Room only or package? Your thoughts?

[ilm2000]

Trying to determine what the advantage is of having a package or just reserving a room and buying tickets to link when it gets closer to the 60 day mark. What do most people do?

 

[Fire14]

I can try and explain options:
Room only: you have to pay one night room deposit to hold res. and pay off rest at room check in or before.

Pkg: You have to put down 200.00 deposit to hold res. and have it paid In full 45 days in advance. You get extra goodies as part of pkg. Mini Golf vouchers, Luggage tags, discount on Water sports, and discount on water craft rentals. I know you used to get and may still an arcade card with 100 points on it, and vouchers for Disney Quest.

For me I'd rather do room only as it gives me more time to pay, I have no use/care for Mini Golf, DQ, Water crafts, etc. The luggage tags are cute but I think my last 3 are gathering dust in various spots in my home.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Trying to determine what the advantage is of having a package or just reserving a room and buying tickets to link when it gets closer to the 60 day mark. What do most people do?

We always get a room only and then buy tickets when we get closer to check in. A room only reservation with tickets can be fully refunded if cancelled at least five days before check in date. A package has to be paid in full 45 days out and there is a $200 fee if cancelling after the 45 day mark.

I can't see any good reason to book a package unless you want to get the dining plan, but other people might feel differently.

 

[siskaren]

I can't see any good reason to book a package unless you want to get the dining plan, but other people might feel differently.

I book a package because I have a Disney Visa and can get 6 months interest-free financing on packages. Also, when you book a package you can make payments online, whereas with a room only you would have to call to make payments. I also like having it paid off before I get there.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I like room only because it is more flexible. The last 2 vacations to disney have been moving targets and I've had to cancel days.

I had to cancel my march trip a week ago and I was supposed to be there in 2 weeks. I'd have lost money if it was a package but since it was room only, it didn't cost me anything.

 

[dachsie]

Is it less expensive to buy tickets online prior to arrival? I had planned to get them at DTD when I arrived.

 

[redrosesix]

Trying to determine what the advantage is of having a package or just reserving a room and buying tickets to link when it gets closer to the 60 day mark. What do most people do?

I agree with what other posters have said, and just add that it is easy to turn a room only reservation into a package. IMO, it's a good idea if you're still working out the details eg. how many park days, whether to purchase the dining plan, and if you'll take advantage of any discounts (some discounts are only for RO reservations, some are only for packages).

Either option will allow you to book fp's at the 60 day mark.

 

[ilm2000]

This may sound dumb, but if you do RO, can you still pay it off in advance and get it all back if you need to cancel?

 

[redrosesix]

This may sound dumb, but if you do RO, can you still pay it off in advance and get it all back if you need to cancel?

Nope - it's a good question. As long as you cancel at least 5 days before check-in you can get it all back.

Even more important, if you change things and it becomes a more expensive trip (eg. you book a package) they can use what you paid against the new bill. Or will refund you the difference if you're paying less, like if you find a discount for your dates and they can apply it to your reservation.

 

[siskaren]

Is it less expensive to buy tickets online prior to arrival? I had planned to get them at DTD when I arrived.

You can save some money by buying them from Undercover Tourist.

I agree with what other posters have said, and just add that it is easy to turn a room only reservation into a package.

Except that you have to cancel the room only and make a new reservation for a package and you can't transfer what you've paid toward the room only reservation toward the package.

 

[karly05]

I do room only because I don't want a dining plan, don't care about any of the other extras, and, as others have said, RO can be cancelled closer to the trip without penalty. For 2012 and 2013, I bought my park ticket through Undercover Tourist via the MouseSavers newsletter link for a little savings. For 2014, I bought online from WDW because of reports of issues linking the UT tix to MDE, but now that that appears to have been resolved, I'll probably be going back to UT.

 

[Fire14]

I do room only because I don't want a dining plan, don't care about any of the other extras, and, as others have said, RO can be cancelled closer to the trip without penalty. For 2012 and 2013, I bought my park ticket through Undercover Tourist via the MouseSavers newsletter link for a little savings. For 2014, I bought online from WDW because of reports of issues linking the UT tix to MDE, but now that that appears to have been resolved, I'll probably be going back to UT.

I bought friends Tix from UCT for our Feb trip and had no issues linking her ticket at all.

 

[MickeyChix]

Because we plan out so early in advance I start out with RO reservations. Then I watch for discounts to start being offered for cheaper room rates and/or free dinning. With Disney discounts you don't always get them unless you book a package through them.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We prefer room only, because we have annual passes and haven't done the dining plan in a couple of years.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I haven't seen this mentioned, but you'll need to have tickets linked to MDE if you want to prebook FP+. I have not heard of rides being completely out day of right at park opening (I have heard some of the times weren't that great like ETWB at 9:30pm) so prebooking may not be a big deal. I think it is really yet to be seen though since for the most part offsite isn't prebooking. Although some have been given the opportunity, but not sure what percentage. Test and adjust, test and adjust.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Another RO family here. We always take advantage of the RO deals in the "off" season.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

For me, the only reason to book a package is to get the Dining Plan. We now own 2 "Disney adults" and the price of the Dining Plan is just nuts for our family of 4. I booked a room only and are skipping the DP - the advantage is not having to pay for the trip in full 45 days away from arrival.