Booking Packages or Separately (Resorts and Park Tix)?

[purplebelle]

Is booking packages like Small World & DreamMaker & Wishes (whatever the names are) really worth it? On our last trip, we exhausted our park hoppers which covered the cost of parks the previoud few years so we only had to pay for the resorts and spending money. Should I book the resort (prob a Mod) and then park hoppers separately? I'll be staying in early December for maybe 6 nights. We'll probably go to each park once, maybe 2 in a day and might skip out on Animal Kingdom. What is the point of booking these packages Disney offers? What are the perks/benefits of them instead of booking separately on Disney's website? Thanks!

 

[hdecker]

I don't know about booking a package through the operators you mentioned, but I do know that our personal preference is to buy park hopper passes separately. We leave for our next trip in 17 days have 6 day php, so we actually get 9 days (three in water parks) also want to go to beach, and the outlet malls are an attraction for me! If we had UPH pass, we would feel we had to be in the parks everyday, and then they expire at the end of the trip. I like knowing that part of my next vacation is already paid for since we won't use more than 4 days on our php. Just my 2 cents!

 

[bigbabyblues]

We had the UPH's when we went on our honeymoon in 1997, and that was because we didn't know any different. This time around, after finding the DISboards, the UG, and several other websites, I had read that the cost of a package was usually more than buying tickets and hotel separately. I added up the cost for our trip, and it pretty much evened out, within $15 or so either way; I think it was the package that was just a little more. It depends on your situation. We will be arriving around noon or so, and plan to visit a park on our arrival day; we will also be in the parks everyday, with a rest break in the afternoon; we may park hop, we may not. On our departure day, we will be staying in the parks and having a late pickup (8-9 pm) from the towncar to go to an airport hotel and spend the night. We plan to go to a waterpark one day also. For me, the hassle of having to get the PHP's separately, keeping track of them in addition to everything else associated with our two small kids, having to remember to take them when we leave home, etc. was not worth the difference in the price. We ended up going with the 7 for 5 package.

Other than the convenience thing, I don't know of any real benefits of the package. You get the 2 pins and lanyards with the package, and a choice of something else (legacy tile, round of mini-golf, I don't remember what else) that's included in the package price, but I'm sure they're getting their money out of it anyway. The packages do have unlimited admission included to PI, WWoS, both of the water parks, and of course the regular parks for the duration of your stay. If you go fairly often, it might be better to have the PHPs though, if you have days leftover you can save them for another trip. To me, that's just something else to keep track of, and I prefer to buy tickets each time we go, but we won't be going more than every 3-4 years.

You can book either a Dream Maker package (with or without the add-on "plans" or separate hotel and tickets on Disney's website, or over the phone yourself. You can also book room only and purchase your tickets at the Disney Store (if you have one in your area) before you leave. Or, you can go through one of the travel agencies (Dreams Unlimited, Small World Vacations, Your Magical Journeys, I can't remember anymore of them) and let them do it for you. I'm to picky to let anyone else do it for me, I don't mind calling to make the ressies; others prefer to let the TA do it for them and not have to spend the time on the phone, looking for discounts, etc.

I hope this helped you out, at least a little. Happy planning, whatever you decide!

Steph

 

[NotUrsula]

For American visitors, usually the only time that a pkg. is the better bargain for WDW is when the package offers free park days (7 for the price of 5, etc.) Otherwise, you are almost always going to be paying for more perqs than you will be able to use.

Disneyland (in CA) is another story. Packages there tend to be a good value.

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

Packages are a good deal if:

1. You are arriving early on your first day AND leaving late on your last and plan to spend both of those days in the parks.

2. You plan on spending at least part of every day in a WDW park. (Some people like to take a day off from the parks to go to a water park, the beach, or just to hang out at the resort. Others like to spend a day or two at US and IOA)

3. Your stay is relatively short (less than 7 days). If you're hitting the parks every day and you're on an extended trip you will be needing days away from the parks.

4. You aren't resort hopping. Some people are pretty good at managing the details but using the package and doing split stays can get messy and confusing for both you and the CMs and can be costly if not managed properly.

Utilizing an add-on also means managing PS's and sticking to a fairly detailed itinerary. It is a waste of money to go with the silver or gold if you're just going to hit counter service.

We're going on the Dream Maker Silver for 5 days and 4 nights. We should be in MK by 3p the first day and won't be picked up until 5p on the last to leave. We'll barely have time to really use the perks of the silver by parasailing and getting spa treatments on the last day. We're also going to use priority viewing for wishes and illuminations.

 

[Pink Flamingo]

I would recommend using Dreams Unlimited. We have & we love them. They will help you figure out what the cheapest way to book is for your particular group & needs. They will also watch out for codes & special promo. offers for you & will alert you when/if better deals come out. Best of all, their service is free!

 

[purplebelle]

Ooh, thanks everyone! And I'm definitely going to check out that Dreams Unlimited. Do they have a website or an 800 number?

 

[Pink Flamingo]

Here's the link to Dreams Unlimited
http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/
They are a DIS sponsor too

If you have any other questions about them just post again or you can PM me. They are really wonderful.

 

[purplebelle]

Thanks Pink Flamingo! I'm checking out Dreams Unlimited right now!

 

[purplebelle]

Pink Flamingo (or others),

Okay, so I asked for a quote (DreamsUnlimited) and got a response saying they'll hold a reservation for me. I emailed back to cancel that hold b/c I am not committing to anything since I'm not the one paying for the trip. This won't cause any problems will it? I didn't see any note about holding a reservation out of courtesy when asking for a quote. How long til the hold isn't being held?

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Originally posted by purplebelle
Pink Flamingo (or others),

Okay, so I asked for a quote (DreamsUnlimited) and got a response saying they'll hold a reservation for me. I emailed back to cancel that hold b/c I am not committing to anything since I'm not the one paying for the trip. This won't cause any problems will it? I didn't see any note about holding a reservation out of courtesy when asking for a quote. How long til the hold isn't being held?

If you haven't made a deposit in two weeks from the time they sent you the quote, then the room they booked for you will return to Disney in a manner of speaking to be used by someone else. Don't worry about it, it won't mess anything up.
Before committing to Dreams, I made several quotes and never had any problems when I finally committed to one. The quote is just that until you pay something on it....a quote.

Hope I've helped,

Denise

 

[purplebelle]

Thanks! no worries then

 

[Pink Flamingo]

Yep - I've had the same experience as tiggerlover91. In fact, last year I made a reservation, put down the deposit, & then had to cancel. It was no problem at all. Everything was credited back to my credit card in a very timely manner.