Watching and Wondering

[mickeysaver]

I decided to number crunch yet again to see what might be a better deal for us with all the rumored possible discounts that might be happening soon during the time of our stay. Boy, am I tired. lol

We currently have a AAA discount on a king room at CSR for $119/nite + tax for 6 nights. We have a food budget of $600 for the two of us, which is about $75 more than we need, but I always like to over budget that by just a little just in case.

So, I took our dining itinerary and went over the menus with my honey and added in taxes, tips, snacks, extra fluids, and anything else that I could think of. We will need roughly $526 dollars to pay for everything out of pocket. The MYW dining plan would cost us $420 (I have not factored the tax on the $420 into all of this) during our stay and we would be left with $128 out of pocket, which math says is actually $2 more expensive than paying totally out of pocket. Also, my meals were planned with additional items that we most likely would not have gotten if I was not budgeting for the MYW dining with the appetizers and desserts being covered. I don't think that I could eat that many desserts in a week.

So, right now, we have to buy our AAA membership for $60 and we are saving $180 on the room, so we really are only saving $120. With paying out of pocket for our food, it will be at the least $2 cheaper than the MYW dining plan, but most likely more like $50 cheaper, when we altered the menu to follow our normal diet.

By changing to a package deal from a room only booking, we would lose our ADR's and have to start over. I really don't want that hassle. We would also have to pay the balance of the package by mid-October. I would prefer to wait until check in to pay it all off.

So, this rumored deal is going to have to be free dining or a doozy of a deal for us to change what we already have. Has anyone else broken it all down or am I the only insane one? Maggie

 

[SB in KY]

We have a package booked through AAA for the first week of Nov....we wanted to do the dining plan and figured like you it was pretty much a break even proposition with what we usually spend on food....only we would have more to eat and get to try places/items we might otherwise would not have...so we opted for the dining package. The AAA room discount was not huge, but so far it is the best we could come up with for our dates at the CR tower. Initially I did not like the idea of having everything paid for in advance, but now that it is paid for I really like the idea of not coming home to big bills (but it is as broad as it is long I guess)....

Sure would like to see what the new package offers...but I am not teriibly hopeful it will work for our dates and hotel choice.

I think you have done the wise thing....you have done your homework and crunched the numbers....so when the info is released you will know right away if it will work to your advantage...now if we could just see what they were offering!!

 

[WEDWay People Mover]

Why do you think that you will lose your ADR's??? I have had trips where I rescheduled and rebooked 3 times or more, and it never affected my ADR's.

 

[safetymom]

You will get much more out of your AAA membership than just a room discount at WDW. We more than make up the cost every year using the Show your card and save program with AAA.

 

[Macscave]

We also have a trip planned for the first week of Nov. I made my rack rate room ressie & booked ADR's. We decided with the lack of codes coming out that we would change to a AAA package deal that included the dining. When I called and cancelled the room only ressie I asked if the ADR's would also be cancelled. I was told that no they are not tied to the room ressie & that they would remain. I called to double check after the cancellation and they were still there untouched!!! The dining plan allows us to go to two character meals that we have never done before that if we were paying out of pocket we would not be able to do. Besides, it's vacation & the kids always love dessert even if they don't eat it all. It could be saved for later now that the rooms have refrigerators in them.

I am hoping that what ever comes out will be great for all of us!!
PLEASE let it be soon!!!

 

[canadianmommy]

We did the same thing....booked at rack rates with dining and are looking at switching to caa if possible. I booked my dining reservations today since we are going mid december and I was already behind in doing that. I figured if it is free or discount dining there won't be any reservations to be had soon!

Now here is what I know from my TA (e-mailed to me today):

Yes, I know about it, and have for about a week now. What I was told most likely won't be exactly what happens, since it changes all the time. I will expect something Monday or Tuesday morning, and it will most likely be an extension of the free dining deal. I will just get it applied to your reservation, and let you know how it changes your package.


For my sanity I hope it is tomorrow ..... the wondering and speculating is driving me crazy!

 

[mickeysaver]

Why do you think that you will lose your ADR's??? I have had trips where I rescheduled and rebooked 3 times or more, and it never affected my ADR's.

I was thinking that under the 90+10 policy that all the ADR's are attached to your reservation number. When you cancel a reservation, they are supposed to cancel your ADR's too. I thought that when you had a room only reservation that you would have to rebook under a new reservation number to change it to a package deal. This is especially true since my AAA room only resservation is through Disney only and not through a AAA TA.

We shall see. I actually added an Ohana ADR today on the off chance that the rumored Lilo & Stitch change will happen during our stay. Time will tell. Maggie

 

[mickeysaver]

You will get much more out of your AAA membership than just a room discount at WDW. We more than make up the cost every year using the Show your card and save program with AAA.

Oh I know that and we have a hotel stay before our arrival at WDW that is booked at a AAA rate, so we will need to purchase a membership. This whole thing has been sort of a tornado of emotion and number crunching and what if's. I can't wait to have some sort of resolution to what is actually going to be offered. Maggie

 

[CarolinaBlue]

According to Mousesavers, if you cancel your reservation, you will be responsible for cancelling your ADR's that require a deposit or payment. Otherwise, you will charged if you don't show up. It doesn't say anything about automaticallly losing your ADR's if you cancel your reservation.