Reas Worth It?

[ganurse]

hey guys, is the romantic package worth it? i know they do the ressies for you and it sounds tempting..what if we dont want the couples massage? can just one of us do it> how do you sign up for it?

 

[felixdacat]

Hello fellow Georgian!

Lets break it down.
If you purchase the two massages separately, it would add up to $178.
The Palo reservations would cost $5 a piece, so two people is $10.
We are now at $188.
For the additional $111 you get:
* A bottle of Champagne
* A gift basket
* A photo Album
* Turn down service one evening with flower petals throughout your cabin
* Breakfast in bed with two glasses of champagne
Note: You have the ability to order breakfast menu items that you would not have with the regular room service menu (so I've read on these boards)
* And most importantly, the chance to make advanced reservations for Palo and the Spa.

To me the deciding factor was the advanced reservations. I will be boarding in two weeks with the peace of mind that I am set. Of course, I will still be part of the ressie scramble, because my wife wants additional appointments, but at least the important ones are out of the way.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by felixdacat
Lets break it down.
If you purchase the two massages separately, it would add up to $178.
The Palo reservations would cost $5 a piece, so two people is $10.
We are now at $188.
For the additional $111 you get:

I think Palo is now $10 per person, the total up to that point would be $198, so pretty much for another $100 bucks you get the basket, the champagne breakfast, turn down service and the ability to make the ressies in advance. Worth it to me!!

 

[Muushka]

Originally posted by ganurse
hey guys, is the romantic package worth it? i know they do the ressies for you and it sounds tempting..what if we dont want the couples massage? can just one of us do it> how do you sign up for it?

Is it worth it?
Yes, to us it was. From a financial standpoint and from an insurance of getting reservations standpoint.

Can just one do the couples massage?
I was not interested in the couples massage and intended on giving my massage to my husband. We had to book the 2 together, and were told that once on the ship we could break them into 2 massages. Well this did not work out so well (due to the fact that we now had to make 2 brand new reservations, and there really was nothing available on the sea days). I did not enjoy the message as much as I thought I would (actually, I did not have high hopes for it to begin with).

I am still glad we did the package. I guess it just made me feel special walking into the room and finding that lovely basket, and ordering that great breakfast.

 

[felixdacat]

Sorry, I had to leave to take the kids to T-Ball down in Dunwoody.

As far as how to sign up, if you booked your vacation through DCL then you can add it through them as well.
If you booked the cruise through a travel aganet then you have to go through them.
If you happened to book a 3 day land, 4 day Sea package, there have been a few posters who had trouble adding the REAS to their package including me. However the brouchure clearly says you can add it so I had my TA fight Disney and they eventually gave in.

 

[weluv M&M]

Hey Felix.... I ran into the same problem with adding the REAS when I had booked a land/sea pkg. My travel agent had no luck with Disney. I tried and spoke with several "supervisors" who agreed that the wording in the brochure and online was misleading, but GOT NOWHERE!!!! I had to purchase the $599 pkg and since we are only on land for 3 days I am having a hard time trying to fit everything in. Any suggestions on how or if I can change this???

 

[felixdacat]

Once they got your money I doubt that you can get it back. But if you're spending $300 for something that you really can't use then you might as well try.
The brochure is not misleading. It is very clear. There is an asterisk next to $299. When you go to the bottom of the page it says "Add-on prices apply to 3-night land / 4-night sea packages".
My TA got tired of dealing with supervisors. She contacted her Disney rep and after two weeks got the REAS added to my vacation.
The theory that I've read on other threads is that the REAS is becoming too popular and is causing too many reservations being added in advance, thus having less slots available during the dreaded "ressie scramble". I believe this is a good theory for two reasons.
1- People have commented on the lack of availble slots during the ressie scramble. There are only 22 suites that have concierge service so the reservations must be filling up due to the packages.
2- After I had the REAS confirmed, with 28 days to go before sailing I could not get any Spa appointments for the day at sea unless I wanted either 8AM or 5PM. And my cruise was not yet sold out.

Looks like you still have some time to fight this. Try getting your TA involved. If that doesn't work, do a search through these boards for Debbie the reservations coordinator. Some threads have her phone number listed. She may have some suggestions (She is really really nice and Disney owes her a raise).

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by ganurse
..what if we dont want the couples massage? can just one of us do it> how do you sign up for it?

If you have enough time, one of you could even have two.... (both halves of the couples massage) or one of you could have half the couples and the other can get the Spa taster....

 

[CRSNDSNY]

The chance to make advanced reservations for Palo and the Spa is my number one reason for booking the REAS for our cruise this December.

The second reason is all the romantic extras like the rose petals and champagne.

 

[makaylee]

Can you book your Palo and Spa ressies as soon as you are paid in full or do you have to wait till the 60 day mark?

 

[DreaminDisney]

Originally posted by makaylee
Can you book your Palo and Spa ressies as soon as you are paid in full or do you have to wait till the 60 day mark?

I was able to book all our ressies 11 weeks before our 5/8 cruise. I just called DCL to see when I could make ressies and they connected me with Debbie (dining coordinator).

 

[makaylee]

Thanks for the info DreaminDisney, Were you paid in full? I most likely will be well before our cruise date, but just incase.

 

[DreaminDisney]

Originally posted by makaylee
Thanks for the info DreaminDisney, Were you paid in full? I most likely will be well before our cruise date, but just incase.

Yes, we were.

Debbie

 

[makaylee]

I'm a little worried now, I called DCL to ask about the package and she said yes you can book Palo early, but she had never heard of booking the spa early. She said that they send you a paper about 30 days before your cruise that tells you how to make the spa ressie when you get on board. I know someone said they talked to Debbie and she made the ressies for them 11 weeks out, I just pray they will do it for me too. Booking early is my main reason for doing the reas package. I'm a little worried to do it now.

 

[Princess49]

I spoke to a DCL cm & they connected me to Carolyn in order to make the reservations. I was told by more than one cm that you can make BOTH ressies in advance. I was also told that they would send a letter to make the arrangements & I said I could not recieve a letter because then my bf would find out about the whole thing. That's when I was told to speak to Carolyn and the cm I was speaking to made a notation on my account that they are not to speak of the package if my boyfriend should call. I just called a little while ago & added the package(with a separate credit card so he won't see the bill!) and I was immediately connected with Carolyn who unfortunately wasn't there- I left a voice mail asking her not to call any of the numbers listed on my reservation, I gave her my work number and told her I would call on my lunch break this week to make the arrangements. Hopefully all will work out, but I have asked at LEAST 3 cm's on seperate occasions if I can make the ressies in advance & I was told yes. Also, I was told that if I should book the REAS package & the days & times of the ressies are not what I want I can cancel at anytime before the cruise. They were very helpful. Hope this clears some stuff up! good luck!

 

[makaylee]

Thanks Princess