AAA--should we, or shouldn't we?

[bigbabyblues]

We are not currently AAA members, but since our trip is for May 2005, I'm considering asking my parents to get us a membership for a Christmas gift this year. Would it be worth it? How will it benefit me on this trip? We are planning on staying at a value resort (may upgrade to CBR if we get a good enough discount code), I had planned to get a package because it's easier, and I figured the tickets/resort separately on disney's site and came up with a difference that was less than $20 for what we wanted, and I don't think that's worth the hassle of doing things separately. If it would be cheaper with AAA, I would probably consider doing things separately.

Does anyone have any info on this, and if it would be worth the membership fee? I would want to book the trip myself, not going through AAA, can I still do that?

Thanks so much, Steph

 

[bigbabyblues]

OK, another question. I just called our AAA office in town, and she gave me the price of the membership ($53), which is fine, but she was extremely pushy and insisted that THEY would have to make my reservations, watch for and apply codes, and all that. She also hinted that THEY were the only ones who found out about the codes, which irritates me because I know better, but oh well.

Do I HAVE to let them book the trip for me, or can I do it myself and still get the AAA discount? I'm too picky to let anyone else do it, I want to do it and know it's done right, and if something gets messed up and I don't get what I want, I only have myself to blame. She also said they only sell 4-day PHs, which will NOT do for my 6-7 day trip.

Now I'm even more confused.....

~Steph

 

[Microcell]

Correct me if I am wrong here, but I don't think the deals through AAA are the best to be had. I looked into it for tickets and a co worker offered to buy them on her AAA if I wanted but it was like $16 dollars in savings overall and I didn't think it was worth her time to put her through going to get the tickets and pay for them, then pay her back. That same coworker asked the same thing about booking because all I wanted were tickets thru them and she said they were fine with just buying tickets. That is in Kansas City if you want to use them- just look for them on the web site. All I wanted was four day so that is all dear coworker asked about.

 

[maggiew]

You can get a AAA rate directly through Disney. Just call CRO and ask if a AAA rate is available. I had a AAA reservation through CRO for AKL. See if the AAA rate is available and then see if it saves you at least $53.

Personally I think AAA is worth it, even if they didn't get you a hotel discount. I feel safer on the road with AAA. I just got a flat tire on Friday and was glad I had AAA. Once my power steering quit on my old van and I was on the turnpike with my 9 month pregnant friend coming back from her baby shower in Ohio!!!

You can buy tickets through them if you want. I think it depends on what ticket you want, which AAA agency you have (the types of tickets they sell vary). You can get some tickets cheaper through ticketbrokers but some are cheaper through AAA.

Personally I would NOT buy a package through AAA. You are able to get better deals on your own.

Maggie

 

[peg2001]

AAA packages must be booked through AAA

You can book your own AAA discount room-only reservation. This is what we did by calling WDW direct ourselves. We got our Parkhopper tickets separately at the Disney Store (no discount). Our local AAA office did not have the tickets we wanted.

Best of luck.
Peggy

 

[swilshire]

AAA's other services are well worth the price of membership. I've never booked travel through them but have used them lots for flats, towing, maps, travel books, passport photos and the like. Even if you know the way somewhere, they mark the road construction on your maps and give great info about where the rest areas are, along with mileages that the kids use to track our progress.

I also have a AAA credit card that gives 5% back on gasoline at pay-at-the-pump locations. It adds up with three drivers.

Sheila

 

[ceecee]

I have gotten the AAA rate by calling directly and making my own reservations. The AAA package quotes that we have gotten were always high. The only time I did a package was the Fairy Tale last year. I booked room only and got the AAA rate this year (I think the savings was $8.00 a nite at PC). Still hoping for another great package deal though!

 

[coachYO & my 3 girls]

I think AAA is worth it.
You can book directly with DW for room only rates or you can go through AAA for a pakckage, they have some nice benefits with their packages, like the parking pass along with the hospitality room access.
Now here is why I go it, if you go to Universal you get 10% off food and merchandise at all the retaurants and stores there. I can easily see saving $53 there alone, plus my wife found out you save 15% at casual corner and she'll be shopping before we go so think of those things too. I know there is a whole lot of other places to save at. YO

 

[dee2zo]

You also get a discount at any Reebok outlet (I believe it is 20%). My AAA pays for itself Disney or no Disney!!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I think it's worth it as well...We bought the "buy one year get one year free" annual passes for Universal and Islands of Adventure. They won't expire until Sept. of next year! That one ticket was worth the price of membership! Also, right now down here, they have a Busch Gardens/Sea World ticket that is good from now until Dec. 31 of this year for $59...they always have some decent specials, even if the hotel discounts aren't the best to be had. We got AAA rate on our room only reservation through CRO ourselves also, but we also have AP's so I'm still hoping for a better rate.

 

[CheapMom]

I have AAA in case of a flat tire ... I don't see the advantage of using them for travel- their rates don't seem competitive
I think the discount codes offered to the general public beat the pants off of AAA-

 

[whozit]

I joined AAA last year to get a discount on a room-only reservation. This was the period of time when the FairyTale Package just came out and there were no room-only discount codes offered by Disney. We booked the FTP (7 days for the price of 4) and wanted to add a couple of days of room-only. The savings on the room paid for the AAA fee, but after we got back, I decided I really didn't need the road service aspect (since 99% of the time, I drive a company car), so I called AAA and cancelled the remainder of the year (and received a pro-rated refund).

By the way, when I made the reservation (through CRO), I was not a AAA member yet, but I told them I was going to join. They stressed that I must have the AAA card to check in with that rate. When I did check in, I was rooting around for the AAA card and the CM said she didn't need to see it. I told her that CRO said if I didn't show it, they would charge me a higher rate...the CM said that at the front desk, the computer doesn't give them the ability to change the room rate from what is on the reservation. So, I suppose, I didn't need to join at all (but I wouldn't risk it....if I needed it, I'd join AAA again).

 

[vhoffman]

AAA also has discounts at places you wouldn't think of, like Payless Shoes (10% off) Lenscrafters, and many restaurants. We recently took a weekend trip to Galveston, TX and saved $20 per night hotel, plus 10% off at nearby restaurants and giftshops. Total savings for our little weekend getaway came to about $65, more than the price of membership right there. I always ask if there's a AAA discount, I've found it accepted at many museums, attractions such as Seaworld, Imax theatre (some), Six Flags, etc. IMO, its well worth it. However, I have it for security on the road. There's always once a year I'm glad I did. My Dad got me a AAA membership when I started driving. I just assumed everyone had one. Well, don't they???

 

[RweTHEREyet]

They also have a credit card available that when you use it for your gasoline purchases you get a 5% discount. You purchase your gas paying with the card, the charge hits, and then a few days later you get a 5% credit posted directly to your credit card from AAA for your purchase. With today's gas prices, that is really helpful. I have been using this card for about a month now for gas purchases and with filling up 2 cars it has saved me about $12.00. Every little bit helps. You have to have the membership to get the card.

 

[buzzlady]

We booked our July 2003 trip with AAA. We booked the package w/Silver Plan. I had priced everything out on the Disney site, including air and car. I took all of my info w/me when I went to AAA to get a price. The 1st phone call she made gave me a price higher than what I had priced out. She then made another call. I asked if they had a central AAA that handled all of the reservations? I didn't know how it all worked. She told me that they work with travel companies. I don't know who she called the 1st time but the 2nd time it was the WDTC. That time the person on the phone was starting to give the travel agent some #s when the travel agent said to person on the phone that she (me) has it all priced out from the Disney site and has all of her figures in front of her. Waited a few more minutes and got a new price that was about $200 less than what I priced out with the exact same flight and car. So we booked. Then about 1 month later found out from Dis that POFQ was closing. What a battle that was with the TA. She knew nothing about it. I'm the one that told her. Finally got that straightened out. Then found out about codes here. I found a code for our time of travel and called her w/ it. Another hassle. She finally agreed to call and see if the code could be applied to our package. Saved over $200 more dollars. I don't know if it was just our TA or not, but I would never go through AAA again. If I had found the DIS sooner, I could have done it all myself.

 

[vhoffman]

I never could see why to bother with travel agents. they're just after the highest commission, which is based on the highest price. why should they be bothered applying codes, discounts, etc., just to reduce their commission? We're going to Hawaii this summer. I priced a package through AAA, then found I could get the EXACT same accomodations, rental car, airfare, on my own for about $4000 cheaper! They didn't even bother applying the AAA discount (duh?) AAA arranges their packages through independent travel agencies, they don't make the arrangements themselves. So, if you want to use your AAA discount, don't make the arrangements through AAA

 

[bigbabyblues]

I don't think we're going to do it, at least not for the reasonI had originally intended, which was for this trip. It sounded odd to me that she insisted that I couldn't get as good of rates on my own, with or without the codes, etc. We will be booking a package, and I don't want to pay the AAA price my co-worker paid for her Disney trip and thought she had a good deal, because she doesn't know about messageboards and things like this.

We are considering it for travel safety, etc., but not because of this trip. I am interested in that gasoline card though, we spend over $300 a month in gas......

Thanks for all your replies!

~Steph