(Whine....) "Why can't I get 7 for 4? All the other kids get it!"

[Cindaddy]

I've been having the same type of feeling and it has held me back from joining. The only difference is that my hang up was the free dining period rather than the 7 for 4. After really looking at the numbers, the DVC still appears to provide good value even in the case of the discounts. You shouldn't let the 7 for 4 bother you since it's not even the best deal when you look at the numbers. This is coming from a non-member (well, not yet!).

 

[DISNEYFOURME]

Even if I was going less than 10 days, I think I would STILL buy the AP, because it gives us the freedom to come & go & we get the TIW card which saves us so much on food & drink that I think in the long run we'd still come out ahead.

Ok now I'm curious. We are going soon and will have 10 true days to spend at the park. However, we will probably only get an 8 day pass so we have some days to just "relax". We need 3 adult (dd is 12) and one child (other dd is 6). We have always gone commando style and I don't see that changing. So what exactly is TIW card and how much can you really save? Seems to me the AP is a lot more than say an 8 day park hopper. We hope to go back next year "around" the same time as this but when would the AP expire if we first used it 3/19/09? Thanks!

 

[dgaston]

I booked the Disney Visa free dining in December as a "regular" person. DD25, DD20, and I stayed at AllStar Sports in a newly renovated room. We paid $82 per night, plus $10 for the extra adult, and had to purchase one-day tickets for each of us. We'll use those tickets as credits when we renew our APs.

We got tickets for MVMCP, ate at LeCellier for our CP package, Boma, Mama Melrose, Crystal Palace, and the GF Cafe for the price of the gratuity at each TS.

Since we are points "challenged," this was an excellent way to visit WDW in December. We also had the best time playing mini-golf at Blizzard Beach -- we had one free game and got great discounts with the AP for the other 2.
I did miss the kitchenette in the studios, but with the help of our Owner's Locker, we had a great trip.

Under some circumstances, the "deals" for regular people can work out for an extra Disney trip.

 

[nunzia]

Just wanted to add we are getting $100 off of APs. That's one heck of a ticket deal already. I like your 4 for 7 ticket idea, but the $100 AP discount already covers it.

Since we only go occasionally, I have no use for the AP (great deal though) so I would really like a discount on park hoppers..but alas..that won't happen. It would be nice if the DLR AP discount was more than 20.00 also

 

[dgaston]

Disneyfourme: The TiW card is a discount card you purchase for $60 after you have an AP. It generally gets you a discount of 20% off table service meals and alcoholic beverages for up to 10 people. There are a few CS locations that accept it too (All Stars and some AK restaurants for example) An automatic 18% gratuity is included with use of the card at TS.

Many DVCers prefer the TiW to the DDP.

 

[allshookup]

Ok now I'm curious. We are going soon and will have 10 true days to spend at the park. However, we will probably only get an 8 day pass so we have some days to just "relax". We need 3 adult (dd is 12) and one child (other dd is 6). We have always gone commando style and I don't see that changing. So what exactly is TIW card and how much can you really save? Seems to me the AP is a lot more than say an 8 day park hopper. We hope to go back next year "around" the same time as this but when would the AP expire if we first used it 3/19/09? Thanks!

An 8 day park hopper would be 281.00 per adult, the AP would be 369.00 & the TIW (Tables in Wonderland Card) which can only be purchased by AP holders & FL residents is 60.00. You only need one card per family & you save 20% on most table service & some counter service meals & all adult beverages. So say you spend appx. $1000 on meals & drinks for the week, you would save appx. $200.00. We tend to spend more than that, but just to give you an idea.

Edited to add: It would be 1089 for the 8 day for 4 of you & 1433 for the AP. It would end up being 404 more for the APs & the TIW card, so you would need to purchase about 2000 on TS & alcoholic beverages to break even.

Oh & the AP would expire 3/19/10.

 

[Chuck S]

Let's actually compare a DVC studio reservation at OKW using the special and using points. For a reservation 1/24 to 1/31, 2 adults.

Points:


80*$10 = ..................$800.00
7 day MYP base tickets $485.64 (including tax)
Total...................... $1285.64

7 for 4 package special $1940.16 tax incl
less $200 gift card..........(200.00)
Total..........................$1740.16

Go ahead, book your 7 day special for $454.52 more, I'll stick with my DVC.

 

[crisi]

Edited to add: It would be 1089 for the 8 day for 4 of you & 1433 for the AP. It would end up being 404 more for the APs & the TIW card, so you would need to purchase about 2000 on TS & alcoholic beverages to break even.

Oh & the AP would expire 3/19/10.

But you only need ONE AP. And I suspect (though don't know) that a kid's AP would do. We've done one adult AP.

 

[TAKitty]

I agree with you OP, and I don't care how rational everyone else sounds! I try not to think about the WDW deals so we booked a Disney cruise and took the kids sail free deal instead .

 

[Deb & Bill]

Way back when they had the original buy 4 get 7 deal a few years ago, we stayed at the GF in Sugarloaf using the deal. We had just been at WDW the month before using points, but our son had a birthday coming up.... You know the rest.

Anybody can get this deal. You just have to pay for it.

 

[DISNEYFOURME]

Thank you .. thank you for for all the AP info! I knew this was the place for the answers!! Guess now I will research the TIW card to see what places are included... Will I ever get off this 'puter??

 

[KathyRN137]

Go ahead, book your 7 day special for $454.52 more, I'll stick with my DVC.

Hey, Chuck!

You are absolutely right!

I'm just whining because I want my cake and to eat it, too!!


Kathy

 

[thesupersmartguy]

Very much agreed. We booked 2 days at AKV, then the rest at the GF. Now I have more points for a summer trip

DVC = timeshare. Own it. Use it. Love it.

Disney vacation discounts = opportunity for more vacations on TOP of a good thing you already have. The mickey bars are calling...

 

[dianeschlicht]

IMHO we purchased DVC because we wanted to go every year and be able to afford it. The rooms have the kitchen, laundry, and are larger than a regular room. It's nice that they give us a discount on the AP, but we only go once a year. It would be nice to give us a discount on tickets too. But then I guess we would have to buy them for everyone we know and that wouldn't be fun

You CAN get two trips on one AP going only once a year if you just shift your dates by a few days. For example: go 3rd week of January one year and go 1st or second week the next. Two years, two trips, one AP. It's also good to know that Disney gives you 366 days in a year instead of 365. Your pass is good on the expiration date, just not beyond.

 

[DebbieB]

What if Disney offered us DVCers a 7 for 4 deal on just park admission?

That would get my attention! That would keep me from banking those points and depriving Disney of my related tourist dollars this year! Why, think of all the $$ we would then have for shopping and eating on site. We might take that tour or rent that surrey bike or pick up those extra souveniers.... well, you get the idea.

The difference between a 4 day and a 7 day is $9.00 for an adult. $233 to $242. That's not going to get you too far.

 

[bookwormde]

Well it looks like my 5 for 2 just became 5 for 3 with the 2010 point charts no better than the CRO discounts.

bookwormde

 

[KathyRN137]

The difference between a 4 day and a 7 day is $9.00 for an adult. $233 to $242. That's not going to get you too far.

Yeah, I know you're right.... you guys are actually making me feel a lot better.

Guess I'm really just bummed right now b/c I can't take advantage of the 2-seven-day-trips-in-one year AP trick anymore. This is purely b/c of our own desire to (1)Avoid the high-points school vacation times and (2) still have the kids miss as little school as possible.

(We don't have a large contract, BTW.)

When we stayed on points with the AP getting maximum usage out of it, plus the DVC renewal discount, it just felt like such a better bargain.

Of course, our DVC will be with us long after the kids are done with school, so eventually, school schedules won't even be an issue.


Kathy

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Well... I'm sure you have gotten all the advice you have asked for now.

You understand it... always did. And I understand the feelings you have... We just have to make the connection that WE are the DVC OWNERS... and everything extra will cost US money to do it. WE pay the bills. It is a choice.

 

[crisi]

The difference between a 4 day and a 7 day is $9.00 for an adult. $233 to $242. That's not going to get you too far.

It would be cool if they threw hopping on free for DVC members or something....for those of us that don't have travel patterns that make the AP discount anything other than wistful.

 

[lovesparkdisney]

I would like it if we could use points for the dining plan!