Should I book this rate?? Help!

[weesignlanguage]

I posted this on the codes/rates board but no one is on there right now and I am hoping for some opinions while I am surfing the web!

I just got off the phone with Disney about booking a room for Jan. 1-5. I actually wanted to check in on Dec. 31 but nothing was available. However, when I changed the dates to Jan. 1 check in, it gave me availability at Pop and another value (I can't remember which.)

Anyways, I just upgraded to the AP on our trip last week. The quote I was given was the AP room plus dining. The total for myself, my dh, and my 4 yr old ds with the regular dining plan was $737.97. I just looked it up on the AP Disney website and it gives me the same price. Best I figure, this is rack rate for the standard room and the reg. rate for the basic dining plan (not the new counter.) I asked about the counter to cut costs and she said that it wasn't available until Jan. 11. Not sure what that meant. The CM was very nice and actually looked at other discounts but nothing applied to my dates.

What should I do?? Book it?? It is a little more than I was hoping to pay. I was hoping for some type of discount on the room...maybe 15%. I am new to the whole AP thing so is this pipedreaming??

Could I join AAA and get a better rate?? WWYD??

PS-Just in case you need to know, I do have a Disney Visa, too. HA! TIA!

 

[firsttimer2007]

I am not sure if this helps because I do not have an answer for you but...

Since no one else is answering you. I believe the cost of the regular dining plan is $39.99. I do not know the cost of the childs dining plan.

$39.99 x 2 (adults) x 4 (days) = $319.92

$737.97 - $319.92 = $418.05 for the room

That = $104.51 per night.


If you think this is a good rate then book. If not then wait. I hope this helps.

 

[megwilliams]

I'll help you the best I can. I went to my local AAA website to look at their rates and here's what I found...

The night of 12/31, is available, but it's listing as $129. The other nights are listing as $69.70 a night. Without including NYE, you are at $278.80. With NYE, it's $407.80.

AAA cannot book MYW Dining with a AAA rate, because it has to be booked as MYW package or an AP rate + dining. So you will have to pay for your meals OOP if you went this route. If you take away the NYE night, because your original quote from Disney didn't include that night, you have a difference of $459.17 (might be a little different if your original quote included tax). I'm not a fan of the dining plan anyway, so I wouldn't add it on, but if are really set on it, the AAA rate won't help you.

You could always get the DDE (now Tables In Wonderland) and save 20% off the cost of your meals at certain restaurants. I think it's $60, maybe $65. You can do this because you have an AP.

If I were you, I'd probably call my local AAA office tomorrow or look at their website and see what their rates are. I'm in East TN, so the rates in your neck of the woods may be different.

 

[megwilliams]

BTW, I'm bored and avoiding housework, so I checked the AAA site for Alabama (per your location description) and it looks like the rates are the same for Alabama as for TN. HTH.

PS - I'm not a super stalker. LOL. I just like figuring things out.

 

[weesignlanguage]

I'll help you the best I can. I went to my local AAA website to look at their rates and here's what I found...

The night of 12/31, is available, but it's listing as $129. The other nights are listing as $69.70 a night. Without including NYE, you are at $278.80. With NYE, it's $407.80.

AAA cannot book MYW Dining with a AAA rate, because it has to be booked as MYW package or an AP rate + dining. So you will have to pay for your meals OOP if you went this route. If you take away the NYE night, because your original quote from Disney didn't include that night, you have a difference of $459.17 (might be a little different if your original quote included tax). I'm not a fan of the dining plan anyway, so I wouldn't add it on, but if are really set on it, the AAA rate won't help you.

You could always get the DDE (now Tables In Wonderland) and save 20% off the cost of your meals at certain restaurants. I think it's $60, maybe $65. You can do this because you have an AP.

If I were you, I'd probably call my local AAA office tomorrow or look at their website and see what their rates are. I'm in East TN, so the rates in your neck of the woods may be different.

BTW, I'm bored and avoiding housework, so I checked the AAA site for Alabama (per your location description) and it looks like the rates are the same for Alabama as for TN. HTH.

PS - I'm not a super stalker. LOL. I just like figuring things out.

Thanks so much for looking that all up for me! When you book a package from AAA do you have to buy tixs? Is that a dumb question? Or could I book the room and dining plan as a package? I'm guessing that would be toooo good to be true! We are certainly not opposed to paying OOP for our meals especially since we are probably only doing CS this round...we just came home from a 9nt/10dy trip with Free Dining upgraded to Deluxe...WAY TOO MUCH FOOD! We are fine w/ counter this time and most of the good ressies are already taken at this point anyways. I probably should get out my receipts from our counter service meals and see if I will save alot of money.

If I go w/ the AAA rate, I am thinking it will save me about $60.00 but I will have to pay about that amount to join AAA anyways. Either way, I'm not gonna save a bundle I suppose. Argh! I have no idea what to do!

I wonder if a discount on the room will come out for AP holders for this time of year??? If one comes out, can I apply it if I book this ressie tomorrow?

Thanks for the great info! As you can see, I am rambling and thinking outloud! HA!

 

[megwilliams]

I think your AAA agent can book a package for you w/ tickets. However, you won't be getting the AAA rate. Basically, you can't get any packages with a AAA rate. As far as I know, and if someone knows better, please correct me, I think any AAA is room only.

I don't know about the details involving AP rates. We don't have ours yet. We are upgrading in December. I don't know if a CM can apply a AP discount to an existing reservation or if you have to create a new reservation and cancel out your old one. Hopefully someone else can help you with that.

If you feel that AAA wouldn't be that big of a savings for you, I'd probably just book the room only ressie right now. At least that way, you know you will have a room.

I looked at Disney's website and the CS dining plan does not go into effect until 1/11/09, so you wouldn't be able to apply it to your reservation. If you were to get the regular DDP, and mainly ate at CS places, you really wouldn't be saving anything. So I would pay OOP for my meals.

Maybe tomorrow when you call, ask the CM about applying any AP discounts to your ressie if they come up before you go.

I hope I haven't confused you even more. Probably have because I've kinda confused myself . Figuring out all the fine details of Disney rates and dining plans should be a college major. LOL.

 

[wswhorselover]

I thought I remembered reading something that said an AP holder could not add dining onto an AP room rate. They would also be stuck with one day's park admission because the dining plan must be part of a package. However I just checked allears and it says this :"Disney Dining Plan for Passholders - Passholders can save up to 30% off dining. Just purchase the new Passholder Package that includes accommodations at a select WDW resort and the Disney Dining Plan. The Disney Dining Plan offers one Table Service meal, one Quick Service meal and one snack at over 100 participating restaurants including Character Dining. If you want, you can even choose the Disney Deluxe Dining or Dine & Wine plan, too. " If I have time later I'll try to figure out where I found the first part of the info. And to book with a AAA rate, if you book room only you can book through Disney or AAA, a pakage can only be booked through AAA. They are able to book the Dining Plan as well but I think you would have the admission issue then. Hope this helps!

 

[mbanks21]

AAA can most certainly book you a package with tickets and dining, dont know why you would think they cant. The discount is only on the room portion, that may be what youre thinking. The can only do it starting on 1/1/9 though

 

[megwilliams]

I just reread my previous post. I knew AAA could book your packages (just w/o the AAA rate) and then I went back and corrected it because it was 3am and I can't correctly proofread a sentence at 3am.

mbanks21 is right. AAA can book anything you need, just like a regular travel agent. What they can't do is book that package to include the AAA discounted rate.

 

[jjohnson]

If you already have an AP & wouldn't do the AAA package to get the discount. You'll pay than that with the 1 day ticket each. This is the AP discount history:

http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html

I know its not guaranteed but there is always some kind of AP discount in January the past 3 years.

 

[mbanks21]

Actually I just reread my post too:] I missed the part where you asked about the disney visa offer. AAA can book it just not with the AAA discount like the PP said. You cant combine offers...

 

[su_A_ve]

Too much confusion!

* You cannot combine discounts. Only one per rez.
* AAA can book room only and packages.
* The only disount AAA cannot apply is bounceback (must be done directly)
* AAA will discount packages (from rack rate) on the room portion only

Hope this helps...

 

[weesignlanguage]

Hey guys! Thanks for all the help! You guys are great!

I guess I need to know what step to take next. Should I book this rate? Is there a discount on it? I cannot find one? The way I add it up, it is the reg. rate for dining and for hotel. Am I wrong??

If I book this, IF and when a AP discount comes out, can I apply it to this?

I think I will hold off on the AAA for now. What do you all think???

 

[jjohnson]

I would book a room only for the resort that you want. You can apply the discount to your existing reservation if it is available. You should know within the month if Disney will have AP discounts.

 

[mbanks21]

Id say book it as the non discounted passholder plus dining package and call back as soon as the passholder rates come out for the timeframe and modify it...

or book it as a rack rate room only and when the passholder rates come out youll have to do a cancel/refund/rebook for the discounted rate plus dining package