Confused re: AAA vs. WDW

[ErinsMommy]

I called my local AAA and they said they can take over the reservation, everything will stay the same (DXDP), flights, room view (mk), park hopper, ground transportation, etc.), except it'll be $679.62 cheaper than my current booking. And if there's a FD or other discount later, I can still get that too.

I'm always over skeptical about things -- does this sound right??

 

[Disney Ron]

Unless I'm missing something it sounds too good to be true.

 

[Straitlover]

You can't get free dining and the AAA discount together. The agent misspoke.

 

[Disney Ron]

You can't get free dining and the AAA discount together. The agent misspoke.

True, but the OP says AAA will save her over $600 even without any other discounts.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

I called my local AAA and they said they can take over the reservation, everything will stay the same (DXDP), flights, room view (mk), park hopper, ground transportation, etc.), except it'll be $679.62 cheaper than my current booking. And if there's a FD or other discount later, I can still get that too.

I'm always over skeptical about things -- does this sound right??

I think what the agent is saying is that if free dining comes out AND it is a better discount than your $600 off, then they will give you the free dining INSTEAD of the $600 off. You would still save more money, but it would NOT be $600 + free dining. It would be free dining, instead of the $600 off (so probably an additional hundred or two off what you were already paying with AAA).

Edited to add: I hate to lose control over my reservation to an agent. If you think free dining is likely to come out for your dates, then I would keep control of the reservation myself and wait. I have read horror stories about people not being able to make changes, because they have to wait for their travel agent to do it. I suppose you can always make an entirely new reservation and cancel the old one with the travel agent, but that is a lot of work. Speaking of work, you have done all the work for this trip. Do you really want a travel agent? Maybe wait until the trip gets closer, and when you are sure you won't be making changes, then have AAA take over the ressie. The discount will probably still be around.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Yes, what Disney Ron said. She said they have a contract with Disney which is why I can get the discount. I don't know what to do now.

 

[ErinsMommy]

I just never heard of AAA taking over a reservation before -- I'm sorry I'm all over the place. I can't make any changes to the reservation since we already booked flights. Only thing I would need to do is make ADR which I'm hoping I can still do on the disney website.

 

[Buffalo2Disney]

I just booked my trip for next year with AAA yesterday and it was $400 cheaper than prices right from Disney. Having the AAA discount is usually a % off the room rate. $600 cheaper sounds about right with the AAA deal. However, as PP have stated, if a new deal from Disney comes out you can't have both the Disney deal and the AAA deal, you will have to choose which one you want. Also, you will still be able to make your ADRs yourself online at the Disney website. I have booked my last 3 trips through AAA and have always made my own ADRs online by myself.

 

[njmom76]

I booked our trip last year through AAA and had no issues with dining reservations. The price was slightly lower than I was getting myself. However, we are planning a last minute trip for this August and went to AAA today for prices and they are about 200-300 lower for a 4day/3 night stay than I am getting on my own.

 

[Halbleib1]

With AAA you also get extra perks so totally worth it imo even if you did all the work for the agent. Yes you can make your own dining reservations just be sure to get the disney confirmation number. If free dining comes for your dates just book a backup reservation on your own just in case it is sold out before your agent can do it. You can always cancel one of them and if it happens to be the AAA one you can than transfer the new one over to them for the perks. You will be giving up the AAA discount for free dining.

 

[Disney Ron]

I just booked my trip for next year with AAA yesterday and it was $400 cheaper than prices right from Disney. Having the AAA discount is usually a % off the room rate. $600 cheaper sounds about right with the AAA deal. However, as PP have stated, if a new deal from Disney comes out you can't have both the Disney deal and the AAA deal, you will have to choose which one you want. Also, you will still be able to make your ADRs yourself online at the Disney website. I have booked my last 3 trips through AAA and have always made my own ADRs online by myself.

My bad I thought before AAA would take over the ressie the OP already had a discounted rate through WDW and AAA said they could also take another $600 off on top of it. Makes sense what you said.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Oh I'm ok with that, I'm just scared somewhere along the way I'll lose a part of the package or something will get messed up. I'm trying not to be that over obsessed worry-wart.

ETA: Thank you all for the responses. It makes me feel a little bit more relaxed hearing this is not out of the ordinary from what she told me.

 

[Halbleib1]

Have booked 5 trips with AAA and never had any issues with our package. Nothing was ever messed up. I have always made my own dining reservations though because the office doesn't open till 9. Also it is easier as you can look at the times available and make changes if need be on your own. Just easier all around.

 

[StuckInKS]

For those who got a lower rate through AAA than on their own through Disney...did you check on room-only discounts with Disney on the special offers page or are you going directly through the "book my vacation" link? I know AAA has discounts, but I haven't heard of them being better than Disney's own discounts.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Personally speaking, my travel date (February 2013) is still too far out for Disney to have announce what discounts, if any, would be available during our stay. So for now, I'm taking whatever I can get.

 

[bdklein]

For those who got a lower rate through AAA than on their own through Disney...did you check on room-only discounts with Disney on the special offers page or are you going directly through the "book my vacation" link? I know AAA has discounts, but I haven't heard of them being better than Disney's own discounts.

You are right. Always need to check both Disney discount and AAA discount.

I have/had a room/tickets (was maybe going to add Dining) booked through AAA for late August. Not sure what was the AAA discount. Then I saw public code discount out there, called my AAA agent, and she applied that discount.

 

[LilyWDW]

Call and ask Disney if there is an AAA discount for your dates that can be applied to your reservation.

Did the agent already check YOUR specific reservation for availability? Even AAA offices don't have unlimited availability for offering discounts.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Yes, she checked, called me back and said I have the discount and she's going to send me the confirmation by fax sometime Monday. Thank you all again for the input, much appreciated!!

 

[francie57]

ErinsMommy - we did the exact same thing for our upcoming trip in Aug. I booked the 2 bedroom villa package we wanted at the BC first so that we were assured of having the room. Since there were no room discounts for our dates (free dining is never better for us since the rack rate is so high). I contacted my AAA agent and she took over the reservation (confirmation no. stayed the same and no problems making ADRs at 180 days). We saved $800 with the AAA discount on the villa over the pricing from Disney. Since nothing better has come out for our dates I am thrilled to be saving the $800. When the agent took over the reservation she sent me new paperwork showing everything was still the same and included the perks of AAA packages. I actually had the agent make payments on our Disney Visa every three months so that when the 45 day payoff came around we didn't have a large balance and now I have 6 months for each payment to be paid off. I wouldn't worry about them taking over at all - we have booked with AAA for years and have never had a problem.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Thank you Francie.