CAA question -worth it?

[Freddie Beach Shelly]

For those who are CAA members, I'm thinking of signing up for CAA. Planning on vacationing in the World early November (Regular season - 9 night visit) or early in December (before Christmas - Value season). What do you think my savings for a room only rate would be? Value or Moderate? To sign up for CAA, the cost would be $85...do you think I could see the return on that with booking my room?

Typically, are the savings worth it? Anybody have any experience with this?

 

[Webln]

Typically, are the savings worth it? Anybody have any experience with this?

You bet! We booked our February trip with CAA and saved $250 (2 rooms) + parking passes + trip kit (we drove to Florida).

Plus you can get tripkits for all your other trips during the year, save on magazines subscriptions, car insurance and benefit from road assistance.

 

[digskat]

Yes, we booked 10 nights POFQ, one day base tickets, and DDP for Nov
for the four of us for $2469 US, we saved $300. We only got the base tickets as we had 8 non expiry left from a previous trip. We use it for the hotels there and back and for a few other times throughout the year.

 

[tmli]

Here in Ontario we have a membership that is for people who don't want/need the road service but would like to take advantage of all the other benefits of being a member. Here in Ontario it is called an ala carte and is around $35. You may want to check with your office if you don't need the road service.

 

[Freddie Beach Shelly]

Would I find a deeper discount during the value season or regular season? What about staying at a value resort or moderate resort during either of those seasons? Does anyone know if the discounts are 10%, 15%, 20%?

Thank you, as always!

 

[NikP]

CAA discounts are the same as AAA discounts. Mary from mousesavers has all the discount information on her website. w w w . m o u s e s a v e r s . c o m This website is also a great place for other discount info. Don't forget to sign up for her newsletter!

 

[SandraC]

CAA Cost us [$ 62.00]
Resort Savings $290.00
Disney Tickets Savings $200.00
Maps and Books Savings $100.00

TOTAL $$$$ SAVED WITH CAA $528.00!!!!!!!

And that's just the Disney Trip! We plan on using CAA for our summer vacations! Sandra

 

[jenkh]

Hey all,

We're members if CAA already. We're planning on going again this decmeber (value season)

But this time were going for the dining package. So does CAA offer discounts on the packages or just rooms only?

Thanks

 

[digskat]

Would I find a deeper discount during the value season or regular season? What about staying at a value resort or moderate resort during either of those seasons? Does anyone know if the discounts are 10%, 15%, 20%?

Thank you, as always!

Okay here are the quotes I recieved for our trip, which I believe is considered value season:
Our request was for quotes for 10 nights at either POFQ or ASMOstandard rm, 1 day base ticket and DDP, for the four of us, DH,me,DD8,DS6 for Nov 27/06-Dec7/06

CAA quoted me POFQ-$2469 US
ASMo-$1950 US

TA quotes POFQ-$2750 US
ASMo-$2121 US

In addition, CAA give you prefered parking pass, meal vouchare for Planet Hollywood, free gift from Planet Hollywood and Photopass with free 5X7 you can order on line. Hope this helps Cheers Kathy

 

[Freddie Beach Shelly]

Okay, I'm going to sound really stupid here, but what is a one day base ticket and DDP?

 

[digskat]

DDP- disney dining plan
1 day base ticket- one day into any Park -no hopper no plus etc, we got the one day so we could do the dining plan, we have 8 days with non exipry for all of us from a previous trip. So oijust bought the minimum. Cheers Kathy

 

[Freddie Beach Shelly]

I just spoke to a CAA agent who said the Disney Dining Plan is $35/per person per day. Can you tell me a little bit about the DDP itself? Like if it is only $35 per day, do you have to really be careful what you get throughout the day in order to have a fairly nice sit down meal? Thanks to all those answering my questions...it is very much appreciated. Hopefully, somebody else will be able to learn from my questions too!

 

[Freddie Beach Shelly]

I may have just had a 'blonder' moment. Maybe the agent meant the plan itself cost $35/per person per day. I was thinking you couldn't spend more than $35 per person per day on meals. That would be difficult as we all know how expensive it is to eat at Disney. Can you say DUH!!!!!!

 

[digskat]

For the disney dining plan check out
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1023429&goto=newpost
it gives you tons of info. Characte meals are included as Table services.

 

[wagonwheel2]

I was skeptical about CAA, but have to admit I saved BIG TIME for just the hotel alone. We were quoted $321 US/night for a condo. With CAA, I got it for $192 US/night. Over 7 nights saved us a bunch. Also got a significant deal with Hertz rental car, and the rate was Cdn.

My husband now calls me the "Budget Queen" !

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Here in Ontario we have a membership that is for people who don't want/need the road service but would like to take advantage of all the other benefits of being a member. Here in Ontario it is called an ala carte and is around $35. You may want to check with your office if you don't need the road service.

Thanks tmli for the advise!

I was going into CAA to buy a membership simply for the travel discounts, and I don't need the auto part (I have ONSTAR). So, yesterday I'm a new a la carte member.

Plus CAA also has discounted movie tickets for members. I got an adult ticket for $7.11 + GST and a child's ticket with popcorn, drink and treat for $9.78 + GST with no blackouts, and use at Famous Players, Cineplex Odeon or Galaxy theatres.

This is exactly why I spend so much time on the boards!!!

 

[SplashMom]

Does anyone know if you can get the special parking pass from CAA if you don't book your package through them, but you are a CAA member? We are members but when I priced our package, I was told by Disney that I would have to choose between the CAA discount or the package discount, I couldn't have both. Since I wanted to have access to all my own arrangements, I booked through Disney. Now I have seen that there is a special parking area for CAA members and I was wondering if I could still have this benefit? Would I just contact my local rep?

 

[Mortlives]

Alas, the parking pass is only for if you book through them. Actually, you can book the package through CAA and get all their benefits.

We have been members for a few years now. Since we drive down, the triptiks are great, and the hotel discounts along the way always make the membership pay for itself. In addition, booking our cruise through them, we saved a few hundred dollars and got a $150 shipboard credit, plus a coupon for discounts on the ship. And, unlike what I hear other travel agents do, they had no problem with giving us our DCL reservation number so I could book my own excursions, look at my reservation, etc.

 

[daver]

Hi All;

I just came back for Disney. After much looking and searching, I decided to book directly through Disney. I looked at CAA but couldnt see a real savings after paying for membership. We pd $3499.00 U.S. for 9 nights at POR -- That was for 5 ppl - 3 adults and 2 children (daughter 14). The package included dining, and 8 day disney tickets including park hopper and water parks.
So about 1000.00 more but for 1 more adult on dining which is 300.00 and ph and 8 days vs 1 ...... Also the comfort level of dealing direct with Disney was better than say "Bargain Bills vacation thrills"
We probably would do the same again unless someone can show me real great savings for same package.

 

[SplashMom]

Wow--that was a great deal you had! When I put in the info for your rates, it looks like you saved almost $1000. We are paying $3972 for 3 adults and 1 child for 9 nights with dining and we have the free park hopper and water parks. Did you get the free hopper and water parks as well? It looks like you had a room discount too. The CAA rates are definitely not that good.