Booking today with AAA.Review & help!

[ScrappinGran]

I am going to AAA today to book for September 2008. I am hoping they with offer free dining again, but from all the talk I realize they may not. (I will pay for it if I have to, for our large party it is a savings and we love the convenience.)I am wondering which week in Sept. 08 to book HOPING for the free dining, but we also want to go to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Anybody have an educated guess which week would be best? I had heard that free dining this year ended on the 22nd...is that true?
We plan on arriving on a Friday afternoon early evening and leaving the early afternoon of the second Sunday. Right now I have tentatively planned Fri. Sept 12-arrival and departing Sunday Sept.21. We are thinking a 6 or 7 day Park Hopper Pass, allowing for one day of rest and a day at Sea World.
How many Fridays in Sept. does MNSSHP usually run? I am afraid if I plan for the 19-28 I'll miss free dining ( If offered). Any advice?
Also I hope my AAA agent knows that the rates ARE out for that time period...if he/she doesn't, do I ask them to call Disney? I want to be as prepared as I can going in there today. (POFQ I hope) here we come!

 

[JLKennedy]

I think your dates are fine for the MNSSHP, we'll be leaving on the 13th of Sept. 2008.

I booked w/ my AAA agent and bought the deluxe dining, keeping fingers crossed for discount codes or some $ off on dining. If they do offer free "basic" dining, I should/would be eligible to receive that $ off and pay the difference. We'll be staying at WL this year (last year we did FQ). Right now, you're just gambling..there's never any guarantees that dining will be free...but keep in mind it will be hurricane season and maybe they'll need to fill the parks/hotels....who knows for sure.

 

[ScrappinGran]

Thanks for your advice, JL. I booked successfully today. We got POFQ as I hoped and will hope for free dining. We saved $840.00 by booking with AAA! ( I had 2 other quotes, one from the Disney site and one from Dreams Unlimited.)So, while its a l-o-o-o--n-g ways away, we have the resort we want, the days we want.