Can you combine AAA discount with free park hopper offer?

[Teletubbie]

There was an offer few days ago for the free hopper and water park option. This was posted on the Disney website and no PIN was required and it expired on Feb 18.

I went to AAA on Feb 16 (Fri) to make my reservations for a package when this offer was active. During this visit the TA gave me some quotes with this promotion included but I was not sure of my travel dates. I went back on Feb 17 (Sat) to make my reservations. Since it was a Saturday, AAA is open half-day and was very busy. The same TA gave me the quotes for my new days and was ready to finalize it. I asked her about the FREE hopper and water park option. She said you have to buy the park hopper option to get the free water parks. I said that is not true but she brushed me off saying she is correct. It was almost their closing time, and I went ahead and made the reservation for the base tickets (with no hopper or water park.)

I get home and first thing I check the disney website and found out I was correct; both the hopper and water parks is free when you purhcase a base ticket with a package. But AAA was already closed then and won't reopen until Monday (Feb 19) by which time the promotion is dead. Disney could not make changes to my reservation because it was made by TA. Just so there is a record that I contacted Disney when the promotion is active, I sent an email to Disney directly to see if there is a small chance if the TA can make a case to apply the expired promotion when they come back on Monday.

I took a screenshot of the promotion and sent an email to the TA. The TA responded on Feb 19 (Mon); she knew she had made an error and said she will try to work with the internal AAA-Disney Sales Office. She got a reply from them saying you can not combine AAA discount with this promotion.

What I want to know from the Disney gurus here if this is really true or are they just trying to cover their mistake. Remember this is an open promotion posted on the Disney website with no PIN code required. And the TA had verbally indicate during my first visit that I can combine it with AAA discount and this is also indicated on the quote worksheet she provided.

During the same weekend since I could not contact AAA, I made another reservation as a backup for the same dates and resort with Dreams Unlimited with the free hopper and water park option. Since DU can not apply the AAA discount to the package, their rate is $200 higher than AAA.

Any suggestions on how I should proceed?
Thank you.

 

[carmiedog]

No, AAA and the free ticket upgrade could not be combined. And yes, there was quite a bit of confusion over it! Depending on where you stay and whether or not you would elect to pay OOP for the hopper/water parks with the AAA package will determine which deal is better for you.

 

[Tam1067]

That's right. You cannot combine discounts. So if free dining comes out, you also cannot use an AAA rate for free dining, either. Only one discount per package.