Am I getting ripped off?

[daycaremomjen]

Please review this for me... it seems like a lot of money to pay for a 5 night stay.. this is for the family suite at all star music, basic dining plan and park hopper passes. We are checking in on March 15, 2008.
the total for my family of 5 is 4038.53 I also have to pay 2,500 for airfare on top of that ammount... Any suggestions to reduce the cost? Thanks so much, this is stressing me out!!!

 

[iloveftwilderness]

to reduce cost- visit at a different time of the year or book two rooms instead of the family suite, go during free dining, think about changing the tickets (how many days will you actually be going to the park? will you visit a park the day you arrive/or depart? Will you be park hopping?)
Some people buy dvc points from dvc members and stay in bigger accomodations for less money.

Sounds like a lot of money to me! I took my family of 4 for 4 nights at the Pop during free dining with one day park ticket for @ $650. We bought tickets to the MNSHP for another day into the park. I can't see spending $3000 more.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

I think your best bet is to break it down piece by piece...
First off you are traveling in PEAK season (ie: really expensive)

The room is $275 a night for weekdays and $295 a night on weekends.
This is pretty expensive for a value resort, but it is peak and it is a family suite.
You could book 2 connecting regular rooms for about $119 each per night, so about $240 a night.

Another option you could do is head over to the DVC trade board and rent points. People rent them for $10-$12 a point and you can get into a deluxe studio or one bedroom for much less, or about the same cost (depending on the type of room you rent). Take a look over there.

The dining plan and park hopper passes will be the same price at any time of year. What you need to do is look at your dates, type of room,etc.. to cut costs. Also you can probably fly MUCH cheaper than $500 each if you watch Southwest Air for good deals. You are in MN, and I am flying from Seattle for $200 each in January, so you can probably get something under $300 each from MN. Its just a matter of watching.
You an probably shave $1000 off this trip, maybe more.

 

[Matt'sMom]

Yes, unfortunately if you are going over Easter week ($$$), then that seems to be about right for a MYW package for five with dining and hoppers. Starting in 2008, room rates are adjusted to reflect the actual pricing for each night's stay, so arriving the day before a rate increase no longer saves you money (Easter rates kick in on the 16th).

As has already been suggested, you could potentially save money by altering your dates to a less expensive time of year. Or, you might save a significant amount if you are willing to drop the dining plan and just pay OOP for meals as you go. If you do more counter service meals, and less sit downs/character meals... and perhaps eat some breakfasts in the room... this can make a big difference in the total cost.

 

[belleandthebeast]

Assuming that rate didn't include insurance, you might want to try to book through AAA or transfer your reservation. The rate is about $187 less than the rate you posted. That was based on 2 adults and 3 children, all over 9. If some are children under age 9, the AAA rate should bring the cost down even more.

 

[avic77]

Try Port Orleans Riverside instead of Family Suite. It sleeps 5 as well and turned out cheaper for my family

 

[son3disfan]

Yes, that is very expensive...
Here's what I would do.

First ..change resorts. Either 2 connecting rooms at the value , or even better and less expensive, Port orleans Riverside..it will sleep 5 ( one in a trundle bed).Your rate would be about $212 a night ( taxes included). It's a moderate resort that offers some extra ammenities that the values don't have .

Second, I would pass on the hopper passes ( how many days are your tickets?) You can visit a park a day , and then visit your favorite one all over again on the 5th day. That would save money. With the dining plan, you will be eating ALOT! and spending alot of time in restaurants, so you might not need the hopping ( IMO).

Third, keep your eye out for a deal that might be comming...
Right now Disney is offering a discounted rate up until March 15 for Canadians. Some think it might be released to the public soon.. You would also get FREE HOPPERS AND WATERPARK added to your ticket. That would save money as well. I believe , even if you check in on the 15th, the discount will apply?? I'm sure someone will know for sure.

Forth.. you can get ( as mentioned) a much better rate on your flight , if you book through Southwest.

Good lucK! and let us know how it works out!

 

[ntsammy5]

OP seem to have a lot of good advice. Yes this does sound too expensive though.

 

[Catrinabeach]

We are paying about that much for 2 rooms at Pop with 2 adults, 3 kids that count as adults and a 3 yr old with dining, park hoppers, insurance for 10 days ! And we are going Dec 17-27.

We got a discount on our room by watching for promos. The rest costs the same no matter what. Unless you get the free ticket upgrade.

 

[son3disfan]

We are paying about that much for 2 rooms at Pop with 2 adults, 3 kids that count as adults and a 3 yr old with dining, park hoppers, insurance for 10 days ! And we are going Dec 17-27.

We got a discount on our room by watching for promos. The rest costs the same no matter what. Unless you get the free ticket upgrade.

Catrinabeach...You are going during "Holiday Season".
Disney's MOST expensive time to visit.( even more then peak !)

I'm sure there is a savings to be found somewhere.. depending on how flexible the OP is with dates/ tickets/ lodging/flight.

Some are predicting a special rate might be released to the general public aroud Nov. 1st.
There is a deal right now (for Jan. up to March 15th) for Disney Visa card holders .....

 

[digman6]

that does seem high to me we have 6 people but one is a baby. we are traveling 12/18-26 this year. we also have 7 day passes no hopper, POR with a trundle bed and DDP and our total was just over 3k we got our airfare for 6 people for 1228.00. when does the peak season end or start maybe you can go a little earlier or later OR you can shop it and hope for some sort of deal. I would really change your room situation though first of all.

I had us with Hopper passes and took it off, I saved 250$ just doing that.

 

[Catrinabeach]

Catrinabeach...You are going during "Holiday Season".
Disney's MOST expensive time to visit.( even more then peak !)

I'm sure there is a savings to be found somewhere.. depending on how flexible the OP is with dates/ tickets/ lodging/flight.

Some are predicting a special rate might be released to the general public aroud Nov. 1st.
There is a deal right now (for Jan. up to March 15th) for Disney Visa card holders .....

THAT was my Point ! I'm paying what she was quoted and I'm going for 10 days which is double the time she is. And I'm going during Christmas.

So obviously it's high if I'm paying that much for 10 days during Holiday season.

OH and I just got an email tonight from Disney Destinations that is offering a promo that isn't to do with the Disney Visa since I don't have one. And it's the same offer as the Visa one. So I bet it's coming as a general public code tomorrow ! Maybe that will work for your dates.

 

[bookgirl2632]

$2500 for airfare?!! You have to be able to find something cheaper.

 

[Calliaz]

Please review this for me... it seems like a lot of money to pay for a 5 night stay.. this is for the family suite at all star music, basic dining plan and park hopper passes. We are checking in on March 15, 2008.
the total for my family of 5 is 4038.53 I also have to pay 2,500 for airfare on top of that ammount... Any suggestions to reduce the cost? Thanks so much, this is stressing me out!!!

Everyone has great advice on saving on the room cost. I think that is pretty high. I did a comparison of the room rates at various places and the cheapest way is two value rooms, next is the Fort Wilderness Cabin, the AS Suites are about $14/night more than the cabin.

Finally, I agree that the flight cost is way too high. It can help to wait a little unless you are flying from a really small airport. We are flying from Phoenix to MCO for $209 per person 1/10-1/18.

 

[petrymom]

OP - Do you have a Disney Visa? I just called and added a code to my reservation to CBR for 3-14-07 to 3-21-07. My ressie included dining (not deluxe) and PHP with water parks. By adding the code I saved $500 and brought my cost down to $3200.00 and some odd change.

Good luck!!!

 

[daycaremomjen]

Thanks so much for all of the advice... I will call my travel agent on monday and see about a different room situation and check on the difference of hoppers vs no hopper. Thanks again

 

[Deb & Bill]

I...Another option you could do is head over to the DVC trade board and rent points. People rent them for $10-$12 a point and you can get into a deluxe studio or one bedroom for much less, or about the same cost (depending on the type of room you rent). Take a look over there....

A family of five will not fit in a studio; they only sleep four plus one under the age of three. So a studio is out. There is no such thing as a deluxe studio.

Most one bedroom villas also only sleep four plus one under the age of three. They sometimes let you have a fifth person over three, but no extra bedding (ala rollaway or cot) or linens are provided.

Finally, this is spring break time and it could be hard getting a DVC villa this late. Most members book their trips at 11 months out.

 

[ajleone]

There are a few things you can do to reduce the price.
1st- Don't do the dining plan- if you pay for CS meals it works out to be much cheaper. You could still plan one TS meal for the week and still be way ahead.
2nd- Make sure you only get passes for the amount of time you need them- don't forget that travel days(especially the day you leave) you tend not to have too much time to go to the parks if any at all.
3rd- *If you're willing*Don't book a package book a room only at a moderate resort for 2 adults and 2 children(it'll be a bit crowded but should be manageable)- The trick here is to not tell them you have three kids(it is a little underhanded but why should larger families be penalized!).
I know that my 3rd idea isn't all that disneylike but its something that would definitely cut down on the cost.

Oh and I checked flights on a few carriers- there is no Southwest or Jet blue flights in MN. The cheapest I could find was $2800 on US Air. So unfortunately I don't think you'll be able to save money on flights.

 

[rcraw45425]

There are a few things you can do to reduce the price.
1st- Don't do the dining plan- if you pay for CS meals it works out to be much cheaper. You could still plan one TS meal for the week and still be way ahead.
2nd- Make sure you only get passes for the amount of time you need them- don't forget that travel days(especially the day you leave) you tend not to have too much time to go to the parks if any at all.
3rd- *If you're willing*Don't book a package book a room only at a moderate resort for 2 adults and 2 children(it'll be a bit crowded but should be manageable)- The trick here is to not tell them you have three kids(it is a little underhanded but why should larger families be penalized!).
I know that my 3rd idea isn't all that disneylike but its something that would definitely cut down on the cost.

Oh and I checked flights on a few carriers- there is no Southwest or Jet blue flights in MN. The cheapest I could find was $2800 on US Air. So unfortunately I don't think you'll be able to save money on flights.

Don't "not count" someone, they will not ne issued a room key, therefore not able to do EMH, not to mention if discovered they may keep your money and tell you you have to leave since it's a fire code violation. The POR resort has rooms that sleep five, try there although they book up fast.

 

[thunderbird1]

$2500 for airfare?!! You have to be able to find something cheaper.

Unfortunately, OP is in MN and NWA owns that city. No Southwest=no need for other airlines to try to compete with SWA's fares. I may be a lot farther away, but I can fly to MCO at half that price (or less).

OP: If your dates are inflexible, you'll be hard-pressed to shave much off your trip costs unless you're willing to go offsite. I'm not advocating it by any means (as long as we can afford it, we're staying on-site!), but you can save by sleeping and eating off property, even after you factor in the cost of the rental car. If you really want on-site (nothin' wrong with that!), I'd go the two value rooms/POR route before I'd give up parkhoppers (of course, if you could get them free, that's the best of all), but both combined could save you $500 or so. Good luck!

Catrinabeach: If you're checking in on on Dec 17, you're paying value rates for your entire stay, not holiday. If you were checking in 3 days later, it would be a whole different story. Disney is changing their reservation system starting Jan 1, 2008 so as to calculate your rate day by day instead of based on your check in day. So this is the last year that little perk will be available--enjoy it!