AAA rates vs AP rate Comparisons

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

I thought it would be fun to start a thread so we could all compare the different discounts out there, so that people still searching for discounts can try and decide what route to go.

I don't have a AAA rate yet for our upcoming stay, but you need a AAA membership to book them and the basic one that covers you and your spouse is $45. It usually pays for itself considering the lowest discounts I've seen using AAA were 10%.

This information comes from Mousesavers.com. It's a great site with codes listed as they come out, and is updated frequently. But during Value Season you can get 15% off at Deluxe's with AAA, and 20% off the Value and Moderate resorts. During the Regular season it's usually 10% off Deluxes, and 15% off Value and Moderates. ANd during Peak season it's the same as it is during Regular Season.

AP discounts can be up to 45% off, depending on what special is going on. Right now the most recently released one (they are released between 2-3 months in advance) is from February to mid-April and it is $74 for Value resorts, $104 for moderates, and it ranges from $156-$287 for Deluxe's depending on the view and which resort.

Hope this helps some people out a bit. I'll post the quotes I got from AAA as soon as I get them on this thread.

 

[SeaSpray]

I just booked our trip today, using the AAA discount.

I booked a woods' view room at the Wilderness Lodge for July 7-10th, 2005. This is considered "value season", and the rate is $217.33 per night, INCLUDING taxes.

For comparison, here are all the AAA rates for the same time frame (value season):

Wilderness Lodge:

standard view: $188.33 per night/including taxes

woods view: $217.33 per night/including taxes

courtyard view: $241. per night/including taxes

concierge: $341.33 per night/including taxes

 

[ehallison]

I don't have a AAA rate yet for our upcoming stay, but you need a AAA membership to book them and the basic one that covers you and your spouse is $45. It usually pays for itself considering the lowest discounts I've seen using AAA were 10%.

I just wanted to point out that the basic AAA membership does NOT cover you and your spouse (at least in TX, CA, and OR where I have had AAA memberships). It covers one person only - an additional household member is about $28. It's irrelevant if both of you are traveling together. But we only have a single AAA membership, in my name, and my dh who travels on business cannot get the AAA rate at hotels because he doesn't have a card in his name.

 

[dennisnlisab96]

We booked AKL conceirge for March 3 - 9 with an AP rate of $2823.00...AAA rate was 3345.00 for the same thing.

We booked a AAA package for AKL standard view August 19-27
7 day w/ hopping tickets
Dining Plan
2 Adults
2 Juniors
2 Children
2 Infants

Total $5647.00
WDW $6179.08

Savaings of $532.06

 

[calie_j]

Here's the quotes I got with the AAA discount, I haven't booked yet as I'm waiting on some split stay quotes before I book. My quote says it includes tax and AAA discount.

Nov 26, 2005 for 7 nights (regular season)
Coronado Springs $983.00
Poly $2482.00

 

[mbcary]

Here's the quotes I got with the AAA discount, I haven't booked yet as I'm waiting on some split stay quotes before I book. My quote says it includes tax and AAA discount.

Nov 26, 2005 for 7 nights (regular season)
Coronado Springs $983.00
Poly $2482.00

If I'm not mistaken, the Value season starts again on November 27th of 2005. Make sure you are getting the value prices for those dates.

 

[calie_j]

If I'm not mistaken, the Value season starts again on November 27th of 2005. Make sure you are getting the value prices for those dates.

Thanks, you're right that value season starts the 27th and if I check in on the 26th I pay regular rates. I had picked these dates a long time ago and as I was filling out the quote form for an online disney specialist TA thought "they're gonna freak that I'm checking in for a regular rate and suggest I change my dates to the next day for value rates". So I put that I was open to that and after talking to my husband and sister (we're staying with her a couple days before WDW) decided to add that extra day to our trip, it gives us 2 nites/3days with sis and we can be dropped off early morning for check in without the guilt of not visiting long enough with her. I'm waiting for new quotes in value and the split stay.

Calie

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

Hey Ellasion thanks for pointing that out! Were from Ohio and our AAA agent had told us that both of us can use it interchangably, and my husband also got a card in his name for no additional fee. I wonder if that was just a lucky fluke on our part now or if it's like you said, different from state to state? Anyways thank you again because it was a good thing to point out!

 

[skiwee1]

I had a AAA rate for the Poly during regular season of almost $300. I got the same thing using an AP code for only $225. The AAA is really a joke and I only use it if I'm desperate! LOL!

 

[calie_j]

Hey Ellasion thanks for pointing that out! Were from Ohio and our AAA agent had told us that both of us can use it interchangably, and my husband also got a card in his name for no additional fee. I wonder if that was just a lucky fluke on our part now or if it's like you said, different from state to state? Anyways thank you again because it was a good thing to point out!

Is this your first year with AAA? I got my H on free with his own card the first year but had to pay the extra driver fee when I renewed to keep him on.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

Is this your first year with AAA? I got my H on free with his own card the first year but had to pay the extra driver fee when I renewed to keep him on.

Hey calie you know that might be it. I've been a member since I was 18 but my husband (boyfriend at the time) was never a member. After my last name changed I asked if they could get him on it as well and they did so maybe they thought it was my first year because of the name change? Thanks so much for pointing that out though, I didn't know it worked like that!

 

[dmaz]

My Ap rate for the WL during value season, standard view, is $109 a night w/out tax. That's a big difference from $188.

 

[swilphil]

My AP rate at the Contemporary, garden wing, is $199 March 17-22, which is peak season and the week before Easter. I was very happy with that.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

Okay finally got some quote differences. These are all for a 7 night stay during regular season in mid-may, at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Savannah view. It also includes the Magic your way passes with Park Hopping and Plus options.

AAA quoted us $2,735.12 tax included.

Disney Quoted us $2995.95 tax included.

We also asked Disney for the price of 2 Annual Premium Passes (to get the park hopping and plus options), and then, if Disney ran the AP rates that they have run before for the AKL (we estimated $230), we computed that the total cost, for AP passes (we live in Ohio so can only go there once a year anyways) and 7 nights at the AKL Savannah view would be $2900.18.

I know some people have said AAA is not worth it, however judging from these quotes I received from Disney and AAA themselves, I think they are sometimes the better deal, even if the AKL was only $230 a night. So if you already have an Annual Pass, then it would be cheaper to obviously use the AP rates, but we found it was not worth it to get the AP for just one 7 night visit, because AAA offered us better rates on every hotel we check out. We checked out the AKL, Polynesian, Caribbean, All Stars, and the POFQ. There was at least $100 difference that AAA was able to save us.

HOWEVER, if the rate for AKL went down with the AP passes to $199 dollars a night, which it is right now I belive in Febraury, buying a Premium Annual Pass and then booking the room only AP rates would be the better deal. So basically it's something that everyone would have to wait for and calculate, to see what best fits them. At different times of year, and depending on what hotel you wish to stay at, and what specials are running, either one could be the better deal. So if your going sometime before mid-April I am guessing buying an AP would be the best option if you can still book with that discount code and get the AP rate. If your going afterwards though AAA is looking better, unless Disney comes out with a room rate AP discount code as good as the one they have out now. Hopefully this helps people out a bit.