Discrepancy in pricing - or not?

[MickeyMonstersMom]

As advertised, the Fairytale Package for myself and 2 children (ages 5 and 8) adds up to $883. However, Dreams Unlimited quoted the same package as $1075.21. Is the discrepancy due to addition of taxes and fees, or would I be better off booking this on my own? Thanks for the help!

 

[goofy4tink]

All I can tell you is that my package with DU is the same as what's on the WDW site. Mine is actually $50 cheaper since I was able to get my discount due to my Disney Club membership and I couldn't get that if I booked on-line.

 

[Gillian]

Did you ask DU about the price? I tried pricing this on Expedia for value season at the all stars and get a price similar to Dreams. Ask them about the insurance & taxes & stuff. The quotes I get from them usually include taxes but not insurance.

When you say advertised price, do you mean in the paper? On the Disney website?

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

The numbers I used came from Dreams Unlimited, as shown here at wdwinfo and at mousesavers.com. The agent at DU said that the packages are booked double adult occupancy, so I have to pay for 2 adults and one child. - But my children are 5 and 8! I feel like I'm being penalized for being a single parent.

I tried to confirm this at the WDW website, but its reservation system was not working all day (high volume of Fairytale questers?). I'm going to try to get hold of someone at WDTC and find out for sure. This just does not seem fair.

 

[epcotfan]

Aren't all Disney rooms based on double adult occupancy? I've never heard of discounts for having one less adult in the room?

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I did not see it as a discount - the package prices are listed as X per adult, X per child. I can understand the idea of "based upon adult occupancy," but in my experience at other hotels, the children are charged as children, not as adults.

Even with the additional cost it still represents savings; but it still seems to penalize single parents as well.

 

[peachgirl]

the package prices are listed as X per adult, X per child

Yes, but those prices are based on double occupancy. If a room rate was advertised as "$100 per adult, based on double occupancy" and there was only a single person reserving, they'd pay $200. "Based on double occupancy" means that the quoted price is only accurate if there are 2 people booking the room. A lot of places put out package prices based on double occupancy. It's very common.

It isn't treating single parents unfairly, unless you consider anyone who isn't able to take full advantage of this offer as being treated unfairly. Some discounts work better for some than others, it has nothing to do with fair or unfair.

While it has been my experience that children are charged as children, most hotels I've stayed at have rates based on double occupancy. It's the same price whether one adult is there or 2. In this case, you're actually saving some. They aren't charging you for 2 adults and 2 children, but are letting you use one of your children as the other "adult".

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by MickeyMonstersMom
I did not see it as a discount - the package prices are listed as X per adult, X per child. I can understand the idea of "based upon adult occupancy," but in my experience at other hotels, the children are charged as children, not as adults.

Even with the additional cost it still represents savings; but it still seems to penalize single parents as well.

I don't really see it as the child being charged as an adult. With the FT package....the rates published are obviously for double occupacy (i.e $499 pp for 8 days) and say for the ASMo the room is $100 a night. When staying double occupancy that cost for the room is split so it's $50 a night per person, plus the price of the UPH's.

Now if you are adding a child in, the adult pays the $100 a night and the child portion is just the UPH ticket. At least this is the way it priced out in my situation. The children are not being charged as adults, the one adult is just being charged the full room rate instead of half. I don't think single parents are being penalized ( I am one), because if you were to go stay in a Holiday Inn, where it's $100 a night, you are still being charged that room rate regardless if you have one or two adults. Make sense?

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

*waves white flag*

OK, I get it. I still don't like it, but I get it.

 

[goofy4tink]

I remember when I booked my first trip to WDW. We used a TA. We used one of those WDW booklets that list each resort and the price per day. It broke it down by person as far as cost went. It was something like....if there were 2 adults the cost was...$500 pp. If there was just one adult it was $900. A child would be $300. So, if it were 1 adult and one child cost would be $1200. If two adults and one child it would be $1300. Now, those aren't actual figures but you get the idea. They have to get the per night room rate in there and then add the days of UPHs to it per person. So, if only one adult is there, that one adult is paying the whole room cost. If it's two adults then they split the room cost. Does this make any sense?? Hope it does 'cause it's early and my brain is still foggy.