Booked room with AAA...questions

[flyerwife]

I recently booked the POP for late July-early Aug through AAA, resort only. I was surprised to see that I was able to save $120 on 7 nights, which I thought was very good.

My agent didn't give me much info and my reservation confirmation came in the mail today and didn't give much info either.

It did say that we would need to show the AAA card upon check-in. Does anyone who has booked through AAA remember if they were asked for the card at check-in? And what if the card is in my husband's name but I am the one checking in? I don't want any unwelcome surprises.

Also, since I booked hotel only with AAA, will I get any other perks (luggage tags, parking pass, specials)?

Thanks so much for your replies. I've been to Disney over 20x but never used AAA to book. I did not realize they would save me anything on a resort-only reservation.

 

[YesMickey]

I recently booked the POP for late July-early Aug through AAA, resort only. I was surprised to see that I was able to save $120 on 7 nights, which I thought was very good.

My agent didn't give me much info and my reservation confirmation came in the mail today and didn't give much info either.

It did say that we would need to show the AAA card upon check-in. Does anyone who has booked through AAA remember if they were asked for the card at check-in? And what if the card is in my husband's name but I am the one checking in? I don't want any unwelcome surprises.

Also, since I booked hotel only with AAA, will I get any other perks (luggage tags, parking pass, specials)?

Thanks so much for your replies. I've been to Disney over 20x but never used AAA to book. I did not realize they would save me anything on a resort-only reservation.

Answer to first question is No, I have booked AAA twice in the last two years and have never been asked for my AAA card, just my I.D. Besides, would AAA book a trip for a Non-member?
2nd Question. Yes you will get a package from AAA. You will get a diamond card for premium free parking, and luggage tags. You will also get a discount card for discounts for shopping at particular places. Booking with AAA is great, both times I specified a particular building I wanted to stay in and got it both times. We are currently booked for our November trip and specified the same building we stayed at last time.

 

[krissymickey]

Can anyone tell me what discounts AAA gives for disney value and moderate resorts and is there any block out dates in their discounts? I was curious if it would pay to join AAA just for disney room discounts?

 

[CleveRocks]

I recently booked the POP for late July-early Aug through AAA, resort only. I was surprised to see that I was able to save $120 on 7 nights, which I thought was very good.

My agent didn't give me much info and my reservation confirmation came in the mail today and didn't give much info either.

It did say that we would need to show the AAA card upon check-in. Does anyone who has booked through AAA remember if they were asked for the card at check-in? And what if the card is in my husband's name but I am the one checking in? I don't want any unwelcome surprises.

Also, since I booked hotel only with AAA, will I get any other perks (luggage tags, parking pass, specials)?

Disney will not supply you with souvenir luggage tags because that is a perk for people who reserved a "package" and you made a "room-only" reservation.

Are you flying to Orlando? If you are, then you are eligible for Disney's Magical Express, which is free round-trip bus transportation between resort and airport, as well as free automatic luggage handling/delivery one-way from airport to resort room. You get this no matter who you booked through and no matter how you bought your air travel.

 

[jdes88]

Answer to first question is No, I have booked AAA twice in the last two years and have never been asked for my AAA card, just my I.D. Besides, would AAA book a trip for a Non-member?
2nd Question. Yes you will get a package from AAA. You will get a diamond card for premium free parking, and luggage tags. You will also get a discount card for discounts for shopping at particular places. Booking with AAA is great, both times I specified a particular building I wanted to stay in and got it both times. We are currently booked for our November trip and specified the same building we stayed at last time.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
No I don't think you get anything for just room only---since you didn't do tickets with them...you just go down there & check in. I've never been asked for my AAA card when I checked in.

 

[EnnEss]

Answer to first question is No, I have booked AAA twice in the last two years and have never been asked for my AAA card, just my I.D. Besides, would AAA book a trip for a Non-member?

AAA books for non members all the time. They can ask for your card, it doesnt matter if its your husbands and the thing is your name, that will be fine, but bring your card just in case, they can ask, they make that clear in the wording of the discount.

You only get that discount if you book a package through them, room only bookings do not get the diamond package. The package has 10 percent off purchases at World of Disney in DTD over 50 dollars, 15 perent off rentals of most boats at WDW, 15 percent off some dining at DTD, 3 or 4 places, a free car seat if you rent a car with hertz, a possible upgrade if you rent a car with hertz of the car category, and some other things I dont remember. I did the package with AAA just for the merch disc and because I wanted to rent a searacer this time.

 

[Tuliplvr]

I've never been asked for my AAA card either

 

[flyerwife]

Thanks for your replies. I appreciate the help. I never thought I'd save much going through AAA, especially for a Disney value resort only (no tix, no air, etc) but apparently I did.

I also appreciate the info on Magical Express; we've used that service before and plan to use it again....definitely worthwhile and a time and money saver.

Can anyone tell me what discounts AAA gives for disney value and moderate resorts and is there any block out dates in their discounts? I was curious if it would pay to join AAA just for disney room discounts?

I saved about 12% on the first 5 nights of my stay...only enough to cover the tax, which is still a decent amount. But the last 3 nights of the stay, the savings was more significant...so what would have cost me $913 for a value resort for 8 nights only cost me $793 through AAA. I saved $120. The membership is less than $75/yr so it is definitely worth it. Just FYI, the membership will also save you lots of $$$ at other hotels such as Marriott and Hilton, and it can really pay for itself in just a couple of nights use.

 

[sassyat30]

We had to show our AAA card when we checked in at POR this past January.

 

[smallworldnh]

Hi, I also booked through AAA and I'm not a member. They said I will be receiving all my luggage tags and vouchers within two weeks of my trip. I did book a package though.

 

[Aliceacc]

Can anyone tell me what discounts AAA gives for disney value and moderate resorts and is there any block out dates in their discounts? I was curious if it would pay to join AAA just for disney room discounts?

It did for us. It cost us ballpark $50 to join.
Taken from mousesavers.com:

"AAA and CAA Resort Hotel Discounts
American Automobile Association (AAA) and Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) members qualify for "room only" discounts almost year-round, though there are a limited number of rooms available for each date. You can generally save about 10-20% at the Disney resort hotels, depending on the season.

In general, the discounts run as follows:

During Value Season you can get up to 15% off at the Disney Deluxe and Disney Vacation Club resorts, or 20% off at the Value and Moderate resorts and the Ft. Wilderness campsites.

During Regular Season you can usually get up to 10% off at the Disney Deluxe and Disney Vacation Club resorts, or 15% off at the Value and Moderate resorts and the Ft. Wilderness campsites.

During Peak Season and Summer Season you can usually get up to 10% off at the Disney Deluxe and Disney Vacation Club resorts, or 15% off at the Value and Moderate resorts.

The only time AAA/CAA discounts don't usually apply is Holiday Season (around Christmas) at the Value and Moderate resorts.

You don't have to book AAA/CAA rates through the Auto Club. Room-only reservations with an AAA discount can be booked directly through the Disney Reservation Center at (407) W-DISNEY or a travel agent who specializes in Disney travel. Just ask if there is an AAA or CAA discount for your dates and resort.

AAA/CAA rates for all of the following year are usually released in the summer. 2008 AAA/CAA "room only" discounts were released on August 5, 2007."

 

[Atchley]

Here is a link to the AAA Disney Guidebook on the AAA website.

http://www.disneytravelebrochurewdw.com/aaavacations/index.aspx?agencyID=159&an=AAA TRAVEL

If you flip through the book to pages 11-12, on page 12 it shows the discounts for different resorts and dates through AAA. We are staying at a deluxe this July. The week we are going the deluxes are on the value season, so we are saving 15% off our room. The same week, the moderates are on Summer season and we would only save 10% there. We figured it up and to go from a preferred room at a moderate to a standard room at WL was only $139.00! WL here we come!!!! It really pays to look through and do some figuring yourself. You'll be able to find the best deal for your family.

 

[Jennasis]

Hey guys! I am on th cusp of booking a pkg through AAA in a day or two for our trip in December. I got a good rate (I think) for 5days/4nights at Pop with tix (park hopping added) and the dining plan. $1156.50 to be exact. Works out to $65.60 per night, park tix are $265/adult (me and DH) and the diningplan is $30pp/day.

My question for you AAA experts: I don't recall the agent mentioning this, but is theme park parking for AAA members FREE?? Or is it just a "preferred lot" closer to the entrance?

 

[Atchley]

I'm pretty sure that if you are staying at a Disney resort, parking at the parks is free. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.) The Diamond Lot is just a little closer to the parks. We don't ever drive. We always use Disney Transportation. And your deal, doesn't sound bad to me!!

 

[Jennasis]

SCORE! We'll be driving to most of the parks (first time ever for that...have always bussed it in the past). But the only way I could convince my parents, who are going with us, to stay at a value resort was to remind them that DH and I are driving and will have a car, since my dad HATES waiting for the bus....or having no seat. He really wanted to do a deluxe but it's not in our (or their) budget. Realistically, though I'm not "sold" on Pop (or any of the values) we really are only in the room to sleep!

 

[addicted2dizney]

I used my AAA card to get prefered parking once at the MK. We had a car for the week and mostly used Dis busses but it was our last day so we drove over so we could scoot out to our car and then off to the airport.
I was so happy to "flash" my AAA card and get moved all the way up to the front of the lot! Here's the problem.... By this time in the day there had to be 100 rows of cars filled behind us! There was no tram car to take us through the tunnel and into the TTC. We had to walk!! It would have been easier to just park randomly and get in. Did anyone else have this problem?

Also, what have people used their cards for inside the park to get discounts? I always forget about mine!