Free dining package not much better than AAA discount

[LakeAriel]

but you must book directly through a AAA agent to get the benefit.

I guess I don't understand why anyone who has AAA would not book directly through them to get the AAA room discount as well as the free dining instead of paying rack rate w/ CRO.

I understand that a lot of us have not gotten the best of service from AAA...me included. I went over to my local branch office yesterday, with my Disney Visa in hand, to book a package to WDW instead of taking a cruise in September. The agent had no idea what I was talking about, didn't have any information and didn't even know the right questions to ask CRO when he called. He kept saying I had to purchase length of stay passes, which we all know is not required any longer. I left.

After seeing these posts this morning that indeed AAA can book it for Disney Visa holders, I'm now on hold w/ the region travel office waiting for a quote. I've looked at the rack rates, taken the appropriate AAA discount and added in the cost of 1 day base tickets for my family. The discount to me will be somewhere in the mid $200 to mid $300 range over rack rate. Why pay Disney any more than I have to?

I know what I want and know what the prices should be so I can tell the prices.

Okay, as I'm typing, the rep comes back on and says that Disney is telling her it isn't available until Tuesday. We all know this is incorrect. I have a Disney Visa so I should be able to book it, and I should be able to use AAA to do it since I am a member of both.

Why is this always so hard? I can see why others don't want to have this hassle for a small savings, but I hate to pay what I don't have to when it's there for me.

Will update shortly.

It is my understanding that you cannot stack discounts. Free dining can't be combined with room discounts. I would be more then happy to be wrong!!!!!

 

[yellowfish78]

Being an agent myself, Disney doesn't offer these promotions to us until the DAY BEFORE any specials are released. The only reason why I know about this promotion is because I'm a Disney Visa cardholder and called Disney myself about a AAA/Disney Visa promotion.
This always frustrates me that agents dissagree with clients. HELLO...all you have to do is MAKE A PHONECALL and ask, is there a Disney Visa special? Can we add the AAA benefits to that? Oh, we can? Great!

You can't stack discounts, but you still get your AAA benefits like the Diamond Card, Hertz upgrades, AAA parking..etc..etc..

Janets: Sorry you had such a bad time with your agent! Hopefully things will work out in the end!

 

[janets]

The agent found that out for me so I just booked through CRO since I don't need the extras...going next week on a AAA package.

Thanks for the update.

 

[lark]

I called to check again and it is really about $3530. The $3648 included insurance, which was not included in my $3717 quote. Anyway, I think this deal only really works out if you are in a value or moderate and have more than 2 adults. Since we only have 2 adults and one child, it is not such a big savings.

If it's 2 adults and one child, there should be more of a savings. That's a savings of about $105 per day. Even in value season, you'd have to have a room over $510 per night for the AAA discount to compete.

Don't want to harp on this, but I think you just can't give one-size-fits all advice on this. There are many situations where, even with only 2 adults, the dining plan will still be better than an AAA discount, even at deluxes.

The other issue that may become relevant is seasons. Right now the free dining is only through September 30, but if they extend it (as I believe some said they have done before), all of the sudden it's a whole different ball game. Regular season at the deluxes starts on October 4, and when that happens, the AAA discount drops down to a much smaller percentage than in value season. If free dining is offered then, it will start to dramatically outpace the AAA discount, even for deluxes and even for only 2 Adults.

The math actually is pretty simple. For each adult in your party, free dining saves about $42 per day, and for each child, about $12. The AAA discount in value on deluxes is 20 percent. So just figure out rack on your room, multiply by .2, and you get your savings for the night. (Actually, if you want to be exact, multiply by about .2111, since you save tax on the 20 percent too.)

Edit -- oops, I think AAA savings on deluxe in value is 15 not 20 percent; so even more pronounced. Multiply by about .1611.

 

[janets]

The math actually is pretty simple. For each adult in your party, free dining saves about $42 per day, and for each child, about $12. The AAA discount in value on deluxes is 20 percent. So just figure out rack on your room, multiply by .2, and you get your savings for the night. (Actually, if you want to be exact, multiply by about .2111, since you save tax on the 20 percent too.)

During value season, AAA discount is 20% on value and mod and 15% on deluxe. And the dining plan is $37.99/adult and $10.99/child. So you are correct in that unless you're booking a very, very high priced room, you'll probably come out even or ahead w/ the free dining plan. Of course, if you're not a family that does at least 1 TS a day and wouldn't normally get the dining, then taking the AAA discount for the room would make more sense.

Even when something is free, it might not be the best option for all families. I have read of some people changing their travel dates to take advantage of the free dining. But if going during late August/September is not right, then even a free deal doesn't make sense.

We were booked on a cruise for September, but I cancelled it when I found the same thing at a cheaper price. Hadn't yet gotten around to rebooking it when this option came along. Both dh and ds#1 voted to go back to WDW instead of the cruise (dh is worried about having 4 yo ds#2 on the cruise) so w/ free dining, I could do it for less than the cruise.

Hope everyone finds the best option for them and has a great time.

Thanks to all the AAA experts and agents out there for your help this morning with my dilemma.

 

[mlwear]

Great. This thread already exists. I am trying to figure out the AAA discount vs. free dining. I posted on another board but may be able to get more info. here. I'll only repost the part that pertains...


Would my savings be significant enough to change our vacation...anyone good with figures? I have a AAA package. So, I'd lose the discount. My current reservation is Aug. 9-14, so I think I ended up with a 10% discount (?). My current reservation is Poly LVC, 6 day park hopper, with dining (3 adults (one is 11 years old) and 1 child,. My total is $4199.54. Would the free dining code save me more than what I am currently saving with AAA?

If so, do you think I'll have a decent shot at getting the same room type through my AAA agent on Tuesday? I don't have a Disney Visa and AAA is giving me an extra $100 discount for booking a trip with them (a thank you for booking last year-- sweet . if I book directly through Disney, of course, I lose that extra $100 discount.)

OT-- Can you believe my luck. Free dining starts the last night of our reservation! The same thing happened last year. Free dining started two days after our trip ended (we had no flexibility to change our plans then.)

 

[pooch]

the dining plan is currently costing you approx $750. (3 adults x $38 plus 1 child x $11 = $125 per day for 6 days = $750)

The AAA discount for a Deluxe during value season is 15% (right?). If my math is correct (and I'm not saying it is!!!) Your room would have to cost $5000 to equal the free dining savings! ($5000 x 15% = $750). Our AAA room discount for WL for 9 days was $300. Dining was going to be $1368!!! So I gave back the $300 & got $1368 free instead - a no brainer I thought.

Ok now my head hurts

Pooch

Oops! forgot your extra $100. But if you have AAA just change your ressie wouldn't you still get that? You CAN still use AAA to book.

 

[mlwear]

Thank you, Pooch.
Your math sounds right to me.
Sadly, I knew I was paying less with AAA but didn't know if I was getting a discount on the whole package or just the room and then thought it was 10% and turns out to be 15% --Geez--no wonder I couldn't figure this out.

I had the $125/night for dining calculated, but then got stumped. I guess I can go to the Disney site and find the rack rate and then figure out what I'm paying for AAA by taking off 15%. Compare that to the $125 x 5 nights ($625--as you wrote) and see the real amount I'll save--undoubtedly, a good bit.
Does that make sense?

Anyway, thanks for your help!