Is it really cheaper??

[Iowaswete]

Not sure where to post this but I was wondering how many people book their hotel and tickets all together in a package?? What are the benefits of doing this?? It seems to me when I looked at booking the resorts separately and then getting the park tickets it was a couple $100 cheaper.

 

[ajleone]

In most cases the only thing you're saving by booking them together is time. However if they offer free DDP again then I would book a package deal.

 

[MouseyMin]

It seems to me that it might actually be more expensive. If you book a package, let's say for 4 nights, you are getting tickets for 5 days. Unless you are taking a red-eye, you don't need a ticket for the last day, as you are traveling home. You might not need a ticket for your first day either, depending on the time you arrive. So you might be paying for tickets that you won't be able to use.

 

[rantnnravin]

you can choose whatever length ticket you want now--no more LOS tix
so if you book 4 nights, you could get a one day ticket if you so choose and it would still be a package.

 

[Hugpug]

It is for sure cheaper to book seperate then a package unless you are including the DDP but then you need to deside if you will really eat that much. I as a single never do a package because most packages are geared for doubles. This is one thing that is a pet peeve of mine. I can never do a cruise because of the added cost that is tacked on to a single. At least the hotel cost is the same for single and double at Disney. This is not so at other hotels.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've been to WDW over 38 times and never booked a package. Packages seem to give, well you actuaaly pay, for alot of stuff you might not use or be able to get done. We know the length of our stays, what we want to see and do and just book room only vacations. If we feel like we want to do a water park one day during our visit, we just pay out of pocket for that one day. Usually we prefer the resort pool, we always stay deluxe, and we've been trying the last 3 visits to do a water park again, but its more convenient to just go downstairs and take our cooler to the resort pool. I don't really see any savings in the packages, we purchase our tickets, AP's and need not worry about them. You get alot of items in most packages, just list the items you feel you'll use, do the math on the cost and see who comes out better. Our stays are in the 8-12 night range and having a ticket, or paying for one, each day of our stay would be a waste because on a duration of 8-12 nights we do not go to the parks every day, down days for exploring, shopping and other activities would negate that ticket, thus a waste of money. Everyone has their ways of touring, ours is room only and pay as we need.

 

[seashoreCM]

Over the years, Disney packages have offered little if any savings over separately booked components. Where choices (at one time called flex features or wishes) were offered, you only "saved" if you made the most expensive choice.

That "rule" holds true to this day, the exceptions being special promotions such as free dining.

really huge savings by booking separately, and also by booking packages with promotions, are usually date dependent or using the terminology of the travel industry, "capacity controlled". That is, only so many discount bookings are permitted on any given day and this may vary according to complex formulas in turn based on attendance.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[WaltD4Me]

It's more work, but I've always found it to be cheaper to book seperately. When 10 of us went in 2004, my AAA TA quoted me over $8,000 for the ten of us with tickets and airfare, I booked everything seperately for $6,200. It was alot of work, but it saved us a bundle.

 

[Redbudlover]

I wonder reading the above if I need to recheck this, but I found I saved money by buying the package. I buy non-expiring tickets, the dining plan - and I like to eat at the signature restaurants most days which is a big part of the savings - and use the Magical Express. I book my air separately - using sidestep or Dings or Kayak. The next year I buy a one day package, use my non-expiring park hoppers, get the dining package and use the magical express. The Magical Express saves me a bunch of money because I don't have to rent a car - when I need to travel from resort to resort I take a cab. The dining package saves me almost what it costs to buy it - given my love of signature restaurants.

 

[Iowaswete]

Yeah I figured the only benefit of the package would be the dining plan but we wont be at WDW everyday.....We are taking a couple days to go to Seaworld and Universal. So the dining plan wouldnt really save us any money. Plus Im just as happy with a $10 CS meal....I dont need the $50 dinner at Le Cellier

And we fly into Sanford Airport on Allegiant Air so we dont get ME.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I use the magical express. The Magical Express saves me a bunch of money because I don't have to rent a car - when I need to travel from resort to resort I take a cab.

You can get the Magical Express when you book room-only as well.

 

[Redbudlover]

It looks like I really will have to check that again next time then. hough next year I plan to go during free dining - given they offer it. It they don't I will have to pull out my old calculator! I have thought about getting AAA to check the rates on that and to watch for codes. When I looked last - and admittedly it was a couple of years ago - the savings weren't enough to overcome not using the dining plan.

 

[Ilovestitch]

Well if you compare apples to apples it should be the same price. If I price a resort w/aaa discount and tickets it is the same price as a package with the aaa discount at the same resort and same tickets. You can try it on the WDW website.

I would not say its a general rule that packages cost more- it just depends on what discount codes you can get.