AAA, AP holder discounts, ticket ???'s......

[DISNEYLOVER70]

I have some questions if some generous soul(s) would like to help me out here.............

Right now I have booked the following:

April 13-20 Two queen bed Standard Rooms at the Hard Rock Hotel for the following rates: apr 13-15 201.75
apr 16-17 216.75
apr 18-21 201.75
This is the "stay more, save more" rate.........

Then we decided that we would just stay onsite for 3 nights and stay off site for the rest because we want to do a lot of other stuff like Daytona Beach etc and thought we would save the money since we wouldn't be at the hotel much anyways those days.

So when I went online to book Apr 13-Apr 16, my nightly rate is $269.00

Called AAA office this morning and they said no 2010 rates out yet, sometime this fall they will be published.

Was going to purchase 4 of the 99.00/all week tickets (me, husband and two kids 16 & 14), but then I saw something about AP holders getting discounts on the hotel and food and merchandise........ If we spend 3 days and 3 nights in the park, is it worth it to buy 3 of the $99.00 tickets and one AP pass? Is there a AAA discount on the AP pass, where is the best place to buy it? If we aren't going until next april, do I have to wait until after Jan 1 to buy the pass or is it good one year from the date of purchase? I see there are two different types of AP passes, which one should I get?

I know we won't be going back anytime soon, we usually do a vacation like this every 3 years so I dont' want to buy the AP if I can't save enough on this one trip to make it worth our while. We are definately staying 3 nights at the Hard Rock, maybe more if a deal comes out or if the AAA rate is a huge savings........

Sorry for so many questions. We usually fly to Orlando and have Disney pick us up, stay on site and we are good to go. This is getting me stressed out.......in a good way !

TIA!!!

 

[damo]

You don't need to actually purchase the AP to book the room with AP discount. You just need to buy it before you check in. I wouldn't call AAA for their rates, call Loews and ask for the rates. Ask for AAA and AP and see what is better. Then when you actually have finalized your rate (doesn't have to be until 5 days before you check in) you can purchase AAA or AP.

You can check AP rates online by going to www.loewshotels.com and setting partner/group to PROMOTION and then code to APH. Right now it doesn't look like there are any good APH rates. There don't tend to be during spring break.

 

[macraven]

I have some questions if some generous soul(s) would like to help me out here.............

Right now I have booked the following:

April 13-20 Two queen bed Standard Rooms at the Hard Rock Hotel for the following rates: apr 13-15 201.75
apr 16-17 216.75
apr 18-21 201.75
This is the "stay more, save more" rate.........

Then we decided that we would just stay onsite for 3 nights and stay off site for the rest because we want to do a lot of other stuff like Daytona Beach etc and thought we would save the money since we wouldn't be at the hotel much anyways those days.

So when I went online to book Apr 13-Apr 16, my nightly rate is $269.00

Called AAA office this morning and they said no 2010 rates out yet, sometime this fall they will be published.

Was going to purchase 4 of the 99.00/all week tickets (me, husband and two kids 16 & 14), but then I saw something about AP holders getting discounts on the hotel and food and merchandise........ If we spend 3 days and 3 nights in the park, is it worth it to buy 3 of the $99.00 tickets and one AP pass? Is there a AAA discount on the AP pass, where is the best place to buy it? If we aren't going until next april, do I have to wait until after Jan 1 to buy the pass or is it good one year from the date of purchase? I see there are two different types of AP passes, which one should I get?

I know we won't be going back anytime soon, we usually do a vacation like this every 3 years so I dont' want to buy the AP if I can't save enough on this one trip to make it worth our while. We are definately staying 3 nights at the Hard Rock, maybe more if a deal comes out or if the AAA rate is a huge savings........

Sorry for so many questions. We usually fly to Orlando and have Disney pick us up, stay on site and we are good to go. This is getting me stressed out.......in a good way !

TIA!!!

you only need one member in your family to have the AP for the discounts.
it also will give you discounts for food and merch of 10% in the park and city walk

AAA rates usually come out end of october.
you can buy the 7 day pass from them or from universal website.

if you stay offsite and want to do the park during that time period, the AP allows free parking in the garage.
you would have to have the AP activated for the first parking stay to be free.
i can explain that later if you go that route.

if you stay on site the first 3 nights then move offsite, your hotel key card is still valid for the express lines in the park the day you check out of the hotel.

the preferred annual pass is cheaper than the premiere annual pass.
both give discounts, one more so on food and merch plus other perks.

i only buy the preferred pass/AP as i am not in orlando more than twice a year. it serves my purpose.

you booked your room.
you can modify that rate when the discounts come out.
you should see which discount gives you the best deal on the on site room.

i always book with aaa and if the ap has a better price, i call and modify my room rate.

you are guaranteeing your room at this point by booking now. that is a good thing.

about the price of the passes, i say if you are sure you are going, buy them now.
you never know when the promo will be pulled and prices will increase.

they are good forever.
the time on the clock for the 7 days begins when you first use them.

i have tickets from 1994 i have not used yet.
they are still valid.

i bought the 7 day promo also recently in case i ever take a friend with me to the parks.
i am not a bit concerned about them expiring as i KNOW they never will until once used.

consider buying the AAA membership.
you can get up to 35% off the hotel room on site.
it all depends on the date of your stay.

you can also use the aaa card for other things, not just universal.
you do get 10% off merch and food in the parks and some city walk venues with that card.

i used my AAA card for 8 years in the parks until i bought the ap

it only costs me $40 a year for my membership.

 

[DISNEYLOVER70]

damo and macraven...........THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

I already am a AAA member, well I have to renew this month, so that isn't a problem. I am ready and want to purchase the tickets now, I just have to decide if I want to buy 3 at the 99.00 price and one ap pass or just get 4 99.00 passes. I am going to try to go the loews site and see what the prices are for ap holders and then call the hotel and see if they have aaa rates..... this really shouldn't be as difficult as I am making it for myself.....lol.

Thanks again! i am sure I will be back with more ?????

 

[DISNEYLOVER70]

I went on line at the lowes site and typed in the ap code and it came up with 242.00 night for 3 nights apr 13-16.

I called universal and was told the AAA rate for the same 3 nights was 242.10 so pretty much the same rate. I asked the rep at universal what the ap rate playing like i didn't know and she said the ap rates were not out yet but they are usually much better than the AAA rate and usually are a 30% savings...... that is not what the lowes site is saying. Guess I will just have to wait and see what happens with the rate. Still leaves me wondering if I should buy all 4 tickets or just 3 and wait to see if it is worth it to get the annual pass ticket or not? can I buy all 4 tix at the 99.00 price and just upgrade one later? would that be more money tho doing it that way than just waiting and buying one?

Again, sorry with all the questions!!!

 

[damo]

I would buy 4 now and upgrade if necessary. Who knows how long the $99 deal will be around.

 

[macraven]

damo gave you a great suggestion.
that's what i would think would be a decent option.

the last time the AP's for preferred increase was this past March.

as long as they don't increase, you can figure out the difference between the cost of the 7 day promo passes and the present cost for the PAP.

you can buy the 4 passes now and the pap.

you can always save the 4th pass and use it on a return trip.
they never expire.

your kids might want to return sooner than the 3 years you mentioned..