AAA Passport Plus w/TT Morning Madness

[chrissiecutie]

With several threads asking about Mickey's ToonTown Morning Madness, I thought I would do a little research. Here's what I found:

AAA offers what they call the Passport Plus ticket. It's the SAME price as their regular tickets only you must purchase it in the AAA office in advance because they order them direct from Disney. So it can take up to 21 days. The benefits with the Passport Plus are:

MTTMM tickets
free parking
preferred seating at DCA shows like Muppets & Aladdin
souviner tickets
savings booklet full of coupons for DTD, I was told 10-20% off shopping & dining
Magic Morning

A 3 day PH adult: $250 & kids $235
4 day PH adult: $275 & kids $255

I didn't inquire about other ticket options and they don't sell the 1 park per day tickets.

I also looked into Costco and they offer:

MTTMM tickets
preferred seating
character call
Free character dining
$20 gift card
pin/lanyard/luggage tag
Magic Morning

However, with Costco you MUST book a package and it has to be at a resort hotel or a select Good Neighbor. Not all the Good Neighbor hotels are on the list.

Since I wouldn't stay at any of the hotels that came with the Costco package, for me- the AAA Passport Plus makes more sense. However, both offer really good benefits at decent prices. It's definately worth looking into!

 

[Jacie]

Awesome, thank you!!!

 

[Domchi002]

Thanks so much!!
This helps me make my decision easier!

 

[chrissiecutie]

You're very welcome!

 

[SA mom]

I just received my AAA Passport Plus package yesterday. You have to purchase it through a AAA travel agent and many do not know about it even though it is in the AAA Disneyland brochure. I think it is on the second to last page of the booklet.

In addition to the items you mentioned, it also includes a voucher for a pin and lanyard set.

Also, Disney does not even send the packages out until about 21 days prior to your arrival. I purchased mine on March 9 and the package did not arrive in the AAA office until June 3. Our arrival date is June 25. I had to pick them up in the AAA office.

 

[chrissiecutie]

I just received my AAA Passport Plus package yesterday. You have to purchase it through a AAA travel agent and many do not know about it even though it is in the AAA Disneyland brochure. I think it is on the second to last page of the booklet.

In addition to the items you mentioned, it also includes a voucher for a pin and lanyard set.

Also, Disney does not even send the packages out until about 21 days prior to your arrival. I purchased mine on March 9 and the package did not arrive in the AAA office until June 3. Our arrival date is June 25. I had to pick them up in the AAA office.

Yes! Thanks! I forgot to include that part about the 21 days prior. I was also told that this deal will be ending soon, the AAA travel agent I spoke with mentioned the end of the year. However....it may have just been a ploy to get me to purchase. Who knows really....but something to keep in mind.

The only thing that I wish the Passport Plus had that they don't, would be the character call. I've always wanted to do that for DS, but I usually opt for savings over a pre recorded Mickey message.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

Anyone can book a Passport Plus package, it doesn't have to be booked through AAA. Disney doesn't advertise it on their website, you have to call in to book it. Since it is basically a "package" without the hotel, you can also add other things to it as well, like transportation, dining, and other area attraction tickets.

 

[chrissiecutie]

Anyone can book a Passport Plus package, it doesn't have to be booked through AAA. Disney doesn't advertise it on their website, you have to call in to book it. Since it is basically a "package" without the hotel, you can also add other things to it as well, like transportation, dining, and other area attraction tickets.

This is awesome news!

However- I wonder if all the perks are the same? For example, AAA always has free parking with their tickets, would you still get this I you purchased direct from Disney? Also, do you know if I could get the character call by going through Disney even though I'm not buying an actual "package"?

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

The free parking may be a AAA perk, but even without it it's a great deal for the preferred seating and other inclusions. Here's what I found:

Passport Plus
Save on Theme Park tickets when you buy Passport Plus in advance of your vacation trip. The fantasy and fun of the Disneyland Resort – without the accommodations.
•Valid for same-day entry into both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Theme Parks
•Disneyland Resort Park Hopper souvenir ticket - valid at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park (Including one Magic Morning admission# admission into select attractions in Disneyland Park)
•Preferred seating to select attractions in Disney California Adventure Park (one per person with paid admission)
•AAA Vacations® Diamond Card, featuring special values and savings at select locations for shopping, dining, and entertainment throughout Disneyland Resort

I have one booked for myself in August, so I'll be sure to post when I get back!

 

[SA mom]

My AAA agent also told me Disney is trying to phase out this package. She didn't know when it would end.

 

[jaydoe]

Is this just a ticket you can buy through AAA? Or is this have to be a package with a hotel room? Also, is this for any AAA member or is this tic only for California residents?? TIA

 

[SA mom]

They call it a package, but you do not have to book a hotel. We stayed at the Sheraton Park on points so we only bought the tickets. Any AAA member can purchase, but you have to do it through the travel agency or directly through Walt Disney Travel Company. Sometimes the AAA travel agents do not know anything about it even when it is in their brochure! (I think it is listed on the 2nd to last page). It was great to have the preferred seating and the kids loved their lanyards and pins (Mater).

 

[Fire14]

Can you tell me where to find info on DL site or AAA site. I am a AAA member, a costco member and AP holder.

 

[chrissiecutie]

Can you tell me where to find info on DL site or AAA site. I am a AAA member, a costco member and AP holder.

The perks of the AAA Passport Plus are pretty much the same perks that come with a Disney package. Only with AAA PP, you don't have to actually buy a package- just the tickets. Here's the link for Disney vacation packages http://disneyland.disney.go.com/vacation-packages/

For AAA, I wouldn't recommend even looking on the website. It sucks. Call your local AAA office directly and ask to speak to a travel agent. Or just reference the info that I posted at the very beginning of this thread.

Here's the link for Costco.
http://www.costcotravel.com/#12_disney_disneylandResort With Costco you HAVE to buy a package that includes select hotels. So if you have a preference for a particular hotel and it's not on the list, you're out of luck.

IMO- the best deal for me & my family is the AAA Passport Plus. I get almost ALL the same perks of a Disney package and can book separately thus saving me money AND getting to choose my preferred hotel. It really just comes down to what your family's needs are.

 

[Fire14]

The perks of the AAA Passport Plus are pretty much the same perks that come with a Disney package. Only with AAA PP, you don't have to actually buy a package- just the tickets. Here's the link for Disney vacation packages http://disneyland.disney.go.com/vacation-packages/

For AAA, I wouldn't recommend even looking on the website. It sucks. Call your local AAA office directly and ask to speak to a travel agent. Or just reference the info that I posted at the very beginning of this thread.

Here's the link for Costco.
http://www.costcotravel.com/#12_disney_disneylandResort With Costco you HAVE to buy a package that includes select hotels. So if you have a preference for a particular hotel and it's not on the list, you're out of luck.

IMO- the best deal for me & my family is the AAA Passport Plus. I get almost ALL the same perks of a Disney package and can book separately thus saving me money AND getting to choose my preferred hotel. It really just comes down to what your family's needs are.

I found the info it's page 22 of DL AAA book. Do you know if I can get the Dine in magic plan without hotel accom. I really want to stay at a certain hotel that is listed as good neighbor in tourbook and on hotel website but not on Dl website or in aaa dl book. Our local AAA office is useless for questions I know more than they do. It may not matter if they do away with for 2013.

 

[DLR29]

I found the info it's page 22 of DL AAA book. Do you know if I can get the Dine in magic plan without hotel accom. I really want to stay at a certain hotel that is listed as good neighbor in tourbook and on hotel website but not on Dl website or in aaa dl book. Our local AAA office is useless for questions I know more than they do. It may not matter if they do away with for 2013.

Don't do the dining plan! The best you can do is break even. You do not get a set amount of meals, you get a set amount of $5 ("snack") and $15 vouchers and when you use those vouchers you don't get change. So for example if you want to pay for something that costs $4.95 with a $5 voucher, you will lose 5 cents. That's not a big deal, but if you have run out of $5 vouchers, you need to either pay in cash (which defeats the purpose of a dining plan) or pay with a $15 voucher and lose $10.05 (which can add up significantly). Disney also prices the dining plan so that you pay exactly for the amount of voucher $ that you get. So by buying that thing for $4.95, you are already losing money. You would have to buy things that cost exactly $5 or exactly $15 in order to stay even. Or you can buy things that cost more and you can break even, but you would have to be paying out of pocket.

 

[Fire14]

Don't do the dining plan! The best you can do is break even. You do not get a set amount of meals, you get a set amount of $5 ("snack") and $15 vouchers and when you use those vouchers you don't get change. So for example if you want to pay for something that costs $4.95 with a $5 voucher, you will lose 5 cents. That's not a big deal, but if you have run out of $5 vouchers, you need to either pay in cash (which defeats the purpose of a dining plan) or pay with a $15 voucher and lose $10.05 (which can add up significantly). Disney also prices the dining plan so that you pay exactly for the amount of voucher $ that you get. So by buying that thing for $4.95, you are already losing money. You would have to buy things that cost exactly $5 or exactly $15 in order to stay even. Or you can buy things that cost more and you can break even, but you would have to be paying out of pocket.

Yes I'm aware of how it works, we did it for first trip to DL, we came home with vouchers because DH wouldn't listen to me on how to use to cover some of oop costs. He wants to do it again and we eat mostly TS so no problem getting money worth.

 

[disneychrista]

Do you know if I can get the Dine in magic plan without hotel accom.

Run, don't walk, away from the dinning plan. It will not save you money and you could possibly lose money. You get vouchers that you have paid face value for and you do not get change. Do if you buy dinner and it costs $12 but your voucher is $15 you lose that $3.

 

[DLR29]

Yes I'm aware of how it works, we did it for first trip to DL, we came home with vouchers because DH wouldn't listen to me on how to use to cover some of oop costs. He wants to do it again and we eat mostly TS so no problem getting money worth.

The better alternative if you really insist on pre-purchasing food, is to put that money on Disney Gift Cards. Not only does this ensure that you won't lose money, but also if you don't spend the whole amount on food, you can use it for other things. There are 0 benefits to purchasing the dining plan, considering the alternatives.

 

[disneychrista]

The better alternative if you really insist on pre-purchasing food, is to put that money on Disney Gift Cards.

I have to agree. I don't know why anyone would spend extra on the dinning package when they "understand" how it works. Put the same money on a giftcard and use that.