A few questions from a newbie :)

[mareejen]

I have been reading this board for hours...well, an hour and a half...
So please forgive because I am sure both of my questions have been asked and answered many times already but I just could find what I was looking for :(


Firstly, If I book a Magic Your Way Plus Dining, can I use a room only discount (AAA) for just the room portion and still have the dining plan included? I thought a CM told me back in February that you cannot use a AAA discount with the room if the dining is included with the package:confused:


Secondly, I am seeing all of this chatter about "pins" and I am not expecting one at all, but if there is a promo this fall/winter, and it becomes available to the public, will it be hard to book? I would of course call right away when I could, but it seems like once it is available to the public you might not get it if you don't act fast enough?

Finally, I have a Disney Visa/Chase card, so does that mean I would be able to get the deals before the general public, if that is what they decide to do? However, I don't really use my card, I have my tuition on it and am paying it off but I don't use it for new purchases, so would that make a difference in me being able to get any promos? Oh, yeah, one more thing, do I have to use the card to book the package or just provide them with the info so they know I have one?


thanks again!


Thanks to anyone who can answer my redundant questions :)

[disneyatl]

Welcome!

The Dining Plan is only available if you purchase a package.

Pins are special deals that are attached to your name and are only available for you to use. Non-transferrable.

[marcielm]

Ditto what the pp said... and I wanted to add that just because a PIN or a general public discount comes out, it doesn't mean that Disney will suddenly sell out all of their rooms. Each discount only has a certain number of rooms associated with it. When I booked my trip last March, I had a pin... but didn't call asap when I got it. At first there wasn't much available that would sleep my fam of 6. Last minute, a family suite at ASMu opened up and I was able to grab it (maybe someone released a hold on a ressie, canceled a trip, etc).

You can call and get the code put on your ressie, provided there is a room available for the code. If you already have a room or package reserved (not with AAA), you can call and ask that the new promo be added to your ressie, and see if it will give you a better rate than what you already have booked. For example, I have a client that had a pin. She booked her trip, and later received a second one with a different offer. I called and changed the ressie to reflect the new pin code, saving her about $500.

I'm not sure if you book room only with AAA if you can make it a 'package' where you have the tickets & dining added to the deal. Sometimes Disney has room only discounts, and you can add those options, but you are adding them seperately vs. making your trip a 'package'.

If you book the package, for example, and use a discount code for your Disney VISA, I believe you may have to put the $200 deposit on the card, but I think I've seen others mention that they pay off the remainder of the balance in other ways. I don't know if the use of your VISA will effect the way you might receive offers pertaining to the card. You might call Disney & ask them if there are any specials offers right now for Disney Visa holders (or contact the card company... maybe they will know).

[texasteacher35]

PIN codes can go out to anyone who is registered on a Disney website. You can also ge them if you hold a Disney Visa, and then many times there are general public codes. We got one in my email for free dining this fall/winter...We are going in November. It is possible that other PIN codes will be offered and available. I have not ever had a problem booking a vacation after a PIN code was released...I don't think it will be a problem, if you book something within a couple of days of a code being released. I hope this helps!

[snykymom]

I have been reading this board for hours...well, an hour and a half...
So please forgive because I am sure both of my questions have been asked and answered many times already but I just could find what I was looking for :(


Firstly, If I book a Magic Your Way Plus Dining, can I use a room only discount (AAA) for just the room portion and still have the dining plan included? I thought a CM told me back in February that you cannot use a AAA discount with the room if the dining is included with the package:confused:

It is true that you can only get dining with a package. However, you can get dining with a AAA discount (if we're not talking about free dining).
You can book a room-only reservation with a AAA discount through Disney directly. However, to get the AAA discount on the room and add dining and tickets (everyone in the room must have at least a one-day ticket to book a package), you must go through a AAA travel agent. The CM in February was correct in that respect; the CM cannot book it for you. But AAA can.

Secondly, I am seeing all of this chatter about "pins" and I am not expecting one at all, but if there is a promo this fall/winter, and it becomes available to the public, will it be hard to book? I would of course call right away when I could, but it seems like once it is available to the public you might not get it if you don't act fast enough?
You have to be a bit flexible with dates/resorts/category of room to book a public code. There are only a certain number of rooms available with that discount, and you are correct - if you don't act fast enough you may not get it.

Finally, I have a Disney Visa/Chase card, so does that mean I would be able to get the deals before the general public, if that is what they decide to do? However, I don't really use my card, I have my tuition on it and am paying it off but I don't use it for new purchases, so would that make a difference in me being able to get any promos? Oh, yeah, one more thing, do I have to use the card to book the package or just provide them with the info so they know I have one?

thanks again!


Thanks to anyone who can answer my redundant questions :)
Yes, you would be able to get the deals before the general public. To use any Visa deals, you must use the card to book the package.

Good luck!