Questions about booking through AAA

[jayhjay]

I am a little confused about booking my trip through AAA. I got a price from a regular travel agent and then a quote from AAA. According to the AAA rep, they discount room rates 10-20%. My understanding is that I can't get the AAA discount on a whole package on my own or through a TA, I have to get it through them. Am I understanding that right? So presumably, booking a package through them is a better deal than on my own or with a travel agent, yes?

But what happens if Disney offers a Visa discount or general public discount after I book? Can AAA apply that? Do I have to rebook through Disney (and lose my deposit)? I want to make sure I am not locking myself out of getting any potential discounts by booking through AAA.

Folks on these boards are so savvy about getting discounts I am hoping someone can help me get the best deal possible. Thanks! JJ

 

[wdhinn89]

I reserved a room with Disney using the AAA discount then I called AAA and asked for a package quote. The cost was the same as adding the discounted room + tickets + dining plan. So it showed me that my quote only discounted the room part only.

Since I was not really interested in the dining plan, I kept the AAA room discount with Disney and went to my local AAA and bought my tickets there at a discount. So for me it was cheaper to do everything separately. BUT if you want the dining plan then you have to go through AAA.

 

[su_A_ve]

AAA discount is only on the room portion of a package.

Also, AAA only sell discounted tickets with water option. That is, if you only do multi-day+hopper, the price is the same as via disney.

Now, a package will be cheaper than a room-only+tix, if you don't do the water option.

Finally, for OP, once you get a code, you can have the AAA TA apply the Disney visa code.

 

[jayhjay]

AAA discount is only on the room portion of a package.

Also, AAA only sell discounted tickets with water option. That is, if you only do multi-day+hopper, the price is the same as via disney.

Now, a package will be cheaper than a room-only+tix, if you don't do the water option.

Finally, for OP, once you get a code, you can have the AAA TA apply the Disney visa code.

Ok, so the bottom line if I want a dining and to get an AAA discount, I need to book through AAA, is that right? If I want just tickets and room, I can book through AAA or Disney.

As to the second issue, does anyone have trouble getting AAA to apply the Disney visa (or any other) discount code? She seemed to hedge a bit when I asked, but I wasn't sure if that was just a CYA issue, or if there is any reason to anticipate it might be a problem.

Thanks!

 

[wdhinn89]

AAA discount is only on the room portion of a package.

Also, AAA only sell discounted tickets with water option. That is, if you only do multi-day+hopper, the price is the same as via disney.

I just purchased 4-10 Day PH non expiration tickets WITHOUT the water options at my local AAA office and they were discounted. I live in NY if that makes a difference.

 

[su_A_ve]

Ok, so the bottom line if I want a dining and to get an AAA discount, I need to book through AAA, is that right? If I want just tickets and room, I can book through AAA or Disney.

As to the second issue, does anyone have trouble getting AAA to apply the Disney visa (or any other) discount code? She seemed to hedge a bit when I asked, but I wasn't sure if that was just a CYA issue, or if there is any reason to anticipate it might be a problem.

Thanks!

Unless you have an Annual pass or are a DVC member, you cannot get dining unless you do a package that has at least a one day ticket.

If you want room + tickets, again, price it out both ways. On 6 days value for Nov. a package was $50 cheaper and included the extras, either via WDW or AAA.

Now once a code comes out, be it a package or a room-only code, the price will be the same via AAA or WDW. But a package needs to be handled by AAA, while a room-only reservation can be done by either one.

Remember, that a Travel Agent does a reservation with WDW on your behalf. Any public codes that will come out (DV or regular one) will be valid, provided there are rooms available. The difference is that if the reservation was done by a TA, then the TA is the only one authorized to make the change. If the reservation is done by you, you can call WDW and make the changes.

Hope this helps.

 

[su_A_ve]

I just purchased 4-10 Day PH non expiration tickets WITHOUT the water options at my local AAA office and they were discounted. I live in NY if that makes a difference.

My AAA TA (non-local office) mentioned they only sell with water option at the local offices.

So I called them up directly and they do sell a 4day and a 5day. But they don't sell a 6day.

Price on a 5day was 278/242 (including tax), which saves a few bucks...

 

[wdhinn89]

I purchased mine the day before the price increase.
10 day PH NE Adult 458.55 & Child 419.83

We saved $249 between AAA and buying the day before the price increase

 

[jayhjay]

Unless you have an Annual pass or are a DVC member, you cannot get dining unless you do a package that has at least a one day ticket.

If you want room + tickets, again, price it out both ways. On 6 days value for Nov. a package was $50 cheaper and included the extras, either via WDW or AAA.

Now once a code comes out, be it a package or a room-only code, the price will be the same via AAA or WDW. But a package needs to be handled by AAA, while a room-only reservation can be done by either one.

Remember, that a Travel Agent does a reservation with WDW on your behalf. Any public codes that will come out (DV or regular one) will be valid, provided there are rooms available. The difference is that if the reservation was done by a TA, then the TA is the only one authorized to make the change. If the reservation is done by you, you can call WDW and make the changes.

Hope this helps.

It definitely does! It sounds like we need to decide if we definitely want dining. If we do, we will go through AAA. If not, I will price it out to see which is a better deal.

It seems like the drawback with booking through AAA (or any TA) is losing control over your ressie. I am a bit of a control freak over my disney vacations (ok, that is an understatement) but the woman I am working with seems on top of things so I suppose I just have to trust that they have their act together.

Thanks! JJ

 

[su_A_ve]

It definitely does! It sounds like we need to decide if we definitely want dining. If we do, we will go through AAA. If not, I will price it out to see which is a better deal.

It seems like the drawback with booking through AAA (or any TA) is losing control over your ressie. I am a bit of a control freak over my disney vacations (ok, that is an understatement) but the woman I am working with seems on top of things so I suppose I just have to trust that they have their act together.

Thanks! JJ

I'm just like you... So I have two reservations, one with AAA (on hold only) and one with Disney.

At opening, I'll be on the phone, one line with Disney, one with AAA. Cheapest wins.

Pros with AAA:

* Preferred parking at MK
* Courtesy drink at AAA store in MK
* A few bucks cheaper insurance

Now, the AAA rep is one of the ones from the 800 number, not the local office ones. And she did add on the reservation that any AAA TA can make changes and/or apply discounts if available. My TA actually doesn't come in until 1pm and might be out this Thursday...

But since the reservation is on hold...

 

[sherreis]

I'm just like you... So I have two reservations, one with AAA (on hold only) and one with Disney.

At opening, I'll be on the phone, one line with Disney, one with AAA. Cheapest wins.

Pros with AAA:

* Preferred parking at MK
* Courtesy drink at AAA store in MK
* A few bucks cheaper insurance

Now, the AAA rep is one of the ones from the 800 number, not the local office ones. And she did add on the reservation that any AAA TA can make changes and/or apply discounts if available. My TA actually doesn't come in until 1pm and might be out this Thursday...

But since the reservation is on hold...

What are the courtesy drinks at MK. I don't remember reading about that. I currently have 2 ressies. I have our AAA package at POP for 10/15-10/21 and I made one myself yesterday with CRO with the PIN I got. That one is at CSR. I have a deposit on the POP one and a 14 day hold on the CSR one. We're probably going to use the CSR with the PIN but waiting till Thursday to eval. the code. I'm so inpatient!

Then, I need to decide what to do about AAA TA - I will most likely let her transfer our CSR with PIN to AAA so we can get the rest of the AAA details, if that is possible.

 

[jayhjay]

Sadly I have no code b/c we are traveling in March or May. So I can't do the double book thing w/o paying two deposits.

I am working with the 800# too. I didn't know about having them allow any agent to make the change but I'll ask for that to be put on my ressie. JJ

 

[skjj2009]

If I double book with disney and AAA I won't lose one deposit upon cancellation will I (obviously I'm just waiting to see if we get a pin or public code that will do better for us)? I have to go and pay AAA my deposit tomorrow but if I can't get it back I'll just book online myself with WDW and get them to apply my AAA discount. When I got on AAA travel site they made it seem you had to go through AAA travel to get the discount. had I know I would have gone through disney myself because I would have been able to just modify the original ressie I had instead of cancelling with Disney and then rebooking with AAA.

 

[snykymom]

Disney can give you the AAA rate on a room only. Disney cannot book you a package with the AAA room discount; that can be done only by AAA. So if you want dining or some other "perk" of a package (more than just room & tickets), you must go through AAA.

If you double book and cancel earlier than 45 days before your trip, you will get a full refund from Disney, AAA or any other TA.

 

[jayhjay]

If you double book and cancel earlier than 45 days before your trip, you will get a full refund from Disney, AAA or any other TA.

Even your $200 deposit? So conceivably if it looks like a code is going to come out for my travel dates (before my 45 days prior), I can also book a package directly through Disney so that I can jump on the code myself instead of waiting for my TA to do it for me?

 

[snykymom]

Some travel agents have non-refundable deposits; as far as I know, AAA isn't one of them. And yes, you can get your $200 deposit back from AAA or Disney.

Strategy is up to you!