2 part question re: vacation "package"

[jagar100]

I'm getting my package through AAA, but now am seriously considering a split stay. I want to stay at CSR, but I know the kids would really enjoy the surroundings at ASMo. If I do this, is it still considered a "package"???

One reason I ask, is that I just joined AAA (for the steep discount), and they sent me a coupon for $100 off my vacation package. And it says "per booking". Well....I'll have TWO bookings if I do a split, correct?. Will it no longer be considered a package if I split it?

Most likely will call AAA for a clarification, because I have a feeling my AAA agent will automatically assume it's only one discount. I have read the fine print over and over but I still think it doesn't clearly state it can only be used for one resort.

Here's some of the fine print:
Applicable on a 7-night or longer cruise, tour or vacation pkg. Savings apply to cruise, tour or prepaid vacation pkges and are a one-time offer valid on NEW BOOKINGS ONLY. Offer is non-transferrable with a maximum of one coupon per accomodation (booking).

So am I missing something? Is it wishful thinking?

 

[matthewsmom1]

Well, sounds like you could lose the discount all together if one of your stays isn't 7 days..... It definitely doesn't look like you'd get it on both stays because it's a one-time use offer. But $100 isn't shabby.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Split stays are two bookings. Dining plan (if you want it) would require park tickets to be purchased on both packages. And unless at least one stay is over 7 days you would lose yout $100 coupon too.

We did a split stay last time and will never do it again. It felt like too much work.

 

[Seahunt]

Here's some of the fine print:
Applicable on a 7-night or longer cruise, tour or vacation pkg Savings apply to cruise, tour or prepaid vacation pkges and are a one-time offer valid on NEW BOOKINGS ONLY. Offer is non-transferrable with a maximum of one coupon per accomodation (booking).

So am I missing something? Is it wishful thinking?

I'm thinking like matthewsmom1 - sounds like you would need to be going for 7 nights each booking (coupon) - or 14 days total.

14 days? Now that's real wishful thinking for me

 

[jagar100]

I just emailed my AAA agent to see if I can do the split, I'll let ya'll know what she says! Thanks ya'll!

 

[Jennasis]

Sounds like you'd need to book a seperate pkg for the length of saty at CSR and another pkg for ASMo. You'd have two small pkgs instead of one large one (at one resort).

 

[jagar100]

Here is what she said, although I didn't inquire about my $100 off coupon. I'm not too concerned about that right now anyways.

The way a split works is; that you have two separate reservations. The first hotel you stay at will have your tickets and dining attached to it. When you transfer to the second hotel you have to take your first hotel room key with you and the check-in person at the new hotel will have to transfer the remainder of your tickets and dining plan to your 2nt hotel room key. Keep in mind that check-in and check-out time remains the same. As far as the rate is concerned you will pay whatever the going rate it for the hotels you choose.

Is she correct on this? Doesn't appear that if would affect much of anything. She says my AAA discount would still apply to both resorts as long as it's being offered.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

This is not true. I did this last trip and was required to buy 2 separate packages, and pay 2 deposits. I did it through AAA too. Call and talk to someone else.

Your dining plan is the biggest problem. It will not transfer at all.

Here is what we did:
3 nights Contemporary Resort, 3 nights dining plan, 7 day tickets

4 nights Polynesian, 4 nights dining plan, 1 day tickets (at full 1 day price these were )

We used the 7 days of tickets the whole time and saved the extra 1 day (which we were required to buy) for a future trip. We then each had 2 keys to carry on the 2nd part of our trip. The room key and dining plan for the polynesian and the park entrance passes were on the Contemporary card. We marked the cards with a sharpie so we wouldn't accidently use the "extra" one day ticket that was on the polynesian room key.

It was very confusing, but it worked ok. Just ok though. We now have $260 worth of tickets to use sometime, but not this trip because we again bought the dining plan and the required tickets with it. We also used our room in the afternoon for rest break and not having a room on transfer day was quite a hassle.

Talk to another agent, or at least have them call Disney and make sure they know what they are doing...I suspect your agent has not booked a split before and is not quite sure the way disney does this.

Good luck!
Sheli

 

[EnnEss]

Looks like your AAA agent is wrong. The above poster is correct, and it won't be a 7 day package so I wouldnt be shocked to see the 100 dollar coupon go away. Your dining is for the length of stay at your hotel. It doesn't transfer. You'd have to buy another dining plan and another set of base ticks at the second hotel, costing a lot more money. You could do it w/o the dining plan, but you'd probably still lose the 100 dollar coupon unless your TA is in charge of awarding them and doesn't know. I doubt thats the case though, it probably won't show up.

Don't be surprised, you've discovered what a lot on these boards have. AAA is perfectly OK with lying about things they don't know about it in order to make sales. Too many of them are bad TAs in regards to disney. There are some on here actually though who are not like that. Its few and far between.

You could either do one of two things now. Take the advice of those on these boards and educate your agent is option 1. Option 2 is problematic but you can say to you TA, put that in writing, sign it and gurantee the price and coupon no matter what. Now, book the vacation. Then when its wrong try and force your AAA office to pick up the bill.

 

[jagar100]

Thanks so much for responding with these concerns. I have emailed her and asked for a DEFINATE confirmation on what she told me. I'm waiting on that response, but prior to that, she said it was ONE package. Here's what she said:

There are two reservations, one package. After your initial stay, lets say; three night stay at one hotel the left over four day tickets and four night dining plan would be transferred to the second hotel. But keep in mind that you will have to pack up the family, check out of the first hotel, take the transportation to the second hotel, check-in and get the transfer of the remaining tickets and dining attached to the second hotel. This may cost you the better part of the morning. The second hotel can store your luggage until the room is available which will probably not be until that afternoon around 3-4p depending on when your new room is clean and available.

Will post her response. I told her I don't want any nasty surprises when I get there so I need to know for sure!

 

[jagar100]

Got a response:
I just did one for a family that left this past march and that is how it worked for her. Yes you still have to pay two deposits one on the package and one on the hotel stay. She told me everything worked fine. I am not saying that Disney will not change the way that they book a split package, but as of this past March, that is the way we did it.

I wish I could talk to the family that did that to see just how well it worked for them!!!

 

[EnnEss]

Thanks so much for responding with these concerns. I have emailed her and asked for a DEFINATE confirmation on what she told me. I'm waiting on that response, but prior to that, she said it was ONE package. Here's what she said:

There are two reservations, one package. After your initial stay, lets say; three night stay at one hotel the left over four day tickets and four night dining plan would be transferred to the second hotel. But keep in mind that you will have to pack up the family, check out of the first hotel, take the transportation to the second hotel, check-in and get the transfer of the remaining tickets and dining attached to the second hotel. This may cost you the better part of the morning. The second hotel can store your luggage until the room is available which will probably not be until that afternoon around 3-4p depending on when your new room is clean and available.

Will post her response. I told her I don't want any nasty surprises when I get there so I need to know for sure!

Good for you, good luck, and that'd be great if she can do that for you .

 

[I Love Pluto]

Here is what she said, although I didn't inquire about my $100 off coupon. I'm not too concerned about that right now anyways.

The way a split works is; that you have two separate reservations. The first hotel you stay at will have your tickets and dining attached to it. When you transfer to the second hotel you have to take your first hotel room key with you and the check-in person at the new hotel will have to transfer the remainder of your tickets and dining plan to your 2nt hotel room key. Keep in mind that check-in and check-out time remains the same. As far as the rate is concerned you will pay whatever the going rate it for the hotels you choose.

Is she correct on this? Doesn't appear that if would affect much of anything. She says my AAA discount would still apply to both resorts as long as it's being offered.

This is exactly what we were told for our July trip. We were told, however, that some of the second resorts will not put the remainder of the park tickets on your new room key.

We might have to use two room keys for the second half of our vacation - one for park admission from the original resort, one for the room at the second resort. (Bring a Sharpie pen - Write Ticket or Room on the card.)

 

[jagar100]

I think I'm going to personally call both resorts myself and see what they say. Ofcourse I'll be documenting their first and last name!!! (And possibly name of their family members, favorite colors, hobbies....etc. etc. )

 

[I Love Pluto]

I think I'm going to personally call both resorts myself and see what they say. Ofcourse I'll be documenting their first and last name!!! (And possibly name of their family members, favorite colors, hobbies....etc. etc. )