Wait, I SAVED money? What the heck?

[SgtTibbs]

I booked a solo package (room & park hoppers) for late September staying on property.

My son decided to join me so we could play some golf on the WDW courses but he's not getting park tickets. So I called Disney to add him to my room reservation.

Turns out you can't have one person on a package and a second person not on a package in the same room so I had to un-bundle the package and purchase my park pass separately.

It turns out booking the room separate from park tickets saved me $20. Go Figure.

 

[Alesia]

I booked a solo package (room & park hoppers) for late September staying on property.

My son decided to join me so we could play some golf on the WDW courses but he's not getting park tickets. So I called Disney to add him to my room reservation.

Turns out you can't have one person on a package and a second person not on a package in the same room so I had to un-bundle the package and purchase my park pass separately.

It turns out booking the room separate from park tickets saved me $20. Go Figure.

Yep. Packages are usually more expensive. You could have saved even more by buying your tickets through an authorized reseller. And possibly even more by booking your room through a third-party like hotels.com

We we're just there last week and we saved $320 on the room (7 nights) and $120 on tickets for both of us over buying directly from disney

 

[MillauFr]

Yes I couldn't understand why Disney lets 3rd parties sell their park ticket/hotels for a such a huge discount. I was going to make a reservation at the Poly on the Disney website. Disney was going to charge me the rack rate. A travel agent was selling the same rooms for a 60% discount. I don't understand it.

 

[SgtTibbs]

Yep. Packages are usually more expensive. You could have saved even more by buying your tickets through an authorized reseller. And possibly even more by booking your room through a third-party like hotels.com

We we're just there last week and we saved $320 on the room (7 nights) and $120 on tickets for both of us over buying directly from disney

If you buy from a third party can you attach the reservation to MDE for online check-in?

 

[brent02139]

perhaps because of the cancellation policy, with a package you can cancel up to 30 days in advance without penalty. Where as if you buy the tickets, you're not getting your money back. For Disney as a business, they are willing to give you some savings to ensure you're paying tickets in advance, just like plane tickets (refundable vs non-refundable)

 

[Alesia]

If you buy from a third party can you attach the reservation to MDE for online check-in?

Yes.

 

[Alesia]

perhaps because of the cancellation policy, with a package you can cancel up to 30 days in advance without penalty. Where as if you buy the tickets, you're not getting your money back. For Disney as a business, they are willing to give you some savings to ensure you're paying tickets in advance, just like plane tickets (refundable vs non-refundable)

With hotels.com, you can usually cancel up until the night before without penalty.

If you buy tickets from undercover tourist, you can get 90% of your money back on tickets that have not been linked to an MDE account. If they've been linked, you can't get your money back, but you can apply the money that you paid for them toward the cost of new tickets if you can't uses them before they expire.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Yes I couldn't understand why Disney lets 3rd parties sell their park ticket/hotels for a such a huge discount. I was going to make a reservation at the Poly on the Disney website. Disney was going to charge me the rack rate. A travel agent was selling the same rooms for a 60% discount. I don't understand it.

I can't remember where I read it, but I recently read an interesting article that talked about Disney's desire to remain a premium brand by not offering discounts on their own tickets, and rarely offering deep discounts on their rooms. But, Disney also recognizes that there are budget-conscious families who will only come if they get a discount. So, they let third parties sell at a discount. This preserves Disney's brand status, keeps many/most guests paying Disney rates, but also gives them sales to the more frugal which they would otherwise lose.

Additionally, most TAs do not sell rooms at anywhere near a 60% discount. What you found was an exception, not a typical discount. Those TAs who do offer these rates buy blocks of rooms at lower prices not available to most TAs. The catch is that once these TAs buy blocks of rooms, they are not refundable (to Disney), so the TAs run the risk of being stuck with inventory. It's a higher risk/reward model where they can gain market share by undercutting the competition, but could lose money if they don't sell all the rooms. The other thing to note is that if you buy the discounted convention-type park tickets they offer, they are valid discount tickets, but what you buy is what you get. My understanding is that you cannot upgrade them for more days or apply them towards an AP. Since additional days are usually quite inexpensive compared to the first few days of a ticket, people who think they may extend their trips might want to stick with tickets from Disney or traditional TAs. Basically, there's nothing wrong with buying these types of tickets, as long as you know what you're getting.

 

[kymom99]

I've never bought a package, but don't the packages usually come with little extras, such as a round of mini golf? That might be why there is a difference. That and the convenience factor of just making one phone call or using one website to plan your vacation.

 

[ClapYourHands]

I've never bought a package, but don't the packages usually come with little extras, such as a round of mini golf? That might be why there is a difference. That and the convenience factor of just making one phone call or using one website to plan your vacation.

I think those extras are for people buying the "convention type" tickets some TAs sell. I don't think Disney or traditional discount TAs like Undercover Tourist add on the extras.

 

[Alesia]

I think those extras are for people buying the "convention type" tickets some TAs sell. I don't think Disney or traditional discount TAs like Undercover Tourist add on the extras.

No, there are some small extras for people who book packages. They are worth nearly what you save by booking separately, though