What kind of deal is the 5-day package?

[dreamflight99]

We have friends who have recently bought a package to visit WDW for five days, which includes the following things for a total amount of 5~thousand dollars (according to their description):

Passes for 6 people for three days (two adults and four kids).
Accomodations in a "house-like setting" on property.
Two meals a day at any restaurant.
Air fare for everyone.
Transportation to/from the airport.

They are thrilled with this package, and think it's a fab deal! If it includes all they have been told, it possibly may be a great deal. I am a bit confused by the details, and they have asked me for explanations. I have no idea as to what type of accommodations they are getting where the CM/associate described it as being "like a small house" on property? I would think this package would be for something in the All Stars, perhaps a family suite to accommodate the 6 of them? They just purchased it, and have yet to receive all the detailed information packet which will be arriving in the mail.

I wonder if anyone here is perhaps more familiar with this package being offered? I always reserved our reservations separately (airlines, suites, PAP's, rental car, etc), so I am not at all familiar with the packages such as this one. Is it shipped registered/certified? Are the airline tickets e-tickets or physical paper tickets? Are the dinner certificates truly good for "any" restaurant on property? Is there such thing as a description from an associate of a "small house-like resort" on property?

Any and all help with this is appreciated. I'm trying to offer some assistance, but am lost when it comes to such inclusive packages. I have heard/read so many different things about them, they become more and more confusing! TIA.

 

[twinspluscade]

We have friends who have recently bought a package to visit WDW for five days, which includes the following things for a total amount of 5~thousand dollars (according to their description):

Passes for 6 people for three days (two adults and four kids).
Accomodations in a "house-like setting" on property.
Two meals a day at any restaurant.
Air fare for everyone.
Transportation to/from the airport.

They are thrilled with this package, and think it's a fab deal! If it includes all they have been told, it possibly may be a great deal. I am a bit confused by the details, and they have asked me for explanations. I have no idea as to what type of accommodations they are getting where the CM/associate described it as being "like a small house" on property? I would think this package would be for something in the All Stars, perhaps a family suite to accommodate the 6 of them? They just purchased it, and have yet to receive all the detailed information packet which will be arriving in the mail.

I wonder if anyone here is perhaps more familiar with this package being offered? I always reserved our reservations separately (airlines, suites, PAP's, rental car, etc), so I am not at all familiar with the packages such as this one. Is it shipped registered/certified? Are the airline tickets e-tickets or physical paper tickets? Are the dinner certificates truly good for "any" restaurant on property? Is there such thing as a description from an associate of a "small house-like resort" on property?

Any and all help with this is appreciated. I'm trying to offer some assistance, but am lost when it comes to such inclusive packages. I have heard/read so many different things about them, they become more and more confusing! TIA.

I wonder if the "house like settings" could be the Fort Wilderness cabins? I know they sleep 6, and it's the only place I can think of that would be remotely house like.

The two meals a day thing has to be the dining plan.

Their quote does sound right for 5 days...but I don't think it's any kind of "discount" or anything, just the standard rates. We're a family of 5 going in September (value season), and ours will come to right around $5000 total for 8 nights. This is with (currently) paying for dining plan...hoping to switch to free dining when it comes out, which will lower my cost by quite a bit. But for your friends for 5 nights, yes, I think $5000 total sounds about right.

Oh, wanted to add that "travel to and from the airport" is FREE to everyone on-site with Magical Express.

Kelly

 

[dreamflight99]

Thanks Kelly,

This is the only place my DH could even "think" it may possibly be? Are they creating packages using these fort wilderness cabins, or motorhomes?

Thanks! I thought the ME was only available to packages (which is what they were informed).

I have a quick question for you, or anyone who may know? Is it possible for them to extend their stay a couple more nights? When this is done, is it done "all the way" around, (i.e.: meals/dining, park passes for the extra days, etc) and not merely the extra nights in the resort? Is it usually a lot more, or still reasonable?

The $5000 for five nights is including the airfare, etc. Extra nights and passes (along with free dining) should be less than averaging this amount over the time there (which is $1000 per day). Does this make sense? They asked us if it was worth it to add a day in the beginning and end, as they do not feel 3 nights in the parks will be enough to see/do everything they desire.

What exactly is included in the "free-dining" option? Are all the restaurants in each park included in this deal? What is included in each meal (there are two per day, are they breakfast/Dinner, or lunch/dinner, etc)? Thanks again for helping with this matter. Are the prices for these packages different in the summer vs. fall? I always thought the summer was considered a value season, but then perhaps not.

I am going to review the package when it arrives, and try to help them sort out the details, lodging, etc. It seems as though they went in completely "blind" when they phoned Disney, and just went along with the suggestions of the CM on the phone. They are hoping they are not disappointed, and do not receive something they do not want. Is there a site to view the wilderness lodge cabins? Thanks in advance for any/all help.

 

[MariaEllerºoº]

I would have them call first thing Thursday if they're not Disney Visa Card holders to have them ask for the Free Dining Promotion. This should really help lower their price.

 

[momxx5]

Ft. Wilderness cabins are awesome!
They actually are like a home setting, with the bonus of the Disney touch. They are not mobile home/trailers.

I do wonder about the package though. I would be nice to know where and how they got this package and yet were not given an actual resort name.

A few yrs ago our family of 7 (DD being a baby didn't count) stayed on the pay for 5 stay for 7, park passes included. It was under $2,400. With our travel expenses, food payment, souviners, the whole works, it was under 5,000.

 

[momxx5]

Okay, air fare included. That makes it even more interesting.

 

[duffy]

I don't understand people who drop approximately $5,000 on a trip without knowing what they're getting.

 

[Dicecatt]

I am very curious as to what this is. And whether or not it is a good deal really depends on which resort...Currently, we have a discount and are staying at Poly concierge level for 7 nights, with dining, and 1 day tickets, for $3500. Add about $1000 for airfare and about $500 more in tickets, and that makes it about $5100 for 6 of us (one under 3). What I have is a good deal. But for less days, I'm not sure if what your friends have is a good deal. It also depends on where they are located, because perhaps airfare is more expensive, and typically, from what I've seen, is it is more expensive to book airfare in a package than if it is by itself.

I'm not sure when they are going, but lets say it is value season. For 5 nights, a value suite is about $1000. Dining plan for 6, I'm not sure of all the ages so I am going to guess at least one child is considered an adult, so approximately $780. Park tickets for 3 days, again I'm guessing 1 is over 9, would be about $1070, assuming no hoppers. So, at that point they would be at $2850. So....that means their airfare would be $2150. For me, that would not be a good deal. Trip insurance could be in there though.

Lets say it is a Wilderness Cabin, approximately $280 per night in value season, then lodging would be about $1400, making airfare $1750.

I really suggest your friends call back. Find out which resort! It seems crazy to pay $5000 to stay somewhere you don't even have the name of. I am staying Polynesian concierge with my family of 6 for 7 days, and my trip will cost about the same as your friend's trip.

As far as adding a day at the beginning or end, airfare might be a problem. I can change mine anytime, because I use Southwest, but usually if you book a flight you are locked in. I can tell you, I would not spend $5000 for 5 days. With either of the above options, they are not getting any type of discount at all. Which doesn't surprise me, since they wouldn't know to even ask for one...they REALLY need to call and ask which resort it is, and what kind of tickets (hoppers could add over $200 and be unnessesary, maybe there are water parks and more on it for no reason, maybe there is trip insurance and they don't want it, whatever, it freaks me out that they have no idea).

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

It is possible they are booked into a 2 br DVC villa, which can be 500 a night. Maybe the rep said "apartment like"? Or possibly they said "home away from home."

 

[wdwnomad]

I am just going to comment on the airfare. From the sound of it, it looks like they booked a package through Disney including their airfare. I believe when you book your airfare through Disney, in addition to the $200 package deposit, you have to pay for all of your airfare at that time. If you don't do it at that time I think they can only hold it for 24 hours until payment is due. If they haven't paid for the airfare, I would say don't book it through Disney. Especially because it sounds like they don't know what they are paying for what part. I would research the airfare and probably book it on its own. On a side note to that, last year, I did book my airfare through Disney. At the time, it was the best airfare out there because I knew the prices I wanted to and should have paid. However, as time went on the airfare did end up doing down a little more. Also, AirTran completely changed their schedule after I booked. They changed and moved my flight up by 5 hours. I was on the phone back and forth with both Disney and Airtran trying to get on a later flight. They both kept telling me I had to call the other. So now I will just book with the airline directly. Finally, if they have already purchased their airfare, then it probably is not possible to add on extra days to their stay without paying to the ticket change fees.

 

[VAgal76]

They really have no idea where they are staying and booked a place blindly?

Could the "home like setting" be DVC accommodations?

Did they book this through Disney direct or somewhere else like ebay? It's so weird to book a package and have not a clue where you're going to stay.

I guess if we knew the accommodations they booked we could get to the meat if they really got a good deal or not.

I think the dining plan details is somewhere on here, but I just can't put my finger on it right now. Knowing the DIS there is going to be a list of participating restaurants, the # of credits it'll take for each and which restaurants are signature restaurants.

 

[strmtroopr96]

Just wondering if your friends ever got more info on the trip they booked?

 

[DizznyChick]

im wondering too-thats a lot of money to not know the details
and my guess is the cabins which we love