Why the price difference in $$?

[readytogotodisney]

I was just pricing out a DL trip on the website and for some reason I'm getting two different prices depending on whether I do a room with tickets, or a package deal.

I got $2241.10 for the total package of a 5 night room at PPH and 3 day park hopper tickets.

Separately I got $500 for 3 day park hopper tickets

and $1250 + tax for the hotel room

Then if I continue on to book it, it shows


5 Night Room Total* (USD): $1,250.00
Tax (USD): $212.50
Grand Total** (USD): $1,462.50
add that to the park tickets and I'm still at $1962.50 - $278.60 less then booking a package.

I have no idea why such a difference. I looked, and looked but couldn't find anything other then the character calls, and the Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness.

What am I missing?

 

[cgh]

I would verify that the rooms you were choosing were exactly the same and you did have the same hotel. sometimes it will change hotel or room type on you. And, of course tax.

 

[readytogotodisney]

I would verify that the rooms you were choosing were exactly the same and you did have the same hotel. sometimes it will change hotel or room type on you. And, of course tax.

Yup, double checked everything bc I assumed it had defaulted and changed the number of tickets, or the hotel etc. Something had to have changed, but I couldn't see anything at all.

 

[SA mom]

We found that to be the case when we booked separately at WDW 5 years ago, but they have since changed it.

 

[Jkpark]

I would call and explain and see if they can book you the package at the lower rate. I haven't booked packages before but I have run into problems with room only where it jumps in price when finishing the process. I've been able to call and get the first rate shown. Never hurts to call and ask! Good luck!

 

[HydroGuy]

For some reason when you book room only vs. a package you get quotes in one case with taxes included and in the other without. Make sure you go all the way to end of the process where you have to enter a credit card and see what the prices are at that point. Not sure if they will be the same but they will be different.

 

[AngelDisney]

For some reason when you book room only vs. a package you get quotes in one case with taxes included and in the other without. Make sure you go all the way to end of the process where you have to enter a credit card and see what the prices are at that point. Not sure if they will be the same but they will be different.

That's true! When I check room only quote, I need to make sure I get the quote with taxes included by clicking "continue". Vacation Package quote includes taxes from the start, but room only does not.

You rock Hydroguy!

 

[specialks]

The OP did include tax in the figures. This doesn't surprise me as people often mention that booking separately is often cheaper than packages. Packages do come with some perks that a hotel only plus tickets won't have, but technically those are supposed to be free...

 

[phil1914]

I noticed the same this over the weekend. The difference is in the park tickets. Packages include souvenir tickets which includes a lanyard, pins, and some other goodies I can't remember right now. As opposed to just park tickets without the extras.

 

[Babybears]

When you got the package quote did you double check the amount of days it gives you for parkhopper tickets?? I am constantly checking and rechecking rates online and often when I get a room quote and put in for, say a "4" night stay, the quoting system automatically quotes the package with a "5" day parkhopper. It always adds a day for parkhopping, so make sure you check that and change it back to what you want and then push the "modify my quote" or something along those lines.

I will say that you will often still get a slightly higher price going the package route (although in your case the difference seems too high, so quite possibly another factor). We usually book through Costco, as it is the exact same as going through WDTC (same screens, everything) but includes character breakfast and $20 gift card. When we go this way, it almost always is a wash or saves us money.

 

[kailuagirl]

That's a huge difference! Are you a Costco member? If so, also check their web site, but it is usually inline with Disney Travel, but you get a couple extra perks (gift card and character meal).

Good luck! I have also run into difference prices, but never that huge??? Run it again and check everything, like the others have said. Must be room type or something??

 

[hootey]

Call Disney travel and tell them exactly what you are wanting. Last year we recieved five nights at the DLH, six day park hopper pass', three character breakfasts, two disney gift cards for our boys to purchase their own souvineers with, and four day disney dining for four people for $2624. Plus they will book all the character meals and make any and all reservations for you, as well as make suggestions if you would like. We do this once or twice a year and have found DT usually have the best package deal for us....

 

[bumbershoot]

Plus they will book all the character meals and make any and all reservations for you, as well as make suggestions if you would like.

Any guest of an onsite DLR hotel can take advantage of that planning.



OP, you've now seen why it's so important to ALWAYS check package vs a la carte for every trip you're planning. Sometimes the prices work out for the package. Sometimes it's on the side of the room only. Sometimes it's so close that you have to figure out if the included stuff is worth the extra money.

During our first big onsite stay, we did the package through Costco. (and FYI the TAs that sell the packages are authorized Disney TAs, and it's no different than booking through WDTC, except for some of the exact little offerings and the color of the lanyard!) During that trip we were starting at PPH with the package, then upgrading to APs and moving to HoJo, and shortly before our trip an AP rate came out that would have made the total cheaper. We stuck with the package, however, because we wanted to do the package for the experience and the stuff that came with it. We've never booked a package again, because a la carte has always worked out cheaper for us!

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Just wanted to say that the same thing happened to me, both when I compared a la carte to a package (and yes, I checked for taxes levied, multiplied the a la carte hotel by 1.17 to get the rate with tax included, added parking fees, etc.) and found a la carte to be about $200 less for a four-night stay plus 5-day PH, and then when I called WDTC to book, the CM quoted a higher price than the one in front of me (like about $25 difference in the total). I told him what I was seeing on my computer screen at their site, and he said he would match it. Same issue when he applied a 10% AAA/CAA discount that was closer to 8%. I told him what my calculator said, and he adjusted the price. All the lower, correct prices are in the PDF attachment they attached to my reservation confirmation email.

GL, and when all else fails, just tell the reservation agent what you found and see if they can help.

Bumbershoot, would it be worth the pkg perks for a first-time visit? What perks are worthwhile for the price difference?

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

The "package perks" are things like priority seating for some shows like Aladdin, and ToonTown Morning Madness. They sell these "perks" at WDTC in DTD for $10/person. IMHO no way are they worth the extra expense....and a TA just told me the Toon Town thing will end this year.

 

[BayGirl22]

But Costco can only book DLR rooms for up to 4 nights - at least that's what I was told. If you try to do 5 nights on the Costco website you get an error. I called and spoke with Costco travel and they said they are limited to 4 nights for their DLR packages. GNH's they can do more nights.

I am doing a la carte too because I picked up the parkhoppers before the price increase. But I keep second guessing that decision because I really want TTMM. Yes, supposedly you can get tickets at WDTC, but there have been inconsistent reports of that working. And I hate that I have to wait until I'm on site to try that, since it affects our plans for that morning. For peace of mind I almost wish I just spent $100 more for a package. But then I still have 5+ hotel reservations and change my mind on that daily, so its probably better this way.

 

[bumbershoot]

Bumbershoot, would it be worth the pkg perks for a first-time visit? What perks are worthwhile for the price difference?

It wasn't worth it financially. The worth was mainly for the *knowing* part of it.

We went in September and we didn't use many. The seating things were good through the end of the year, and we actually used one in December when we went again.

Seating for Muppets was completely useless; same with Turtle Talk. We used the ALaddin seating voucher in December, when it was completely silly for us to do so. We had to check in over an hour before it started, then come back early. We ended up standing in line far longer than the standby people did, and were let in LAST. The seating for the voucher people is "orchestra", which puts you at knee level for one of the big elements, and allow syou to see the "underside of carpet" for the flying scene. MUCH better to see it from further up, which is where the standby people sit, or so I've heard.

The Costco lanyard is pretty, but it's WIDE and it was rough on my neck. I had replaced it by the second day, with a lanyard sold by Disney. The Costco lanyard sits in my Disney drawer...

At that time Costco included a character meal and a $20 gift card, and the gift card is what made them scrape by over booking directly with WDTC. Comparing the other packages, the Costco package was just about the same price above as the character meal that was "included". That result isn't the same for everyone, though; but that's why you have to check for every trip!