Can I change an AAA room only to a MYW with dining?

[GAM]

I made a room only AAA rate reservation at CSR a couple of weeks ago through CRO and then after reading these boards decided I wanted to add the dining plan. I understand that I can only do that if I make it a package and the only way to get a package with the AAA rate was to go through AAA so I contacted my local AAA office and asked them to make a package reservation for me but was told that CSR was sold out for AAA rooms for my dates. I have not yet cancelled my original reservation as I did not want to lose it if AAA couldn't get me the package. Does anyone know if there is a way I can convert my present room only reservation made through CRO to a AAA package reservation made through AAA? Unforetunately, my AAA agent does not seem to be a Disney expert and I actually have had to fill him in on some information so I do not trust him to be able to do this unless I give him some specific instructions on how it can be done (if it can be done). Thanks.

 

[dixiedizfan]

Why not try using a travel agent, such as Your Magical Journeys. They had gotten me a room-only with my AAA rate at POFQ, then when I decided to get the package with dining, they took care of that for me as well ... and I still had the same AAA rate on the room!

 

[KarenP]

It may be that there are no AAA package rates being offered for Coronado Springs for your dates. You may want to check with another AAA agency to be sure.

There is no way to convert your present reservation to a package. You have to cancel your room only reservation and rebook the package through Walt Disney Travel Company if you want the dining. There may be better package discounts than the AAA available closer to your dates of travel that you will be able apply.

 

[d4est]

Why not try using a travel agent, such as Your Magical Journeys. They had gotten me a room-only with my AAA rate at POFQ, then when I decided to get the package with dining, they took care of that for me as well ... and I still had the same AAA rate on the room!

The only way you can get a package WITH the AAA discount on the room portion is to book DIRECTLY thru AAA. I am sorry, but I believe you have been misled.

 

[yellowfish78]

Next time you go into your AAA office, ask for a Disney specialist. Someone there has to enjoy selling Disney! Bring your ressie with you for your room only. Tell the agent what to do. More than likely the Disney agent will tell the AAA agent that they can't touch the reservation (because they didn't book it). Sometimes you get some good Disney agents who can help though. If there are NO discounts available, you can do the following:
The way to get around this (I know it's a pain!) is to sign over control of your booking to the AAA agent. They do this by sending a fax to them, with your ressie number and a signed letter from you stating I want to give control to AAA agent XXX. Once it's done, your AAA agent can switch your room only to a package. Just in case, have your AAA agent verify with Disney that this can be done before you do all of this work! (And it will be worth it for the dining plan!)

 

[skbasnett1977]

The only way you can get a package WITH the AAA discount on the room portion is to book DIRECTLY thru AAA. I am sorry, but I believe you have been misled.

You are correct....you can NOT get the package with an AAA discount at any other location than an AAA. To the person who posted that they did....you might really want to double check on it.

 

[dixiedizfan]

You are correct....you can NOT get the package with an AAA discount at any other location than an AAA. To the person who posted that they did....you might really want to double check on it.

Actually, what I got was a Disney package with dining. When the costs for the room, dining and hopper passes were broken down, the room cost per night was the exact same price as the AAA rate would have been.

 

[beth_cam]

Buying a Disney Package does not mean you are getting any kind of deal at all. All a package is is booking a vacation for all your components together instead of separate and paying full price for eveything at one - rack rate for your room, full advanced purchase price for your tickets, and if you choose it the Dining Plan. By doing this all at the same time you get the 'package' and get the couple of perks that go along but it does NOT give you a break on any part of the deal. The dining plan in itself is considered a discount and you are only allowed one discount. The only way around this is a AAA discount booked through AAA.

 

[Conkozan]

Buying a Disney Package does not mean you are getting any kind of deal at all. All a package is is booking a vacation for all your components together instead of separate and paying full price for eveything at one - rack rate for your room, full advanced purchase price for your tickets, and if you choose it the Dining Plan. By doing this all at the same time you get the 'package' and get the couple of perks that go along but it does NOT give you a break on any part of the deal. The dining plan in itself is considered a discount and you are only allowed one discount. The only way around this is a AAA discount booked through AAA.

Unless the person booked one of the Disney Specials that are opened to all agencies. That way AAA and every other agency would have the same rates since you are only allowed one discount. You cannot add a AAA discount on top of another discount and vice versa. You go with whichever discount has the deeper savings.

 

[beth_cam]

The dining plan is considered a discount so applying it to a package would automatically make any other discounts void.

But what I am saying is other than the dining plan there are no specials that are aplicable to packages offered by Disney so nothing for others to be able to utilize. When you see an advertised so called special package deal there is nothing special about it, that is just disney advertising what it costs to go there and making people think there is something special about it. There have been times in the past where they offered 7 days for price of 5 (or similar) but this hasnt happend in a couple of years. And they do offer occasional public codes that are ROOM ONLY and not applicable to packages, but again since the inception of magic your way this is very rare. Ap codes are room only discounts...not able to be used in a package. Free dining last year required that you had a package booked with full rack rate room.

Take this super hero (etc) ad that looks like a special price now of 1500. if you look close what it actually says is Now you can go to disney during certain times at value hotels using the absolute BASE tickets for 6 nights/7 days for under 1500. This package does not include any travel or meals, it is hotel and tickets ONLY. Several times on the boards we have priced out this so called special package - 2 adults, 1 junior, 1 child 6 nights, 7 day base tickets, value hotel, value season FULL RACK RATE, ADVANCE PURCHSE TICKET PRICE adds up to about 1350, and the same package during regular season runs just under 1500. The whole package thing is an advertising gimick to make people think they are getting a deal by ordering the package; the hero ad to make you think there is a 'special'. The 'deal' you get by ordering a package is in the little things like your luggage tags and the ability to add the one and only available discount (other than aaa) for packages - dining.

 

[Conkozan]

Sorry to disagree, but the only specials disney has released lately HAVE been package specials, it is room only we have not seen much of. The one for Jan-Mar '06 (that was bookable up until 12/21 I believe) was for free park hopping, free waterparks and discounted the room. You got this with your package even if it included dining.

You can check mousesavers for historical charts of discounts as well.

http://www.mousesavers.com/faq.html#historical

 

[d4est]

Yep. That is the package special we go in on. It actually beat our AAA package by about $90. It was a pain to get my AAA TA to apply it, but we did...finally.

 

[Conkozan]

Since we tend to travel during a time period that normally has public discounts, I gave up on my AAA agency. I went with one of the online specialists.

My theory- It does not matter what rate you start out at, it is the rate you end up with!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Since we tend to travel during a time period that normally has public discounts, I gave up on my AAA agency. I went with one of the online specialists.

My theory- It does not matter what rate you start out at, it is the rate you end up with!

so in otherwords,

we have a 'disney "special" package' booked for November 11th of this year. its room, passes, dining.

*if* a new code or package rate becomes available before we travel, we can call up 407 wdisney and ask them to apply that code/package. (if it means we have to cancel the dining and its still a better deal so be it. if it means we can keep the dining so be it)

is this right? we can 'change' it? what if its within 45 days of arrival? we wouldn't be cancelling, just changing what we pay! (but at that point we will have paid in full!)

 

[yellowfish78]

You still get AAA rates on top of any discounts that Disney may offer. When the free dining plan came out, the AAA rate was applied to the room only for the discount. Same with the offer that canceled 12/21 for travel through March. So other discounts can be applyed to a AAA rate if a package is booked.
One of the bigger benefits of booking with AAA is all the "extras" you get. Sometimes it cheaper to do a room only, add tickets, but in my experience, it's cheaper 90% of the time when you add the dining plan. Take this month for example. Book with AAA and get a free clock or photo memory box. And whenver you book a package with AAA, no matter what the month, you also get a discount card for discounts on some restaruants, tours, recreation and merchandise. The Disney Character Storytime Experience is only available to AAA packages. You also get car rental discounts and upgrades. Sometimes this outways a difference in package price. Heck, I love knowing I'm getting a discount at the World of Disney when I do my shopping there.

D4est: It's a shame your AAA agent had a hard time changing your package for you. I would have been so excited to see you found a better deal! Personally, I appreciate clients looking for better deals to help lower their package price.

Lil*Bit*Goofy: If you change your package after you make final payment (45 days prior) and your "new" price is less, Disney charges you at least $50. There is also the possibility of other cancelation charges if you change your dates.

 

[d4est]

yellowfish78-My AAA TA was so unprofessional, that I ended up cancelling with her & rebooking thru another, out of state, AAA TA recommended on these boards. She has been great.

On another note, I have to disagree with the following:

You still get AAA rates on top of any discounts that Disney may offer. When the free dining plan came out, the AAA rate was applied to the room only for the discount. Same with the offer that canceled 12/21 for travel through March. So other discounts can be applyed to a AAA rate if a package is booked.

Disney does NOT allow "stacking" of codes. People that booked thru AAA, that took advantage of the free dining promo last year, had to forfeit their AAA discount, because the free dining WAS the discount. It is one or the other with Disney.