Booking with AAA vs. Disney

[MarciaR]

A facebook friend said she saves a lot of money booking directly with Disney, however I've seen some posts here about good AAA discounts. Now I'm more confused than ever. We're hoping to go in November, and we'd want a room and ticket package...I guess. I'm not sure who to book with. Thoughts? Thanks.

 

[Sundancer330]

I would check prices at both. I stopped by our local AAA travel center gave the agent the dates I wanted and where we wanted to stay and she gave me a price. When I got home I called Disney gave them the same dates and location and Disney was cheaper.

 

[MarciaR]

I would check prices at both. I stopped by our local AAA travel center gave the agent the dates I wanted and where we wanted to stay and she gave me a price. When I got home I called Disney gave them the same dates and location and Disney was cheaper.

Good idea. Thanks.

 

[uramr]

When I looked into this last year, I was told that you can book a AAA room only discount rate (if available for your dates and hotel/room type) directly with with Disney but you cannot book a AAA discount package (tickets and dining plan) unless you use a AAA travel agent.

 

[MarciaR]

When I looked into this last year, I was told that you can book a AAA room only discount rate (if available for your dates and hotel/room type) directly with with Disney but you cannot book a AAA discount package (tickets and dining plan) unless you use a AAA travel agent.

So, if I understand correctly, sometimes the AAA has discounts on tickets and dining that Disney doesn't?

 

[uramr]

At least in my exprience over our past few trips...through Disney you can book a room only with a AAA discount (if they are available for your hotel and room---as with any discount there are a limited number of rooms). The AAA room only discounts often come out close to when the room rates do for the next year which has been around July for the past few years. We have gotten 10-20% off the room with this discount. You cannot add in tickets or dining plan or make it any kind of package when you use the AAA rate though when you book directly through Disney--a room only reservation only.

If you go through a AAA travel agent, you can get the discounted room rate and you are able to make it into a package. AAA can also often get you the promotions that disney offers such as free dining or their room only discounts. Those promotions are often better than the AAA room discounts but they do not come out until closer to your reservation time.

We usually book through Disney with the AAA room only discount so that we have some discount and if a better promotion comes out along the way, add that one in instead--you cannot stack discounts so you can only have one associated with your reservation.

Please feel free to PM me if I can help--we have done the above several times now. It is also worth it to call your AAA travel agent and Disney and see if one or the other has a better deal. We have had great experiences with the Travel Agents at Disney and through AAA

 

[MarciaR]

Thanks for the offer to PM, but I guess I have to post 10 times first, and I'm very new at this.

 

[Kimberann13]

A facebook friend said she saves a lot of money booking directly with Disney, however I've seen some posts here about good AAA discounts. Now I'm more confused than ever. We're hoping to go in November, and we'd want a room and ticket package...I guess. I'm not sure who to book with. Thoughts? Thanks.

We booked our up coming trip (6/28 - 7/5) with AAA and got a better rate than with Disney AND we got 15% the two backstage tours we are doing. If you are driving I think you can get free parking too.

 

[nj disney family]

We've booked through AAA three years in a row for November trips. It's been during free dining, so we didn't get a AAA discount. The price came out the same as the Disney website. AAA has disney months in jan and July, if you book during that time you get a free year of AAA (about $60), and if you book on certain days you also get a $25 Visa card. They also give you disney luggage tags, discount card for stores and entertainment down there, voucher for $10 at the resort arcade, and a voucher for a souvenir at planet Hollywood, among other things.

 

[pookadoo77]

I called my AAA today. Their tickets are 12.00 cheaper for 4 day park hoppers, in SC. Hope this helps someone....

 

[sue0723]

This is the same discount and freebies that Disney gives away too I think if your able to do it yourself your better in the long run versus the aaa surcharge in my opinion!

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

Most PP's were correct--if you call yourself, you can only get the room at a discount. However, AAA offices do also sell discount Disney tickets, so you can kinda double dip that way. If you go through an agent at AAA, they do have discounted packages, which may or may not be cheaper than any current promotions Disney have. I've found with our office the agents are extremely helpful in comparing to get us the best price. There is no charge to use them, and you do get the discount card mentioned with the perks. You don't get free parking, but you do get a dedicated lot closer to the front of the park.

 

[sue0723]

Can we book thwr disney n get room n dining and buy our tickets elsewhere?

 

[pookadoo77]

ok, talked to my local AAA office last week. I asked if the rumor was true that AAA and Disney were parting ways, they said yes. Next year no more discounted tix they will still offer travel arrangements though, dont know how great they will be.....