted me.

She tells me that she never has been asked for the card at check in at Disney resorts. She tells me I can get a membership if I want but I probably won't need it. Since this is a package with AAA rate - which can only be booked by AAA agent - will this be a problem?

 

[BrianD]

Potentially. Frankly I'm surprised you were able to book it without them asking for your AAA number. When you call Disney directly they ask for your number when booking the reservation.

 

[JanB]

Although Disney might not ask for your membership card, they can ask for it. I have been asked for mine at times -- not all the time.

Maybe it wasn't clear to you at the beginning, but the fact is that it is clear now. AAA rates, whether room-only or for a package, are AAA member rates. If you are not a AAA member, and you don't want to be a AAA member, then you should not expect the discounted rate. If I do not hold an Annual Pass, I don't expect an AP rate. (Might not be a good analogy if Disney does verify that these days. But in the old days, you could fib and get by with it on occasion.)

What will Disney do if you just let it ride and hope that they don't ask for the card? I don't know. Maybe they won't ask for the card, and you will get a rate that you weren't supposed to get. If they do ask for the card and you do not have one, then they have the right to charge you the undiscounted rate.

AAA membership is not expensive. Depending on the resort you've selected and the number of nights, the membership fee may be a tiny portion of the money that you save with AAA rates.

 

[Aliceacc]

We stopped by AAA yesterday to begin planning for next year's trip. While we were there we renewed our annual membership... I think it came to $79.

Why not just join/renew AAA? If timing is a problem, ask the AAA rep to fax you a copy of your card or to overnight it to you.

 

[DarthKTrava]

Which reminds me I gotta renew my AAA membership. It's $69.

And you can ask at the AAA office for a "temporary" card to use until the permanent (credit card like) card shows up.

 

[safetymom]

If you don't have a card and they ask at check in your rate will change to rack rate. AAA is a great value and you should just join.

 

[MisunderstoodLilo]

They may have booked you at a non member rate. I'd call AAA to see. If it's at a AAA rate then yes, you need to join AAA. The CMs are instructed to ask for AAA cards, Annual Passes, Travel Agent ID cards, etc. Whether they do or not is another thing, but you need to be prepared. If your trip is close, AAA can make a temp card and fax it if needed.

AAA pricing is different in all areas. In my area a basic membership is $65.00. I've seen it as low as $45.00 in some areas. It won't hurt to join at all. I love using mine for movie discounts, Disney discounts as well as other chain hotels and museums.

 

[6gr8kidz]

YOu can join AAA online too. They give you an option of printing a temp card. I have never called AAA or been into a AAA office. I know one time I stayed offsite it was during a field trip for my son and I was able to book a room for 1/2 the cost of the regular rate. So in my opinion AAA is def worth it.

I wouldn't chance checking in without a card because they could charge full rack rate.

 

[sharonmickey]

The Basic AAA membership in the Pittsburgh area is $46. Well worth it.

 

[PA2DISNEY]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I am going to get the membership to be on the safe side. It's not that I don't mind getting it because I know it does come in handy for other things, I just didn't want to pay $65 if I didn't need to. But I don't want anything ruining my disney trip so I'm going to call them and get the temp card.

I'm still surprised that my TA didn't let me know about this. I would have been losing my mind if I had to pay rack rate at check in. She's been great about everything else.