Any Info On Package Deals For Feb 2009?

[viluvsdisney]

We don't need any "bells and whistles"....just a nice quick trip to WDW in Feb. at a value or moderate resort. Is there any info that has ballpark figures on cost for 4 or 5 days at the WDW with resort included? Thanks

 

[bas71873]

Info on 2009 isn't out yet and I think room rates came out in August last year and then discounts came out around in October. But, we went last February (DH, Me and DD4) and stayed 7 nights at Pop, with the Dining Plan and had 6 day MYW tix with park hopper & water parks & more added and my package was right around $1800 for the 3 of us. The only discount we got was that the hopper, water parks & more were free. I believe we also used a AAA rate for our room. We had a GREAT time. My airfare on top of that was right around $600. So for around $2400 we vacationed for 7 days and ate the whole time....all pre-paid which was very nice

 

[viluvsdisney]

where and how do I do this?.....lol..... Do I buy through AAA (do I have to sign up and become a member.....or do I buy through Disney??? I also read about making ressies for your room now - then how does Disney or AAA apply the discount? Any suggestions are welcome. Thank you!

 

[bas71873]

where and how do I do this?.....lol..... Do I buy through AAA (do I have to sign up and become a member.....or do I buy through Disney??? I also read about making ressies for your room now - then how does Disney or AAA apply the discount? Any suggestions are welcome. Thank you!

You do need to be a member of AAA to get the AAA discount because you will have to show your card at check in. BUT, I do not book through AAA. When you call the Disney ressie line, just tell them you have AAA and they apply the discount then (and will tell you to have your card at check-in). If I were you, I would go ahead and call and book your room and tell them you have AAA (if they ask for a number then, which they have never done for me, tell them you don't have card yet)...then go ahead and sign up for AAA....I think I pay around $50/year and you'll have your card in plenty of time.

We loved Pop by the way and it was not real crowded when we went in February (we are going back in Feb 2009 but trying an off site condo this time). Yes, the rooms are small but all we did was sleep & shower...the rest of the time we were in the parks or in the pool. We had a great time. While there are pros & cons to the dining plan, we liked it because that meant everything, other than tips & souveniers, we paid for before we even got there. Plus, getting to do all the character meals were PRICELESS on a first visit.

Good luck and feel free to ask away!!!!

 

[viluvsdisney]

Ok - I'm clueless about the dining plan Does it come with a package deal?? How doe sit work - and how many character meals can you do....sorry to be so "in the dark" with this

We've stayed at an value resort before - don't mind them a bit. So, I would call and book for my ressie now - pay rack rate - then call back once the package deals for 2009 are released, ask them to apply it - but buy into the package at the same time? Are there usually choices for the package deals?? Again, sorry.....lol.....I really appreciate your help

 

[bas71873]

Ok - I'm clueless about the dining plan Does it come with a package deal?? How doe sit work - and how many character meals can you do....sorry to be so "in the dark" with this

Yes, dining can be part of your package if you choose and is only available to guests staying on-site. The basic plan is $37.99/day for adults and $11.99/day for kids 3 to 9. You are given 1 table service, 1 counter service and 1 snack credit per day per person. So, if you are staying at Pop for 4 nights (family of 3), you will have 12 TS, 12 CS and 12 Snack credits to use any way you wish. TS meals include entree, dessert & drink (no app, no tip), CS - same thing (but these are quick serve meals...fast food type deals) and a snack is a snack....I think if you google Disney Dining Plan 2008, you will get the actual flyer and print that off to give yourself full deals

You can do any character dining meals you want (and that you can get an early ressie for...you can book 180 days in advance). Most character meals only use 1 credit per person, but there are some that take 2 credits. That flyer will tell you which is which. When we went in Feb of this year, we stayed 7 nights and this is how we ate:

Saturday - Earl of Sandwich; DTD; 1 CS credit per person
Sunday - Cindy's Castle breakfast; MK; 2 TS per person; Late lunch at Cosmic Ray's; 1 CS
Monday - Fantasmic Dinner Package; DHS; 1 TS; I think we ate breakfast at pop which would have been 1 CS
Tuesday - Dinner at LTT; 1 TS; breakfast again at Pop I think
Wednesday - CS meal at AK
Thursday - Dinner at Coral Reef; 1 TS
Friday - Breakfast in Norway with the Princesses; 1 TS

So that was how we used our TS (which you need ADRs for). The CS & snacks we just winged it pretty much. I kept track of all of my out of pocket expenses with regard to tip; etc and decided that we liked the DDP. But, I had nothing to compare it too either. Never used the old DDP where tip & and app was included. I added up what it would have cost me to pay for all out meals out of pocket and in the end, the plan saved us about $60. Plus, I LOVED having it all pre-paid and so i wasnt' stressing over how much $$ I was spending on food. And for a first trip, my DD loved seeing all the characters and it saved us having to stand it line for autographs.

Hope this helps some. Check out the allears.net site and pick up that book if you can. They helped me a lot.

We've stayed at an value resort before - don't mind them a bit. So, I would call and book for my ressie now - pay rack rate - then call back once the package deals for 2009 are released, ask them to apply it - but buy into the package at the same time? Are there usually choices for the package deals?? Again, sorry.....lol.....I really appreciate your help

.

Yep, call now and then you can always call back and apply discounts. Package deals do vary. You can do room and just park tickets, or room, park tickets and dining. Check out www.allears.net There is great info there. Also, there is a book that I was given that had great info. Unoffical Guide to Disney with Kids...by a Kimberly somebody. Valuable info in that book.


Feel free to keep asking. I really don't mind. I'm ready for October to get here so I can get back

 

[brentalex]

Ok - I'm clueless about the dining plan Does it come with a package deal?? How doe sit work - and how many character meals can you do....sorry to be so "in the dark" with this

We've stayed at an value resort before - don't mind them a bit. So, I would call and book for my ressie now - pay rack rate - then call back once the package deals for 2009 are released, ask them to apply it - but buy into the package at the same time? Are there usually choices for the package deals?? Again, sorry.....lol.....I really appreciate your help

The only way to get the dining plan is to buy a package. Everyone in the room needs to be on the same package. You will need to buy at least a one day park ticket as well, although you can buy up to a 10 day ticket.
If you want to reserve a room now, you can call and make a room only reservation. You will be charged a one night deposit based on the 2008 peak rate for the resort. At this time it does not matter if you are a AAA member. The AAA discount will not be available until the rates are released.
Just to confuse you even more, if you are a AAA member and want to get a package with a AAA discount, then you need to book the package with a AAA travel agent, you can't go directly through Disney.

 

[viluvsdisney]

I'm "new" to the "newer" way of things at WDW.....obviously.......I'm open for suggestions. In your opinion - if we wanted a "simple" trip - what would you do? We're just looking to get of Colorado's weather- -and have a funtrip to FL in Feb. We've been to WDW 5 times in the last 9 years (just went last Oct). We have to kiddos, DD9 and DS5. We've done the character meals, MNSSHP (2x), stayed in the deluxe resorts - also stayed offsite in Oct and did the whole save lots of money thing.....lol.....This time we're looking for a relaxing, easy way to visit for 4 or 5 days. Are similiar packages released each year? I've never looked into one......what would you do?

Thanks again

 

[noladave]

Don't know if this makes a difference to you, but President's week and Mardi Gras are in February, which makes those weeks very crowded. Not as bad as summer time crowds, but crowded none the less. Some people are under the impression that February is a less-crowded time, but with all the special events during that time (pop-warner, cheer competitions, etc), there's always some kind of crowd.

With that said, we go every year at this time - to either DL or WDW.

 

[bas71873]

Just to confuse you even more, if you are a AAA member and want to get a package with a AAA discount, then you need to book the package with a AAA travel agent, you can't go directly through Disney.

And to add to that confusion and to just clarify some, if you don't want to use AAA for your whole "package"....meaning AAA does discount tickets some if you book the package through them, you can use the AAA room discount by booking directly through Disney. I don't haver personal experience, but I have heard/read some horror stories about letting AAA do all of your package booking & dining ressies.....perhaps it's the control freak in me that just won't allow it

 

[bas71873]

Don't know if this makes a difference to you, but President's week and Mardi Gras are in February, which makes those weeks very crowded. Not as bad as summer time crowds, but crowded none the less. Some people are under the impression that February is a less-crowded time, but with all the special events during that time (pop-warner, cheer competitions, etc), there's always some kind of crowd.

With that said, we go every year at this time - to either DL or WDW.

Agree with noladave.....we went the week of Mardi Gras (because the locals here in LA escape the madness that is Mardi Gras ) and I didn't find the crowds bad at all....other than EMH night at DHS.....YIKES Now, in 2010 when Mardi Gras & President's week fall during the same week in February....I think I'll be heading to some tropical island

 

[bas71873]

I'm "new" to the "newer" way of things at WDW.....obviously.......I'm open for suggestions. In your opinion - if we wanted a "simple" trip - what would you do? We're just looking to get of Colorado's weather- -and have a funtrip to FL in Feb. We've been to WDW 5 times in the last 9 years (just went last Oct). We have to kiddos, DD9 and DS5. We've done the character meals, MNSSHP (2x), stayed in the deluxe resorts - also stayed offsite in Oct and did the whole save lots of money thing.....lol.....This time we're looking for a relaxing, easy way to visit for 4 or 5 days. Are similiar packages released each year? I've never looked into one......what would you do?

Thanks again

If it were me just trying to get get in 4 or 5 days of relaxing (and going to someplace warmer)...and since you have done a lot at Disney, I would book on site (just because I like the transportation aspect and I presume you are flying) and maybe stay at a moderate resort, not do the dining plan and just eat when & where you want and maybe only get a 2 or 3 day ticket and add the water park & more option because with that you can do a water park (weather permitting) and do Disney Quest at DTD (If you buy a 2 day ticket and add the water & more, that gives you 2 days in whatever parks you want, no hopper plus 2 entrances of your choosing....2 water park days, 2 Disney Quest days, or 1 of each....I just learned that ) Then that leaves a day or two to just do whatever...explore other resorts, go to FW Campground for a movie in the evening, go to the Poly & watch fireworks from the beach. My quick vaca would roughly look like this....assuming 2 travel days and 3 whatever days:

Travel day 1 - arrive, unpack, depending on the time & weather, hang at the resort pool, go to DTD for dinner & shopping & maybe Disney Quest?

Day 2 - have to go to MK right?? Stay all day, eat on a whim, watch fireworks

Day 3 - go to a water park. come back to the resort, change, head over to FW Campground for movie night & smores

Day 4 - hit another park. for me that would be Epcot or DHS

Day 5 - travel back home


so that's a 2 day park ticket with water park & more added....I'm kind of a commando so I don't leave much downtime.....i really need to get better at that

Good luck with whatever you decide. Just being at Disney would make me happy

 

[CanadianGuy]

Package rates for 2009 are not released until mid-late August... so be sure to check with Disney reservations or your travel agent at that time.

Actual 'discounts' for that time frame won't be released until much later in the fall (if any).

This thread is actally a best fit on the Disney Resorts & Booking Board and I'll be moving it over there.

Thanks!

KNox

 

[crys5]

Agree with noladave.....we went the week of Mardi Gras (because the locals here in LA escape the madness that is Mardi Gras ) and I didn't find the crowds bad at all....other than EMH night at DHS.....YIKES Now, in 2010 when Mardi Gras & President's week fall during the same week in February....I think I'll be heading to some tropical island

That is so funny.....but true, we are escaping from south Louisiana during Mardi Gras also in 2009,we have been in the past when Presidents week and Mardi Gras fell the same week, it was crazy crowded! where in south Louisiana are you from? I also have a 5 year old DD, and a 25 year old DD, a 20year old DD and a 15 year old DD....LOL, i live in Houma

 

[bas71873]

That is so funny.....but true, we are escaping from south Louisiana during Mardi Gras also in 2009,we have been in the past when Presidents week and Mardi Gras fell the same week, it was crazy crowded! where in south Louisiana are you from? I also have a 5 year old DD, and a 25 year old DD, a 20year old DD and a 15 year old DD....LOL, i live in Houma

We live in Covington. When were were at WDW this past Feb, we ran into our next door neighbors twice and several of DDs friends from her Pre-K class. But we had a great time. Going back again in 2009 and then taking 2010 off. Would love to head out to CA to go to Disneyland with my brother & his family, but we'll have to see....wonder if they are just as crowded during President's week as FL is??

 

[viluvsdisney]

So our best bet sounds like, book the room now. Watch for 2009 packages to post- - then call back and "apply" which ever daek works best for us - maybe exclude the dining portion of one......I really appreciate your advice. Including the heads up about picking a moderate resort.

Thanks you

 

[noladave]

we hit DL 2 years ago when MG & President's week were at the same time. Everyone talked about how crowded it was, but I didn't think it was that bad. You had to plan, just like at WDW, but you can manage it. To me, it was much better than WDW during President's week.

DL is a great place to go - different in that it has only 2 parks. The nicest thing is that we stayed at the Grand Californian, and it was about a 3 minute walk to the front gates of both DL and CA.

 

[viluvsdisney]

we're definately headed to WDW after Christmas. So, when to go? Sometime in Feb is the plan - I still have NO IDEA what week to pick. Any suggestions (due to crowd levels)? Or do we go the 1st week of March (my DD birthday is March 8th).