Would you book this?

[cccdisney]

So here is the situation. We have AP's and are planning a trip in late October and maybe late November. We have a room booked at the HOJO's (which we love!) but would really like to stay at either the DLH or maybe even the GC on this trip in October!
Of course I was hoping some great AP rates would show up, but nothing yet!
But I did talk with Costco Travel to see what the price would be for an AP Package (they take the price of tickets off) with the $400 off promotion. These packages include a character breakfast for the whole party and a $20 Disney Gift Card, as well as the usual package stuff.

The package price for standard view at DLH would be $786.58 (no insurance, but includes taxes and fees)
The price for standard view at DGC would be $1226.58 (no insurance, but includes taxes and fees).

Not sure if I should book one of these or not, because if better AP rates come out than I am stuck with the package. But then the package does come with the perks! What to do, what to do . . .

Thoughts anyone??

 

[bumbershoot]

How many days is that? I mean, if it's two days then NO. If it's 6 days, now we're talking. If it's 3 or 4...I can see your dilemma.

The character breakfast is nice! As is the little giftcard. And if you think you'd take part in MTTMM, if you think you'd need the preferred seating vouchers, if you'd like the lanyard and pin...then the package becomes more valuable to you. And then that leads to the question of how many people are going? How many people are being fed that breakfast, how many lanyards and pins (nice thing about the travel company pin is if you get a nice CM who will trade you right then and there for something off his/her lanyard!)...those all add to the value.

We did a costco package at the very first, and it was definitely nice to have it all taken care of (of course with you, your APs are separate so you don't get a packet with *everything*), and there is value (again with the value?) in that!

What is the cost of the room only at the sad AP rate going through the AP site? Add on the resort fee (is it 13.80 with taxes?), add on taxes, see how they compare side by side.

I know, I know, I'm not helping.

 

[cccdisney]

How many days is that? I mean, if it's two days then NO. If it's 6 days, now we're talking. If it's 3 or 4...I can see your dilemma.

The character breakfast is nice! As is the little giftcard. And if you think you'd take part in MTTMM, if you think you'd need the preferred seating vouchers, if you'd like the lanyard and pin...then the package becomes more valuable to you. And then that leads to the question of how many people are going? How many people are being fed that breakfast, how many lanyards and pins (nice thing about the travel company pin is if you get a nice CM who will trade you right then and there for something off his/her lanyard!)...those all add to the value.

We did a costco package at the very first, and it was definitely nice to have it all taken care of (of course with you, your APs are separate so you don't get a packet with *everything*), and there is value (again with the value?) in that!

What is the cost of the room only at the sad AP rate going through the AP site? Add on the resort fee (is it 13.80 with taxes?), add on taxes, see how they compare side by side.

I know, I know, I'm not helping.

It is for 4 nights (the minimum to get the $400 off). It is for Oct 28-31st and is definitely cheaper than booking with the oh so sad current AP rates.

The AP calendar has the GC as $333 a night, and the DLH at $243 a night (with friday night showing as unavailable). Of course those prices don't include the resort fee and taxes either!

There are 5 of us going this trip. We are leaving our special needs son at home with Grandma for this trip. We actually booked through a Costco package last May and then upgraded to APs while there. It is nice to get the character breakfast - which we would never pay for usually, especially since our 10 and 11 yo's are now considered "adults"!

We will probably book it. Just need to decide which hotel!

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

I have not been following what rates AP holders have traditionally been getting, so I dont know what rate would be concidered a great AP rate.
But, lets do some disney math...
Goofys (25.99x4 + 13.99) + 20 GC =137.95
subtract that from your current quote for DLH (786.58)= 648.63
Divide by 4 nights = 162.16 per night (tax and fees (??) included)
I think that works out to be a pretty good rate.

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh yeah, with 5 going it starts to look much better! I personally would probably go with the DLH, but that would only be because it's less expensive. Surprisingly I'm not including any value in that, b/c values between people differ so widely...it's pure "what costs more".

Plus, with 5...sometimes at GCH the 5th gets a wildernessy, like you're sleeping at the lodge at Mt Rainier...sleeping bag on the floor! Great for a 5 year old...not so much for an 11 year old. (at least I think it wouldn't be fun for an 11 year old...).

I am pretty sure that with a package, all resort fees and taxes are wrapped up in the package cost, so there would be nothing else to pay.

 

[mhconley]

In a heartbeat.

I paid $1,640.50 for the three of us on the 5 for 3 promo - 5 nights at DLH - including tax, tickets and no insurance. Take out the $582.00 for tickets and that's $1,058.00 or $211.70 per night just for the hotel.

$162.16 per night is a great rate!

Martin

 

[marcemc]

In a heartbeat.

I paid $1,640.50 for the three of us on the 5 for 3 promo - 5 nights at DLH - including tax, tickets and no insurance. Take out the $582.00 for tickets and that's $1,058.00 or $211.70 per night just for the hotel.

$162.16 per night is a great rate!

Martin

I second that. Even through Costco, I had exactly the same package (4 nights @ DLH, character breakfast, 4 days park hopper tickets) but different dates & it was $1,200.

Book it before it's gone!!

 

[cccdisney]

Thanks everyone! I have decided to book one of them, just haven't made up my mind which one. But will decide today and let everyone know!
Thanks for everyone's input!

 

[mamaofthree]

I have to hijack a little here. If you have AP's, Costco will quote you package prices minus the tickets? I asked about this in the summer and they said they don't sell packages without the tickets.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have to hijack a little here. If you have AP's, Costco will quote you package prices minus the tickets? I asked about this in the summer and they said they don't sell packages without the tickets.

Yes, they'll do it now, at least with this promotion. WDTC has been doing it, so I figure Costco has realized they can, too. You do have to call, though.

 

[brergnat]

That seems like a good rate, and I'd DEFINITELY choose that over HOJO's.

But, we just stayed CONCIERGE at the GCH at $369/nt, so $333/nt for a standard room seems a bit much.

I'd hold out hope that the AP rates will STILL drop more. I didn't book our $369/nt rate until about 2 weeks out. We stayed the last week of August and the rate wasn't released until the last week of July...

Remember, too, the GCH is opening the villas wing on Sept. 23. Along with the villas will be a BUNCH of new rooms, which they will need to fill. They may offer better AP rates as they notice less bookings (or not, who knows) for the coming fall months.

Can you cancel the Costco package if a better AP room only discount becomes available???

 

[cccdisney]

I have to hijack a little here. If you have AP's, Costco will quote you package prices minus the tickets? I asked about this in the summer and they said they don't sell packages without the tickets.

Like Molly said, Yes they do now. But you need to call.

That seems like a good rate, and I'd DEFINITELY choose that over HOJO's.

But, we just stayed CONCIERGE at the GCH at $369/nt, so $333/nt for a standard room seems a bit much.

I'd hold out hope that the AP rates will STILL drop more. I didn't book our $369/nt rate until about 2 weeks out. We stayed the last week of August and the rate wasn't released until the last week of July...

Remember, too, the GCH is opening the villas wing on Sept. 23. Along with the villas will be a BUNCH of new rooms, which they will need to fill. They may offer better AP rates as they notice less bookings (or not, who knows) for the coming fall months.

Can you cancel the Costco package if a better AP room only discount becomes available???

There would be a fee for canceling the Costco package.

Also, the $333 a night is the current AP price (according to the Availability calendar on the AP page). Then you add taxes and resort fee on that!

The 4 night package price for standard view at GCH would be $1226.58, which comes out to $306.65 a night. And because it is a package that includes the resort fee and tax.

WOW! I don't know how I missed it but I didn't realize the new DVC addition would also include more regular hotel rooms! I thought it was just DVC villas! Are the hotel rooms going to be more expensive than the original rooms? Will they all be DCA view rooms?

I don't know. I have a hard time believing they WON'T release some good AP rates for the fall.