Well, last night I tried another option...
I called to get a quote and possibly book - but I had spent the day making Exel spreadsheets to know EXACTLY how much what we wanted would cost for every conceivable combination and discount package. I even included the cost of renting a fridge at a Value resort to let them know that I had a really good idea of how much things would cost.
So, I told them this is what we want - end of August to early September, 8 nights in either the ASMu Family Suites or two preferred rooms at Pop, either vacation including a 5 day hopper for two adults and two juniors and the basic dining plan for 7 nights (the eighth night would be booked as a room only ressie).
As the CM was figuring out the cost, I said that is should come out to (without the fridge) $3317.83 - I think she was a bit surprised as it was a bit lower than what she got - I told her to take off the
trip insurance as I would decide whether to add that later - she got the same total.
I then said that we are CAA (Canada's
AAA) members, and that using the 20% room discount, we could lower the cost to $3056.28, saving $261.55. The same figures for the Family Suite would be $3370.60 vs. $3033.40 for a savings of $337.20. She replied that she couldn't book a package with that discount, and that I would have to go through CAA directly. I agreed, but I said that we are always eligible for that discount, but that our budget really only allows us to go when we get a significant promotion, such as our
Free Dining vacation in September '06.
So, I asked what she could do, saying that the costs for the two rooms with the current 40% code going around would come out to $2717.88 - a savings of $599.85. Or, the Family Suites with the 40% would be $2700.68 - a savings of $669.62.
I then said if Free Dining came out instead, we could save $785.22 on the two rooms and $717.86 on the Family Suite (if we booked through CAA, a little less savings, but close, if booked through Disney)
Finally, I said that if we did get the 40% code, and then Free Dining came out, we could keep the 40% on the second room in the two room ressie and apply free dining to the package, or on the Family Suite, switch to Free Dining, and place the one night room only on the 40%. Savings there would be $975.57 on Pop, or $759.45 on the Suites (okay, that would be an easy choice as to which way to go!)
So, I said we really weren't prepared to book a vacation with CAA only, when there are two potential discounts out there that could save us a lot of money and make the vacation possible - so, was there anything they could do... was there a code attached to our address?
She said no.
Okay, getting both Dining and the 40% is very optimistic, but I should be able to reasonably hope for one or the other, saving somewhere between $670 and $715 as opposed to only $260 to $335 - in other words, we should be able to save at least twice as much as opposed to only going through CAA.
Still, she said there was nothing she could do.
I said thanks anyway, and I hope something will come out for us in Canada soon.
Well, at least now they know I've done my homework and the price I'm willing to pay.
Sheli
