which is better AP no dining or AAA with?

[iluvepcot]

I cann't think. Can someone who enjoys figuring this out help me? Which is better? We currently are considering AAA with dining at POR for 5 people(3 adults and 2 child), 2 day base tickets at $2133.59. We want to eat out at least once a day at TS meal. We need to upgrade 4 of the 5 tickets to 5 day.

OR we are considering the following:
Purchase an AP for one of those tickets and 1- 2 day and 3- 5day base tickets. Get the AP rate for March 28- April 2 $66 off the room rate of $175 a night with a new rate of $109. We would then have to pay for dining (5)and for the AP. My brain is freezing help!!!!

 

[MAGGIED]

I did an excell spread sheet to figure out which worked better for us. In our case we were deciding between a AAA package at CSR with dining and 4 one day tickets (3 of us have 7 days left from trip in Nov.) then we wold go to SOG to upgrade DH ticket to match ours. The package priced out at about $2600 (we are 2 adults, 16 and 13 kids- so basically 4 adults). I then priced out the overflow rate given to us from SOG at $159 plus tax for the CSR - looked at the menus on allearsnet.com and priced out our rest. choices, including 2 character meals, and a TS each day - then took into account a teenage boy - who eats like he has a hollow leg... and the AAA package ended up saving us over $400 - which will pay for DH ticket and then some. Basically you need to decide what type of dining you do - for us we know that we will have a least one TS meal a day that will be over $120 - so for us it was a good choice -Pick out the rest. and prices, consider a snack a day at about $15 and a CS meal for each of you... you would be surprised how quick it ads up... good luck

 

[beth_cam]

I was looking at it pretty simply. Cost of ap over 5 day base ticket something like $240. with Ap you get $66 savings a night but that's from the reg rate it would be what about a $46 savings from your AAA rate. $46X5=230. It seems to me that looking just at the room portion Going to ap costs you an extra 10 and you cant take advantage of the dining plan.

 

[beth_cam]

109 X 5 = 545
room tax 11.5%(?) = 62.62
annual pass 441.98
1 adult 2 day 133.13
1 adult 5 day base 211.94
2 Child's 5 day base 2X174.66 = about 350
add in the amount dining would cost you = AAA quote =
3 adults 37*3*5 555
2 children 12*2*5 120

total 2419.74



AAA 2133.59
2 adult upgrades about 160
2 kid upgrades about 116
total 2409.59

So about break even which means if you really really watch what you are doing yes you probably can get the dining down and save money by going ap route however I personally figured that when it works out taht close I'd rather go with the dining plan and not have to worry about where we eat and what we order.

 

[beth_cam]

Also dont forget that if you go the ap route you can order your tickets from ticketmania for another 8 per ticket savings X 3 tickets or a few dollars more savings if you get the mousesavers newsletter. so that would put the ap a little bit cheaper than the AAA. No discount on the 2 day by the way.

 

[DisOrBust]

Don't forget DDE card with AP. 20% off drinks as well. Do you really need and AP and dessert with everyTS??

I have crunched this every way and we are still better off AP....

Now if AP rate with dining ever comes I will be jumping up and down!!!!

 

[iluvepcot]

It was great to see all the ways people evaluate this. The hollow leg got me. We have a 16 year old and he can eat. We are going with the dining. Thank you all again.

 

[MAKmom]

I fugured it last June with staying at the WL. The AP was saving me $100.00 a night. We had 2 adult & 2 children last year so the AP was the better deal for us.

 

[Disney Spaz]

We are normally AP holders but let them expire and will be trying the AAA w/ dining at Thanksgiving and would love to hear some other opinions from those who used the dining. I have 2 DS's, 16 and 15. So food is a constant source of discussion for us. Thanks.

 

[tjmw2727]

For us an AP for myself and MYW for my dd's and DH work best. We get the AP discount on the room, usually a mod but sometimes a deluxe and then I buy the DDE for $50.00. When you do the math this works out best for us.

Since we are light breakfast eaters we do cold cereals or bagels in the room we are also slow wakers so going to breakfast isn't fun for us!! Generally we do table service for luch since we need the break and then on the go again so its a counter serve for dinner. In addition, dh and I enjoy having a "beverage" with dinner (sometimes lunch!) so the DDE workes out on that account. Add to that my 10yo is a very light eater and .would be counted as an adult on the dining plan. When paying out of pocket she has always been offered the childrens menu at TS or orders a soup/salad or appetizer.

It seems to be an individual thing, so costing out your likely seneraio will give you the best results for your family.

TJ