still confused - free dining - AAA hepl!

[pooch]

I still don't get all of this. If I book a package thru AAA, rooms and tickets, THEN Disney Magic!!! free dining is offered for my dates, how do I add the free dining to my package? Will I lose the AAA room discount? (free dining still a better deal; I think?)
If I book rooms only thru AAA and get tickets separately anf same Disney Magic!!! happens, how do I add free dining?

thanks
POOCH, honestly!!!

 

[brentalex]

AAA should be able to add the free dining to your package. In order to get the AAA room discount and any package savings you must book through AAA. When you book the package, you need to buy at least one days ticket for everyone in the room.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

First and foremost whichever way you decide to go (discount or free dining) you can book the trip through AAA or call yourself. But, you must choose A or B - AAA discount or free dining. Depending on which resort you are booking... value/moderate/deluxe the savings increases with a AAA discount (The best deal you get by giving up AAA and using free dining is by staying at a value resort.) If you are looking at the free dining you must book a package - you can meet the minimum package requirement by adding just a 1 day base pass to your room stay - this is what many AP holders or people with old non expiring tickets are doing to get the deal. Everyone in your room must be on the same deal - so if you are traveling with 2 adults and 2 children you would need to by at least a 1 day base pass for each person. The free dining works by how many nights you are staying not how many days are on your pass. So if you book for 10 nights you would get 10 CS (counter srv) 10 TS (Table Service) and 10 Snacks per person. Judging by your eating habits - preferences to TS vs. CS and checking out menu choices on allearsnet you should be able to determine which is going to benefit you in the pocket - for us it was a no brainer...we are staying at the All Star Sports (had already booked a value resort when this deal came out) and had the AAA discount applied to our package. When the free dining came out I had to give up $100.00 AAA discount but am receiving back much more value in food than we would have spent so we did just that and added the free dining instead!

 

[Joan1]

AAA should be able to add the free dining to your package. In order to get the AAA room discount and any package savings you must book through AAA. When you book the package, you need to buy at least one days ticket for everyone in the room.

You cannot combine the discounts. It is either the free dining OR the AAA discount on the room

 

[minnie61650]

You cannot combine the discounts. It is either the free dining OR the AAA discount on the room

We chose free dining also.
If you choose to stay at a value or mod resort even though you are paying the rack rates the money you save in dining really pays off.
Value resorts during value season are $77 a night. If you buy the food plan it is $35 a day for an adult and $10 a day for a child. So even if you only have 2 adults in your party the free dining plan is a great savings.
Have fun on your Disney trip.
Linda
Just 59 more days

 

[pooch]

went to AAA yesterday and got a quote saving $250.00 on CSR. The agent seems to be knowledgeable. Said that as soon as deals are announced, she goes thru her files and contacts anyone for whom the deal would apply. also told me to wait until jan to book as that is Disney month at AAA and you usually get some small perk for booking that month. of course I will be staying on top of her (drove my last TA crazy because of you guys but saved almost $600 on my trip, well worth his sanity!!!) although she couldn't say that free dining would be offered next Aug value season, she did indicate that Disney usually offers some type of discount for that time period. I can only hope!!!

too long to CSR!!!

POOCH

 

[minnie61650]

went to AAA yesterday and got a quote saving $250.00 on CSR. The agent seems to be knowledgeable. Said that as soon as deals are announced, she goes thru her files and contacts anyone for whom the deal would apply. also told me to wait until jan to book as that is Disney month at AAA and you usually get some small perk for booking that month. of course I will be staying on top of her (drove my last TA crazy because of you guys but saved almost $600 on my trip, well worth his sanity!!!) although she couldn't say that free dining would be offered next Aug value season, she did indicate that Disney usually offers some type of discount for that time period. I can only hope!!!

too long to CSR!!!

POOCH

Disney usually does have a dicount for their late Aug.-early Oct. value season.
When dh and I went early Oct.2003 we got 7 nights for the price of 4 which included park hopper plus tickets.
I heard last year it was pay for 7 nights for the price of 5. This year it is the free dining.
My guess is if Disney keeps the dining plan they will most likly offer free dining again.
Keep planing thats half the fun!
Linda

 

[robinb]

she couldn't say that free dining would be offered next Aug value season, she did indicate that Disney usually offers some type of discount for that time period. I can only hope!!!

So, you're not going for another year? There is no way for anyone to know what kind of special will be offered next year. Last year people booked a package where they paid for 5 nights and got 2 nights free. This year people are geting free dining. Next year ... who knows?

If you have to "baby sit" on a travel agent to get your best rates/etc that you learn about here, why don't you change to the agency that sponsors these boards? Dreams Unlimited (http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/) will will automatically apply any discounts for which you are eligible. Personally, I like to do everything myself, but if I were hire a TA for a Disney trip, it would be DU.