Who thinks the new pkgs are NOT a good deal?

[Wenlitz]

For everyone who plans there Disney vacation by watching for discounts on airfare, car rental, and discount codes for there rooms, I think these packages are a joke. Length of stay passes are a rip off for us. The first day we arrive we dont go to the parks and the day we leave we dont go to the parks either. Why would I want to pay for 2 days I cant use. I accept the fact that the hoppers are never discounted but come on 99.00 for each adult per nite. I just dont see a good deal here. Just my opinion.

 

[hulabird]

we go to wdw every year, we go to the parks on a limited basis...we mostly go to stay at the resort, shop and just relax. Like you, on day 1 we don't go to the parks. On the last day we may go to a park, but only for breakfast. The UPH's are unnecessary to us. The package is a rip off for us and those who have AP's or prefer PHP's that don't expire. Last year, because my sister's family were coming for the first time ever, we did tour the parks fully, we had PHP's, of which I still have 3 days left on, due to the fact we went at value season, parks were not full, and we made it through all the parks in a few days, and even went back to a couple again. We then went to sea world and universal. Had we been on a package, we would have been ripped off having the UPH's. I would hope that Disney would still come out with discounts for those needing room only ressies.

 

[taylor1293]

I think they are a joke also . No where near as good as the FTP was.

These are the rates I was quoted.

7 nights in January, 2 adults, 2 children, with insurance.

ASMo - 1,825.38

Coronado - 2,057.64

WL Standard room - 2,323.08

I have ASMo booked for 69 a night including tax with a AAA discount. That is approx. $490 for 7 nights, subtract 80 for the insurance, and that means the UHP are costing $1,263 for those 7 nights. I can do much better with park hoppers. Especially considering the weather in Jan and we may not even be able to use the water parks!

Teresa

 

[BethC1952]

I don't think they're a great deal, either. I don't book packages as as rule, except for my land/sea trip. When I take a longer trip to WDW I go to do other things besides spend every minute of every day in a park. It's my goal to spend at least one trip there without going to any park at all (except maybe Epcot's World Showcase).

We don't get the full value from UPH because we don't use the water parks at all. DH isn't a swimmer and doesn't particularly like water. We live at the Jersey Shore, so I get my fill of swimming in the summer.

The lack of room-only discounts won't change my WDW visiting habits, because I book only what I can afford to pay, and if a discount comes along, then I'm ahead of the game.

Beth

 

[stitch79]

I have no need for any package since we have annual passes. I live in Orlando so we started staying at the resorts for a new Disney experience. However, I certainly won't pay for a complete package when I don't need it. If they would give an option to get the package without the tickets then I would consider it.

Booo hiss on packages!!

 

[Gary M]

As I mentioned in another post these packages have the warm and fuzzy feeling names "Fairy Tale Package" and "Winter Dream Package". I won't go into all the detail from that post, but in general, WDW is pulling a "Madison Ave," marketing ploy on the people who aren't familar with WDW pricing in the past or just have trouble with math. I have trouble composing letters, while others have the math problem.

 

[BHFAN]

I think they are a joke also. Only I'm not laughing.

 

[DisneyFan79]

1800+ for a value resort for 2 adults and 2 children?!? I booked the FTP for a friend of mine. They had 3 adults and 2 children and were able to book POR with a trundle for 7 nights at 1800. Definitely not a good package. Oh well, I guess I will keep waiting for an AP or book a standard room with the DC discount.

 

[Tinks]

I can tell you that for people participating in the Marathon weekend events the packages are not the way to go so it is no "deal" for them. Why spend money on UPH's if you are racing and then resting?? I bet you really want to spend a full day at the parks after running 26 miles! All this nonsense is crazy and it's making me upset

 

[Miscrapper]

I don't think Winter Dream is a very good deal, but FTP is. We booked FTP for an October trip and figured for same amount of money we are getting 7 nights hotel, 8 days in parks plus waterparks, PI etc for price we would pay for 6 nights hotel and 4 day park hopper passes. Winter Dream is more than $300 more for same thing which eats away at savings!

 

[yecats]

I think the new package is a rip-off. I am booked for the FTP for this November. As a solo traveler I was quoted $899 for moderate for 7 nights/8 days. This was in my opinion a great deal. If I decide to go back next year (probably for a 4 night trip only), I don't see myself staying onsite as I don't like the AS and certainly would not pay $100 per night for that option. If this is what is going to be offered in the future, I may never stay onsite again.

 

[hAm53]

This new package is identical to the offers I've been getting with the Disney Visa for the past two months. I was reeeeaaalllly hoping that they would extend the FTP. With the "new" package it will cost us (2 adults) $380 bucks more per person to get the UPH than 7 nights at POR at rack rate w/ a 5 day Park Hopper (and a couple left over pluses from previos trips). Since we won't be going to the parks one day (gotta check out wedding sites), its a wasted day of the UPH.
It really depends on your individual group about whether this package will work in your favor.

~Chris

 

[SB in KY]

I had a room only at WL concierge reserved for 3 nights in Nov at a AAA discount that I thought was not great anyways...so I call this AM to price the package... $2132 (without insurance) for same room on the same nights, 2 adults, 2 juniors....when I did the math I can get the room alone and buy everyone 7 day Park Hopper pluses for the exact same amount...and we would have 7 days of park admission instead of 4 and 4 pluses to use on days when we did not want to go to the parks...so we will do much better without the package (We can save the extra days and pluses and have a really cheap trip next time)...this reminds me of the "old" Disney packages...that weren't bargains at all....so much for the "new" pricing of packages.

 

[CamColt]

All I can say is boy am I glad I jumped on the AP rate at the Swan for December!

 

[faithinkarma]

I completely agree.....the packages are a joke, an infuriating one to annual pass holders. I am " voting with my feet ". Just this morning I called the Swan/Dolphin and reserved a room with an annual pass discount. Total savings for three nights....$1107.18 !!!

Admittedly, I am giving up Poly concierge, but from what I have been reading on the boards, I was not convinced concierge was worth the extra money.

If the S/D are willing to aggressively compete for my money and my loyalty, they deserve a shot.

 

[mr.mike]

I can't believe i bought my first AP just a month ago and they are skipping ap rates for at least september and october.

And i suppose we shouldnt even think of looking for AP rates for november to februray until after the new package deadline.

At least i booked a back up resort that was $2000 less than the suite at AKL and Poly lagoon i was hoping for.

I just wished Disney would say something like... "there will be no AP rates for such and such a time"

mike

 

[deb305]

Mr.Mike,
You mentioned you bought your AP last month. Did you activate it yet-i.e. go to a park and use it. I imagine you probably know this, but the clock doesn't begin until your trip.
We hold off buying AP until a rate is announced, and then just buy one of them. We do it soley to save on the room. In January, the extra $100 or so the AP cost over the 4-day hopper was more than offset by the $ 800 we saved on the room.
I agree the new package is hardly worth looking at, especially (sp) given all of the discounts other Orlando resorts are advertising heavily on the internet for the same period

 

[faithinkarma]

mr.mike,

You probably already know this, but I am going to mention it just in case you don't. The Swan/Dolphin are offering excellent deals for annual pass holders. I believe it is $139 a night plus a free upgrade. Check out mousesavers.com

 

[mr.mike]

I just activated the pass a month ago. We stayed at all-stars for 77 and the Poly garden for 240. Both those prices included tax.

I did think about the Swan and Dolphin but...
1. My sister and her family are staying at the Poly. (lagoon view with FTP)
and we want to be near her.
2. We are going to MNSSHP and believe it or not we wanted to be at a monorail resort because of the kids for this event. Makes it easier to get there with the crowds and easier to get back to your room when its over, especailly with a 2 and 5 year old.
3. we spend most of our time at MK also.


As i said in another thread... for our FEB trip we are seriously considering a Universal hotel.
Also we planned to go the week before christmas but we've just given up on that one now. I'm glad we don't mention these trips to the kids until everything is set.

Again these were/are all trips only planned because we bought the AP.


Thanks again for mentioning those alternatives. It's why i love this board 99.99% of the people here are so thoughtful and freindly


Mike

 

[bsears]

mr.mike,

I completely understand your desire to be near the park you are attending. I had my reservations all set, 2 nights at AKL, 5 nights at BW, and 3 nights at Poly Concierge. I was happily counting the hours I would save by going to the parks near our hotel on each given section of the vacation.

And then I had an idea. We are so accustomed to taking advantage of the free transportation Disney offers that we just do it automatically.

What if I took some of the $1100 I would be saving by switching to the S/W for the last three nights and took a taxi to the MK area? I avoid the long crowded bus ride, travel with a bit of comfort, and come out way ahead financially