Deciding which rate to use

[VW31]

Help me to decide, here are my options...

1 - AAA rate (2 standard rooms) *Current Ressie
rooms = $2485
aaa = $65
park tickets = $630
total = $3,180
*Going for 7 nights at the end of August, thus, very good chance of getting an upgrade to Water view upon arrival b/c of Loew's upgrade benefit (1 Gold, 1 Blue)
*Only getting the AAA for the room rate & park discounts. Don’t have car.


2 - APH rate (2 standard rooms)
rooms = $2148
aph = $384 (have to buy 2 of them)
park tickets = $420
total = 2,952
*Do I have a chance of getting upgraded to Water view with APH rate, since I’m not guaranteed the Loews benefit? They told me at reservations that I would have to pay extra but will they upgrade complimentary?
*Only getting the APH's for the room rate & park discounts. Don't live close enough for a return trip and since this is the 2nd I really don't want to.
*Either cancel AAA membership to get back my $65 (didn’t receive cards yet) or eat it.
*$228 lower then option 1 ($163 if I eat the $65) – but will I get upgrade?


3 – AAA & APH (2 water-view rooms)
room 1, AAA = $1243 - with automatic upgrade to Water view due to Loew’s Gold benefit
room 2, APH = $1230 - water view
aaa = $65
aph = $192
park tickets = $525
total = $3,255
*Have exact room level I want
*Only getting the AAA for the room rate & park discounts
*Only getting the APH for the room rate & park discounts
*$75 more then option 1 – but get exact room level I want

 

[hardrocker45]

my confusion exactly.I've tried all codes for 3 people and considering APH and AAA are quoted before all fees the best deal I came up with was the fanclub rate adding the unentemail $100 discount inc. stay and play came out about $100 cheaper than the others for the dates we wanted.No big deal and I'm spooked by last years visit cuz the HRH treated my Loews First membership as meaningless.I was told any package deal ,discount or anything other than rack rates didn't qualify for the Loews perks.Granted it was right after July 4th but I had a hard time getting a paper out of em no gift nada.Now the gold benifit may carry more wait but they offered no upgrade on the blue and this will be our third time at a Loews hotel and we're still blue .go figure

 

[JessicaR]

If your travel dates are the end of August I would book the APH rate. Its very quiet and most are back to school already. Every year so far they have offered deep discounts for this week. (we go this week each year)

To be honest with you an upgrade at RPR from std to poolview is the same room different view and not always better. If thats what your after though I dont think you will have any problems getting it. I would go for the best $. Keep an eye out for AP promotions for your dates.

 

[goofy!]

I would also choose the APH rate. For a seven day trip, you probably will come close to saving that AAA fee just with the 15% discount on food and the 20% on the souvenirs.

Also, as Jessica said, they will probably discount the rate heavily as the summer progresses. Last year, we booked at $264 per night. By the time we left (August 2-9), our rate was down to 130 something + tax.

Also, for the view. We always have had garden views. The last few rooms were the ones with the fabulous Hulk & Park views. Then on our trip in December, they upgraded us to a waterview. Third floor (tower three), in the bend so the bathroom was smaller, with a nice view of some trunks of pine trees, glimpses of the pool through them, and if you strained your neck and looked down, you could see the hot tub. Give me back my garden view so I can wake up to the growling of the Hul, thank you very much. After being able to see the park from our window, I thought the waterview was a bit boring. Also, in the parkview gardenviews, you can see the waterway, so you do have a type of "water" view. If you read the thread about room assignments, it will tell you which Garden Views have the best park views. Of course, no guarantee that you won't get one of the gardenviews overlooking the front entrance, but worth a try.

If it were our family, I would take the discount over the view, as we never really spend much time at the window. If there were balconies, it might be different, but with just a window, we have never spent much time just standing there and gazing out.

Have a great time!!

 

[disneybound05]

exactly what is a Loew's discount? is it an employee benefit? Loew's Home Improvement and Loew's Movie Theatres are the only Loew's i know

 

[JessicaR]

It's Loews Hotels and they have a Loews First membership that offers perks. They manage the on-site Universal resorts.

www.loewshotels.com

 

[disneybound05]

thanks for a quick response. i will check out their website. we've decided to start vacationing at least once a year so i'm hoping to become a member of somewhere that offers discounts i can use toward disney and universal resorts.

 

[VW31]

I had DH going crazy over this. I really want a water-view but he didn't feel that it was worth $163 or $238 more.
The thing is we want to be in Tower 3, to be close to the boat dock (so my mother want have to walk so much).
However, at reservations they straight out told me that a standard room in Tower 3 gives you a view of the interstate. For now I switched ressie to option 2 (APH rate).