Smallest package with dining & tickets

[Samsma]

What is the least amount of days for a package that includes dining. I'm trying to plan a trip for right after Christmas next year, and I'm thinking package first then room only after the 1st of Jan., but I like the dining option. Also, can you buy more days of tickets than you have room nights. I was thinking a 4 day package, 4 days of dining, but 7 days of tickets. Can this be done?

 

[tone.def]

The dining package is tied to the number of nights of your stay. You could book 4 nights at a resort, have 4 nights of the dining package and yes, you can buy 7 days of tickets, but get them non-expiring so you have them for next visit ;o)

BTW - you can purchase dining for even a 1 night stay.

 

[InstImpres]

You will also see the difference between a 7 day and 10 day ticket is literally a few dollars, so you may want a longer ticket.

 

[aviva5675]

We are going next November. Were staying 5 nights but getting a 10 day non expiring. The cost difference is just too small to not. We have one day left on a pass from 3 years ago, so will still have 5 or so days left on the non-expiring. "forever" is a long time to figure out when to use the rest of the days. Who knows how much we will save by getting it now--probably hundreds.

Getting the dining plan also, but its only for length of stay-5 days.

 

[lark]

We are going next November. Were staying 5 nights but getting a 10 day non expiring. The cost difference is just too small to not. We have one day left on a pass from 3 years ago, so will still have 5 or so days left on the non-expiring. "forever" is a long time to figure out when to use the rest of the days. Who knows how much we will save by getting it now--probably hundreds.

Getting the dining plan also, but its only for length of stay-5 days.

There is one downside to doing this. It seems that room only discount codes are more and more rare. Many are reporting that the best discounts right now are the packages, which includes tickets. In fact, the most recent code's most significant discount is on the free plus and hopper feature of the MYW tickets that come with the package.

So the problem is that as you accumulate all of these never expire tickets each trip, you're forcing yourself into make room only, non package reservations next time you vist. I currently have unexpired tickets, for example, but I almost wish I hadn't spent the money, because the best deal I can get on a room right now is with a package that includes tickets with a discount -- what am I going to do with all these never expire hopper days if I keep booking packages? Yes, I can do a package by booking just a one day ticket, but for a family, that one day costs hundreds of dollars and starts to eat away at the savings.

Bottom line -- even though the cost differences between 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 day tickets are relatively narrow (although the no expire option starts to add up), I'm starting to think the best strategy is just to buy what you need for your particular trip, and then keep your options open for all available discounts next time. I'm just imagining myself one day with a drawer full of never expire hoppers, telling myself, "but my average cost for each is only $18 a day!!!!"

 

[aviva5675]

Ive thought about that, and waver back and forth about it...On one hand you are right, and tho forever is a long time, the odds are maybe 50/50 we will return someday, which makes the $350 /approx more now alot of money. Can use that and move up to a deluxe as a possiblilty...Tho as a AAA member, there are room only discounts that we could get if we did go back one day. Its a dillema. Our trip is far off, and unless Im wrong, I should be able to dial down the package to length of stay ticket only if I change my mind...too many choices!!

 

[Samsma]

You can always stay at the Swan or Dolphin which seem to be still offering room only discounts. I got an offer this month. Plus I use a Starwood AmEx, so I could actually stay in points in the future and not buy tickets if I use the non-expiration option.

Also, you can rent points from a DVC member and use those tickets. It gets so complicated!

 

[aviva5675]

How does that work? You rent points meaning pay them for their saved points or time at a place?

 

[Samsma]

On this site, look up DVC points rent/trade. There will be many offerings as to points for rent from various members. There is a calculator link at the top of the page. Plug in your dates and what DVC resort you would like to stay in with the type of room you want. When you get the number of points necessary, then you can look for a member with the points you want at the place you want. Most are between 10 and $12 a point. We stayed at VWL for 5 nights last summer very reasonably. You may want to move to a different resort, or book directly from Disney on the weekends as it is very expensive on weekends!