Is AAA worth joining for discounts?

[wdwdawg]

Can someone please tell me if joining AAA is worth joining to get the discounts at the Disney resorts?

Thanks - WDWDAWG

 

[bicker]

If you're not going to take advantage of the peace-of-mind you get from AAA's roadside assistance service, then you won't necessarily feel the AAA hotel discounts are worth the money.

 

[Tissa]

I've been trying to decide this myself. I have a new car w/roadside assistance so aaa will be of no use to me in that way. What you have to do is decide on where you want to stay value,mod or deluxe then take the percentage off for the time frame you are going to get the savings then subtract the yearly fee $69 to see if it is worth it to you. I decided because we are staying at a value during regular season that it's not worth it to us.
You can go to the AAA website without being a member and see what the rooms are going for.

 

[safetymom]

There is also a show your card and save program at AAA. All around the country you can get discounts if you show your card. We found it very useful and saved much more than the cost of membership.

I bought it for peace of mind when driving and the discounts are just a bonus.

 

[adisneynut]

We have been members since 2000. I have only needed thier assistance 2 times but let me tell you when you are out of town and need a battery recharged the membership fee really doesn't figure into.

However with general public discounts a distant memory, I have found for our next trip the AAA discount is less than the FL resident code of POP. So to me it is worth it but you can also use it to get discounts at most zoos, amusment parks, movies, even LensCrafter discounts.

That is my two cents worth. Just be happy with your own choices.

 

[bdklein]

We find that between the free maps, Guidebooks, discounts (including Payless Shoe stores), that the AAA is a good deal. Plus you have roadside assistance, even if it is not your car (a friend, relative, etc.).

 

[LukenDC]

I joined AAA this year and I don't even have a car. I joined just to get the discounts and I am glad that I did. I saved several hundred dollars off of my eight night stay at WDW by getting a AAA room only discount (15% off the rates at Poly and AKL). I am also using a 15% AAA room only discount for my September stay at Boardwalk Inn.

In addition to the Disney discounts, AAA has great discounts with a number of retailers for everyday items such as books, flowers, eye glasses/contact lenses, etc. I also got a great deal on home insurance. I am definitely a big fan of AAA!

A AAA membership is not expensive. I believe that mine cost $55.

 

[lark]

I use AAA services like triptiks and maps and stuff. We have an AAA office very close to me, so whenever I'm going somewhere, it's very easy to stop in and get a map and a guidebook and stuff.

Coupled with the peace of mind of roadside assistance and the discounts at WDW, it's a no brainer. We found the roadside assistance to be better than one of the car manufacturer's roadside assistance plans -- much quicker, but I understand that some of the manufacturer ones for the expensive cars (like BMW) are really great.

If you stay at mods or deluxes, or stay for extended stays at value, I think it starts to be worth it. I used to be a toss up, because you could usually get something close to or better than the AAA rate with room only codes, but those are drying up. We usually buy big park hopper tickets and save them for our next trips, and so the package deals that are currently in fashion with WDW are a waste for us -- accordinly, we need room only codes, and AAA has turned out to be just great. We're thinking about doing one or two nights in the main building at the GF next year for a special occasion, as part of a longer trip, and the savings alone with AAA would be nearly $200.

 

[JulieAnne]

I bought it so that I could get the cheaper rate @ the Poly. That was before the recent new codes (although for my date they're not out yet) but I feel pretty comfortable with my reservation in hand.

 

[Blondiex46]

my kids locked my keys in the car the other day and that was worth the 55.00 for me. I think so. I paid 99.00 a night over thanksgiving for POR b/c of the AAA discount.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

I joined AAA and booked a package with them. I paid $44 for AAA membership and the cost difference between Disney and AAA was $217 that I saved from the package, so I actually saved: $173

 

[bdklein]

Not that I know all the details, but for when I am going (May 2006) you could only get the AAA discount rate and the Dining Plan and the Hopper Tickets by booking through AAA. Just being an AAA member and booking through WDW Travel gets you the AAA room rate, but then you can't get the Dining Plan (and the Hopper tickets).

 

[kelleigh1]

AAA is well worth the price...for the roadside assistance and the discounts.

On Black Friday, I took my IL's shopping. Last year, we'd convinced them to join AAA. They're so glad we did. Shopping at the outlets, they enjoyed an additional 20% discount at Reebok (that's on top of sale prices) and 15% at Wilson's Leather (again, in addition to the sale price). Then we headed down to Plymouth for a visit to the Mayflower and Plimoth Plantation...again, a discount on the tickets. In what we saved just on that one day, they more than paid for their membership.

 

[lynr]

In addition to the piece of mind in traveling. My AAA agent saved me $1005 on our trip, so it was well worth my $44 investment.

 

[Tissa]

Wow 44 & 55 to join is a lot better than the $69 it is going to cost me in Texas.

 

[timandlesley]

If I join AAA and book through them and a code comes out can they apply it to the ressie for me??

Lesley

 

[riu girl]

I am planning on purchasing AAA/CAA membership just shortly before we go to Florida, therefore, I will only have a temporary card at check-in.

Will this be ok?????
Thank you
Suzy V

 

[lark]

If I join AAA and book through them and a code comes out can they apply it to the ressie for me??

Lesley

Yes, any travel agent, including an AAA agent, can apply a MYW package or room only code, if it's better than the AAA deal.

Here's a brief recap, since it's such an often asked question:

1) Room only AAA rate: Can be booked by anyone through CRO, and by any travel agent.

2) Disney MYW package at rack rates or using special discount codes: Can be booked by anyone through CRO, and by any travel agent.

3) MYW package with AAA discount on the room portion: Can only be booked through AAA.

4) Special MYW packages for AAA (happens infrequently -- some reported getting these for November and December 2005): Can only be booked through AAA.

 

[skbasnett]

If I join AAA and book through them and a code comes out can they apply it to the ressie for me??

Lesley

We can try to apply it but nothing is guaranteed as there are only so many rooms that have any codes associated with them and there are a good number of agents trying to get them for clients. But we do try!

 

[DW mouser]

Most definitely!! I had a package with Disney Travel and rebooked with Kristin Basnett through AAA and saved $606 on 3 rooms at POFQ the end of March!! You can always ask for a quote or figure it yourself and then find out if they have any discounted rooms left for the dates you are going.