Calling All Grand Floridian Gurus...

[roryc]

Okay, I think about this everyday...don't we all , but I wanted to see what some of you who are GF gurus might have to suggest.

My family is going on a WDW vacation next January, specifically Jan 30-Feb 3 (Value Season). The group consists of myself (34), DH (35), DD (4), DD (1) and FIL (69) and MIL (59). My ILs have never been to the World. I know...they've lead sheltered lives. What's worse is that they never took their children to the World...travesty. Thank goodness DH met me I just know that ILs will love to see their 2 and only GDDs at the World. But they'll also love early evenings back at the GF and the short monorail trips to MK...where I figure we'll spend most of our time.

ILs have already said they'll babysit at night if DH and I want to go back out

I want this to be a trip of a lifetime for my ILs. They're used to very nice accommodations and I've pretty much decided that the GF is the only choice for us (distance, accomodations, overall). Furthermore, I've also decided that we want to stay in RPC Concierge. Of course, we'll need 2 rooms. Ouch!

So, would we be better of to book RPC via AAA and get a MYW package plus dining. (Remember, there are 2 rooms; 1 with 2 adults, 1 child (4), (baby is free); and 1 with 2 adults). Or, shall I buy 1 AP for me (I'll be returning in 6/07 for a convention at CSR, but not really worried about getting park tickets out of this as company will pay for that anyways); length of stay tickets for everyone else, get AP room rates and buy the DDE card for meals?

I'm planning on dinners at Park Fare, Le Cellier, LTT, and HDDR. 1 breakfast at CRT, and probably at least one more character breakfast (Ohana's maybe). Lunches mostly CS with the exception of maybe Coral Reef. Then we'll probably just get breakfast from the Concierge or possibly Gasparilla's or GF cafe.

I'm leaning towards AP for the savings, but then MYW +dining would be so much easier to handle and not have to worry about meals.

Also, I'd love to request Castle views for both rooms. I guess we don't mind being a few doors apart and we could even do one room Concierge Deluxe (I know it wouldn't have a castle view) and one Castle View room if possible if they're adjacent from one another (is that even possible ). But I definitely wouldn't want to be like 20 rooms apart, or worse...separate floors.

Anyone have experience with 2 room requests/costs in RPC during Value Season? Anything else I should consider?

 

[Amyrlin]

I am not a GF guru, but it is worth doing the sums. The AP discounts appear to be set amounts atm, meaning the higher the cost, the less percentage you are getting off. With AAA is is a pecentage off. When we did AKL Conc. last year it was very close between the AAA discount and the AP rate.

I am wondering if, as GF RPC will be more costly, the AAA may work out cheaper due to the percenatge off. Worth getting a quote based on the stanard AAA disocunts on the room onlyu and the package and then cost it up with the histrorical level fo the AP discounts.

 

[roryc]

So say, if the AAA rate is close to a 20% discount on a $610/night room ($122), then that would be within a few dollars ($11/night/room) of the AP historical discount of $133/night. So it would definitely make more since to do the AAA MYW package with dining since we'd only be saving $11 X 2 rooms X 4 nights =$88 with the AP on the hotel rate.

I guess if the AAA discounts were only 10% a night rather than 20%, then the AP rate would possibly make better since (still have to weigh in the dining costs), because then you'd be talking about a $62/night/room savings or $484 discount for AP. I guess now I just need to see what AAA rates will be for next year; supposed to come out sometime in August according to AAA. Surely they'll be more than 10%...I hope Thanks for the insight.