package vs. tickets and room

[mom2morgan]

Can anyone give opinions on vacation package vs. separate tickets and rooms? If I remember correctly, you can't do a dining plan if you do it the second way; but I'm wondering if I can save money that way. I'm considering snapping up the discounted Canadian tickets, then working on the accomadations a little later.

[faline]

You need to do the math to figure out which works better for your family. Personally, discounted rooms and tickets and paying out of pocket for meals has worked better for me. Remember, when you get a package, you are paying full price for your room. Additionally, with the changes made to the dining plan and, depending on where you are staying, the value of the dining plan as part of a package is considerably less than it used to be.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

We've always done a package, but are current at Disney on our first room only trip. We bought the Canadian ticket deal, it was too good to pass up, and then booked the room. There are quite often room-only discounts, so you'll save off the "listed" prices there as well.

The dining plan seems to be about break even, if you eat a TS meal and a QS meal AND the snacks each day. Since we don't have the plan this trip, we're keeping track on our spending, and most days we are well under what it would have cost to purchase the dining plan, even our "really expensive" days have been a few dollars cheaper.

For us, we saved money with the Canadian tickets, the room and paying as we go for dining. The tickets make a big difference!

[Fangorn]

Leaving the DDP aside for the moment, a package consisting of room and tickets will generally be the exact same price as purchasing your room and tickets separately. Discounts that might apply to a package almost always have a corresponding room only discount available. The difference comes in the way the two options are sold. Packages are sold through the Walt Disney Travel Company and have one set of policies and restrictions, while room only bookings are sold through Central Reservations, and have a completely different set of policies that accompany them. Room only bookings are much more flexible when it comes to changes/ cancellations and payment schedule.

The dining plan is only available to guests with a package, or to DVC members, and is an extra cost item. Even with "free dining", there's a cost - the room portion of the package is at full rack rate - and the corresponding room only discount (and there always is one) may actually be the better savings. But that all depends on family size and eating style. For us, the dining plan hasn't made sense for many, many years. But your mileage may vary.

Steve

[mom2morgan]

Can anyone give opinions on vacation package vs. separate tickets and rooms? If I remember correctly, you can't do a dining plan if you do it the second way; but I'm wondering if I can save money that way. I'm considering snapping up the discounted Canadian tickets, then working on the accomadations a little later.

Thank you - I think you've all just confirmed what I was thinking! And you know what? Thinking about it I realize I was always annoyed by having to constantly "keep track" of the DDP ...you know, how many of this or that type of meal we've had (esp. with 2 credit special occasions thrown in) and have we used all our snack credits.....it would be really "freeing" to just eat where we want, when we want. And because we always wanted to get our money's worth, we ALWAYS ordered the most expensive thing on the menu - even if that wasn't what we wanted, LOL. It changes things that it is no longer three kids - just hubby and me and maybe one adult child.

[Fangorn]

As you say, not having the DDP can actually be quite liberating. Our norm now is to use a Disney gift card loaded with an amount that is close to, but less than what we'd pay for theDDP. We use that card for meals, including tips and adult beverages. We eat what we want, often sharing meals and getting appetizers. There's always money left on the card at the end of the trip.

Steve

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

Our norm now is to use a Disney gift card loaded with an amount that is close to, but less than what we'd pay for theDDP. We use that card for meals, including tips and adult beverages. We eat what we want, often sharing meals and getting appetizers. There's always money left on the card at the end of the trip.
Steve

We used this tip on this trip, and it has been wonderful! I love not pulling out cash or the credit card at every meal, and we're still trending WAY below the DDP cost, and we're getting to eat exactly what we want.