WDW Package Request for Comments

My kid is going to Orlando for a school thing in April. I have been looking for a deal so the wife and I can join him. I don't see a lot of discounts and am starting to believe I may not do much better than this. For FWers who maybe do this more often, is this a good deal...

Manchester to Orlando and back
All Star Music Resort
4-day park hopper + quick dining plan

$1,118.25 / Person

Not much in terms of discounts are out there except for Disney's published specials. Currently, they are running a 15%-30% off on the hotel portion (depending on where you stay). For April, it starts on April 7. If you are a AAA member, this month is disney month and they are running local promotions in addition to that special, like a 50-100 gift card (call the local office). Since you are interested in the dining plan, you need to add a minimum of 2day base tickets to it and make it a package.

Many other sites dedicated will help you better. mousesavers.com and disboards.com - or shoot a PM

Manchester, nh 4/18-22.

Here are some quick numbers I ran for comparison.

Flights
$366 (4/18-4/22)
Consider leaving 4/17 and returning 4/23, and the price drops to $222pp on Delta.

Hotel (All Star Music Resort)
$137.30/night
$549.18 (4/18-4/22)

$132.59/night
$795.52 ((4/17-4/23)

Tickets (via UndercoverTourist Mousesavers email link)
$311.95 each (You actually purchase a 3-day, and get the 4th free)

Adding 2 more days only increases the cost to $325.95 each.

So where does this get us?

4/18-4/22 = $732 (flights) + $549.18 (hotel) + $623.90 (tickets) = $1,905.08
4/17-4/23 = $444 (flights) + $795.52 (hotel) + $651.90 (tickets) = $1,891.42

My point above is that it is incrementally cheaper to stay longer, although you'll pay more in food, etc. I just wanted to show the flights make a big difference flying out on Wed as opposed to Thurs and coming back Tues is cheaper than Mon.

Your total was $2,236.50, which means at the least you are paying $331.42 for the meal plan or $82.86 per day, which I guess isn't too bad for two people to eat all day. However, with the quick service plan, you may still find yourself having to eat more.

My comments.

1) Since you are only there 4 days, I do not recommend park hopper tickets. If you plan to visit each of the parks (Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot), you will easily spend a day at each park (with the exception of AK being a part day) and no need to hop. If you stay the extra couple days, than it may be worth the hoppers.

If you drop the tickets down to a 4-day MYW ticket (non-hopper), the price is only $268.35 each. Or $279.65 each for the 6-day MYW. Dropping the totals above down to $1818.88 or $1798.82 respectively.

2) Personally, unless it's free with a package, I've never found the dining plan of any value. Especially considering you need to buy a whole package from Disney to get the dining. Surprisingly, I've always found we eat less and drink more when busy in the parks all day. I think you'd save more money just dining on your own.

Speaking of dining, make any reservations now, as you are within the 180 day window. You should also be able to reserve select FastPasses now too.

Hopefully this gives you some insight to consider. Please let us know what you decide.

Save Money, Travel More!

WideOpenSpaces said:   Here are some quick numbers I ran for comparison.

Flights
$366 (4/18-4/22)
Consider leaving 4/17 and returning 4/23, and the price drops to $222pp on Delta.

Hotel (All Star Music Resort)
$137.30/night
$549.18 (4/18-4/22)

$132.59/night
$795.52 ((4/17-4/23)

Tickets (via UndercoverTourist Mousesavers email link)
$311.95 each (You actually purchase a 3-day, and get the 4th free)

Adding 2 more days only increases the cost to $325.95 each.

So where does this get us?

4/18-4/22 = $732 (flights) + $549.18 (hotel) + $623.90 (tickets) = $1,905.08
4/17-4/23 = $444 (flights) + $795.52 (hotel) + $651.90 (tickets) = $1,891.42

My point above is that it is incrementally cheaper to stay longer, although you'll pay more in food, etc. I just wanted to show the flights make a big difference flying out on Wed as opposed to Thurs and coming back Tues is cheaper than Mon.

Your total was $2,236.50, which means at the least you are paying $331.42 for the meal plan or $82.86 per day, which I guess isn't too bad for two people to eat all day. However, with the quick service plan, you may still find yourself having to eat more.

My comments.

1) Since you are only there 4 days, I do not recommend park hopper tickets. If you plan to visit each of the parks (Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot), you will easily spend a day at each park (with the exception of AK being a part day) and no need to hop. If you stay the extra couple days, than it may be worth the hoppers.

If you drop the tickets down to a 4-day MYW ticket (non-hopper), the price is only $268.35 each. Or $279.65 each for the 6-day MYW. Dropping the totals above down to $1818.88 or $1798.82 respectively.

2) Personally, unless it's free with a package, I've never found the dining plan of any value. Especially considering you need to buy a whole package from Disney to get the dining. Surprisingly, I've always found we eat less and drink more when busy in the parks all day. I think you'd save more money just dining on your own.

Speaking of dining, make any reservations now, as you are within the 180 day window. You should also be able to reserve select FastPasses now too.

Hopefully this gives you some insight to consider. Please let us know what you decide.

Save Money, Travel More!

where is the undercover tourist mousesavers link?

WideOpenSpaces said:   Tickets (via UndercoverTourist Mousesavers email link)
$311.95 each (You actually purchase a 3-day, and get the 4th free)

Adding 2 more days only increases the cost to $325.95 each.

where is the undercover tourist mousesavers link?

You need to sign up for her monthly email list.

ahh thanks.

Was just on their site to buy tickets in anticipation of disney getting rid of the 'no expiration' option...

SinglePapa said:   a lot of work above; but of course $1900 is still insane. Are those school-break dates for anyone?

Well soon your "rented" ticket practices may be shut down, as Disneyland is now implementing a trial program to take pictures of the original purchaser/user on multi-day tickets to make sure people don't "rent" out the remaining days. If it works, this could be coming the Disney World. I guess the fingerprint method wasn't full-proof.

I never had interest in ticket share, as that doesn't make the entry free...But everyone who did, appeared to like saving half. It seems even easier to be officially walked thru the gate at half-price by an authorized person with allowance, or many other ways to save a third or half. Whoever wants them, does them. Then, many just want to overspend on everything and blow any number of thousands on Disney vacation; everyone gets what they want, and everyone should be happy at the happiest place on Earth. Just not to confuse (spending like this) with FW.

What always bothered me: why take kids to WDW during school? The practice sounds very wrong, but is widespread - for what higher reason? Hard-core FWers have come up with answers for just about everything, so maybe someone will shed light. I understand officials get a free trip this way, plus may be getting paid their regular salary - so is that it? How low can you go, at children's expense
WideOpenSpaces said:   SinglePapa said:   a lot of work above; but of course $1900 is still insane. Are those school-break dates for anyone?

Well soon your "rented" ticket practices may be shut down, as Disneyland is now implementing a trial program to take pictures of the original purchaser/user on multi-day tickets to make sure people don't "rent" out the remaining days. If it works, this could be coming the Disney World. I guess the fingerprint method wasn't full-proof.

Most of my travel constraints are related to the school activities (which is why we are going)...

- We have a departure constraint since we have to drop our kid before heading to our own flight
- We have a return constraint since we have to return before collecting our kid
- We have to be in the park for the entirety of their trip to assure we are able to do the as yet unscheduled photo ops
- We need the park hopper passes to assure we are able to do the as yet unscheduled photo ops (and I like to catch the fireworks from MK as much as possible)

I consider myself a lazy FWer. By that, I mean that I check for prices in advance of a purchase and leverage 'techniques' shared here, but I weigh effort against results and will spend a little more for ease and reliability of the purchase.

In this case, I would like to limit my purchases to airlines, travel planners, and the resort. I don't want to look at a time share and I don't want to carry groceries into the park.

- Round trip from Boston or Manchester
- 4-day Park Hopper
- Quick meal plan
- Room in the park

If I click through Walt Disney World's site I get...

WDW: $2378.10 via Manchester (one stop) All Star Music
WDW: $2778.50 via Boston (no stops) All Star Music

I think this is pretty close to 'entitlement' (what I can get at the last minute) and am looking for a discount off this price.

I can save quite a bit by booking through an airline either as a package or for flight only...

WDW: $2196.90 via Boston (no stops) All Star Music (flight booked separately)
SWA: 2236.5 via Manchester (one stop) All Star Music

I see a place to enter promotion codes on Southwest's planner and rsuaver mentions them above. Where do these 15% off codes come from? I'd like one

Other than that, I think you guys have affirmed my process for the most part. I wish there was a secret -- a time when Disney discounts available rooms or the airlines discount available seats -- or a Golden Rule like 'book your trip with the first xx% discount and get your flight as soon as it hits $xxx.

thanks for all your input!

Can someone pm me the link to jan Mousesavers newsletter. I just missed this month. Thank you in advance!

outlawnyc said:   the meal plan is almost always worth it -- unless ur UBER cheap -- ie. are willing to go out of ur way for groceries.. etc.
since the food in disney/around disney is so over priced -- get the meal plan -- (i'd go with the full dining plan). You'll be well fed, and if u feel too well fed, you can combine some for finer dining as well. gl.

Agree. One of the drawbacks of the basic dining plan is you still need to leave tips, and this is based on the actual food you consume, meaning $30-$40 on each dinner (without alcohol) for 4 people. However, there are very good quick service places - Pepper market is almost like a sit down dinner, and Earl of Sandwich is another great example.

The problem is when the kids become 10. At that point they are Disney Juniors, which mean they pay adult tickets and adult dining plans. So a family of 4, with 2 adults and 2 juniors, adds almost $180 a day in meal plans. Depending on how 'tweens' eat, the dining plan might not be worth it. I will eat a steak on every dinner, meaning a $30 plate, but junior might only eat a $15 pasta plate. Quick service meals can be big as well - two juniors might split one of them. But once they become teens and they eat like adults, the dining plan becomes a good option again.

SinglePapa said:   this nitty-gritty of course is very interesting - but main question remains: what "school thing" is going down? And if OP doesn't wish to shed light, maybe others will: what exatly happens on these "school trips" during regular school time?

Local schools HS senior trips are to WDW, and these do happen during the school year. Although these are just 'fun' trips, some parents do want to go at the same time. Bands are also invited to play on parades as well - in this case, they actually record a session and/or get critiqued by specialists. These could be middle school bands too.

SinglePapa said:   this nitty-gritty of course is very interesting - but main question remains: what "school thing" is going down? And if OP doesn't wish to shed light, maybe others will: what exatly happens on these "school trips" during regular school time?
It's like salt in an open wound for me. I'm no fan of the trip. There is no academic component. There used to be, but it cost too much and took too much time away from other activities. A significant number of students are not qualified to participate based on their parents' inability to pay. In class promotion ensures that they know what they are missing. This year's schedule removes students and teachers from the classrooms of a perpetually SINI (School In Need of Improvement) school system. Kids whose families cannot afford to send them get to sit in an empty classroom for two days contemplating their worth. I'm sure that some families who cannot afford the trip take on expense they cannot afford so their kid is not among the worthless.

I think it's terrible that kids are allowed/encouraged (and in the past REQUIRED) to panhandle for funds that pay for this vacation. It's wrong to teach kids to ask others for money so they can go to Disney.

The trip is very expensive. When my oldest participated, the cost was ~$1500. I was able to get away from work at the last minute and arranged for my family to be there for his performance. Too late to use a travel service or seek deals, I clicked through Disney.com and was able to get the same flight, room, meals, and park hopper passes for three people for $2500 -- $830 per person. I saw a lot of chaperones on that trip and a lot of students, but I saw very few chaperones with students. I was also disappointed that this price only reserved one bed per two students. Many (probably most, maybe all) slept on the floor two nights. (Turns out Disney will put cots in the room for no extra charge.)

To make matters worse, the organizers have been very unsupportive of paying parents. A lot of parents make this trip to support their kids. Simply allowing parents to climb on and off the same busses and flights as their children would have facilitated planning for the trip. This is something I am told the planner was willing to do, but that the organizers would not allow.

Anything else you want to know? The school is Timberlane Regional High School in Plaistow New Hampshire.

I just looked up your location. For the money they charge, I can do both(!!) February 16-24 and Mar.23-Apr.1 school breaks. That's more than two weeks in total for the money they charge you for 5 days. And I'll never do anything outside of school break time - this is criminal

so the least you can do for those families that "couldn't afford" - send them at half-price with me: some during President Week break and others during Spring Break. There is their scholarship

I can't judge the above link. But if there is anything I can do for the families who can't afford your school's insane Disney offer - feel free. Remember, that I will never do anything during school time. But every single school break is fair game. I haven't missed the last ten breaks, perfect score sheet