New Wdw Package Or Aaa Rate?

[aanthony03]

We are going down to WDW for Christmas. My MIL from Australia will be joining us. So our party will consist of my dh, myself, dd, dd, ds, and mil. Our 1st reservation was room only at a AAA discount rate for 5,000 at
the Boardwalk Inn Concierge. I paniced and called WDW and told them to
switch us to the package. The package includes room, dining, and tickets 10dybase. It came to 7,000 (remember concierge). We thought about getting two rooms, but it looks like it will be more expensive that way. The suites are definately out of our price range.

Now I'm wondering if that was a smart move that's a lot of money, and
we are pretty tight on the money. Any opinions or advice for me? I'm
freaking out.

 

[lark]

It's pretty much impossible to judge without knowing exactly what you're getting for the extra $2,000. If it's for stuff that you'll end up buying when you get to the parks anyway, then it's a wash.

You seem to have a party of 6, but that's too many for a regular room at the BWI. How many of you are getting the dining and the tickets? If it's all 6 of you, depending on the ages of your children, that's about $1000 to $1200 in value for the 10day base tickets. For the value of the dining, you'd have to say how many nights you are staying. Depending on when you're going, the cost of concierge with an AAA discount could be anywhere from $400 to $650, so it's tough to know how many nights you're staying. Assuming it's somewhere around 8 or 10, then I think you're getting a pretty decent deal. You're probably saving a couple of hundred dollars over what it would ordinarily cost you. If you use the dining package wisely, it's a good deal.

Again, this all depends on how many people are involved. If it's 3a and 3c and you're getting dining for all of them for 10 nights and 10day base tickets, then yes, I think you're getting a good deal. If it's only 4 people, then it's not so good.

All of this is premised on the notion that we're talking about USD. If we're talking about AUS, I have no idea.

 

[aanthony03]

Hi Lark,

Boy! You got it down. My head is just spinning. After having 3 tots my brain has lost a few. haha!

We are going Dec 17th thru Dec 27th. That gives us 10 full days at WDW. We'll have 3 adults and 2 children in our party. There's the infant, but he wont be costing us anything. So, it will be five of us on the dining program. We are paying with US funds.

 

[Nanu57v]

Well I personally think the dining plan is a good deal, since you'll have to eat anyway.

So just for the dining for 3 adults and 2 kids that would be 350 per adult plus 200 per kid (assuming they are 9 or under). So that's 1450. So take thats away from the 7000 and its 5550. You rooms were previously 5000, so we're talking 550 leftover. Tix would be almost 1000 without park hopping or extras, so it looks like ypu gpt a good deal. Saving at least 500 over AAA room, plus tix. Now quick make your ADR's!

 

[lark]

Yup -- agreed. It looks like a savings of at least $500; probably a little more. The value of this package all depends on your ability to work the dining plan and, frankly, how much you eat.

At the risk of bogging you down with details and formulas, here's how an economist would start breaking it down. The disney dining plan under the package costs you $150 a day. Are you committed to structuring things so that you're using the plan for virtually all of your meals? If you end up spending $100 a day on food in addition to having the plan, then it's a problem. If you think you can make the plan work, then the question is this: how much would you spend on food each day if you didn't have the plan. If you're small eaters, would go to the grocery and put snacks in your room and in backpacks, etc., then you might be the rare disney guest who can stay under $150 a day for 3 adults and 2 children.

Here's what I think will end up happening. You'll end up spending about $50 a day in addition to having the meal plan -- that's $10 per person. If you didn't have the dining plan, $200 per day is probably a realistic estimate of food costs; some days more some days less, but in that neigborhood. Plus, with the dining plan and some preplaning, you'll eat really well. My one hesitation is that you're already getting -- and paying quite handsomely for -- all the free concierge food. So for you, the dining package might be overkill.

Anyway my bottom line: You did well with the package. Your true savings is about $500 and you'll eat well.

If you really want to save money, get out of that concierge room and into a regular BWI room. You could save like $80 a night in a standard water view room.