Here is my quote from a travel agent for WDW at a Value Resort in Value Season

[holysmoke]

Trip Dates: 09/16/2007 to 09/29/2007
Package: Magic Your Way Plus Dining
Click here for more information on this Package
Disney World Resort: All Star Movies
Click here for more information on this Resort
Click Here for a Map of this Resort
Room Type: Preferred View
(Non-smoking room requested)
Number of Rooms: 2
Party Description: 2 Adults 4 Children
Ages: 8,6,2,7 mos
Ticket Options: Ticket Length: 6 Days
Park Hopping: No
Water Park Fun and More: No
No Expiration: No
Package Price: $4,873.08 (tax included)
Deposit Amount: $4,873.08
Deposit Due Date: 08/01/2007 Book this reservation
Balance Due Date: 08/01/2007
Trip Insurance: No
AirFare: No

 

[gailanncreates]

Are you really going to be there for two weeks and only getting a 6 day pass? Did you give him the wrong dates??

 

[holysmoke]

does this reply mean that is a fair price???

 

[Rhonda]

The reason he's asking for the full amount is because Disney requires full payment for reservations within 45 days. So, according to Disney, full payment is due 8/1. This would happen whether or not you use a TA.

But, when I price it with the current special offer, I get a total of $4491.14. I would call him back and ask him to apply the discount.

 

[holysmoke]

well Im a noob here obviously, but I read someone here got one week at a better disney hotel with dining and 6 days tickets for $1,100 and if I was able to search for my own posts I'd quote her post but when I ask to see my posts it says Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

The person who got the better hotel with dining probably got the free dining promotion. That booking window ended on June 24th. They do have an August/Sept. offer out right now, but the savings aren't as much as the free dining promo.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, ready?
You need two rooms at the All Star Movies. Each room holds four people plus ONE child UNDER 3. With two children under that age, you have five people plus one infant = two rooms.

Room rate is $82 per night.
Tax is 13.5%
Rate per night is $93.07.
Cost for fourteen nights is $1,302.98.
Two rooms = $2,605.96.

Dining plan is $38.99 per adult per night. Two adults times fourteen nights = $1,091.72 ($545.86 each).
Dining plan is $10.99 per child 3 - 9 per night. Two children times fourteen nights = $307.72 ($153.86 each).
Two youngest children - no charge (unless you order food for them).

Six-day adult Base passes with advance purchase for two adults = $428.00 ($214 each).
Six-day child Base passes with advance purchase for two children = $356.00 ($178 each).
Two youngest children - no charge

$2,605.96 hotel
$1,399.44 dining plan
$784 tickets
$4,789.40 Total

So, however the Travel Agent calculated it, you're actually getting a break of a few dollars over the individual pricing. As for needing the money in full almost right away, yes. Packages need to be paid in full 45 days in advance of arrival. Packages booked less than 45 days in advance need to be paid in full at time of booking.

 

[holysmoke]

The person who got the better hotel with dining probably got the free dining promotion. That booking window ended on June 24th. They do have an August/Sept. offer out right now, but the savings aren't as much as the free dining promo.

ok but a difference of almost $4,000 for 6 more days in a lesser hotel

I guess staying at disney resorts with more than 4 people is prohibitive

Im a FL resident and I got one week at cypress pointe resort for $279.00 thru military and a 3 bedroom. plus tickets for a week under FL residency so I am under $1,000.

Now if we can only eat in the kitchen and pack lunch

 

[Colleen27]

Package Price: $4,873.08 (tax included)
Deposit Amount: $4,873.08

For the dates and specifics you listed, that's a rack rate quote. Your TA must not have applied the code that is currently available to your request. You'd save a few hundred dollars with the code.

 

[Colleen27]

well Im a noob here obviously, but I read someone here got one week at a better disney hotel with dining and 6 days tickets for $1,100 and if I was able to search for my own posts I'd quote her post but when I ask to see my posts it says Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms.

But that is one week, not two that your quote is for, and probably one room, not the two you need. And it was probably booked at a promotional rate, like free dining or the 40% off pin that some people got.

 

[holysmoke]

ya, the 2 rooms is the killer

what fun that would be to not sleep with my wife for 2 weeks

I buy very nice cars for $5,000.00 at the dealer auctions

 

[Colleen27]

ok but a difference of almost $4,000 for 6 more days in a lesser hotel

I guess staying at disney resorts with more than 4 people is prohibitive

Im a FL resident and I got one week at cypress pointe resort for $279.00 and a 3 bedroom plus tickets for a week under FL residency so I am under $1,000.

Now if we can only eat in the kitchen and pack lunch

Yeah, staying on property as a larger family is often prohibitively expensive. We're a family of 4, but we frequently travel with extended family and find Disney to be one of the more difficult places to plan an affordable trip for 5 or 6 because of their occupancy rules and the larger than average premium they charge for suites.

 

[holysmoke]

I dont get their logic for that.

I will only stay offsite then and drive.

thanks to everyone for input, I honestly thought that quote was half going into his pocket.

 

[helenk]

The 2 rooms is the killer. Have you thought about Port Orleans Riverside? There is nothing available with the special deal but there are rooms available paying "rack rate"
The cost for your dates with your ticket info and dining comes to $4232.18 without the trip insurance and $4352.08 with the trip insurance.
You may also think about taking off the dining package. When I travelled with my brother and his 2 younger children we found that it was more cost effective to not purchase the dining plan as they ate at the counter service locations. We went to one character meal but the rest of our meals were at the food court for breakfast and counter service for lunch and dinner.

 

[holysmoke]

The 2 rooms is the killer. Have you thought about Port Orleans Riverside? There is nothing available with the special deal but there are rooms available paying "rack rate"
The cost for your dates with your ticket info and dining comes to $4232.18 without the trip insurance and $4352.08 with the trip insurance.

thanks but 4 grand is out of the question. my wife would flip.

If I can stock up the fridge at cypress pointe resort we will go for under 1 grand not including gas for one week not 2

 

[tinaluis]

I dont get their logic for that.

I will only stay offsite then and drive.

thanks to everyone for input, I honestly thought that quote was half going into his pocket.

Staying offsite is what it comes down to for us too, as we're a family of 5 (soon to be 6), and we had originally booked the package with free dining! Even with free dining and only a 1 day park ticket (we have tickets from previous trips) it was almost $2,800 for the six of us (one being an infant). I'd almost convinced myself that it was a great deal, but canceled recently and booked a 2 bedroom condo through Skyauction for two weeks for $462 including all taxes. There's no way we're going to spend just over $2,300 for food for those fourteen days, so I feel we made the right decision for our family.

 

[holysmoke]

Staying offsite is what it comes down to for us too, as we're a family of 5 (soon to be 6), and we had originally booked the package with free dining! Even with free dining and only a 1 day park ticket (we have tickets from previous trips) it was almost $2,800 for the six of us (one being an infant). I'd almost convinced myself that it was a great deal, but canceled recently and booked a 2 bedroom condo through Skyauction for two weeks for $462 including all taxes. There's no way we're going to spend just over $2,300 for food for those fourteen days, so I feel we made the right decision for our family.

I agree

 

[gigi1313]

did you price out the allstar music suites? your family would fit in one of those, but it's still quite pricey (a little more than two rooms) but they have kitchenettes...

another option would be a cabin at fort wilderness if it's available for your dates... there you'd have a full kitchen, a bbq, and a bunch of free activities at the campground...

also, if you do the math on that "other" family that is staying for a week for $1100, they likely had free dining, their party is half the size of yours (room occupancy wise) and they are staying for half the time you are... so if you multiply their 1100 x 2 for two rooms = 2200 x 2 for two weeks =$4400... about what you were quoted!

 

[gigi1313]

one other thought if you really want to stay on-site... check out the dvc boards and inquire about renting points to stay at a villa (one or two bedroom would hold your family)... it's likely less expensive and also has a kitchen (and washer/dryer, which for two weeks i would think is pertinent)

 

[ksumn1]

I think in your case, with a family fo 5 either off site or renting DVC points is the way to go. Or check into POFQ they have trundle beds so 5 can fit to a room. Or the Family Suites at All Star Music. If you buy your tickets before your trip, try Maple Leaf tickets or Undercover Tourist. They're a little cheaper than buying them at the parks. Also, don't forget to add in parking costs to your budget. I think it's $8.00 a day for parking. Not a big deal but over 2 weeks it almost $100. You can take sandwiches and snacks with you into the parks (no rolling or hard sided coolers) to save additional $$. If you'll check out the budget board, there are alot of great ideas to save $$ before and during your trip.