Q about AAA discounts and free dining plan pkgs

[BonnieJean925]

HI!!! First post here, was wondering about the possibility of combining a triple a discount to a vacation package which includes free dining. Can this be done- first, and second, how would I go about applying it to a reservation booked online at the Disney website.

We are looking to go the end of March 2012, to take advantage of the free dining plan, and we want to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter. I am open to any ideas on how to save a couple of bucks!!!

Thank you !!!

 

[spacepixie2]

my understanding is that you may only apply 1 discount at a time; so in your case you would need to chose btwn AAA discount and free dining. Depending on where you stay and how many are in your party you can calculate the savings for each and determine which is best.

Happy planning and have a great trip. Also you mentioned it was your 1st post, so welcome. This turns out to be my 75th post so I'm now moving up into the DIS world of Mousketeers.

 

[MHSweb79]

I'll go a little bit further to add: Free dining offers almost ALWAYS require a full-price package purchase, which means paying rack rate for your room, purchasing tickets and sometimes even additional items like a $100 photo book.

So you really have to sit down and do the math. "Free" dining will cost you whatever you're losing on your room discount. For two people in a deluxe room, it's actually going to cost you more. For 4-5 people in a moderate or value resort, it may end up saving you quite a bit.

 

[nkereina]

You cannot combine discounts. It would be free dining OR the AAA discount. It almost always works out that free dining would be a greater discount than AAA, as the AAA discount is not very significant. You can call AAA to get a price quote for what your package would cost with the AAA rate. The rate would have to be available for what you are trying to book - once the rate for each resort is booked up, it is no longer available. If you do decide to go with the AAA rate, you'd have to cancel your current package booked with Disney and book directly with AAA, who would then have control over your reservation. You would have to contact AAA for any further changes, rather than Disney directly. You'd also get the other perks that go with AAA packages.

 

[spacepixie2]

one clarification--if you for some reason did want to transfer your current reservation over to AAA you could do it via a travel agent takeover (without having to cancel your current Online reservation). What you do is take your current reservation info to AAA, complete and sign the AAA paperwork, and then AAA would fax your signature to WDWTC and AAA would then have responsibility for your reservation. Any further changes would have to be made through AAA. {I asked this question yesterday with WDWTC}

 

[nkereina]

one clarification--if you for some reason did want to transfer your current reservation over to AAA you could do it via a travel agent takeover (without having to cancel your current Online reservation). What you do is take your current reservation info to AAA, complete and sign the AAA paperwork, and then AAA would fax your signature to WDWTC and AAA would then have responsibility for your reservation. Any further changes would have to be made through AAA. {I asked this question yesterday with WDWTC}

This is correct BUT they still can't get the AAA rate just by transferring. If they want to keep their reservation exactly as is and just have AAA handle it, they can transfer it. But if they want to get the AAA rate, they'd have to cancel and then re-book with the AAA Magic Moments rate and package which is only available through AAA.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

You cannot combine discounts. It would be free dining OR the AAA discount. It almost always works out that free dining would be a greater discount than AAA, as the AAA discount is not very significant.

This is not entirely correct.

first of all - AAA is currently - or as of tomorrow - allowing you to get BOTH free dining and a AAA Disney card. Additionally, if you book through AAA, you get a couple of other small bonus perks, like the AAA discount card.

Teh gift card promo is for every package worth $3000+, you'll get $100 gift card. For $2000-2999, you get $75, for $1000+ you get $50, and there is a $25 gift card as well (I think for $500-999? Not positive on that last figure).

There is also a promo for next year that is for 35% off.

AAA will also let you book the annual pass discount. This may be worth doing, especially if you are staying at a deluxe resort, where you get 40% off. (At teh values, free dining may be better deal, especially if you have more than two folks per room, since the AP discount is only 20% I think.) If you use the AP discount, you'll pay to add the dining plan, and for an AP, but you don't have to add regualr park tickets to get the DDP.

A seven day base park ticket is $284. An AP is about $515. You only need one AP per room, and it's good for a full year. DDP is $52/54 per adult and $15/16 for kids in 2012.

In short - Free dining tends to be a better deal if you are staying at a value, especially during the least expensive weeks. The 35% offer or the AP is likely a better deal if you are staying at a deluxe, especially if you are going during a higher priced season like spring.

So no, you don't get to combine the normal AAA discount and free dining, but you can qualify for some of the other AAA perks.