Advice Needed: Book Package or A La Carte?

[KSL]

Hi folks,

I am planning a trip to DL for July and am looking for any advice/opinions on how you make your reservations. We're DVC owners so lately we've been booking that way for our WDW trips and not sure what is best for booking hotel and tickets at DL since this is our first trip there.

Those of you who visit from out-of-town: do you usually book a package, or hotel and tickets separately? It is cheaper to book without the package - I think the price difference is about $400-$500 for the length of our stay. I'm finding the package includes lots of nice little extras, but not sure if they're worth the money or whether we would need them since we're two adults traveling (without the kids this trip!). Some of the things I can quantify to judge (pin, lanyard, etc.), but other things are harder to assess the value of. For example, the preferred seating at several shows: I can definitely see how this would be good for families with children, but is this a good benefit for 2 adults, or would we be able to squeeze in somewhere or stand to watch, etc.? Or are these shows hard to get into and having the preferred seating pass is really of good value? Same for the early entry into Toontown - actually we weren't sure whether we were going to do more than walk through this - would two adults want to go and participate in the early hour? Very difficult for us to determine whether the package is really worth it. I know this is a decision for each traveler to make on their own, but any advice or suggestions?

Ok, next question: Do you book through the Disneyland website? AAA? On-line "Disney Specialist" travel planning agency? Other local agent you've dealt with for general travel? I'm not sure the best (meaning most cost-effective and reliable) way to book. For reliability I guess we're most comfortable going directly through Disney, but of course that is the most expensive. Then again, the others aren't less by too much (usually they are throwing in a $20-40 gift card or some other fairly minor perks). Thoughts or ideas on this, anyone? Our local AAA office doesn't have much info on DL (we're in upstate NY) and told me to contact a SoCal AAA office, so actually I've been dealing with someone at a AAA office out there. Is this common? It seems a little unusual to me but I guess it's OK since AAA is a nationwide thing and both the NY and CA AAA reps seem good with it. ??

Thanks a bunch for any replies!

 

[calambert]

I have always found A La Carte to be the way to go. The packages are always more expensive. We purchased the park hopper passes online through the disneyland website for our upcoming trip due to their current promotion that includes one early entry. I think that promotion ends before your trip, but it's possible they may offer something else as your trip gets closer. Maybe someone else can chime in about where to aquire park hopper passes for less, as I have always ue the DL website.

As to hotels, we book them either through an online source such as expedia, or directly with the hotel. Most hotels will give you the online rate, because they would prefer you book directly with them. Most of them offer a AAA discount on their own websites and we always take advantage of that as well. Others use priceline or hotwire. I understand the deals can be better through them, but I don't think you always know what hotel you will be at until your bid is accepted.

 

[HydroGuy]

I have always found A La Carte to be the way to go. The packages are always more expensive. We purchased the park hopper passes online through the disneyland website for our upcoming trip due to their current promotion that includes one early entry. I think that promotion ends before your trip, but it's possible they may offer something else as your trip gets closer. Maybe someone else can chime in about where to aquire park hopper passes for less, as I have always ue the DL website.

As to hotels, we book them either through an online source such as expedia, or directly with the hotel. Most hotels will give you the online rate, because they would prefer you book directly with them. Most of them offer a AAA discount on their own websites and we always take advantage of that as well. Others use priceline or hotwire. I understand the deals can be better through them, but I don't think you always know what hotel you will be at until your bid is accepted.

Same here except I have never used hotwire. Booking separately is usually cheaper (in my case always cheaper) and gives additional flexibility to cancel or change (the terms are different between packages and hotel only for Disney).

 

[californiamomof4grls]

I start "stalking" my preferred websites about a year in advance. I find that it is much cheaper to do individually. For example you should check and see if the Howard Johnson has any entertainment rates for you dates. You can get a hotel for as cheap as $59 a night and that's about a 10 minute walk if that!
Tickets are usually the cheapest on the disney website unless you have access to AAA or a credit union.
As far as airfare and transportation back forth to the airport we drive, so I don't know very much about it. This trip in April was gifted to us so at one point in the process we were suppose to pay for our transportation back and forth and I checked out the Disneyland Express. I liked the price and accessibility!
Here are some of the links I use to check out prices

http://www.boards.hojoanaheim.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

http://www.anaheimdesertinn.com/

http://arestravel.com/77_hotel-list.html
locationID=m83&locationSearch=&submit=Continue

http://www.getawaytoday.com/

http://graylineanaheim.com/

Disneyland.com If you are looking to stay onsite you can book and then if you watch and find a better rate through Disney you can call them up and have them adjusted. That's what I was told by Disney Travel.

 

[mrswh]

I always book and buy my tickets only through Disney, because I just don't want to have any snafus on my vacation. I have found that the packages are generally more expensive - and the price difference is usually way too much to justify the added extras. And, as a PP mentioned, the cancellation policy for a package is more stringent than for a hotel only reservation. That said, I do like to have those VIP passes!

So on my last trip, I booked my hotel only stay. Then, as I got closer to the trip, I called and added tickets. But I did *not* change my reservation to a package. I simply added on a "Passport Plus" package that included tickets, the VIP passes & other extras, and transportation (Disneyland Resort Express). When I did that, I paid no more than I would have had I bought the tickets and shuttle separately, and this way I got the VIP passes and other extras as well.

So you kind of have to play with the different ways to piece it together and you will come up with the best way to get the most for your money. Also, Disney changes their prices fairly frequently, so once you have a reservation, always check back every so often so that if the rate goes down you can get yours adjusted.

 

[hootey]

We always use DVC these days. We tried booking everything seperate to save money, it was a waste of time. We also tried a couple of the travel clubs, they could not provide everything DVC did for the price. And lastly we tried using travel companies twice, I still check to make sure I still have my wallet when I think of them. Hmmmm, let's see here, if I book through DVC I get all the perks, everything is first class, if I have a problem there are several hundred people that are more than happy to help me, I stay on site,if a special is offered after I make reservations-it will be credited to my account automatically. If I book anywhere else I am on my own, if I have a problem it is because I MISUNDERSTOOD what was provided. I know where I am spending my money...

 

[scrapshappen]

Lots of questions that I am hoping someone can answer (which I know someone can that's why I'm asking. )

Since we're inside of seven months from our next trip, what is the best way to get a great deal at the GC? Should I call Disney and just book a room only deal using the AAA discount? And if we use the AAA discount, and the Disney Fall rate discount is better, what happens then? Am I out of luck or can I change the reservation to get the better rate?

If I make a room only reservation at the GC, is it like a regular hotel reservation where I pay upon check out? Or does it have to be prepaid?

And then is the best deal to just buy hoppers through the DL website before our trip? Or should I add them through DVP later?

The past two times we've gone, we've done the package thing to get the extra perks -- once through AAA and once through Costco. We did Costco last time because anyway I added it, it was a better deal since we got the character meal and the $20 GC.

We loved the perks but I understand we can get the passports plus and get some of those perks too. I'm guessing they cost more than the regular hoppers we'd buy through DL.com?

TIA!

 

[Isatricia]

For our trip last month, we booked through Costco. I priced it all out separately and still had a better price through Costco and got the extras as well.

I would consider both options and do what works out to be the best financially.

 

[nunzia]

I have always found A La Carte to be the way to go. The packages are always more expensive. We purchased the park hopper passes online through the disneyland website for our upcoming trip due to their current promotion that includes one early entry. I think that promotion ends before your trip, but it's possible they may offer something else as your trip gets closer. Maybe someone else can chime in about where to aquire park hopper passes for less, as I have always ue the DL website.

As to hotels, we book them either through an online source such as expedia, or directly with the hotel. Most hotels will give you the online rate, because they would prefer you book directly with them. Most of them offer a AAA discount on their own websites and we always take advantage of that as well. Others use priceline or hotwire. I understand the deals can be better through them, but I don't think you always know what hotel you will be at until your bid is accepted.

Before I had DVC and an AP I always booked each component on its own since I found the package rate to be so much more and the extras not worth anything. If I'm staying without using my DVC points I use hotels.com and have found decent prices through them.

 

[scrapshappen]

For our trip last month, we booked through Costco. I priced it all out separately and still had a better price through Costco and got the extras as well.

I would consider both options and do what works out to be the best financially.

Right now, the Costco price and the DL.com price are the exact same for the package (except Costco comes with the character meal and $20 gift card). AAA.com is a couple hundred less, but I don't know if it would be even less if I called and got the AAA rate then add the tickets later. Guess I just need to call and find out.

 

[hlbtimes2]

I always book airfare seperate. Hotel and tickets depends on what the current specials are and what is available. I've done it both ways. My trip this week was booked thru Costco travel. The price was the same as disney travel, but includes a character meal and $20 gift card. For our family of 4 that was a $180 value.

I think it really depends on how dedicated you are to spending the time to check prices, shop around, watch for deals, etc.

The little extra perks are nice, but not really all that important, IMO.

 

[Babybears]

For our trip last month, we booked through Costco. I priced it all out separately and still had a better price through Costco and got the extras as well.

I would consider both options and do what works out to be the best financially.

We have also found this to be the case!!

 

[Babybears]

Right now, the Costco price and the DL.com price are the exact same for the package (except Costco comes with the character meal and $20 gift card). AAA.com is a couple hundred less, but I don't know if it would be even less if I called and got the AAA rate then add the tickets later. Guess I just need to call and find out.

I have looked at all these option extensively, and have often found that booking through Costco is the way to go IF:

1. You only want to stay 4 nights or less (can't book 5 or more through them).

2. You are interested in a character meal.

3. If staying onsite, you are not interested in Concierge (Costco only offers standard and view rooms).

When I priced everything out seperately, room, tickets, character meal, $20 gift card, it ended up being a wash between Costco package and booking seperately. What is important to remember is that the package prices include all taxes & hotel surcharges. The first price quoted when you look to book a room does not include those fees, which add an additional 17 - 18%. Make sure you keep clicking like you are going to book, as it will eventually give you the "final price".

As for AAA, they are a good option IF there are no current DL promotions. They offer 15% off of the room portion when booking a package, or 10% off of room only if booking directly through the hotel. However, there always seems to be a promotion of some sort, say 20 - 25% off that will trump that, and then that would be what AAA offers instead. So basically, there is no advantage to booking through AAA, instead of WDTC, except for the one perk which is AAA will give you free parking in the Mickey and Friends parking structure when booking a package. This isn't a great perk if you are staying onsite or close enough to walk and not needing to park daily.

One thing that AAA offers that Costco doesn't is you can book concierge rooms and stays longer than 4 nights and get the same discount that the current WDTC is offering. Again, no big advantage unless WDTC is not having a promotion at all or is less than 15% off.

Hope this helps!!

 

[kailuagirl]

We've always lucked out and it was cheaper by alittle go do a package. I break it down completely and figure it out, but I don't value in the pin, laynard, etc. We always book ours with Costco and get the free character meal also

If it is $400-$500 difference I wouldn't do a package, that's crazy. You really just had to way the options and go with the best value. The preferred seating things just aren't worth that much money. And if you really want that option you can buy the packet for I think $15 each or something like that.

Good luck finding a great deal!

 

[scrapshappen]

Thanks for all your advice. I tend to over analyze things too much. Especially when it comes to Disneyland.

 

[megswdw]

Travel agents can get you the same price as booking directly through Disney. But, most of them will watch sales and have the better deal applied to your package. As far as the package goes, if you call Disney, or have a travel agent, you can often get the package for less than actually is listed. For instance, I called about the $500 difference in price (I am a travel agent, so i'm following my own advice of using one). Disneyland had a 3 day park hopper for $199 online. When I explained that I wasn't booking a package because it was cheaper without the package, the cast member on the phone found the online ticket deal and edited my package so it was even less than when I priced it out selerately. Also, with a package, you can add transfers to/from the airport. Any travel agent should be finding you the best deal possible and if a better deal comes out, applying it to your package.