Free DDP or special offer rate?

[oooooh]

Hi, wonder if anyone can help. We are looking at stay at OKW from the 16th to the 24th July next year. I have priced it up and its coming in at £3,456 for 4 adults for a 14 for 7 day pass and free DDP for a one bedroom villa.
I'm sure that I saw somewhere, although it was a while back that Disney do a special offer rate when the DDP isn't available, please correct me if I'm mistaken. We are one of those families that wouldn't use the DDP to its full benefit and there are a few places that we would like to eat that are not included. So, I was wondering whether we could get a cheaper rate on the hotel and passes and just pay out of pocket for meals there.
What do you guys suggest I should do, hold out for a special offer rate (if indeed there is one)or book now.
Thanks for any advice

 

[2Tiggies]

You would be best trying to get a rough idea of what your meals would cost if you ate what and where you wanted for 14 days, including beverages and snacks, without the DDP

Then compare to the cost of the DDP. Remember when doing this that menu prices do not include tax, but the DDP does

Usually on of the main reasons where even a good room discount may not be as good as free dining:

- When you have more than 2 adults in a room

In a value or moderate resort or if you have two or fewer adults only or a family with children under 10, then a room discount can be a better option. Especially at the deluxe, and sometimes at the moderates, where your room rate per night is higher and often the discount is deeper which makes up what you would have spent on the DDP if you paid for it and leaves even a bigger saving if you could pay for food out of pocket

Unfortunately no formula to work it out and it depends on what the room rate is and what the discount is

Also hoping for a discount that is not released yet with no details or guarantee always comes with some risks attached. If they are calculated 'risks' then they are often worth waiting out

 

[Elise79]

The other thing I would add to what Lee has said is that it will depend on the resort.

The rates for OKW & SSR are currently discounted by 35% and you get free dining too. The room only offer last year was still only 35% on these rooms so the free dining is still the better deal even if you don't use the credits.

If you where considering another deluxe or moderate if might be worth do some sums. Add up what you would spend using DDP credits and this is the amount you would need to save on a room discount to make it a better deal than free dining.

Tickets are never usually discounted on UK packages other than the 14 for 7 deal.

The US sometimes have stay, eat & play for kids prices type deals but again this are dining related rather than % off.

Have a look at Mousesavers.com as they list the historical discounts but generally you won't find more than 30-35% on deluxe, 25% on mods and 20% on values for room only.

 

[oooooh]

Thank you both for the replies. I didn't realise that OKW was already discounted at the minute, that certainly makes it a good deal then. I have just gone on line again to double check the price and its saying that they are no rooms available at OKW, that's just my luck lol. I'm not beginning to panic just yet though since I've read on the boards that quite often rooms do come available. Lets just hope that one does before the free DDP runs out.
Thanks again for your great advice.

 

[2Tiggies]

Would you consider Saratoga Springs? Not sure if that resort appeals to you but the same/similar discount was available on there

 

[oooooh]

Hi, thanks, I've just checked out Saratoga Springs. We would need to get a 2 bed villa there to accommodate us and that bumps the price up. DD will be 21 and DS will be 16 when we go and although they don't require separate bed rooms they do require separate beds. SS 1 bed villa has a double bed and a sofa bed whereas OKW 1 bed villas have a sofa bed and a chair bed which would work great for us. Guess I will just keep my fingers crossed that something else comes up. Reluctantly considering now whether I should look for a suite hotel close to Disney and just pay for cabs to and from the parks. Really wanted to stay on site again though, we have only managed to do so once but it made us feel really special

 

[2Tiggies]

Oh dang! I forgot about the sofa bed vs sleeper couch issue

Fingers crossed something will open up. Have you tried phoning Disney reservations to see?