Question on AAA room-only discount

[FigNewton]

Does room-only mean that I have to BOOK a room-only reservation and buy tickets seperately, or does it merely mean that the AAA discount will only apply to the room portion of your package?

 

[01Sweetpea]

If you book a room only, you have done exactly that...booked a room.

 

[princesspiglet]

Room only means that you only book the room, not a package. Therefore, you would have to buy your park tickets seperatly and pay for your food out of pocket.

 

[pooh2001]

We have an AAA rate at WL - 10% off at the end of June 2006.

We book our room only through WDW directly 407-934-7639

We buy our WDW tickets on our own thorugh Disney (AP tickets), but you can but tickets to WDW through whom ever
such as http://www.ticketmania.com/
Ticket Mania are reputable - did not have a problem with our DQ tickets.
The company you work for may have discount WDW tickets - or your credit union may have a discount. Check around.

 

[vermonter]

We booked a disney package thru our AAA travel agent-we did a 9 night magic your way with park hopper and dining-we received a discount on the room only price but was able to book the package and dining with the AAA agent. Same price as thru Disney, but with the AAA discount of the hotel room.

 

[FigNewton]

If you book a room only, you have done exactly that...booked a room.

Umm, I know that... and that was not the question. The question was if AAA's self described "room-only" discount meant merely that the DISCOUNT was room only, or if that it applied only to room-only BOOKINGS. Surely you can see the difference.

From another post it looks like it only applies to room-only bookings.

Which seems a little silly to me since 1) there is no cost benefit to booking rooms and tickets together as a package, and 2) tickets purchased seperately can be added onto your room key after it is issued. It seems like it would be easier for everyone involved if they let you apply the AAA discount to the room portion of a room/ticket package (but not one with the dining plan, as that changes the whole equation).

 

[Matt'sMom]

I'll take a shot at this...

Yes, the savings via AAA is on the room portion only--lower room rates. The AAA room rates on a 'room only' reservation can be booked via AAA, directly with WDW, or through any other TA (provided a AAA room is available at the resort of your choice for the dates you will be traveling--they do limit the # of AAA rate rooms). You are not really restricted in who you deal with when booking room only. And as an added benefit, when you book 'room only' in this manner, you can then purchase your MYW tickets from any ticket source, which can potentially save you a significant amount off of the price of admission.

Now, if you wish to book a package (room plus tickets, and possibly with the addition of the DDP - Disney dining plan), then the only way to receive the AAA savings (less expensive room rate as a component of that package) is by booking your package directly through AAA. You can not book a AAA 'discounted' package through any other travel agency. So, if you want to use the dining plan while also taking advantage of AAA room rates, this is the only way you can do so--AAA is the only one who can book their package for you.

 

[poohfan]

and hopefully I don't add to the confusion...

Matt's Mom is correct. One other point to consider is that if Disney is offering a special discount I was told that you can't get that discount AND a AAA discount. So for example if Disney is offering free dining you can't book a package with free dining and the AAA discount... you have to choose one or the other. Or if Disney is offering a discounted room code you can't get Disney's room discount and a AAA discount for the same room.

 

[Matt'sMom]

and hopefully I don't add to the confusion...

One other point to consider is that if Disney is offering a special discount I was told that you can't get that discount AND a AAA discount. .

That is correct--you can not 'stack' special offers. The 'free DDP' offer is one specific package that has been offered, and it has a special code attached to it. The AAA 'discounted room rate' package is an entirely separate package deal. At those times when various different packages may be available, you can choose one type of package or the other, but you can't combine multiple perks to create some sort of new 'package' that does not exist.

 

[FigNewton]

Now, if you wish to book a package (room plus tickets, and possibly with the addition of the DDP - Disney dining plan), then the only way to receive the AAA savings (less expensive room rate as a component of that package) is by booking your package directly through AAA. You can not book a AAA 'discounted' package through any other travel agency. So, if you want to use the dining plan while also taking advantage of AAA room rates, this is the only way you can do so--AAA is the only one who can book their package for you.

AH, now that makes things much more clear! Thanks for your help.

As an aside, when you book an entire package through a AAA agent, is there any functional difference in how the package functions? Does Disney still mail you directly the package information with Magical Express luggage tags, etc?

Thanks again for your help!

 

[lark]

The question was if AAA's self described "room-only" discount meant merely that the DISCOUNT was room only, or if that it applied only to room-only BOOKINGS. Surely you can see the difference.

Ummm, well, see . . . .

Ok, I'll admit it. Nope. I can't see the difference. I have no idea what you're talking about.

An AAA discount always is a discount of between 10 and 20 percent on the rack rate of a room. Always. Whether that is a DISCOUNT or a BOOKING or something else I really can't say.

You can book MYW packages through AAA travel agents, but you will still get the exact same discount -- 10 to 20 percent off rack on the room.

 

[Anc96]

Thank you Matt'sMom and Poohfan... I was looking for some of this information too.
I have one more question I am hoping someone could answer.... can a 'package' include APs instead of MYW tickets? If I wanted to book a room with AAA rates with the DDP, can I purchase APs instead of MYW?

Ok.. one more "just one more" question. If the DDP is purchased (whether or not it can be purchased with a package), does it have to be for length of stay? I know you only have to buy at least one 'day' ticket in order to purchase the dining plan, but how many days can it or does it need to be purchased for?

I'd really appreciate your help.
TIA

 

[taekwondo mom]

Thank you Matt'sMom and Poohfan... I was looking for some of this information too.
I have one more question I am hoping someone could answer.... can a 'package' include APs instead of MYW tickets? If I wanted to book a room with AAA rates with the DDP, can I purchase APs instead of MYW?

Ok.. one more "just one more" question. If the DDP is purchased (whether or not it can be purchased with a package), does it have to be for length of stay? I know you only have to buy at least one 'day' ticket in order to purchase the dining plan, but how many days can it or does it need to be purchased for?

I'd really appreciate your help.
TIA

I just rebooked our trip in Dec. with AAA so what I had to was book a package with 1 day base ticket for each person in our party then we booked dinning for for everyone during our stay..

I hope this helps...

 

[Matt'sMom]

... can a 'package' include APs instead of MYW tickets? If I wanted to book a room with AAA rates with the DDP, can I purchase APs instead of MYW?

If the DDP is purchased, does it have to be for length of stay?

The packages must include at least a minimum one day MYW base ticket. This is what makes it a MYW package. But you can later upgrade any MYW ticket (or apply it to the purchase of an AP, if you like) after you arrive on WDW property.

When you purchase the DDP add-on to your package, it must be purchased for eveyone staying in the room, and it will be equivalent to the number of nights of your stay. So, in a sense, it is a length of stay dining plan--with the number of dining credits per person based upon the number of nights in your package (not the number of days on site, nor the length of your MYW tickets). While you do not receive DDP credits for your check-out day, any credits that may be remaining on your plan are still 'good', and can be used up until midnight of your check-out date.

My apologies to the OP for the thread drift. I have not booked a WDW package via AAA (we use a different TA), so I don't know all of the specifics regarding how they may handle conformation paperwork & other related materials. But we are AAA members and have booked 'room only' ressies utilizing our AAA discounted rate (through TMFL Travel).

 

[Anc96]

The packages must include at least a minimum one day MYW base ticket. This is what makes it a MYW package. But you can later upgrade any MYW ticket (or apply it to the purchase of an AP, if you like) after you arrive on WDW property.

Thank you so much for this info... My APs have expired and I will be purchasing them new this trip so upgrading the MYW tickets sounds like the way to go. Then I will still have my dining plan right?

And can you clarify this for me (I'm sorry to be clueless):

with the number of dining credits per person based upon the number of nights in your package (not the number of days on site, nor the length of your MYW tickets).

I understand that you are credited the number of dining credits per person (a total amount to be used at will during your stay).. but if the credits are not based on the number of days on site, nor the length of your MYW tickets, what are they based on? You said "the number of nights in your package", but what defines the number of nights in a package if not the nights you are there or the number of days in the MYW tickets?
Or, are you saying that you define how many days of DDP you would like when making the package? Like I am staying 16 nights, but I only want the DDP for 10 of those nights x the 2 people in the room (or party) so 20 total daily dining credits per person.

I'm sorry for so many questions.. I usually just do the APs and use the AP rates. I'd love to be able to try more dining options on property. We usually don't do too many TS meals on property to keep costs down, but I think if I could get the DDP it would be comparable with the cost of having TS off property.

And also my appoligies to the OP for asking so many question off your original topic. I saw your questions about the AAA rates answered so well and I had those questions also.. and my next (and next) questions kept wandering farther away from yours... Hope you didn't mind

 

[FigNewton]

Ummm, well, see . . . .

Ok, I'll admit it. Nope. I can't see the difference. I have no idea what you're talking about.

An AAA discount always is a discount of between 10 and 20 percent on the rack rate of a room. Always. Whether that is a DISCOUNT or a BOOKING or something else I really can't say.

You can book MYW packages through AAA travel agents, but you will still get the exact same discount -- 10 to 20 percent off rack on the room.

Then I will attempt to clarfiy.

AAA describes the discount as "room-only." The adjective of "room-only" could mean a couple of different things, in that context.

1) It could mean that when you book your stay with Disney, you cannot book a package with them in order to use the discount - you can only book the room to receive the room discount, in which case tickets must be purchased seperately and not as part of the package.

or

2) It could mean that you CAN book an entire package, and then the AAA discount would only be applied to the room portion of the package. For example, your package is 1800 for 6 nights at AKL and 6 day park hoppers without the discount... but the discount would make the hotel portion discounted frmo $1300 to $1105, plus the $500 for park tickets makign the discounted package $1605; thus the DISCOUNT was room only, but you didn't use it on a room only BOOKING... you used it on a package.


As it turns out, both cases are true (thanks again Matt's Mom!). I just depends on who you book through. If you book through Disney and want the AAA discount, you have to get a room-only booking, and purchase tickets seperately (case 1). But if you book through a AAA travel agent, you can book an entire package (even with dining plan which I never expected!) and the discount is still applied to the room (case 2).

 

[FigNewton]

And also my appoligies to the OP for asking so many question off your original topic. I saw your questions about the AAA rates answered so well and I had those questions also.. and my next (and next) questions kept wandering farther away from yours... Hope you didn't mind

Nope, no worries about thread drift here guys. I started some drift a little myself.

Hopefully someone reading this thread will have booked through AAA before. I mostly curious to know what happens in the process with AAA after you book with them regarding documentation and how Disney's Magical Express works with it. I'd prefer not to start another thread specificly on that subject in another forum!

It was so easy when booking for ourselves online and going back to update our information on line with the flight information for Magical Express use. I'd like to use AAA this time but if it's any more complicated then I might just forget it.

 

[Matt'sMom]

I understand that you are credited the number of dining credits per person (a total amount to be used at will during your stay).. but if the credits are not based on the number of days on site, nor the length of your MYW tickets, what are they based on? You said "the number of nights in your package", but what defines the number of nights in a package...?

It can be confusing... especially since WDW at one time used to offer 'length of stay' packages (where you received park admissions for your entire length of stay--check-in and check-out dates included). The MYW packages and DDP work a bit differently.


It is the number of nights of room reservations in your package. This count would include your check-in date, but excludes your check-out date. For example, if you check in on August 1st, and check out on August 5th, you have 4 nights of room reservations. You are not paying for a room for August 5th (your check-out date), so you won't receive any additional DDP credits for that date either.

At this time, WDW does not allow you to customize the DDP. If you include the DDP as a part of your package, you will receive 1 ts, 1 cs & 1 snack (per person) for each night of your reservation. You can't opt for more or less credits than that.

Hope this makes sense.

Edited to add that there is a sticky thread of FAQs, located at the top of the Restaurant sub-forum dedicated to the Dining Plan, that you may find helpful. So that we don't further hijack this thread, you can learn more about the DDP here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1023429

 

[Anc96]

Matt'sMom

The number of 'nights' of your package are defined by how many nights you are actually staying over in (and charged for) the room. This count would include your check-in date, but excludes your check-out date.

Now I'm completely clear... thank you so much!

We (myself and my 9yr daughter) will be staying 16 nights total, but only 12 nights on property (AKL-WL split). I think it's a bit over $50 a day for us for the DDP and I think that's a great deal. Even when we drive down to the Olive Garden or Maccaroni Grill, it's around $35 after a complete meal and tip (and my daughter almost always eats from the children's menu too). To have the whole day's meals taken care of for a bit more... and all on property, it sounds great! I just hope I can get the changes necessary to make it happen. I already have reservations with AAA discount, and I need to see if I can get it changed to a package with a MYW ticket (to be converted upon arrival) and add the dining plan.
Unfortunately my AAA agent didn't seem too knowledgeable about Disney info, so I emailed a Disney Vacation planner.

Wish me luck..!
Thank you Matt'sMom
And FigNewton for allowing me to Threadnap

 

[lark]

Then I will attempt to clarfiy.

AAA describes the discount as "room-only." The adjective of "room-only" could mean a couple of different things, in that context.

1) It could mean that when you book your stay with Disney, you cannot book a package with them in order to use the discount - you can only book the room to receive the room discount, in which case tickets must be purchased seperately and not as part of the package.

or

2) It could mean that you CAN book an entire package, and then the AAA discount would only be applied to the room portion of the package. For example, your package is 1800 for 6 nights at AKL and 6 day park hoppers without the discount... but the discount would make the hotel portion discounted frmo $1300 to $1105, plus the $500 for park tickets makign the discounted package $1605; thus the DISCOUNT was room only, but you didn't use it on a room only BOOKING... you used it on a package.

Seems like you're making some very straightforward concepts a little difficult.

You can book an AAA discount on a room at WDW. You can book it through pretty much anyone -- CRO, your travel agent, or an AAA travel agent. You also can book a MYW package through AAA, in which case you'll receive a discount on the package, equal exactly to the discount you'd receive on the room alone. Is that "discount" on the room, the park tickets, or the dining? Impossible to say. It's like asking how many angels can dance on a pin.

There are, pretty much literally, 1,000 posts on this forum about this, since the same question gets asked between 8 and 10 times a week. I've never seen it in such a roundabout way, though.

Peace.