AAA question

[izzyBandlivismom]

Very simply put...is it worth the membership fee just for the discount at Disney??

This is what we are planning on doing....We are booking a trip in May of 2008. We will be spending a minimum of 10 nights at our Disney resort. Probably ASMU. And we will have 2 rooms. We got a thing in the mail for the membership at $53 for the year.

I am not sure how big of a discount you actually get with the AAA membership. We will also be renting a car for probably 3 days to go to Universal, sea world and 1 day trip to see family.

THANK YOU!!

 

[CanadianGuy]

The basic rules for AAA discounts...

1. Don't expect any AAA discounts to be substantial in December. Disney limits the number of AAA rooms all year round AND during their most expensive season "Holiday" which is around Christmas, my understanding is they offer NO AAA discounted rooms.
   
   [*]The amount of AAA discount varies by room type (value, mod, deluxe) and by the 'rate season' (Value, Regular, Peak, Summer, Holiday etc). You can save as much as 20% but you have to plan your trip accordingly and book EARLY to get that AAA discounted room.
   
   [*]You may notice no rate difference because there are simply no AAA discounted rooms available. Most AAA agents won't tell you this because they still want the booking. As with everything - Caveot Emptor - buyer beware; do your research.

How do you know what the AAA discount is for what time of year?

• Value Season up to 15% off at Deluxe & Vacation Club OR 20% off at Values and Mods & the Ft. Wild. campsites.
• Regular Season up to 10% off at Deluxe & Vacation Club resorts OR 15% off at Value and Mods and the Ft. Wild. campsites.
• Peak and Summer season up to 10% off Deluxe & Vacation Club OR 15% off at Value and Mods and the Ft. Wild. campsites.
• No AAA Discounts during the Holiday season

A complete list of seasons and dates those seasons apply to what level of lodging is available here on the DIS.

Going by THIS year's calendar.. part of May.. up till the 23rd is REGULAR season and May 23rd to 31st is considered Summer Season. The way I read it.. the discounts are the same for both time periods. Presuming you booked a value resort room, you'd get 15% off the rack rate.

Rack rate for All Star Music for Regular season is 99$ a night.. you'd save roughly 15$ a night off that x 10 nights -- or however long you're staying.

Hope this explains things.. if you have more questions.. fire away.

Knox

 

[izzyBandlivismom]

So if I am reading this correctly....I would save $160ish on each room. Is that correct?? Can you book multiple rooms on a AAA discount?

Thank you!!

 

[CanadianGuy]

izzy:

I believe you can book two rooms -- IF they are available for your dates. That's the key. AAA discounted rooms are NOT unlimited. Once they're gone for a given date range at a given resort .. they're gone.

So the key to the AAA discount is booking early.

If you're booking an AAA package, you must do that thru an AAA travel agent.

Knox

 

[beth_cam]

Yes you can book multiple rooms. using this years room rates, and aaa discount rates - 15%)

Checking in may 1-23 at asmu in a standard room saves you 14.85 off the room rate meaning 16.70 with tax so for 10 nights for 2 rooms = 334.

So you would definitely more than save the cost of your membership. However a deal just as good or better may come along. Even without the card you got, the membership for 1 person (that's all you need I think - not sure if 1 person covers 2 rooms) shouldn't be significantly more. I would wait to get the membership till closer to time...to meake sure you even can secure the reservation with an aaa rate.

 

[shammes53]

We saved $29 per night (times 7) on the room portion of the package we purchased through AAA, staying at POR. While this nearly $300 savings is not as much as we could have saved with free dining and rack rate, it is much better than nothing at all. We are locked into going from August 8 -15, so we missed out on the free dining, but got a value season rate at a discount, not all that bad. Plus there are extras with the AAA membership, especially for the Disney trip (preferred parking is one) I think the cost of the membership is well worth it for what we are getting.

 

[lippylulu]

Plus there are extras with the AAA membership, especially for the Disney trip (preferred parking is one) I think the cost of the membership is well worth it for what we are getting.

What is preferred parking? Would this be available if we ended up staying offsite but booked through AAA?

 

[beth_cam]

preferred parking is just a specific up front type spot in the lot. It doesn't give you free parking. As to if you get it if you stay offsite, I don't know.

 

[Tam1067]

We're saving close to $400 off 8 nights at the Polynesian in July. It's certainly worth an AAA membership if you go at a time when there are few (or no) other discounts available, and if you book early enough to get the AAA rate on the room.

 

[AnninIowa]

We don't have a AAA membership but book our trips through them and always get a great price.