Do standard reservations get cheaper closer to travel dates?

[SSR]

We own at SSR and are keeping a spreadsheet of what our vacations "would have" cost us out of pocket.

We're traveling between 9/26-10/2 and are staying at a 2BR villa at SSR.

When I called AAA in June to price this out, we were quoted about $3,300.

I just called today and was quoted $2,300.

I was surprised at the price differential. Is this normal as we get closer to the travel date (and perhaps a reflection that there's plenty of availability during this time)?

 

[vicki_c]

Prices don't go down (meaning published rack rates).

What most likely happened is that since 2011 rates weren't released when you called the first time, they quoted you the highest 2010 rate of the year (so Christmas week rates, generally). Once they released the 2011 rates, you were quoted the real rate that it's going to be.

When you book far in advance, that is how they quote - using the highest possible rate and then adjusting once rates are released.

 

[JWG]

I assume you're doing this just to track your cost versus cost had you paid cash and get to your break even point?

If so, would you actually pay to stay in SSR on cash if you didn't have DVC or would simply get two moderate or deluxe rooms?

One way to get AAA rates without having to call (rough rates) is to just price the trip online at Disney's website and deduct 10%. AAA, on average, is a 10% discount but can be as high as 20% I've been told. So, you could also use a 15% average discount if you wanted.

Keep in mind, AAA may not be the cheapest. When Disney offers 40% off rack rate for example. Deluxe villas have been as high as 45% off rack rate at times.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Specials are released from time to time. Since June I do think there was a room discount special released for the general public for your travel dates. And there are newer AP discount rates as well. It doesn't always happen but it can.

 

[DebbieB]

We own at SSR and are keeping a spreadsheet of what our vacations "would have" cost us out of pocket.

We're traveling between 9/26-10/2 and are staying at a 2BR villa at SSR.

When I called AAA in June to price this out, we were quoted about $3,300.

I just called today and was quoted $2,300.

I was surprised at the price differential. Is this normal as we get closer to the travel date (and perhaps a reflection that there's plenty of availability during this time)?

If there are empty rooms, they do sometimes offer discounts. They are offering 40%-45% discounts at DVC resorts this fall. Not all resorts and all dates are available for the discount.

 

[SSR]

I assume you're doing this just to track your cost versus cost had you paid cash and get to your break even point?

If so, would you actually pay to stay in SSR on cash if you didn't have DVC or would simply get two moderate or deluxe rooms?

One way to get AAA rates without having to call (rough rates) is to just price the trip online at Disney's website and deduct 10%. AAA, on average, is a 10% discount but can be as high as 20% I've been told. So, you could also use a 15% average discount if you wanted.

Keep in mind, AAA may not be the cheapest. When Disney offers 40% off rack rate for example. Deluxe villas have been as high as 45% off rack rate at times.

Yes, trying to determine breakeven point. Yes, we'd stay at SSR even on cash. We like it that much. When we book future trips at, say BCV, we'd use those cash rates for our spreadsheet.

Thanks for your information above. It's going to be hard to nail down the numbers to the penny, but we'll have to use best guesstimates/averages.

 

[JWG]

Yes, trying to determine breakeven point. Yes, we'd stay at SSR even on cash. We like it that much. When we book future trips at, say BCV, we'd use those cash rates for our spreadsheet.

Thanks for your information above. It's going to be hard to nail down the numbers to the penny, but we'll have to use best guesstimates/averages.

We have to figure out how to do this as well. I think I'm going to start a spreadsheet of costs, and then enter "credits" for cost of room during our trips. We have to be cautious in getting to breakeven as we often stay on my parents points as well as ours, so "free" lodging on their points are stays I can't really credit the cash rate to for breakeven.

The advantage of getting my parents to do the tour with me many years ago was their ability to buy in right away while I saved until I could

 

[william1375]

It looks like that stay would be 196 points. If Cash reservation would be $2300, I get a cash value for your points at $11.74 pp. Did the $2300 include Tax? Which would add on another 11-12%.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

We are going to have to cancel an October vacation booked last November on points and rebook for December, same accomodations, same number of nights, for cash using an AP discount. The cash price is just a little more than $15 per point, once you add tax and the cost of internet. But that price is much better than the best price I could find just a few days earlier with "free" dining, which came to over $28 per point! And the AP price we booked was no longer available shortly after I booked!

With all the changes in cash prices, I try to avoid projecting what equivalent units would cost when calcualting break even.

Here's how I look at it: I love being able to choose my dates and my accomodations as long as I book well in advance. Before DVC, I hated waiting for codes to be released to see if I could go when I wanted to go and stay where I wanted to stay.

So I calculate my breakeven based on my out of pocket cost per night of an equivalent hotel room after a sale of my points. The "equivalent hotel room" let's me adjust for 1 and 2 br units and it is a rough adjustment at best. But maybe I like this number because it quickly gave me a good feeling about the value of owning DVC! -- Suzanne