Confused on which way to book (long)

[Ladyhawke10]

This is the first time I've booked without an AP--up until the BRP I always booked room only with codes. Now that it's gone and there's the new criteria in place (60 days ahead--which we just missed--and non-refundable deposit)--I'm feeling uncomfortable with deciding which is the best way for us to book.

A rep at CRO seemed impatient today (emphatically interjected that mousesavers wasn't Disney owned when I brought up the Magic Your Way code--hmmm, guess I should state I'm a DISer right away so they know I'm clued up already ) so to make a long story short, it didn't seem like the right time to ask about comparing all the different options.

So anyway,

I'm wondering if the Magic Your Way special (Jan through March 2006) with the base ticket and complimentary park hopper and water park options is the best way to go. We are planning to split a stay between Poly and AKL, both standard views. The CRO said the extra options (park hopper and water park options) are NOT complimentary as suggested on mousesavers. She said this many times. I asked her if it would be less expensive to book the MYW without the park hopping and water park options, and she said it's always a better deal to book the extra options Well, if it's eighty something extra a person for the extra options, we don't mind just going w/ one park per day. The CRO couldn't quote any price difference, so that's when I decided to ask the kind people in DIS.

I have AAA and don't minding booking rack rate with the 15% off, but don't know if that's wasting money to book the tickets separately. I don't understand why mousesavers mentioned the complimentary extras in the January package and CRO is disputing this...has anyone tried to book the new package? Also, I don't know if the base ticket and room package is truly a better deal than booking room only and tickets separately--(I don't like booking the packages because of the cancellation policies)--but the CRO was very clear about the monetary difference being significant.

Finally, I wonder if splitting our stay is going to increase costs? And if so, can we book a package with tickets for the second part of our stay, and get tickets for maybe 6 nights even though the hotel portion is only three? (and use the tickets when we stay at the other hotel for the remainder of the nights). Just don't know what the limitations are since we are splitting our stay.

Sorry--so much to think about--and so much that is non-changeable, so I don't want to screw it up when I book

 

[lark]

I think the CM you spoke with was playing a semantic word game with you. But the bottom line is that if the discounted MYW package is available for your stay, you will get the plusses and the hopping for free. You will also get a discount off rack on the room portion of the package.

Whether it is wiser to just book a AAA room only depends on whether you need the plusses and the hopping. If you don't you can book with the AAA discount on a room only, and then just buy MYW base tickets, and it will probably come out cheaper. If you would buy either hopping or plusses, the new MYW package, if available, will probably come out cheaper.

Your split stay complicates things. This is two different reservations. You can't get one package that incorporates both resorts. You'd ether need to get the package with one of the resorts (and try to get an AAA discount on the other), or get two separate packages. The latter option will almost certainly not save you any money, since 3-day MYW tickets are nearly as expensive as 6-day, so you don't want to buy them twice.

You can do the package and get tickets for longer than the stay. So if you are splitting a stay 3 nights and 3 nights, you could get a package on one of the two, and get a 6-day ticket with it. The problem is that you really will want to do this only with the first package, since you won't be able to get the tickets until you check in to the resort that has the package.

Assuming what you're talking about here is a Poly/AKL split, with 3 days at each and the Poly first, here's what I would do. If it's available, book the package for the Poly part, with 6-day tickets. Then book a room only for the AKL part with an AAA discount, if available.

 

[jjohnson]

Since you don't need the PH. I would book AAA discount room-only on each reservation. That would give you the 5 day cancellation window instead of 45.Then buy your 6 day basic tickets thru ticketmania/mousesavers link. It will cost less doing it this way & less complicated.

But if you really want the options, do the package on the Polynesian reservation with 6 day passes & room only at AK with AAA discount.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

Thank you so much!

I agree I think it was a semantic issue--I have since checked on Disney's website and it does indeed concur with mousesavers information regarding the included extra options.

Right now I'm checking on the AAA discounts and even renting points. I think I might go with a package at AKL the first few nights, then either switch to Poly with room only (using ticket days booked with package so we can park hop and try Blizzard Beach--we've never been to the water parks), or else rent points.


Thanks again for all the great advice! Things are much clearer