Disney's New "Magic your Way tickets" and 2005 Packages

[cocinelle]

This might have either been covered somewhere,or just be intuitive to someone who's brain isn't frazzled by information overload ,but...

will you have to book your stay direct with disney to benefit from the dining options on the tickets..? I have always assumed that you couldn't arrange a silver package upon check-in, especially if you've booked with a tour operator- or is this just plain wrong?!

Thanks in advance for any clarifcation!!

 

[Tabetha]

I just called Disney to see if they had price amounts available, and was told that Dream Maker will be no more after Jan 1, 2005. I was told that anyone can change their Dream Maker to the New package without penalty from Jan 2nd thru Feb. After Feb their is a $50 penalty within 45 days of travel.

Wait - so I HAVE to change my package? I'm going in Feb with DM Silver.
I thought they'd honour the existing packages purchased, but not sell anymore after 01/02/05....

 

[Becky2005]

I believe they will honor your package still (I did read that), you just can't buy a new one.

The way I read what they were told is if you have the Silver Package and decide to change it even if you are within your 45 day window, there won't be a fee from Jan. 2 to Feb.

But for someone like me who isn't going until July (which I'm booked with Gold but that may just change!! LOL!), if I don't change it in Jan/Feb and wait....I will be charged $50 if I change it within my 45 day window (should still be free to change it if I do it say in April since I haven't reached the 45 day cancellation window yet!).

 

[Tabetha]

Yeah, the more I look around, that's what I'm seeing too.

I think we'll probably stay with our Silver, since only the Premium plan gives us the options we are looking forward to, (golf, spa, etc) and I doubt that would be an even trade!

 

[232271]

since these tickets do expire , I am bummed. No more saving any days
if you cant use them all.

 

[sters]

i'll admit that i am confused!! will park hoppers as we know them still be available?

No, they are being phased out, if I understand the Mousesavers site correctly. You can still buy them until early next year and of course they will be honored forever, since they don't expire.

 

[jel0511]

since these tickets do expire , I am bummed. No more saving any days
if you cant use them all.

They do not expire, if you purchase the don't expire option. It ranges in price depending on the length of the ticket $10 for the 2 day pass to $100 for the 10 day ticket.

 

[lindaso]

I have a question regarding the dining part of the plan. It says on Mousesavers that the price is $10 per child age 3-9. Normally if we go to a buffet, my 2 year old eats for free. But if we go to a sit-down restaurant or counter service, we have to pay for him. How does this work with the dining plan? Do we pay for him or does he eat for free for the trip?

 

[Luv2trav]

I have a question as well about dining. Can you use your sit down for dinner as well as lunch? Or are you limited to just lunch like the vouchers?

 

[jel0511]

Here is my best guess, if you have a child who is under 3 you will not be able to purchase the food plan for him/her. WDW does have the policy that children under 3 do eat free at buffets, but if you order at a restaurant, you have to pay for their meals. Since a child who is under 3 is ineligible for the dining package, any time you're in a sit-down restaurant and order the child a meal you'll be responsible for that charge.

As for the dining option. My guess you can use it anyway you like, since the Signature restaurants (Jiko, Artist Point, Narcoossee's, Citrico's, etc) require two sitdown options and they only serve dinner. If you want to go to a sitdown for lunch, that would take care of your sitdown option for that particular day, and you could use the counterservice option for dinner, or vice/versa counterservice for lunch and sitdown for dinner. Here is a list of the restaurants and how they fall into the matrix. It does not specify that the sitdown MUST be lunch. I'm guessing WDW is intending the counterservice meal to be a breakfast/lunch and the sitdown to be a dinner. Though a sitdown meal can be traded for a character experience, which can also be a breakfast.

http://www.yourmagicaljourneys.com/DisneyDiningPlanLocations.pdf

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I don't like the sound of these Magic Your Way tickets. I typically only go to the parks 2 or 3 days of my trips. I usually buy 4 or 5 day park hoppers and then save my remaining days for the next trip. With the MYW tickets, it is rather expensive to get them without an expiration

F1Julie, I agree with you. All the adding on a flat fee to make it a hopper another flat fee so it does not expire does look good for shorter trips.

...much more to learn!

See you at the POP! We check in on the 9th and go to MVMCP that night

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Hi,

I just joined today after seeing the new information of WDW.com about the new MYW package.

I have allways wanted to stay onsite, but have never been able to find a good enough deal. The last time I went 2000, I stayed off site and decided after that trip, I would wait until I could afford to stay on site.

I think that the new package and dinning add on will really help out a bunch with my possible 7-9 day stay in May. I want to go and see that 50th celebration and see what the exactly do for it.

It will be interesting to see what the savings actually is once we can look at the numbers for ourselves.

 

[precious pixie]

I love this new system! I don't use a lot of pluses and I usually stay for about 5-7 days so it works out for me. I also love the new meal option.

 

[musicmom3]

I booked a room only stay for February...and now I am totally confused. Do I call and purchase tickets from Disney? I would ordinarily have bought a discounted hopper from Ticketmania. I am not getting this at all. Also, I had purchased meal vouchers for the trip...are they still good? Help!

 

[disneyjunkie]

I'm excited about the changes. I was thinking about using the silver plan for our upcoming trip, but the new plan is a better deal.

I wonder if they will continue to offer the packages along with room discount codes?

 

[Cris]

I need to correct that the premium package is equivalent to the gold package not the platinum. There will be nothing equivelant to the platinum offered anymore. Now of course all plans booked will be honored!

There will be no plan that offers room service, platinum plan keepsake, post vacation gift, platinum plan cruise, victoria and albert's!

 

[bobcat]

Like someone else mentioned with the addition of the meal plan and the good price on the longer MYW tickets I may not buy an AP this year. What will clinch it is how much the package will cost for a summer visit. I also love the fact that DQ is now included. My kids like going here but since we get either an AP or hopper plus DQ is always and extra expense so we usually don't go.

 

[kimmar067]

The meal deal sound like a deal. 35.00 per day and I get a counter service and a sit down meal? Can I add it to an existing reservation I have for Feb.?

Renee

...too, since I have ressies for Feb, also!

 

[djm99]

Wait - so I HAVE to change my package? I'm going in Feb with DM Silver.
I thought they'd honour the existing packages purchased, but not sell anymore after 01/02/05....[/QUOTE]

No, you don't have to change your package. They will honor your reservations, but I would check and see if you'd get a better deal with the New Package!!!

 

[adisneymama]

I just priced out 2 adult tickets at the current prices and then priced the new base price with the options we would add. DH and I are not interested in the water parks so we would want just the option to park hop. That being said we usually go for 7 days. Currently the most days you can get on a park hopper pass is 5, which would mean we would have to buy the park hopper plus to get 7 days. At the current rate it would cost us $632 for 2 adult park hopper plus 7 day passes.

With the new system, I would pay the flat rate of $199 each then add $35 each for the option to park hop. This only totals $468. That would mean a savings of $194!

I hope I have read this right. IF I did, I am very excited about it. I haven't priced out a childs ticket yet, but I like the savings so far!