Worth joining AAA for the discount?

[BellyDaisy]

Is it worth it to join AAA only to get the room discount? Mousesavers only lists the discount as "up to 15% off" of Deluxes during value season. Just wondering if anyone else has done this and considered it worth the money?

Thanks!

 

[buzz2400]

It is not worth joining. I belong to AAA and everytime I book a trip to orlando I check out the prices for aaa v. codes from mousesavers and they are always the same. You can also apply for a disney visa card and they give discounts for disney. I have also found that each time I book with AAA for a disney trip, AAA screws up (i.e. I booked for allstar movies and when I received confirmation it was for music and they would not change it for me).

 

[Disneefun]

I look at the room discounts as an extra benefit to AAA, but that's not why I joined. I joined for the auto service benefits and that alone has saved me a ton. I've had to be towed once, and my keys rescued once and those alone paid for the membership about four times over. The discounts at DIsney aren't as good as other codes (so I wouldn't get it just for disney), but if it's all you can get (because other codes aren't available or you don't qualify) it's still a discount, which IMHO is better than rack rate any day. You can also save on other hotels, car rentals and tickets to attractions, not just at disney but wherever else you may go. There are also other benefits, too. We love it.

 

[my3kids]

While I don't think the AAA packages are much of a bargain, for now the AAA room only rate is saving close to $100 a night at my hotel. Their books and maps alone have kept me as a member for many years. This room only discount is appreciated when other discounts seem few and far between.

 

[ajksmom]

I wouldn't get a AAA membership for Disney discounts only.
I use it for the emergency auto services and this has saved a ton of $$ for us already. One emergency call per year and the membership pays for itself.
We do use it for discounts when we travel. This past summer we saved $64 per night at RPR, $15 per night at POR, and $40 per night in West Palm Beach, total of $391 saved for 8 nights. This does not include the discounts we received at Citywalk restaraunts and shops. Or the room and dining discount I received this past weekend in NH of $53.
I suggest you visit your local AAA office and ask to see their attraction ticket discount list (which has many local movie theaters, local attractions, etc. besides WDW, US/IOA, etc). Ask about what other services they offer. Then make the decision as to whether you think its a good deal.

 

[lc1965]

that it's not worth it to join just for the discounts. i always book thru aaa, but i have a membership anyway. i detest all the searching for codes to save $20. w/ aaa i know i'll get one of the best deals, if not THE best. (i'm always convinced that THE best deal is just outside my reach!) have rarely had trouble booking thru them & have always found them most responsible. having said that, i used to be an event planner, so i am all about keeping track of details & one eye on my vendors at all times, even if i trust them implicitly.

however you book, have a wonderful time!

 

[mudnuri]

we originally got AAA last year before we drove to WDW because we were taking DH's truck, which is out of GM's roadside assitance....one tank of bad diesel and we would basically be SOL on the side of I-95 somewhere!...we didnt use roadside assistance, as we ended up driving my new envoy, which is covered by GM...BUT...

.....lets see what I saved last year in 1 trip.

2 hotels on way to WDW, 2 hotels on way home- $20.00 each hotel-
$80 saved

original ASMovies had a 20% AAA discount then a code came out for room only and I went that way- but wud have been about $15.00 per night

$90.00 saved

7 nights St. Augustine Beach hotel (same trip) $22.00 saved on that room per night

$154.00

Plus the tour books for each part of the east cost we went through, with hotel/rest. exit info. Plus the trip tix...

So yeah- the $350 or so in cash I saved, plus the extras...I could have also gotten my park hoppers from AAA and saved too, but got them at TDS instead.

Brandy

 

[Missy1961]

I'm interested in the AAA discounts on admission tickets. I don't own a car, but a friend of mine has a membership. Could she buy the Disney tickets for me? Do I have to prove that it's my membership when I get to Disney?

 

[powellrj]

yes your friend can buy your tickets for you and you don't have to prove that you have AAA. You would only have to show your card if you used it for a room discount, not for tickets.

 

[barbeml]

You can make AAA work for you in many more ways than room discounts.

We have AAA primarily for auto club, but we also have the AAA Diamond Advantage credit card. We get 5% back at the pump when we use our AAA card (that really adds up with gas prices so high). For every $5,000 we spend, we get a $50 voucher. We used two vouchers to get 3 Kennedy Space Center passes for our November trip (vouchers go far because AAA members get discounts on tickets anyway), and you can use the vouchers toward WDW park passes that AAA sells.

We usually book our rooms at AAA rate so that we have our resort at a price we are willing to pay, and then have our DU agent covert the ressies once something better comes out (code, AP discount, etc.)

The AAA parking pass and discount card are perks you get when you book through them. Let's just say AAA is better than nothing, but the credit card can pay off.

 

[imsayin]

I always get my travelers checks thru AAA - for free!

I have also used them to get the car jumped a few times (from home).

Also, the mall near me has discounts at Gap, Banana Republic, and maybe some other stores if you show your AAA card & spend a minimum ($75 I think).

 

[pilgrimage]

AAA also offers car discounts. I got $1000 rebate for my new Volvo simply because I had AAA, this in addition to other rebates and discounts (AARP),etc
They also offer a reduction on eyeglasses.

 

[my3kids]

I booked my room only through Disney, not AAA and got the discount. I also save a lot throughout theyear on regular hotels. Most offer a AAA price. Many car rental agencies also have a AAA discount. I use it at restaurants, like Joe's Crab Shack, and other Landry's owned franchises for a 10% discount off the bill. There is a place on the website to enter a city and see what restaurants, shops, etc. offer discounts with the card.

 

[pandamom]

I joined just for the wdw discount. I booked my upcoming fw stay in August 2003 and was given 20% discount for AAA membership. I cancelled my other auto club membership (about the same cost) and switched to AAA. Discount paid for the membership.

 

[Ilovestitch]

Originally posted by barbeml
You can make AAA work for you in many more ways than room discounts.

We have AAA primarily for auto club, but we also have the AAA Diamond Advantage credit card. We get 5% back at the pump when we use our AAA card (that really adds up with gas prices so high). For every $5,000 we spend, we get a $50 voucher. We used two vouchers to get 3 Kennedy Space Center passes for our November trip (vouchers go far because AAA members get discounts on tickets anyway), and you can use the vouchers toward WDW park passes that AAA sells.

FYI- you can use the vouchers to buy WDW tickets too. Plus, since WDW is a preferred vendor w/AAA, they will give you a 2% discount on anything Disney- plus you'll get points too of course. You can also use the vouchers to pay your membership dues. I work at AAA and a lot of people get the card, use it for gas and then just use the vouchers to get a free membership. -Stephanie

 

[thelittlemermaid]

For our WDW trip we used AAA. We weren't members before so we joined thinking what we were saving was alot. To my surprise after booking everything, is when I found The DIS. Then to find out I could have done what the TA was doing for us and do it cheaper made me a little mad. Or even using DU and they will watch out for codes for you. For our next WDW trip I will either do it myself, or have DU do it for me.

AAA seems to be good for the maps and we live near Cedar Point so I guess the discount for those tickets is ok. But DH just found out that our Credit Union also sells Cedar Point tickets. Have to find out who has the best rate.

More then likley we will probably keep AAA for the auto service and maps. As for doing more trips through them, not likley. I had nothing but a hassle the whole time. It always seemed when I would call to find out about something, the TA we dealt with was on vaca. Then I found out about a hotel we were going to stay at the night before going to WDW, that the TA booked, about it being run down and called to switch to another one. I got the feeling it seemed it was going to kill them to switch it. Once it finally got switched I was told they were able to get me the manager's special at $59.95. When we arrived in FL, DH pulled into a rest stop, came back out with some books, and while I was looking in them found a coupon for the hotel we were going to be staying at for $49.95. When we arrived I asked them if I could switch to that rate and they had no problem with it. In the end we saved over $20 on that room going with the coupon instead of the AAA discount.

In the long run, I guess it all depends on what AAA will be doing for you.

 

[crazelion]

I have AAA for road side assistance program which have save me alot money alone. The Road side service is excellent. I should know have use them a number times. I did not get AAA because of the discounts. I got for road side service. The discounts on hotels is a bonus.

I save 300.00 dollars on the Peadbody Hotel Hampton Inn at Memphis this year alone.

 

[CookieGVB]

I've saved money on other hotels using AAA, but the roadside assistance is the big thing for me and my 10 year old car.

Also - discounts on glasses and eye exams at Lenscrafters - 2 sons with glasses - saved quite a bit there.

Amtrak tickets have a AAA discount...

I have the card for peace of mind, but it's good to save money throughout the year to justify the cost of the membership as well.

 

[greendoor678]

No, the discounts are usually so small that it's not worth joining AAA soley for that benefit.

However, I am a BIG fan of AAA for it's roadside assistance.
If you upgrade to the more expanded membership, you can easily get your monie's worth with just one usage of roadside assistance.
I've used their tow service and lock-out assistance numerous times and they are a Godsend! They've always arrived within their timeframe and the customer service personnel are friendly.

With the expanded membership , you get something like 100miles of free towing. Myself and members of my family have had to take advantage of this.
Trust me, having your car towed over 50miles from the middle of nowhere and not paying a dime to the driver is such a blessing.

 

[jevans8758]

Besides all the other benefits mention here, has anyone used the prescription drug benefit? 15% off prescription drugs not covered by your health plan. This is honored by most of the national pharmacy chains. In some cases, this can save quite a bit of money.