Package vs. Room Only & Tickets

[Tim Smith]

Can anyone see if these figures make since. Currently a 6 night Dreammaker package at the POP runs 1706.55.

A room only 6 night stay at the POP is 662.40. 7 day PHP tickets are 330 a piece * 3 of us = 990.00. Total 1652.40. Add in DQ tickets for the 3 of us and we have to add another 96 for a total of 1748.40.

This would cost us an additional 41.85 over the Dreammaker package price. I have understood the general census is the vacations were cheaper by purchasing the parts seperate of each other on your own. Am I missing something or are my figures way off?

Any help from veteran Dissers would be welcomed.

Thanks
tim

 

[Kristentheangel]

Tim, I'm going to Pop Century in Sep. with my DBF, and DD and it's during Value Season. I was quoted 1300 for 7 nights for the DM Pckg. However, I called CRO and used my AAA discount and got a rate of 68 a night, tax included. I'm planning on getting my tix online and there's a thread about cheap PHP tickets...I'm getting the 6 day ones from a internet site talked about here (I cant remember the name of it, I have to check out the thread)..
Let me know if you have any more questions, I've researched this for 4 mths and staying offsite isnt worth it, I dont want to rent a car, I'm on vacation...staying on WDW property is so worth it..
Kristen

 

[BethR]

Your figures look good, Tim. But what you have to remember is that if you choose not to go to a park on a particular day, then you have paid for a wasted day. Remaining days on Park Hopper tickets are good forever.
If you would buy your 7 day PHP from www.paramountinternationaltravel.com you will receive a ticket for a free visit to DQ, so you won't have to add that in. (You will not see this mentioned on the site, but if you call, they will tell you.)
Sometimes (not OFTEN) packages do save some money.

OH! Also, I don't know when you are travelling, but you may be able to pay less than what you figured for your stay at POP. Sometimes there are discount codes, or often you can get a discount if you are a AAA member, etc. So you may want to factor that in as well.

 

[Tim Smith]

BethR, Kristentheangel

Thanks for the quick response. I too have been planning this out for awhile and could never get the results it seemed everyone else was getting. The package always seemed to be better.

We are not able to go during the value season. We plan on going to the parks everyday. Waterparks do not interest us because we have two major water parks within 20 minutes of our home. We are there for one reason, to be at Disney. Period!

We do not get there as much as we would like and we plan on experiencing as much as we can. (with in reason) I can swim at home.

I am waiting on the rumored 5 for 7. I believe this will allow us to stay 7 nights for the price of 5. That would be a 220 savings over my 6 night package and give us an extra day.

I will see if the AAA discount will save me any.

Thanks for verifying my numbers.
tim

 

[Tim Smith]

Oh, the travel dates are Aug 16-22 @ the POP.

tim

 

[mtblujeans]

It looks like MouseSavers has recently posted a Disney Visa cardmember package update at:

http://www.mousesavers.com/packages.html

Toward the bottom of the page, printed in red, is a new package special. Would this affect your calculations? Maybe make a better rate for you?

 

[bigbabyblues]

I, too, found that a package is going to be cheaper for us than buying separate tix/hotel. I guess it truly depends on what you are looking for and what you plan to do on your trip.

Steph

 

[HaleyB]

It is only cheaper when you use discount codes for your room. This, however, is a new thing. In past years the packages were always more than buying the components, Disney fixed that. One mistake people make is to assume they will be going in a major park everyday for 7 or 8 days. It is much nicer to be able to take a day off mid way to recooperate a bit, but with UPH you will be paying for that day. With that in mind you may want to look at the price for 7 nights and 5 day PHP's and consider having a day of rest!

 

[BethR]

Originally posted by HaleyB
One mistake people make is to assume they will be going in a major park everyday for 7 or 8 days. It is much nicer to be able to take a day off mid way to recooperate a bit, but with UPH you will be paying for that day. With that in mind you may want to look at the price for 7 nights and 5 day PHP's and consider having a day of rest!

I am not trying to tell anyone what they want to do on a vacation, but for us, when we go for 7 nights/8 days, we only go to the major parks for 4 days. And we REALLY try not to go to the major parks more than 2 days in row. We really need a break after 2 days, so we take a day off to swim, do a water park, sleep in and go shopping, etc.

But every family is different and I have seen plenty who say that they will be in a major park EVERY day.

Tim, I looked at your figures again, and even if you pay full rate at POP it is cheaper to go separately.
660.40 - POP
963.00 - 3 7 day Hopper Plusses with 1 free DQ admission per Hopper from Paramount (7 days to hop, and 4 plusses)
15.00 shipping

$1640.40 TOTAL

You have saved $66.15 PLUS you have the option of NOT going to a major park on if you don't want and having the day left for a future visit.

The only "problem" is your leftover plusses which you think that you will not use, but, of course, you are paying for them with UMP as well. You can use them or not for they too never expire. And if you wanted, you could give one of the water parks a try. Believe me, they are not your neighborhood water park. I recommend Typhoon Lagoon for a relaxing day away from the parks.

Just some things to think about...

 

[Tim Smith]

Thanks for all the feedback, it is something to think about. We spent 7 days in WDW during our honeymoon in 2001 and spent every single day in the parks. We still could not get enough. I am very confidant we will spend every day in the parks this time too. I will have to give it some thought though with the new input

Thanks evryone.
tim

 

[wendyl]

Originally posted by Tim Smith
7 day PHP tickets are 330 a piece * 3 of us = 990.00. Total 1652.40. Add in DQ tickets for the 3 of us and we have to add another 96
tim

The Dreammaker comes with the Ultimate Park Hopper passes--that include visits to DQ. You can buy these seperately as well, if you are a resort guest. You may want to price the Ultimate Park Hopper Pass when doing your comparison rather than pricing 7day PHP w/DQ admission.