How to get 11.75% off your Disney package

[MrInfinity]

So, here's how I've come up with to maximize savings:

1) Open a Target Red Card. You get 5% off anything you charge on it, including Disney gift cards.

2) Join the Target Prescription Club. You get a 5% off one day of shopping coupon every time you fill 5 prescriptions.

3) Sign up for disneyvacationaccount.com to save for your Disney vacation and get 2% of the amount you save, back.

Say your vacation costs $5000.

Step 1: Buy 100 $50 Disney gift cards at Target. Get 5% off w your one-day pass, and another 5% off that total by charging it on your Red Card. Net savings so far of 9.75% (95% * 95% = 90.25% which is 9.75% saved).

So these $5000 in gift cards cost you $4512.50. for a savings of $487.50

Now you go to your disneyvacationaccount.com, and add those gift cards to your savings there one by one. After you do so, you'll have a $5000 balance. Now provided you do this 120 days in advance of when you need to use the money, Disney will send you an additional 2% in Gift Cards! On $5000, that is $100.

Now you paid $487.50 less, and got $100 in bonus gift cards (which you can in turn apply to any lingering balance or just keep for your trip).

You have spent a total of $4412.50. ($4512.50 less $100 back)

You paid for a vacation value of $5000.

Total savings $587.50. That's exactly 11.75%. Not bad.

Just by manipulating money creatively you can get almost 12% off your vacation package.

Of course nothing in life is free. Disney is willing to give you this 2% because you have to put your money there 120 days in advance. They're getting your money sooner. So if you have the money that far in advance, you might be able to make more by having it in a stock or other savings vessel. But if your money is just in the bank, this is a way to guarantee you almost 12%.

Can you think of any way to improve on this or squeeze any more out? If so pls share!

 

[Marionnette]

So, here's how I've come up with to maximize savings:

1) Open a Target Red Card. You get 5% off anything you charge on it, including Disney gift cards.

2) Join the Target Prescription Club. You get a 5% off one day of shopping coupon every time you fill 5 prescriptions.

3) Sign up for disneyvacationaccount.com to save for your Disney vacation and get 2% of the amount you save, back.

Say your vacation costs $5000.

Step 1: Buy 100 $50 Disney gift cards at Target. Get 5% off w your one-day pass, and another 5% off that total by charging it on your Red Card. Net savings so far of 9.75% (95% * 95% = 90.25% which is 9.75% saved).

So these $5000 in gift cards cost you $4512.50. for a savings of $487.50

Now you go to your disneyvacationaccount.com, and add those gift cards to your savings there one by one. After you do so, you'll have a $5000 balance. Now provided you do this 120 days in advance of when you need to use the money, Disney will send you an additional 2% in Gift Cards! On $5000, that is $100.

Now you paid $487.50 less, and got $100 in bonus gift cards (which you can in turn apply to any lingering balance or just keep for your trip).

You have spent a total of $4412.50. ($4512.50 less $100 back)

You paid for a vacation value of $5000.

Total savings $587.50. That's exactly 11.75%. Not bad.

Just by manipulating money creatively you can get almost 12% off your vacation package.

Of course nothing in life is free. Disney is willing to give you this 2% because you have to put your money there 120 days in advance. They're getting your money sooner. So if you have the money that far in advance, you might be able to make more by having it in a stock or other savings vessel. But if your money is just in the bank, this is a way to guarantee you almost 12%.

Can you think of any way to improve on this or squeeze any more out? If so pls share!

There have been a lot of complaints and problems with the Disney savings account. Dumping your money into it not only ties your money up with Disney so that you cannot use it elsewhere, it also forces you to purchase a vacation package with those funds.

I can put together a trip for much less by doing it in pieces.

I bought 5-day hoppers at a discounted rate on Orbitz using the Ebates link and got an additional 20% back from Ebates and another 2% back from my rewards credit card. Instant savings of more than 22% off the gate price of my ticket.

I booked a Disney resort using Expedia.co.uk and got a better rate on my one night at ASSp than I would have gotten with my AP rate. The same credit card that gave me 2% back on Orbitz will also give me 2% back on Expedia, plus they waive the currency conversion fee. I saved over half off the price of the room. Over 50% savings on accommodations.

I already do the Target discount thing for Disney GCs. I use them to pay my DVC dues if I don't use them during a trip for food and souvenirs. Instant 9.75% discount on all things Disney.

Since I'm a DVC member, I can purchase the Tables in Wonderland card for $100 annually but I pay only $90.25 because I use the Disney GCs I bought at Target. The card gets me 20% off at most TS locations and some CS locations. Tax is added to the bill AFTER the 20% is deducted, so the savings are even greater. The breakeven point for me is after spending a little over $450 on food. That doesn't take very long. I end up paying the bill by using my room key, and all room charges get paid using my Disney GCs.

I haven't gone through and calculated the total percentage that I end up saving by doing it this way. I just know that I have more control than if I were to put the money into a Disney savings account and deal with their restrictions on how it can be used.

 

[Marionnette]

I just wanted to add this link to a thread about the Disney Vacation Account. It certainly isn't worth the 2% bonus back if you have to deal with these problems.

Disney Vacation Account - what a mess!

 

[psimon]

The Target pharmacy 5% discounts do not work in NJ... and I think there may be other states as well.

---Paul in southern NJ

 

[Marionnette]

The Target pharmacy 5% discounts do not work in NJ... and I think there may be other states as well.

---Paul in southern NJ

Cross the bridge into Philly, Paul. They allow the 5% discount here in PA.

Or take a ferry into Delaware. They not only allow the 5% Pharmacy discount, they also do not charge sales tax on your other purchases!

 

[jbrnhrt]

I end up paying the bill by using my room key, and all room charges get paid using my Disney GCs.

so you can link GCs to your room card rather than linking a credit card?

 

[MrInfinity]

I just wanted to add this link to a thread about the Disney Vacation Account. It certainly isn't worth the 2% bonus back if you have to deal with these problems.

Disney Vacation Account - what a mess!

Good stuff, thanks! I found it originally for the purposes of being able to enter gift cards myself... the 2% is a nice bonus for 120 days as savings accts will pay a fraction of 1% in a year... (not 120 days).

The main hassle... that your money is then locked into Disney is not such a deterrent if you are otherwise buying Disney gift cards since those gift cards are even more limited in their non-Disney uses and are completely non-refundable. Once you buy $5000 worth of GC -- they're yours, period.

Be interesting to see as time goes on if there are reports of its use being without incident.

 

[Marionnette]

so you can link GCs to your room card rather than linking a credit card?

You can pay off your room charges before the resort charges the credit card (or debit card) that you left on file. You just need to go down to the lobby concierge at some point before checkout and take care of it.

If you don't want to leave a CC or debit card on file with the resort, you can still use the gift cards to pay for your purchases at the point of sale.

Good stuff, thanks! I found it originally for the purposes of being able to enter gift cards myself... the 2% is a nice bonus for 120 days as savings accts will pay a fraction of 1% in a year... (not 120 days).

The main hassle... that your money is then locked into Disney is not such a deterrent if you are otherwise buying Disney gift cards since those gift cards are even more limited in their non-Disney uses and are completely non-refundable. Once you buy $5000 worth of GC -- they're yours, period.

Be interesting to see as time goes on if there are reports of its use being without incident.

I think that you missed my point. The Disney Vacation Account must be used for paying for a package. If you don't want a package, this isn't going to work for you. Often, it's cheaper to buy the pieces separately and from other sources than it is to purchase directly from Disney - even with an extra 2% as an incentive.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Good stuff, thanks! I found it originally for the purposes of being able to enter gift cards myself... the 2% is a nice bonus for 120 days as savings accts will pay a fraction of 1% in a year... (not 120 days).

The main hassle... that your money is then locked into Disney is not such a deterrent if you are otherwise buying Disney gift cards since those gift cards are even more limited in their non-Disney uses and are completely non-refundable. Once you buy $5000 worth of GC -- they're yours, period.

Be interesting to see as time goes on if there are reports of its use being without incident.

The gift cards ARE refundable if not scratched off.

Sent from my IPad using DisBoards.

 

[scottmel]

Hi Western Pa friends. Giant Eagle at it again

1. Use your Disney Premier card for 2% rebate at grocers
2. For every 100.00 you spend on Disney giftcard you get 10.00 off future purchase at giant eagle. ONE per transaction so go thru the same line multiple time!
3. Fuel perks 6% savings on 100.

So Add it up and you can get a 1000 in giftcards for 820.

This beats my current deal of double fuel perks with chase rewards bonus gas points at 17%.

I ONLY buy my gift cards when they are at 17% discount. Now this next two weeks is 18%. might just grab the rest of them now.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

There have been a lot of complaints and problems with the Disney savings account. Dumping your money into it not only ties your money up with Disney so that you cannot use it elsewhere, it also forces you to purchase a vacation package with those funds.

I can put together a trip for much less by doing it in pieces.

I bought 5-day hoppers at a discounted rate on Orbitz using the Ebates link and got an additional 20% back from Ebates and another 2% back from my rewards credit card. Instant savings of more than 22% off the gate price of my ticket.

I booked a Disney resort using Expedia.co.uk and got a better rate on my one night at ASSp than I would have gotten with my AP rate. The same credit card that gave me 2% back on Orbitz will also give me 2% back on Expedia, plus they waive the currency conversion fee. I saved over half off the price of the room. Over 50% savings on accommodations.

I already do the Target discount thing for Disney GCs. I use them to pay my DVC dues if I don't use them during a trip for food and souvenirs. Instant 9.75% discount on all things Disney.

Since I'm a DVC member, I can purchase the Tables in Wonderland card for $100 annually but I pay only $90.25 because I use the Disney GCs I bought at Target. The card gets me 20% off at most TS locations and some CS locations. Tax is added to the bill AFTER the 20% is deducted, so the savings are even greater. The breakeven point for me is after spending a little over $450 on food. That doesn't take very long. I end up paying the bill by using my room key, and all room charges get paid using my Disney GCs.

I haven't gone through and calculated the total percentage that I end up saving by doing it this way. I just know that I have more control than if I were to put the money into a Disney savings account and deal with their restrictions on how it can be used.

I agree with you I would rather book my vacation myself with all the discounts that are out there rather than tie up my money in an acct that can only be used to vacation at Disney. I just saved $300 on my tickets thru ebates. Cashed in my Marriott points for the one hotel night I needed to complete my trip otherwise I would have paid $89 for the room. Already researched and if we want to stay one extra day at Disney the room rate thru the expedia/uk site is $40 cheaper than anywhere else. So my savings of $429 trumps the 2% that Disney would give me.

 

[wendow]

There have been a lot of complaints and problems with the Disney savings account. Dumping your money into it not only ties your money up with Disney so that you cannot use it elsewhere, it also forces you to purchase a vacation package with those funds.

I can put together a trip for much less by doing it in pieces.

I bought 5-day hoppers at a discounted rate on Orbitz using the Ebates link and got an additional 20% back from Ebates and another 2% back from my rewards credit card. Instant savings of more than 22% off the gate price of my ticket.

I booked a Disney resort using Expedia.co.uk and got a better rate on my one night at ASSp than I would have gotten with my AP rate. The same credit card that gave me 2% back on Orbitz will also give me 2% back on Expedia, plus they waive the currency conversion fee. I saved over half off the price of the room. Over 50% savings on accommodations.

I already do the Target discount thing for Disney GCs. I use them to pay my DVC dues if I don't use them during a trip for food and souvenirs. Instant 9.75% discount on all things Disney.

Since I'm a DVC member, I can purchase the Tables in Wonderland card for $100 annually but I pay only $90.25 because I use the Disney GCs I bought at Target. The card gets me 20% off at most TS locations and some CS locations. Tax is added to the bill AFTER the 20% is deducted, so the savings are even greater. The breakeven point for me is after spending a little over $450 on food. That doesn't take very long. I end up paying the bill by using my room key, and all room charges get paid using my Disney GCs.

I haven't gone through and calculated the total percentage that I end up saving by doing it this way. I just know that I have more control than if I were to put the money into a Disney savings account and deal with their restrictions on how it can be used.

I agree with every bit of this Buying a package through Disney, even at almost 12% off, is no bargain.

 

[wiigirl]

I just wanted to add this link to a thread about the Disney Vacation Account. It certainly isn't worth the 2% bonus back if you have to deal with these problems.

Disney Vacation Account - what a mess!

Thanks for the heads up....

 

[MrInfinity]

Where are y'all finding these Expedia deals? I find Expedia wants $414 for the same Contemporary room I got for $363... Expedia is $51 more per night, before even factoring in any savings via red cards and gift cards...

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Where are y'all finding these Expedia deals? I find Expedia wants $414 for the same Contemporary room I got for $363... Expedia is $51 more per night, before even factoring in any savings via red cards and gift cards...

Are you using the UK site?

Sent from my IPad using DisBoards.

 

[jimandami]

Where are y'all finding these Expedia deals? I find Expedia wants $414 for the same Contemporary room I got for $363... Expedia is $51 more per night, before even factoring in any savings via red cards and gift cards...

Expedia UK website

 

[Tigerlulu]

I really didn't see any savings on the expedia uk site either. What am I missing?

 

[MrInfinity]

Are you using the UK site?

I wasn't, no... but switching to the UK site, I can find the same room... at 2277GBP. This converts to $3798 USD, which comparing to what I paid to Disney direct... $2901... they are nearly 1/3 more on the room portion going that route. Maybe they don't get as good of deals on the Deluxes?

 

[Marionnette]

I really didn't see any savings on the expedia uk site either. What am I missing?

They had a period during the day when none of the Disney hotels showed up regardless of what dates you put in. When they re-loaded the Disney resorts, their rates had gone up about 10% over what they had been this morning. However, they are still less than what Disney is charging directly for most resorts and dates.

Check the Expedia.co.uk thread and ask for help there if you still can't find a good rate. I was skeptical when I first read it but I'm a believer now!

Disney discounted rooms for most dates in 2014 on the British-Expedia web site-UPDATE

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

When booking on the UK site make sure your CC does not charge the standard 3% foreign transaction fee.