Question about finding deals several months in advance

[sarahsar]

We are considering a trip in early October for MNSSHP. I am looking into some different options to help with the cost, including getting annual passes (at the rate we have been going to WDW lately they would have been a good deal), getting a Disney Visa, AAA, etc. I know the time we are thinking of would have been free dining in 2009, but I know they haven't announced that yet.

My question is - any advice as to the best approach for this? Is being an annual passholder usually a good way of getting room discounts or do they black out a lot of dates? If you get an annual passholder discount, can you still do free dining? Does anyone know when they announced free dining in 2009? I'm also wondering how far in advance we should book. I'd like to do it at least 6 months out for dining reservations, but is there any advantage to doing it sooner?

Thanks for any tips!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

1. My question is - any advice as to the best approach for this?
2. Is being an annual passholder usually a good way of getting room discounts or do they black out a lot of dates?
3. If you get an annual passholder discount, can you still do free dining?
4. Does anyone know when they announced free dining in 2009?

I'm also wondering how far in advance we should book. I'd like to do it at least 6 months out for dining reservations, but is there any advantage to doing it sooner?

Thanks for any tips!

1. Any of the above. AP will most certainly get you a discount, Disney Visa will prob get you a discount a few days before the general public of you can wait on a general public discount. Supposedly the general public discounts are going to be less this year (I personally don't beleive it though). AAA always offers a discount but its not that good (i think 10-20%), you can probably get better than that with any other avenue. Also you may be the lucky receipent of a magical Disney pin (try playing around on their website and saving vacation offers) which could be anything from room discount, free dining, free upgrade to hoppers, kids stay and play free, etc. The current PIN codes for room discounts out there (20/30/40 and 30/35/45) do not top the current AP rates. The AP rates are bit better or the same.

2. yes its a great way to get a discount. pretty much the only blackout dates are holidays. So far this year the only time you havn't been able to get a discount is Christmas week and Easter/a few weeks in mid March. But discounts havn't been available to anyone those weeks, no pins, no AP, no visa discounts. I have heard a few AAA here and there that got discounts those weeks and some that got no discounts w/ AAA those weeks.

3. Yes and no. You can still do the dining plan but you will be paying for it if you have an AP. The 'free dining' fall promotion of the years past requires that you purchase at least a one day MYW ticket (about $80 now for adult) to get the 'free dining' promotion. Depending on when you are staying and how many adults you have free dining may not beat the AP room only discount that is being offered then (espically if you stay deluxe). It's best to run all the available offers and then decide

4. Late March. Went out to Visa card holders a few days before the general public.

Hope this helps!

 

[sarahsar]

1. Any of the above. AP will most certainly get you a discount, Disney Visa will prob get you a discount a few days before the general public of you can wait on a general public discount. Supposedly the general public discounts are going to be less this year (I personally don't beleive it though). AAA always offers a discount but its not that good (i think 10-20%), you can probably get better than that with any other avenue. Also you may be the lucky receipent of a magical Disney pin (try playing around on their website and saving vacation offers) which could be anything from room discount, free dining, free upgrade to hoppers, kids stay and play free, etc. The current PIN codes for room discounts out there (20/30/40 and 30/35/45) do not top the current AP rates. The AP rates are bit better or the same.

2. yes its a great way to get a discount. pretty much the only blackout dates are holidays. So far this year the only time you havn't been able to get a discount is Christmas week and Easter/a few weeks in mid March. But discounts havn't been available to anyone those weeks, no pins, no AP, no visa discounts. I have heard a few AAA here and there that got discounts those weeks and some that got no discounts w/ AAA those weeks.

3. Yes and no. You can still do the dining plan but you will be paying for it if you have an AP. The 'free dining' fall promotion of the years past requires that you purchase at least a one day MYW ticket (about $80 now for adult) to get the 'free dining' promotion. Depending on when you are staying and how many adults you have free dining may not beat the AP room only discount that is being offered then (espically if you stay deluxe). It's best to run all the available offers and then decide

4. Late March. Went out to Visa card holders a few days before the general public.

Hope this helps!

Very helpful! Thank you!