How would you book? Package or separate?

[Spoogle]

We have decided that we are spending 3 nights at the Best Western Stovall's Inn in early November. If we book separately, it will cost us $295 for the hotel only. It will also cost us $199 each for a 3 day park hopper. I've priced out the same package on Disneyland's website and it is $673, which is $20 less if we were to book separately. I've listed below what extra is offered if we were to book through Disneyland. Is it worth it? Do you think we can get the tickets cheaper than $199 through a third party site? What would you do?

Special Offer: 3rd Night Free
Room Type:Standard
Package: Good Neighbor Hotel package
Tickets:3 Day Park Hopper® souvenir ticket
Dining:None
Special Features:
Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness
Character Calls
Anaheim Resort TransitIndividual Pass

 

[Ariel224]

Definitely book separately. You can get 3 day parkhoppers through lastminutetravel.com for $180.36 (adult). The other thing you will likely gain is flexibility if your plans should suddenly change. Do some research and compare the cancellation policies very carefully. The Disney packages are typically stricter.

 

[feb30th]

There are several sites where you can buy the 3 day pass for $200 and they throw in a Disney $50 gift card. Also check to see if Costco has a special. Of course you might not et the special features, but if you don't care too much for those features, then you can some some serious money.

 

[spacemermaid]

Are you booking through Best Western's website? ( http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/priceAvail.do?stdRateFlag=false ) That's how I always book my rooms at Stovall's & have found it to have the best rates. Don't know if it's currently available or not as my next reservation is at BWPPI (same owners as Stovall's), but you can often get a pretty big discount with the "book + prepay 21 days or more in advance" specials.

Hope that helps.

 

[skiingfast]

Do you think we can get the tickets cheaper than $199 through a third party site? What would you do?

No I don't despite the suggestions above about where to go.

Here is why, you visit is in November, the current offer for the $199 PH is good until for visits upto October 1st.

Maybe something better will come out, but it's hard to say. That package price may be a lot better than it appears.

 

[I❤MICKEY]

I've seen mixed feelings on the forum. Most people say to book separately but I've found great deals doing packages.

When I booked my last trip I priced it out packages from disneyland.com, getawaytoday.com, Costco, AAA. Then I priced out separate from travelocity, hotels.com, expedia.com and direct with the hotel. I had a huge spreadsheet that outlined all the prices and extra benefits.

For me purchasing through Costco was my best bet. It was about $30 more than booking separately but it included a character dinner and $50 gift card. It also included the magical morning and character call (which my son loved) that you noted below. In my opinion that more than made up the $30 difference.

I would recommend digging a little deeper and looking at some additional websites. Then you have to weigh what you feel the value of the bonus is. If the only bonus is a character call and MTMM then I wouldn't think it would be worth it. But if it's a dollar value like a gift card or a character meal then it probably would be.

Good luck and happy planning.

 

[dnamertz]

Definitely book separately. You can get 3 day parkhoppers through lastminutetravel.com for $180.36 (adult).

I've never used lastminutetravle.com before, and I can't find Disneyland tickets on that site. How do I search for DL tickets on LMT?

 

[GenGen22]

I've seen mixed feelings on the forum. Most people say to book separately but I've found great deals doing packages.

When I booked my last trip I priced it out packages from disneyland.com, getawaytoday.com, Costco, AAA. Then I priced out separate from travelocity, hotels.com, expedia.com and direct with the hotel. I had a huge spreadsheet that outlined all the prices and extra benefits.

For me purchasing through Costco was my best bet. It was about $30 more than booking separately but it included a character dinner and $50 gift card. It also included the magical morning and character call (which my son loved) that you noted below. In my opinion that more than made up the $30 difference.

I would recommend digging a little deeper and looking at some additional websites. Then you have to weigh what you feel the value of the bonus is. If the only bonus is a character call and MTMM then I wouldn't think it would be worth it. But if it's a dollar value like a gift card or a character meal then it probably would be.

Good luck and happy planning.

I agree. I booked two diffrent packages through getawaytoday.com and we got the 4th night free and also a buffet breakfast for our family of five. It just depends where you stay. Check into it more seperate vs the sites this person suggested. Oh and AAA has free parking if you buy your tickets through them.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Last month I booked Best Western Stovall's from LMT! Thanksgiving weekend - Thurs-Sat for $65 a night!! Have you seen this fantastic tip *I knew I was getting Stovall's before purchasing "blindly"*

I say book seperately - I have always done so since my 2nd visit - 1st was booked through GAT - but I didn't save any $$ and had an awful hotel.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Booking a package or getting stuff separately is a personal choice. Some like to purchase everything separately (from different sites) & some like the convenience of the packages. Our family tends to do packages for the little perks but also to know it's taken care of & I can have it paid prior to the trip. We've been able to go back & make changes to our package if a "better" deal came out & they credited our charge card for the difference.

Some time the hotel/motels will run great specials that are hard to ignore & sometimes they'll come out with a wonderful package deal.....so depending on how soon you're going....you have time to look at your options & pick what will work best for your family & budget. Good Luck!!

 

[ducky_love]

Is the Costo deal seasonal? I can't find any DL tickets for sale there? I am starting to accept I'm really going to have to pay $500 for my DL ticket..

Isn't Lastminutetravel the one that waits to the last minute to send your tickets? I couldn't deal with that...

If anyone knows where you can get a $50 gift card with that I'd really appreciate the info!

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I've never used lastminutetravle.com before, and I can't find Disneyland tickets on that site. How do I search for DL tickets on LMT?

You need to click the "activities" tab at the top. Then click Anaheim and put in your vacation dates. If you tell it all activities, the Disneyland tickets should come up second.

 

[specialks]

I personally like to book packages because the perks are worth it for me. Once I decide where I want to stay, I am set and don't need to have multiple hotel and date options. It is a personal choice and many people like the greater flexibility they get for changes and cancellations when they book separately.

 

[ddwlms]

Isn't Lastminutetravel the one that waits to the last minute to send your tickets? I couldn't deal with that...

I think, based on what I've read, that use to be the case. I got my voucher with in 3 days for tickets in November (end of) so apparently they've changed things.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Isn't Lastminutetravel the one that waits to the last minute to send your tickets? I couldn't deal with that...

They don't send you tickets - it's a voucher just like GAT, ARES, etc... I bought our PHs for Thanksgiving weekend several months ago - I got the voucher right after my purchase went through.

 

[ducky_love]

Well that is great news! Thanks for the info. Right now it would only save us $10 for our dates. (Two 6 day hoppers) But if the price goes down I would use them!

 

[Leshaface]

Is the Costo deal seasonal? I can't find any DL tickets for sale there? I am starting to accept I'm really going to have to pay $500 for my DL ticket..

Isn't Lastminutetravel the one that waits to the last minute to send your tickets? I couldn't deal with that...

If anyone knows where you can get a $50 gift card with that I'd really appreciate the info!

Costco is where I usually get my PH's from (which includes the $50 gift card) but haven't seen it yet.

I'm wondering if it's not out yet because of the current deal they have going on right now, which expires October 1. Hopefully after that date the new promotion will go on...at least that's what i'm hoping

Thanks for the heads up about LMT. Will probably do that if Costco falls through.

 

[Spoogle]

Costco? Do you have to have a membership to shop there? Is this something that can be purchased online? I'm in Louisiana and we don't have any here.

 

[kaffinito]

I priced out the hotel I'm looking for - the Hilton Anaheim and it came out to 1077.04 with 3 day hoppers, the free character dining and the 20.00 gift card.

But on one of the other travel sites I can buy the components separately for a cost of 837.00 including the same room and the same tickets. I don't think it's worth that much more for one character meal and one 20.00 gift card, KWIM?

So for me at least it looks like it more cost effective to buy each part of my trip separately. That way I'll save $240.40

 

[ducky_love]

I'm wondering if it's not out yet because of the current deal they have going on right now, which expires October 1. Hopefully after that date the new promotion will go on...at least that's what i'm hoping

That is a good point. I suppose I can just wait to buy them until a day or two before and hope for a good deal / discount. Of course that is easier said than done... I stink at waiting!!