April/May 2006 Code Watch

[philaround]

I hope something comes out soon! I don't have anything booked yet but I would rather stay onsite this time around. We are going April30-may7 (or may 6). I am hoping to get a good rate onsite otherwise we will be in a condo again!

If you are going to book a room only with CRO [1-407-934-7639] go ahead and do it now, even without a discount. All you have to do is make a deposit equal to one night's stay and pay the balance by check-in. You can get a full refund up until five days before arrival. Once you have your reservation they will modify it as needed.I made a two room reservation in early December for 4/29 to 5/7 at rack rate. I have since made several changes.

1. Changed from 2 rooms to 1 room when our party dropped from 5 to 4.

2. Extended reservation by 1 day when I could not get Air transportation back home for 5/7.

3. Changed rack rate to AAA discount.

When AP code comes out I will call again to apply it to my reservation.

If you have, or want, some kind of package deal things become more complicated. Since I am not at all familiar with packages I'll leave this for someone else to explain.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I just called yesterday to buy an AP and they said the rates should be coming out in the next few weeks!!! I sure hope I get a good rate!!!

I hope you're right!!!

 

[RuthLS]

If you are going to book a room only with CRO [1-407-934-7639] go ahead and do it now, even without a discount. All you have to do is make a deposit equal to one night's stay and pay the balance by check-in. You can get a full refund up until five days before arrival. Once you have your reservation they will modify it as needed.I made a two room reservation in early December for 4/29 to 5/7 at rack rate. I have since made several changes.

1. Changed from 2 rooms to 1 room when our party dropped from 5 to 4.

2. Extended reservation by 1 day when I could not get Air transportation back home for 5/7.

3. Changed rack rate to AAA discount.

When AP code comes out I will call again to apply it to my reservation.

If you have, or want, some kind of package deal things become more complicated. Since I am not at all familiar with packages I'll leave this for someone else to explain.

My Understanding is that packages are a completely different species than room only. You can pretty much do whatever you want with room only up to 5 days before your arrival date.

Packages come with all of these strings attached. And I was told that they are booked differently in the system. So if you have a room only and want a package-they have to cancel your reservation and vice versa. But I was also told that they could do this without you losing your room. Not sure how true that is and I would make sure if switching from one to the other they have the rooms available first.

As far as AP codes..I hope they are coming out in the next few weeks. We decided against the package/dining plan because all of the dinner places I wanted to go to were 2TS anyways. And looking at the menus, the prices weren't that far off from 1TS meals. So it just made sense for us. Currently we have a AAA rate for May for CSR. But an AP rate would be great.

I've been reading that there are only so many AP rooms allowed and not at all resorts etc. So for those of you in the know...are there ever AP rates for CSR since it's their convention resort and they probably book up anyways? And is it a mad dash once a code is posted? Is it like concert tickets where they are sold out in minutes?

Thanks!
Ruth

 

[Kimberly815]

I booked a AAA rate through Disney. (It was the same if I went through AAA, so I decided I'd rather not have the middle man in the way.)

The CM told me that I could call with an AP rate and that they could do it just fine. He said that, yes they do cancel the prior reservation....but they would set it up so that you wouldn't lose that room in the process.

That being said...I don't have a lot of confidence with all of the CM's. Some seem better than others. So I guess you do so at your own risk.

I think it would be best...in the event that a code comes out..to see what rooms are available before canceling your original ressie.

Good luck!
Ruth

Thanks for all the help. I will keep my fingers crossed! Especially since I don't know for sure if I am really going or not yet!

 

[umaangel00]

Would you say it's better to go with a room only ressie then? If I do that, I would go with either AAA, Mapleleaf tickets, or ticketmania for the tickets.

 

[mickeyluv]

I need some advice please. We have a ressie at OKW starting May 14th, but we would like to stay at either BC, YC, or BW on the night of the 13th. If it were you, would you go ahead and make a reservation to one of those resorts and for the 13th and hope that a AP rate comes out? It can be applied to an existing reservation right? I realize that AP rates may not come out for that time period. Therefore we would have to pay regular price or switch to a moderate or value. So confusing!

 

[RuthLS]

Would you say it's better to go with a room only ressie then? If I do that, I would go with either AAA, Mapleleaf tickets, or ticketmania for the tickets.

I think it all depends on your situation. For us it just made sense to get a room only and hope for a general or AP code.

We are going 7 days and 6 nights...maybe a day and night more. As I'm sure you know...pass tickets don't jump in price as much after the 4 day mark or so. If we can get a good AP room rate, it will save us money to get the AP card for one of our adult tickets. I will most likely get the tickets through mousesavers link to ticketmania. That's the cheapest I've seen. Then I will probably get the disney dining card to get 20% off all our ts meals.

In doing the math myself, through Disney, and through AAA. If I got a room at rack rate, AAA discount, (budgeting food myself) or the package with dining...my prices all came up the same within $100-$200 or so.

Sooo...I wanted the flexibility of doing room only with the option of the AP discount or adding the dining package at a later date. I figured..you can always add the dining package..to take it away is harder b/c their cancellation policy is different.

If there are codes, I think they will be out by March-April or so. If there aren't any, then I have to decide if I'm ok with my AAA room only rate or if I want to add the meal plan. That is when I would purchase my tickets and the dining card. We are going in mid May so I feel I have enough time.

Best case scenario..there's an AP code, we get our AP pass and tickets, and the dining card and will save the most money. Worst case...we stick with room only or get a package.

Keep in mind that the only deal on the package is the food. You pay rack rate for your room and for your tickets. While some think the meal plan is a great savings. All the restaurants we want to go to for TS take 2TS credits..even though the menu prices aren't that different. So the meal plan wouldn't be so great for us.

Also, know that I was told by Disney that I could add the package at a later date..but they do have to cancel my original ressie. I was told they could do it in a way that I would not lose my room. Not sure if this is true. So I would ck before making any cancelation.

DH says that in spending all this time trying to save money I should just book everything already and be done with it. My time is money too. Little does he know that what we save will be spent at the spa while he's watching our toddlers.

So long story short (so sorry) do your math and what is best for your family. I just like the flexibility of room only for now.

 

[umaangel00]

I think room only is the best for us as well. I won't use the dining plan. It only DH and myself. That is ALOT of food. Plus tickets are way cheapier through ticketmania.

 

[IDoDis]

I stopped by my neighborhood AAA office today. I was planning on booking room-only reservations, but left doing nothing. The gal told me that I can't buy the meal plan unless I buy the park tickets, as well. AAA does have a savings on the meal plan compared to the rack rate and those prices could go higher. My concern is if I wait it out and then there's no code and the price on the meal plan goes higher, I lose. At first she didn't know what I was talking about when I asked if she could apply a discount code if one came out. Later she also said I'd lose my reservation if I changed my reservations to reflect a newer discount. She also said with a room only reservation for 8 nights, I'd have to pay $160 deposit. Is that right? Even though I'm still so new to all of this, I felt like I knew more than her about applying a discount code and not risk losing the room. So, I left thinking I'd book through a travel agent instead that specializes in WDW and knows the ins & outs better. I can still get the AAA discount that way, too.

So, if I want the meal plan, would it be better to just take the AAA rate now? I wanted to buy the park hopper tickets through ticketmania, but the travel agent at AAA said the tickets and meal plan have to be purchased together. Does ticketmania sell the meal plan tickets, too?

I wish a darn code would come out soon so that I would know which way to go.

 

[jmcross]

I bought a AAA package with dining plan and included only a 1 day base ticket. I bought the rest of the tickets through Ticketmania.

We are going Easter week and I would be surprised if any further discounts came out for that week.

 

[SeaSpray]

I stopped by my neighborhood AAA office today. I was planning on booking room-only reservations, but left doing nothing. The gal told me that I can't buy the meal plan unless I buy the park tickets, as well. AAA does have a savings on the meal plan compared to the rack rate and those prices could go higher. My concern is if I wait it out and then there's no code and the price on the meal plan goes higher, I lose. At first she didn't know what I was talking about when I asked if she could apply a discount code if one came out. Later she also said I'd lose my reservation if I changed my reservations to reflect a newer discount. She also said with a room only reservation for 8 nights, I'd have to pay $160 deposit. Is that right? Even though I'm still so new to all of this, I felt like I knew more than her about applying a discount code and not risk losing the room. So, I left thinking I'd book through a travel agent instead that specializes in WDW and knows the ins & outs better. I can still get the AAA discount that way, too.

So, if I want the meal plan, would it be better to just take the AAA rate now? I wanted to buy the park hopper tickets through ticketmania, but the travel agent at AAA said the tickets and meal plan have to be purchased together. Does ticketmania sell the meal plan tickets, too?

I wish a darn code would come out soon so that I would know which way to go.

Hopefully I can give you a little info here

If you want the Dining Plan AND want AAA discount, it MUST be booked through AAA travel agent, and it's actually a package that will include park tickets. (However, you get to decide exactly how many days you want the park tickets for, and whether you want them to be park hoppers or not, and have expiration or not).

If you are not interested in the Dining Plan, you can book directly with Disney, OR with any other travel agent, to get AAA discount on the room only. Neither Disney or any other travel agent can get you the Dining Package AND a AAA discount. Like I said, that would have to be booked through a AAA Travel Agent.

So here are your options:

1. Book the "package" which would include the room, dining, and park tickets through a AAA travel agent and get the AAA discount.

or

2. Book only the room through Disney or other Travel Agent and they can apply a AAA discount to the room ONLY. And at that point you are not allowed to get the Dining Plan, too.

or

3. Book everything through Disney or other Travel Agent (room, dining plan, and tickets) but you would not get any AAA discount.

or

4. Hope for a general-public discount code to be released so you can book through Disney or other travel agent.



We have AAA and I currently have a room-only reservation booked through Disney. I'd love to add the Dining Plan, but I can't. I'd have to cancel my reservation with Disney and rebook a package through AAA, in order to get the AAA discount. I really do not want to go through an AAA travel agent, so I am going to see if a general-public discount code comes out so I can book a package, or else I'll just pass on the dining plan and keep my AAA room-only discount.

I hope this helped!

 

[Gillian]

I was afraid of using an AAA agent as well, but I found one I liked this year!

 

[Drake]

I just booked our May vacation thru AAA two weeks ago. This is the first time I used them and I'm very happy with my agent. I went to the AAA web travel site....clicked on the WDW info section....and, there was a form I filled out and sent with my general request (dates, individuals, etc.). The next day I decided to call my local AAA office. Well, the person I spoke with at that office did not seem to have any idea of the differnt options, etc. available....she quoted prices that I knew were not accurate. I was ready to just call Disney and book room only with a AAA discount...when, low and behold, I recieved an email back from my AAA request I made over the internet!

What a wonderful, informed and courteous agent!

We communicate by email and by phone (she sent me her toll free number). We reserved two rooms with AAA discount, the dining plan and purchased just a one day ticket. (We have days left on tickets from last years visit, so we didn't need more than one day more each person.)

She has told me that she will watch for further discounts...and, if I see any, I can let her know ...she will apply them at no charge!

So...I'm watching for codes...but, know that I have the rooms, meal plan and one day tickets already reserved!

 

[EmmaAndQuinnsMommy]

I stopped by my neighborhood AAA office today. I was planning on booking room-only reservations, but left doing nothing. The gal told me that I can't buy the meal plan unless I buy the park tickets, as well. AAA does have a savings on the meal plan compared to the rack rate and those prices could go higher. My concern is if I wait it out and then there's no code and the price on the meal plan goes higher, I lose.

I don't think there is a savings on the dining plan through AAA? And what is she talking about that the prices could go higher. I think the dining plan is the same price for everyone, isn't it?

Carrie

ps: The deposit I paid for AAA was a flat $200 for a package. The $16o deposit was maybe for a room only ressie?

 

[mickeyluv]

Okay AP codes, waiting for ya! Just booked BCV for one night (day of arrival) before heading over to OKW on Sunday!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Has anyone heard of any target release dates for May AP rates? Would love Animal Kingdom Lodge!

 

[Luv2trav]

We have AAA and I currently have a room-only reservation booked through Disney. I'd love to add the Dining Plan, but I can't. I'd have to cancel my reservation with Disney and rebook a package through AAA, in order to get the AAA discount. I really do not want to go through an AAA travel agent, so I am going to see if a general-public discount code comes out so I can book a package, or else I'll just pass on the dining plan and keep my AAA room-only discount.

I hope this helped!

I am curious why you wouldn't want to book a AAA package for the dining if you already have a AAA room only rate and want the dining package?

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

subscribing

 

[Lyn5]

I have been following this thread and just gave up on AP rates for the begining of May and rented some DVC points from a friend...so I am thinking that with my luck the rates will be released any day now

 

[SeaSpray]

I am curious why you wouldn't want to book a AAA package for the dining if you already have a AAA room only rate and want the dining package?

Because as of right now, I'm booked directly with Disney. If I want to add the dining plan I'd have to cancel that and book with a AAA travel agent, and I guess I just don't want to turn my reservation over. lol However, if no AP discounts come out, and we decide we definitely want the dining plan, I would consider doing this.