Room only vs Package

[LilyWDW]

Hey all!

So, my friend and I are planning a trip for May 2018 to celebrate her graduation from college. With prices coming out on the 20th, we are looking to book, but I am having an issue with deciding HOW to book it. We are not decided on if we want the dining plan as of yet which is what is causing the issue.

If you book a room only reservation, can it be changed to a package or would you have to rebook totally based off of availability? We are wanting a standard room at POFQ which is not a large pool of rooms so we don't want to really wait and risk losing out on what we want. So if you can't change to a package, then we would simply book a package to start just to be safe. If you can change, then we may book room only so that if we don't get the dining plan we can get tickets from a discount place.

 

[Sue M]

You can change, from room only to pkg you would book package then cancel room only. If you think you may want the DDP, then it would be easier for you to just book it as a package room + Tickets now, and add DDP when you decide.

 

[GTApex]

You can change, from room only to pkg you would book package then cancel room only. If you think you may want the DDP, then it would be easier for you to just hook it as a package room + Tickets now, and add DDP when you decide.

Does that mean if there is no availability on your "change day" that you're out of luck?

 

[Hopefully]

Does that mean if there is no availability on your "change day" that you're out of luck?

Yes.
Room only and package are different inventories. They do not "change" a room only to a package. Based on package inventory they book a package and then you cancel the room only. If the package room is not available, you can not change

 

[LilyWDW]

You can change, from room only to pkg you would book package then cancel room only. If you think you may want the DDP, then it would be easier for you to just book it as a package room + Tickets now, and add DDP when you decide.

That is what I thought. Dang. Thanks for the answer though! I appreciate it.

I think we will just book a package because I do think we are leaning towards the dining plan.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

You can't do this online but if you call you can book a ticketless package with the dining plan and then get tickets elsewhere and link it to your account.

 

[hammie59]

Another point (which I'm not sure if it matters to you, but it made a difference for us) is ownership of tickets. If you end up having to cancel your trip after booking, with a package you can cancel everything. With rm only and tickets separate, you can cancel the room, but you own the tickets. Just a thought.

 

[adelaster]

They will seriously not let you add dining & tickets to a room you booked? I don't understand.

 

[Hopefully]

They will seriously not let you add dining & tickets to a room you booked? I don't understand.

What don't you understand.
There is specific room inventory that is packages - room, dining, and tickets combined.
There is separate room only inventory.
They are separate.
If you are booked for room only you can't add Dining and tickets to that room and make it a package. You are not booked in the package inventory.
Whether it makes sense to you or not, it is what it is.

 

[ols386]

They will seriously not let you add dining & tickets to a room you booked? I don't understand.

I didn't understand either. Until pp spelled it out.

 

[EeyoreME]

When you switch from a Room only reservation to a package, do you have to do another deposit? I called and the lady I spoke with said she could just switch it over to a package and if I already made deposits- I wouldn't have to make an additional deposit.... Is this true or was I misquoted?

 

[monica9]

Is the package that much cheaper than buying both separate or is the perk that you can not book ddp without a package?

 

[danielocha30]

keep your room only reservation
1- you can pay the remaining amount on check in
2- pay out of pocket for dining is way better, it takes a lot of work to really save with DDP
3- check prices from other vendors for tickets (legitimate ones)
4- try to change to room only discount as soon as they offer the discount

 

[danielocha30]

Is the package that much cheaper than buying both separate or is the perk that you can not book ddp without a package?

Dining plan is only offered as a package room+ticket +DDP online
if I'm correct you can book over the phone a "tickeless" package meaning room and DDP, passholders for sure can do it but alway over the phone

 

[Shanti]

They will seriously not let you add dining & tickets to a room you booked? I don't understand.

Absolutely! We reserve that way all the time. The dining plan is a rip-off, imo. And I usually like to buy tickets separately.

Is the package that much cheaper than buying both separate or is the perk that you can not book ddp without a package?

The perk of buying a package is mostly for Disney, because it limits guests' ability to cancel without penalty to over a month before their stay, whereas you can cancel a room-only reservation 5 days before. That's why the phone CMs talk up the packages. Also, there is no cost savings in purchasing a package over buying the components separately. And purchasing the dining plan is more expensive than just paying for your meals out-of-pocket (& keep in mind that the dining plan does not cover the tips).

 

[rwdavis2]

keep your room only reservation
1- you can pay the remaining amount on check in
2- pay out of pocket for dining is way better, it takes a lot of work to really save with DDP
3- check prices from other vendors for tickets (legitimate ones)
4- try to change to room only discount as soon as they offer the discount

Do this. A dining package is not designed to save you money. We would never pay full price for it. We got one heavily discounted and deced then to never pay full price.

 

[dansdad]

When you switch from a Room only reservation to a package, do you have to do another deposit?

Yes. Room only and packages are 2 separate systems and they can not transfer any $$ paid between the two. So any $$ you have paid toward a room only will have to be refunded to you.

I called and the lady I spoke with said she could just switch it over to a package and if I already made deposits- I wouldn't have to make an additional deposit.... Is this true or was I misquoted?

You were given incorrect information.

 

[h&D3]

So what exactly is coming out on 6/20. Is it package rates for 2018 or room only or ??? And does anyone know for how long these packages will run through? Spring? Are they summer rates or all of 2018????

We made a reservation a few weeks back, and I'm hoping they will offer something better than what we obtained.

Thoughts?

~D

 

[dansdad]

So what exactly is coming out on 6/20. Is it package rates for 2018 or room only or ??? And does anyone know for how long these packages will run through? Spring? Are they summer rates or all of 2018????

We made a reservation a few weeks back, and I'm hoping they will offer something better than what we obtained.

Thoughts?

~D

The rack rate for rooms and covers all of 2018. You aren't able to book a package until the room rates are known.

 

[Shanti]

So what exactly is coming out on 6/20? We made a reservation a few weeks back, and I'm hoping they will offer something better than what we obtained.

Rack rates (non-discounted rates) for 2018 are coming out in a few days. There are always room-only discounts that come out a few months before the season. You won't see the discounts until then.