WDW Annual Passes --->> Disney Hotel Discounts??

Is it true that holding annual passes to WDW entitle you to big discounts on Disney hotels? I was actually told by a friend that the hotel discount was 50% off ';standard rates'; (not sure if what they quote on the WDW is ';standard rates';. If true, that might incent us to buy an annual pass rather than a 8 day base ticket (no waterpark or parkhopper, with 14 day expiration), since we are planning to stay on a Disney property.

Also, I estimate I could save about $70 by buying our 2 adult and 2 child 8 day base tickets from one of the reputable Orlando ticket resellers (compared to WDW gate prices they post on the resellers%26#39; website, which I haven%26#39;t verified as accurate). Are there any cost disadvantages to NOT buying the Disney hotel and tickets as a package at waltdisneyworld.com? We aren%26#39;t interested in DDPs or other add-ons.

What is my most cost effective approach to booking Disney hotel and tickets? Our trip is in mid-March 2008 and we already have flights arranged.

WDW Annual Passes ---%26gt;%26gt; Disney Hotel Discounts??

More like 15% and not necessarily so during holiday seasons.

Check out mousesavers.com - the current AP discounts are posted but only through about the end of Sept.

They do a ';break even'; analysis for buying an AP.

I book a lot of things through travelocity but Disney is the exception to that rule, for me.

Disney doesn%26#39;t release its promotions a long time in advance. For example, free Dining for Sept. was only released in April. You may save a little by going through expedia or travelocity but those reservations are static - it is very hard to change them if Disney releases a promotion. But a room-only reservation can be adjusted, cancelled or changed without penalty up to 6 days prior to arrival. A package can be changed without penalty up to 46 days prior to arrival.

When you go to WDW at peak time, you benefit by securing your room a long ways in advance - then it just requires a call, if you need to adjust something.

By the way - I book almost everything online but I don%26#39;t book Disney that way. I usually go through my TA - who is a Disney authorized travel planner - or I call the Disney reservations number directly. The online bookings are a lot less flexible than the phone reservations.