AAA question? how to get quote?

[alexandhadleysmommy]

Can anyone explain AAA to me? We don't have it but I don't mind getting it if it saves us some money. Can anyone help???

THanks

 

[RMulieri]

It depends...If all you want is a discount on a resort room, you can call Disney Cro and they can tell you what is available.If you want a pkg with tickets or the dining plan, you would need to book that thru your local AAA travel office, so you would need to call them to get a quote.

 

[Aliceacc]

Until we got our PIN code, the AAA discount was great. We were getting 15% off the price of a Deluxe room, saving us some serious money! (it's less of a savings as you go down in price for the room. If you're thinking Value resort, do the math before deciding to join; the savings may or may not justify the cost of joining.)

Of course, after years of not being AAA members, we joined, then needed their roadside service, so I'm really glad we spent the money.

Call and ask for a quote, both on the accomodations you were considering, and on the cost of joining in your area.

 

[brentalex]

Can anyone explain AAA to me? We don't have it but I don't mind getting it if it saves us some money. Can anyone help???

THanks

There is a 10-20 percent discount on the room rates, depending on the resort and the time of year. There is a limited amount of rooms available with the discount, so it is possible that at a particular resort, all the discounts could be used up.
The AAA card is good for many other discounts other than at Disney. You can get discounted movie theatre tickets, discounts at many stores and services and discounts at other hotels when you travel other places. Depending on how you use it, you often can get your money back by getting discounts throughout the year.

 

[BostonRob]

There is a 10-20 percent discount on the room rates, depending on the resort and the time of year. There is a limited amount of rooms available with the discount, so it is possible that at a particular resort, all the discounts could be used up.
The AAA card is good for many other discounts other than at Disney. You can get discounted movie theatre tickets, discounts at many stores and services and discounts at other hotels when you travel other places. Depending on how you use it, you often can get your money back by getting discounts throughout the year.

Its a good thing to have. I think we saved like 15 or 20% off a boat rental at WDW with out AAA card.

 

[disneyin2008]

I have AAA but after talking to the local office, I'm going to book through Disney. AAA requires a NON refundable deposit of one night's stay. You can't even change dates without encurring a fee. Disney told me that they charge you a deposit of one night, but so long as you cancel 5 days before your arrival date you get 100% refund, and changes don't cost but are subject to the rates for the new dates. AAA told me I had to pay for 1 day tickets even though I have an AP voucher already (which I showed them) in order to get the dining plan. Disney told me I can add the dining plan up to 1 week before I arrive. If I add it now, I have to pay a higher deposit which is still refundable but 45 days before arrival not 5, so they recommended I wait until a week or so before I arrive to add it and then pay it all then instead of 45 days out. They said they run out of rooms often, but never run out of dining plans!

I love my AAA card, have had it since I was 16, and it's saved my bacon a lot of times with flats, towing, maps, jump starts, etc.....but their travel agency rules are way to strict for me. I have serious concern that I may have to change or even cancel my vacation if the economy continues to tank. Life happens and I don't want it to cost me if I don't have to.

So, knowing those rules, what advantages are there for booking through AAA? The price was the same as Disney's AAA rate. Are there other things that AAA offers that Disney doesn't? I know AAA's talked of a lanyard and special pin, but that hardly seems worth the loss for changes/cancel?

 

[Aliceacc]

With AAA you can book a package and get the discount off the price of your room.

If you book through Disney, you can't combine the discount and a package (so no DDP that way.)

 

[BostonRob]

With AAA you can book a package and get the discount off the price of your room.

If you book through Disney, you can't combine the discount and a package (so no DDP that way.)

Sure, if you get in early enough to get a discounted room. But then you run the nonrefundable risks that concern the above poster. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure I'm right - only a certain amount of rooms are offered at the AAA discounted rate, and for the most part, those sell quickly. After they're gone, all AAA can get you is a rack rate (or whatever other promotions are going on).

 

[Aliceacc]

I hadn't heard that they sell quickly, but then again we booked a year in advance. Anyone else have more reliable info???

 

[MisunderstoodLilo]

I have AAA but after talking to the local office, I'm going to book through Disney. AAA requires a NON refundable deposit of one night's stay. You can't even change dates without encurring a fee. Disney told me that they charge you a deposit of one night, but so long as you cancel 5 days before your arrival date you get 100% refund, and changes don't cost but are subject to the rates for the new dates. AAA told me I had to pay for 1 day tickets even though I have an AP voucher already (which I showed them) in order to get the dining plan. Disney told me I can add the dining plan up to 1 week before I arrive. If I add it now, I have to pay a higher deposit which is still refundable but 45 days before arrival not 5, so they recommended I wait until a week or so before I arrive to add it and then pay it all then instead of 45 days out. They said they run out of rooms often, but never run out of dining plans!

It sounds like the person you spoke with tried to sell you a package, not a room only.

AAA follows Disney's policies.

If you book a room only with AAA, it's one night deposit that is refundable up to 5 days prior. The catch with this is...the AAA agent MUST book this over the phone with Disney. It cannot be booked thru the Disney/AAA Travel Agent website. Disney allows you to change the dates with no penalty, so if AAA is telling you differently, your local branch may have change fees and service fees. (Remember...AAA is run different region to region...check with your local area for their policies on service fees.)

Room only reservations do not have to be booked with AAA in order to get the discount.

If you are looking for a package with tickets and dining, the only way to get the AAA discount is by booking a package with AAA Travel. Disney cannot give you a AAA discount on a package. Depending on the time of year you travel, this could save you a lot of money. A package requires a deposit ($200.00) and the balance will need to be paid in full 45 days prior to arrival. That is Disney's policy, not AAA. AAA may bump the final payment day up by a week if you are paying by check or cash to ensure the funds make it over and the res doesn't get cancelled on Disney's end. Also, if you book a package with AAA you do get some extra perks like the Diamond Savings Card and the Storytime session (dining plan package only).

Hope this helps!