OK-- Booked but Confused!

[EWL]

We're planning to spend a few days at WDW before our 9/2 Magic sailing but are trying to keep costs down. I was going to book a AAA room-only rate of $63+tax at ASMo for 3 nights and buy our park tix through ticketmania or somewhere like that. But now with the free dining, if I figure it right, I'd lose the AAA room rate so it'd go up to $79+tax, or around $50 more to book it all as a MMY package with the free dining. Seems like a great deal! But what's the best way to book this? I have the Disney Visa, so I could call Disney direct. Is there any advantage to booking the pkg thru AAA or Costco?? Is it just whatever extras they throw into a pkg (like AAA parking, etc.)?

Thanks!

 

[thelionqueen]

To get the free dining you cannot use any sort of discount. You can book through AAA and get the free dining promo, but from what I've read, it is the same price as going through Disney for the most part. The money you will save by getting the free dining will more than make up for any ticket or AAA discount you would have received.

 

[kizmac]

AAA has some extras right now ......free meal at Planet Hollywood and a voucher for a Childrens Storytelling....I can't remember them all....of course the preferred parking pass. You won't get the AAA discount because you can't stack codes but you still will get the other stuff.

 

[EWL]

Thanks for the info!

 

[kmkja1]

AAA has some extras right now ......free meal at Planet Hollywood and a voucher for a Childrens Storytelling....I can't remember them all....of course the preferred parking pass. You won't get the AAA discount because you can't stack codes but you still will get the other stuff.

What is the deal with the perfered parking pass?

 

[EWL]

What is the deal with the perfered parking pass?

When you book a AAA package you can get a special AAA Diamond Parking Pass that gives you "convenient preferred parking at all 4 WDW them parks, subject to availability". Never tried it before but I hear it's very close to the entrances.

Here is another Q: if I'm not positive which Park tix we want, can I book a package with a one-day base ticket and then change it later to a 2 or 3 day park hopper or whatever? Or am I stuck with whatever I book now?

 

[Docsknotinn]

I think your far better off taking the discount and booking direct with Disney as long as the discounts are similar. IMO you should not use AAA if you want the free dining. There is no reason to get a third party in the middle of your reservation Vs booking direct. I am no AAA fan after they made a mess out of our reservations earlier this year and charged us $25 to book with them.
I did reserve a car from Alamo using Costco. We have a cadillac for the week plus we received the club privlidges of just picking a car and going instead of standing in the check out lines for a VERY good price. Less than what we had expected to pay for a mid size car.

 

[kizmac]

When you book a AAA package you can get a special AAA Diamond Parking Pass that gives you "convenient preferred parking at all 4 WDW them parks, subject to availability". Never tried it before but I hear it's very close to the entrances.

Here is another Q: if I'm not positive which Park tix we want, can I book a package with a one-day base ticket and then change it later to a 2 or 3 day park hopper or whatever? Or am I stuck with whatever I book now?

Yes...you can book the one-day base ticket and upgrade it once you get there. That is what we do since not everyone needs tickets in our family.

 

[EWL]

OK... thanks everyone, I just called and booked 3 nites for 8/30-9/2! But I'm a bit confused... I was all ready to ask for a standard room at ASMo, but they said only preferred were available! Yet the website would have let me book one w/the dining plan. Do they limit the number of rooms with the free dining plan? Maybe that's what happened? Or should I call again and get someone different?? So I took preferred but standards were open at ASMu and POP-- thought my 4yo DD would prefer ASMo, but maybe POP would work? All the ticket options had me so mixed up I couldn't stand it. I finally just had them include 2-day base tix. Maybe we'll change that when we're there. There's no advantage to changing it before then, is there? Prices are the same if I change the tix down there?

Thanks for the help-- been a long time since we've been and now it seems like there are soooo many options!

 

[cobbler]

Yes there are a limited number of rooms with the free dining plan so it is possible that only preferred are avail.

HOWEVER, the free dining doesn't open to the public until tomorrow, only those with the Disney Visa can book it now.

AND WDW's website is notorious for not being up to date so if you do have the Disney Visa, its best to call in for your reservation.