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DisneyGirl83
Earning My Ears
USA
1 Posts
60 Points
Status: Offline
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 Posted - 08/22/2003 : 2:43:04 PM
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I'm planning my next vacation to Disney for May 2004. I am trying to decide between a Disney Vacation Package and just doing it all separately myself. It seems a little more pricy to do the vacation package, but was wondering if anyone had any experience with the packages. Does it work out in the long run to book the package or to just pay for everything separately? Thanks
DisneyGirl8
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DisneyGirl83 |
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Michael
Forum Admin
Clermont, FL
USA
6774 Posts
My Photos
27010 Points
Status: Offline
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Posted - 08/26/2003 : 4:52:28 PM
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IMHO, Seperate... I'm a cheapskate and I price everything... don't always take the retial price... many places/vendors will haggle.
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My last Disney World Vacation was 970 days ago!
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pperrin323
Earning My Ears
USA
5 Posts
50 Points
Status: Offline
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Posted - 09/21/2003 : 8:05:45 PM
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first of all you need to sit down to figure out how much you can afford the cost of disney world per day. Second you need to see if you want to eat a the higher of eats. Third are you concern about money? if so it is cheap sometimes to stay off proporty and eat fast food or back at the motel. If you don't want to worry about prices my wife and i always use the packages. We figure it out we are saving between 50 to 300 dallors a day with a package We plan on going next august. we are getting the silver add on and using the wishes for food and spliting a breakfast in the morning plus we are using our AAA discount for the package. It is going to cost myself, my wife and 2 children for a 5 night stay at all music resort for $2000 for the package plus ground transfer for a towncar. Keep calling disney because sometimes they have extra special deals. Example my wife and i went down for our honey moon for 6 nights for $1000 that included all food and wishes that was in 97.Asquote:
Originally posted by DisneyGirl83
I'm planning my next vacation to Disney for May 2004. I am trying to decide between a Disney Vacation Package and just doing it all separately myself. It seems a little more pricy to do the vacation package, but was wondering if anyone had any experience with the packages. Does it work out in the long run to book the package or to just pay for everything separately? Thanks
DisneyGirl83
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TIGGERLOVER
Earning My Ears
1 Posts
50 Points
Status: Offline
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Posted - 10/07/2003 : 10:27:13 PM
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I say to do it separately. Hubby and I figured on our last trip we lost money on the package because we used a lot of our wishes on breakfast meals, 4 of them to be exact AND we used them on BOMA's buffet...TWICE!!  We did get our monies worth on all the lunches and dinners we had and the spa treatments at the Grand Flordian.  We just figured to price everything separately this time as we get a great deal on 4 day hoppers being FL residents and a great deal on hotel rooms being residents also. Just do your research and figure out how it's all gonna work for you.
Best to you in your planning!
Denise
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hellish
Earning My Ears
Canada
8 Posts
50 Points
Status: Offline
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Posted - 01/07/2004 : 08:46:02 AM
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i would book seperately. if you go to mousesavers.com they have codes that come out a couple months in advance that can offer great discounts on resorts. If you're going for more than seven days, an annual pass can also get great resort discounts
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My last Disney World Vacation was 2147 days ago!
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JerZriverRat
Earning My Ears
USA
1 Posts
50 Points
Status: Offline
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Posted - 03/13/2004 : 10:08:37 AM
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I bought everything separately and paid $1,277 for 7 days/6 nights. This includes hotel, airfare and rental car for three adults!! I also found a website where I bought 4 day park hopper plus and two day universal escape passes that allow you to visit both parks there. For three adults, this cost me $938. Now I am working on the meal vouchers!!! Plus I am traveling during easter week/spring break, which surprised me even more with the pricing!
quote:
Originally posted by DisneyGirl83
I'm planning my next vacation to Disney for May 2004. I am trying to decide between a Disney Vacation Package and just doing it all separately myself. It seems a little more pricy to do the vacation package, but was wondering if anyone had any experience with the packages. Does it work out in the long run to book the package or to just pay for everything separately? Thanks
DisneyGirl83
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phlydude
Top Mouse
Newark, DE
USA
2590 Posts
My Photos
6650 Points
Status: Offline
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Posted - 03/23/2004 : 5:40:47 PM
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I always book seperate airfare, hotel and rental car. I can usually spend a little time looking at different carriers (even low rate ones which the vacation package companies don't look at because of lack of code sharing and low commissions such as Spirit, Southwest and Airtran - some of which will not be on Expedia or travelocity) and getting a better deal by looking a little harder on different days. Also check airlines that don't have a big prescence in your local airport (i.e - US Air is huge in Philly. I looked on United's site and found a cheaper fare through United on a US Air flight with dual flight numbers then what US Air was selling on the same flights - $175 vs $476!)
I also STRONGLY RECOMMEND getting a AAA or CAA membership because it can save you up to 25% on your room rate at all different hotels, including resort properties. A good example of the cost justification is:
AAA membership is $54/year (+$15 app fee). If you go to a AAA office, they can waive the $15 application fee if you ask nicely and agree to recurring Cred Card payments each year (which you can easily change 6 months down the road). Calling the Disney reservation line, you can get a rate for the Wilderness Lodge of $199/night for a standard room during the summer months (which for some reason is value season for the deluxe properties but regular season for all others - DON'T LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH!). During this time, just for being a AAA member, you will get a 15% discount on your room. This takes the room down to $169.15/night. With the discount and after taxes, 7 nights come to $1320 vs. the published rate of $1553.30. Your $54 investment grossed you a $233.30 savings on the room. Net is $179.30 and that is before you use your AAA discount on mechandise and other discounts at restaurants and outlets!
Get your rental car by yourself (look at my other posts for my discount tips there!)
Also, buy your park tickets in advance and buy for as many days possible. A 7-day park hopper pass is good for any 7 days you choose, even days years and years from now (and just think, that $220 you spend now will be well worth your investment years from now when the tickets are 25% more money and you still have days left - I have been criticized by cast Members telling me that my tickets are really old!). The tickets you get with your packages are only good for the length of your stay which doesn't afford you to get any rest (this is vacation, right?) which doesn't make that discount seem so discounted, does it?
Whatever you do, if you book seperate items for your trip and you are serious about going, if you see a good deal on airfare, TAKE IT. The likelihood that it will be there 8 hours from now is nill and a better deal is rarely found later on. Just remember, cheap fares come without cancelation policies. You can't get your money back once you book, that is why you need to be serious about going before booking your airfare.
**EDIT**
Since posting this, the Annual Pass rates came out for the summer month and are much more beneficial that having the AAA membership. AAA is a great option if you go once a year or twice a year for long weekend trips. If you are going to be in theme parks 8 days or more, the AP works out to be the better deal in the long run.
**End EDIT**
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My last Disney World Vacation was 683 days ago!
Provided by the ExploreTheMagic.com
Disney World Trip/Budget Planner
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phlydude  (aka Dennis)
"I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse" Walter Elias Disney |
Edited by - phlydude on 06/23/2004 11:33:41 AM |
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eddieras
Earning My Ears
USA
4 Posts
50 Points
Status: Offline
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Posted - 06/23/2004 : 08:07:41 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by hellish
i would book seperately. if you go to mousesavers.com they have codes that come out a couple months in advance that can offer great discounts on resorts. If you're going for more than seven days, an annual pass can also get great resort discounts
where do you find out the resort discounts with annual passes? i've looked but haven't found the specifics. i'd like to compare and see what i'd save.
we're planning 7 nites at the AKL the week before thanksgiving
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My last Disney World Vacation was 1901 days ago!
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phlydude
Top Mouse
Newark, DE
USA
2590 Posts
My Photos
6650 Points
Status: Offline
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Posted - 06/23/2004 : 11:28:41 AM
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The rate discounts can usually be found on mousesavers.com but November's are not out yet.
An example of what I am saving during August:
I am staying in the Wilderness Lodge during it's summer value season. Starting rates are $199/night for a standard view (exact rates as AKL in November).
With AAA discount, the room went to $169/night. Not too bad, $30 off rack rate.
With the Annual Pass using code AZB for my week, I was able to book a Woods view (normally $219/night) for $134/night. Over the course of 7 nights, I saved $595 over rack rate and $385 over AAA's discount for the room of the same type. These prices are before the 11.5% room tax charged. The pass paid for itself on this one trip alone.
The best thing about this is that I was able to book a room for other members of my family who are joining me on this trip and get them the same discount for their room. In addition, only one member of the party needs to have the AP (the adult who's name the reservations are under).
Having the AP can be beneficial and even without the room discounts, it breaks even after 8 days spent in a theme park.
In addition, you get 10% off lunch in numerous restaurants and discount on mini-golf too.
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My last Disney World Vacation was 683 days ago!
Provided by the ExploreTheMagic.com
Disney World Trip/Budget Planner
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phlydude (aka Dennis)
"I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse" Walter Elias Disney |
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Michael
Forum Admin
Clermont, FL
USA
6774 Posts
My Photos
27010 Points
Status: Offline
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Posted - 06/24/2004 : 11:36:53 AM
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I have noticed that the FLA resident code (BCF) is in most, if not all cases a better discount... go figure.
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My last Disney World Vacation was 970 days ago!
Provided by the ExploreTheMagic.com
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Direct from WDW! |
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phlydude
Top Mouse
Newark, DE
USA
2590 Posts
My Photos
6650 Points
Status: Offline
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Posted - 06/24/2004 : 11:55:28 AM
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Lucky FL residents. Get to be close to the mouse and get the best discounts too... **shanking fist like grandpa Simpson**
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My last Disney World Vacation was 683 days ago!
Provided by the ExploreTheMagic.com
Disney World Trip/Budget Planner
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phlydude (aka Dennis)
"I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse" Walter Elias Disney |
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ksumyers
Earning My Ears
Manhattan, KS
USA
29 Posts
70 Points
Status: Offline
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Posted - 10/25/2004 : 12:58:16 AM
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you all might call me crazy, but my husband and I are going for the package deal (Silver to be exact). In one of my guidebooks, it helped breakdown all the prices that go into the plans. Our main thing is we're two big kids that want to see and do everything we can (honeymoon/anniversary) and it would cost us an arm and a leg to both go parasailing, eat at all the nice places (I am going to miss McDonalds that week though), spend every minute we can in ANY disney theme park, etc. We just get our money's worth of the wishes by estimating meal prices vs. what our wishes are worth (for us, they are approximately $25-30 each)We didn't want to have to worry about any money spending except for souveniers. YES, we're lazy and worrywarts.
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My last Disney World Vacation was 100 days ago!
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Michael
Forum Admin
Clermont, FL
USA
6774 Posts
My Photos
27010 Points
Status: Offline
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Posted - 10/25/2004 : 12:22:14 PM
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I may have to eat my words real soon about not buying packages... I have new features to add to this site in the near future and it looks like Disney Packages are becoming rather economical.
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My last Disney World Vacation was 970 days ago!
Provided by the ExploreTheMagic.com
Disney World Trip/Budget Planner
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Direct from WDW! |
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phlydude
Top Mouse
Newark, DE
USA
2590 Posts
My Photos
6650 Points
Status: Offline
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Posted - 10/25/2004 : 4:08:57 PM
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I like the idea of having to go off site every once in a while to get some non-Disney food. Steak and Shake is pretty good and I love Sonic (2 chains we don't have up in the northeast). I also like paying a visit to Mr Roma's to get some good ribs. I don't know, eating on-site can become a hassle for me sometimes, especially when there are no PS's available where you want to go. I can't plan out my meals in advance of 90 days...
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My last Disney World Vacation was 683 days ago!
Provided by the ExploreTheMagic.com
Disney World Trip/Budget Planner
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phlydude (aka Dennis)
"I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse" Walter Elias Disney |
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Michael
Forum Admin
Clermont, FL
USA
6774 Posts
My Photos
27010 Points
Status: Offline
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Posted - 10/25/2004 : 6:57:38 PM
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The problem with eating around Orlando is the sheer number of options... not to mention that so many of the establishments know that you'll probably never be back and therefor quality/service drops... Like phly I have no idea what I'm going to be in the mood for in 90 days and we also share the ah, em, lets just call it the stature thing so when I get hungry, look out brother because I sometimes only eat one time a day! What I'm saying short, is yes, I agree, eating offsite can sometimes save money and time.
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My last Disney World Vacation was 970 days ago!
Provided by the ExploreTheMagic.com
Disney World Trip/Budget Planner
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Direct from WDW! |
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Disney Vacation Packages
