AAA Package Rates for Early December

[rlduvall]

I must admit, I have never had good luck with a AAA TA; I'm out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Some of their attitudes are just horrible. I suspect they are all hourly, not commission, like some TAs, and just don't have the initiative to give good service. I have called for quotes, over the years, and sometimes never hear back from them! I will certainly take advantage of my AAA discount, but I will not take advantage of my AAA Travel Agency.

 

[tigerlilly]

I too have priced out AAA packages here with our local AAA agent and the price was the same if I used Disney! I ended up booking a room only AAA rate with CRO but would love to do the package but not if I don't get the discount on the room.
Glad to hear some of you have had good luck with your AAA.
Someone mentioned you did not have to use your home town AAA. How do you find out how to use?

 

[heather360]

tigerlilly: It's true you don't have to use a local AAA TA. I live in NY and I didn't even attempt to use my local AAA TA because I had heard so many horror stories. I went with a TA in South Carolina that I heard about from a recommendation from these boards. Her name is Michelle Shears @ 800-643-5332. (I'm not affiliated with her in any way) I couldn't be more pleased.

I originally booked the Polynesian GV and then had her change my ressies to GF GV. I never had any problem and on both reservations she was able to get the AAA discount. I never felt like I had to explain anything to her regarding Disney info. She even advised me that I should plan all my PS's and that she would call me before the 90 day mark to take care of that for me.

 

[DznyDreams]

Someone mentioned you did not have to use your home town AAA. How do you find out how to use?

That someone was me. I used the same AAA TA that "heather360" mentions in her post above. Michelle Shears is WONDERFUL! (I'm not affiliated with her either -- I learned about her and have shared her with others right here on the DIS boards.)

We have many terrific TAs on these boards, but they can't book the AAA MYW packages and get your AAA room discount for you. And as far as AAA TAs go, Michelle is the best IMHO!

 

[Cellthing]

What room rates has anyone got for moderates in early December using AAA???

 

[minniedisney1]

I use our AAA in Pineville, NC They are all GREAT!!! Colleen, Ruthie, or Henry. I save $$$ every year. I just made my ressies this morning 6nights/7days w/meal thing at CBR. Colleen did it all and I am saving about $300 or so off the WDW website! They will also do all the PS if you let them know what you want and when. PM me for the phone# is interested!

 

[triplefigs]

We have the AAA package plus dining for Nov 29- Dec 6 at the GF. GF GV room rate is $296.65. For 7 nights, 6 day park hoppers, and dining for 2 adults/3 children under 9 it is $4085.

The price difference for the AAA and AP rates is less than $20. We figured adding the dining with the AAA rate was a better deal for us.

We just upgraded to Lodge Concierge. The AAA rate is $391 per night (kept the 7 day hoppers and dining plan).

 

[christianweecare]

Thanks. DznyDreams for the pointers about using an out of town AAA TA. We don't even have a local AAA office, so I will definately have to call out of town. I called the Macon, GA office this afternoon and asked if they had a Disney specialist on staff and the guy that answered the phone did not have a clue what I was even talking about. I then called Columbus, GA and got a very nice gentleman on the phone that knew exactly what I was talking about. I explained to him that I was looking for a AAA TA that was Disney specialist to book a trip for our extended family. Of course, our trip is planned for Feb. 2006 and those packages aren't out yet. So I told him that I would contact him whenever those packages were released. If I don't get a good response from them at that time, I may call on your gal from South Carolina! I'm writing her name and number down!

 

[kuriakos]

I live in NC but technically I'm a member of a New England AAA Club. I just got off the phone with a TA from Rhode Island and she told me AAA rates aren't being offered for my travel dates -- Nov 30 - Dec 5 -- at the WL. Has anyone else encountered this? Is is possible the WL has sold out of AAA eligible rooms? I'm new to this .
I booked the trip through Disney out of fear of not getting a room at all.

I'm very glad to have found this thread and learn that I can use a TA out of my club area. I will call Michelle in SC and see if she can help. Thanks, folks!

 

[Jeff]

I called AAA's 800 number a couple weeks ago and asked them to quote me a price for POR. It was the same as Disney's rack rate. The original poster mentioned AAA dsicount codes. Can I see the dates/resorts and the rates these codes offer somewhere? I'd be willing to join AAA if there codes offer a good discount.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[WDWBetsy]

I live in NC but technically I'm a member of a New England AAA Club. I just got off the phone with a TA from Rhode Island and she told me AAA rates aren't being offered for my travel dates -- Nov 30 - Dec 5 -- at the WL. Has anyone else encountered this? Is is possible the WL has sold out of AAA eligible rooms? I'm new to this .
I booked the trip through Disney out of fear of not getting a room at all.

I'm very glad to have found this thread and learn that I can use a TA out of my club area. I will call Michelle in SC and see if she can help. Thanks, folks!

I just rebooked us with Michelle (AAA SC) for Nov. 27 - Dec. 4, WL courtyard view. We have the dining plan plus the AAA discount. She is really nice, too!

 

[WDWBetsy]

I called AAA's 800 number a couple weeks ago and asked them to quote me a price for POR. It was the same as Disney's rack rate. The original poster mentioned AAA dsicount codes. Can I see the dates/resorts and the rates these codes offer somewhere? I'd be willing to join AAA if there codes offer a good discount.

Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff, typically the discount is 15% or 20% depending on the resort type, season, and view. I think you can price out rates at www.aaa.com without being a member. Discounts are subject to availability. We're going in value season and will be saving $298 with the discount, plus we're able to purchase the dining plan, too.

You could call Michelle at AAA in SC and she can price out something for you without you having a membership. You would just need the AAA card at check-in.

 

[DznyDreams]

. . . I just got off the phone with a TA from Rhode Island and she told me AAA rates aren't being offered for my travel dates -- Nov 30 - Dec 5 -- at the WL. Has anyone else encountered this? Is is possible the WL has sold out of AAA eligible rooms? . . .

Yes, it is possible. WL books up fast during this time of the year (or any for that matter, but the period of time when the Christmas decor goes up is VERY popular). I would bet that all DELUXE AAA-discounted rooms for late Nov/early December and on through the Christmas holidays are going to be difficult to find. They definitely were there at one time, but now they're booked. That's not to say that someone won't cancel, because it could happen.

WL was my original resort choice. When I first booked, there was no problem getting the standard-view room with a 15% discount, but when I changed my dates from mid-December to late-Nov/early-Dec, I was only able to get a couryard view (which is out of my budget range). We decided to go with a moderate (CBR), and had no problem getting the 20% discount on the standard view rooms with tix AND dining.

I called AAA's 800 number a couple weeks ago and asked them to quote me a price for POR. It was the same as Disney's rack rate. The original poster mentioned AAA dsicount codes. Can I see the dates/resorts and the rates these codes offer somewhere? I'd be willing to join AAA if there codes offer a good discount.

Jeff, I don't have a breakdown of what each item in my package costs, but I know the discount on the room is 20% during value season for a value or moderate resort (deluxe resorts are a 15% discount during this same time). It also seems that I may have gotten a slight discount on my tickets too, but I am not really sure about this. (Nevermind. I just did the math, and the difference in the prices below is 20%, so NO ticket discount.) Michelle (my AAA TA) does all the work, so only she (and other AAA TAs) knows the codes that got me the AAA discount on the room plus the dining plan.

Here is what I have checking in November 27th and out on December 4th, which is VALUE season:

7 night Disney's Magic Your Way Plus Dining Package
2 standard view rooms at the Caribbean Beach Resort
***Room #1 - 2 adults & 1 child (age 9) 6 day premium tix (aka: 6-day MYW pass with hopping and plus pack)
***Room #2 - 2 adults 6 day park hopper tickets
Insurance declined

AAA's Quote (from Michelle Shears in SC): $4,011.96
Disney's Quote for the EXACT same package: $4,431.20

BTW, the 800# listed in heather360's post is not a general AAA number. The number she has provided is directly to the AAA Vacations office in Mt Pleasant, SC, which is where the very helpful Michelle Shears works. Member or not, give her a call.

 

[mickeysaver]

What room rates has anyone got for moderates in early December using AAA???

I was quoted rack rates for CSR at AAA, but when I called Disney and asked about booking with the AAA discount, they gave me $30/nite off the rack rate. We have a King Room at CSR that is normally $149/nite for just $119/nite booked from 12/11 to 12/17. Maggie

 

[kuriakos]

I just rebooked us with Michelle (AAA SC) for Nov. 27 - Dec. 4, WL courtyard view. We have the dining plan plus the AAA discount. She is really nice, too!

That's great WDWBetsy! Maybe we'll cross paths during our vacations!
I called Michelle in SC this evening. She told me the same thing as the RI club. She said the availability "goes up and down". Oh well, I'm still thrilled to be staying at the WL even if it is at rack rate. I'm still hoping the free dining plan will be extended.

 

[WDWBetsy]

That's great WDWBetsy! Maybe we'll cross paths during our vacations!
I called Michelle in SC this evening. She told me the same thing as the RI club. She said the availability "goes up and down". Oh well, I'm still thrilled to be staying at the WL even if it is at rack rate. I'm still hoping the free dining plan will be extended.

I would definitely keep checking back to see if there are any AAA discounts. I had been checking for WL for 2 months and nothing until now. We were going to stay at the Poly, but the lure of the rustic WL with its Christmas decorations drew us in! I'll be watching to see if the dining plan gets extended, too.

Hope you a wonderful time. We are really looking forward to it.

 

[DznyDreams]

. . . My question is, that while I realize that AAA has room only codes released for 2005 since late last year, does AAA apply that discounted room rate to the MYW package deals? If not, I might find that booking a room only AAA rate and paying for all the pieces to be a better deal. Does anyone know? TIA Maggie
.......................
I was quoted rack rates for CSR at AAA, but when I called Disney and asked about booking with the AAA discount, they gave me $30/nite off the rack rate. We have a King Room at CSR that is normally $149/nite for just $119/nite booked from 12/11 to 12/17. Maggie

Maggie, unless you are just perfectly satisfied with your AAA room-only rate, I'd give the AAA office in South Carolina a try. She may very well tell you that the discount is not available for your room type/resort choice during your dates of travel, but it wouldn't hurt to try her. There have been a few posts in the past weeks/months from people who were quoted rack rates by their local AAA, but when they called Michelle, she got the discount for them. There's absolutely no reason for you to do this if you are satisfied with the room-only, but if you WANT the MYW plus dining, it couldn't hurt to at least try her.

Just so you know: Some very good friends of mine just returned from WDW a couple of weeks ago. She had the dining plan for her family of 5 (3 adults & 2 children) and paid around $930.00 for 7 days of the dining plan. Her receipts for those meals totaled over $1,600.00, which is approximately a $670.00 savings. Needless to say, they LOVED the plan!

 

[DznyDreams]

. . . We were going to stay at the Poly, but the lure of the rustic WL with its Christmas decorations drew us in! . . . .

It certainly is beautiful!! I'm going to miss it, but then again, I'm just happy to be going this year. I wasn't planning to go until 2006, but the idea of being back at Disney during the Christmas season was just too tempting! (I'll at least visit the lobby of the Lodge while we're there.)

Have fun and enjoy that marvelous courtyard view!!

 

[mickeysaver]

Maggie, unless you are just perfectly satisfied with your AAA room-only rate, I'd give the AAA office in South Carolina a try.

You are so sweet for trying to help all of us, but to be perfectly honest, Gabby is such a picky eater, that it was a nightmare figuring out how to make the dining plan make sense for us. The package deal that I was quoted from AAA on Saturday for CSR in a king room for 6 nights with 5 day PH and dining was $1781.02 and rack for the same package through Disney was 1902.08. That is only a little over $122 difference. The room only code that Disney gave me with the AAA discount was about a $288 difference. This makes no sense to me. Also, I like the terms of the room only booking better. It works better with my budget. I like not having to settle up on the room until check in. Most likely, it will be paid in full before we arrive, but at least it's not demanded 45 days in advance. We generally budget $100/day for food for the entire length of our vacation.....we never go over that. Usually, we apply the money that is left over on the last day towards buying one special end of the trip collectable piece. In 2002, it was used for the figurine of Mickey with the Fireman. Last trip, it was used to purchase several new ornaments for our Christmas tree. I can't wait to see what we decide on now that we have a house.

I guess that I just might never be the package type. I like deals way too much. lol Maggie

 

[DznyDreams]

. . . Also, I like the terms of the room only booking better. It works better with my budget. I like not having to settle up on the room until check in. Most likely, it will be paid in full before we arrive, but at least it's not demanded 45 days in advance. . . . .

I guess that I just might never be the package type. I like deals way too much. lol Maggie

I TOTALLY understand where you're coming from! That's my biggest complaint about the package deal....full payment 45 days in advance.

If my daughter were a little older, I'd be in the same boat as you. Fortunately, she just turned 9 in June, so I only have to pay $10/day for her. She also eats now, whereas in the recent past she just picked at her food. This year, the deal is fantastic for her, but next year (if it's still available) this might not be so good @ $35 or more per day.

Have a GREAT trip, and HAPPY SOUVENIR SHOPPING!! (That's my personal favorite WDW past time! lol)