Free $750 gift card!

[Heidijs]

Dang! I should have waited to book my trip! Is this a better deal? I just saw on TV last night if you book 5 nights at a resort you get a free $750 gift card. We did the buy 4 get 3 free for January...

 

[Robo]

Is this a better deal?

Depends.

You need to figure up how much are you saving... at your resort... with the "Buy 4 Get 3" deal.

 

[danceintherain]

You also have to consider that you have to use the Gift Card to get the savings. If you don't use it all, then lose it, then it probably isn't.

If you don't do the Dining Plan, and use it for food, then it would probably be easier to burn through it faster.

 

[Nadjalu]

And to get the $750 you must be staying at a deluxe resort. $500 for mod and $350 for value resorts.

 

[kirs10a]

We're planning our trip for June...and we're looking @ the AKL or Contemporary (what's the abbreviation? new here!) We're considering the dining plan (1 QS, 1 TS, snack). We are a family of 5 (DH, DS6, DS4, DDinfant, mself). Will we use $750 in gc with the dining plan? We'll spend a little on souvenirs, but with most meals paid for, I'm concerned about not using the full amount. I was also planning to order bottled water, snacks from Garden Grocer.

 

[Heidijs]

We're planning our trip for June...and we're looking @ the AKL or Contemporary (what's the abbreviation? new here!) We're considering the dining plan (1 QS, 1 TS, snack). We are a family of 5 (DH, DS6, DS4, DDinfant, mself). Will we use $750 in gc with the dining plan? We'll spend a little on souvenirs, but with most meals paid for, I'm concerned about not using the full amount. I was also planning to order bottled water, snacks from Garden Grocer.

Well the dining plan cost my family around $670 for two adults and 1 four year old...for 7 days...same dining plan you're getting...so you could basically not buy the plan and use the card for your meals...you might pay a LITTLE more but you could skip one TS meal for a day and probably make up the difference...if I was able to get the $750 card...I'd skip our dining plan...DD4 eats like a bird anyway and we could easily skip a couple TS meals and do quick service instead. Someone just got back and told me even the QS meals are WAY more than enough and he's a pretty big guy! So you may want to consider skipping the dining plan and using the card instead!

 

[Heidijs]

I wonder what the terms of the gift card are??? Can you use it to turn around and pay your bill when you arrive??? If so, that would be sweet but I'm guessing there's stipulations on it unlike a regular gift card...

 

[MerryFlora]

We booked AKL for 7 nights with the 4/3 and we saved more than the current GC deal. . I went to WDW website and repriced it.

Last year was the best deal we've had - 4/3 plus $200 GC.

 

[Heidijs]

We booked AKL for 7 nights with the 4/3 and we saved more than the current GC deal. . I went to WDW website and repriced it.

Last year was the best deal we've had - 4/3 plus $200 GC.

Oh oh, I'll try rebooking mine and see what the price comes out to. Never thought of that...oh lookie there...that's only if you book a Deluxe room, a moderate is only $500 GC...

Okay, my trip comes out to exactly $500 more so basically I just paid for the GC! LOL! I got a better deal it sounds like...

 

[kirs10a]

Well the dining plan cost my family around $670 for two adults and 1 four year old...for 7 days...same dining plan you're getting...so you could basically not buy the plan and use the card for your meals...you might pay a LITTLE more but you could skip one TS meal for a day and probably make up the difference...if I was able to get the $750 card...I'd skip our dining plan...DD4 eats like a bird anyway and we could easily skip a couple TS meals and do quick service instead. Someone just got back and told me even the QS meals are WAY more than enough and he's a pretty big guy! So you may want to consider skipping the dining plan and using the card instead!

Hmmm....I really like the knowledge that our vacation is pretty much priced out prior to going, as well as the ease of the dining plan. I just don't know if we'd spend $750 on incidentals for 5 nights. I know things at WDW add up quickly though!

 

[Heidijs]

Hmmm....I really like the knowledge that our vacation is pretty much priced out prior to going, as well as the ease of the dining plan. I just don't know if we'd spend $750 on incidentals for 5 nights. I know things at WDW add up quickly though!

Find out the terms and conditions...maybe you're allowed to pay for your bill with the card? I know other people pay theirs with their gift cards...so maybe you can with this one too? Just don't pay it in full and when you get there see if they let you pay off $750 with the card?

Maybe splurge and rent a car? Wonder if you can use the card for that...

 

[kymom99]

If you go to the WDW website, it gives the conditions/uses for the gift card. You have to pay rack rate for the room, and the deal is only good thru 6/3 according to that site. You also have to book a package. We got 35% off the room so it is about the same deal, except we don't have to spend $500 at WDW. We are going June 8th also, so it doesn't work for our trip. We are getting groceries delivered and we won't spend that much on food or souvies. It would give you more flexibility than the dining plan if you are going with that.

Also, with a package don't you have to pay in full prior to the trip? I've never done a package, so I'm not sure about that.

 

[Heidijs]

If you go to the WDW website, it gives the conditions/uses for the gift card. You have to pay rack rate for the room, and the deal is only good thru 6/3 according to that site. You also have to book a package. We got 35% off the room so it is about the same deal, except we don't have to spend $500 at WDW. We are going June 8th also, so it doesn't work for our trip. We are getting groceries delivered and we won't spend that much on food or souvies. It would give you more flexibility than the dining plan if you are going with that.

Also, with a package don't you have to pay in full prior to the trip? I've never done a package, so I'm not sure about that.

I did a package and I didn't have to pay in full at the time I purchased it...I think it was a certain % down and then the rest had to be paid so many days prior or when you got there or something...I dunno, I put it on the disney Visa to get the 0% for 6 months so I just paid it all in full at checkout.

 

[disneyfan55]

I did a package and I didn't have to pay in full at the time I purchased it...I think it was a certain % down and then the rest had to be paid so many days prior or when you got there or something...I dunno, I put it on the disney Visa to get the 0% for 6 months so I just paid it all in full at checkout.

It's a package so it would be a $200 deposit unless it's within 45 days, then in full. If greater than 75 days out, you have to pay the balance 45 days prior to arriving.

 

[kirs10a]

Okay, not sure if I did the "Disney math" right! lol

Price for AKL 5/29-6/3
pool view/bunkbeds
dining plan
$4145.20 + $750 gc

price without dining plan: 3830.50 + 750 gc

The difference between the 2 is $314.80...so if I booked without dining and used the GC, I would have $1064.80 to spend for food without booking the dining plan and needed to spend $750 above and beyond my plan.

Clear as mud? Correct me as needed.....

 

[rndmr2]

I think you can use the GC for gratuities and drinks as well as merchandise. Can you use for La Nouba? We are thinking of going and that would be great if you could.

 

[perkinsrose]

Silly question maybe...
Has anyone called to see if you can apply both
7/free & 750card

I get more out of 7/get free deal since staying at beachClub just wondering...

 

[mariepapa]

Silly question maybe...
Has anyone called to see if you can apply both
7/free & 750card

I get more out of 7/get free deal since staying at beachClub just wondering...

It is one or the other. I am trying to decide which deal will be good for me. I received a pin code and want the $500 gc. If you can use it for gratuities that would be PERFECTION!

 

[disneyfan55]

Okay, not sure if I did the "Disney math" right! lol

Price for AKL 5/29-6/3
pool view/bunkbeds
dining plan
$4145.20 + $750 gc

price without dining plan: 3830.50 + 750 gc

The difference between the 2 is $314.80...so if I booked without dining and used the GC, I would have $1064.80 to spend for food without booking the dining plan and needed to spend $750 above and beyond my plan.

Clear as mud? Correct me as needed.....

I didn't check your math but if I were getting the giftcard, I would use it for food and not purchase a meal plan. That way you can order what you like, we did this on our May trip with 2 free $500 giftcards (2 rooms) we used 1 for an AP upgrade (one of the one day passes) and the other for mostly food with TiW card as well!!

 

[MHSweb79]

Disney marketeers are genius at making people think they are getting a great deal for "free." In this case, the offer specifically says "with full-priced package" so already you are giving up any discounts you might have had.

The real genius is that they are convincing you that by giving up $500 in regular discounts (money you could use for airfare, your mortgage, groceries, the orthodontist, utilities, etc.) you are somehow getting $500 for "free" that can only be spent in Disney!

I'm not being cynical - just be realistic and price out any other savings you might be losing so you know exactly which deal is better for you.