AAA package vs room only

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Hi! I am not yet an AAA member, but will be joining within the next few weeks. I am interested in the Disney discounts, since I'm trying to plan my October trip right now.

Can anyone tell me the benefits of booking a package thru AAA versus purchasing everything seperately and just getting the AAA discount on the room? Would I also get a discount on the tickets and dining plan? Or is it just helpful to do because it would all be put together, just to make things easy? I've already been dealing with a travel agent, and I'm sure she could apply the AAA discount if I broke it down to a room only deal, and did it all seperately. Is it really worth it to go directly with AAA in the hopes of getting a better deal?

I just got a rough idea, using the Mousesavers estimate of a 15% discount on the room, and then added on the tickets to get my total. Do you think I'd get more of deal getting a AAA package? I've never belonged to a discount club/auto club before, so I'm new to all of this...and actually only got the idea from reading these wonderful boards!!!

Thanks!

 

[Marthasor]

Typically, when booking an AAA "package" you are getting the room discount and then paying full price for the tickets and dining plan. The advantage is, with their packages, AAA offers a parking pass for the parks, a card which gets you discounts on tours, some restaurants, merchandise etc., usually a cute Disney/AAA luggage tag and sometimes another perk - we got a free pin last time - this year, if you book in Jan. you will get a voucher for a mickey clock or a memory box + a special character story hour. So, you really are still only getting the room discount, but you get these other little perks if you book it all with AAA

 

[beth_cam]

If you want the dining plan you must book a package = room, tickets, dining where everyone in the room must have the same length ticket and dining must be for length of stay (8 nights in room = 8 days of dining). To get a AA discount and still get a package you must book through AAA. If you are getting room only you can book with disney. Advantage of booking with disney is if a better offer comes up you can just change what you have but as I said you wont be able to make it a package. And if you wait too long for that good deal you may not be able to get a room at an AAA rate.

 

[SillyMe]

Typically, when booking an AAA "package" you are getting the room discount and then paying full price for the tickets and dining plan. The advantage is, with their packages, AAA offers a parking pass for the parks, a card which gets you discounts on tours, some restaurants, merchandise etc., usually a cute Disney/AAA luggage tag and sometimes another perk - we got a free pin last time - this year, if you book in Jan. you will get a voucher for a mickey clock or a memory box + a special character story hour. So, you really are still only getting the room discount, but you get these other little perks if you book it all with AAA

Last year I bought my park tickets at the AAA Store and we got the parking pass just for purchasing the tickets thru them.

 

[scanne]

If you're a Disney resort guest, you can park for free at any of the theme parks. It doesn't matter if you're paying rack rate, AAA, AP rate or got a special code.

 

[SillyMe]

If you're a Disney resort guest, you can park for free at any of the theme parks. It doesn't matter if you're paying rack rate, AAA, AP rate or got a special code.

Yes, but with AAA you get the Diamond Parking, so you get to park closer to the entrance.

 

[Marthasor]

If you're a Disney resort guest, you can park for free at any of the theme parks. It doesn't matter if you're paying rack rate, AAA, AP rate or got a special code.

Right - with AAA, you get an "AAA Diamond Parking Card" which gives you access to "special" parking spots at the parks - we never used it, so I don't know how "special" they really are! Maybe someone who has used them could fill us in!

To the former poster - wow! lucky you, getting the discount card just with the tickets - I was under the impression from my AAA office that you could only get that card if you booked an AAA package - not just rooms or separate tickets. I guess it depends on who you talk to and where your AAA office is located!

It's funny - I was about to go AAA with our next trip, but I'm really starting to believe, unless you want the dining package with the AAA discount, it's just not worth it! We never used the coupons or the parking pass we got - the free pin and the luggage tags were nice, but . . .

I think I'm going to skip the middle man this time and just call CRO and get the AAA room-only discount.

 

[bubba73]

AAA's parking pass is just to get you closer to the front gate. It is sort of a two-edged sword. From there you have to walk because the trams will not pick you up. That is kind of a downer as the tram ride is part of the Disney experience.

The other benefits of booking with AAA is if you get a "good" agent, they can work to get you other perks. We were able to get a great room in our resort where we could watch the fireworks display from EPCOT. Plus, it was our anniversary so they were able to get us autographed pictures from Mickey and Minnie for NO extra cost. It was worth it to me, anyway.

 

[Jdaley]

Sounds like you have a great AAA agent. We are planning our first Disney trip for our 5 year old's birthday - I would love to work with someone who really knows what they are doing, and could help us get some perks.