Why is AAA $90 higher than Disney's website?

[disneysnowflake]

My husband's coworker went to our AAA office to get a quote this morning.
7 nights for himself, wife and 6 yo son for September.
They are staying at Pop and didn't want hopping tickets.

The coworker went to the Disney website, put in the numbers and got a quote of $1238. That's 7 nights a Pop, 7 day non hopping tickets for 2 adults and 1 child. He got the quote before he went to AAA from the Disney website.

He wasn't permitted a quote over the web or phone from our AAA office. He had to go in person.
All in all his quote was exactly $90 MORE than Disney's website. This is without the trip insurance.

DH called me during lunch time to ask what I thought. I suggested getting a room only AAA discount for that time by calling Disney, and buy the tickets from the website.
He called them and was quoted $493 for the room and $610.25 for 7 day non hopping tickets. That total is $1103.25.

He saved $173 over the Disney package price and saved $263 over what AAA quoted just by booking it himself separately.

When he showed the lady at AAA the printout from the quote from Disney she was upset since she said she makes her living selling these packages. There still were dates available for his time with a AAA discount, so why didn't the AAA agent give him the discount?

With Dining he was quoted from AAA $1928, but through the Disney website he was quoted $1847. That's $81 higher for booking with AAA. Why?

Funny thing is he asked about the storytelling, parking, etc. The AAA agent stated there is no such thing. She said the only plus is to book in January. They have giveaways of posters and such.

We had trouble with booking trips with AAA before, but I thought with the new dining plan AAA would be less. I guess not.

Can you go through a different state AAA to book?
Do most AAA offices charge more than the Disney full rack price for packages?

 

[rileyroosmom]

I booked a room only with AAA and it saved over $350 from Disney's site. I'm purchasing my tickets through Ticketmania with the Mousesavers discount. I went to www.aaacolorado.com which allowed me to see the room prices. I then booked it through Disney saying I want the AAA rate.

 

[ceecee]

I have gotten quotes from AAA three times (once during Disney Days when they were doing a big sale!) they have always been higher. I normally go on the website and then I call Disney to book, I've done better everytime doing that. I got a quote from Small World travel that was really close to what I got myself as well.

 

[disney1990]

I agree that you should pick and choose what you want. Call Disney and request the AAA rates. Then go to one of the preferred ticketsellers and buy your tickets. It's always cheaper to price everything separately.
Check out mousesavers.com -- they have some good suggestions for saving money on tickets etc.

 

[mlwear]

My AAA agent will give me a quote over the phone. She always tells me the AAA price vs. the Disney price (which I already know from checking the site ) . We buy a package and the savings is about 15%.

Not sure why these situations would be different. What did the agent say when told AAA was higher? You probably already checked this, but always a good idea to double check that all the options are the same.

I think I'd call another agent. I don't go through our local office in town. I go online to our region. We live in VA. The agent I have been using is in NJ.

 

[stahshee]

I saved 350 with my AAA. However when I asked my agent about the medical fridge for dd Asthma she really did not know. Also I asked her about staying in the 80's bulding she did not know The next payment I will ask about story time I hope she knows.

 

[T. Lynn]

If you call Disney directly, can you get any discounts or AAA rates on the packages (room, tickets & dining plan)?

 

[MommyBoo!]

Did both quotes include tax? I can't remember how it worked when we book for last October. I do know that I worked the numbers every way and we saved 10% using AAA.

 

[disneysnowflake]

Quotes all included tax. The prices were the final prices.
DH's coworker thinks our AAA office is charging $30 per person service charge on the rack rate charges.

He's already booked the room only with the AAA discount and is going to order tickets from Ticketmania.

 

[tbelfonti]

If you call Disney directly, can you get any discounts or AAA rates on the packages (room, tickets & dining plan)?

You can only get room only discounts with AAA via Disney direct. In order to get a AAA discount on packages, you need to book with a AAA travel agent.

My experience has been that AAA travel agents do not understand Disney the way a travel agency who specializes in Disney does. You aren't going to get the knowledge about codes or discounts. And you most likely will know more than they will.

 

[DisneyaholicRaquel]

Can you go through a different state AAA to book?
Do most AAA offices charge more than the Disney full rack price for packages?

You can use any travel agent you like. I live in Michigan and using AAA Travel Agent in Texas. My local agent charges $30 per person to book a Disney package. That's defeating the purpose of using AAA. So, I went to the AAA website and called about 4 different states until I found an agent that was helpful & did not charge a fee.

Kathleen in Texas has done a good job for me (so far). She's extremely patient and contacted Disney (while I was on the phone) if she was unsure about any questions I had.

My reservations is as follows:

1 Adult 1 Child, CBR-Waterview Rm, 1 Day Base Tix & Dining

AAA Rate - $1412.87
Disney Website Rate - $1592.82

So, I saved about $180 going thru AAA plus you get AAA Diamond Card (10% off), Storytelling, PH meal voucher & Parking.

 

[ajf3]

So, I saved about $180 going thru AAA plus you get AAA Diamond Card (10% off), Storytelling, PH meal voucher & Parking.

I saved about 10% too $3300 v. $3600 for 10 nights at CBR for 2 adults 2 children with dining.

Going to call back in though to rework it now that they have the 'free' upgrade to hoppers & waterparks. Don't know if I can get that with AAA or not.

btw - what's a PH meal voucher?

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

btw - what's a PH meal voucher?

Planet Hollywood Meal Voucher

It's a $10 pp credit towards the bill (not including tax, tip or alcohol) plus you get bumped to the front of the line if there's a wait. Our AAA was offering it as a bonus inJanuary. I'm not sure if it's still available.