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[Mandysue1976]

Does anyone have experience with saving money with AAA? I have no other means of getting discounts...no Costco membership...no timeshare...no travel clubs, so I thought maybe AAA would be an easy and affordable way to save some money on our trip in June. We'll be going to several national parks in Utah, then to DL, then to the Grand Canyon. We are driving from Iowa.

 

[Xenorye]

Does anyone have experience with saving money with AAA? I have no other means of getting discounts...no Costco membership...no timeshare...no travel clubs, so I thought maybe AAA would be an easy and affordable way to save some money on our trip in June. We'll be going to several national parks in Utah, then to DL, then to the Grand Canyon. We are driving from Iowa.

I am booking my February trip through a AAA Travel Agent, and saving approximately $200-$300 off if I booked through getawaytoday.com or even more through Disney themselves.

 

[madigraham]

I am booking my February trip through a AAA Travel Agent, and saving approximately $200-$300 off if I booked through getawaytoday.com or even more through Disney themselves.

I havent used AAA but i know you can book through special offers on disneyland.com and have a significant discount. It just depends what offer is out when so if your dates are flexible i would keep an eye out for that.

Regarding your AAA discount... did you have to pay the travel agent? Did they get you discount airfare?

 

[blackjackdelta]

You pay no agent fee's thru AAA.

Jack

 

[Rhonna]

I always heard on the boards that AAA packages were not necessarily a good deal? We have tickets already and AP rate (only the 10%) at DLH for November. AAA can't give me anything better can they? I mean hotel cost wise, the perks usually aren't what we need.

For example, we don't need MM or preferred seating for Aladdin, TTBAB, character stuff or little gifts. A friend gave us their AAA VIP booklet once and other than Aladdin seating it wasn't that helpful to us.

 

[Xenorye]

Not sure about details on AP rates and such, and I'm not talking about airfare. Disney pays the agents so they pass along all discounts. Agent may charge you for booking airfare, but if so, just don't book air with them.

 

[Mandysue1976]

Thanks for your responses. I don't think I'll bother with AAA, but will just keep watching for other discounts! This board is very helpful with that!!

I did book rooms at Anaheim Plaza for $69. I know it's not a super nice hotel, but I'm stoked about the price!

Thanks again!

 

[Nomarian]

I have been watching prices for the Disneyland hotel packages for at least 2 months now and they have not changed one bit and the cost for my family to go was still over $3000.00 in December.

I did not have an AAA membership, but was able to test out the cost of the same trip through AAA and found that the cost was about $350 cheaper. I went ahead and paid for the membership to AAA which was $50 and then booked the trip through AA and saved $350 on the same trip priced on the Disneyland website. Overall, I saved $300 and got a free AAA membership. To me that was a win win.

Hope that helps you.

 

[SA mom]

You may want a AAA membership for the road trip. AAA will send you free maps and their Tour Book for the areas you are visiting. You can pick them up at a AAA office if there is one close to you or they will mail it to you free of charge.

The Tour Book lists all sorts of discounts (hotel, restaurant, attractions) as well as basic info for the area. If you are going to major cities, the Tour Books usually include good walking tours with maps.

We never go on a trip without our AAA maps and Tour Books.

 

[Malcon10t]

There are a lot of places that offer discounts if you show your AAA card, such as Tahoe Joe's, Travel Centers, Petro Centers, and Landry's just to name a few.

 

[Mandysue1976]

I have been watching prices for the Disneyland hotel packages for at least 2 months now and they have not changed one bit and the cost for my family to go was still over $3000.00 in December.

I did not have an AAA membership, but was able to test out the cost of the same trip through AAA and found that the cost was about $350 cheaper. I went ahead and paid for the membership to AAA which was $50 and then booked the trip through AA and saved $350 on the same trip priced on the Disneyland website. Overall, I saved $300 and got a free AAA membership. To me that was a win win.

Hope that helps you.

Hmmm, that's quite convincing. It would offer some comfort to have AAA coverage while driving cross-country and I should be able to at least recoup a $50 membership fee.

 

[Nomarian]

Yes, the cost savings and the recoup of the membership to AAA sealed it for us. Keep in mind that we are staying onsite and purchased our park hoppers at the same time as well. I am not sure you would save as much staying offsite or buying your tickets separately.

 

[mgrace79]

Does anyone have experience with saving money with AAA? I have no other means of getting discounts...no Costco membership...no timeshare...no travel clubs, so I thought maybe AAA would be an easy and affordable way to save some money on our trip in June. We'll be going to several national parks in Utah, then to DL, then to the Grand Canyon. We are driving from Iowa.

Side note for savings not DL related: look into buying a national parks pass its good for a whole year! Might be worth it If u are visiting multiple parks across the states. I think last time I bought one it was $85 we recouped this easily on our trip (az/ut/co/wy tour) plus could take advantage of it for a full year

 

[Mandysue1976]

Side note for savings not DL related: look into buying a national parks pass its good for a whole year! Might be worth it If u are visiting multiple parks across the states. I think last time I bought one it was $85 we recouped this easily on our trip (az/ut/co/wy tour) plus could take advantage of it for a full year

YES! Thanks! I am planning on doing this! Did you buy online or at the first park you went to?

 

[mgrace79]

YES! Thanks! I am planning on doing this! Did you buy online or at the first park you went to?

Sorry took so long to reply back. We got our prior to the trip from our local US Forest Service center it's only a couple miles from our home. But I believe you can get them at game and fish sites as well as national park services. But if none are close by I'd definitely buy ahead online. Keeps the flow of traffic gong for park entry.

 

[southlake]

This is interesting. I am an AAA member, and when I priced out our trip in May through AAA, it was MORE expensive than when I priced it out through Disneyland.com!

We ended up buying AP's on our recent trip in October, and the AP rate and the AAA rate were both the same on our room - 10%.

 

[junmatno]

I priced the same exact trip through AAA and its 600 cheaper! Staying at DLH 6/9-6/15. BUT, I priced our Uncles room at Annabella for the same period and it was the EXACT SAME! I think they apply the AAA to the resort hotels only