Should We Go For The Package Upgrade?

[MOMMYBEAR]

HI,

MY HUSBAND, 10 YR. OLD SON, AND I ARE PLANNING A LATE APRIL/EARLY MAY '04 STAY AT WILDERNESS LODGE FOR 1 WEEK. SHOULD WE GO FOR THE PACKAGES WITH THE SILVER OR GOLD PLANS? THEY SEEM SO EXPENSIVE! (WE PLAN ON SPENDING 2 DAYS AWAY FROM THE PARK AT UNIVERSAL & DISCOVERY COVE DURING THE WEEK). ARE THE 'MAGICAL WISHES' WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY? WHAT EXACTLY WOULD WE GET WITH THOSE WISHES?
ANY ADVICE IS APPRECIATED.
THANKS,
BARBARA

 

[TLinden16]

The magical wishes can be used for meals, tours, child care, spa treatments, and recreation (including golf and boat rentals). If you are planning on using it for just meals, it probably is not worth the money. If you are planning on using them for other things, it could save you some money.

I had six wishes for three nights on my most recent trip. I used two of the wishes for tours, three for meals, and one for a photo box. I paid around $210 for those wishes. If I had paid for everything that I got, I would have spent well over $300 plus the value of the photo box.

My best advice to you would be to sit down and figure out exactly what you would use the wishes for, and add up the costs. If you are ahead, then book the wishes.

It is nice to have things prepaid before you get there.

Karen

 

[scanmom]

If you are spending time at US/IOA, you should not get a pkg. If you get the pkg with UPH tix, you will be paying for admission to the Disney parks, even for the days that you are in US/IOA! It would be wise to get park hopper tix, if you don't use all the days, they never expire and you can use them on a future trip. If it were me, I would get the park hoppers and a room only ressie at the resort of your choice. I have to agree that using wishes for alot of meals is usually less than cost efficient, ESPECIALLY for a child of age 10, who will be paying adult prices and not likely to eat as an adult would! Happy planning and have a magical trip!

 

[goofy4tink]

Have to agree with the 'don't use it' vote. I tried to make it work for me on our last trip in August. It just didn't add up. We did FTP and saved big bucks that way. But adding the silver plan just wasn't worth it. We don't do that many 'nice meals'. We would have had to spend about $130 for meals before it became worth it. We don't do any of the other special stuff like spa treatments, golf etc.

 

[kandmwedding]

Definitely weight the two options. I'm honeymooning at Disney in January, and never thought I'd "waste" money on those extra packages. But doing a little research I realized that the things I really wanted to do there (tours, dinners shows, and the Cirque du Soleil) would cost a bundle. What I decided to do was split my trip into two separate reservations. The first 3 nights I added the silver plan and will be saving over $150 from what I would have spent if I bought everything separately. Then for the last 3 nights I just got the regular dream maker. Since you are going to go to Discovery Cove and Universal you might even think about adding the silver plan to one part of your trip and getting room only reservations and buying tickets separately for the other part of your trip. Check out wdwig.com for more info on the specifics of what the different add-ons get you, and then do a little pencil-pushing to see where the biggest savings is. Good luck!!

 

[Kimberle]

Welcome to Dis!

You are going to LOVE WL! We stayed there last Sept. It is just so convenient to MK, CR, FW, etc. There is so much to do! We spend a lot more time at the resort than we usually do.

Regarding the packages, I'm with the others, you've really got to figure out what you want to do and "crunch" the numbers. We have not done the packages for our trips. We find there is plenty to do in the parks & resorts, having to "squeeze" in shows/tours, etc. would be a bit much for us. (We have a small child.)

Some people like them because they are "forced" to try new things and/or like the idea that the financial part of their trip is "done".

No "right" or "wrong". Happy planning!!

 

[Lewski709]

You need to figure costs out on a piece of paper to see if it is worth it! If you are concerned about getting the most for your money, this is best.

It certainly makes things easier, IMO....but if it isn't worth it.....save your money!

 

[zipDdoodah]

In my opinion, it depends on what you're looking to get out of the trip. We've done it both ways, and I have to say the trips where we did the Gold and Silver were the BEST! If you want to eat at nicer restaurants and have a more relaxed paced, pampered trip, then definitely do it. You can make it worth the money....but if you just want to go kind of casual and eat at counter service restaurants and mostly do rides rather than the "extra" stuff, don't go for it. Like I've said, we've done it both ways and had fun both ways, but if we can afford it, we always choose the pacakage.