What is the BEST way to reserve a room?

[simpsonps121]

Hi Guys,
Once again, another newbie question...

Is this possible.

Reserve a room for a week. (december)

Before I get there, call and add an AP discount, or add the AAA discount.

That way I am sure that I will get the better offer. I have already been quoted the 20% off rack rate with AAA, so I know that will work. But I want to make sure that the AP code is not better, but that will not happen for a while....

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Matthew

 

[lark]

Hi Guys,
Once again, another newbie question...

Is this possible.

Reserve a room for a week. (december)

Before I get there, call and add an AP discount, or add the AAA discount.

That way I am sure that I will get the better offer. I have already been quoted the 20% off rack rate with AAA, so I know that will work. But I want to make sure that the AP code is not better, but that will not happen for a while....

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Matthew

Book now with AAA. Just because it's available today doesn't mean it will be available tomorrow.

Watch this board and mousesavers.com for information that AP rates are going to be released for December. As soon as you see that they have, call and try to get them applied to your existing reservation. If they are available, you will get them. If not, you will still have your AAA discount.

Bottom line -- don't wait to book. You might lose availability and you might lose your AAA discount.

 

[tekmom]

I agree. Make your reservation now with a AAA rate. It isn't wise to rest all of your hopes on an AP discount, as they are never guaranteed. At least with a AAA discount you are getting something. We currently have a July reservation at a AAA rate. I have an AP but if codes aren't released, we are still good to go. I also like to make payments each month on my reservation, so that it's completely paid off by the time we arrive. I purchase disney dollars and I cash in any points on my AMEX rewards card for dining cards. I roll change for travelers checks and by the time our trip is here, we are paid off and have all our food and souvenier money.

 

[simpsonps121]

What is Disney Dollars?

Thanks,
matthew

 

[tekmom]

Hi! Disney dollars is Disney currency. If you have a disney store near you, they sell disney dollars. It is available in 1's, 5's and 10's. It's disney money. You can use it anywhere in disney on food, shopping , hotels and just about everything else. I buy a certain amount each month, so I'm actually saving for our trip. I'll also give the kids a cetain amount in an envelope for them to spend on whatever they want at disney. It's like disney monopoly money, but works just like cash. I'm no good at saving cash for our trip, but I can save up disney dollars, no problem.

 

[simpsonps121]

Yes, I have a Disney Store near me. Less than 5 minutes away. Do you get cash back? What is the advantage to buying the currency?

Thanks,
matthew

 

[lark]

Yes, I have a Disney Store near me. Less than 5 minutes away. Do you get cash back? What is the advantage to buying the currency?

Thanks,
matthew

There is zero advantage to purchasing disney dollars, in terms of rational economic sense. In fact, it is an affirmatively bad idea from a dollars and cents perspective. Basically, you give disney your dollars, and they give you a corresponding amount of disney dollars. If you put the dollars in a drawer until your next trip, it's like putting dollars in a matress -- you get zero interest. If you lose the dollars, it's like losing real money. They are basically like gift certificates.

Not surprisingly, disney loves disney dollars. They derive a huge amount of revenue every year from unused disney dollars and park tickets. At worst, you have given them an interest free loan, and you almost always spend all of your dollars on disney stuff, so the love to sell them to you.

I'm not meaning to be critical of people who love them -- many people do. I personally have never really understood the allure of disney dollars other than as gifts. They are cute and fun, in that they have disney characters on them. I think many people tend to use them as a forced savings plan for disney -- thinking it's easier to buy and stash disney dollars than save real dollars since you're limited in where you can spend them. I guess if it's just $50 or $100 no biggie -- but some people buy them by the hundreds. Seems to me that savings bonds would serve the same purpose here, and give you interest. Just cash them in the day before your trip.

 

[tekmom]

There is zero advantage to purchasing disney dollars, in terms of rational economic sense. In fact, it is an affirmatively bad idea from a dollars and cents perspective. Basically, you give disney your dollars, and they give you a corresponding amount of disney dollars. If you put the dollars in a drawer until your next trip, it's like putting dollars in a matress -- you get zero interest. If you lose the dollars, it's like losing real money. They are basically like gift certificates.

Not surprisingly, disney loves disney dollars. They derive a huge amount of revenue every year from unused disney dollars and park tickets. At worst, you have given them an interest free loan, and you almost always spend all of your dollars on disney stuff, so the love to sell them to you.

I'm not meaning to be critical of people who love them -- many people do. I personally have never really understood the allure of disney dollars other than as gifts. They are cute and fun, in that they have disney characters on them. I think many people tend to use them as a forced savings plan for disney -- thinking it's easier to buy and stash disney dollars than save real dollars since you're limited in where you can spend them. I guess if it's just $50 or $100 no biggie -- but some people buy them by the hundreds. Seems to me that savings bonds would serve the same purpose here, and give you interest. Just cash them in the day before your trip.

That's pretty much how it works for me....forced savings. I wouldn't by enough to cover my whole trip, but the kids enjoy them and they'll all go right back to disney via WDW. In combination with travelers checks and our rewards points program, I don't have to worry about my wallet melting on vacation.

 

[new_mouser]

Generally speaking of past experiences ...

What types of discounts do APs get?

 

[tekmom]

Last July, we got AKL for $124.00+tax per night. That was for a standard view room and I believe it was $75.00 per night off of rack rate.

 

[fabumouse]

tekmom - since you seem to be the bearer of answers on this thread - what do you mean by trading in your amex points for "dining cards"? We earn amex points that I trade in on-line with Amex for Pottery Barn certificates, etc. But I don't think I've seen anything related to Disney.

 

[tekmom]

Hi, I actually redeem my points for American Express "Be My Guest "dining cards. The redeemimg value isn't as good as for say, Pottery Barn or Home Depot. You can only get a $50.00 card for every 10,000 points as opposed to a $100.00 card at Pottery Barn. You can use the cards at any restaurant where Amex is accepted. This year I will take five $50.00 cards and for each of my bigger meals, I'll apply a $50.00 card. (It also help that as an AP holder, We'll save 20% off our sit down meals with the DDE card.) It's just a way I can use my AMEX points at Disney. I also roll all our spare change that I collect for a year. I turn that into travelers checks. My husband thinks I'm insane, but we had such a good time at Disney last year, we're doing it again this year. But before I go off topic for the thread....a AAA discount is alot better than paying rack rate for a room. Book it while you can.

 

[new_mouser]

Last July, we got AKL for $124.00+tax per night. That was for a standard view room and I believe it was $75.00 per night off of rack rate.

Thanks - that's pretty significant. Will have to look into it.

 

[fabumouse]

Hi, I actually redeem my points for American Express "Be My Guest "dining cards.

Thanks! End of my off topic questions.

 

[simpsonps121]

I have no problem with off topic. It is all about saving money anyway.

Thanks guys,
Matthew

 

[DisDarling]

You can always apply a discount code later on, whats important is to get your reservation made right away to save yourselves a room.
D.D.

 

[tekmom]

Thanks! End of my off topic questions.

No problem! I love these boards!