Book through AAA or Disney?

[Familyx4]

We are a family of 4 (two children 18 and 15) from Virginia. We are planning a Disney World trip for 10 days in July 2011. It has been a few years since we have visited and want to be really smart and cost consious.

Is it cheaper to book through AAA or direct through Disney? We want to stay at Port Orleans with a 10 day park hopper pass. We are not interested in paying extra for the dining pan.

Thanks for any help.

 

[alyssa810]

Why don't you get quotes from both? Since becoming DVC members, we don't do much package booking, and we've been annual passholders since 2002, so most of our bookings were always room only. In that respect, the AP rates were usually better than AAA rates.
The first times we stayed on site at DL however, we booked awesome packages through AAA, and they came with perks like unlimited fastpasses and preferred seating at some of the shows.
I know people really like Dreams Unlimited (I believe they're a Disboard sponsor too); you might want to give them a try too. One of my co-workers books all his WDW trips through them.
Another thing to keep in mind is maybe getting one AP for potential room discounts, not to mention other discounts that come with an AP, like dining and shopping.

 

[NJDisney]

I think going through Disney would be better but the difference is probably minimal. I think there are so many options that the markup is not great.

 

[mejkjj97]

The offer the same deals if you are booking a vacation package (lets say free dining) since they are an authorize Disney vacation specialist. If Disney is offering room only discounts you can get these also through AAA.

Differences come in if you are booking your room seperately from tickets. AAA has discounted tickets and if you need to add days to your ticket while in Disney it's cheaper. AAA also has discounts on the rooms year round (if Disney has room only discounts they are better than AAA and you can get these rates if you call disney direct also)

So the answer to your question is depends on how you want to book your vacation

 

[Disney1976]

As a TA, I can tell you that sometimes AAA gets deals for slightly less than what Disney or another TA (who would quote the same price) can give you. I know because several of the TA's in my company lost bookings to people who went with AAA when the price was slightly cheaper.

The trade off is that AAA will not continue to monitor your reservation for any future discounts, can be a bit of a hassle when it comes to making changes to your reservation if you have to, and aren't much help when it comes to dining and recreation reservations.

But if you're comfortable doing all that stuff yourself, I'd get a quote from both and then compare and see if they come up cheaper.

 

[lan3]

I called both and AAA was cheaper and my travel agent is so nice and helpful!

 

[Oceana]

I called both and AAA was cheaper and my travel agent is so nice and helpful!

Dont forget you get a couple of perks with AAA you dont get anywhere else.

Diamond parking! Rather than park where everyone else parks you can park in the lot just behind the handicap spots which is NICE

Story Time, AAA people who book Disney through AAA get a ticket to make a reservation for an exclusive story time. It is in the same building as Tony's on Main Street behind all that camera/photo stuff. A character comes and reads a story to the kids and then pictures and autographs. The character always a face character and usually male. I understand it is very rare to get a princess but as a mom of boys we prefer Peter Pan anyhow. We did have the Fairy Godmother once too.

Those are the biggies

You also get luggage tags and an itenerary folder

 

[padawans]

I booked through AAA because it was the only discount available for next spring. I got 20% off my room. I think that disney( at least I'm hoping) will offer 40% again. If they do I hope I don't have any trouble getting a hold of my TA to rebook it. She was very nice and I'd like to see her get a commision, but patience is not one of my best qualities. I figure if I have any problems I can book it myself and cancel the one with AAA.

 

[bushdianee]

AAA also has a parade viewing area at MK,, a 10% discount at WOD and some restaurants & preferred parking if needed. My AAA TA also made all our adrs including BBB.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

AAA also has a parade viewing area at MK,, a 10% discount at WOD and some restaurants & preferred parking if needed. My AAA TA also made all our adrs including BBB.

I have always booked with AAA and have never heard of a special parade viewing area in MK?? Do tell me more, please!

 

[bushdianee]

I booked with them this year and there was a voucher for viewing the afternoon parade at MK from the upper level of the platform at the train station. I waited too long to make my reservation and wasn't able to use it as all of the spots were gone for the whole week. You call the same number as you do for the story time. BTW both times we've done story time we've had females, Fairy Godmother the first time and Jasmine this past June.

 

[bear_mom]

I booked with AAA this year due to there not being any discounts and them being slightly cheaper. Then Disney announced the discounts for later this year and my TA applied them to my reservation for me.

She also made my candlelight processional reservations for me as we were on a train to Chicago at the time they opened up.

Emily

 

[luckyfin]

My niece visited in August and went to the AAA Storybook experience. It was Jasmine and there were only 3 kids there. They were able to get a lot of face time with the princess.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

I booked with them this year and there was a voucher for viewing the afternoon parade at MK from the upper level of the platform at the train station. I waited too long to make my reservation and wasn't able to use it as all of the spots were gone for the whole week. You call the same number as you do for the story time. BTW both times we've done story time we've had females, Fairy Godmother the first time and Jasmine this past June.

Good to know...thanks!

 

[myhouseofmouse]

I leave in 2 weeks for our trip and just picked up my packet. Speaking of the Parade viewing area,I was told by my agent that "Disney" was not continuing this extra perk next year. Just a heads up, kinda stinks, its sounds like a great perk, can not wait to see for myself.

 

[disneydreamer74]

I booked my package with AAA as well. I did compare the prices with Disney travel and they were the same price. So, by booking with AAA I just got some extras,like the storytime reading, 10% coupon for WoD, free parking, etc. She did inform me that the preferred parade viewing will not be in effect for 2011..Bummer!

 

[bcbg11]

The trade off is that AAA will not continue to monitor your reservation for any future discounts, can be a bit of a hassle when it comes to making changes to your reservation if you have to, and aren't much help when it comes to dining and recreation reservations.

I just heard back from AAA and they said they would continue to monitor for future discounts. I have already booked through someone else, WITH INSURANCE. AAA said that once you book insurance, they don't refund it. Do you think I could cancel and rebook with AAA and apply the insurance through them? They were like $200 cheaper than the agent I booked with. Bummed right now.