Room only + tickets vs. package?

[lklasing]

I'm not a newbie, but have a very newbie-ish question. I'm trying to figure out whether to book as room only and then buy tickets separately, or just to get a package. For anyone willing to help me think this out, here's the info as best I can tell:

We (me plus DD9 and DD11) are going to FW, staying in a cabin, May 23-28. The WDW site says that the cabin + 6 day hoppers for all of us would be $2517.84. I have already booked room only through AAA (but am willing to re-book if I need to) and got room only for $1544. To buy tickets separately, it looks like it would be an additional $750 for the same 6 day hoppers. Room only (AAA rate) plus separate tickets adds up to $2294, for a savings of about $223.

Am I missing something? Is there any reason to book a package instead of doing all of this separate? I've only done packages in the past and don't know how it works if you have your tickets separate from your room. I like having it all on one key, but don't figure that's worth $223.

FWIW, we are not doing the dining plan this trip.

Anyone have any thoughts? Have I thought through this the right way?

Thanks so much!

Leslie

 

[spiceycat]

you have to call WDW. the WDW site does not allow you - your AAA discount.

so just call them.

that say I think room only is all you can get from WDW.

the package must come from AAA. (I think)

just did disney site doing room only - it is $1,716 not $1,544 you got with your AAA discount.

 

[brentalex]

I don't think there is any reason to get a package, especially since you don't want the dining plan. The plan you have sounds good.

 

[Booyakasha]

I booked a trip in a similiar way. The AAA rate was not available on this package. If I broke it up as a room only and tickets I saved a significant amount of money so I went that way. It was an obvious choice.

B.

 

[grannyminnie]

The above poster is right...Disney will not book a AAA package for you. You have to do that thru AAA. However, Disney will book AAA discounted rooms. I do that all the time. To your real question, to "package" or not to,it is a matter of personal preference. For me, it's a no-go. Not worth it. In the first place, I don't like the idea of having to pay the whole thing off early. I also feel as if I have more options for saving money if I book separately. With a package, you will not, as I understand it, get a discount on the room portion.
As far as saving money on the whole deal, why not consider spending a day or two at the resort, or Downtown Disney, and also eliminate the park hopper option. That will save money.

 

[lklasing]

Y'all are all right - I know the only way I can get the AAA discount by booking directly with WDW is to do room only. The $1544 was the room only rate I got directly with Disney, while the website has $1716, which was the amount quoted to me on the phone by WDW before I told them I had AAA.

I guess one good reason to switch to a package would be if we were doing the dining plan. I hadn't thought about that. Since we're not, that doesn't apply to us but that does explain why some people would book the package instead of separate.

Regardless, it sounds like there's no good reason that I can come up with on why we should switch to a package, so I'll just get the tickets and keep it separate.

One other question - I assume that our room keys will have charging privileges if I give them my credit card at check in? I like being able to charge to the room. And then our park tickets will just be a different piece of paper from the key, right? One more thing to keep up with, but no big deal.

Thanks for all your help!

Leslie

 

[spiceycat]

yea you just give them your credit card to charge to your room.

some guest have reported that the front desk can and will put your tickets on the room key if you ask.

 

[angela3676]

Right, as long as you give them a cc# you can use you room key for charging. I also purchase my room and tickets separate. I've never understood why there's such a big price difference when purchasing the package vs room only. Even the littel extra perks you get with a package is not worth it to me. That's just MHO.