Graduation trip - Premium or Platinum plan at CR

[outahere]

We're considering a special trip (either Premium or Platinum plan) next June right after DS graduates from high school. We've been to WDW many times, so this trip we plan on doing some of the tours and eating at restaurants we've not been to before. Definitely not a park intensive trip.

After doing some pricing, it looks like a stay in the Garden Wing at CR is going to be the least expensive way to go. Since we will have one of the plans, we will have access to the CR IPO to do some pre-trip planning/reservations at 180 days out.

For those who have use the CR IPO, how responsive have they been? Were they able to get you most (if not all) of your requests?

Also, if anyone has any comments on either of the plans, or the CR Garden Wing, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks.

 

[ajh88]

By no means am I an expert - we did a 1-night platinum package last year (when you could still do that) and we have a 3 night platinum booked in a couple of weeks. We considered doing premium to save a little money, but decided that some of the things we wanted to do were available only on the platinum plan.

I would just suggest sort of making a list of your must-do's and see if they are covered on premium vs. platinum. If memory is serving me, two of the bigger differences are that premium does not include Victoria & Albert's nor does it include a fireworks cruise. Premium also does not include as many of the tours, such as Backstage Magic and Aqua Seas tours, to name a couple and it does not cover spa treatments or include a photopass CD.

The up side is that with the premium plan you aren't required to stay deluxe (unless you just really want to!), so you can end up saving quite a bit on accommodations and possibly just pay OOP for something that isn't included on Premium.

As for IPO - I have not dealt with CR IPO, only Poly - they have always been pleasant and responsive, but I will say that the only reservations I had any issues with last year were ones that IPO made for me, specifically for the spa. I know that others have had some complaints about IPO at other resorts, I think primarily in reference to their assistance with resolving errors while on-site. I guess I like the "idea" of having IPO to help me, but I don't mind doing it myself and I like knowing I'm getting exactly what I want. It is definitely one "perk" of the packages that I don't really take advantage of.

Have fun whatever you decide - we LOVED our platinum experience!

 

[outahere]

Thanks ajh88.

We're leaning towards the platinum package for the reasons you listed. We want to do the Backstage Magic and Ft. Wilderness Segway tours, and neither are part of the premium plan. Not really interested in V&A, but it's a possibility (we don't really like getting dressed up on vacation).

I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon putting together a spreadsheet with pricing for all the deluxes and different options, ie. doing premium or different dining plans and paying OOP for the things not included, and the platinum plan worked out to be less expensive in some cases.

As for IPO, vs. doing it myself - I think the only thing I would have them do is the fireworks cruise. The other things can be taken care of with a phone call or doing ADRs online.

Thanks again.

 

[Pakey]

We have done the Platinum plan for a week, staying at GF RPC. We have done the Premium plan for a week, staying at YC. This year is my 25th WDW vacation so I have also been many times.

We had good experiences with the IPOs both times.

My thoughts on the plans: I think everything is fun to try once but I would not do either of them again. It's too much structure for how we like to vacation. I dine at the same places, including V&A, even when not on a plan. I don't like being structured into the appetizer/entree/dessert routine at every meal. These plans have way too much food included and if you aren't going to consume it, you are better off paying OOP. I also didn't like being so tied into spa treatment at x time, tour at y time, cirque at z time, etc. It did not feel like a vacation at all.

I enjoy many of the activities and tours. However, I didn't enjoy doing 3 every day in between getting to/from 2 long, scheduled meals a day. Both weeks, we started dropping meals and tours like crazy after a few days because we just didn't want to keep going at that pace.

 

[outahere]

I enjoy many of the activities and tours. However, I didn't enjoy doing 3 every day in between getting to/from 2 long, scheduled meals a day. Both weeks, we started dropping meals and tours like crazy after a few days because we just didn't want to keep going at that pace.

Thanks.

I completely understand the dropping meals and tours. We are considering the platinum plan for just a few (probably 4) nights then moving to another resort on a room-only reservation for a couple of nights. We would probably only try to do one, maybe two, tours a day. The only day that would definitely be just one tour is the day we do Backstage Magic, since that tour lasts at least 7 hours. The tours are something we've always wanted to do, but when DS was younger all he was interested in was the parks. Now that he is older (he'll be 19 when we do this) he is much more interested in seeing another side of WDW.

 

[ajh88]

Thanks.

I completely understand the dropping meals and tours. We are considering the platinum plan for just a few (probably 4) nights then moving to another resort on a room-only reservation for a couple of nights. We would probably only try to do one, maybe two, tours a day. The only day that would definitely be just one tour is the day we do Backstage Magic, since that tour lasts at least 7 hours. The tours are something we've always wanted to do, but when DS was younger all he was interested in was the parks. Now that he is older (he'll be 19 when we do this) he is much more interested in seeing another side of WDW.

This is what we did and are doing. Last year, we were at Disney for 9 nights, but only did 1 Platinum night (so 2 full days) and it was utter perfection. Like a vacation within a vacation! This time, we have room only booked for 7 nights, but we are doing 3 nights Platinum in the middle with my parents.

I'm working on my Platinum spreadsheet right now! I would just suggest trying to plan things that are in close proximity so you don't have to spend a lot of travel time. For example, we did Hoop Dee Doo, did a carriage ride at Ft. Wilderness afterwards, then went over to GF to catch our Wishes fireworks cruise. I will agree that it is a LOT of food - but you don't have to do all sit down meals. We took full advantage of the fact that our package was still valid until midnight on check-out day...in essence, 1 night's worth of credits was enough to carry us through 2 days worth of meals, including a couple of snacks, but YMMV.

We had great fun last year...we will see if we enjoy it as much this time around. I would recommend it to anyone who has been to the parks multiple times and is looking to try a few "new" things!

 

[outahere]

I think I know the answer to this, but I could use a "sanity check".

If we book the platinum plan at the beginning of our trip, for say 4 nights, can we add extra days of park tickets. So instead of 4 days of park tickets, we'd purchase 6 or 7, and then use those KTTW cards as our park tickets for the last 2 or 3 days when we stay somewhere else. I'm pretty sure that's possible...... just checking? We will probably do a split stay and check out of the CR (at the end of the package) and then into GF or WL room only.

Also, a question about the platinum plan...... I know that dining credits don't expire until midnight of the day you check out, but is that the same for platinum benefits as well? Could we take a tour, use the boats, etc. on the day we check out?

Thanks.

 

[ajh88]

I think I know the answer to this, but I could use a "sanity check".

If we book the platinum plan at the beginning of our trip, for say 4 nights, can we add extra days of park tickets. So instead of 4 days of park tickets, we'd purchase 6 or 7, and then use those KTTW cards as our park tickets for the last 2 or 3 days when we stay somewhere else. I'm pretty sure that's possible...... just checking? We will probably do a split stay and check out of the CR (at the end of the package) and then into GF or WL room only.

Also, a question about the platinum plan...... I know that dining credits don't expire until midnight of the day you check out, but is that the same for platinum benefits as well? Could we take a tour, use the boats, etc. on the day we check out?

Thanks.

1. Yes, you can add days to your tickets and keep using them. They just expire 14 days from first use unless you add the no expiration option.

2. The platinum benefits expire the same as the dining credits. You can continue to do tours, excursions, etc. on your day of check out.

Have fun planning!

 

[outahere]

1. Yes, you can add days to your tickets and keep using them. They just expire 14 days from first use unless you add the no expiration option.

2. The platinum benefits expire the same as the dining credits. You can continue to do tours, excursions, etc. on your day of check out.

Have fun planning!

Thanks for the info. I was pretty sure I was thinking correctly. DS circled 8 tours in the platinum brochure, that he wants to do, so I'm going to have to re-think our plan of only booking the package for 4 days. Off to price this out different ways.

 

[ajh88]

Just don't forget that 4 nights of platinum = 5 days to do tours. Eight sure is a lot though and probably would take more than 5 days! That would definitely be shooting to take full advantage of the offerings!

I hope you all have a great time!

 

[outahere]

Just don't forget that 4 nights of platinum = 5 days to do tours. Eight sure is a lot though and probably would take more than 5 days! That would definitely be shooting to take full advantage of the offerings!

I hope you all have a great time!

Unfortunately, 2 of the tours that DS and DW want to do are long tours (Backstage Magic and Keys to the Kingdom), so they will take up 2 full days. I don't think we can fit 6 more into a total of 5 days. Plus, we'll have to get up early almost every day - not my idea of a relaxing trip! I'm going to have to re-think/re-price this entire idea. Oh well, at least the trip isn't until next June, so I have some time.