Please Confirm My 09 Booking Plan!!!

[paula70]

Haven't been to WDW since Feb. 2006 and we are looking forward to a trip back Dec 4-13 2009. I've been researching all the info here and on the codes/rates boards and I think I am ready to book our room only. I'd love it if all of you experts would please check my info to see that I got it all right.

I plan to book CBR w/ AAA discount. I do not have AAA yet (but should be able to book without it right?) but am planning on purchasing it in Dec. It will then last a year and I can present the card when I check in.

Have not decided on package yet (still on the fence about dining plan) but if we decide to do so, we can book that through our AAA rep. and will still get the 20% off the room only portion.

If a better rate comes available in the meantime our AAA rep can get us that discount instead.

Does this all sound correct to you? Let me know if it works, I'd love to book something in the next couple of weeks!

 

[RachaelA]

They asked for my AAA membership number and expiration date when we booked for May 09 and Dec 09 yesterday. The CM said he assumes that I will have renewed my membership before we check in both times and if I don't then we don't get the discount.

So yeah I don't know if they will let you book it without a valid membership.

 

[GenieCat]

Are you wanting a package or room only? You can get a "room only" reservation now. When the AAA discounts are released (they may already be out), you should be able to convert the "room only" reservation to the AAA rate, same with booking a hotel anywhere else in the US.

With a package, you are locked into the price and options you initially choose. If discounts codes are released in the future, you will not be able to use them. The payment schedule is not as flexible as the room only reservation and there may be penalties for cancelling. It may have changed, but in the past, if you used the Dining Plan, no room discounts were available. You had to pay rack rate.

Some agents are more knowledgeable than others and will work harder to get you the best deal. I have heard a lot of positive feedback about the Dreams Unlimited agency, which is a DisBoards Sponsor. You can click on their banner at the top of the DisBoards home page to get a free quote for either a package or room only. The Dreams agents will also stay on top of the discount codes so you don't have to. Most local travel agents don't have a clue about codes or time to follow them. If you have been following the posts on the Rates and Codes board, you know how crazy that can be.

Either way, hope you have a terrific vacation!

 

[paula70]

I thought I had this all figured out and now I am confused on the best way to book!

So, if I want a room only AAA rate, I have to have the membership to book? I thought people here said I only needed to show the card when checking in. If that is the case now, I can't book until Dec. which is when we inted on buying the membership. Will AAA discounted rooms still be available then?

The reason I was thinking of booking w/ the AAA rate is because it would get me a minimum of 20% off which I figure will more than pay for the membership. If something better comes along I can always cancel that ressie and book w/ the better code.

I would like to think a public discount or a private code would come along but I don't want to count on it so I thought the guarantee of 20% off w/ AAA wasn't bad.

I just am not sure on the package yet because we have not made up our minds on the dining plan. I just want to have something booked soon.

 

[forcbwyou]

It's possible a AAA discount will be available then, but it's a roll of the dice. It's likely a comparable discount will be available at some point, but again you're gambling that you get it for the room you want. Safest bet is get AAA now. Although you might want to try calling first and see if they let you apply the discount without the membership number.

On more thing, my 2009 AAA discount was only 10%, but that will vary by season, room, etc, so you might want to find out what you're saving first, too.

I thought I had this all figured out and now I am confused on the best way to book!

So, if I want a room only AAA rate, I have to have the membership to book? I thought people here said I only needed to show the card when checking in. If that is the case now, I can't book until Dec. which is when we inted on buying the membership. Will AAA discounted rooms still be available then?

The reason I was thinking of booking w/ the AAA rate is because it would get me a minimum of 20% off which I figure will more than pay for the membership. If something better comes along I can always cancel that ressie and book w/ the better code.

I would like to think a public discount or a private code would come along but I don't want to count on it so I thought the guarantee of 20% off w/ AAA wasn't bad.

I just am not sure on the package yet because we have not made up our minds on the dining plan. I just want to have something booked soon.

 

[catne]

the other issue you have to take into account is that there are a limited number of AAA rooms available. If you wait too long to book a AAA room, the resort you want may not have anymore AAA discount rooms (they might still have open rooms, just not ones you can get the discount on.)

That's not just Disney, it's every hotel chain. We usually like to use Marriott on the trip there (we drive) but we cannot always get our AAA discount on the rooms we want, so I've learned to book those rooms long in advance too.

 

[RachaelA]

I have no idea if they will have AAA rooms 5 months from now. I'd be leaning towards no, but that's just my opinion.

How much do you think you will save? I think $60 a year for AAA (I'm on my parents family plan so mine is even cheaper). So if you are saving over $200 on your room then doing a 2 year membership will still save you money.

 

[catne]

and don't forget you get some benefits with the AAA membership that have nothing to do with Disney, so you're not just forking over $$$ for a discount.

We use several of the membership benefits during the year, including roadside assistance like towing, tire-changing service, TripTik planning, maps for places we're going. We love it, especially once our teens started driving. Peace of mind knowing they could always get help on the road.

And we get AAA discounts at almost every hotel we stay at over the course of the year, whether it's on the way to Disney, a business trip or a family wedding.

 

[paula70]

I have no idea if they will have AAA rooms 5 months from now. I'd be leaning towards no, but that's just my opinion.

How much do you think you will save? I think $60 a year for AAA (I'm on my parents family plan so mine is even cheaper). So if you are saving over $200 on your room then doing a 2 year membership will still save you money.

I'd be afraid to wait until Dec. because I also think the AAA rooms might be gone. From what i am seeing on these boards, people are getting 20% off a mod during value season. For 9 nights that would be a $270 savings! After the $60 it would still be a $210 asvings. Now if I pay for 2 years instead on 1 I would actually be saving $150. I know that's still pretty good but I guess in my head the $210 sounds better of course!

Does anyone know if they offer a discount on a 2 year membership?

As for the membership itself, I know I will reap the benefits in many other ways. My DH works 45 miles from home so that alone would be a great peace of mind!

Okay, now I have to really think about this...roll the dice or not???

Thanks everyone!!!