HELP Please - Platinum or Gold?

[mmausse]

Please dear compadres, I need your help!

The DW website isn't much help - I need to know the differences between the Gold Plan and the Platinum Plan. From what I read, they're the same.....except for cost, of course.

Also, if you take the Platinum Plan, do you have access to concierge level?

And lastly, has anyone ever heard of getting a suite on a plan?

 

[robinb]

No, you do not have access to concierge level .

Mary's Mousesaver's site has a good comparison:

http://www.mousesavers.com/packages.html#gold

Dream Maker Gold Package

If you want a really deluxe package, for even more money you can upgrade to the Dream Maker Gold package. The "Gold" package includes all the features of the Dream Maker package plus three meals a day, unlimited recreation, merchandise and more.

Dream Maker Platinum Package

If you want the ultimate all-inclusive Disney vacation package, the Dream Maker Platinum package is for you. The "Platinum" package includes all the features of the Dream Maker package plus three meals per day, unlimited recreation, merchandise, entertainment, spa treatments, personalized attention and more.

Click on the link to get more information .

 

[Janet2k]

Originally posted by mmausse

I need to know the differences between the Gold Plan and the Platinum Plan. From what I read, they're the same.....except for cost, of course.

Also, if you take the Platinum Plan, do you have access to concierge level?

And lastly, has anyone ever heard of getting a suite on a plan?

In the past, I have done the Grand Plan, which was renamed this year to the Platinum Plan. The first time I did it, I booked a concierge room in the main building at the Grand Floridian Resort, and then added the Grand Plan to it. Since I had a concierge room booked, I had access to the concierge lounge and staff. I should note that we never used any of the concierge amenities or its staff, with the exception of a glass or two of lemonade once or twice (we were too busy utilizing all the activities that the plan offered -- golf lessons, tennis lessons, water boat rental, etc. -- and we were rarely in the hotel except for a few hours of sleep each night). For my next vacation, I had a two-bedroom suite at the Grand Floridian Resort booked, and then added the Grand Plan to it. Since the suite was found in Conch Key, we did NOT get access to the concierge lounge or its staff. The Grand Plan staff was very ADAMANT about that fact prior to our arrival and during our vacation (I almost cancelled the entire vacation because of that fact, but the Grand Plan staff eventually talked me into keeping it).

Now that the new Platinum Plan is out, who knows what Disney’s rules are. If you want a concierge room or a suite, please book it. That is the only way of being assured that you will get what you want (and make sure your suite gives you concierge access because my experience has been that that is not always the case).

If you have further questions, please feel free to post them or PM me. My Grand Plan (aka Platinum Plan) vacations were glorious and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I considered upgrading my current Grand Floridian main building concierge stay into a Platinum Plan vacation but I am presently in a wheelchair, unable to walk. I would not be able to utilize the Platinum Plan’s wonderful activities (recreation, theme park tours, etc.). If you choose to book the Platinum Plan, I hope your vacation is ~magical.~

Click here for a link to the Platinum Plan (2003) thread here on the Dis.

Click here for a link to the Gold Plan (2003) thread here on the Dis.

 

[Janet2k]

By the way, there are differences between the two plans. The Platinum Plan gives you dinner at Victoria & Albert's Restaurant at the Grand Floridian Resort. You also get a snack each day (if you can find room in your belly!). You may also book a fireworks cruise, and I think the Platinum Plan has access to more theme park tours. Those are just a few of the differences that immediately come to mind. Of course with all things Disney, everything is subject to change without prior notice. When you book your vacation package, make sure you find out exactly what is and what is not covered.

 

[mmausse]

Thank you all for your wonderful and informed assistance. Here's what I decided to do:

I chose not to go the Platinum Plan way for the following reasons: 1)My niece will not be joining me until the 16th and I would end up having 5.5 days of Plat meals and snacks to use in addition to my own - therefore not cost effective; 2) Disney told me I would NOT have access to concierge under Platinum Plan;
3) I saw La Nouba last Christmas; 4) The unused Plat meals do NOT convert to wishes, unlike the Silver Plan;and 5) When I was at WDW last Christmas for 30 days, that was roughly 200 meals. Although the food and service was excellent, I didn't want to eat my way thru WDW. I ended uup taking a lot of total strangers to dinner for 3 nights in a row. It made me feel good but.....

I called WDW and had them price the Silver Plan - I was amazed at the $4,000 difference. I was concerned about the size of the BC rooms (380sf is not that big). True, we won't be in the room a long time but I have asthma, and I don't want to keep my niece up if I have an attack. So I had the CM price a suite on the Silver Plan. BC had no suites, nor did YC but Boardwalk did. So for $2,200 less than the Platinum Plan in a no view room at BC, we now have a Garden View Suite w/ 1.5 baths, whirlpool, loft BR, 1000sf and concierge privileges with either a garden or pool viewand the SIlver Plan. I think we did okay.

But I couldn't have done it without y'alls input. Thank you.

Now I just have to find out about the Boardwalk (the concierge and the suites)......

 

[Janet2k]

Originally posted by mmausse

I chose not to go the Platinum Plan way for the following reasons:
...
2) Disney told me I would NOT have access to concierge under Platinum Plan;

...we now have a Garden View Suite w/ 1.5 baths, whirlpool, loft BR, 1000sf and concierge privileges with either a garden or pool view and the SIlver Plan. I think we did okay.

Now I just have to find out about the Boardwalk (the concierge and the suites)......

Thanks for the update. And especially thanks for letting us know that a Platinum Plan vacation will NOT get you concierge access unless you have booked a concierge room or suite. That is very valuable information for anyone to have who is considering booking a Platinum Plan vacation.

As to the Garden View suites at the BWI, I have read many nice things about them. Photos of them may be found on the Our Laughing Place website (which is currently down right now otherwise I would post a link to their photos for you). Also, someone here on the Dis recently returned from a BWI concierge stay, and they had nothing but nice things to post about that stay. Do a search of the Dis boards for it.

 

[Janet2k]

From the Dreams Unlimited Travel website (they're the owners of the Dis), I found the following information for you:

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There are 14 garden suites, also known as the honeymoon cottages. Most of these 2-story cottages have a fenced in private yard with lovely rose gardens. The first floor is the living room area with a queen size sofa bed, television, 2 piece bathroom, telephone (with 2 line an computer capabilities), wet bar and fridge. The bedroom is in a loft area on the second floor. It overlooks the lower floor and includes a king size bed, television, nightstand and a full bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub. There is a mini-TV for viewing whilst relaxing in the Jacuzzi. Some of the suites have private balconies instead of the fenced in yard.

TIP: Check out the gates of the fenced in yard for Hidden Mickeys

Concierge service includes access to a private lounge, the "Innkeeper's Club", that offers a complimentary Continental breakfast buffet from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., English-style tea in the afternoon from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and desserts, cordials, wine and cheese are offered from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Concierge deluxe rooms are approximately 434 square feet in size and in addition to the amenities of the guest rooms, include robes, a TV speaker in the bath area, and a deluxe turndown service in the evening.

TIP: The balcony of the Concierge Lounge is a great spot to watch the nightly show: Illuminations 2000: Reflections of Earth taking place at Epcot®

Check-in time is 3 p.m. and check-out is 11 a.m.

· 378 rooms · 191 non-smoking rooms · 18 handicapped accessible rooms · 14 Garden Suites · 16 Concierge Suites

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[mmausse]

I'M SO EXCITED and I just can't hide it!!!!

Thank you so much Janet for the info on BW garden suites. I searched all over and have found next to nothing about, what seems to be, another hidden jewel at WDW!

I am extraordinarily remiss in not posting my experiences from my XMAS 2002 trip at GF. But because SO little is written about BW, I will definitely post and I am bringing both digital vid and digital still so I can take pictures and post them too!

Now, if next week were just February..........

Thanks again!

 

[Janet2k]

I can FEEL your excitement (hee hee!). Here is a link to some BWI photos: click here for wdwdig's BWI photos. You'll find some garden suite photos there.

 

[robinb]

Janet:

Thanks for the link . Those cottages are just adorable!

 

[Janet2k]

I searched through the Dis' photo gallery (click here for the Dis Photo Gallery webpage), but no BWI photos are posted yet. For those of you who are unaware, the Dis has stated the following:

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9/9/2003
**PHOTO GALLERY IS UNDER MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION**
We are currently in the process of redoing this entire photo gallery. Within the next few weeks we will be adding 100's of fantastic new photos of your favorite Disney locations, rides and attractions. In the meantime please enjoy the photos we do have or check out our DIS Community Gallery.
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I can't wait until they get it done. I'm sure it will be wonderful.

In the meantime, the OurLaughingPlace website just came back on-line. Click here for some BWI photos. They have beautiful photos and a couple of the Garden Suites. Enjoy.

 

[Janet2k]

If you would like a "virtual" tour of a Garden Suite, please be sure to check out the following link on OurLaughingPlace: click here for virtual tours of the BWI. You will find a virtual tour or two of a Garden Suite. Again, enjoy. Ain't technology grand?!