AAA Rates Are Out :

[GOBA Mom Lynn]

We don't know the exact dates we will need yet, so I have been hesitant to make ressies. Since we have a AAA membership, so should I just guess at the dates we will want so that we can get the discount before they run out?

 

[kakiegirl]

Question for AAA members. We are planning on joining AAA. I called Disney this week and made Ressies for a site only for June we are planning on buying APs. Disney told me the only AAA discounts were for tent pop up sites. Now if I call AAA and book a package then upgrade to an AP when I get there will I get a discount or are they limited with them also. Thanks for the advice, I hope this makes sense.

 

[TomM]

Question for AAA members. We are planning on joining AAA. I called Disney this week and made Ressies for a site only for June we are planning on buying APs. Disney told me the only AAA discounts were for tent pop up sites. Now if I call AAA and book a package then upgrade to an AP when I get there will I get a discount or are they limited with them also. Thanks for the advice, I hope this makes sense.

I got a AAA discount on a premium site, but I recently read in the forum someone received a discount on a full hook up. I would try again.

 

[LarryJ]

Question for AAA members. We are planning on joining AAA. I called Disney this week and made Ressies for a site only for June we are planning on buying APs. Disney told me the only AAA discounts were for tent pop up sites. Now if I call AAA and book a package then upgrade to an AP when I get there will I get a discount or are they limited with them also. Thanks for the advice, I hope this makes sense.

As far as the June AAA discount, there might only be AAA discounts left for tent or I think certain time frames they don't offer AAA discounts at all...like from 20 -31 Dec which is the "holiday season".

As far as booking thru AAA, IIRC you can only get a discount with a package and I don't think you can even book a FW site only thru AAA, maybe the cabins

Don't take any of this as gospel since I've never gone thru AAA and this Oct 20 to 20 Nov is the first time I've ever gotten a AAA discount and this is during the value season.

Larry

 

[mamaloya]

OK, couple of things..

On dates, if you know the general time you want to go, make the ressies for the full month leaving padding on either side of your dates. I have the full month of March booked because I don't know our exact dates yet. The army won't let us know until the last minute. You still only have to pay the one night deposit. Now, if you need to book 2 different time periods because you don't know, you will have to pay 2 deposits for the 2 ressies. It is hard with having to make the ressies so far out. They book up so early and most people don't know exact dates over a year in advance. It is this exact reason that some people luck into last minute ressies because people have to book more than they need and then when they cancel someone else gets to get them.

On AAA membership, I have been a member for years. It is a good thing to have. I know people are getting road side service from many places now, but AAA gives you roadside service, trip routing, free travel books, disounts on many hotels and campgrounds, discount disney tickets and more. I think it is worth the $47 a year membership. I have used them for lockout service, battery dying (like 5 times) and we have needed them for tire change and towing a couple of times.

On booking with AAA, you can get a site only through them, but they usually are not knowledgable, so you may want ot book a site only directly with WDW so that you can make all your requests and get everything noted. When I made mine, she had me on one line and WDW on the other and kept going back and forth. Easier to just do it myself. If you want a AAA discount on a package, you can only get that through AAA. Know what the regular price is ahead of time so you know if you are really getting the discount or not. Also, they will automatically add insurance (so does CRO). If you don't want it, let them know. It is (or was) $70 per adult traveler. If you cancel, you don't get it back. I would refuse the insurance and then add it when you make your final payment at 45 days out, that way if you have to cancel, you are not out that money. Even w/o insurance, you get it all back if you cancel before 45 days (I am 90% sure on this, so double check). If I am mistaken, someone let me know and I will delete this advice, but this is what I understood.

On AAA travel agents, not all of them have Disney knowledge. You may have to spell it all out for them. I would see if Rhonda can get a AAA discount on a package and use her before I would use AAA because she knows the fort and you know she will do it right.

Sorry so long. Hope this info helps and does not confuse you more.

 

[3gr8kids]

OK, couple of things..

On dates, if you know the general time you want to go, make the ressies for the full month leaving padding on either side of your dates. I have the full month of March booked because I don't know our exact dates yet. The army won't let us know until the last minute. You still only have to pay the one night deposit. Now, if you need to book 2 different time periods because you don't know, you will have to pay 2 deposits for the 2 ressies. It is hard with having to make the ressies so far out. They book up so early and most people don't know exact dates over a year in advance. It is this exact reason that some people luck into last minute ressies because people have to book more than they need and then when they cancel someone else gets to get them.

On AAA membership, I have been a member for years. It is a good thing to have. I know people are getting road side service from many places now, but AAA gives you roadside service, trip routing, free travel books, disounts on many hotels and campgrounds, discount disney tickets and more. I think it is worth the $47 a year membership. I have used them for lockout service, battery dying (like 5 times) and we have needed them for tire change and towing a couple of times.

On booking with AAA, you can get a site only through them, but they usually are not knowledgable, so you may want ot book a site only directly with WDW so that you can make all your requests and get everything noted. When I made mine, she had me on one line and WDW on the other and kept going back and forth. Easier to just do it myself. If you want a AAA discount on a package, you can only get that through AAA. Know what the regular price is ahead of time so you know if you are really getting the discount or not. Also, they will automatically add insurance (so does CRO). If you don't want it, let them know. It is (or was) $70 per adult traveler. If you cancel, you don't get it back. I would refuse the insurance and then add it when you make your final payment at 45 days out, that way if you have to cancel, you are not out that money. Even w/o insurance, you get it all back if you cancel before 45 days (I am 90% sure on this, so double check). If I am mistaken, someone let me know and I will delete this advice, but this is what I understood.

On AAA travel agents, not all of them have Disney knowledge. You may have to spell it all out for them. I would see if Rhonda can get a AAA discount on a package and use her before I would use AAA because she knows the fort and you know she will do it right.

Sorry so long. Hope this info helps and does not confuse you more.

Okay, I have a kind of OT question. You had mentioned that you've used AAA for towing. Would you happen to know if AAA tows a camper or will they just tow the tow vehicle? I thought I had read somewhere it was just the TV, but for some reason, I can't find where I read it. We are driving down to the fort in April (our first time towing the camper-yay!!), and I want to be sure if something happens, I'll have some way to get my camper off the side of the highway. Thanks in advance for any info!

 

[tim5055]

Okay, I have a kind of OT question. You had mentioned that you've used AAA for towing. Would you happen to know if AAA tows a camper or will they just tow the tow vehicle? I thought I had read somewhere it was just the TV, but for some reason, I can't find where I read it. We are driving down to the fort in April (our first time towing the camper-yay!!), and I want to be sure if something happens, I'll have some way to get my camper off the side of the highway. Thanks in advance for any info!

Like many businesses, AAA is kind of a franchise operation. Some local "clubs" offer an upgrade to "AAA Plus RV".

Now comes the tricky part:

If you have AAA Plus RV through your local club and have a breakdown in a club area that also offers it you are in luck.

If you have AAA Plus RV through your local club, but have the misfortune to break down in a club area that does not offer this service you are out of luck.

See, clear as mud...

I do have AAA Plus RV, but have not needed to use it.

The plus RV option is offered for: "motorcycles, motor homes, pickups with campers and travel trailers"

The web site also states: "AAA Plus membership is required for AAA PlusRV membership. AAA PlusRV benefits become effective 3 days after payment has been processed."

Now, these quotes come from the AAASouth Club. Other clubs word it differently or do not offer the service.

 

[3gr8kids]

Thanks for the info Tim. I'm thinking since the coverage is so "iffy", I'll probably sign up for Good Sam Emergency Service before we go. Any info or experience (good or bad) with them?

 

[GOBA Mom Lynn]

Thanks mamaloya, that's what I had suspected. The problem now is that we may not go at all. We were going when our high school marching band trip would be there, but now the rumors are that our school board may not approve the trip at all. The price of the airfare/ fuel may do it in. They have done this trip every-other year for so long, that it would be ashame to end the tradition because of the price of gas. Especially when my DD is finally a freshman and gets to go! Her DB is a senior, but he probably wouldn't care as much. Personally, I want to go so I can camp at FW!!

 

[cnlmom]

I booked 10 days in April 09. I was told I could only get a AAA discount on a Premium site, which after an hour on the phone, I was so confused by the end of that time I just went ahead and booked to save the spot and I figured I could keep checking on the rates.....Now after playing with the disney ressy site and checking rates, I see they charged me the full price for the premium site which is $96. I do not see any discount at all......uuuggghhhh. I will have to call again tomorrow.

 

[clkelley]

Thanks for the info Tim. I'm thinking since the coverage is so "iffy", I'll probably sign up for Good Sam Emergency Service before we go. Any info or experience (good or bad) with them?

I've had GREAT experience with Good Sam.

A couple of months ago, I was on my way home from a camping trip pulling my camper and I blew a radiator hose on the road on a Sunday afternoon. Fortunately I was right at a rest stop exit so pulled in there quickly.

I called Good Sam and told them my problem. They called me back about 20 minutes later and said that it couldn't be fixed that evening, but they found a dealer that could get it first thing on Monday, and asked me if I wanted to stay overnight at a campground or hotel. I told them campground. There was a Good Sam campground close by. Then about 2 hours later (which they told me it would be) two tow trucks showed up. One of them took my truck and the other took me and my camper to the campground. The campground gave me an extra discount on top of Good Sam since I came in on a tow truck. By 10:00 Monday morning, my truck was fixed and the repair shop came and picked me up.

The campground while sparse was immaculate.

I only have the coverage that pays for the tow, not the repairs or delays, but that 1 tow paid for my annual fee. If you've got a bigger camper than I do, 1 tow will easily pay your fee.

I went with Good Sam strictly because of price.

AAA+RV was going to be $165 per year, and had the limits stated above (we have 4 cars, plus the camper)

Good Sam was $89 for the first year and will be $119 after that. I kept a single AAA membership just for the Disney and other hotel discounts at $44 per year.

 

[3gr8kids]

I've had GREAT experience with Good Sam.

A couple of months ago, I was on my way home from a camping trip pulling my camper and I blew a radiator hose on the road on a Sunday afternoon. Fortunately I was right at a rest stop exit so pulled in there quickly.

I called Good Sam and told them my problem. They called me back about 20 minutes later and said that it couldn't be fixed that evening, but they found a dealer that could get it first thing on Monday, and asked me if I wanted to stay overnight at a campground or hotel. I told them campground. There was a Good Sam campground close by. Then about 2 hours later (which they told me it would be) two tow trucks showed up. One of them took my truck and the other took me and my camper to the campground. The campground gave me an extra discount on top of Good Sam since I came in on a tow truck. By 10:00 Monday morning, my truck was fixed and the repair shop came and picked me up.

The campground while sparse was immaculate.

I only have the coverage that pays for the tow, not the repairs or delays, but that 1 tow paid for my annual fee. If you've got a bigger camper than I do, 1 tow will easily pay your fee.

I went with Good Sam strictly because of price.

AAA+RV was going to be $165 per year, and had the limits stated above (we have 4 cars, plus the camper)

Good Sam was $89 for the first year and will be $119 after that. I kept a single AAA membership just for the Disney and other hotel discounts at $44 per year.

Thanks Carol! Good to know. I'll be signing up for Good Sam today.