Is it better to book a room only or package?

[Disney grandma]

Do you get a discount if you book a package. We don't need the "extras" that are included in the package price but is the price we are paying for our park tickets the same as we would pay if we bought them separately.

 

[Karlzmom]

As I understand it, (though others probably have a better handle on the situation and will likely weigh in) the package price is generally the same as the individual components, unless there is some kind of a promo or special running. The big hook is that if you don't book a package to start, you can't simply take the package deal. Instead, you have to cancel the reservation you have and hope to rebook.

 

[MELSMICE]

I just cancelled a package. We were getting a package with room & the dining plan. When you do the dining plan I was told that you can't use any room discounts.

We had to get a one day ticket for each individual & were then going to apply it to our AP's.

I worked some numbers & realized we were able to get 2 rooms at a moderate with an AP discount & spend significantly less money than we would have with one room at the Beach Club.

We wouldn't have used the extras that came with the package anyway, so it really wasn't a deal for us. I have always felt that's it's better to book "a-la-carte" & while I contemplated this package for a while I still feel a-la-carte is a better deal.

The cost of tickets is the same regardless of if you get them in a package or not.

 

[wdhinn89]

As I understand it, (though others probably have a better handle on the situation and will likely weigh in) the package price is generally the same as the individual components, unless there is some kind of a promo or special running. The big hook is that if you don't book a package to start, you can't simply take the package deal. Instead, you have to cancel the reservation you have and hope to rebook.

I don't understand If I book room only now with an AAA code and a Visa code comes out later for a package, I can't just upgrade to a package and get the visa discount instead of the AAA? If not, why?

 

[ajk912]

I thought it was the other way around. I thought once you booked a package you couldn't downgrade to a room only, but you can always upgrade (as long as you give a week's notice or so) to a package.

 

[shoppgirl]

I originally booked a package but then I changed it to room only after giving my package deal some more thought.

My reasons for changing to room only:
1) I do not need the extras that come with the package.

2) I would have to pay in full the entire package 90 days in advance. A room only reservation requires me to only pay the first night's rate up front, with the rest upon check out.

3) As a Canadian, the CAN $ could remain higher as it is now, or lower by the time I travel. I can purchase my park tickets from the local Disney store in CAN dollars at PAR. So it would be to my benefit to buy the tickets on my own (unless our dollar is higher by Aug, then I would be losing out!)

I still get the ME service. So I thought this was the better route...I hope I am right!

When I called back to change to a room only, the first lady I talked to said I couldn't do it because the park tickets are nonrefundable!!!! I totally freaked and got transferred to 2 other people to work this out. Thankfully I was transferred to someone who knew what she was talking about and she easily made me a new room only reservation (since there was still room availability in the category I wanted), and then she cancelled my package completely, refunding my $200 deposit.

 

[MELSMICE]

If you book a package you are actually booking with the Walt Disney World Travel Company. Their cancellation policy states that if you cancel 45 days or less prior to your trip you are charged a $100 cancellation fee.

If you book room only you can do it through CRO & apply codes, such as AP codes, AAA codes or even room only general public codes.

wdhinn89 - I believe if you book a room only & then want to upgrade to a package you would have to cancel your room only ressie & then do the package, but you'd have to confirm that with the Travel Company, as I could be wrong.

Personally, I prefer to deal with CRO & not the Travel Company. We sometimes change parts of our trips less than 45 days out & I hate to be tied to something that I can't change myself.

In fact, the package I'm referring to that I just cancelled was done through AAA. They used the Walt Disney World Travel Company to book it. I wanted to change my ressie on Monday, which was 37 days prior to my trip. Luckily, the woman I dealt with at AAA fought for me to get my $100 cancellation fee waived.

I had never booked a package before & figured I'd do it through AAA. In all honesty, it's the first & last time I'll ever book a package (even though I ended up canceling). I just like to have control over my own plans.

 

[wdhinn89]

So what if you have a room that is sold out (ex. Bay View at CR) and they have to cancell your room only res. in order to get the visa package deal, do you have a chance of losing your room all together?

 

[CanadianGuy]

So what if you have a room that is sold out (ex. Bay View at CR) and they have to cancell your room only res. in order to get the visa package deal, do you have a chance of losing your room all together?

Yes. In a word.. that's possible.

Room only reservations cannot be converted directly to a package or vice versa. If you wish to have a package reservation.. your room only will be cancelled and then rebooked as a package.

In most situations this does not represent a problem.. but if you are currently booked in a room category with limited availability it can mean you lose that room category during the rebooking process.

 

[wdhinn89]

So what should I do? Do I book a room only with a definite AAA10% discount or do take a chance and I book a package with Disney and hope a Visa code comes out that can be applied to my room. Last year I saved $550 but I did not have an AAA membership then.

 

[Native NYer]

I just cancelled a package. We were getting a package with room & the dining plan. When you do the dining plan I was told that you can't use any room discounts.

We had to get a one day ticket for each individual & were then going to apply it to our AP's.

I worked some numbers & realized we were able to get 2 rooms at a moderate with an AP discount & spend significantly less money than we would have with one room at the Beach Club.

We wouldn't have used the extras that came with the package anyway, so it really wasn't a deal for us. I have always felt that's it's better to book "a-la-carte" & while I contemplated this package for a while I still feel a-la-carte is a better deal.

The cost of tickets is the same regardless of if you get them in a package or not.

You can't use a room discount if you're doing the dining plan? We got 30% off our room and get a package, complete with deluxe dining. I know you can't get a room discount if you get free dining.

I prefer to book a package because everything is included and it's paid before we leave. I book directly through Disney because I'm a control freak. Even though I have AAA, I like to have control over my reservations. I did use my AAA discount for a one night room only ressie until our 30% discount kicks in.

Another reason I booked a package was to get the deluxe dining plan. We used it last month and loved that all of our meals were prepaid.

I NEVER book airfare through Disney. I find the airfare that they add to packages to be higher than what I find online. Plus, we have lots of frequent flier miles and often are offered a better deal booking directly through American Airlines.

Booking a package or a room only ressie really depends on individual needs.

 

[MELSMICE]

You can't use a room discount if you're doing the dining plan? We got 30% off our room and get a package, complete with deluxe dining. I know you can't get a room discount if you get free dining.

I prefer to book a package because everything is included and it's paid before we leave. I book directly through Disney because I'm a control freak. Even though I have AAA, I like to have control over my reservations. I did use my AAA discount for a one night room only ressie until our 30% discount kicks in.

Another reason I booked a package was to get the deluxe dining plan. We used it last month and loved that all of our meals were prepaid.

I NEVER book airfare through Disney. I find the airfare that they add to packages to be higher than what I find online. Plus, we have lots of frequent flier miles and often are offered a better deal booking directly through American Airlines.

Booking a package or a room only ressie really depends on individual needs.

Maybe it is only with free dining.

I was told when you book a package through Disney it is with the Disney Travel Company & if you cancel 45 days or less prior to arrival then you must pay the $100 fee.

I like to be able to work my own room ressie & apply codes when they come out, etc. until my arrival date. For me I don't like being tied to a package.

We've never booked airfare through Disney either for the same reasons you mentioned. We can get better fares on our own & also use frequent flyer miles.

 

[MELSMICE]

So what should I do? Do I book a room only with a definite AAA10% discount or do take a chance and I book a package with Disney and hope a Visa code comes out that can be applied to my room. Last year I saved $550 but I did not have an AAA membership then.

I've never seen a Visa code - the only Visa deal I've seen is the one posted on mousesavers a few weeks ago about the ticket upgrade.

I've booked room only ressies through CRO with a rack rate & then applied codes when they became available. I didn't have to cancel the ressie & try to rebook, they just applied the code, whether it was AAA, AP or general public codes.

I'm not sure what would happen with a package if you booked it & some special came out. You might want to call & ask - again, I believe you'd be dealing with the Disney Travel Company.

 

[ihearttink]

I have always booked room only and when discounts were offered was able to apply them.

That being said, this year we have booked a package for September, hoping that free dining will be offered for that time period. My understanding is you have to book a package and pay rack rate for the room to get free dining. I am also aware it may not be offered, but am willing to gamble.

I use a travel agent so if a better offer comes along, she will do the work and try to get it for me. On all of my past WDW vacations the travel agent has always been able to get me a better deal. You can cancel a package up to 45 days before your vacation without penalty.

 

[wdhinn89]

I've never seen a Visa code - the only Visa deal I've seen is the one posted on mousesavers a few weeks ago about the ticket upgrade.

I've booked room only ressies through CRO with a rack rate & then applied codes when they became available. I didn't have to cancel the ressie & try to rebook, they just applied the code, whether it was AAA, AP or general public codes.

I'm not sure what would happen with a package if you booked it & some special came out. You might want to call & ask - again, I believe you'd be dealing with the Disney Travel Company.

If you check out the history of codes on Mousesavers, you will see lots of promotions to Disney Visa customers. They are usually made available to visa members before they go to general public. It saved me alot of money. You must pay the entire trip on your visa though which I use anyway for the reward dollars.

 

[MELSMICE]

If you check out the history of codes on Mousesavers, you will see lots of promotions to Disney Visa customers. They are usually made available to visa members before they go to general public. It saved me alot of money. You must pay the entire trip on your visa though which I use anyway for the reward dollars.

Yes, I've seen Visa offers, in fact, I just recently saw one for a ticket upgrade. I thought you meant room codes for Visa card holders. I've never seen those before.