Purchase Package vs. Purchase Separately

[dturner]

There is always a thread about the difference in purchasing a vacation package vs. purchasing everything separately so I decided to research and do a list to see what is ACTUALLY the cheapest and my results were rather interesting.................DS wants to go to Universal this trip so I added in Universal tickets from a special on their website right now - pay for 2 days get 3 free, don't really need 5 days in Universal but it's cheaper than a 2 day ticket (wish Disney would have a ticket special, LOL!!!)

Everything based on 1 adult and 1 child:

Purchase Separately:

Pop Century, 7 nights .............................. $601.02
Airfare, 1 adult/1 child ............................. $475.80
7 day Ticket, 1 adult/1 child...................... $511.00 (from Ticketmania, includes park hopping and 5 extras)
Universal Tickets .................................... $213.90 (from special on website)
Rental Car ............................................. $219.86 (no specials yet in Sept.)
MNSSHP, 1 adult/1 child........................... $67.00
Dining Money ........................................ $300.00 (approx. cost of dining plan on package)
Spending Money..................................... $500.00 (approx.)

TOTAL ................................................. $2,888.58

Purchase Vacation Package:

Pop Century, 7 nights, 7 day tickets w/park hopping and 5 extras, dining plan, airfare and rental car ...............................$2,148.65
Universal Tickets .....................................$213.90 (same as above)
MNSSHP ................................................$6 7.00
Spending Money .....................................$500.00 (approx.)

TOTAL .................................................. $2,929.55


Not much difference between purchasing everything separately vs. purchasing a vacation package, so now I need to decide which route to take, LOL!!!!

I know I won't need a 7 day park hopper since we are doing Universal but I wanted to see the difference in price (which is not much at all) so I put all the same exact items separately that I would get in a vacation package and since there is like $5.00 difference in a 4 day vs. a 7 day park hopper I just used the 7 day park hopper.

Any comments?????

[ksoehrlein]

You might consider doing your package as just room, park passes, and dining plan and then doing airfare and rental car on your own so you can watch for specials. (The dining plan seems to be a really good deal, but your package needs to include at least the room and park admission in order for you to be eligible for dining.)

As for your tickets, are you sure you'll use the 5 "plus"es? Using two "plus"es is your better-than-break-even point versus buying admission at the gate. But if you don't go to the water parks or DisneyQuest at least twice, you're better off with a hopper without "plus"es.

It is heartening to see that the cost is not much different. Disney packages used to cost way more than buying the individual components separately.

[DisneyaholicRaquel]

I see you are planning on renting a car...why??? Since, you are staying at a Disney Resort use ME and use Mears shuttle for Universal. That would save about $150.

[dturner]

You might consider doing your package as just room, park passes, and dining plan and then doing airfare and rental car on your own so you can watch for specials. (The dining plan seems to be a really good deal, but your package needs to include at least the room and park admission in order for you to be eligible for dining.)

As for your tickets, are you sure you'll use the 5 "plus"es? Using two "plus"es is your better-than-break-even point versus buying admission at the gate. But if you don't go to the water parks or DisneyQuest at least twice, you're better off with a hopper without "plus"es.

It is heartening to see that the cost is not much different. Disney packages used to cost way more than buying the individual components separately.

I agree that the Disney vacation packages used to cost way more but with the new tickets I think all that went away.

Yes, my DS(9) LOVES Disneyquest and he wants to be able to go everynight since the parks close earlier in September so that is one thing that we would use all of.

I agree about the package without the airfare and car, right now it's the same but closer to Sept. I'm sure I'll find some deals - thinking of booking the package with everything (just in case no specials are found in time) then IF a special comes up for airfare or rental car then change my package (been there done that before).

[MemoryMakers2669]

I have yet to see that doing it all seperate is any different than doing a package...package meaning room and tickets. Not with the new MYW tickets! I agree that you should do your own air! However, if it isn't that much more to have them do you air and you are in an area that air might be a lot, then I would book that package! Won't even hurt to book it as a package now with air included and then downgrade it if you get a great deal on airfare on your own.

[dturner]

I see you are planning on renting a car...why??? Since, you are staying at a Disney Resort use ME and use Mears shuttle for Universal. That would save about $150.

Well, I thought of that or just renting a car for the days we will go to Universal but I also want to go to the outlet stores, I used to live in Orlando, want to ride around and show DS where I used to live, you know, junk like that and I also want to be able to get to Disneyquest every night without the hassle of the buses.

If I were ONLY doing Disney, I would NOT rent a car.

[dturner]

I have yet to see that doing it all seperate is any different than doing a package...package meaning room and tickets. Not with the new MYW tickets! I agree that you should do your own air! However, if it isn't that much more to have them do you air and you are in an area that air might be a lot, then I would book that package! Won't even hurt to book it as a package now with air included and then downgrade it if you get a great deal on airfare on your own.

I have to agree with you, I think I'm going to book a package with everything included right now and change it later IF I see airfare or rental car cheaper before Sept., the interesting thing is that I took apart the package price and the airfare and car rental is a little cheaper (under $10.00) right now with the package then separately - go figure!!!

I'm flying out of Dallas, we NEVER EVER get any good deals to Orlando - NEVER!!! Well, in 2002 I got airfare for $310.00 for 1 adult and 1 child - have not seen it that low since.

[calanniebu]

We too are flying out in September and are renting a car. I've priced two options as of right now and Payless is running less than $150 for the week (picking up Sunday the 18th dropping off the following Sunday) and National is running $170 (picking up Monday AM onsite @ Disney and therefore using ME to get from the airport right to the parks on Sunday and then dropping off the following Sunday at the airport) - using coupon codes found on mousesavers.com. Payless would have been about $100 using no coupon codes but there's a charge for an extra day. Note: I'm also leaning towards National because I haven't heard anything good about Payless as of yet. In my mind, I'm thinking the extra $20 is worth it for piece of mind. :-)

[dturner]

We too are flying out in September and are renting a car. I've priced two options as of right now and Payless is running less than $150 for the week (picking up Sunday the 18th dropping off the following Sunday) and National is running $170 (picking up Monday AM onsite @ Disney and therefore using ME to get from the airport right to the parks on Sunday and then dropping off the following Sunday at the airport) - using coupon codes found on mousesavers.com. Payless would have been about $100 using no coupon codes but there's a charge for an extra day. Note: I'm also leaning towards National because I haven't heard anything good about Payless as of yet. In my mind, I'm thinking the extra $20 is worth it for piece of mind. :-)

That's a good price, I've looked at almost all the rental car places, most of the codes I got off Mousesavers did NOT work, may have to try again, the cheapest I've found is $219.00 from a Sunday to a Sunday, the rental car in the vacation package prices out to $193.00.

I will continue to look for lower rental car prices, thanks!!!