Walk me through AAA discount

[*pixie*]

From what I understand, I can call Disney directly and book a room only with a AAA discount. If I want a package with tix and DDP, I need to call AAA to book that. Also, if I book either way, I cannot make any of my own ADRs and have to leave it up to AAA to book them? If Disney releases a better discount I also have to depend on AAA to jump on it because I cannot do it myself? I don't have a local AAA office, so do I just pick one in my state and give them a call?

I think that covers all of the questions I have. Can you tell I've only been a AAA member for about 2 weeks, lol?

 

[spankysmom]

I don't have many answers, but if you book thru Disney (room only) using your AAA discount, you could make your own ADR. Also, if a better deal comes up, you could switch by calling Disney....AAA won't do it. I know nothing of booking packages with AAA.

I would be inerested in knowing if anyone has ever gotten a good package thru AAA? I mean something better than they could get by booking on their own. Thanks!

 

[jsrj21]

I have been to WDW 10 times and have used AAA for 7 of those times. It's funny because some years, I get a better deal just going through Disney. However, my experience has been about 10% off as a whole. For example, if my package price [room, tickets w/ park hopper, water park option] through Disney is $3000.00 - then my AAA price may be $2700.00. One year, I think 3 years ago, they cam out with a special after I had booked with AAA and I emailed my AAA travel agent and she re-booked my trip with the special, which was free dining. I also make all of my ADR's. Even though you book through AAA, you get a confirmation number and you can go on the WDW website and check your reservations. I make my ADR's and they are all attached to my resort reservation. I then do the online check-in as well.

Along with a hotel discount [most of the time], you get some additional perks through AAA. I don't take advantage of them all but some I do. They give you a AAA Diamond Card that you can use for certain discounts. As an example, you can get 20% off for lunch or 10% off of Dinner at Fulton's Crab House at DTD, 15% off at Earl of Sandwich and House of Blues, 10% off at Bongo's at DTD, 15% off at Ghirardelli at DTD, 10% off at World of Disney at DTD, etc. You get discounts on recreation activities, tours, spa treatments, etc. You will get a booklet with all of the info directly from AAA travel.

As I mentioned earlier, we never use all of the little perks you get with AAA. Bottom line for me is if the price for the hotel and tickets is significant, then I will use them. We just went to WDW 8/2-8/11 and we used AAA. I believe the savings this year was about $200.00. Some years, the price from Disney and AAA have been exactly the same - .

I hope this helped. By the way, if you contact a AAA travel agent, they could do everything via telephone or email. That's what I do. The materials from Disney are sent to AAA and then they [AAA] mail it to me at home.

Good luck. Let me know if you have any other questions. Send me a PM if need be.

Jose
Norwalk, CT.

 

[Downey Family]

It's much more like a room only discount, so for deluxe it makes much more sense.

We're staying at AKV this year and FD would save me I think 623.00 except it's not available on the beginning of my package so it's really less than that. AAA discount saves me over 800.00 so it's a no brainer.

Values you're probably better with FD. Moderates it's probably a toss-up. Deluxes and Villas depending on the number of diners you're probably better off with AAA discount in lieu of a room only discount.

 

[discorsner]

My understanding is if you book through a AAA agent that you can get a AAA discount. However, you cannot get a AAA discount on top of a Disney promotion like Free Dining or Kids Stay and Play Free or whatever they might be offering.

As with any travel agent if you book with an agent you get a confirmation number, can look it up online, can call and make all your ADRs and stuff like that. If you want to call and change anything with the actual reservation then AAA would have to do it for you. If you want to cancel AAA would have to do it for you.

The big disadvantage I see to using AAA is that I have heard many accounts that AAA agents have so many reservations that they are basically like order takers. If you want to just use an order taker you might as well book it yourself, IMO.

However when using an individual (not AAA or some other huge agency) you usually get Dinsey fans and experts who are doing it. They do it because they love it. They want to get a good reputation for their agency and themselves so they go the extra mile to help out. They can make ADRs for you if you want but can allow you to do it too. They also will be on the look out for new discounts coming out. Many people I know have said their TA found a discount for them before they did and were calling them to say they just saved them $XXX. They want to find you discounts and for you to have a great trip so you will come back and give them great word of mouth.

I have no experience with AAA so I'm just assuming here but I have a hard time believeing that they will care as much. They are just such a huge operation and Disney is only one thing they do. There are a lot of great small agencies out there that specialize in Disney and if you decide you want to use a TA you can be helping out a small business in your area as well.

 

[Toy Story]

Can you add a AAA discount when booking through the WDW website? or do you have to call?

 

[Atchley]

I booked my trips through AAA. I found a really good AAA agent that loved Disney so I lucked out. We have purchased DVC now, but next year we are staying 3 days OOP before we move over to our DVC reservation and I will do that through AAA.
It is true that you will not be able to call Disney directly concerning your reservation as AAA technically owns the reservation, but you are able to make your own ADRs. I have never had AAA make my ADRs for me. I want to make sure that I get what I want and if they don't have it, then I will change my selection then and there. Not wait for a rep to call me later then have to call Disney back even later to make the ADR.
Once the trip is booked, it is under your name so when you call to make reservations, if they can't use the AAA reservation number, they should be able to look up the name. They have done this for me before in the past and you will still be able to make reservations for 10 days out.
If anyone needs a AAA rep in the Evansville, IN region, I know a good one!

 

[sevans89]

Can you add a AAA discount when booking through the WDW website? or do you have to call?

You have to call.

 

[*pixie*]

Thanks everyone!

I love planning and booking everything myself, and normally would never even consider having a TA, but I'm starting to worry that the AAA discount might be the only one I can get.

I submitted a quote request on the Colorado AAA website a week ago, and have not heard anything back, although the site stated I should within a day. None of the Colorado offices are local to me, so I guess I need to just randomly pick one and give them a call directly.

 

[Toy Story]

You have to call.

Thanks sevans89.

 

[*pixie*]

I finally heard back from AAA. The quotes they gave me were within a few dollars of the quotes I got from the WDW website directly, so I guess AAA is not offering any type of discount during the time we are going.

This leaves me just hoping that Disney will release some sort of May 2012 discount.

 

[Vertical]

AAA price just saved me $1000 on a February stay at the Treehouse Villas...

 

[havoc315]

I finally heard back from AAA. The quotes they gave me were within a few dollars of the quotes I got from the WDW website directly, so I guess AAA is not offering any type of discount during the time we are going.

This leaves me just hoping that Disney will release some sort of May 2012 discount.

That's odd..... It should be a 10-20% discount, but only off the room. If you're staying in a value resort, then it is true.. the discount would look pretty small as part of the whole package. Would only be $10-$30 per day, depending on the exact rates and size of the discount.
But if staying at a Deluxe, the normal AAA discount should be saving you anywhere from $30-$100 per night.

Be sure that the price quotes has the same inclusions. For example, it is possible that you priced base tickets from the website, but AAA typically quotes me the price of tickets with parkhoppers. (And the parkhopper upgrade could have wiped out the AAA savings).

 

[BDL]

I finally heard back from AAA. The quotes they gave me were within a few dollars of the quotes I got from the WDW website directly, so I guess AAA is not offering any type of discount during the time we are going.

This leaves me just hoping that Disney will release some sort of May 2012 discount.

It may depend on the time of year and season. If they offer you a discount at Peak Season, you'll get a bigger savings than if your trip falls under a Value or Reg. season.

Also, like JSRJ21 said, look at the perks that you may draw with AAA. Last Dec. I got the usual 10% off here, 15-20% off there and I also got a FREE PhotoPass CD ($175 value).

 

[spankysmom]

It may depend on the time of year and season. If they offer you a discount at Peak Season, you'll get a bigger savings than if your trip falls under a Value or Reg. season.

Also, like JSRJ21 said, look at the perks that you may draw with AAA. Last Dec. I got the usual 10% off here, 15-20% off there and I also got a FREE PhotoPass CD ($175 value).

Was that a package deal that you got all that? You don't get that if you book room only with them, do you? Thanks.

 

[poppy jalopy]

Booked package through AAA for 2 br @ Old Key West 2/29 thru 3/6/2012. AAA offers 25% off rates at Old Key West, & Saratoga Springs. Total savings is $1206.00. Remember when you Discount the room you also save 12.5% Florida tax on the savings.

 

[jenny105]

From what I understand, I can call Disney directly and book a room only with a AAA discount. If I want a package with tix and DDP, I need to call AAA to book that. Also, if I book either way, I cannot make any of my own ADRs and have to leave it up to AAA to book them? If Disney releases a better discount I also have to depend on AAA to jump on it because I cannot do it myself? I don't have a local AAA office, so do I just pick one in my state and give them a call?

I think that covers all of the questions I have. Can you tell I've only been a AAA member for about 2 weeks, lol?

I work for AAA! When people book Disney packages through me, I offer to make the dining reservations for them. Some people say yes, some say no. You can make your own reservations as long as you have your confirmation number! As for the promotions and discount, I call whatever clients qualify, let them know, and switch them over. Not everyone will do this though. Did you book through an agent with AAA? I would give the closest office a call and talk it over with one of their agents.

Usually, you'll get a better deal and some extra perks with AAA. But during high season (think Easter or Christmas) there are NO AAA discounts. Prices are the same as if you booked through Disney themselves simply because Disney does not want to offer a discount.

I can help you! LOL

 

[JoanneDisFan]

I already have a package booked for through Disney. Can I just call Disney and get the AAA discount or would I have to cancel and rebook through AAA?

 

[jenny105]

I already have a package booked for through Disney. Can I just call Disney and get the AAA discount or would I have to cancel and rebook through AAA?

Is it a promotion like Free Dining or something like that? You can't get the AAA discount on top of it if that's the case. If not, call Disney and ask. You may not have to re-book for it.

 

[cajunprincess]

Is it a promotion like Free Dining or something like that? You can't get the AAA discount on top of it if that's the case. If not, call Disney and ask. You may not have to re-book for it.

So we can get AAA discount on top of Free Dining??? That'd be awesome!!