Booking Questions

[disneygirl76]

Hi there,

So we have always traveled to WDW with just me and my DH. But this time, we are going in Feb for Princess Half Marathon. And I invited my parents to join us at the finish line to be part of my chEAR section. My question is some what all over the place so bare with me please

1) you can book a villa through waltdisneyworld.com but how do those prices compare to booking through an individual who isn't using theirs. Note: I have no idea how this works so I am opting for the easier solution of just booking through Disney as that is how I book. But if it is a major savings, then I want to check it out.

2) am I correct that if you are a season pass holder (we would be buying a 10 day + ticket so this might be cheaper) you can get tables in wonderland for dining? Note: again, no idea how this works so I don't know if that is savings or we should just pay out of pocket.

3) when running the Disney Princess Half Marathon, I understand that there is a host resort. I know the Expo is going to be at Coranado but we don't want to stay there. I also understand there are shuttle buses to take you to the race but are they available to all resorts or just specific ones.

4) how much of a pain is it to switch resorts? Or switch rooms? If its cheaper to get a regular room over a villa, then perhaps we will just get a villa for when my parents are there and switch to a regular room. Note: we are thinking of BC Villas so we would most likely switch to a BC/YC room so I think that would be pretty easy but if we choose to go to GF, then how much of a pain is it?

5) I know we can book 180 days out for dining but we have always had a MYW pkg with dining so we get the 10 + but what if we are not booking that way. Can you still book for 180 + 10 or are you restricted to just 180 days out?

I think that's about it. Just when I think I know it all - I'm stumped. That's why I love you guys! You always get me un-stumped!!!

 

[luv]

1. I have never not booked through Disney. I don't trust strangers with my money and none of those go-between sites will guarantee that your money will get you a room. Just cannot take a leap of faith! But loads of people do and it works out well for them!

2. Yes, you can buy a TiW card. I always found that an AP discount on the room and the TiW card saved me much more than any of Disney's dining plans.

3. Never did it, but hope to one day. GOOD FOR YOU!!!

4. I think it's a very, very large pain. Some people have no problem with it. I think it depends on the person and how much they want to go to two different hotels.

5. Never called that far out. Sorry!

Looking forward to seeing your lists!!

 

[Ariel484]

3. This year all resorts were host resorts for the Princess Half, so all had the race/expo transportation. The expo was at Coronado due to a scheduling conflict at Wide World of Sports...I am guessing they are going to try to avoid doing that again this year, especially with them adding a 10K race (and more runners) to the weekend. The only place you'd have issues would be Swan and Dolphin, but you could just walk to to any other Epcot resort and grab a bus there.

 

[sbkline]

Regarding the TiW card, it was $75 when I bought mine in 2012 (which I then used for our 2012 and 2013 trips) and in the long run, between the two trips, it was well worth the money. But I think it has gone up to $100 now (and it may go up again with the next round of price increases). You'll just have to do the math and see how many meals you will have to eat before the 20% off adds up to the price you paid for the card, and then how many meals after that it takes to actually SAVE money compared to the DDP. If you're only using it for this one trip, I would think it would be hard for it to save you more money than the DDP would. Think of it this way: If each of your sit down meals is $100, then 20% off would be $20 off each meal. It would take you Five TS meals just to save back the $100 that the TiW card cost you. You still haven't saved anything yet, you've just broke even. Are you going to eat enough TS restaraunts where you can actually SAVE more using the card than what the DDP would cost?

Regarding the 180+10, we did not using room and ticket packages the last two trips, but we were still able to use the 180+10. It's not based on your park admission, whether you have the DDP. It's just based on staying at a WDW resort. You could stay at a WDW resort and not have any park admission at all, and never visit the theme parks and you could still do the 180+10.

 

[sbkline]

I'm not sure how much, if anything, you know about the TiW card, so I guess I should elaborate just in case you know nothing. For the aforementioned price, you buy one card for your whole party...up to 10 people, I think. So let's say you're visiting with 6 other people, just to make up a number. Only one card needs to be purchased in order to get the discount for the entire check. When you pay, you leave your TiW card in the sleeve along with your payment. They will scan the card,which will automatically take 20% off the total, then add an 18% gratuity. The card is good for 13 months,so bring it back for any future trips in that time period. So once again, whether it is better than the DDP all depends on how many people are eating and how many meals there are going to be, as well as how expensive the meal is. The more expensive the meal, the bigger the dollar amount of the 20% off.

Someone else can correct me if I am wrong, but I am guessing the card gets 20% off the entire check, not necessarily the entire table. So if each family at the table pays for their own check, I'm guessing the card can only be scanned for one check. If you pay the entire bill and have each family in the party pay you back for their portion of the bill, then you can scan the card for a 20% discount for the entire check.

 

[shuflemstr]

Yes, you get 20% off the entire meal including alcohol. It needs to be on one check. The cardholder needs to be on the check that it is used for. I just renewed mine last week and it did go up in price to $100.

 

[disneygirl76]

3. This year all resorts were host resorts for the Princess Half, so all had the race/expo transportation. The expo was at Coronado due to a scheduling conflict at Wide World of Sports...I am guessing they are going to try to avoid doing that again this year, especially with them adding a 10K race (and more runners) to the weekend. The only place you'd have issues would be Swan and Dolphin, but you could just walk to to any other Epcot resort and grab a bus there.

Thanks!!! I read that they have added a 10 K but its not on the run Disney site yet. I love that we have the info before they update their own website. Thanks for clarifying the info about transportation. That helps me so much!!!!

 

[disneygirl76]

Regarding the TiW card, it was $75 when I bought mine in 2012 (which I then used for our 2012 and 2013 trips) and in the long run, between the two trips, it was well worth the money. But I think it has gone up to $100 now (and it may go up again with the next round of price increases). You'll just have to do the math and see how many meals you will have to eat before the 20% off adds up to the price you paid for the card, and then how many meals after that it takes to actually SAVE money compared to the DDP. If you're only using it for this one trip, I would think it would be hard for it to save you more money than the DDP would. Think of it this way: If each of your sit down meals is $100, then 20% off would be $20 off each meal. It would take you Five TS meals just to save back the $100 that the TiW card cost you. You still haven't saved anything yet, you've just broke even. Are you going to eat enough TS restaraunts where you can actually SAVE more using the card than what the DDP would cost?

Regarding the 180+10, we did not using room and ticket packages the last two trips, but we were still able to use the 180+10. It's not based on your park admission, whether you have the DDP. It's just based on staying at a WDW resort. You could stay at a WDW resort and not have any park admission at all, and never visit the theme parks and you could still do the 180+10.

Thanks for the info on TiW and 180+10. Really helpful. Ugh...math...not my strong suit! HA We do eat at TS - usually once a day.

 

[disneygirl76]

I'm not sure how much, if anything, you know about the TiW card, so I guess I should elaborate just in case you know nothing. For the aforementioned price, you buy one card for your whole party...up to 10 people, I think. So let's say you're visiting with 6 other people, just to make up a number. Only one card needs to be purchased in order to get the discount for the entire check. When you pay, you leave your TiW card in the sleeve along with your payment. They will scan the card,which will automatically take 20% off the total, then add an 18% gratuity. The card is good for 13 months,so bring it back for any future trips in that time period. So once again, whether it is better than the DDP all depends on how many people are eating and how many meals there are going to be, as well as how expensive the meal is. The more expensive the meal, the bigger the dollar amount of the 20% off.

Someone else can correct me if I am wrong, but I am guessing the card gets 20% off the entire check, not necessarily the entire table. So if each family at the table pays for their own check, I'm guessing the card can only be scanned for one check. If you pay the entire bill and have each family in the party pay you back for their portion of the bill, then you can scan the card for a 20% discount for the entire check.

Thank you - I knew nothing about it since we never thought we would need it. But this is very helpful information. Thanks! I think I will make the decision when I find out what my parents are doing and if my brother and his gf are come in from CA. In that way, we will get the villa and they will need to eat. so it might be better to go with the TiW. Back to the math part.

 

[disneygirl76]

1. I have never not booked through Disney. I don't trust strangers with my money and none of those go-between sites will guarantee that your money will get you a room. Just cannot take a leap of faith! But loads of people do and it works out well for them!

2. Yes, you can buy a TiW card. I always found that an AP discount on the room and the TiW card saved me much more than any of Disney's dining plans.

3. Never did it, but hope to one day. GOOD FOR YOU!!!

4. I think it's a very, very large pain. Some people have no problem with it. I think it depends on the person and how much they want to go to two different hotels.

5. Never called that far out. Sorry!

Looking forward to seeing your lists!!

I think we are very similar with our planning! That's why i'm fearful of going outside the "system" to get a room. I think we are going to stay at BC so transfering should not be a pain but I like to get in, get settled and then just stay put. So I think I am ditching the idea to move resorts.

 

[disneygirl76]

I just had a thought - my parents have a time share with Marriott and my DH and I have stayed at the Marriott Grand Vista twice. My parents could stay at Vista or any other Marriott time share that they could get for that week and stay cheap. And my brother and his GF can stay with them too. I was thinking this might make sense for them b/c a) its cheaper and b) my dad has vowed to never go into a another theme park ever again. I am really not sure how he is my father. The only glitch, my mom is now spoiled since we stayed at the GF a few years ago. And if my bro and his gf come, they have never stayed on property. Hmmmm....so much to think about.