Question on past 4/3 offer...

[mjamm]

I know this is still speculation as to whether this offer will be given by Disney this year, but I have a question that has probably been asked several times before. I would need to book adjoining rooms for my family of 5. What is the proper way to estimate my cost? Should I price out a package with room, 7 day base tickets, and add a room only cost, then approximate 43% of that total?

I am just trying to run some numbers, and of course it always seems like the resorts my family is the most interested in are the resorts that don't offer sleeping for 5. I know the other deluxes do offer 5 to a room, I just wanted to know ALL my option! TIA!

 

[jll45]

Assuming you are looking for a rate for 2 rooms at a value resort (will work for any resort, actually). The best way to compute the entire cost is:

1. The cost of 4 day park passes.

2. Get the rack rate of one room for 7 days. Multiply by 2 (for the 2 rooms). Then take this number divide it by 7. Take this number and multiply by 4.

Add these 2 numbers (passes and resort rate) together and you will get the total cost of the package.



Someone on the boards came up with a spreadsheet that would also be helpful in this instance and shows all of the rates and savings over rack rate.
I can't find it now but I am sure a search would help you find it.

 

[mjamm]

Thank you!

 

[clanmcculloch]

POR rooms with trundles sleep 5 and will cost less than 2 rooms at a value. Just something ot keep in mind. Granted you won't have the benefit of 2 bathrooms or be able to close a door between you and the kids in order to get privacy or make it easier for them to sleep and you'll have less overall room, but it is still an option if cost is a factor.

 

[rt2dz]

Also, look into the Fort Wilderness Cabins. Much cheaper than a deluxe and more room! Especially compared to Port Orleans!

 

[mjamm]

We are actually currently booked at POR, never stayed there before and a little nervous we will be cramped. Our philosophy is..... we are there for the parks and only need a bed, toilet and shower.
I was just curious what it would cost me to have adjoining rooms at WL or AKL, instead of paying for club level...for a family that is use to paying value prices, club level is a little These two resorts are the ones my girls would really enjoy and the only deluxe resorts that sleep 4 to each room....

 

[Totally Mickey]

In the past were all the hotels a part of the offer or just certain ones? Also was it limited to standard view or were rooms with a view & concierge level also a part of this? It would be great if they offered it this year and all levels were included. I could actually have a view.

 

[tiggspring]

In May we stayed at the Poly MK view in Tahiti on this discount plan. All I can say is WOW! We have never stayed in a any kind of delux hotel never mind one with a view. We figured it was worth the upgrade because we might never get a deal like that again. It was so worth it!!!!! If it come back we will do whatever it takes to get back.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Have you considered a family suite? I've stayed at both POR & family suite with my family of 5 and we enjoyed the family suite much more!

In the past were all the hotels a part of the offer or just certain ones? Also was it limited to standard view or were rooms with a view & concierge level also a part of this? It would be great if they offered it this year and all levels were included. I could actually have a view.

Last year I spent a week in Jan in a Garden View room at the Poly on the 4/3 deal. Then I spent a week in May at AKL CL on the 4/3 deal. I was originally booked in Jan in a AKL CL room but I couldn't get 4/3 deal on that room so I switched to Poly. I could have done Savanah View in Jan on 4/3 but DD wanted Poly. Poly CL was avail in Jan but I decided not to do that on that trip.

 

[swift]

Taking the rack rate and dividing by 7 will work in most cases but if your resort has different pricing for weekends and weekdays then you need to look at the exact prices for the first four nights because that is what you will pay. This would also be the case if your stay spans more than one "season" i.e. the first 4 nights and second 3 nights are at different prices, although I expect Disney will handle this by setting the dates for the offer so that they only cover one season.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

In the past were all the hotels a part of the offer or just certain ones? Also was it limited to standard view or were rooms with a view & concierge level also a part of this? It would be great if they offered it this year and all levels were included. I could actually have a view.

It really depended on when you were going and how soon you booked it. We grabbed Pop Century early on, but there was TONS of availability for early June (all hotels, all categories). Then things tightened up after a few weeks. We did end up switching to CR about 2 months before leaving since a lot of people seemed to have cancelled the early bookings and more hotels had availability again.

 

[sharadoc]

Hi. I picked the dates I wanted to go, then priced a package with 5 nights (assuming I'm staying 8 nights).

That gave me the price, didn't it?

You guys are confusing me

 

[dizfam4]

OK....help a confused mom! I hope someone is patient enough to crunch some numbers for me... We are booked at CSR for 10 nights May 5th-15th 2010....our total (w/o dining) for our room and 2 adults / 2 children w/ 10 day parkhoppers is about $3,200. How much will the 4/3 save me if the code is released? Wondering if we may be able to upgrade to a deluxe or villa if it keeps up in the 3,200 price range??

Oh...and one more question for a patient soul...when was this 4/3 deal for last year. April and May? Just May? We are thinking of switching our ressie to April 28th-May 8th and will only do that if there is a possibility of the 4/3 for April....

 

[swald91]

Last year I think the 4/3 deal came out around early November, we took advantage in January-I don't remember the deal being only for certain resorts but they probably put only a certain amount of rooms available at that deal. Then I remember hearing how they extended it into June. I'm not sure if they plan to do it again this year but I am keeping my fingers crossed. We only stayed 5 days last year so we really didn't get as good a deal asthose staying for 7.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

OK....help a confused mom! I hope someone is patient enough to crunch some numbers for me... We are booked at CSR for 10 nights May 5th-15th 2010....our total (w/o dining) for our room and 2 adults / 2 children w/ 10 day parkhoppers is about $3,200. How much will the 4/3 save me if the code is released? Wondering if we may be able to upgrade to a deluxe or villa if it keeps up in the 3,200 price range??

Oh...and one more question for a patient soul...when was this 4/3 deal for last year. April and May? Just May? We are thinking of switching our ressie to April 28th-May 8th and will only do that if there is a possibility of the 4/3 for April....

In your instance you would be paying for 7 nights and getting the 3 free.

I think the easiest way is to go onto the WDW website and price out a 7 night vacation with the options you want starting on your intended arrival day. Unless I'm missing something that should pretty much be what the price would be for the 10 night trip under the 4/3 deal they ran earlier this year.

Historical discounts can be found on mousesavers.com.

 

[mjamm]

WOW! Thanks for all the info guys! You are the best!

 

[rt2dz]

In your instance you would be paying for 7 nights and getting the 3 free.

I think the easiest way is to go onto the WDW website and price out a 7 night vacation with the options you want starting on your intended arrival day. Unless I'm missing something that should pretty much be what the price would be for the 10 night trip under the 4/3 deal they ran earlier this year.

Historical discounts can be found on mousesavers.com.

That will give you an estimate, but a lot will depend on if the rates change over the course of your stay. They take the total cost of the room and divide by 7 to figure an average cost; you then get up to 3 nights free of the average cost v. actual cost of the last/first/most expensive/least expensive free nights. Then, of course, there are tax adjustments.

HERE is an article I've posted before that really explains how it worked.

 

[SarahD]

OK....help a confused mom! I hope someone is patient enough to crunch some numbers for me... We are booked at CSR for 10 nights May 5th-15th 2010....our total (w/o dining) for our room and 2 adults / 2 children w/ 10 day parkhoppers is about $3,200. How much will the 4/3 save me if the code is released? Wondering if we may be able to upgrade to a deluxe or villa if it keeps up in the 3,200 price range??

Oh...and one more question for a patient soul...when was this 4/3 deal for last year. April and May? Just May? We are thinking of switching our ressie to April 28th-May 8th and will only do that if there is a possibility of the 4/3 for April....

You might want to consider staying 14 days if they offer the 4/3...it's a lot, I know, but you can make back-to-back reservations: Pay 4 nights, get 3 nights free, pay 4 nights, get 3 nights free. You don't have to get tickets for 14 days, but you would have to do the dining plan either for one week or both weeks - can't do it for part of a package. If your packages are 7 nights each, you'd have to do dining for 7 days, 14 days or not at all. If I were you and considering a two week stay, I'd switch resorts in the middle and try a different place for the 2nd week. Also, if the deal has a $200 gift card offer for the dates you want, you'd get two with two reservations. Last year, however, the gift card was good for stays in Jan-Mar. But you never kow what this year's deal may be...

 

[aanderson5]

OT but what could the $200 gift card be used for? Was it like the birthday card or could it be used in restaurants? Thanks

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

OT but what could the $200 gift card be used for? Was it like the birthday card or could it be used in restaurants? Thanks

Last year it was an actual gift card...the same as you would buy from your local Disney Store or disneyshopping.com. I was able to use mine for upgrading passes, Cirque de Soleil tickets and paying for snacks.