Package Or On My Own??

[BABYJOSIE98]

I am planning a trip for my DD,Nephew and I for this May 2006...I am just trying to decide if we should to a package or if I should wait and see if room only discounts come out in the Spring???

I priced a package through WDW...What do ya think??
Magic your way basic package
6 day 5 nights
4 day pass/no options
Port Orleans French Quarter
Disney Magical express
Photo pass ect...

Price was around $1400.00

I did not think that was too bad?? I only want the 4day pass so we have one day to do nothing.

I want to surprise Nephew for Christmas! So do I buy him his Magic pass or book the package and give him that info?? I also ordered the free DVD and will give him that too.

If I book and discounts become avaiable they apply to my package???

Thanks for your help guys!

Michelle

 

[kmkja1]

We are also planning on May of '06. There are 5 of us so we will be at POR. I think just going through the WDW website it was around 2,300 for 7 nights 8 days with park hopper. We plan on waiting untill we firm up our dates and hoping to get a discount code.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I just e-mailed Dreams Unlimited and got a great quote... Plus they keep checking for discounts all the time and will lower the price if one comes available for my package!

I think I may go with them??? Disney won't check for discounts...

They are holding my reservation till Nov 11th..So that gives me time to decide.

Last year I had a PIN code in May,but I may not get so lucky this time around!

Decisions!!!!

 

[kmkja1]

I got a quote from Dreams Unlimites also. They were only $20 less than what I got on the WDW website.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

Atleast they check for discounts all the time!!

I am thinking about it!

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

I would suggest booking yourself, while it's true, DU does check for discounts and place PSings I found it more fun to do it myself.

I also had an experience where my DU rep told me the discounts were sold out, I called myself and got thru, then had to have it tranferred over.

I also found I could not manipulate my booking myself at all. For example, I wanted to be sure my room request was placed and WDW told me I had to have my travel agent call for me, they couldn't take it unless I called just a few days before I checked in. Others don't want to do it themselves and like the "book it and forget it" and know it's taken care of. If you are on these boards my guess is you will want to be a big part of the planning.

As for the package, it's up to you. Some packages are eligable for dicounts, others are not. I think the MYW package sounds good, just be sure to ask if a promotional discount code comes out if you can apply to your existing reservation.

What a wonderful gift for your nephew- that's really generous of you and Im sure he will be delighted!!

 

[gydell]

Try AAA travel, they usually can get 15% or 20% off roomrates that Disney gives you. They also can give discount on packages including Magic Your Way and plus Dining. Check them out.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

Ok...I will call AAA this weekend for the room rates.

I do like planning on my own too.

I would like to buy my Nephew his pass at the Disney store and give it too him for Christmas and I found the Countdown timers that say "Magic Happens". So I am getting him one of those too.

If I do the package I will give him the DVD and the reservation comfirmation.

Thanks for the advice!

Michelle

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I just wanted to mention that you may want to pay the extra few dollars for the 5 day pass. I'm not sure if you know its only a little extra. It is nice to have a day off, but it may be even better to stretch things out over 5 days and have afternoons or evenings as your time to do nothing or swim or visit DTD. I'm thinking your extra day may be $10 more?

 

[kmkja1]

Atleast they check for discounts all the time!!

I am thinking about it!

I don't think that I will. I will check the AAA discounts and the Mousesavers board regularly. I am fairly sure that if you book your room and a discount rate comes out at a latter date you can get it applied to your reservation. It's great that you are doing this, I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as your nephew.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

You don't need to go thru AAA to get a room-only discount. You can call CRO and make the ressie yourself. That way, you maintain control of your ressie and not some TA who may or may not be available to make any changes you want.

Pricing it out yourself:

• 5 nights POFQ (@$155.00/night) w/AAA discount (-15%), including tax (+11.5%) = $734.51
• 5-day MYW base passes (1 adult, 2 children) at Ticketmania.com = $516.00
• Magical Express = FREE to all WDW resort guests regardless of how they book
• PhotoPass = whatever you choose to buy when you return home

Total Cost of Booking Yourself = $1250.51

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

Thanks....I did call WDW this weekend and they gave me the AAA rate and so I think I will do it on my own.

I figured out I can get DD and I the 7 day pass and Nephew the 4 day and it is still less than the package and DD and I get 3 extra days to use again sometime.

Thanks for all the tips!