Vacation Packages

[Moonstorm]

When you visit Disney, do you get the vacation packages or do you book room only and get everything else separate?

 

[daisyduck123]

I voted for "other".
We're in DVC & we have annual passes. Very easy for us!

 

[jenrein]

I am a package person when it comes to most trips that I am unfamiliar with the area and what not. Now we go to Niagara Falls 2-3 times per year and I know that like the back of my hand so I can book everything separate there.

 

[Moonstorm]

Wow daisyduck123! You are lucky!!!

 

[Moonstorm]

Good point jenrein. Unfamiliar places are tougher to book things separately.

 

[pooksma]

I picked "it depends". Usualy we do the package thing and have for the first part of this trip. But then we got the 40% code and added 2 nights as a surprise for DS. The package isn't part of those nights.

 

[powellrj]

I picked it depends too. I will price them both out and go with which ever is cheapest. Last year we did a package because you couldn't beat free dining, but we did book our own air.

 

[Moonstorm]

Hi there, pooksma. I have the unofficial guide book and I've been reading the value is better w/o the package, which is why I am wondering now!

 

[Moonstorm]

Hi powellrj =)
I know I'll have to have a travel agent help me with this!!!

 

[powellrj]

Hi powellrj =)
I know I'll have to have a travel agent help me with this!!!

It can depend on the travel agent too. I know many years ago, we had booked a trip from an agent that included tickets on Baniff Airlines. The airline when bankrupt before our trip and the travel agent insisted there were no more vacation packages to Florida for our time. I knew that couldn't be right so I got the phone book out (this was before the internet) and just started calling the airlines out of the yellow pages. I found a better deal on Delta than we had with the travel agent.

That was when I started booking them myself. I got a moblie guide book ( I am not sure they even make those anymore) and between that and calling the airlines directly I was always able to get a great deal.

Now with the internet, its really easy to do it yourself. While you still might want to use a travel agent, its easy to do the early work first so you aren't paying for things you really aren't interested in. I know when we use to buy packages, they always included tickets to wet and wild and sometimes a dinner show. Those were things we never used, so it was really money wasted.

Good Luck and have a great trip!!!

 

[Moonstorm]

I haven't been to WDW in 10 years so this is all new to me! Last time it was just me and a b/f. This time it's going to be me, my hubby, my mom, his mom, my grandma and my 3 kids (ages at the time of the trip 5, 2 1/2, and 1 1/2)
We'll be driving from Pa to Fl, so at least I won't have to worry about airline stuff!

 

[fan_of_small_world]

Package, since we did the dining plan and loved it, and will do it again next time.

 

[Moonstorm]

I did it llast time too and it was nice. this next time there will be more of us going though!

 

[Snow Shoe]

Our first visit in 1986, we booked a package deal through a TA and it worked out really great. Then for our next several visits, I started booking everything myself with very good success. Then in '98 we joined DVC at BWV. Now its just so easy to call MS and get our room, call AA and book the plane, and call Tiffany for pickup. Then with the PS Calulator find out when to call and make all of our ADR's. Now with DVC annual passes, we can now go on a moments notice.

I feel if your going for the very first time, a package deal is really a good way to go. Strange place, not knowing what to expect things are like can be a scarry thing, espically for the amount of money your spending. Once you've gone one time though, there's no reason why you can't start piecing your Disney trip together yourself. Get the books, Disboard, do the research and save money.

 

[Moonstorm]

I think I may try and do it myself, maybe with the help of a TA.
My mom just thinks it's easier and cheaper to have a package. From all I am reading, I am not so sure that is true.

 

[SavvyMom]

I priced it both ways for us and it was about the same. It was easier to just go through Disney. Of course we're not members of anything and we go to the value resorts. It might have been different if we went to one of the moderate or deluxe resorts.

 

[pooksma]

Hi there, pooksma. I have the unofficial guide book and I've been reading the value is better w/o the package, which is why I am wondering now!

Maybe I misunderstood what you meant by package. We do book our own air, car service and have our resort, tickets and ADRs booked by Dream Come True (this trip) Its easier for us to do it this way. Kinda lke an all-inclusive I guess.

 

[Moonstorm]

I meant the package that includes dinning plans and park tickets.

 

[ShellyL]

We booked a package everytime we went. My MIL is paying this time and when I priced out everything separate it was a little cheaper but the convience of having the dining plan is what I need. I am a worrier. My MIL said she was not going to stand around while I decided if one meal was more expensive than the other. Also with 5 children it is much easier to say just pick something instead of saying "No I'm not getting that" I think in the long run even though I am cheap, cheap, cheap, I want what is easy when it comes to vacation. That is what a vacation is about...letting yourself go a little.
Michele

 

[mom2aredhead]

For this trip we've booked everything separate using every possible code and discount I could find - Took advantage of the BUC room only code, got park tix thru undercover tourist, rental car thru Dollar w/ discount code KISS2 (thank you mousesavers) and found an "average" priced flight - not as cheap as I would have liked, but not too bad.
We have never done DDP and don't see it working for us in the near future. When my son is older and eating everything in sight, probably, but no DDP for now...That's really the only reason I could see for booking a package all together - or if there was a "package only" discount that did not have a corresponding "room only" code...