AAA rate? Payment due and cancellation policy??

[DisOrBust]

I am considering AAA package but want to hedge my bet in case AP rates are available so.....

How much is due on booking??

When is the rest due??

Cacellation costs???


TIA!
Sue

 

[InstImpres]

$200 are due within 14 days of booking

Payment in full 45 days out

These are Disney policies regardless of if you book direct or with any TA.

Check with your AAA office directly. Several on the boards have reported their office charges a $25 cancellation fee.


I went back and found this thread that may help too:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1032140&highlight=cancellation+fee

 

[Fionasmommy]

Same as Disney - $200 down and balance due 45 days prior to arrival.

The AAA office I used doesn't charge any additional cancellation fees.

 

[DisOrBust]

??? huh

I booked WL With AAA room only thru Disney and it was one night deposit, canell up to 5 days.

 

[#1Disfann]

??? huh

I booked WL With AAA room only thru Disney and it was one night deposit, canell up to 5 days.

Room only and packages have different cancellation policies. HTH

 

[Docsknotinn]

A room/tickets "package" Vs a room only reservation Disney Direct and buying tickets is the same except for marketing. When you book with AAA they take a $200 deposit like others said. Many AAA clubs now charge a $25 booking fee which is not refundable. If you book a "package" with AAA you owe the balance 45 days before your arrival. If You Book a AAA rate Disney direct there is no "booking fee" so you likely save $25 from the start. Your deposit on a room only reservation Disney direct is 1 nights room fee plus you pay for your tickets in full. The up side is that if you cancel as late as 6 days prior to arrival Disney will refund all of your money including the ticket price. The cancellation fee on a room and tickets "package" through AAA from 6 to 45 days prior to arrival is $100. If you book Disney direct the balance is not due until check in. Either way there is no discount for tickets through AAA and the room rate "should" be the same, however my price for tickets and room with tax was about $4.00 less booking Disney direct. I decided to cancel AAA and rebook Disney direct under a AAA rate because I know now that my requests have been entered and I can pull up my reservation on line plus the cancellation policy and deposit system works much better for us. I see no upside at all to booking a room/tickets package through AAA unless you want to keep your deposit small.

 

[Fionasmommy]

Many AAA clubs now charge a $25 booking fee which is not refundable. If you book a "package" with AAA you owe the balance 45 days before your arrival. If You Book a AAA rate Disney direct there is no "booking fee" so you likely save $25 from the start. Your deposit on a room only reservation Disney direct is 1 nights room fee plus you pay for your tickets in full. The up side is that if you cancel as late as 6 days prior to arrival Disney will refund all of your money including the ticket price.

I booked with AAA Mid-Atlantic, and was not charged a booking fee. They also don't charge a cancellation fee. However, if I cancel a package less than 45 days prior or a room only less than 6 days prior, I would be subject to the Disney cancellation policy - the same as if I had booked through Disney directly. So, the deposit amounts ($200 for a package or 1 night for a room-only) and cancellation policy are identical. But you have to use AAA if you want to book a package.

 

[Docsknotinn]

If you are booking room and tickets only why would you want a "package" that gives you the exact same thing at the same price? The package has a $100 cancellation fee if you cancel between 6 and 45 days, Vs. no cancellation fee up to 6 days prior if you buy room and tickets. I understand that for the meal plans you have no choice other than to buy a package. The only reason I can see is if you need to keep your deposit at a minimum but then you have to pay in full 45 days earlier. The bonus is that if you are in an area AAA charges a service fee you can avoid paying that fee. If you do cancel with AAA the $25 is non-refundable.

 

[Fionasmommy]

If you are booking room and tickets only why would you want a "package" that gives you the exact same thing at the same price?

Just to get dining - you have to book through AAA to get a package with dining and the AAA room discount - and with their package you also get the Diamond parking pass, discount card, and character storytelling experience.

But basically, all I was saying in my first post was that in my experience, the cancellation policy and the amount of $$ down is the same if you go through AAA or Disney.

Fees may vary from office to office, but if you get a quote from an AAA agency that adds a service/cancellation/any other fee, just shop elsewhere. We're in Colorado and booked our package w/ a great DISer that works for AAA Mid-Atlantic. The only difference is she mails our docs, rather than us going to the office to pick them up.

 

[Docsknotinn]

Some of this stuff does get a little wordy. I just wanted to make sure we were saying the same thing. I was incorrect to say AAA has the cancellation fee on the package. As you mentioned the cancellation fee is Disney's and its the same no matter who you book a package through. I was just really suprised to find out I could book a room only and buy tickets Disney direct for essentially the same price as a AAA room/ticket package with a better cancellation policy. The things you learn.

 

[Fionasmommy]

Some of this stuff does get a little wordy. I just wanted to make sure we were saying the same thing. I was incorrect to say AAA has the cancellation fee on the package. As you mentioned the cancellation fee is Disney's and its the same no matter who you book a package through. I was just really suprised to find out I could book a room only and buy tickets Disney direct for essentially the same price as a AAA room/ticket package with a better cancellation policy. The things you learn.

LOL! I know what you mean! I think we're on the same track!

I totally agree that if you don't want dining, booking room-only direct through Disney is definitely the way to go. Even at the same price, I think Disney has the edge because you can view your reservation online or call CRO yourself to make changes.

And you could probably even beat AAA package pricing if you booked a room-only through Disney and then got tickets through Ticket Mania or some other discounter - and get the better cancellation policy.