PLEASE HELP IN CUTTING OUR TRIP COST

[dwfan]

I NEED HELP ALL THE HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME. LAST NIGHT I GOT SOME PRICES FOR A TEN NIGHT STAY AT THE POLY FOR THREE ADULTS. THE PRICE DOUBLED WHEN I ADDED THE RESORT MAGIC PLAN ON. I AM A DISNEY CLUB MEMBER AND WILL BE LOOKING INTO GETTING ANNUAL PASSES PLUS, FOR ALL THREE OF US. WHERE CAN I GET ANNUAL PASSES FROM AND IS IT WORTH IT?
IF I BOOK THREW TRAVEL AGENT WILL THESE THINGS HELP ME IN CUTTING OUR COST?

PLEASE HELP <IMG SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif" alt="confused">

 

[JenniferWooster]

I would recommend looking at buying the annual and then seeing if there are AP discounts at the Poly. Call DW directly and ask for a price quote. Sometimes you have to really ask to see if there are any specials. Usually, but not always, the unlimited pass and booking through an agent is more expensive.

Jenn

 

[janiejo]

You can call WDW and order your annual pass vouchers or they can be purchased at the parks, DD, and at the Disney store at the Orlando airport. Some local Disney stores will order them for you as well. If you have a DC card, they will take about 5% off the price - which helps pay the tax! If you plan to go to the parks every day of your stay, the AP will certainly be the way to go - plus it is good for one year from the first time you enter a park. You could then possibly plan a second trip within the next 12 months. As far as hotel discounts with an AP, only one member of your party has to have an AP to receive the discount on the room. You do not have to have the AP when calling to check for prices. You did not mention when you plan to travel but AP discounts are not always availble. You may be able to get a discounted price with the DC as well. Just keep checking to find the best price! Happy planning.

 

[Belle5]

What month are you going? AP prices may not be out yet for the time of year you're going. It's usually better to not purchase any packages from WDW. If someone in your party gets hit with the flu or something while you're there, and has to stay in the room--their unlimited magic passes expire, no matter what, when you check out. If you have purchased AP's you still have the rest of a year in which to use them again. Park hopper tickets never expire. People that buy packages through WDW that include their dining, often say they could never eat enough to pay for the money prepaid for food, and they also feel as if they have spent their whole trip in restaurants trying to feel like they've gotten their money's worth. Sometime's we're just too worn out to want another long experience in a restaurant, no matter how wonderful. Do you really want to pay for water parks when your staying at the Poly which has such a great new pool? Will it be too cold when you're there to even enjoy a water park very much? These are the kinds of questions you need to ask yourself so that you don't overbuy on packages and passes. Good luck! You can save a bundle by buying carefully.

 

[GrumpyOne]

What are you paying for what dates?

As others have said, you can often get discounts but nothing is guaranteed. Doing packages and going through a travel agent are good ways to not save money. Although some travel agents do have a clue, most seem not to. In order to save money, you generally need to do it yourself.

Also, please don't type in all caps, it makes your post hard to read and is considered yelling.

No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy. -- Soldier's Axiom
No schedule survives first contact with WDW. -- Tourist's Axiom

[This message was edited by GrumpyOne on 04-21-01 at 05:24 PM.]

 

[fkj2]

I would agree with what the others have said already. Are you sure that you will be spending that much time at the water parks to justify getting the AP Plus? The water park is nearly an all day excursion in itself. If you're looking for a quick pool cool-off, stick to the hotel pool and maybe do a water park as a side trip. Also, the time of year when you will be travelling is important for us to know. For a ten day stay, it sounds as if the AP is your best admission deal.

I'd also avoid the packages too. And, consider renting a small car through Priceline both for convenience and to avoid wasting time waiting for the bus

[This message was edited by fkj2 on 04-21-01 at 05:40 PM.]

 

[dwfan]

belle5 10 nights in april

grumpy sry this better? lol

 

[Belle5]

April, as in tomorrow or 2002? If it's 2002 then you've got plenty of time to watch for a great rate.

 

[dwfan]

belle

april 2002 i just wanted to get a good jump lol

 

[Belle5]

We buy our AP's at our local Disney Store and use our Disney Club discount to purchase them. I'm guessing the AP rates for April of 2002 won't come out until next January or February. You might want to do a search on this site to see when they came out for April in 2001. Also, with that being a busy time at WDW with Spring break and all--I'm not positive about the odds of even snagging an AP rate at the Poly.

 

[GrumpyOne]

Since you didn't post numbers, I had to grab some from Disney and they may not be the same as yours. I also had to base this on 2001 room rates because the Disney site doesn't list the 2002 rates yet.

April 10 - 20, 2001 Resort Package, 3 Adults: $6123.45

10 Nights at Poly in Peak season in a Garden View room $3790

Three Premium Annual Passes: $1407

Package: $6123.45
DIY: $5197

Looks like the do it yourself method saves almost a grand. Of course, 2002 Poly prices will be slightly higher but probably not 28%. More like 5%. You also don't get the pin or the coice of a free breakfast/t-shirt/etc. that the package does get. Just give each person the savings and let them do what they want. PAPs seem to get you into everything that the hopper passes do in addition to Disney Quest.

It's entirely possible you could get room discounts as well but it's rather far out at the moment. I wouldn't be suprised with 10% but you may hit as high as 40% with an Annual Pass discount. That would save you another $1500, just enough to pay for the passes themselves!

No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy. -- Soldier's Axiom
No schedule survives first contact with WDW. -- Tourist's Axiom