Split stay to make the most of the tickets??

[Sleepyhappyandgrumpy]

Hey - So I'm starting to think about my trip for next October. We are planning to do a week. We would get in in the early afternoon after leaving pretty early in the morning so we'll be tired. I don't really want our first park day to be when we're tired and grumpy from traveling, but then we'll be missing one day of our package tickets. What I am thinking of doing is getting a room only ressie for the first night and then we can get a full park day with the first day of the package. Has anyone done this? Thoughts?

[TBdisneyMC]

When booking a package with Disney, your tickets don't have to be the same number of days as your trip. You can just get 6- or 5-day park passes (however many days you'll actually be in the parks.)
(hope I'm reading your question correctly)

[Sleepyhappyandgrumpy]

Even if I'm doing the dining plan?

[TBdisneyMC]

Originally Posted by Sleepyhappyandgrumpy

Even if I'm doing the dining plan?

Ticket-wise, yes. You just have to get a minimum amount - 1 or 2-day passes depending on the promotion (free-dining, if offered.) For example, we're doing a 5-night/6-day trip in Feb, but our flight gets in around 10 pm, so we're only getting 5-day passes (also using the Dining plan.)

Now, if you're not going to be using all of the DP credits, then doing a room only the first night to avoid the DP costs might be worth it. So for example, if you're only going to use 6 TS credits each, but your stay is 7 nights, you'd be wasting that 7th credit. If you get Free Dining when you go, then it doesn't matter.

[Sleepyhappyandgrumpy]

Well that makes it easier! Thanks so much. Don't I feel sheepish.

[dis_guy]

Originally Posted by Sleepyhappyandgrumpy

I don't really want our first park day to be when we're tired and grumpy from traveling, but then we'll be missing one day of our package tickets.

We actually do this every time we go. From where we live in Alberta, we usually take the overnight flight to Houston, connect to MCO and arrive at the resort around noon. We always go to a park that first day without too much trouble and we are not good "sleep on the plane" people. We figure we're just running on adrenaline or excitement or something! We sure need the extra rest the next day, though!