Great results from AAA

[dpuck1998]

Ok, first I called Disney to get prices and check availability for
the Jan 31st Western. We were back and forth between
Cat. 7, 8, 9 and 10. After getting a price for a Cat. 10 and
make a reservation from Disney I read about some AAA
discounts. E-mailed AAA and they were excellent. They got
transfered my reservations over and got me room 5020.
I'm sure most of you know that that room is hard to get.
Disney didn't have it when I called so either I got real lucky
and it opened up the day AAA got my reservation or somehow
AAA had it already...don't know!!
Anyway, after saving me about 800 bucks I opted for the
AAA insurance instead of the Disney insurance. 40 bucks
a person.....that alone saved me $200 bucks. So I thought
I would plug the great service and money saving I got here
since the board was such a great service.
If I keep up at this pace of research until my cruise I think I
will be able to walk around the Magic with my eyes closed
and I haven't set foot on it yet

Thanks for all the help....

 

[adisneynut]

Book the reservation with DCL first and then switch it over to AAA. Was AAA cheaper than DCL? Were you able to get all the AAA perks, the mugs and the 10% off shopping on board at one of the shops? I have thought about trying this but I wasn't sure if it would work. DCL has a lower rate than AAA for the date we are looking at. Thanks

 

[dpuck1998]

AAA rates for our date were cheaper. We did get the free mugs and 10 percent discounts when we switched over. I called DCL to cancel and they convinced me to just switch the reservation instead of cancelling. We got all the AAA perks and used the less expensive insurance also.

 

[adisneynut]

Well I have to say good job.

 

[professorandmom]

Learned about the AAA insurance from these boards (the same company as disney BTW) and also saved!

When Costco opened here in Indy they offered free memberships. Used that number to get a Costco quote - which was less than AAA. Then presented the info to AAA who matched the price.

In addition, I got a AAA Visa and managed to earn about $200 AAA credits which came off the final cruise payment just by charging my usual things.

Then along came the Disney VISA card with a better deal...

Now about DCL being cheaper - my agent called DCL (while I was sitting there) to get a quote) - can't imagine that DCL could be cheaper. She explained that AAA charges the DCL rate and then you get the AAA perks...maybe not all offices are the same.

Barbara

 

[appink]

We booked through AAA for next August. I got 5 quotes and they were the cheapest.

My agent has been so helpful. I have already had a few questions and she has been quick to answer.

Great experience so far.

Patti

 

[Snoopyto]

I just got back off the Magic Western Cruise and have learned my lesson about AAA.

This was our 3rd Cruise and I always booked through Disney Direct. My Mom wanted to go, so I figure, I got a few days, if she doesn't go, it is 'Oh Well'. So call Disney, got price and then called AAA and got the same exact Price. Except AAA gets you the soda mugs, which for 2 people works out to about 76.00 not to mention the 10% discount, it made more sense.

From now on, I am calling AAA.

 

[ReadyForDisney2003]

10% discount off the rate that Disney quoted? That sounds pretty substantial.

And, I just got AAA, but booked my cruise ages ago. I may have to look at booking insurance through AAA before my final payment is due. Any differences?

Sandra

 

[Snoopyto]

Actually it is 10% off merchandise in Treasure Ketch.

 

[ReadyForDisney2003]

OK then. Not such a great deal. I'm happy with my shipboard credit.

LOL.

 

[Wishing on a star]

dpuck, it is great that you were happy with what you found at AAA!!! Congrats on the SPR. We have 5520 booked for our upcoming cruise...

However, I had to say that I think that finding good rates, and good TA's through AAA can be hard, hit or miss at best... When I checked into AAA, they were quoting DCL rack-rates. And, the TA was pretty much clueless about DCL. And this was at a special 'Disney Day' at the AAA office. (Just one example, she had never heard of the Secret Porthole Rooms.) I felt like I could have booked a cruise for her, not the other way around!

There are good deals, rebates, and great TA's out there through agencies, like DU, (as well as others like allseas, etc...) Guess it takes more than a free soda mug to get my business. And, like you are mentioning, it pays to shop around!!!

 

[dpuck1998]

I agree with the above post, as they say YMMV. I did
my entire reservation via e-mail with AAA, never spoke
to a human being. But I spend a lot of time on a computer
and did a LOT of research on DCL before I did anything.
I checked prices everywhere and then went to AAA
with my vacation pretty much all set for them to book it.
If you need more help you might be better served with
a more full service TA.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Hey dpuck. I just noticed your counter that says 'Our first cruise'... Ours will be our very first cruise too! It is so exciting! we are really looking forward to it!

 

[joyfull]

I wish I would have went to AAA to get our cruise booked. We went with a local TA. I have found every discount we have gotten, and have just lost a room because we have a TA and disney can't change rooms or anything about the reservation without the TA calling! To top it all off we don't even get any perks (10% off , free drinks, nothing). We are just stuck with a very bad TA. Well i have learned my lesson. I will be booking my own vacations from here on out.

 

[adisneynut]

That was for a Sept. cruise in 2004. Well today I aksed for another quote for a different time and the rates were the same. Of couse it is just cruise with taxes and gov. fees. I have not added insurance yet.

I really have to wonder if insurance is needed if you aren't flying. We plan to drive down.

I had rather book with AAA and get the perks if the rate is the same. DCL was asking 404.00 for trip insurnace and tranfers.

Oh by the way both of these quotes are just .31 more for a cat.11 than allseastravel. However allseastravel is less 340.31 on a cat. 10.

Just thought I would share.

 

[joyfull]

I know I know everyone says to get the insurance. But I called the insurance companys (one with disney the other with trip care) and they really didn't cover anything that I would need. We are driving and arriving one week early,so im sure we will get to the ship on time. We are in the military, and I checked. Tri Care will pick up any medical cost (even outside the COnus). And neither of the insurance plans would cover War Time deployments or other TDY's so what is the point? I know my TA was really pushing the insurance, but I went over everything that the insurance would cover and decided that we were covered.

We didn't get the ground travel either, we didn't need it since we are driving. We will just need to pay for parking.

 

[binoyjames]

At what point do you switch to AAA? Before payment, during payment or after payment?

Also do I miss out on something if I transfer to AAA? I mean what Disney perks do I lose with the transfer?

thanks,
binoy.

 

[joyfull]

Wish I could switch to AAA

 

[adisneynut]

I suppose you can switch to AAA at any time. The person who began this thread said she called and try to cancel her reservation with DCL . DCL encoured her to switch the reservation over to AAA instead of canceling.

Now if you turn your reservation over to AAA you will have to let them handle everything. Including going to thier office to pick up tickets. You won't loose any Disney perks. However they don't always know when about certain codes that can get you on board credit. So you have to watch for these yourself and pass the info on to you AAA TA.

With AAA you get free refillable mugs for each person in your party. A 35.00 value per person. Also a diamond card that gets you 10% off one of the stores on board and at castaway cays. Now yo have to purchase at least 75.00 to get the discount.

 

[dclwdwlover]

Last cruise I transferred my reserv. to AAA & this time (for our Nov. cruise) I did, too.
I also suggest to make the full reserv. yourself & then transfer it to AAA for the AAA perks BEFORE you pay the full amt. 60 days prior to cruising. Last time - & apparently this time, too - I had/have a very NICE TA, but not necessarily 'up' on Disney info. nor 'on the ball' regarding discounts, etc.
These boards are great, tho. I just discovered them several weeks ago & learned here about quite a few things - including the AAA travel ins. vs. DCL's.
If your cruise is quite a bit away I suggest waiting & watching for the AAA 'sales' before transferring.
Ex.: In Jan. of this year they offered a $100.00 on-board (which includes Castaway Cay) credit PER stateroom, plus their usual perks if you booked by 1/31 - which includes transferring an existing reserv. that you booked directly.
Also, you really have to just check EVERYTHING out - sometimes AAA has been cheaper - sometimes calling DCL directly is cheaper. For example, again, I was able to get my staterooms cheaper than AAA could, but my reserv. @ Universal was much cheaper thru my AAA TA.
Confusing, huh?