What is the advantage of booking through AAA?

[aimeeg]

We are starting to plan our second trip!

We are planning on going the first week of March 08. Three weeks before Easter. This time around we are staying on disney property. We are AAA card members. Should we book through Disney or AAA? If we book through AAA do you have to pay everything up front? Other than parking are there any other perks?

 

[bradk]

AAA package perks include the AAA discount on the room portion (you can only get the discount booking room only otherwise), the diamond parking lot access and a storyteller session for the kids with a disney character.

i believe they follow the same policy for payment as disney does, but don't quote me on it.

 

[aimeeg]

Do you know if you book the room can you add tickets and dining later?

We are looking to stay at a value resort, tickets and the dining plan. This past trip I did everything seperate. We stayed at a timeshare, bought our tickets through undercovertourist and paid out of pocket for nine character meals! We spent the majority of our money on dining. We do not want the park hopper or water parks.

What is your suggestion for us?

 

[bradk]

going from a room only to a package, as far as i know, actually means canceling the room only and booking a package. normally not an issue, but depending on how long you wait to do it, it could be problematic. also booking a room only requires 1 night's stay deposit, so it's not all that far off from $200.

i suggest you speak to your AAA TA regarding your options. personally, if the feeling is strong you'll be getting the package, i'd make the move to do so as soon as you can commit. you always have up to 45 days before check-in to cancel penalty free.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

You can buy park tickets from AAA at any time, but you typically don't get all the perks unless you buy as a package deal, meaning lodging and park tickets. I believe you have to buy the Disney Dining Plan at the time you book the package. With some "Magic Your Way" packages, Disney Dining Plan is an optional add-on. With some of the more expensive packages, it's included. At my AAA agency, they don't discount any park tickets longer than the 5 day tickets. I assume they're all the same. Our upcoming trip to WDW is for 10 days and we booked through AAA. We got 20% off the room rate, but nothing off the 10-day Park Hoppers. AAA requires full payment 45 days prior to arrival, which I believe is similar, if not the same as Disney. My suggestion would be to stop in at your local AAA office and see what they have to offer. They have some good literature outlining all the Disney packages and their prices and details of all the "perks" of booking through AAA. There is also info on the AAA website under the travel section. Follow the link for "Plan Your Magical Walt Disney World Resort Vacation" and you can find lengthy descriptions of all the current Magic Your Way packages.

 

[aimeeg]

You can buy park tickets from AAA at any time, but you typically don't get all the perks unless you buy as a package deal, meaning lodging and park tickets. I believe you have to buy the Disney Dining Plan at the time you book the package. With some "Magic Your Way" packages, Disney Dining Plan is an optional add-on. With some of the more expensive packages, it's included. At my AAA agency, they don't discount any park tickets longer than the 5 day tickets. I assume they're all the same. Our upcoming trip to WDW is for 10 days and we booked through AAA. We got 20% off the room rate, but nothing off the 10-day Park Hoppers. AAA requires full payment 45 days prior to arrival, which I believe is similar, if not the same as Disney. My suggestion would be to stop in at your local AAA office and see what they have to offer. They have some good literature outlining all the Disney packages and their prices and details of all the "perks" of booking through AAA. There is also info on the AAA website under the travel section. Follow the link for "Plan Your Magical Walt Disney World Resort Vacation" and you can find lengthy descriptions of all the current Magic Your Way packages.

I thought with Disney the balance was due the day you check in.

With AAA you have to pay 45 days before you check in?

Do you know if you book through Disney will the give you a AAA discount?

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

For me the advantage was a savings of almost $1000 on my package with DDP, airfare, tickets and GF Lagon View for 9 days and 8 nights.

 

[aimeeg]

For me the advantage was a savings of almost $1000 on my package with DDP, airfare, tickets and GF Lagon View for 9 days and 8 nights.

When was your balance due?

 

[bradk]

this is disney policy:

package - $200 deposit within 14 days, balance due by 45 days before check-in (unless less than 45 days, then due immediately)
room only - one night's deposit within 14 days (more than 45 days away, otherwise due at booking), balance at check-in

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Do you know if you book through Disney will the give you a AAA discount?

I booked room only through Disney using my AAA card discount - I had to pay the first night at that time & then would have had to pay the balance within a certain set time. I opted to just pay everything at the time I made the reservation. Even when I've booked directly through Disney Reservations before I had AAA discount you had to pay in full at least a month before you arrived.

 

[themudd4]

this is disney policy:

package - $200 deposit within 14 days, balance due by 45 days before check-in (unless less than 45 days, then due immediately)
room only - one night's deposit within 14 days (more than 45 days away, otherwise due at booking), balance at check-in

This is correct!!!
We almost always book through AAA. You can book a package deal through AAA and if you are wanting the DDP you have to get a room and ticket package. You will only recieve a discount off the room but any discount is better than none. Your savings depends on the room and time of year.
There are sometimes other perks to booking with AAA. Not only will you get the current Disney promotions, but AAA may offer some of there own. It may be something minor like a free coke..to a $50 Disney gift card or something. If you call your AAA TA they may be able to tell you when it would be the better time to book . Also when using AAA, as a PP mentioned you will get diamond parking (which we don't use because we use Dis Trans.) Also you will get a diamond card to use for discounts a different places. My favorite is getting 10% off at DTD's World of Disney!

Have a great time