Booking package thru AAA - savings?

[Caitsmama]

Hi, is there any savings by booking a package thru AAA vs on the Disney site?
Thanks!

 

[su_A_ve]

Hi, is there any savings by booking a package thru AAA vs on the Disney site?
Thanks!

You cannot combine discounts...

AAA has a 10% on the room. If you book a package, you must do it with a AAA agent. A room only with the AAA discount can be booked either way.

But if you are booking a room or package under an announce promotion, no, there are no additional savings if you book with AAA.

There are a few perks of doing it with them, however, you don't have the full control over the reservation as you would if you book it directly with Disney.

Hope this helps.

 

[Caitsmama]

I understand you can not combine discounts, but i didn't know if there were any perks of booking a package (room, tix, and dining) - with NO discounts thru disney -- thru AAA instead of WDW.

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

We booked through AAA last time and got 20% off the Poly room portion of our package. We also got preferred parking at the parks, a private 20 minute storytime with a Disney character (ours was with about 15-20 other people and the character who read was Peter Pan) and a discount card for DTD (10% off I think). I know that compared to FD or other PINs this wasn't the best deal but at that time our only other option was rack rate on the Disney site (OT - just read your other post about club level at the Poly and am looking forward to trying the punch when we stay there this summer. )

 

[Caitsmama]

Thanks (you will love that punch btw!!) - that's pretty much my deal, not sure if i will get a PIN or whatever, so i just wanted to know - if AAA was a deal or not vs booking on the Disney site (with no discount).

 

[beth_cam]

If you have a good AAA rep, not having control of your reservation shouldn't be too big of a deal. They can make adjustments to your reservation for you, but you can't call disney and do it yourself. They can change the package discount you are getting at any time (depending on your AAA rep's hours).

Savings on your room or room portion of your reservation ranges 10-25%.

AAA has their own version of many of Disney's package deals - Meaning it is the exact same package as if you call Disney, however the code(?) is different. These packages have several of the little perks. Storytime, special parking (all parking is free, but AAA has their own section in the lot. It isn't necessarily the closest, but is often pretty good and pretty close. This is especially good when it is crowded. There is the discount card for shopping and I think tours(?). They also are starting special viewing area for the fireworks and parades I think.

There are other packages though that AAA does not have their own version of, or otherwise do not include all of the perks. I know parking is still included but I don't know what else. I know that the last two times I went, we did not get the story time because of the package we were booking. I do not know how much things may have changed for this year, but the wording remains "When you purchase select AAA Vacations® packages that include a dining plan" (referencing storytime), I think I saw the same wording for the special viewing events as well.

 

[diamondpixienc]

We booked through AAA & the Disney pin code offer was actually cheaper than they were so our AAA rep applied that. Now, we are both still looking for that regular Free Dining to see which would be best for us. Bottom line I think it depends on the AAA rep to see how hard they are willing to go to get you the better deal. Remember, all they can say is NO!

 

[kittycat9]

We're saving right around 20% on the Room rate portion of our package (AKL CL, value season). If we get a code or other Disney promo, our AAA agent will apply that. If disney changes the room rates, and it benefits us - AAA will also adjust for that - though I doubt the room rates will drop lower than current value season. It helps to have a Disney knowledgeable AAA agent, which is why we use one out of SC vs. the Chicago area - but that doesn't bother us at all, as we do most things over the internet anyway.

We also get the AAA extras at Disney by going with them. I don't see the downside of going with AAA. It's disney + the perks.

 

[Christine9125]

Here is the breakdown, you also gets perks for going thru AAA

According to the 2010 AAA WDW promotional booklet the AAA rate at all Value resorts regardless of time of year is 10%. The one exception being during Holiday Season from 12-17 to 12-31 in which there are no AAA reduced rates at Value Resorts.

For anyone else who might be interested:

AAA discounts for Moderate Resorts

Value season = 20%.
Regular season = 15%
Peak and Summer seasons = 10%
Holiday season = 0%

AAA discounts for Deluxe Villas

Value and Regular seasons = 20% (SSR and OKW = 25%)
Peak season = 10% (SSR and OKW = 15%)
Holiday season = 0%

AAA discounts for Deluxe Resorts

Value season = 15% (YC, BC, BWI = 20%)
Regular season = 10% (YC, BC, BWI = 15%)
Peak season = 10%
Holiday season = 0%

AAA discounts for FW Cabins and Campsites

Value season = 20%
Regular season = 15%
Peak season = 10%
Preholiday season = 20% (11-19 to 12-16, campsites only)
Holiday season = 0%

 

[belle&beast]

For our second family vacation, I had a great AAA travel agent and when discounts came available, he called me and I ended up changing resorts to get a better deal. So I think I did actually get the best available at that time- it was free park hoppers, waterparks and more. I am more comfortable booking on my own and like to have the ability to be in control of my reservation. I have always gotten some sort of discount- buy 4/get 3, free dining, pin code this time...

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

We have never traveled during peak season, so AAA has never offered the best deal for us.