Adding my request for BR help...

[waspnest]

Is there any way we can find these rates ourselves, or do you have to have an AP to see them? Could I contact my AAA rep who booked our trip?

Anyway, now that I see they reduced the window to 60 days, I'm toying again with getting an AP, and I'm coming out of lurkdom to ask rates! You only need to get one AP for your whole group, right?

We're travelling 11/19 - 11/26, staying at Pop Century, standard room. If it matters, party of 10, three rooms: one room 2 adults; one room two adults, two children (ages 5 and 3); one room two adults, one child (age 4), one infant (age 1).

Thanks for whatever information you can give me!

 

[BrendaE]

7 nights at Pop century would be 616.70 per room including tax. That breaks down as 88.10/night including tax ($79/night pre-tax). You can book up to three rooms with one AP as long as that person is present when checking in to each room. As long as only 2 adults are in each room, there is no additional charge for children in the rooms. You have a few weeks until your 60 day window, but that is no guarantee that these rooms will be still available. The values seem to be showing much more availability than the other room classes, so you may be in luck even down the line for the discount. I would check your numbers as soon as possible, and if the best rate is a good deal for you book it asap.
Good luck and enjoy your trip. We will be down there the 2 weeks before you and I can't wait.
Brenda

 

[waspnest]

It looks like it would only save about $6 per night over the AAA rate we already have, so maybe not worth AP. What are other benefits of getting an AP? Is there any discount on the dining package?

 

[BrendaE]

You can't get the dining package if you use the best rate program, it is a room only reservation and you have to buy tickets and everything else separately. There is a card called the Disney Dining Experience offered to AP holders for $50 which gives you 20% off most table service restaurants in all the parks and at the resorts. It is also good for the counter service at the resorts that do not have a table service restaurant, so you could use it at the POP food court. It is good for all food and beverage at participating restaurants including alcohol. This would be a good deal if you like a lot of sit down meals, as the dining plan allows only one table service and one counter service meal per day. If on the other hand you are looking to use the table service only for occasional character meals, and would mostly do quick counter service meals the Dining Experience (DDE) may not be worth it. The AP itself does give you 10% off a few selected restaurants in the parks and resorts. The DDE is good for the entire party up to 10 people, where the AP discount is only good for a party of 4.
The AP also gives you 15% off the rental of boats at the marinas throughout Disney and 10% off other watersports including parasailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding and jetski rentals. It gives you 15% off behind the scenes tours. There are 10-15% discounts at most of the shops at Downtown Disney (not in the parks). 30% off Golf fees, 10% off spa treatments. It also gives discounted admission to Disney Quest, Pleasure Island, and Cirque de Soleil tickets.
If you will be doing a lot of extra activities around the world, it may be a good idea for you to get it. If you plan on doing the parks every day and not doing much of the extras, you would probably be just as happy just doing the package you currently have. There is a site www.allearsnet.com which has a page dedicated to the AP discounts. They also have all of the menus to the restaurants to guage where you would like to eat and the possible costs and savings.
If you have any other questions just ask away. Welcome to DIS
Brenda