vacation pkg vs room only

[peppermintpea]

What are the benefits of booking room only vs package. No dining.....what extras do you get ?

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I booked a package only once. It was when you paid for 4 nights, got 3 free. We just got the room and one day base tickets that were required because I had an annual pass. I upgraded the rest of the tickets to the days needed once we arrived at the resort.

We don't do the dining plan so that's not a perk for us.

I like booking room only and having up to day 6 before the trip to change or cancel if I need to. I also have an annual pass for me and a Tables in wonderland card for TS restaurant discounts.

You don't get any "extras" with room only reservations.

 

[plutolovr]

I booked a package only once. It was when you paid for 4 nights, got 3 free. We just got the room and one day base tickets that were required because I had an annual pass. I upgraded the rest of the tickets to the days needed once we arrived at the resort.

Anytime you add tickets to a room-only booking it technically becomes a package.


OP, there are no extras with room-only, hence the phrase "room-only."
The only benefit is that you only have to pay for the first night upfront and the balance at check-in.

 

[luvallprincesses]

If you plan to use a free dining offer, you will need to book a package. If you want to use a room-only % off then you don't have to book a package.

 

[CleveRocks]

Anytime you add tickets to a room-only booking it technically becomes a package.

Not if you don't want it to.

You can keep your room-only status and get tickets with it as well. The technicality is that you haven't really ordered the tickets, you've merely reserved them. The advantage to doing this is at check-in you will get the tickets automatically coded onto your Key To The World card; if you buy tickets separately, there would be the extra step of having to go to the Lobby Concierge desk to have them code the otherwise-purchased tickets onto your KTTW card. Not a big deal, I know, but ....

The disadvantage to "reserving" your tickets with a room-only rather than booking them as part of a package is that you aren't insulated from any ticket price increases. If you book a package today and ticket prices go up tomorrow, you pay the "old" price for those tickets even if you haven't made your final payment on the balance of the package. But if you book a room-only today with tickets reserved and the ticket price goes up tomorrow, you will pay that increased price.

 

[peppermintpea]

Ok thanks. I thought maybe you received discounts on items, etc,,,

 

[CleveRocks]

Other than the option to buy the Disney Dining Plan with a package, the only real differences between a package and a room-only reservation is the payment terms.

A package requires a $200 deposit with the balance due by 45 days before arrival. There are cancellation penalties that kick in after that 45-day mark.

A room-only reservation requires a deposit equal to one night's room rate plus tax, with the balance due at check-in. This can be particularly advantageous if, for example, you know you won't have sufficient funds to pay for the trip 45 days out but you'll have plenty of money by your arrival day. cancellation penalties don't kick in until 6 days prior to arrival.

A package also gets what I consider tiny little perks, like vouchers for a few things (free keychain at Planet Hollywood, one free round of mini-golf, etc.) and a couple souvenir luggage tags.

 

[peppermintpea]

Ok thanks a bunch!

 

[plutolovr]

Not if you don't want it to.

Well if you go through Disney's online booking engine and choose room-only then add tickets it will prompt you to make a $200 deposit and balance at 45 days which technically makes it a package. A room-only booking will require only a one-night's deposit and balance at check-in.

 

[ols386]

Well if you go through Disney's online booking engine and choose room-only then add tickets it will prompt you to make a $200 deposit and balance at 45 days which technically makes it a package. A room-only booking will require only a one-night's deposit and balance at check-in.

In that case, I think you would have to call or order the tickets only from another source, other than purchasing them on the Disney reservations site.

 

[CleveRocks]

Well if you go through Disney's online booking engine and choose room-only then add tickets it will prompt you to make a $200 deposit and balance at 45 days which technically makes it a package. A room-only booking will require only a one-night's deposit and balance at check-in.

Yes, I know. But if you book it by phone (407-W-DISNEY) they can do it for you as I described. I learned by doing.

 

[toodycat]

I would comparison shop the price of room only and park passes vs. package. Usually, i do room only, but we have done packages twice. Typically, I book room only and then order non-expiring park hoppers with the maximum number of days on them from AAA. Since most of our Disney trips are only three or four nights long, I've been using the same theme park passes since 2009. They are inflation proof and I still have a couple of park days and a water park left.