Am I wasting my money?

[bornwiththeears]

Are you on DDP? You consider that extra night added to DDP, therefore you have that many more credits, but don't need to purchase an extra day's ticket. More value for your money, if you are already paying for that night anyway. Just an idea, sounds like a plan for us...hmmm...

We are not on the DDP. I have really experienced great confusion with the "package". When I got a package quote from my AAA TA, the total amount was more than the cost of the room, tickets and DDP. I thought the extra amount was for the other components in the package (i.e. credit at PH; photo; watercraft time, etc.) But another poster said the amount should only equal the room, tickets and DDP. We have already booked our room (and we will keep all nights) and I am now wondering if we should and could add the DDP and tickets. I hope this makes sense.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

We are not on the DDP. I have really experienced great confusion with the "package". When I got a package quote from my AAA TA, the total amount was more than the cost of the room, tickets and DDP. I thought the extra amount was for the other components in the package (i.e. credit at PH; photo; watercraft time, etc.) But another poster said the amount should only equal the room, tickets and DDP. We have already booked our room (and we will keep all nights) and I am now wondering if we should and could add the DDP and tickets. I hope this makes sense.

You can always call and see if your dates are available with DDP added, and make those ressies, then cancel the original ressies you had. You can add DDP to an existing ressie up to 5 days prior to checkin, but you can't buy DDP package at check-in if you failed to do so ahead of time.

 

[bornwiththeears]

You can always call and see if your dates are available with DDP added, and make those ressies, then cancel the original ressies you had. You can add DDP to an existing ressie up to 5 days prior to checkin, but you can't buy DDP package at check-in if you failed to do so ahead of time.

If we made our room ressies through AAA and purchase our tickets through AAA could we still add the DDP. Do you have to purchase a package in order to be eligible for the DDP?

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

If we made our room ressies through AAA and purchase our tickets through AAA could we still add the DDP. Do you have to purchase a package in order to be eligible for the DDP?

Not sure about adding DDP to AAA ressies, but thru Disney TA you have to buy it as a package - we just buy 1 base ticket for each member in our party, since we are passholders. Anyway, I would check with AAA TA, and also with a WDW TA before I made a decision, if I were you. We use Mousefantravel.com. Best wishes to you and your family!!!

 

[Piglets Mommy]

We are not on the DDP. I have really experienced great confusion with the "package". When I got a package quote from my AAA TA, the total amount was more than the cost of the room, tickets and DDP. I thought the extra amount was for the other components in the package (i.e. credit at PH; photo; watercraft time, etc.) But another poster said the amount should only equal the room, tickets and DDP. We have already booked our room (and we will keep all nights) and I am now wondering if we should and could add the DDP and tickets. I hope this makes sense.

We booked our package through AAA....4nts at WL, 5day Park Hoppers (no waterpark+more) and DDP and saved about $150 over Disney's site. Actually more...I was looking at standard view online, but the AAA discount is with courtyard view bunkbeds, so we are probably saving about $500 if you look at it that way. I have found that some AAA TA's know Disney and others don't. Double check thst the view and ticket category is the same one that you priced out. Also, Most AAA areas have a Disney specialist...see if yours does and price it out through them...They will correct it if a mistake was made. Good luck!!!

 

[bornwiththeears]

Thanks. I did email my TA and asked for her to give me the package price as soon as the new rates come out. Then I can compare the rates and be sure I am getting a discount. At least now I have an idea of what amount of savings I should get.

 

[princess mom of 4]

This thread has opened up a whole new line of thought for me! We usually arrive in Orlando around 11pm (driving from Atlanta area), and crash at some random off site motel, then head over to the World as soon as we get up the next am... that has not been a terrible plan for us in past years, as we pack stuff for that one night in a separate travel bag (dont' mess with the BIG suitcase!).... After reading this thread, I am wondering if I could reserve a value resort room for that night before, probably about the same cost as offsite, and they would even transfer the luggage for us. Can you have such a late arrival at WDW resorts? and the next day, do you have to go to your next resort to "check in " again and get a room assignment? this has stirred up a lot of questions for me!

 

[bornwiththeears]

This thread has opened up a whole new line of thought for me! We usually arrive in Orlando around 11pm (driving from Atlanta area), and crash at some random off site motel, then head over to the World as soon as we get up the next am... that has not been a terrible plan for us in past years, as we pack stuff for that one night in a separate travel bag (dont' mess with the BIG suitcase!).... After reading this thread, I am wondering if I could reserve a value resort room for that night before, probably about the same cost as offsite, and they would even transfer the luggage for us. Can you have such a late arrival at WDW resorts? and the next day, do you have to go to your next resort to "check in " again and get a room assignment? this has stirred up a lot of questions for me!

To answer your questions - you pay for the night in advance so you can have late check in. However, you will have to check out of the value and into the next resort. This is exactly what we did at Thanksgiving but because we were staying at the Dolphin (and had to have a taxi take us to the Dolphin) it was not really cost effective. I have always felt like we were wasting a night to stay at a deluxe if we were arriving late. However, with the help of the posters on this thread, I have realized that it is worth the money for us (even though we have two rooms) not to have to check in and out and then transfer to another resort. We are only staying five days so time is valuable. Besides, we love the WL, and it will give my new son-in-law an evening to "get to know the hotel."

I hope you have a great trip.

 

[D&R love Disney]

If we arrriving late we usually stay at a value. This time we are staying at POFQ for one night (so I can have beigets in the morning) and then moving into a 2BR at BCV. No way am I wasting 62 points on a weekend night when we won't get to the resort until 8:00 pm.

 

[LilGMom]

Are there crummy rooms at WL?!?!?!? I'd much rather get into the room, get settled, and be done with it so that when you wake up, head downstairs and hear the antics of WCC you know that you are 'home' and can 100% start your trip. Otherwise you have to fool with packing a one-night bag, checking in, getting settled, getting packed, getting checked in again, getting settled again and by that time half of the day is wasted. If the $100 isn't a hardship on you I say stay at WL.

A partial day at WL is better than a day at work anytime!