Should I join AAA for discounts?

[pozey]

I have been reading that just about the only way to get a discount on a room at one of the Universal resorts is through AAA.

I am not a member of AAA, and it looks like it will cost me about $62 to join. Would it be worth it to join? Will I save enough to cover that?

We plan on staying at the Hard Rock June 16 - 18. I have a Loew's First card and it says the rack rate for a pool view room is $284 a night.

Is there any way someone could tell me what the AAA rate for the Hard Rock pool view would be for that time period? Also, what other benefits would I get with the AAA card in Universal?

Thanks so much for any information.

 

[kim]

I'm very interested in this question too. My dates are July 2 - 5 and the best rate I can get for Hard Rock is 264.00--standard view.

Will it be worth it?

Thanks!
Kim

 

[powellrj]

The best way to find out would be to call and ask them. I know that we use AAA more for the Auto Club part(free towing) of it than the discounts. You might call and ask about the discount, but don't mention the Lowes card until after you get the price. For some reason, the price is sometimes higher with the lowes card.

 

[VW31]

Don't forget AAA also gets you a 10% discount on the food and merchandise. So you may want to add that to the equation to see if its worth it.

 

[scootert]

Go to the Loew's hotel site and select HRH, then check availability. In the promotional code box, put AAA ... this will give you the rate for AAA if it is available for your dates.

Our rate for early May at PBH is a little more than 10% less than the rack rate... not great, but better than any others I've been able to find.

Good luck

 

[pozey]

Don't forget AAA also gets you a 10% discount on the food and merchandise. So you may want to add that to the equation to see if its worth it.

Is the 10% discount on food include all Universal and City Walk restaurants? We plan on eating at Tchoup Chop, can we get a AAA discount there?

Go to the Loew's hotel site and select HRH, then check availability. In the promotional code box, put AAA ... this will give you the rate for AAA if it is available for your dates.

I did this, but it gave me the exact same rate. I may just have to call.

 

[nancyj]

When I tried your dates I also got rack rate. Then I changed your arrival date to 6/15 and a discounted AAA rate (237.60 for garden view) showed up. Can you go a day earlier?

 

[pozey]

Nancy,

Thank you. I did change the dates and I did get the discounted rates. Interesting...

I already have a reservation at Disney at the Polynesian through June 16, but we were actually planning on going to Sea World on the 16th. It might be more feasable for us to drop the 16th at the Polynesian and stay at the Hard Rock on the 16th instead.

Just what I need.....more decisions to make....

 

[gschmerl]

Is the 10% discount on food include all Universal and City Walk restaurants? We plan on eating at Tchoup Chop, can we get a AAA discount there?.

NO. You will not get ANY discounts at Tchoup Chop or Emeril's. We loved Tchoup Chop and didn't care if we got a discount! Othere than that, the park and City Walk restaurants give the AAA discount.

 

[pozey]

Well, my DW changed our dining plans for our time at Universal. She has decided she wants to try the NASCAR Cafe and the Hard Rock.

Can we get the 10% AAA discount at these places?

TIA

 

[gschmerl]

Well, my DW changed our dining plans for our time at Universal. She has decided she wants to try the NASCAR Cafe and the Hard Rock.

Can we get the 10% AAA discount at these places?

TIA

Yes. The AAA discount is good at those place. I would reconsider Tchoup Chop though. It's VERY wonderful. Of course it's a totally different atmosphere that the Hard Rock and Nascar Cafe.

 

[HANDYMOM]

It would probably get you a better rate at a cheaper price to buy an annual pass. Right now they are just $19 more than a 2 day pass and the rate difference I got for the first of May was very significant.

 

[pozey]

It would probably get you a better rate at a cheaper price to buy an annual pass. Right now they are just $19 more than a 2 day pass and the rate difference I got for the first of May was very significant.

Is there any way to check the AP rate without actually having an AP?

I was just checking prices. The preferred annual pass is $179.95 per person. The Annual Power Pass is $119.95 per person, but it says that you get NO discounts on food, merchandise, or on-site hotels.

So for me to get an AP discount on the Hard Rock, I would have to get the $179 pass. The Hotel discount would have to be significant for it to pay off.

Well, I guess I have more research to do.

Thanks everyone for their tips and suggestions. Keep them coming.

 

[pozey]

Yes. The AAA discount is good at those place. I would reconsider Tchoup Chop though. It's VERY wonderful. Of course it's a totally different atmosphere that the Hard Rock and Nascar Cafe.

One of the reasons we reconsidered Tchoup Chop was that we will have a 9 year old, a 6 year old, and a 2 year old. Now, they are used to eating in nice restaurants and are very well behaved. And like Disney, I would think that just about any restaurant in Universal is kid friendly.

My 6 year old DS loves watching race cars and we promised him to take him to a NASCAR Cafe since we couldn't get into the one in Myrtle Beach last year. And my 9 year old DS loves the Hard Rock. We DID go to the one in Myrtle Beach, and now he wants to go to every one.

Oh, well.....we'll be back, so maybe next time....

 

[hannahouse]

Pozey, the code for annual pass is APH. If you are checking from www.loeweshotels.com you can put in any discount code to compare the rates.

 

[pozey]

I called Universal and asked my questions.

What I found out was:

The AAA rate was the exact same as the Annual Pass rate.
If you book with the AAA rate, you still get the benefits if you are a Loews First member (which I am).
If you book with the AP rate, you do NOT get the Loews First benefits.

So, for me, the best way to go is to go ahead and get a AAA membership, get the AAA rate at the Hard Rock, and buy the $99.95 5 day tickets.

With the AAA card, I should get a 10% discount on food (with the exception of Tchoup Chop) and merchandise.

 

[hannahouse]

Pozey, I purchased the AAA membership to get the discounts in Orlando - an added benefit has been the discounts at home! We've already eaten at 2 restaurants that give 10% off, so the savings add up. Good luck!

 

[Cindybell]

I am not sure why your membership rate for AAA was so high. I joined just a few days ago for $44.00, my husband was free and they waived the $10.00 first time membership charge.

 

[pozey]

I am not sure why your membership rate for AAA was so high. I joined just a few days ago for $44.00, my husband was free and they waived the $10.00 first time membership charge.

Maybe the dues are different for different states. I got these numbers from the Oklahoma site: $15 New Member enrollment fee
$47 Primary Membership

I'm thinking I might be able to get them to waive the New member enrollment fee.

 

[kdudley3]

NO. You will not get ANY discounts at Tchoup Chop or Emeril's. We loved Tchoup Chop and didn't care if we got a discount! Othere than that, the park and City Walk restaurants give the AAA discount.

I just checked availabilty on the AAA website and Tchoup Chop was included.