What would you do?

[NDDisneydad]

I just booked a June 3-12, 2017 DL vacation package through Disney at the Best Western Park Place Inn for 9 nights with five 5-day park hopper tickets. I then checked the cost of booking with the hotel directly and buying park tickets separately (through Disney to get the Magic Morning perk) and it would be over $300 cheaper not to book through Disney!

The only advantage I can see to keeping the reservation through Disney is the ability to pay off the package balance with discounted Disney gift cards (which would probably save me around $300 off of the Disney package price making it basically the same price).

Do any of you DLR experts know if there are generally sales on packages at Good Neighbor Hotels in June? If so, it may be worth holding on to my Disney package and re-booking with the discounted package price if available.

What would you do? Should I cancel my Disney package and re-book through the hotel directly or cross my fingers and hope for a 2017 summer package discount? I figure that I had better decide soon because I have heard that BWPPI mini-suites fill up fast! Thanks!

 

[BrianL]

Well, if it's basically the same price using the gift cards, then you can stick with the package. I think it's usually cheaper to book direct, but since you've already done it and can negate the cost increase then it's a wash. At least you'll get luggage tags!

 

[Indiana Scott]

There is no advantage to booking a neighboring hotel through Disney.
So I would cancel and book the hotel directly to save the $300.

 

[Angrose]

I would cancel and re-book to save the $300. You could still use the Disney GCs to purchase your tickets.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I'd rebook but there are no sales at good neighbor hotels. Sign up for best westerns program and emails. You'll get notified if bw is having a sale.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Book direct.

Use any gift cards you have for tickets and in park purchases.

Go to Disney store and buy a luggage tag if so desired.

 

[VandVsmama]

Book direct if you can cancel the package through Disneyland.com without a penalty and without losing your 'deposit,' which is often something like the price of 1 night's stay. I just booked BWPPI for 5/29-6/3 directly through Best Western's website. If you sign up for a Best Western Rewards account, you can get about 10% off the room rate.

Use your Disney gift cards to put towards your tickets.

A $300 difference is basically 2 character meals for a family of 4. For example, it's 1 Minnie's breakfast AND 1 character breakfast at the PPH for 4 people. Or it's 1 character breakfast and almost a Blue Bayou dinner for 4 people.

 

[VandVsmama]

However, if you'd lose your 'deposit,' then stick with the package you already booked through Disneyland's website and look for the silver lining in the cloud...which is that all of your hotel & tickets will be paid off ahead of time. And you can add character meals to it, too, and have those paid off before you even arrive (not including the tip, of course).

 

[GoBears 1980]

I never book packages, I always do better on my own.

What are you paying per night for the hotel? Have you looked at all the new hotels?

 

[NDDisneydad]

Thank you for all of the advice everyone. I was able to book my dates with the hotel directly and got the Best Western rewards rate that I just signed up for today. With that it actually saves me $500 versus booking with Disney!

I canceled my reservation with Disney and will receive my $200 deposit back. Although they did say it could take up to two credit card billing cycles to appear as a credit.