Room only or Magic Your Way?

[acemartini]

I agree with the other posters - there is SO much information! Luckily, we have decided where we are staying & that we do NOT want the dining plan. Ok, only took about a week to decide... Now, I have to decide whether to purchase the tickets with the room or separate. I don't like the idea of having to cancel the room/tickets 45 days before arrival. We are going in June, so I figure I could book the room now & wait to buy the tickets until right before leaving. That way I can also skip the trip insurance. Does anyone have an opinion? Has anyone picked up tickets from will call? We would do that after 3pm on a Sunday. Long lines? Thanks!!

 

[Metro West]

 

[JohnnyB2]

Hi & Welcome to the DISboardsWe used to do room only ressies alot and add the park tickets on at the Disney hotel we were staying at.Recent years we are doing APs which we pick up at guest services with our voucher.I would think first thing in the morning,will call(guest services) can be busy,but Sunday at 3pm I don't think so. You may be able to still add tickets at your hotel if you are staying onsite

 

[lovetoscrap]

Now, I have to decide whether to purchase the tickets with the room or separate. I don't like the idea of having to cancel the room/tickets 45 days before arrival. We are going in June, so I figure I could book the room now & wait to buy the tickets until right before leaving. That way I can also skip the trip insurance. Does anyone have an opinion? Has anyone picked up tickets from will call? We would do that after 3pm on a Sunday. Long lines? Thanks!!

One reason to choose a package over room only can be if they are offering any sort of special deal. For instance right now you get a free gift card with a Package. There is also a % off for a room only so you have to do the math and see which is the better deal. I was playing with some things for my family and found the package with the GC to be a better deal. (but still to much for us to do right now )

You can buy your tickets at the Guest Services of the resort when you arrive if you want. I know there used to be a small discount for buying ahead on the internet but I am thinking that I heard that isn't true anymore. You could also look at some of the discount ticket options like Mapleleaf and Undercover Tourist for buying tickets ahead of time and having them mailed to you. (subscribe to mousesavers.com newsletter for the best discounts) Even if you buy them now and have to cancel your trip, you can just hold on to them for when you reschedule.

But to answer the question you asked-- picking up tix from will call at 3pm should be no problem. I have picked up tix first thing in the morning before the park opened and the line was short.

One tip for insurance if you do get a package -- don't buy from Disney. Go to insuremytrip.com and check out the options there. You will probably find insurance at 1/2 or better of what Disney wants.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Forgot-- one other difference between buying the tix at your resort vs at the parks. At the resort you can have the tix added to your room key so you only have to carry one thing-- the room key for charging, park admission, fast pass, and room entry. If you pick up at the park you will have a separate ticket. Not a big deal but a lot of people like just having to carry around and keep track of one thing-- the credit card like room key.

 

[mk199]

welcome!

 

[acemartini]

I have read that you can add EVERYTHING to that room key. Pretty cool! Does anyone know if the tickets DO for sure cost the same at the resort as online? I am thinking buying them @ check in would probably be simpliest. Thanks for all the help!

 

[Mrs D]

Yes, the cost is same if buying them through Disney directly. Disney no longer offers any pre-purchase discount. You can get discounts if buying from an authorized ticket reseller such as Undercovertourist.com.

Yet another note on trip insurance: you are not required to buy trip insurance with either a room only or package. You just tell the CM no insurance please.

 

[Boo Bear]

I have read that you can add EVERYTHING to that room key. Pretty cool! Does anyone know if the tickets DO for sure cost the same at the resort as online? I am thinking buying them @ check in would probably be simpliest. Thanks for all the help!

Well almost everything... some of the vendor carts in the parks take cash only and not very many DTD stores take room keys. Just something to note...

 

[skx1122]

So does that mean if you do the dining plan, you cannot use it as the places that only take cash?