Optimizing 2 DW Resort Reservations w/ Disney Cruise in-between

[sh4mike]

Done Disneyworld 8 years in a row, but next year's plan is just silly.

- 1/31-2/5 = stay at Pop Century
- 2/5-2/9 = Disney cruise out of Port Canaveral
- 2/9-2/11 = stay on-site (resort TBD, preferably Value)
- 7 person party (3 adults, 4 kids) in two rooms for everything
- 7-day Base Tickets for all
- Disney Dining plan for all

We always do Jan-Feb, so I'm used to package deals coming out in late September. Booked everything on the agenda, although I'm currently forced into Port Orleans for the second leg (2/9-2/11) because it was the only location available (during low season!?!).

Looking for advice on how to structure the resort reservations to meet package requirements. The Disney rep booked us under 4 separate reservations (two rooms matrixed with two resort stays). I'm concerned that the deals might have a 4-night minimum requirement, which would allow us to only get a deal on the first resort stay but not the second.

Does anyone have experience linking two separate resort stays into a single package? Is this something that I could ask for? Is there a better solution here?

We're looking at $18K for the 12-day experience, and I'm hoping we can bring that down with an optimized resort package set-up and a typical Play/Stay/Dine package in September.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There is a cheer championship overlapping the 9-11. You may not be able to make a Value then.

You cannot link two separate stays into a single package. It is not possible.

 

[purple figment]

Done Disneyworld 8 years in a row, but next year's plan is just silly.

- 1/31-2/5 = stay at Pop Century
- 2/5-2/9 = Disney cruise out of Port Canaveral
- 2/9-2/11 = stay on-site (resort TBD, preferably Value)
- 7 person party (3 adults, 4 kids) in two rooms for everything
- 7-day Base Tickets for all
- Disney Dining plan for all

1. We always do Jan-Feb, so I'm used to package deals coming out in late September. Booked everything on the agenda, although I'm currently forced into Port Orleans for the second leg (2/9-2/11) because it was the only location available (during low season!?!).

2. Looking for advice on how to structure the resort reservations to meet package requirements. The Disney rep booked us under 4 separate reservations (two rooms matrixed with two resort stays). I'm concerned that the deals might have a 4-night minimum requirement, which would allow us to only get a deal on the first resort stay but not the second.

3. Does anyone have experience linking two separate resort stays into a single package? Is this something that I could ask for? Is there a better solution here?

4. We're looking at $18K for the 12-day experience, and I'm hoping we can bring that down with an optimized resort package set-up and a typical Play/Stay/Dine package in September.

Cheers,
Mike

1. There really isn't a low season anymore and since Mardi Gras is 2/13/18 next year, that weekend is the start of a busy week in DW. It's early so keep checking to see if more rooms become available.

2. Having a package/resort reservation in place doesn't give you an advantage when a special offer is released. Rooms are allocated specifically for the offer and IF your resort, room category and dates qualify AND there is availability you would be able to take advantage of the offer. If you qualify, on the surface it will look like the special was "added" to your current reservation because your reservation number doesn't change, but internally the booking system actually creates a new reservation. Different specials have different requirement and you'll have to wait until the details are released. While the example Disney posts on its site when announcing a special often says four or five nights, most special packages can be booked for fewer nights. The most recent free dining deal had a three night minimum. If a room rate discount is released you might be able to apply that to your package, but only one special can be applied to a reservation so if there is more than one offer, you'll have to do the math to see which will be better for you.

3. If you are asking about linking the 1/31 stay and the 2/9 stay into one package, there is no way to do that even if you booked the same resort and same room category for both. They will always be two completely separate reservations.

4. You might be able to book a special offer for the first stay, but the most recent special (free dining this fall/winter) required park hopper tickets rather than the base tickets you listed. Also, many special package offers require tickets to be included so booking a second special for the 2/9 stay might not be practical since the cost of a second set of tickets could negate any savings. For the shorter 2/9-2/11 a room only reservation with a room rate discount and paying for food out of pocket will probably be a better option than a package special or call to book a ticketless package with a paid dining plan.

You could also look into booking through an online discounter such as travelocity or orbitz, but they only sell rooms. You would not be able to get the dining plan with any room booked through them.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Can you explain further how you booked these reservations? I'm assuming you have room, dining and the tickets on the Pop stay and just room and dining on the Port Orleans stay (as you won't need nor should you buy two sets of tickets). If this is the case, see if a package or room only discount works best for the first reservation when discounts are released. For the second reservation, the most cost effective way to go will be a room only discount as a package promo would require purchasing more tix which would completely negate the discount.