Room only vs Package

[aussietravellers]

I have just been doing some prices for room only and packages in the next week or two.

We are looking at 14 nights (I know long time, but we don't travel around well, so like to base ourselves somewhere, will do day tours to San Deigo Zoo, Universal, LA shopping from Disneyland) we were going to do a split stay and go to San Deigo, but we have found accommodation at the one resort now.

Anyway...... Have done some prices for room only and vacation package for the SAME number of nights and the SAME room type at GCH.
There is a whopping $2825 difference!!!!!! (obviously hotel only is the cheaper price). Now I did the vacation package price with a 2 day park hopper pass as even if we went with the vacation pass we are going to purchase the 14 day park hopper here in Australia (as we can't buy it over in the US, it can only be purchased here).

So aside from the 2 day park hopper passes, what is worth $2825 ?
I know the package gets Mickeys tootown morning madness and you get a character call on arrival. But is this worth $2825?

Are there any other benefits with the package compared to the hotel only price? I am finding it hard to justify the difference in price, but I really don't want to be missing out on any great perks with the package. Would really really love some advice as have to get this booked quickly being a last minute trip.

Thank you

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Many have found that booking separately is cheaper.

 

[sonnyjane]

If you book a package, you don't have to pay the resort fee (it's included), and I believe you get premium seating at some shows (not sure which) and tickets to the Toontown Morning Madness, but for me those things aren't of any interest, so I'd just book the hotel separately.

 

[aussietravellers]

If you book a package, you don't have to pay the resort fee (it's included), and I believe you get premium seating at some shows (not sure which) and tickets to the Toontown Morning Madness, but for me those things aren't of any interest, so I'd just book the hotel separately.

Thank you both! Yes I just can't see that those things are worth $2800+ but wondered if Morning Madness or the premium seating etc was a really great perk so was worth the extra money, Coming from Australia, we will not be going back to Disneyland regularly.

How much is the resort fee for GCH? Does anybody know?

 

[Petraman]

Wow!! After I read your post I had to go give it a whirl myself and all I can say is that's crazy! There is absolutely nothing in that package worth that kind of expense.
If you got an offer for GC that cheap I say book it as fast as you can!. I was kind of surprised they still had availabilty that soon and that close to holiday. Have fun! Weloved GC, it is our fav DL hotel

 

[Petraman]

"2008 - Walt Disney World - Animal Kingdom Lodge
2008 - Disneyland Paris - Hotel New York
2010 - Walt Disney World - AKL & Beach Club (big 40th birthday trip)
Planning: Trying to squeeze in Disneyland Dec 2009 or Jan 2010 and Disney Curise 2010"

Cool! I just noticed you are going to AKL and Beach Club in 2010? We are going to WDW in March and staying at those same resorts... how funny! We held off until 2011 to do our 2nd cruise, because we wanted to get on the new Disney Dream!! Might be worth the wait for you IMO...

 

[DizMe]

Absolutely book it separately! That is a crazy, crazy price difference and nothing in the package is worth it. In fact, we never used those things (gave them away) when we had a package. Even if we had, it certainly wouldn't have been that valuable!!!

 

[sonnyjane]

Thank you both! Yes I just can't see that those things are worth $2800+ but wondered if Morning Madness or the premium seating etc was a really great perk so was worth the extra money, Coming from Australia, we will not be going back to Disneyland regularly.

How much is the resort fee for GCH? Does anybody know?

I want to say $16 a day?

 

[aussietravellers]

"2008 - Walt Disney World - Animal Kingdom Lodge
2008 - Disneyland Paris - Hotel New York
2010 - Walt Disney World - AKL & Beach Club (big 40th birthday trip)
Planning: Trying to squeeze in Disneyland Dec 2009 or Jan 2010 and Disney Curise 2010"

Cool! I just noticed you are going to AKL and Beach Club in 2010? We are going to WDW in March and staying at those same resorts... how funny! We held off until 2011 to do our 2nd cruise, because we wanted to get on the new Disney Dream!! Might be worth the wait for you IMO...

How Funny!
We are not completely sure on the cruise yet, we are thinking of doing that at the beginning of the WDW trip. We are doing the split stay because my DS only wanted to stay at AKL as it was just so great when we stayed there last time, but we wanted to try Beach Club too as the pool is so great. We are going Sept/Oct 2010

 

[aussietravellers]

I want to say $16 a day?

Thanks sonnyjane. So $16 x 14 is $240. So that makes the difference between the Hotel Only and the Packsge $2585, if I take that off LOL. Still a big difference.

 

[DizMe]

Just thought I'd add that if you can swing it, try to do the Holiday Tour (evening). Now THAT is worth the money. Since you're getting 14-day hoppers, maybe you ought to buy one AP for someone in your group--you'll save 10% on food and merchandise resort-wide and 20% on tours. You only need one to get the discounts so it really shouldn't cost any more than your hopper would have, though I don't know about buying one from Australia. You might find a good AP rate on the hotel, too. With the discount, the tour costs ~$51 pp. and gets you guaranteed great seating at the parade without having to stake out a spot. It's a lot of fun, too.

 

[DizMe]

We were just at GCH and the resort fee was $13/day.

 

[sonnyjane]

I'm still not entirely sure the quote is correct. I know I was talking to a CM on the phone and she plugged in my package information. I told her I had an AP, so I would only need a parkhopper for my sister, and she said that the computer could only give me quotes for everyone in my party, for every day in my stay (so, if I was going for four nights, with four people, the price defaulted to four people x four-day park hoppers, even if I only wanted 3-day park hoppers, or even if I only needed them for two people, etc.). I was on the phone with her for a good 40 minutes getting different quotes and she was never able to tell me the price minus one parkhopper that I didn't need. I'm wondering if the same thing happened to you, since it's just a default.

 

[Petraman]

I'm still not entirely sure the quote is correct. I know I was talking to a CM on the phone and she plugged in my package information. I told her I had an AP, so I would only need a parkhopper for my sister, and she said that the computer could only give me quotes for everyone in my party, for every day in my stay (so, if I was going for four nights, with four people, the price defaulted to four people x four-day park hoppers, even if I only wanted 3-day park hoppers, or even if I only needed them for two people, etc.). I was on the phone with her for a good 40 minutes getting different quotes and she was never able to tell me the price minus one parkhopper that I didn't need. I'm wondering if the same thing happened to you, since it's just a default.

I actually did a test run online just awhile ago, and I can say I punched same days, people, etc and ran both tickets only and package, and for fam of 4 it was $2000+ difference. Kinda crazy huh?

p.s. what is the resort fee for? I don't remember that little extra when I went in 2007. Is that for parking?

 

[aussietravellers]

I'm still not entirely sure the quote is correct. I know I was talking to a CM on the phone and she plugged in my package information. I told her I had an AP, so I would only need a parkhopper for my sister, and she said that the computer could only give me quotes for everyone in my party, for every day in my stay (so, if I was going for four nights, with four people, the price defaulted to four people x four-day park hoppers, even if I only wanted 3-day park hoppers, or even if I only needed them for two people, etc.). I was on the phone with her for a good 40 minutes getting different quotes and she was never able to tell me the price minus one parkhopper that I didn't need. I'm wondering if the same thing happened to you, since it's just a default.

I just checked prices online for the same number of nights at GCH, theme park view on Disneyland.com...
$7788 for vacation package with 2 day park hoppers for everybody.
$4963 for hotel only with same number of people booked.

I haven't called yet. I will call once I have worked out if we want to do package of hotel only, then ask for AP discount I suppose as it will be fine for one of us to get an AP before check in if it will save even more.

 

[Petraman]

How Funny!
We are not completely sure on the cruise yet, we are thinking of doing that at the beginning of the WDW trip. We are doing the split stay because my DS only wanted to stay at AKL as it was just so great when we stayed there last time, but we wanted to try Beach Club too as the pool is so great. We are going Sept/Oct 2010

Hehe... that's exactly why we split our stay! Loved AKL but wanted to check out the beach. Our DD10 really loves the pool at Kidani Village and the animals... If you like pools, you definitely want to try the pool at the Caribbean Resort! They have just remodeled it "pirate-style". Got a feeling your DS would love it.

As far as your cruise, the truth is no matter what ship you go on, I would almost guarantee you it will be the trip of a lifetime. I know it was for us. My DW and I can't wait until the kids get out of the house so we can go do DCL every year by ourselves!

 

[sonnyjane]

I actually did a test run online just awhile ago, and I can say I punched same days, people, etc and ran both tickets only and package, and for fam of 4 it was $2000+ difference. Kinda crazy huh?

p.s. what is the resort fee for? I don't remember that little extra when I went in 2007. Is that for parking?

According to Expedia:

Hotel resort fee: $16 per room/night (although a PP said they just stayed there and it was $13)


Hotel resort fee inclusions:

* Fitness center access
* Self parking
* Internet access
* Local and toll-free calls
* Weekday newspaper

 

[sonnyjane]

I just checked prices online for the same number of nights at GCH, theme park view on Disneyland.com...
$7788 for vacation package with 2 day park hoppers for everybody.
$4963 for hotel only with same number of people booked.

I haven't called yet. I will call once I have worked out if we want to do package of hotel only, then ask for AP discount I suppose as it will be fine for one of us to get an AP before check in if it will save even more.

Wow that is sooooooooo crazy I can't even imagine! DEFINITELY see about getting at least one AP for the discount, it could be a dramatic savings!

I also didn't want to book a package because if you did, there was a change fee if you cancelled, but if you just booked a room, you could cancel up to 72 hours prior or something and get a full refund.

 

[Petraman]

Wow that is sooooooooo crazy I can't even imagine! DEFINITELY see about getting at least one AP for the discount, it could be a dramatic savings!

I also didn't want to book a package because if you did, there was a change fee if you cancelled, but if you just booked a room, you could cancel up to 72 hours prior or something and get a full refund.

It IS crazy! For that kind of price you could buy AP's for the whole family and still come out ahead.

 

[aussietravellers]

I have checked online but can't find the AP rates for 8th to 23rd December, GCH theme park view. If the rate is good we may consider Concierge too.

I have just worked out that the rate that I have from looking online for hotel only for those dates is $330.85 per night for theme park view. Would love to know what the AP rate is for theme park view and concierge theme park view. How do I find the AP rate for those dates?