esdras
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2006
- Messages
- 726
Okay, bear with me here, but I think this might be something that will help settle some of the discussions taking place at the moment.
There are a couple of threads, some wondering "what's the better deal - free dining or a high percentage room discount" and others debating the value of free dining considering the time of year it is offered and how much it saves.
Perhaps the key for each family on a discount is this...
Start by deciding exactly when you CAN go to Disney, and related to that, when you are WILLING to go to Disney. For some, there are certain times of the year where going is not possible - teachers are a good example of people who are limited by the jobs as to when they can go. Others, who have a great deal of flexibility, might not want to go when it's way to crowded - like Christmas - or when it's way to hot - like August.
Once you have made up your mind about times, simply go online and price out a package that appeals to you - at RACK RATE!. Determine exactly the maximum you are willing to spend on the vacation - what resort level, length of stay, tickets and/or add-ons, dining plan, etc. This maximum should not include how much "mad money" you are willing to spend while at Disney - have that set as a guideline outside of this total. Anyway, get this price at rack rate at the most expensive level possible - for some, you might already be limited to a standard room at a value resort.
NOW, start looking for deals, codes, promotions, etc. Whether these come from Disney, AAA/CAA, online ticket sellers, etc. If you see a deal, see how much money it can save you and keep this in mind for a possible purchase. At this point, you could decide to go at the resort level you initially chose and bask in the glory of saving a few bucks!
ALTERNATIVELY, if you manage to find a good promotion or get a good code, consider upgrading your vacation - perhaps you can stay longer, or move up a resort level, or add on the wine and dine to your dining plan. Consider moving up in any way that still keeps the total cost of your vacation pretty close to the original maximum you were willing to spend.
By doing this, you have managed to figure out either a) how much you saved (and perhaps choose to add this to your "mad money" and splurge on something special you wouldn't normally do while there, like having dinner at Victoria & Alberts at the Chef's Table) - or b) how much EXTRA you got for what you were willing to originally spend. Either way, you're happy!
For example - we initially set a max of $2700, and we are willing to go when it's HOT! So, we managed to pull that off with two connecting rooms at a value resort standard view for 7 nights with 5 day base tickets and the dining plan. However, we have a CAA discount at 20% (and also got a 20% PIN) - this allowed us to add another full day (but keep the 5 Day tickets - just have extra time to spend at DTD for a day that wouldn't have happened otherwise) and increase the vacation to 8 nights but still be under $2700.
When the Free Dining came out, this allowed us to keep the number of nights, but upgrade to a Family Suite - and now we are only paying about $2400 - that gives us $300 to spend on something special, or upgrade our tickets or... whatever. Had we stayed in the connecting standard rooms, we would be under $2200 for the package - saving about $550. But, we decided that part of that savings would be great to splurge on a Family Suite if we were lucky enough to get one - which we did!
So, we've done a combo - added some extras (extra day, better room) which we wouldn't have had before, AND save some money. A little of both.
For each family this will be different - but if you start with the mindset of what am I willing to pay for what - every little extra added on or every decent amount of cash saved makes the trip that more magical - it now becomes - "I was willing to have this, but now I have THIS!!!"
Essentially - start happy (We're going to Disney), and just get happier (We're going to Disney and getting so much more than we bargained for - in a good way!)
Anyway, that's my rant...
There are a couple of threads, some wondering "what's the better deal - free dining or a high percentage room discount" and others debating the value of free dining considering the time of year it is offered and how much it saves.
Perhaps the key for each family on a discount is this...
Start by deciding exactly when you CAN go to Disney, and related to that, when you are WILLING to go to Disney. For some, there are certain times of the year where going is not possible - teachers are a good example of people who are limited by the jobs as to when they can go. Others, who have a great deal of flexibility, might not want to go when it's way to crowded - like Christmas - or when it's way to hot - like August.
Once you have made up your mind about times, simply go online and price out a package that appeals to you - at RACK RATE!. Determine exactly the maximum you are willing to spend on the vacation - what resort level, length of stay, tickets and/or add-ons, dining plan, etc. This maximum should not include how much "mad money" you are willing to spend while at Disney - have that set as a guideline outside of this total. Anyway, get this price at rack rate at the most expensive level possible - for some, you might already be limited to a standard room at a value resort.
NOW, start looking for deals, codes, promotions, etc. Whether these come from Disney, AAA/CAA, online ticket sellers, etc. If you see a deal, see how much money it can save you and keep this in mind for a possible purchase. At this point, you could decide to go at the resort level you initially chose and bask in the glory of saving a few bucks!
ALTERNATIVELY, if you manage to find a good promotion or get a good code, consider upgrading your vacation - perhaps you can stay longer, or move up a resort level, or add on the wine and dine to your dining plan. Consider moving up in any way that still keeps the total cost of your vacation pretty close to the original maximum you were willing to spend.
By doing this, you have managed to figure out either a) how much you saved (and perhaps choose to add this to your "mad money" and splurge on something special you wouldn't normally do while there, like having dinner at Victoria & Alberts at the Chef's Table) - or b) how much EXTRA you got for what you were willing to originally spend. Either way, you're happy!
For example - we initially set a max of $2700, and we are willing to go when it's HOT! So, we managed to pull that off with two connecting rooms at a value resort standard view for 7 nights with 5 day base tickets and the dining plan. However, we have a CAA discount at 20% (and also got a 20% PIN) - this allowed us to add another full day (but keep the 5 Day tickets - just have extra time to spend at DTD for a day that wouldn't have happened otherwise) and increase the vacation to 8 nights but still be under $2700.
When the Free Dining came out, this allowed us to keep the number of nights, but upgrade to a Family Suite - and now we are only paying about $2400 - that gives us $300 to spend on something special, or upgrade our tickets or... whatever. Had we stayed in the connecting standard rooms, we would be under $2200 for the package - saving about $550. But, we decided that part of that savings would be great to splurge on a Family Suite if we were lucky enough to get one - which we did!
So, we've done a combo - added some extras (extra day, better room) which we wouldn't have had before, AND save some money. A little of both.
For each family this will be different - but if you start with the mindset of what am I willing to pay for what - every little extra added on or every decent amount of cash saved makes the trip that more magical - it now becomes - "I was willing to have this, but now I have THIS!!!"
Essentially - start happy (We're going to Disney), and just get happier (We're going to Disney and getting so much more than we bargained for - in a good way!)
Anyway, that's my rant...
This is a great way to look things!
