Seriously! I have to pay twice what my brother pays for WDW!

[disneypharm]

My sister is finally engaged and will be married soon. She has been to WDW once before for 2 days and her soon to be husband has never been there. My brother, his wife and children have never been to WDW. They are all UK citizens and live in London. Because they missed the March 8th deadline for free dining in 2012, we all decided to meet up in WDW in June 2013.

Since I have been to WDW 4 times in the last few years, I volunteered to do the research for all of us. We (my family of 4 – 2 adults and 2 kids both Disney adults) live close to the west coast. Anyway, I was looking at the UK board and noticed that free dining is out for 2013 for travel dates January 1 – March 19 and April 7 – December 8, 2013. I found their website and found these prices. So my family of 4 has to pay twice as much as my brother’s family. Even with differences in airline prices, I don’t think $5000 extra will make sense. I might have to cancel the whole plan!! That is just crazy!! I am sure I will get flamed here! Oh, well!

Copied from the final payment screen:
My brother’s package: Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa: 2 Adults, 2 Children
Deluxe Studio from 6th June 2013 - 20th June 2013
Disney's 14 Day Ultimate Ticket: 4 x Disney's 14 Day Ultimate Ticket (Ages 10 and Up)
Disney Dining Plan: 4 x Disney Dining Plan (Ages 10 and Up)
$200 Disney Gift Card
Total price: 3,138.60 pounds (About $5000)

My package: Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa: 2 Adults, 2 Children
Deluxe Studio from Dec 5th 2013 – Dec 19th 2013 (cannot get the June date yet but these are sort of low season)
Tickets: 10-Day Magic Your Way Ticket with Park Hopper® and Water Park Fun & More* (cannot get the 14 days) (Ages 10 and Up)
Package: Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining (Ages 10 and Up)
No Disney Gift cards.

Total price: $10,032.80

 

[mrsklamc]

Can your brother book for everyone and you pay him back?

 

[jennyf2]

Can your brother book for everyone and you pay him back?

I was just thinking the same thing.. MUCH better deal for you to go that route.

 

[MAH4546]

You're not comparing the same dates. How on earth can you reach this conclusion?

 

[lizabu]

You're not comparing the same dates. How on earth can you reach this conclusion?

I agree...apples to oranges

 

[charliesmom86]

They aren't the same dates but(and I could be wrong here..) I think she's trying to compare dates that are in similar price ranges because she can't price out a June 2013 yet. And the dates she listed appear to have similar pricing as far as accomodations go.

That said, OP, I think you should let your brother book for you and pay him back as previously stated.

 

[Dacky619]

You're not comparing the same dates. How on earth can you reach this conclusion?

I agree...apples to oranges

If you look at the rate for Saratoga Springs this year, mid-june is very comparable to mid-december. Since the OP can't get the official pricing for June 2013 yet, I think it is reasonable to go off of the December rates (unless I'm missing something). If anything, I'd be willing to bet that June 2013 will not be cheaper than the rates of 2012.

OP, I agree with mrsklamc. Check and see if your brother can book for you. If not, wait and see what promotions Disney has.

 

[disneypharm]

If you look at the rate for Saratoga Springs this year, mid-june is very comparable to mid-december. Since the OP can't get the official pricing for June 2013 yet, I think it is reasonable to go off of the December rates (unless I'm missing something). If anything, I'd be willing to bet that June 2013 will not be cheaper than the rates of 2012.

OP, I agree with mrsklamc. Check and see if your brother can book for you. If not, wait and see what promotions Disney has.

Sorry, I had to go get the kids.
Yes, you are right. I can not see the rates past Dec 2012. I would think the rates in mid-June (high season) will be more expensive or comparable to early Dec (I think regular season). My brother or sister are willing to make the reservations for us, but I didn't think it was allowed. We have a US address and have been to WDW 4 times, so I am sure that's against the rules!!

 

[Crazy Mother of Two]

Sorry, I had to go get the kids.
Yes, you are right. I can not see the rates past Dec 2012. I would think the rates in mid-June (high season) will be more expensive or comparable to early Dec (I think regular season). My brother or sister are willing to make the reservations for us, but I didn't think it was allowed. We have a US address and have been to WDW 4 times, so I am sure that's against the rules!!

I've never been in this situation but just thinking......what if your brother wanted to surprise your family with a WDW trip? That wouldn't be allowed? That doesn't make sense - unless I am missing something.

 

[djblu883]

Sorry, I had to go get the kids.
Yes, you are right. I can not see the rates past Dec 2012. I would think the rates in mid-June (high season) will be more expensive or comparable to early Dec (I think regular season). My brother or sister are willing to make the reservations for us, but I didn't think it was allowed. We have a US address and have been to WDW 4 times, so I am sure that's against the rules!!

your travel agent can get you a quote for those dates but free dining isn't offered and room only prices can be quoted through the first part of July...

 

[disneypharm]

your travel agent can get you a quote for those dates but free dining isn't offered and room only prices can be quoted through the first part of July...

Yes, I know that there is no free dining for June 2013. I don't think there has ever been free dining for US citizens in June, but I might be wrong. I was willing to pay for the dining plan (which we did back in Dec 2005), but for $5000 more!!

 

[disneypharm]

I've never been in this situation but just thinking......what if your brother wanted to surprise your family with a WDW trip? That wouldn't be allowed? That doesn't make sense - unless I am missing something.

Surprising my family? That would be great, but I think these great rates are for UK citizens only. I guess I can call Disney to ask but when they don't even allow you using a pin code coming to your house belonging to your mother (yes, I paid for my parents to go to WDW back in 2004, then we got a pin for her that we couldn't use!) why would you think they would let you use your brother's address to get you the deal?! I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask.

 

[Crazy Mother of Two]

Surprising my family? That would be great, but I think these great rates are for UK citizens only. I guess I can call Disney to ask but when they don't even allow you using a pin code coming to your house belonging to your mother (yes, I paid for my parents to go to WDW back in 2004, then we got a pin for her that we couldn't use!) why would you think they would let you use your brother's address to get you the deal?! I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask.

hahahah! Didn't actually mean they would pay for it! That would be a knee-slapper when thinking of my family as well!!! But yes, you understood what I meant. I suppose the stipulation would be if it said for UK citizens only. It's worth a shot! Fingers crossed!!

 

[Sarah_Rose]

There probably won't be free dining for June, but there is a very good chance that you will be able to get another discount for your dates, as you get closer. Disney is currently offering 25% off deluxe and villa resorts for this summer, so there is a good chance a similar offer will be in place next year. That will at least bring your price down quite a bit.

Disney offers great deals to UK residents because they generally stay for 2-3 weeks at a time, and Disney is trying to get them to spend their entire vacation on property (instead of doing a few days at Universal, a few days at Sea World, a few days at a beach, etc.) so they'll spend more money on Disney souvenirs and food!

 

[adventure_woman]

Yikes! As another suggestion (something I have looked into but never done before) - you could rent points. If you rented points at $13 from Dave's rental, it would be about half of what you are paying Disney - when I tried it it was $2522 vs. $5434. If you even rented directly from a DVC member it would be a lot less than that!

 

[disneypharm]

There probably won't be free dining for June, but there is a very good chance that you will be able to get another discount for your dates, as you get closer. Disney is currently offering 25% off deluxe and villa resorts for this summer, so there is a good chance a similar offer will be in place next year. That will at least bring your price down quite a bit.

Disney offers great deals to UK residents because they generally stay for 2-3 weeks at a time, and Disney is trying to get them to spend their entire vacation on property (instead of doing a few days at Universal, a few days at Sea World, a few days at a beach, etc.) so they'll spend more money on Disney souvenirs and food!

Thank you for the information about discounts. I would never pay $10,000 for a trip to WDW. My most expensive trip was for $4500 for one week package. As far as the discount codes, I have received only 2 pin codes (not including the general pin codes) in the last 9 years, both have been for dates that my kids were in school, so I couldn't use them.

I understand Disney is trying to get UK residents to stay for 2-3 weeks. Actually I have almost 6 weeks of vacation every year and I would definitely use 2-3 weeks of it at WDW if I could pay $5000 for 2 weeks in a deluxe resort and 14 days of park hopper pass plus dining.

UK citizens get a free dining, plus 14 days for the price of 7 days tickets, plus $200 Gift cards, and I don't think the resort charge was rack rate (showed $134 discount). I just don't think (my personal feeling) it is right not to give that kind of options to US customers. I understand it is their business decision and there is nothing I can do. Ok, no more complaining

 

[disneypharm]

Yikes! As another suggestion (something I have looked into but never done before) - you could rent points. If you rented points at $13 from Dave's rental, it would be about half of what you are paying Disney - when I tried it it was $2522 vs. $5434. If you even rented directly from a DVC member it would be a lot less than that!

I have never heard of Dave's rental! I would check it out. Thanks.

 

[ajjollie23]

Yikes! As another suggestion (something I have looked into but never done before) - you could rent points. If you rented points at $13 from Dave's rental, it would be about half of what you are paying Disney - when I tried it it was $2522 vs. $5434. If you even rented directly from a DVC member it would be a lot less than that!

I agree if all else you should rent points. I am a DVc member and you can get some really good deals. I have looked into this for my sister before because we didn't have enough points for the larger room or more than 2 rooms (we had several family members all coming and needed 3 studios or a grand villa). Anyway, renting points you can get for $10 or $11/pt which ended up working out to her paying less money for 10 days at animal kingdom lodge than she would have been paying for the same amount of time at an all star resort. Crazy!

If he isn't allowed to book two packages then you should seriously consider this option since Saratoga Springs is a DVC resort.

 

[amyr1]

So if your brother and SIL were visiting and wanted to take you and your dh to WDW--couldn't they book this package and it would include the 4 of you (you, Dh, db, SIL)???

So why can't your brother book 2 rooms? How is this different?

Amy

 

[disneypharm]

I agree if all else you should rent points. I am a DVc member and you can get some really good deals. I have looked into this for my sister before because we didn't have enough points for the larger room or more than 2 rooms (we had several family members all coming and needed 3 studios or a grand villa). Anyway, renting points you can get for $10 or $11/pt which ended up working out to her paying less money for 10 days at animal kingdom lodge than she would have been paying for the same amount of time at an all star resort. Crazy!

If he isn't allowed to book two packages then you should seriously consider this option since Saratoga Springs is a DVC resort.

Yes, I will definitely check this out.
I just wanted to add to my post above that I am very happy for my family in London that they can get these great rates. They have never been to WDW (except for my sister) and I would love to show them WDW the way we have experienced it in the past. It is just very frustrating!!