Any thoughts on the package price I got?

[lonegungirl]

Hey--still having my annual pass burning in my pocket, I thought I'd take advantage of the free dining offer for September. My thought was that I'd get a package rate for my Mom and myself, buy non-expiring park hoppers for 10 days (to get the cheaper rate, as I may not renew my AP after this year) for us, and use my AP, saving the tickets for a rainy day.

As I haven't done a package deal before, I'm a little unsure as to how good the rate is, compared to booking separately, so thought I'd throw this out to see if anyone thought it was comparable to what everyone else was getting. I got this through AAA so I could get the preferred parking, although they wouldn't combine the AAA room discount with the free dining package.

The total was $1400 for 2 people for 7 nights at ASMu including the free dining, 10-day tickets with hopping/non-expiration options, and $90 cancellation insurance. The food should be a reasonable savings, as my last trip, I calculated daily food costs for just myself to run around $25-60/day (damn that alluring Bistro de Paris!)

Thanks for any opinions!

 

[momxx5]

Unless something has changed, I pretty sure the last day to book the free dining was July 3rd.

 

[lonegungirl]

Oh--sorry, I did put down a deposit on it already, however the travel agent told me that the deposit is refundable until later in the month.

 

[aubriee]

I also have an AP, but decided the free dining was too good to pass up, so cancelled the room only ressie I had using the AP discount. I also probably will not renew my AP next year. My son and D-I-L do not have APs. I was told all I had to do was buy three 1 day tickets and I could still get the dining for the length of our stay and then to just upgrade their 1 day tickets to 7 day MYW tickets and use my AP while I was down there. However due to the comparatively expensive price of the 1 day tickets, I decided to just buy us all 7 day MYW tickets with the pluses (we don't plan to hop), then I'll use my AP while I'm down there and save my MYW ticket until next year when my AP expires. The CM said alot of AP holders were doing this and assured me that I would not need to buy the nonexpiring option because the 14 day expiration time will not start 'until the ticket is activated'. She said to just make absolutely sure I didn't insert the ticket into any turnstile (including the water parks or DQ) or it would then expire in 14 days. She recommended two things: #1 that I use my AP to buy myself discounted tickets to any of the plus options my son and D-I-L wanted to do (DQ, PI, and the water parks) and #2 that I upgrade my 7 day ticket to a 10 day ticket with pluses when I get there in Sept, as it would only cost me about $13.00 more and that way I would have the days if the MYW tickets go up in price next year.

As long as you don't plan to activate the ticket when you go, there is no reason to buy the nonexpiring option.

 

[legalslave]

Are you sure you got the FREE dining? I am paying $2090 on an AAA package for 7 nights at Pop Century in preferred building with THREE adults with (not free) dining and 7 day park hopper tickets. No insurance. It sounds to me like you are paying for your dining. If you just bought after July 3rd, the free dining is over. If your price includes paying for dining, then it's a good deal. To fnd out go to www.disneyworld.com and price out your package with and without dining and then compare it to the price you got thru AAA.

 

[lonegungirl]

legalslave:

That's a great idea, to price it out online--I hadn't thought of that. I did, and it came out just about the same price without the dining, so I think the free food is included. I think the price differential is the non-expiring option on the tickets, which I hadn't realized adds about $100/person to the price.

aubriee:

I also never thought about the tickets not expiring until after you start using them--that's a great notion also! Maybe that's what we'll do as well--buy the 8 day tickets non-expiring for both of us, and then I'll just use my pass and save the 8 days for later. Can you add the non-expiring option on later, I wonder? Or will you just plan to take a 10-day trip later, when you actually use the tickets?

Thanks for all the info!

 

[legalslave]

lonegungirl - just wondering why you are getting the non-expiring tickets. They do not expire until 14 days afte first use , so if you don't use them this trip, they won't expire until the next trip, or 14 days after the first day you do use them. Also, to get the package, you only have to buy a one day pass for each person in your party.

 

[skbasnett]

They do not expire until 14 days afte first use , so if you don't use them this trip, they won't expire until the next trip, or 14 days after the first day you do use them.

They do expire 14 days after the 1st use. BUT they do not carry over to another trip... Just wanted to point that out, being an agent at AAA

 

[DizGeek]

I am paying $2090 on an AAA package for 7 nights at Pop Century in preferred building with THREE adults with (not free) dining and 7 day park hopper tickets.

I beat ya! We got a 10 night with dining, 7 day PH for 3 adults and 1 child at Pop for under $1800! We'll be adding on 3 more days to the PH for about $40-$50 more as its a no brainer.

I bought it through Expedia about a month ago.

 

[thelionqueen]

I think the deal you got is OK, probably better than calling Disney directly, but not super superb! If the free dining is included than I think it's a good deal. We got 10 days at POP +10 day MYW tickets (w/park hopper & water park..no non-expiration) and free dining for $1385.00 no insurance. It seems to me, any amount of stay with the free dining option is a GREAT DEAL!! Have fun!

 

[DizGeek]

If the free dining is included than I think it's a good deal. We got 10 days at POP +10 day MYW tickets (w/park hopper & water park..no non-expiration) and free dining for $1385.00 no insurance.

Wow!....nice deal!

 

[DizGeek]

We got 10 days at POP +10 day MYW tickets (w/park hopper & water park..no non-expiration) and free dining for $1385.00 no insurance.QUOTE]


Is that 2 adults, 2 children?

 

[thelionqueen]

We got 10 days at POP +10 day MYW tickets (w/park hopper & water park..no non-expiration) and free dining for $1385.00 no insurance.QUOTE]


Is that 2 adults, 2 children?

Yep, 2 adults & 2 children. I thought it was unbelievable when I called to inquire. Yes, I had heard of the free dining pkg. from DIS and decided to just call and find out the details..... Since we had just gotten back from WDW honestly I didn't plan in any way to go again, but when she told me the total, I made sure of all the details and made sure it included park tix, hotel & free food, I absolutely HAD to book it! Plus the CM made it easier by saying "Pop Century is filling up fast, I would book it now if you are considering it" That was the nail in my coffin (as if I needed any persuading). I paid for the whole thing right away (wanted to make sure total didn't adjust up) and told my husband after I got off the phone Luckily he agreed it was simply too good to pass up and was glad I did just what I did. Did I marry right or what?? Anyway, my cousin called the same day and got the exact same package for $100.00 less (only 1 child) at POP as well. I checked just the hotel portion for the exact same dates a week or so ago, and the hotel & tix alone was almost $200.00 MORE than what I paid. That included the AP discount. I honestly think I got the best deal ever and thank goodness for the free dining package, that allowed us to go again and attend MNSSHP for the 1st time as well as Epcot F&W festival. I'm SO excited!!

 

[DizGeek]

Good job! Deal of the year!

 

[lonegungirl]

Wow--that's great, to hear of all the good deals people got! After verifying with Disney that unused tickets don't expire until/unless they are first, used, I altered our tickets to 7d park hoppers without non-expiration options. That changed our price to $1168.36 for 2 adults, 7 nights at ASMu with insurance. We'll contemplate adding on days when we get there.

If anyone's interested, I was told that you could add the non-expiration option after you get to the parks, but I think you have to pay for all the days you originally bought--not just the days you'll have left over.

Thanks for all the good ideas!