AAA

[Barbara C]

Hi -

Has anyone booked their trip to WDW through AAA? If so, did you get a better deal than going directly through the Disney website? I hate that you have to call for a quote so I haven't checked it out.

Thanks!

 

[dmunsil]

AAA doesn't have any special WDW deals any more. They used to offer a small discount on packages plus one or two special bonuses (most notably the special parking pass for the AAA parking zone near the park entrance). All of that is gone.

 

[Banana22]

We booked our October trip through AAA as they were having a promotion- book a disney trip and receive a $50 disney gift card. The price was the same as booking through Disney online.

 

[dmunsil]

We booked our October trip through AAA as they were having a promotion- book a disney trip and receive a $50 disney gift card. The price was the same as booking through Disney online.

That would be a booking incentive offered by your local AAA office; they're paying for it out of their commission. You're just as likely to see it from some other travel agent as from AAA.

If you like the agents at your local AAA, or they're offering some incentive of their own, there's no reason not to use them. They just don't have any special exclusive AAA discount the way they used to. They're on an equal footing with all the other travel agencies now.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

AAA doesn't have any special WDW deals any more. They used to offer a small discount on packages plus one or two special bonuses (most notably the special parking pass for the AAA parking zone near the park entrance). All of that is gone.

What happened to the AAA parking pass?

 

[smitch425]

What happened to the AAA parking pass?

AAA and Disney parted ways a year or two ago. They no longer have a contract with special perks, like parking, fireworks viewing, story time, etc.

 

[knkmom]

We've used our TA at AAA to plan both of our past WDW trips. She's amazing, we adore her but she's not able to get anymore of a discount than we would get booking on our own. She removed all the worry and anxiety I was having when planning our first trip but for our trip in 2017 I'll be booking it all myself.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

AAA and Disney parted ways a year or two ago. They no longer have a contract with special perks, like parking, fireworks viewing, story time, etc.

What a bummer! We've booked through them in the past & loved the perks. Oh well, we enjoyed them while they lasted!

 

[NewRVLady]

OP-I seem to remember getting the AAA rate at the Swan-not sure if that still happens?

 

[dmunsil]

OP-I seem to remember getting the AAA rate at the Swan-not sure if that still happens?

Yes, the Swan still has a AAA rate, since it's a Starwood hotel (soon to be Marriott).

 

[loves to dive]

You can also get a slight discount on tickets but undercover tourist and parksavers is better. I used to use AAA when we got discounts, no more although you do still get discounts in some of the stores and restaurants in the parks so make sure to ask. I know they get sick of me since I'm always going through the list - do I get a discount for AAA, TIW, AP, Chase? If I do, which is the best? They probably want to slap me silly.

 

[NewRVLady]

Yes, the Swan still has a AAA rate, since it's a Starwood hotel (soon to be Marriott).

Wow- I have Marriott points cool!!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Yes, the Swan still has a AAA rate, since it's a Starwood hotel (soon to be Marriott).

Wow! A friend of mine will be happy to hear this. Dolphin too?

 

[dmunsil]

Wow! A friend of mine will be happy to hear this. Dolphin too?

Yes, they're both Starwood, and will soon be Marriott, when Marriott's acquisition of Starwood finishes.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Will they continue the same prrks that are currently offered such as EMH, 60 day FP+ window?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Wait, you said Marriott is taking over all Starwood properties?

 

[dmunsil]

Will they continue the same prrks that are currently offered such as EMH, 60 day FP+ window?

No one knows. My guess is that eventually those will end, because they just got rid of the EMH access at the Hilton Lake Buena Vista, and that was part of the same deal as far as I know. The Swan, Dolphin and the Hilton WDW were all built by Tishman, the primary construction company for Epcot. Part of the deal they struck was that their properties got special perks, most notably EMH. All three are still owned by Tishman, as far as I know, but while the Swan and Dolphin are still managed by Tishman, I believe the Hilton LBV is managed by Hilton.

Wait, you said Marriott is taking over all Starwood properties?

Sort of. Marriott is buying Starwood. Both of these are hotel brand companies. So all the Starwood brands (Sheraton, Westin, etc.) will become Marriott brands. One assumes at some point Starwood Preferred Guest will merge with Marriott's own program. They are not necessarily taking over the properties, except the ones that are actually owned by Starwood. Most of the hotels will continue to be owned by whoever owns them now.

See, with a hotel, you have to distinguish between the brand, the management company, and the owner. Those can (and often are) three completely different companies. The owner actually owns the property (the physical building and land). The management company is who the people who work at the hotel work for, and that company typically works under contract for the owner. The brand just licenses the brand name and sets brand standards. It's a franchise system.

It gets complicated because the management company can be a division of the owner (as in the case of Swan & Dolphin, where Tishman is the manager and owner) or the management company can be a division of the brand (as with the Doubletree Suites LBV or the Hilton Bonnet Creek, which are managed by Hilton), or it can be a completely separate company. There are even some hotels where the owner, management company, and brand are all the same, but that's actually a fairly rare situation.

I hope this isn't way more than you wanted to know.

 

[anonfrank]

To the OP, I booked our first Disney World trip via AAA 2 1/2 years ago. We got a package discount at that time. I can confirm those are no more. I compared the package deal via AAA with the Disney website, and it was the same. I therefore booked directly through Disney this time. If only spring break were in October, I could save on the dining plans. Sigh.

Oh well, I won't remember all this financial stuff for a few days next month when I'm down there.