Room Only vs. Package discounts

[raddisneyfan]

I know this is a stupid question and easily answered by someone here on the boards. When they offer room-only and package discounts at the same time, why would I not take the package? If they are offering 30% off deluxe resort room-only and the same percent off a deluxe-resort package, why wouldn't I take the package? Does the 30% off include all of the package components? Are you getting 30% off your resort, 30% off your theme park tickets, etc. Why then would I just do room-only? I'm sure knowing Disney that it is not this simple. Can someone explain? I thought I read that it really didn't matter any more whether you booked a package or room-only since you really didn't save buying the package; the prices were really the same if you bought them separately (room, tickets). However, it seems to me that when they say 30% off the package, they include all the components, right? Like everyone else, I'm hoping they will have offers next week that cover my next trip (Jan 31 to Feb 8, 2015). I want to make the best decision--so HELP please!!!

 

[dizzyinwdw]

Short answer--depends on the package discount and your party composition/habits/priorities.

Example of a long answer: For Free dining you have to pay rack rate for the room, and 2 day tickets, to get free dining. Even then FD is the quick service plan for a value vs regular dining plan for a mod/deluxe. If that is cheaper than 30% off of a room only reservation after you factor in your estimated dining costs out of pocket and your tickets, then it may make sense to you to book the package. You need to run the numbers.

I know this is a stupid question and easily answered by someone here on the boards. When they offer room-only and package discounts at the same time, why would I not take the package? If they are offering 30% off deluxe resort room-only and the same percent off a deluxe-resort package, why wouldn't I take the package? Does the 30% off include all of the package components? Are you getting 30% off your resort, 30% off your theme park tickets, etc. Why then would I just do room-only? I'm sure knowing Disney that it is not this simple. Can someone explain? I thought I read that it really didn't matter any more whether you booked a package or room-only since you really didn't save buying the package; the prices were really the same if you bought them separately (room, tickets). However, it seems to me that when they say 30% off the package, they include all the components, right? Like everyone else, I'm hoping they will have offers next week that cover my next trip (Jan 31 to Feb 8, 2015). I want to make the best decision--so HELP please!!!

I'm not sure I have seen a discount on all components of a package except maybe the stay/play/dine package, but I am not sure about the specifics of that plan. My experience (only booked 2 packages so far) is that there is no 30% off tickets, room, and dining offered as well as a 30% off room only.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

The room only offer is up to 30% off. For instance if you choose to stay at WL then you can get 30% off your room only. You would book your tickets and dining separate. If you go with the current stay/play/dine package deal, it isn't 30% off the package. The SPD offer is looking to average about 15% off the package but you will have to call to get the pricing. Then you would have to do the math to see which deal is better for you.

Long story short, the percentages aren't the same.

 

[jll2800]

I am certainly no disney expert, but what I can say is that the dining plan isn't always worth the money from a pure cost standpoint. I looked at the menus from the restaurants we'd want to eat at and looked at how much the kind of items we would order cost, and then I added it all up. For us, it looks like we'll probably come out ahead paying out of pocket. Obviously the dining plan has added convenience so you'd need to think about whether that's worth it for you, but unless the package discount comes back as way better, I'm going to book a room only discount for us and then just pay for food separately.

I don't understand the percentages though and how disney arrives at their discount for packages, because as someone pointed out above it doesn't seem to be just 30% across the board. My plan is just to call and get the totals tomorrow (if the discounts are released, of course) and compare!

 

[SuzyQue]

As already mentioned, the percentage is not across the board. A lot of the packages require you pay full "rack" rates for the room in order to get the other discounted components of the package.

Another reason people choose the room only over package is because they may be annual pass holders and not need passes, or may have non-expiring passes from previous years.