Planning a WDW Trip for the first time ...

[tessiemez]

Hi, I'm relatively new to the boards, and I've got a few questions about booking and planning. We're four adults (husband, sister and brother in law) planning a trip for the first week of December 2008. This will be the first time for my husband and BIL, and the first day we hit the parks will be BIL's birthday.

We want to stay value (we all get a kick out of doing things as cheaply as possible--it's just more fun for us!), and I'm not sure about packages.

1. We're joining AAA. Can we book a package with the room at the AAA discount price, or no?

2. When/if we book a package, is the deposit a certain percentage of the trip rather than the cost of the first night?

3. Are all the Value resorts close to each other? And how far are they from the parks?

4. Is there anything special we can do at the resort for his birthday (have something delivered to the room while he's in the park, or just a little something fun and special)? If so, what are your ideas?


All the excitement of planning has us all jittery with excitement--not sure how were going to get through the next 10 months!

 

[VandVsmom]

I can tell you that AAA will usually ask for the same $200 that Disney asks for a deposit.

 

[Aliceacc]

If you want the dining plan and the AAA discount on the room, you'll have to get an AAA agent to book it for you as a package. (The dining plan costs about $40 per adult per night, and includes 1 table service, 1 counter service, and 1 snack per person per day. Tips are not included.)

 

[grinningghost]

All Star resorts are all close to each other - Pop Century is quite a bit further away.

If you'd like something special sent, try this disneyflorist.com

 

[SAKPEG99OKW]

AAA does do discounts and the deposit will prob. be 200.00 the same as disney. Keep your eye on the boards, disney discounts are great as well. DW and I love POP, it's newer, the food court is great, and we like the theaming. We just booked a trip for 12/1 - 12/7 at POP, for two adults and two children with basic dining and it cost 2300.00. this included park tickets as well.

My only real advice is listen to the people on these boards, we know disney and we can help. Also ask questions, lots of them. Don't be shy. Also if you are a planner, check out passporter.com i got my wife one 10 years ago and she has gotten the new updated refil every year since. this book will help you alot. Well worth the 19.00. If you have any other questions feel free to PM me.

Good luck.

Scott

 

[tessiemez]

Wow, thanks so much, everybody--I'm constantly learning new things on this board (my family thinks I'm a Disney expert now, but they've never encountered you all ). I didn't know that I could book a package deal with AAA--how great! I got a 30% off code from Disney today (I feel so loved!), but it's for the week after my BIL's birthday, and I just think it'd be so special to be there for that, on his first visit. The Disney price is *very* close to the AAA discount a week earlier.

Now our big decision is going to be whether or not we should do the dining plan (Husband and Sister want to, BIL and I not so sure); but that's a conversation for another board, isn't it?

We were thinking of booking by the end of February--but with Disney I can never tell if that's too late or not. Think we'll be safe for getting reservations?

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Wow, thanks so much, everybody--I'm constantly learning new things on this board (my family thinks I'm a Disney expert now, but they've never encountered you all ). I didn't know that I could book a package deal with AAA--how great! I got a 30% off code from Disney today (I feel so loved!), but it's for the week after my BIL's birthday, and I just think it'd be so special to be there for that, on his first visit. The Disney price is *very* close to the AAA discount a week earlier.

Now our big decision is going to be whether or not we should do the dining plan (Husband and Sister want to, BIL and I not so sure); but that's a conversation for another board, isn't it?

We were thinking of booking by the end of February--but with Disney I can never tell if that's too late or not. Think we'll be safe for getting reservations?

For us, a family of 3 adults (me, husband, mom) we really like the convenience of the dining plan for a long trip. if we are just going for a few days, then we do room only. We like to do the character meals, so it saves money on those, for us.

If it were me, I would book now, because that is getting to be a really busy time to go, also, there are a limited number of rooms available at the AAA rate. I booked my December trip back in August, as many Disney fanatics do .

AAA will require the same $200 deposit for a package that Disney does and you must pay it off 45 days prior to check in. Room only ressies require a deposit of one nights price and you can make payments or pay at time of check in. There is a charge of $15 for each extra adult over 2 for the values, except the All Star Music Family Suites, and there is no extra charge there. For more privacy, you might consider these. They are 2 regular rooms that have been joined together to make a suite. They include a bedroom with queen size bed, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen with refrigerator, microwave, and coffeemaker (these are not avail in regular rooms), 2 tvs, 2 safes, a full size pullout sofabed, and twin pullout chair and ottomon. This is what we have booked for our December trip and it is during the value season and I am paying $147.50/night with a AAA discount.

If you have any other questions do not hesitate to ask.

Suzanne

 

[CleveRocks]

I can tell you that AAA will usually ask for the same $200 that Disney asks for a deposit.

AAA has absolutely no say in the matter. Even travel agents still have to book trips through the Walt Disney Travel Company. And the WDTC has very standard rules about deposits.

Packages are $200 no later than 14 days after making the reservation. Room-only reservations are one night's room rate + tax no later than 14 days after making the reservation. They have to abide by Disney's rules the same as you would have to if you booked directly through WDTC.

 

[CleveRocks]

1. We're joining AAA. Can we book a package with the room at the AAA discount price, or no?

If you are booking a package, the ONLY way to get the AAA discount is by booking through AAA. If you wqnt to do a room-only reservation, then you can go directly through Disney and still be eligible for that AAA room-only discount.

However, be advised that an AAA discount is hardly an automatic thing. Disney only allows a certain percentage of rooms to be booked with an AAA discount (actually, there is a cut-off once the occupancy rate reaches a certain secret percentage). So in other words, having an AAA membership doesn't guarantee you can book an AAA rate. And the exclusions afren't across the board ... the exclusions would be for a certain category of room at a certain resort. For example, there might not be an AAA rate available for Port Orleans French Quarter for your chosen dates, but there might be an AAA rate opening at Port Orleans Riverside (POFQ's sister resort).

2. When/if we book a package, is the deposit a certain percentage of the trip rather than the cost of the first night?

Please refer to my previous post.

3. Are all the Value resorts close to each other? And how far are they from the parks?

The 3 All-Stars resorts are all in the same area ... they are sister resorts. They are across the Disney property from Pop Century. The All-Stars are fairly close to Animal Kingdom, and Pop Century is fairly close to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios.