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MissEsq
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 920 total posts
Name:
Missy
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disney theme park tickets - pricing question
are park tickets cheaper when you add them to your "package" if you book a disney hotel, plan, etc.? or is there no discount? I know there is a slight discount through AAA so i'm trying to figure out which would be cheaper.
Thanks!
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Posted 7/2/12 5:40 PM  |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: disney theme park tickets - pricing question
There's no discount, but with a package through Disney you get a number of package perks, and if you want to take advantage of the dining plan, either paid, or through a free dining promotion, you'll need to buy your tickets through Disney. The same goes for "kids stay and play free" promotions, you need tickets as part of your package.
When is your trip?
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| Posted 7/2/12 5:50 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
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Re: disney theme park tickets - pricing question
Posted by JenniferEver
There's no discount, but with a package through Disney you get a number of package perks, and if you want to take advantage of the dining plan, either paid, or through a free dining promotion, you'll need to buy your tickets through Disney. The same goes for "kids stay and play free" promotions, you need tickets as part of your package.
When is your trip?
This!
You don't save money buying tickets through a package - but to get say free dining when it is offered you must get your tickets and hotel through disney - you can't just get hotel and dining. So you have to get a package.
Now if you go with say a room only discount you don't have to get tickets - you only have to do so if you want to add the dining plan. I think it largely depends on your plans. If you tend to dine at expensive places and order the fish or the steak option that is $31 or the character meal that is $40 some a person - then the dining plan might be a cheaper option for you. But if you eat at places like the plaza (costs like $11-15 for an entree) or some of the other lesser cost places (or things like character breakfasts) they tend to costs less you might come out ahead paying OOP instead of the dining plan. Then you are probably better to buy your tickets separately.
So I think it really depends on your wants and needs. But again it also really depends on what the current discount is - as to whether it is worth it to get the package. The other thing is convenience. A lot of people just do the package because it is easier than doing a bunch of separate components. Also when you do the package you get some extras - (Jennifer would know better) - but what are some of them - discount to planet hollywood, discount on a mini golf session, maybe a luggage tag -but those sort of things. I think they do that to make the package seem like a better deal. We always get the package. The difference hasn't been that great for us - and with things like free dining or kids stay and play free - we would need to do the package to get those. I think if I could find a great room only discount and good % off tickets - and we changed the restaurants we want to eat at I would do it separately but so far we wouldn't really have saved much.
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| Posted 7/2/12 6:36 PM |
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MissEsq
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 920 total posts
Name:
Missy
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Re: disney theme park tickets - pricing question
Posted by JenniferEver
There's no discount, but with a package through Disney you get a number of package perks, and if you want to take advantage of the dining plan, either paid, or through a free dining promotion, you'll need to buy your tickets through Disney. The same goes for "kids stay and play free" promotions, you need tickets as part of your package.
When is your trip?
planning on going back in 2013 -nothing set yet. we were going to do the disney cruise but then decided we would wait until DS is older
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| Posted 7/3/12 9:29 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: disney theme park tickets - pricing question
If it's 2013, I would just keep it open. You'll be able to see what packages come out from Disney and then decide whether a free dining or other kind of package is best for you, or if it's a Room Only discount (that doesn't require tickets) that's best. At that point you can decide to buy tickets through Disney or separately. Personally, I like the convenience of buying it all in one place, having all one package. Though not everyone will use the package perks (Arcade credit, discounts for child centers, fishing, spa, planet Hollywood meal voucher, etc etc), it gives you peace of mind to have it all. Plus the luggage tags are really pretty 
As far as 2013 goes, you can book now as a Room Only and then you can do it, if you know Disney well, or you can book with a travel agent and have her do it for you, but basically the packages should be out for 2013 very shortly (within the next month or so). Once they come out, very often, deals for 2013 follow, and these can be the best deals. The good part about it is that a good Disney TA will then have the ability to check every single promotion that comes out from now until your trip against your reservation so you're guaranteed the best rate.
I would say if you're still thinking of buying tickets outside, just wait until you have your Disney portion booked and wait until you've seen what all of the specials are BEFORE you buy anything outside of Disney. You don't want to get stuck locked out of a promotion because you saved $20 on tickets at AAA, KWIM? And you can always buy the AAA tickets right before the trip if that's what still works best for you.
ETA: 2013 packages will come out July 11.
Message edited 7/3/2012 11:27:11 AM.
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| Posted 7/3/12 10:23 AM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: disney theme park tickets - pricing question
Posted by JenniferEver
If it's 2013, I would just keep it open. You'll be able to see what packages come out from Disney and then decide whether a free dining or other kind of package is best for you, or if it's a Room Only discount (that doesn't require tickets) that's best. At that point you can decide to buy tickets through Disney or separately. Personally, I like the convenience of buying it all in one place, having all one package. Though not everyone will use the package perks (Arcade credit, discounts for child centers, fishing, spa, planet Hollywood meal voucher, etc etc), it gives you peace of mind to have it all. Plus the luggage tags are really pretty
As far as 2013 goes, you can book now as a Room Only and then you can do it, if you know Disney well, or you can book with a travel agent and have her do it for you, but basically the packages should be out for 2013 very shortly (within the next month or so). Once they come out, very often, deals for 2013 follow, and these can be the best deals. The good part about it is that a good Disney TA will then have the ability to check every single promotion that comes out from now until your trip against your reservation so you're guaranteed the best rate.
I would say if you're still thinking of buying tickets outside, just wait until you have your Disney portion booked and wait until you've seen what all of the specials are BEFORE you buy anything outside of Disney. You don't want to get stuck locked out of a promotion because you saved $20 on tickets at AAA, KWIM? And you can always buy the AAA tickets right before the trip if that's what still works best for you.
ETA: 2013 packages will come out July 11.
What is the discount for the child centers? I don't remember that one before is it new? Or maybe I never bothered with it because I either didn't have kids or kids old enough.
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| Posted 7/3/12 12:51 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: disney theme park tickets - pricing question
Posted by Lillykat
What is the discount for the child centers? I don't remember that one before is it new? Or maybe I never bothered with it because I either didn't have kids or kids old enough.
15% off the non-discounted price of Child Activity Centers.
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| Posted 7/3/12 1:21 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: disney theme park tickets - pricing question
Posted by JenniferEver
Posted by Lillykat
What is the discount for the child centers? I don't remember that one before is it new? Or maybe I never bothered with it because I either didn't have kids or kids old enough.
15% off the non-discounted price of Child Activity Centers.
Sorry for the stupid questions but I never looked into them - not sure I would use them - but now that the girls are older never say never - but they offer discounted prices?
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| Posted 7/3/12 1:28 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: disney theme park tickets - pricing question
Posted by Lillykat
Posted by JenniferEver
Posted by Lillykat
What is the discount for the child centers? I don't remember that one before is it new? Or maybe I never bothered with it because I either didn't have kids or kids old enough.
15% off the non-discounted price of Child Activity Centers.
Sorry for the stupid questions but I never looked into them - not sure I would use them - but now that the girls are older never say never - but they offer discounted prices?
Other than the package, I think DVC members and Passholders get discounts. I think they specify "non-discounted price" so you know you can't stack them. I don't think they generally give out discounts for other reasons, but I haven't really looked into it as much as other aspects of Disney travel, so I can't tell you with 100% certainty without checking.
Message edited 7/3/2012 1:36:17 PM.
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| Posted 7/3/12 1:36 PM |
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Mouse Tales Travel
LIFamilies Business
Member since 7/08 417 total posts
Name:
Melissa Salinas
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Re: disney theme park tickets - pricing question
Posted by Lillykat
Sorry for the stupid questions but I never looked into them - not sure I would use them - but now that the girls are older never say never - but they offer discounted prices?
Christine, it's a 15% (non-stackable) discount for 2012 and our Mia loves the child centers! She chooses them over dinner - even 'Ohana - so she goes to the center, we have a nice dinner, and then we have to drag her out.
Definitely something to try! We like The Neverland Club (Poly) and Simba's CubHouse (AKL) the best.
- Kimberly Hill
Mouse Tales® Travel
LIFamilies Vendor
Creating Magical Vacations for LIFamilies since 2008
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| Posted 7/3/12 2:21 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: disney theme park tickets - pricing question
Posted by Mouse Tales Travel
Posted by Lillykat
Sorry for the stupid questions but I never looked into them - not sure I would use them - but now that the girls are older never say never - but they offer discounted prices?
Christine, it's a 15% (non-stackable) discount for 2012 and our Mia loves the child centers! She chooses them over dinner - even 'Ohana - so she goes to the center, we have a nice dinner, and then we have to drag her out.
Definitely something to try! We like The Neverland Club (Poly) and Simba's CubHouse (AKL) the best.
- Kimberly Hill
Mouse Tales® Travel
LIFamilies Vendor
Creating Magical Vacations for LIFamilies since 2008
My daughter LOVES the Neverland Club! She has been a couple of times, and always asks to go back!
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| Posted 7/3/12 6:00 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: disney theme park tickets - pricing question
Posted by Mouse Tales Travel
Posted by Lillykat
Sorry for the stupid questions but I never looked into them - not sure I would use them - but now that the girls are older never say never - but they offer discounted prices?
Christine, it's a 15% (non-stackable) discount for 2012 and our Mia loves the child centers! She chooses them over dinner - even 'Ohana - so she goes to the center, we have a nice dinner, and then we have to drag her out.
Definitely something to try! We like The Neverland Club (Poly) and Simba's CubHouse (AKL) the best.
- Kimberly Hill
Mouse Tales® Travel
LIFamilies Vendor
Creating Magical Vacations for LIFamilies since 2008
Thank you - usually we don't like to dump the girls but we were thinking maybe they might enjoy playing for an hour or two one night (is there a minimum?) and we could have a quiet drink at the hotel. Now I have read conflicting things - I see age 4+ but then I saw on a few sites - 4+ but they will take a 3 yr old if fully potty trained. If we go in August next year DD would be 4 but if we go in the spring then she would be 3. She has been fully potty trained since last August so basically for a year now.
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| Posted 7/3/12 7:51 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: disney theme park tickets - pricing question
It's 3 and up, and must be potty trained. It used to be 4.
Minimum is 2 hours, and they serve they a meal as well. My DD came home with some cute silly straws, a bunch of art work, and an autographed pic of some characters.
Well worth the money spent!
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| Posted 7/4/12 8:26 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: disney theme park tickets - pricing question
Oh, and for the OP. I rarely do a package unless there is a super good deal going on. Right now we have used a room only discount, and did not add tickets to make it a package. I like the flexibility of the room only (can cancel up to 5 days before without penalty, and it's a one night deposit).
Orlando Ticket Club has the cheapest prices on tickets by far. They beat the Mousesavers Undercover Tourist rate by $33 for our next trip, which is a couple counter service meals.
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| Posted 7/4/12 8:29 AM |
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