Hi All:
Need your input/experiences on this one. To give you a quick background, this will be our 5th year going to WDW. For 3 years, I used our AAA office. My rep is really nice, but not well versed (always told me I had to pay the daily rate for parking at the theme parks even though we were staying on site). After the 3rd year, I just figured there was better out there. So, I tried another "Disney specialist" travel agent. I personally found there was nothing special about them. I made my own dinner ressies, researched and reserved our airfare and reserved my own car (I queried the agent about any special discounts they may have with a particular company and I was asked why would I even consider reserving a car in the first place - which to be honest, just ticked me off - like I had to explain myself to them).
This year, I just don't know what to do - my final objective is, of course, to save money. Do I go thru AAA, or just do it on my own by calling Disney directly? I keep hearing you cannot get the AAA rate plus dining unless you go through AAA, but then I see people are getting the AAA rate via Disney. Someone told me you can get a AAA room rate, but have to add the dining separately? Which is better cost wise? Exactly what is the difference?
Also, I am hoping that with the Dreams promotion out this year that Disney will offer special discounts throughout the entire year for 2007. My dates are 8/6-8/15/07. Normally, discounts are not forthcoming during this timeframe (or I just miss it by a day or two, but I cannot change my dates) and the last time a discount did come out that I qualified for was back in 2004 when the Dreamaker packages came out and covered the whole month of August. I am neither a Florida resident or AP holder.
Thanks for your help on this dilemma!
Need your input/experiences on this one. To give you a quick background, this will be our 5th year going to WDW. For 3 years, I used our AAA office. My rep is really nice, but not well versed (always told me I had to pay the daily rate for parking at the theme parks even though we were staying on site). After the 3rd year, I just figured there was better out there. So, I tried another "Disney specialist" travel agent. I personally found there was nothing special about them. I made my own dinner ressies, researched and reserved our airfare and reserved my own car (I queried the agent about any special discounts they may have with a particular company and I was asked why would I even consider reserving a car in the first place - which to be honest, just ticked me off - like I had to explain myself to them).
This year, I just don't know what to do - my final objective is, of course, to save money. Do I go thru AAA, or just do it on my own by calling Disney directly? I keep hearing you cannot get the AAA rate plus dining unless you go through AAA, but then I see people are getting the AAA rate via Disney. Someone told me you can get a AAA room rate, but have to add the dining separately? Which is better cost wise? Exactly what is the difference?
Also, I am hoping that with the Dreams promotion out this year that Disney will offer special discounts throughout the entire year for 2007. My dates are 8/6-8/15/07. Normally, discounts are not forthcoming during this timeframe (or I just miss it by a day or two, but I cannot change my dates) and the last time a discount did come out that I qualified for was back in 2004 when the Dreamaker packages came out and covered the whole month of August. I am neither a Florida resident or AP holder.
Thanks for your help on this dilemma!
