FEBRUARY 2008 WDW travelers post HERE!!!

[lori1043]

We are looking to book two trips next year--one in Feb or April, whichever is cheaper (better rates/season) and one in August during value season.

I have two questions:

#1 - If I'm going to book a room now, just to be sure I get the rooms, what would the latest possible date I could book to try to get the value season rate?? My kids are off school the 18th-22nd, but I am willing to pull them out of school for a couple days to get value rates rather than PEAK!!! Should I book for dates before Valentine's day, etc??

#2 - Which offers the better discounts on rooms? AAA or the AP? I don't have either, but I would consider either to get the room discounts! And, with AAA can you book whole packages (room/tix/DDP)??

Thanks!!

here is my 2 cents worth:
Book both now and you can tell them you are an AP holder (you have to prove it upon checkin and if you cannot you'll pay the rack rate) in case you decide on the AP. I would think at least one of you having an AP for 2 trips in one year would be a great idea-if not for all of you. It may be expensive right now, but the savings on the second trip would be great! OR get one AP and buy enough days on your tickets for both trips (like if each trip allows 5 days in the parks, buy 10 day no expiration passes). The AP seems to have so many little perks that it is worth ONE person having-one of the s.

Look for value season rates on the Disney site or on Mousesavers.com
I think you are right in saying that you should book your trip before Valentines, I think Value ends sometime around there, but look it up to be sure.
I do not know which will be cheaper-AAA or AP. I have AAA from an earlier non-Disney trip and am getting an AP for the discount and the DDE and the fact we will be there 10 days. i'll be there with you to see which is cheaper. I have heard though that if you book with AAA, you can't change or cancel the trip w/out a fee being charged-not positive but I have been leary of booking through them until I KNOW what I can get with my AP. I may be wrong on that. I have read things in other threads about something being charged fromAAA for that.

Good luck and hope to hear from you on this thread!

 

[speedyf]

Hi there!

New to posting to the boards here and wanted to come out of lurkdom to introduce myself! I'm a homeschooling mommy of 4 kids aged 4-12. We're planning on going to WDW the last week in February and are hoping to stay at the WL again. AAA and a CM at Disney have both told me that the new packages are coming out in June. I'm hoping ya'll can clarify some things for me as I'm a little confused on the discount thing. If I book rooms only through Disney now and then want to use my AAA discount later, that would mean that I could not book the dining plan etc through a AAA package? Am I understanding this correctly? Thanks for any help you can offer!

Just wanted to revisit my Feb 2008 friends on this board and help to answer this question. You are correct.

You can book a room-only reservation at Disney at a AAA rate...but, to get the AAA package with the tickets and the dining plan, you must book thru a AAA agent.

So...if you know that you want the dining plan....I would just wait until AAA releases it's rates and book thru a knowledgable agent. If you are not sure, I would book a room-only reservation now and then apply the AAA rate when it is released. A room-only reservation can be cancelled up until 5 days before arrival with a full refund.

That's how I always book my trips. I book a room-only at rack rate at the hotel where I can afford/want to stay. I then apply the AAA rate when it is released. Then, if better packages or better room-only deals are released, I switch over again.

In 2004....I booked at AAA rate....then, a Disney Visa rate was released that was cheaper....so, I switched. Then, a Disney Visa package was released as Pay for 4 stay for 7....so, I booked that package, then had them cancel my room-only reservation.

Of course...if you know you want the dining plan for sure, all you can do is wait for the AAA rate to be released and book it thru AAA at that point.

Speed

 

[speedyf]

BTW-how far in advance do you get your AP, if you have gotten one before? I will also be getting the DDE to go with it and know I need to have the AP to get that and that needs to be bought about 4-6 weeks before you leave

Lori...

I have an AP that I activated on June 3rd, 2006. It will be expiring on June 3rd, 2007. I knew we were going to make more than one trip, so I was looking for a deal on a pass towards the end of 2005.

Although, I am not as much of a veteran as some others on these boards....we have been to Disney every year for the past 3 years. My routine is basically always the same:

#1 - Book a room at rack rate at a place I can afford (usually a value resort).

#2 - When AAA rates are released, call and get the AAA rate applied to my room (even though I am not a AAA member at the time).

#3 - Wait for AP rates to be released. Do the math and figure out if it is cheaper to get 1 AP for the discount on the room....or, if it is cheaper to stick with the AAA rate. Do whatever is cheaper.

#4 - Wait for general public discounts. If none are released for my time period, stick with whatever I did in #3 and either join AAA or purchase an AP voucher.

Usually....all of the special rates that will come out for your time period are out by a month before you go. If AP is the best route to go, you basically have a month to get a voucher. I think you can still pick one up at a Disney Store....or, pick one up at the Disney place in the airport if you are flying in....or, pick one up at Downtown Disney or anywhere at Disney when you arrive before you head to your resort.

They really didn't even ask to see my AP when I went in June 06 and in December 06....but, I wouldn't chance it. All you really need is the voucher at first and then you can bring back the activated AP after.

I don't think the AP rate will be that much better than the AAA rate for a value resort in February 2008. The AP rate has been about $59 per night for the past few years during that early February value season. AAA rate is 20% off the $82 rate which is $65.60 per night. You would only be saving $6.60 per night if you are staying value. Most of the time...you get better savings at a moderate or deluxe with the AP.

I have seen the value resorts go as low as $49 with an AP discount during value season.

If you are planning on doing value resorts....most of the time, the discount is not worth the upgrade unless you truly plan on using the AP to return again within the year.

We were able to get 3 trips out of our current APs....so, it has definitely been worth it to us. Our AP's expire on June 3rd and I am not renewing for our trip in February 2008. I don't think it will be worth renewing just to visit one more time. I think it will be cheaper staying at a value at the AAA rate and getting 7 day base tickets for around $210 a piece.

Speed

 

[izzys4]

I hope the packages come out in June....we want to stay from Feb 28 to Mar 8 at POFQ, first time at a mod, we usually stay at a value but want a change of scenery. I hope it won't be TOO much more $$

 

[homeschoolmomof4]

Just wanted to revisit my Feb 2008 friends on this board and help to answer this question. You are correct.

You can book a room-only reservation at Disney at a AAA rate...but, to get the AAA package with the tickets and the dining plan, you must book thru a AAA agent.

So...if you know that you want the dining plan....I would just wait until AAA releases it's rates and book thru a knowledgable agent. If you are not sure, I would book a room-only reservation now and then apply the AAA rate when it is released. A room-only reservation can be cancelled up until 5 days before arrival with a full refund.

That's how I always book my trips. I book a room-only at rack rate at the hotel where I can afford/want to stay. I then apply the AAA rate when it is released. Then, if better packages or better room-only deals are released, I switch over again.

In 2004....I booked at AAA rate....then, a Disney Visa rate was released that was cheaper....so, I switched. Then, a Disney Visa package was released as Pay for 4 stay for 7....so, I booked that package, then had them cancel my room-only reservation.

Of course...if you know you want the dining plan for sure, all you can do is wait for the AAA rate to be released and book it thru AAA at that point.

Speed

Awesome! This is exactly the information I needed.

Thanks Speed!

 

[lori1043]

Thank you! I also got a lot of info from that post! I never thought of using it like that!
Now I am wanting to find out if i can add days to passes i get through my DH employer. The most I can get through them is 5 days, and I want about 7-8 days. We get 20% off park hopper passes thru his employer.

Lori

 

[theparsons]

Thank you! I also got a lot of info from that post! I never thought of using it like that!
Now I am wanting to find out if i can add days to passes i get through my DH employer. The most I can get through them is 5 days, and I want about 7-8 days. We get 20% off park hopper passes thru his employer.

Lori

When you upgrade your tickets they can read on the barcode what you paid....and you only get credit for your actual payment towards the upgraded ticket....so you'd essentially lose your 20% discount. In other words if you paid (using easy numbers here, not real prices)....the ticket is worth $100, you get it 20% off and pay $80.....you go to upgrade it to a ticket that costs $150.....you only get $80 off that $150 so you pay the $70 difference, and ultimately you ended up paying the same price as if you'd bought it without the discount.

It's the one bummer thing about upgrading. We ran into that when we originally bought our DL tickets at AAA on a discount and then upgraded to AP's....we basically lost the value of the discount because we were only credited actual money paid, not value of the ticket itself.

You might ASK your employer if they can get you the longer ticket....maybe they only carry the 5 day because that's the most popular? Since your employer gets a kickback if you buy from them, it would behoove them to take the extra step to get you what you need. It's worth asking at least!

 

[lori1043]

Thank you so much for that info. I kind'a figured that would be too good to be true! They do not offer anything longer-we checked already about that-it's 1,2,3, or 5 day park hoppers only. We have always done fine with the 5 day and still may, but the option would be nice if we decided to go to a park on a planned off day. And for the price difference between days, it would be worth the extra few dollars. Ya'll are giving me more info today that i am HAPPY I have now! I may even print it up for my Disney Folder!

Very Grateful!! Lori

 

[zazou]

thank you so much for all this information! exactly what I needed!

 

[kjbrown]

Lots of great info here folks, thanks! I think we are going to book Feb 2-9 and I can't wait! One question, if I book now at the "2007" rack rates, and then the 2008 rates come out and are higher, will my rate go up? Or do I keep the 2007 rate since I booked early?

THANKS in advance.

 

[lori1043]

no, they will adjust it to 2008 rates, but your deposit will be 2007 rate for 1 night if you book hotel directly. We are waiting for codes and discounts!!

 

[jduff]

Jumping on...
I just booked 2/14-2/24/08 at BCV!

 

[mamaloya]

I am from LA as well we are moving back there next month. We are also going over the mardi gras break, 2/2-2/10. We usually book our campsite and then wait for any discounts. We have been AAA members for years and only once got a 20% discount. I also changed to a package once. They just cancel your existing ressie and book the package.

 

[lori1043]

Glad to have you Sandra! I love Fort Wilderness-wish we had a camper to stay there-I refuse to tent camp at WDW!!!

I thank you and your DH for serving us !
​

Thanks for the AAA info!


Lori​

 

[kimkreis]

We are moving to Georgia this fall and the schools there have the President's week off, so even though the crowds will be bigger than what we saw in Jan this year, I can still get to WDW in great weather!

 

[KatGarcia]

I'm jumpin on board! We are renting DVC points for the end of our stay but the beiginning we are prob gonna stay at a mod...BUT DH reeeaallly wants to stay at AKL so i'm hopin for a discount so I can afford it!

 

[lori1043]

BUMP!! -keep me on the first page!! Lori

 

[homeschoolmomof4]

I got an e-mail yesterday from my TA at AAA. She said that it looks like it will be in July when Disney releases the 2008 rates. I was really hoping for June...I just want to get this trip planned!! I really need a Disney fix!

 

[wendypooh]

Hey Lori ~~

I saw a page or so back that you hope they'll do the P&P party in Feb. me too!!! We went this past Jan. and it was AWESOME!!!! (see my siggie)
We'll be there again if they are doing it........ I thought I had read somewhere that they only stopped it for the summer months and that it would be back...... let's hope so!!!

I think I must be half crazy ~~ DH and I are already deciding our ADR's!!! LOL

OH ~~ I also saw way back that your B-day is Feb. 2nd ........... SO IS MINE!!!! We ate at Cindy's for my b-day this year and it was great!! DH pre-ordered me a Slipper dessert ( it must be pre-ordered, you cannot order it off the menu) it was amazing, I'm looking for my pics and I'll post them!!!

I know it's still 7 months but I"m already getting excited!!!

Here are some pics from the P&P party - Jan. 29, 2007

A great shot of Tink - in the parade!!

 

[lori1043]

hey Wendypooh!! We will be at the Spirit of Ohana dinner for my birthday-I think-that's the plan anyhow!! I love your photos and HOPE the P&P Party happens for us next Feb. I think it will. I know it is happening in the fall. Tink is "bustin'" out huh!!!!?? I'd LOVE to see the specail ordered Slipper Desert and thank you for telling me about it. My DD9 will be 5 years off chemo and we want to make it special. Maybe we'll do that. But I'd to leave all the kids out-wonder if they'll do it for all of our kids (meaning, me and my sibs' kids) for a special day. I have been planning ADR's for a bit now too. This trip has been our plan since DD9 got off chemo back in 2003-to head to WDW with family and friends to celebrate this landmark in her life. THANKFUL.
If you are going Feb 1, 180 days out is August 5th-to book ADR's!

Will you be there on our birthdays??

Lori