Fairytale pkg is not good for everybody

[frannn]

Sorry to be the first to gripe about this "wonderful" new pkg. It seems that this new marketing tactic is to bring new visitors, not recurring AP holders. I have not purchased my APs for my upcoming Oct trip yet, so I am actually considering the fairy tale pkg. The problem is that even though you're saving money for your current trip, you will still have to rebuy tickets for your next trip (if within 12 months). If you go for over a week, like we do, you may save a few hundred now only to pay that much more for your next trip. My DH is usually the first to say "it's too much money, I'm not sure we'll be going back so soon", but even he believes it's silly to save 260. now (AS resort, 10 nights) to pay another 750. for APs next time (or slightly less for UPH).
My thought is if you are going for 7 days or less, or would like to go to the water parks, DQ, PI, and not returing within the following 12 months, it may be worth it.
Another BAD thing is that this is the marketing WDW is going with through 10/03, which will most likely (almost definetly-per CM) superseed AP and other room only discounts (if any rooms are left). No one can tell the future, just don't be surprised to not be able to get any room only discount (other than DC).
Sorry for the rant.

 

[kdibattista]

Can't please everyone... sorry!!! I hope you get whatever you are looking for!!!

 

[CarolA]

I have to admit that for someone like me who does short visits this is a pretty useless promotion, but... I assume Disney wants people who stay longer.

Now, I was wondering if you could "upgrade" the LOS pass to a AP once you got there. I did that with my one and only package purchase but that was about 7 years ago.

 

[beansmom]

I think it's great that you let people know that they need to consider carefully because people like me sometimes don't stop to think it out.

I did with this one, however, and even thought FTP is a great deal, it's not for us. So, we're sticking with what we have.

 

[frannn]

Hopefully people will realize that APs will be better than this package in some cases. If they do, there may still be rooms left to discount for us, the loyal Disney repeat customers. I understand WDW's marketing, to draw new repeat customers, but you don't "cut off your nose to spite your face". Taking discounts away from loyal customers may not stop them from coming this trip, but would probably make them think twice about the next, and about buying passes in advance, etc. I hope this pkg helps a lot of people who normally wouldn't get to go, but I hope the parks are not so much more crowded in Oct, when we are going.

 

[minivan3]

Could someone please tell me where to find info on this package. I looked on the official Disney website and didn't find anything.

 

[tink2dw]

You can see the details here
http://www.mousesavers.com/packages.html#dc7for4

 

[Cindy B]

We are in this position... we don't have annual passes, stay about 4/5 days, and usually do park only.


We have never done DQ or and of the water parks. We also go in August.. (last two weeks/week)


This would be perfect for us, if they do have discounts on All Stars...we are calling today. We don't even have the Disney Club, since the last time we have gone to disney was 2000.


We are thinking long and hard about this package since this could feasibly work for us.

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by Cindy B
We are in this position... we don't have annual passes, stay about 4/5 days, and usually do park only.


We are thinking long and hard about this package since this could feasibly work for us.

It works for me because I don't have an AP, and I wouldn't know for sure If I could go back again within a year to get the maximum use out of the AP. We probably won't go to DQ, or at least get our money's worth out of there, since DS is four and there isn't a whole lot for a four year old there, but if we are getting 8 days of Disney at the AS resort for less than $1,000, I think it's pretty good.

 

[Sammy]

The FT pkg is also not going to work for us as we already have two trips for this year. I priced everything out for the two trips (with APs, without, with FT pkg, and every which way!!), and it is cheaper for us to do APs in June and then just get 6-day hoppers in September for the kids. They like the parks, but they also enjoy "down time" at the pool, and this year they want to go to Sea World. I am hoping that there will still be some sort of AP or resort codes this Fall.

I am glad, however, that the Fairytale package seems to be good for so many people. For those who may not be returning for some years, or those "once in a lifetime" families who want to spend as much time in the parks as possible, I think its an amazing deal.

Hope we all get what we are looking for!

Regards,
Sammy

 

[Diamond_Girls]

We originally planned on ASMusic with a 7-day hopper plus (using 4 days & one plus on this trip). We'd spend 5 days in parks, and 2 days just enjoying the pool. Although spending more out of pocket, I get 2 trips worth of passes. My husband insists we have one day away from the parks.

The package will allow us to go for 7 days to the parks (we leave early on our check-out date so we can't use them on our 8th day). We will save about $400 in cash with the package. However, we will not have passes for next year's trip.

Next year, I was hoping to do 3 days park, 1 day water park, and a couple of days at the beach.


So, do I save money now and take the package? I could always buy the 7-day PHP next year. But then what if we don't go for awhile...?

What a tough decision!

 

[frannn]

If its more than or close to 400, I think I wouldn't go with the pkg. I also think it is easier to get a room discount than a pass discount. So the discount you could still get on your room this time and next may close the gap in how much you would be saving with the pkg. I like being able to set up my own "pkg", by buying everything separately according to what I want. I find it is easier to get the best price on each individual component that way. I would put the two options on paper and price them out for both years. Then compare. Then realize there is still opportunity for more room discounts!

 

[zulaya]

FYI, AP rates are out for dates after July 4th.

Before you knock the Fairytale Package - and I am not using it nor will I as a DVC owner - you need to realize that Disney needs "butts in the seats". Their 2nd quarter was dismal and they want to jump start the fall.

I think this is a good package for what they are advertising - 7 nights of resort AND passes for the price of 4. You are correct if you stay 8 nights or longer, the AP is the best pass option. BUT the majority of visitors probably don't know their plans in the future and won't buy an AP thinking it's a "waste of money" if they don't make it back in 365 days.

I don't buy APs just because we don't travel the same times every year. This year is odd as we are going a weekend in June and 4 days in November. But then we probably aren't coming back until December 2004.

Realize that those of us on the DIS are way more informed than the average Disney traveler. We all know the ins and outs of planning. Some families are so overwhelmed by the whole idea of going to WDW, they will take the easiest way to plan it - which for some people will be take the package. Everyone has a different budget. Yours in different from everyone else's. Your idea of a deal can be completely different from the person sitting next to you.

I am not saying it's right...but as long as there are people willing to pay for the convenience of the packages, Disney will continue to promote them.

 

[CarolA]

Zulaya,
Actually I think this is a great move on Disney's part. If you figure the average vacation is a week and people might have spent 4 days at the Disney Parks and a day or two at another park, what Disney has done is given them a full week's ticket. So... a lot of families are going to decide just to do Disney this time and let Universal wait until next time.