Can you help me revise my reservation to make it cheaper? PLEASE help me work it out!

[Whistle]

Okay, I booked a reservation on Friday from June 22 to July 1 with me and my two boys (9 and 12). I had a pin code for 30/35/40 . . . we also did the Give A Day promotion and am hoping to upgrade our tickets to an annual pass. I have never booked dining before but think I would like to give it a try. Here is what we booked, and I am hoping you can help me revise it to make it more affordabl:

1st 5 nights Port Orleans Riverside with quick service dining- $2353.10
This also included 5 days of tickets, and we will receive the 500.00 gift card I did upgrade ds 9 to an adult with dining so he doesn't have to only eat from the kids' meals.

2nd 4 nights Caribbean Beach Resort (Pirate room) - room only (no dining) using the pin code- 628.88

Flight was another 500.00 (approximate)

With the G.A.D. vouchers, I do want to upgrade for passess (a quick trip in December, and again at the beginning of next summer)--

What can I shave? How can I cut costs? We have NEVER stayed onsite before, and anything will be fun for us. Can my 2 boys and I stay comfortably in a value resort? What would you do? Can I cut at least $500.00 and stay 9 nights?

Thanks for your help!

 

[clanmcculloch]

Since it looks as though you'll have 3 separate trips within a 12 month period, you might want to switch your first stay to an AP rate since you want the dining, drop your tickets and upgrade those GAD passes to APs. The summer AP rate is the same as your pin but the difference is that you can buy the dining plan without having to buy additional tickets. In the long run this will likely save you some money even if it doesn't on this trip.

You say you've only got 5 day MYW tickets on your first stay? You really want to do 10 day tickets since you'll be there for 9 days total.

Here's what I see as costs doing this.
POR 6/22-6/27 AP rate (35%) = $789.75
QSDP 6/22-6/27 = 31.99*3*5 = $479.85
CBR 6/27-7/1 = $628.88
APs = ((520.79*2)+460.08)-((84.14*2)+72.42) = $1260.96
Total = $3157.44 without flights.

Your current total is $2981.98. You do get a $500 gift card with that but you'll have to buy tickets for both of those upcoming trips still. You could knock off several hundred dollars from my calculations ((520.79-258.80)+(460.08-223.65)=$498.42 which would bring the total above down to $2659.02 which is $322.95 less than your current price but you don't get the Gift Card though you do have 1 AP for yourself) if you only upgrade yourself to an AP and just use your other GAD tickets to upgrade to MYW passes for your boys but you will need to buy them tickets for your upcoming trips still.

Don't you live Mickey Math?

As to whether or not you can be comfortable in a value resort, only you can determine that. We're just fine in a value with 2 adults and 2 kids (12 and 9) but others can't handle it. How do you do in other hotels?

 

[Whistle]

With the above scenario, I was going to upgrade the GAD and the 5 day I already purchased (in the above price) to the annual passes. I had to do a 5 day to be elgibile for the 500.00 gift card.

 

[clanmcculloch]

You can not use both the 5 day and the GAD to upgrade to the annual passes. You can only use one or the other. You can purchase a longer ticket than the 5 day with the Gift Card offer.

You know, I totally missed the fact that in your original message you said you would be upgrading to APs. You didn't include that in your numbers. If you're putting out the money anyway I think you're much better off going with AP discounts and using your GAD to get those APs. My numbers include the cost of the APs while your original numbers do not have that included.

 

[jjohnson]

You won't be able to apply the credit from the GAD and 5 day passes to one AP. Its one or the other.

 

[Whistle]

YIKES! I had no idea I couldn't use the 5 day and the GAD to upgrade to the passes!

Okay, what is the most FRUGAL way to stay from June 22 to July 1? I want to upgrade my GAD to annual passes, and I would like to try the dining plan (quick service) for the days. I thought Riverside would be fun for the boys, but am open. I also thought it would be neat to switch hotels midway for a change (almost like 2 vacations in one)--

Would that work?

 

[mickeystoontown]

You could always change your CBR room from a pirate room to a standard room. That would knock off a little.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Ok first thing I would do is nix the pirate theme room. You kids are staying at Disney for the first time and at 9 and 12 I dont think the boys will be blown away enough by the room to pay more for it. Everything is going to be fantastic for them so I'd stick to the lower end stuff.

The mods are about 1/3 bigger than the values. Value sq ft is 260 mod is 340sq ft. For only 1 adult and 2 children I think a value would be enough room. We have stayed 4 to a room at a value. We love some of the mods but mostly for themeing, dining options and transportation, that what we pay the extra $$ for. Again this will be first time on site for your kids, I would go value and then move to a moderate (if you are wanting variety or to move.

This is what I would do:
nix the gift card deal, its not that great.
this calculation assumes current AP discount which is NOT out for your dates yet, it only runs thru 6/3 (i used may dates that were similar May 18-27).

*6/22-6/27- Pop with AP rate. add QSDP (for 3 adults) = $860
*6/27-7/1- CBR with AP rate. no dining plan = $459
*Take your GAD tickets to park, redeem and upgrade to AP first day, then show your AP at desk at check in to secure the rate. That is giong to be the only way to really use the GAD's for upgrade value. AP's for 2 over 10 one under 10 minus GAD credit ($79 per adult credit, $68 child credit) (prices before tax)= $1184
Total: $2503

If you do a package you cannot upgrade that to AP and use the GAD as upgrade too. Only one ticket can be used for credit for upgrade (so in this case either your GAD ticket or your MYW package ticket can be used for ugprade, not both).

Then for December you will have the tickets with the AP and probably a discount available to use and same for next summer.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

YIKES! I had no idea I couldn't use the 5 day and the GAD to upgrade to the passes!

Okay, what is the most FRUGAL way to stay from June 22 to July 1? I want to upgrade my GAD to annual passes, and I would like to try the dining plan (quick service) for the days. I thought Riverside would be fun for the boys, but am open. I also thought it would be neat to switch hotels midway for a change (almost like 2 vacations in one)--

Would that work?

yes see my post above but the 100% most frugal way to do it would be AP rate at Value the whole time w/ QSDP for 3 (and the child as a child, its a huge chunk to upgrade a 9 year old to an adult, $21 a day, will your child really eat $21 a day difference in the food to upgrade? check out allears.net for kids menus, most offer standard fare: chicken tenders, hot dogs, burgers and fries, maybe you would want to eat a few of those kids meals and let jr have the big burger or vice versa). After a few days on QS you may be ready for a sit down meal or two so if you move resorts I would drop the Dining Plan and pay out of pocket for meals at TS and QS locations.

 

[su_A_ve]

huh? You CAN do a 1day base ticket for the GC promo...

Then keep those for the future, and use your GAD to get tickets or upgarde to AP.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

huh? You CAN do a 1day base ticket for the GC promo...

Then keep those for the future, and use your GAD to get tickets or upgarde to AP.

The current GC promo requires you purchase matching tickets (so 5, 6, or 7 days) most other packages require only 1 1 day MYW ticket to be a 'package'. You can either upgrade your MYW tickets or your GAD tickets, not both. The GAD could be used for another date but wouldn't make good financial sense b/c it expires December 15th, 2010 (don't quote me on that one, not 100% sure), so if you upgraded your tickets (in this example to AP, being the most cost effective) your GAD ticket will be of no use b/c your AP will still be good in December. If you upgraded to 10 day non expiring tickets and then used your GAD later then you could use 11 days total (before 12/15) but the cost is going to run you (pre tax): $452 out of pocket and using the GAD (equivelent of 1 day) $79 for a total of $531, an AP would run $489. The AP is also good for 12 months, unlimited days and park hopping, example above does not include park hopping which woudl be another $52.

Clear, right? Clear as mud.

 

[mistysue]

You have to book dining in advance.

If you go to a park, turn your GAD into an annual pass and then check into resort- I can see how you could get the discount- but will they let her book dining without park tickets BEFORE she has an AP?

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

You have to book dining in advance.

If you go to a park, turn your GAD into an annual pass and then check into resort- I can see how you could get the discount- but will they let her book dining without park tickets BEFORE she has an AP?

Yes. She can book the AP rate w/ dining plan on the phone before arriving and show her AP at check in. Most resorts will allow you to show it sometime that first day b/c they know alot of people don't buy the AP until they get there. Basically check in after you return from the parks that night go by the front desk and show them you AP.

 

[Whistle]

Wow! You guys are AMAZING, and I totally flunk Mickey Math (and I am a math teacher!) . . .

I even asked the CM when I made my reservations about upgrading my GAD to an annual pass, and she said she didn't think that was doable. That's what led me astray. Once I was led astray, I really didn't have a plan at that point, and just let her guide me. Once I added it up, I didn't want to spend quite so much. :0)

I know, clear as mud . . .

Okay, it looks like my best bet is:
~ Go with plan A and upgrade my GAD tickets to annual passes once we arrive
~ Go with the annual pass discount to book the hotel rooms (which was the same as my pin)- so I am assuming I could use the pin code I had to secure the rooms since the AP rate isn't out-- strongly consider switching to value or part value/part moderate if we decide to change part way
~ Decide what to do about the dining plan (full time/ part time, etc)-- when we went last summer (and stayed offsite) we did not use it but had a car for traveling- my boys can EAT, and it seemed like the quick service might be worth it. We know we want to eat at Rainforest Cafe in Animal Kingdom (I know that is not a quick service meal and will pay that out of pocket) . . . I would do the reg. dining plan but don't want to be locked into certain times by reservations . . .

Any other savers you can see? I appreciate your help more than you know! I want our time onsite to be special but not break the bank (paying for it ahead of time) so we can go back to optimize the use of the annual passes!

 

[jcsbama]

The AP rates ARE out for your time frame. I just priced out a couple of options for you.

Pop Century - 9 nts - Room Only $867
with QS dining $1540.07
with Reg Dining Plan $1837.07

CBR - 9 nits - Room Only $1240
with QS dining $1908.71
with Reg Dining Plan $2205.71
upgrade to Pirate Std Room, add $197

The above prices is counting the 9 yr old as a child and not upgrading to adult and does not include the cost to upgrade your GAD tix to APs, which as a PP stated will cost $1260.96

 

[disneyfan55]

Wow! You guys are AMAZING, and I totally flunk Mickey Math (and I am a math teacher!) . . .

I even asked the CM when I made my reservations about upgrading my GAD to an annual pass, and she said she didn't think that was doable. That's what led me astray. Once I was led astray, I really didn't have a plan at that point, and just let her guide me. Once I added it up, I didn't want to spend quite so much. :0)

I know, clear as mud . . .

Okay, it looks like my best bet is:
~ Go with plan A and upgrade my GAD tickets to annual passes once we arrive
~ Go with the annual pass discount to book the hotel rooms (which was the same as my pin)- so I am assuming I could use the pin code I had to secure the rooms since the AP rate isn't out-- strongly consider switching to value or part value/part moderate if we decide to change part way
~ Decide what to do about the dining plan (full time/ part time, etc)-- when we went last summer (and stayed offsite) we did not use it but had a car for traveling- my boys can EAT, and it seemed like the quick service might be worth it. We know we want to eat at Rainforest Cafe in Animal Kingdom (I know that is not a quick service meal and will pay that out of pocket) . . . I would do the reg. dining plan but don't want to be locked into certain times by reservations . . .

Any other savers you can see? I appreciate your help more than you know! I want our time onsite to be special but not break the bank (paying for it ahead of time) so we can go back to optimize the use of the annual passes!

If you are buying an AP and going 3 times in one year, you might want to consider the TIW discount card that you can purchase for $75 and get 20% off most TS and some CS (values and POFQ and a few in AK) We find this better for us. Just another idea on food if you what to toss that around.

 

[Whistle]

I have never heard of the TIW card. What is it? Where do you get it?
Thanks!

 

[disneyfan55]

I have never heard of the TIW card. What is it? Where do you get it?
Thanks!

It's Tables in Wonderland. You can purchase it for $75 and it's good for about 13 months and good for up to 10 people to receive the discount. You receive 20% off most TS including alcohol. They do add an 18% gratuity on the orig. amt. as well but you pay sales tax on the discounted amount You can get the discount card at Guest Services. The break even point is about 375. After that you save money. We got one on Feb 5, 2010 and it's good through Mar 31 2011. We had 6 adults and actually saved about 220 after the cost of the card. We ate at one TS per day. The good thing with this instead of the dining plan is you can order what you like. For us it works out better than DDP (when not free) since we really don't order drinks or desserts that are included in DDP so we get what we want and receive the discount.

 

[Mickey country]

Your AP will get you 10% off dining at the Rainforest Cafe. I would not switch resorts if I were you. I don't care much for packing and repacking. But if you choose to, they will move your bags for you to your next resort.

 

[MEK]

I have been reading through all the math calculations and I am very impressed. You certainly have lots of options.

With regards to the value room.....when my boys were that age they absolutely loved POP century. They had already stayed at CBR and POR and seemed "ho hum" about those resorts. But they LOVED Pop. I really do think it appeals to a certain age group. So you may want to consider a split stay just from that perspective. Good luck!