Trying to figure out what to do...AAA, DV, AP...confused!

[Married2Mickey]

Well...we officially have the go-ahead from work to take the time off in May 2009 for our long-awaited vacation to WDW. It has been 10 years since I've been to Disney, so I feel like a total newbie. Plus, we're going down as a party of 8 and planning to reserve 2 cabins at FW, and I have been crunching numbers until my eyes have crossed. Now I have to figure out the best options for us to be able to take advantage of codes and discounts that probably won't come out until February or March.

I just joined AAA tonight (truly a coincidence but it sure won't hurt our vacation bottom line ) and I have the Disney Visa. I'd love to use the special financing on the Disney Visa, but it says that you have to buy a package from Disney to get it. I've read the sage advice on the boards that you can still apply codes that come out later to AAA-booked vacations if they're better than the AAA discount, so I'm feeling good about that. If I book a package through AAA, can I get the Disney Visa financing offer (i.e. does AAA count as a travel agent booking directly with Disney in DV's eyes)? Has anyone done this combination?

The next wrinkle is...do I book room only (with a AAA discount and a sprinkle of pixie dust )and scrap the DV financing offer, get one AP and the rest regular tickets, and pray for a serious discount to make it worth it? What kind of AP discount code can I expect for May? (I saw on mousesavers.com that one came out for our part of May for the last 2 years, but it doesn't say what the discount was.) Buying an AP now and using a AAA room only discount would let us pretty much break even for rack rates, but if a discount bigger than the 10-15% offered by AAA comes out, it might really be worth it. Plus, we could get the DDE and save on some food too.

Help! Thanks for all of your help. I'm completely overwhelmed!

 

[shmedly123]

Personally I have had great luck with the AP over the past year. I was a little apprehensive at first about spending the $$ on the AP. We took a trip in early march 08 and I was still able to get a discount of ($150) a night at the beach club so it actually "paid" for my pass after my third night. I purchased the AP for myself and just the base tickets for my wife and daughter.

I would book through WDW for a room only because you have more time to cancel than if you were to book a package. Then call periodically and ask if there are any AP discounts available for your travel dates (you probably won't hear anything till December). You do not actually have to show proof of the AP until you check in, so if you call and the AP discount isn't worth it then just don't buy the AP.

One note: the regular AP is comparable to the magic your way pass with the park hopper option, so for a one week stay you are already paying over $280 for a single ticket. You only need to save around 200 in discounts total to break even.

We are actually heading back in December so we can take advantage of the AP discount again before my pass expires.

 

[disneymyway]

I'm in the same boat you are - May 2009. I've been noticing the increased difficulty to get what I want so I went ahead and booked room only at full price and hope for a AP discount later. (We have APs already.)

The AP has saved us a whole lot of money over the years. But we go a lot. As the previous poster said, don't buy it until after you have gotten the room with the AP rate because you won't need it until then.

But in the meantime, do a little math. You only need one of you to get the AP to get the discount, so look at the price of the AP, the amount of days you'll be staying, whether you think you'll be returning within the year, and using a figure you'll get at least 30% off on the room and see if it makes sense for you. I have a friend that told me she just saved 1000.00 with her AP!

I say, book room only with AAA rate and wait to see what happens with AP rates.

 

[Maxie86]

I agree with the others. Book a room only through Disney with a AAA rate and wait until AP rates come out before buying an AP, unless you know that you will be returning within the year. There may be AP diccounts, but not where you want to stay. You will not need the AP until you check in. You can also take advantage of any DV codes that may come out later. Very easy to change things around if you have a room only ressie. You pay one nights deposit and you don't have to pay the rest until you check in. There is also a 5 or 6 day cancellation notice instead of 45 days with a package.

 

[Hugpug]

I did not vote for any of your options as I would not do any of them. I book AAA tru my TA whom I have used for the past 20 years and never a complaint. I always book room only and depending on if I am going to make a second trip within a year I would by an AP pass otherwise not. You can't depend on getting a discount with an AP but I have always lucked out. This year I am booked with AAA for my 2009 trip and have gotten a 20 percent discount so far. Should a special pop my TA will let me know.

 

[Married2Mickey]

Thank you so much for your replies and experiences. When we went 10 years ago, things seemed much easier because we didn't know about all of the options that were out there. These boards have been such a gigantic help, and I feel much more informed. I'd love to give my family a call one day to say, "Guess what, we just saved a ton of $$!" Maybe I'll get the chance thanks to you guys.

I think I'm going to make room only ressies today, and then see what happens. Also, thanks for the info that I don't need to proactively buy the AP. I'll see what codes and discounts come out, and make a decision on tickets later.

 

[mpetti]

What I was told any Disney Package can be put on Disney Visa and you'll receive the 6 months no interest. It doesn't matter who you book it through. I just booked with AAA for Aug 09 and put the deposit on my Disney visa and they told me I would even get 6 months interest free on the deposit. Which I plan on not waiting the 6 months. Also I don't have to pay the full package until July 1, so this way I can keep checking for better deals and still have my room reserved. Good Luck & enjoy your planning.

Maryann

 

[Eganclan]

I went through the same decision last year- wound up buying the AP and DDE and was very happy. I normally buy the 10 day non-exp from UT and use it when I meet my DS every November. Last Nov. I already knew that I was traveling with a group of 10 in February and knew the DDE alone would be a big savings. We chose alot of buffets because everyone could find something that they liked and it was much easier to split up the bill that way! I used an AP rate in Nov. and DDE. Had and AP rate for Feb. but wound up canceling it when SIL offered me a free time share villa but still made out big time on the DDE. DH and I had been trying to decide where we were going to sneak off to in May when I told him that I could get a room at AKL for $164/night(AP) he jumped at it. At that point we could have even added the meal plan to our AP reservation but wound up sticking with the DDE and being very happy. I am now back in the same predicament because SSW(Nov) was moved so my AP will be expired but plan on heading down with kids in Feb. while DH is at a convention. I will probably renew because I already saved $70 over AAA with my AP rate for my Nov. weekend.

 

[rentayenta]

I am in the same pickle. I know not to buy the AP until a great rate comes out but how much is the deposit for a room only reservation? I am so confused. We'll need park tickets too; do I add those on later or buy them from a different source?

 

[Eganclan]

Here is what I do although I'm sure others may have other suggestions. Last Nov. I booked an AAA rate through Disney with a one night deposit. Wound up changing it to an AP rate once they came out over the phone. When I got to WDW I upgraded my 10 day non-exp ticket in a park(I usually buy these from UT through the Mousesaver link) and purchased my DDE card there. Did the same thing with the remaining trips booked a room only AAA rate and then watch for AP offerings through the AP site. Hope this helps.