Codes vs AAA discount for May 2010...

[lillykat]

Since booking is opening up soon - I have two choices to book with disney itself or book thru AAA. Historically have there been discounts out for mid may? (I'm hoping the 3 for 4 will be out or free dining but I'm not holding my breath). So my question is - are there usually discounts out that time b.c we booked thru AAA last time to get a discount b.c we figured there wouldn't be a code when we went last time (just missed free dining) but we had a horrible experience with them. We really could use a discount -but I'm hesitant to book thru AAA if there is likely going to be some discount then I would prefer to book thru disney itself.

What would you do?

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

We are planning to go in June 2010.... I am waiting to see what the packages will be... Rumor is they will be out sometime in the next few weeks... But I am probably just going to end up booking rooms only for right now because we are wanting to do a split stay.... My understanding is that you don't have to book through AAA to get the AAA discount... you can just call Disney and book directly and give them your AAA number and they will apply the discount (which is usually 10% I believe). That's probably what I am going to do... and then if something better comes up between now and June, I can just call Disney back and have them apply the new/better promotion code.... I'll be stalking the boards to see if anything good comes up.... you never know with this ecomony...

 

[lillykat]

But you can only do a room only booking with AAA thru disney - the packages have to go thru AAA. Last time they TA at AAA told us if a code came out it would be no problem to switch - but then AFTER we booked - we decided to add free dining and she tried to tell us if a code comes out that they will charge us a $50 change fee to just get the code rate for a package with dining (this is before the 45 day mark not after final payment was due). And it took us 3 weeks to get the dining plan added b.c she was NEVER available (read on vacation) when we called or came in to add it. I worry that if I book thru them I won't get them to add the code in time while there is still availability at the poly or that they will argue that there are extra charges for changing to a code.

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

I read somewhere that the package deals through AAA are not any better than the ones booked directly through Disney (e.g. no additional discount)... So I don't really see any benefit in booking through AAA?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

lillykat, I can't really answer your original question as I'm in the same boat. I want to book a trip for August 2010 at the Poly and am considering going through AAA to lock in at least their discount while I'm waiting to see what codes/PINs might be available for that time. I can confirm that you are correct, you must book through a AAA agent in order to receive the AAA discount on a package. Only room-only reservations may be made with Disney directly. And there is a AAA discount on the packages.

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

Oh -- well that's good to know...Are the discounts on the packages only on the room portion? Or do they discount the tickets and dining plans as well?

 

[lillykat]

Oh -- well that's good to know...Are the discounts on the packages only on the room portion? Or do they discount the tickets and dining plans as well?

Not really sure but we saved about $300-400 dollars on our poly package and you get some extras like story time with a character if you book the package with dining. Which is why I don't know what to do. That 10-15% off is really helpful but if there is a better code that comes out I fear we won't get it - and I really hated working with AAA last time.

 

[CheriePenguin]

I read somewhere that the package deals through AAA are not any better than the ones booked directly through Disney (e.g. no additional discount)... So I don't really see any benefit in booking through AAA?

The room discount from AAA is the same as the AAA discount going through Disney, and if you take any sort of Disney deal (free dining, room % discount, etc.), you lose the AAA room discount.

Most of the AAA package perks seem to be the same as the ones listed through Disney, except for at least 2 -
the AAA diamond card saves you a certain % at certain stores (World of Disney I think), and gets you some other things like extra time on the speedboats, etc. (not sure all the details off the top of my head) and you get AAA Diamond Parking - which my Dad just LOVED last time - you get to park in closer sections at the parks, sometimes right near the handicapped parking sections.

 

[lagal]

Not really sure but we saved about $300-400 dollars on our poly package and you get some extras like story time with a character if you book the package with dining. Which is why I don't know what to do. That 10-15% off is really helpful but if there is a better code that comes out I fear we won't get it - and I really hated working with AAA last time.

I say GO with your gut feeling...if you really hated AAA that bad last time, I wouldn't even consider dealing with them this go round...