Price Difference between Pkg deals and room-only?

[Disney_1derland]

Okay, we have had to postpone our trip until next November so I'm now re-planning everything.

Just priced room-only rates at a value resort and then a package deal and the price difference was quite something.

If I reserve room-only rates and buy my PHP's in advance I am saving about $500 versus reserving a package for the same resort and same amount of time.

I know some of the 'extras' I will get if I reserve a package but can't see that it's worth the $500 difference.

Can somebody explain to me what the benefits of a package deal are that would make me want to spend that much more on it?? This would be our first time staying on-property and since my parents are coming along we must be very conservative with money for accomodations (mom would rather stay at a rat trap off property and pay $35/night OY!)

Thanks!

 

[klh999]

There are many times that the package is not such a good deal. If you are saving that much on room only, do it that way. Alot of times you can save a lot of money. For me, it wasnt worth the package.

 

[sue1013]

Your trip is so far off, I would book the room only for now. If a good package comes out later or a room only code then you can change. I wouldn't buy my tickets you have plenty of time and if a package like FTP comes out you won't be able to use it.

 

[mickeynme]

I"m glad someone has brought this topic up because I have found the same thing when trying to plan our vacation in August. There is a significant difference between the room only and purchasing tix separately and the package. I was hoping someone could tell me why the pkg is so much more!

 

[Disney_1derland]

I will go ahead and book it but I still wish there was a clear answer on what I'd be getting that's worth that much more.

Is there anyone out there who has done it both ways? If so, what were the differences?

 

[Condorman]

The only true advantage of the packages, namely Silver, Gold and Platinum is to flash your key card/pass and have all (or most) of your meals paid for in advance, charging items to your room, and of course all the extra goodies and discounts that come with. There is no price advantage. It is strictly a matter of convenience.

My question is, never having reserved "room-only," does CRO require a deposit for room-only reservations or is that strictly for when you reserve a package?

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I have never done a pkg-always room only. What someone else said is right- it's purely for convenience... it's NOT worth it IMO and I can always save a ton by not going with a pkg. I keep looking at them before every trip- but then just can't bring myself to pay all that extra simply for the "convenience" of it.

As for the deposit-with room only reservations I have always paid a deposit. It is usually $200 or one night's stay- whichever is more. Atleast that has been my experience.

 

[SnackyStacky]

My question is, never having reserved "room-only," does CRO require a deposit for room-only reservations or is that strictly for when you reserve a package?

When you reserve room-only, you pay a deposit of one night, and the balance is due at check in.

 

[Iheoma]

When you get a "room only" reservation and buy tickets are they the same as the tickets that come with the package. For example I know that you get the "unlimited magic pass" is that the same as the Park hopper tix? Is it possible to buy the unlimited pass after getting a room only?

Thanks for the info

 

[Disney_1derland]

if you do room only you'd have to buy the regular PHP's either in advance or once you arrive. the unlimited magic passes only come with package deals as far as I know.

 

[SnackyStacky]

It depends on what you ask for. When you book room-only, your options for passes are a lot more varied than if you book a package. The following are your options when purchasing admission with a room-only reservation:

1.) Ultimate Park Hopper (I think this is what you're referring to as the unlimited magic) - This will get you admission to ANYTHING on Disney property, as many times as you want. The caveat here is that these passes are ONLY good from the day you check in, until midnight on the day you check out. You can get a discount by purchasing them in advance. These passes are really only for those who plan on doing EVERYTHING, and usually NOT a good deal if you're staying for less than a week, simply because you just won't have the time to fit everything in.


2.) Park Hopper Plus - These passes come in 3 flavors:

5 days (with 2 options)
6 days (with 3 options)
7 days (with 4 options)

Disney divides their theme parks into two categories: the major theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom), and minor theme parks (Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Wide World of Sports, Pleasure Island)

With me so far? Good!

The number of days you purchase will give you that number of days admission to the MAJOR theme parks, with the ability to hop from park to park in a single day.

The options work a little bit differently. Each option is good for admission to one of the minor theme parks, but you can't hop from minor park to minor park in the same day. For example, if you were to go to Blizzard Beach, that would use one option. If on the same day you decided to go to Typhoon Lagoon, that would use one MORE option.

The number of days and number of options are COMPLETELY independent of one another. For example, if you buy a 5 day park hopper plus, and use 5 days, but don't use any of the options, those options are STILL on the pass. Likewise, if you bought a 5 day park hopper plus, and went to Blizzard Beach, but didn't go to a major theme park, you'd still have 5 days to use the major theme parks.

Still with me? Good!

The last thing to know about Park Hopper Plus passes is that unused days and unused options NEVER expire.

3.) Park Hopper - These come in two flavors

4 days
5 days

These work in exactly the same way as the park hopper plus passes, except that they don't come with any options. (So, unused days will never expire)

That was the long answer. Sorry if you didn't need it. I'm REALLY bored.

The short answer, is yes. You can buy ultimate park hoppers with room only reservations.

 

[kapica3]

I would book the room only and then hope to add a discount later when it becomes available.

Re: Tickets - There are so many options and ways to get a discount. Wait to see what happens, a code could become available to use to get a discount or suppose a Annual Passhold room rate becomes available for your time of travel. You would then be able to call back and add/change the room rate to reflect that code. These AP rates can be a significant discount (approx 40%). If that would be the case, you could purchase an annual pass( approx $70 more than a 7 day park hopper plus) for one person in your party in order to save hundreds off of the room rate. For the other members in your party I would recommend purchasing 7 day park hopper pluses from a discount broker, I used Paramount International Travel and was able to purchase these tickets at $301 per adult which included 4 pluses, i.e. waterpark, disney quest, pleasure island AND a paid character breakfast voucher (worth approx $20 depending which breakfast you use it at) per ticket purchased. This was the best deal I found and the tickets worked fine. If I remember correctly they charge $15 per order delivery charge. Good Luck.