Which would you pick? AAA Package or WDW package?

[Kitty 34]

It's only costing me a few dollars more getting a AAA package vs just getting a AAA discount thru WDW. And I get the AAA perks like preferred parking and a discount card for Downtown Disney.

Is the preferred parking worth it??

Btw our package includes a rental, 7 nights at All Stars and 4-day hopper pass with options.

Have you found that a WDW package is usually a better deal than AAA?

 

[Servants of Evan]

If you're saving $20 with Disney over AAA something is wrong. My only guess is that the resort you specified was out the AAA rooms for that period of time, or your AAA agent did something like upgrading the room view. I'd contact them again and see if either changing the resort ASMu/ASMo or making certain it's the standard view and wasn't upgraded to "pool view" (unless that's what you wanted).

Additionally, if your agent is charging a fee to book your vacation it's time to find a new agent. There are plenty of great AAA agents out there whose offices don't charge this fee. Remember, you don't have to use your local agent to get the AAA discounts.

 

[airplane]

My last trip was in Oct to the YC and I booked thru CRO b/c It was the same price as AAA. I would rather use CRO b/c if they come out w/ any codes/rates/upgrades, AAA would charge you to make a change even if you are out of the 45 day cx period. WIth CRO, you can just change your ressie w/ no penalty.

I just booked a trip for the end of April using AAA. It saved me about 100.00. My parking pass has black out dates and I am on the dining plan so I feel like the diamond card is not going to be of much use. It does offer some small discounts on retail so that might be worth it to you.

I personally would rather book thru CRO if the rates are similar. Did you read the thread about all of the people staying at value resorts who were offered a free upgrade to DVC resorts? I know there is only a small chance of this happening but it's fun knowing that it could.

 

[Ilovestitch]

My last trip was in Oct to the YC and I booked thru CRO b/c It was the same price as AAA. I would rather use CRO b/c if they come out w/ any codes/rates/upgrades, AAA would charge you to make a change even if you are out of the 45 day cx period. WIth CRO, you can just change your ressie w/ no penalty.

The AAA office I work for doesn't charge anything to change or cancel a reservation. You should just find an agency that doesn't charge and then let them sit on hold at 7am to get you the discounts

 

[midwestdee]

Along these same lines - could you tell me if the saving are the same taking your AAA discount through CRO VS going through a AAA agent?

 

[Kitty 34]

Along these same lines - could you tell me if the saving are the same taking your AAA discount through CRO VS going through a AAA agent?

Actually what I'm comparing is the total I would come up with 7 nights at All stars; 4-day hopper with options and a rental SUV to the total AAA is coming up with for the same things. The extra perks is that Preffered parking, Diamond card, 2 free dinners at Planey Hollywood and 2 free 5x7 pics. The package (as I figured out exactly) this morning is $11 more than what I came up with buying everything on my own.

Would a WDW package even be cheaper than AAA?? Can I go to their online site and get an estimate for room, passes and a car?

 

[midwestdee]

I know you can get the estimate for room and tickets - I would guess car rental also. The thing to watch is - I don't think the WDW quotes include tax, which I believe is aobut 11% - the AAA quotes include tax - I'm pretty sure about that - if I'm wrong - I know I can count on a DIS expert to step in and help us out. The thing with AAA is I know you can get the AAA discount calling a CRO at WDW directly - just wanted sure if it would amount to the same AAA discount through the AAA agent. Also, thought some availabilities of resorts might be different (just guessing) - so I just wanted to know if there was a price differential between AAA through WDW or through the AAA agent. If you get a car rental make sure the rental site is at the airport or you will end up taking a bus from the airport to the car rental site - happened to us years ago - awful experience! Can't remember the company.

 

[Kitty 34]

I know you can get the estimate for room and tickets - I would guess car rental also. The thing to watch is - I don't think the WDW quotes include tax, which I believe is aobut 11% - the AAA quotes include tax - I'm pretty sure about that - if I'm wrong - I know I can count on a DIS expert to step in and help us out. The thing with AAA is I know you can get the AAA discount calling a CRO at WDW directly - just wanted sure if it would amount to the same AAA discount through the AAA agent. Also, thought some availabilities of resorts might be different (just guessing) - so I just wanted to know if there was a price differential between AAA through WDW or through the AAA agent. If you get a car rental make sure the rental site is at the airport or you will end up taking a bus from the airport to the car rental site - happened to us years ago - awful experience! Can't remember the company.

We rent from Hertz and have taken their bus but it was never too bad. Is that who you used before? What kind of awful experience did you have?

To answer your question, is there a price difference between AAA thru WDW or thru a AAA agent? I got the All Stars for $84 a night either way; the 4-Day passes were exactly the same and the rental was a bit cheaper going the package deal with AAA rather than just individually getting it. Even with the $25 fee that was added in, I came up with the package costing only $11 more. Add in the "perks" and I think it's a pretty good deal.

 

[mygyky]

We saved over $200 booking through AAA just a couple weeks ago for our stay in November. They were cheaper than WDW directly or my normal TA who couldn't get me any discounts. They also provide some sort of Planet Hollywood promotion and some other stuff. I found AAA to be the best deal I found so far. 7 nights, 8 day park hoppers, DDP at the Caribbean Beach Resort.

 

[midwestdee]

thanks for the helpful info - the awful rental car thing - was (it might have been with DOLLAr rental ) you had to load the kids and your stuff onto the rental car companys bus and drive off of the airport ground to get to their facility - it was a real pain - and I've made sure that never happens again - of course the kids were little - but thank God - I was the kind of mom that had a bag packed with juice boxes, snacks, wipes, toys, etc... Of course now that it is just the two of us - traveling is a breeze no matter what happens - but I should did enjoy those trips - the little guys grow up too fast- DD is headed to WDW in Oct. for her honeymoon - of course - it is the we are young and poor trip - so I'm REALLY looking to make sure their dollars stretch out - we are headed back in Nov. after six long years with no WDW - I thought I would be dead before I got him to go back. Gave DD AAA membership as an early shower present - hoping it would help her save $$$. she is leaning toward POR.

 

[PKWallaby]

I have experienced using the AAA diamond preferred parking pass and it was AWESOME! We used it last April and although we were there during the "black-out" dates listed for MK, we used it at every park and loved being able to follow a different color line(on the pavement) right up to the front of the lots. The Diamond lot at MK is right across from the kennels, immediately to the right of the disabled lot...at Epcot we were also across from the kennels, just left of the monorail station as you look toward the park...at AK is was to the right of the main entrance(and actually felt like a shorter walk than from the resort bus depot/drop off which we used last month since we did not rent a car) and MGM's diamond lot is also close to the entrance/bus drop off location.

Funny how you will walk miles in the parks but still love the chance at getting a close parking space!!!

So, even if the price was close, I think I would favor the AAA package for the extra perks(PS if you book your package with the dining plan you will also get a Character Storytelling Experience...this is new??? Perhaps others have posted about it??)

 

[midwestdee]

Yes, I have heard about the Storytelling - which sounds adoreable if you have little ones. Everyone really seems to love the AAA parking too!

 

[Kitty 34]

Yes, I have heard about the Storytelling - which sounds adoreable if you have little ones. Everyone really seems to love the AAA parking too!

Yeah, I forgot to mention the storytelling session. I'm trying to talk my boys into going. I think that definetly would be a Kodak moment being they are not only 17, 19 and 25 years old they are all over 6'2!!!


That preferred parking is sounding even better especially when we go in June.....hot hot hot!