Room only or Package for January

[GayeofPA]

Currently we have booked Room Only, but someone said we should get Package when they come out--for the room and tickets. We don't want the dining plan, so what would be the advantage of this? Just for the addition of the tickets?

 

[soarin_over_nj]

If you are not getting the dining plan the added benefit is really nothing. You can add your tickets when you check in or you can try to find tickets through something like AAA at a cheaper price.

 

[Jestocost]

Currently we have booked Room Only, but someone said we should get Package when they come out--for the room and tickets. We don't want the dining plan, so what would be the advantage of this? Just for the addition of the tickets?

Unless there's some kind of package offer that results in you saving some money or you want the DDP, there is no real advantage to booking a package vs. separate room reservations and tickets. You will get a few minor perks that we never use, but they might have value to you.

 

[mickeynut1]

Currently we have booked Room Only, but someone said we should get Package when they come out--for the room and tickets. We don't want the dining plan, so what would be the advantage of this? Just for the addition of the tickets?

Other than a few extras that come with a package (luggage tags, mini golf coupon, etc), there's really no advantage to booking a package over just the room. Deposits, final payments, and cancellation policies are different. A package requires a deposit of $200 with the balance due 45 days prior to arrival; whereas room only requires a deposit equal to 1 night's room rate + tax, with the balance due at check in. Packages require cancellation to be made 45 days or more from arrival to avoid a penalty of $200; room only can be cancelled up to 5 days from arrival without penalty. Since you already have room only booked, if you were to change to a package, the room only would have to cancelled/refunded and a package booked, requiring a new $200 deposit. Room only and packages are different reservation systems, so money paid toward one cannot be applied to the other. HTH .

 

[Wood Nymph]

Currently we have booked Room Only, but someone said we should get Package when they come out--for the room and tickets. We don't want the dining plan, so what would be the advantage of this? Just for the addition of the tickets?

You don't need to book a package in order to get tickets. You can just buy the tickets when you check in. Like the others have said, there is no benefit to getting a package, except maybe a few coupons. You get to keep your money until check in, and the cancellation policy is a lot more flexible. You can cancel within five days of check in and get all your money back. With a package there is a full payment due 45 days ahead of time and a cancellation charge after a certain date. The only reason to get a package early is if you have to book a package in order to get some sort of discount.

 

[GayeofPA]

If they were to offer free dining, we would take that, and I know we would have to have a package for that. But we're going in January, and free dining was not offered last year (but it was the 2 years before that).

Is it OK to wait and switch to package if this is offered--or is there an advantage of switching now, "just in case." (and then switching back to Room Only if it's not offered. Lots of switching!

 

[mickeynut1]

If they were to offer free dining, we would take that, and I know we would have to have a package for that. But we're going in January, and free dining was not offered last year (but it was the 2 years before that).

Is it OK to wait and switch to package if this is offered--or is there an advantage of switching now, "just in case." (and then switching back to Room Only if it's not offered. Lots of switching!

If you will only get a package if FD is offered, I would wait and change at that time, should FD be offered. If you change now, the room only will have to be cancelled/refunded and a package booked, requiring a new deposit as money cannot be transferred between the two reservation types. Then if FD is not offered and you change back to room only, the package will have to be cancelled/refunded and room only booked, again requiring a new deposit. So in order to avoid potential cancelling and rebooking, I would keep what you have and change later should FD come out and switch at that time .

 

[Jestocost]

If they were to offer free dining, we would take that, and I know we would have to have a package for that. But we're going in January, and free dining was not offered last year (but it was the 2 years before that).

Is it OK to wait and switch to package if this is offered--or is there an advantage of switching now, "just in case." (and then switching back to Room Only if it's not offered. Lots of switching!

The PP has given some good advice but it's really moot at this point because you literally cannot book a package for January 2014 yet. You can book a room-only reservation over the phone (not online) at the highest rack rate but packages aren't available until room rates are released for next year. Right now the operative rumor is that 2014 rates may be released July 10 and you would be able to book a 2014 package at that time.

 

[GayeofPA]

it's really moot at this point because you literally cannot book a package for January 2014 yet. You can book a room-only reservation over the phone (not online) at the highest rack rate but packages aren't available until room rates are released for next year. .

Currently we have booked Room Only, but someone said we should get Package when they come out-

It is the travel agent who is preparing for the July 10 opening of packages and wants us to switch over to a package when it's made available.

 

[taylor3297]

It is the travel agent who is preparing for the July 10 opening of packages and wants us to switch over to a package when it's made available.

The TA does not make as commission on a room only as they do a package. This could be why they want you to switch. Now some of the coupons are really quite good. They have added two passes to Disney Quest and now have a decent coupon for the bowling alley at DTD.

So if you are interested in doing either of those, it might be worth getting a package. Remember with a package, you have to pay in full 45 days from arrival. Room only you can pay when you check in.

 

[Marthasor]

It is the travel agent who is preparing for the July 10 opening of packages and wants us to switch over to a package when it's made available.

There is absolutely no reason to switch to a package right now. Not sure why your TA is pressuring you to do this. I would politely tell your TA that you would like to stick to a room-only and ask him/her to please alert you ASAP when discounts become available for your travel time frame as you might be interested in switching at that time. IF a discount comes out that is applicable to your dates, let her know you would consider switching to a package then if there is a financial benefit for you. (I only see this happening if Disney reinstates the room-only discount, plus discount on tickets if you purchase a pass of 4 days or more which they did for part of this year). If you are flexible with resorts/room categories, let her/him know that, too, as many times only certain resorts/room categories will be placed in the discount inventory. A good TA will do this automatically for you when the discounts come out (will check what's available for your dates and either apply discount to existing reservation or alert you ASAP if switching your resort/room category will offer you a savings). Seriously, if you don't want dining, there is no reason to switch to a package right now.