Booking DLR package via Costco

[CarolynFH]

We’re considering a visit to DLR during the 70th Anniversary celebration and thinking about booking a package for cash vs. using our DVC points. Anyone with experience booking a package via Costco? Specifically, can you make payments when you want, as long as you meet the PIF date? Can you use Disney gift cards for payments?

Another related question - right now packages seem to be available on the DLR website through December 2025 only. Any idea when 2026 packages might be offered? We’re interested in visiting during January or February.

 

[LKing]

Can you use Disney gift cards for payments?

I have not booked Disneyland, but I was looking to book a WDW trip through Costco and was told I could not use Disney gift cards.

 

[joseph821]

We’re considering a visit to DLR during the 70th Anniversary celebration and thinking about booking a package for cash vs. using our DVC points. Anyone with experience booking a package via Costco? Specifically, can you make payments when you want, as long as you meet the PIF date? Can you use Disney gift cards for payments?

Another related question - right now packages seem to be available on the DLR website through December 2025 only. Any idea when 2026 packages might be offered? We’re interested in visiting during January or February.

Late August 2025 is when I suspect 2026 will open up on the DLR website.

 

[atthebeachclub]

I booked a WDW trip through Costco and was pleased. Can’t use Disney gift cards to pay though. And the cancellation policy isn’t great, so get trip insurance.

 

[CarolynFH]

I booked a WDW trip through Costco and was pleased. Can’t use Disney gift cards to pay though. And the cancellation policy isn’t great, so get trip insurance.

What’s the cancellation policy? Is it different from Disney’s?

 

[Louis63]

You can also look at Get away today they have good packages

 

[atthebeachclub]

What’s the cancellation policy? Is it different from Disney’s?

It is definitely different from Disney’s; not nearly as generous. It’s also much cheaper usually. Check the website; they’ll have the specifics listed there.

 

[Jawwdoc]

It is definitely different from Disney’s; not nearly as generous. It’s also much cheaper usually. Check the website; they’ll have the specifics listed there.

I have booked a DLR vacation via Costco Travel. My experience has been that the hotel rooms and theme park tickets are the same price as what you would find when booking directly with Disney (you will actually get re-directed to a Disneyland website when using Costco Travel). The current “savings” comes in the form of a Costco gift card ($200-$260) depending on the number of nights you stay and also includes a 10% discount on participating DTD restaurants/gift shops, you also get a “collectible” pin/lanyard as well if you are into pins and stuff.

 

[CarolynFH]

I have booked a DLR vacation via Costco Travel. My experience has been that the hotel rooms and theme park tickets are the same price as what you would find when booking directly with Disney (you will actually get re-directed to a Disneyland website when using Costco Travel). The current “savings” comes in the form of a Costco gift card ($200-$260) depending on the number of nights you stay and also includes a 10% discount on participating DTD restaurants/gift shops, you also get a “collectible” pin/lanyard as well if you are into pins and stuff.

Thanks. Did you feel the cancellation policy was more strict than Disney’s? Did you feel it was worthwhile to book through Costco instead of direct with Disney? Any complications related to having Costco as your TA vs. booking directly?

 

[Canchaser143]

Thanks. Did you feel the cancellation policy was more strict than Disney’s? Did you feel it was worthwhile to book through Costco instead of direct with Disney? Any complications related to having Costco as your TA vs. booking directly?

I have never had issues booking packages with Costco! It is just more of a pain if you need to change anything though, you have to call Costco Travel directly, it cannot be changed online. They do allow you to cancel online though. I feel like that is the major difference, you cannot just edit freely like you can through Disney. You get a full refund up to a certain date, after than partial refund and then if you cancel less than a week out there is no refund. It is a bit more strict than Disney, but still pretty generous.

 

[DizMe]

We’re considering a visit to DLR during the 70th Anniversary celebration and thinking about booking a package for cash vs. using our DVC points. Anyone with experience booking a package via Costco? Specifically, can you make payments when you want, as long as you meet the PIF date? Can you use Disney gift cards for payments?

Another related question - right now packages seem to be available on the DLR website through December 2025 only. Any idea when 2026 packages might be offered? We’re interested in visiting during January or February.

Is there a specific reason you prefer to book a package? I used to book packages and used Costco fairly often because of the bonus gift card, but the drawback (for me) was having to have it all prepaid much earlier than if I just booked it myself, and it's a little more restrictive. That was fine when we were traveling as a family, but usually now I'm traveling with a friend or family member who is also paying and it's just easier for me to book the room, generally when there's a sale, and have more flexibility. You do have to pay for one night when you book but you can often do as well or better on tickets, if needed, and you can take your time to pay for the trip or just pay it off when you check out.

 

[CarolynFH]

Is there a specific reason you prefer to book a package? I used to book packages and used Costco fairly often because of the bonus gift card, but the drawback (for me) was having to have it all prepaid much earlier than if I just booked it myself, and it's a little more restrictive. That was fine when we were traveling as a family, but usually now I'm traveling with a friend or family member who is also paying and it's just easier for me to book the room, generally when there's a sale, and have more flexibility. You do have to pay for one night when you book but you can often do as well or better on tickets, if needed, and you can take your time to pay for the trip or just pay it off when you check out.

Just considering it because we’re Executive members at Costco, so we get the extra bonuses. Also, this would replace a cruise that we already booked (but not through Costco), and we like being able to make payments in advance so that by the time we visit, the room and tickets are all paid for and we just have the bill for meals and souvenirs to pay after the trip! But most likely we’ll book everything separately, using DVC points and buying tickets with discounted Disney gift cards.

 

[DizMe]

Just considering it because we’re Executive members at Costco, so we get the extra bonuses. Also, this would replace a cruise that we already booked (but not through Costco), and we like being able to make payments in advance so that by the time we visit, the room and tickets are all paid for and we just have the bill for meals and souvenirs to pay after the trip! But most likely we’ll book everything separately, using DVC points and buying tickets with discounted Disney gift cards.

That makes good sense! Can't really go wrong whichever way you go

 

[TxT365]

I booked our June trip to DL through CostCo. I've only made the initial payment and plan on paying it off in February. Currently, I'm able to also make payments via the DL website. However, I do not know about using Disney GCs to pay it. Sorry.

 

[Jawwdoc]

Thanks. Did you feel the cancellation policy was more strict than Disney’s? Did you feel it was worthwhile to book through Costco instead of direct with Disney? Any complications related to having Costco as your TA vs. booking directly?

It has been a few years since we booked through Costco. Most of my DLR trips nowadays are in conjunction with business trips so I typically book directly with Disney as it gives me more flexibility if my travel plans change. I use Costco travel exclusively for rental cars and we have also used them for other vacations in the past with no issues. The gift card is a nice bonus but the pins and merchandise discount do not appeal to me.

 

[DizMe]

Thanks. Did you feel the cancellation policy was more strict than Disney’s? Did you feel it was worthwhile to book through Costco instead of direct with Disney? Any complications related to having Costco as your TA vs. booking directly?

The cancellation policy can be more strict depending upon how you book through Disney. If you book as a package, then the restrictions are the same as a Costco package; you have to have it paid in full 30 days before your trip. However, if you book hotel only through Disney, buy your tickets wherever you want (Target, Disney, etc), you are free to change or cancel within 5 days without losing your deposit and you won't be charged the remainder until check out day. You can also sidestep the cancellation charge of 1 night if something comes up; you just change the dates of your trip so you're not within the 5-day-prior cancellation period and then you would be able to cancel without penalty, but I would only do that if something serious and unexpected prevented me from cancelling within the 5 day period.

I think that booking through Costco is essentially booking through Disney and is treated the same way as a Disney package because it IS a Disney package, but Costco adds a gift card, or at least they used to. The gift card amount depends on the total cost of the package. We used to get a $100-150 gift card which was a nice bonus for us, and they also used to have some dining bonuses and coupons.

 

[irlandaise]

The cancellation policy can be more strict depending upon how you book through Disney. If you book as a package, then the restrictions are the same as a Costco package; you have to have it paid in full 30 days before your trip.

Not only do you need to pay the whole package amount in advance, if you need to cancel, you need to do that at least 30 days before your trip, or else there's a cancellation penalty.

However, if you book hotel only through Disney, buy your tickets wherever you want (Target, Disney, etc), you are free to change or cancel within 5 days without losing your deposit and you won't be charged the remainder until check out day.

You don't need to cancel within five days of booking. However, it does need to be at least five days before your trip or else you'll lose your first night's deposit. It's a much more lenient policy than on a package.

You can also sidestep the cancellation charge of 1 night if something comes up; you just change the dates of your trip so you're not within the 5-day-prior cancellation period and then you would be able to cancel without penalty, but I would only do that if something serious and unexpected prevented me from cancelling within the 5 day period.

Yep, I did that—at the suggestion of the Disneyland CM!—when I had a medical issue a few days before a Disneyland trip. I had to pay more for the room initially because my new dates were at a higher nightly rate, but then I got it all back shortly thereafter when I cancelled the revised reservation.

Can you do that with a package, too?

 

[DizMe]

You don't need to cancel within five days of booking. However, it does need to be at least five days before your trip or else you'll lose your first night's deposit. It's a much more lenient policy than on a package.

Oops! I meant five days before your trip but neglected to clarify that. Thanks for pointing it out!

Not only do you need to pay the whole package amount in advance, if you need to cancel, you need to do that at least 30 days before your trip, or else there's a cancellation penalty.

Ouch! Good to know. Thanks!

Yep, I did that—at the suggestion of the Disneyland CM!—when I had a medical issue a few days before a Disneyland trip. I had to pay more for the room initially because my new dates were at a higher nightly rate, but then I got it all back shortly thereafter when I cancelled the revised reservation.

Can you do that with a package, too?

Are you allowed to postpone a package if something like your medical situation comes up? That's a good question. I don't know! Maybe someone else has the answer.

 

[irlandaise]

Not only do you need to pay the whole package amount in advance, if you need to cancel, you need to do that at least 30 days before your trip, or else there's a cancellation penalty.

Ouch! Good to know. Thanks!

Here are the details.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/vacation-package-terms-conditions/

That policy is why I haven't wanted to do a package. Also, buying the tickets separately from a vendor who offers refunds is more protection than just retaining ticket value as Disney does if you don't use them when planned. But I get that the Costco gift cards are an enticement to purchase one of their Disneyland packages.

 

[DizMe]

Here are the details.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/vacation-package-terms-conditions/

That policy is why I haven't wanted to do a package. Also, buying the tickets separately from a vendor who offers refunds is more protection than just retaining ticket value as Disney does if you don't use them when planned. But I get that the Costco gift cards are an enticement to purchase one of their Disneyland packages.

My dh gets me a MK so I don't need tickets--he doesn't want to go, but he's happy to fund my obsession because I think it alleviates the guilt he feels going golfing so much, a pasttime I don't share ha ha. As of right now, I get a 50% discount on the on site hotels through my daughter, so I don't really have any incentive to get a package now that my kids are grown and we don't go as a family