Hiya Elizabeth,
Welcome to planDisney! I am so excited to welcome you and help you plan for your Walt Disney World Resort Vacation.
What a great question! As you mentioned, a
Walt Disney World Resort Vacation Package combines a stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Collection Hotel with Theme Park tickets. Guests with a Vacation Package can make payments toward their vacation and enjoy additional
Magical Extras. If you book a room-only reservation, you still receive perks such as
Early Theme Park Entry but are not eligible to pay for your vacation; your final payment would be due when you check in. To have a Vacation Package, you would make your resort hotel reservation and theme park ticket purchases in the same transaction; booking them separately does not designate them as a vacation package.
I hope that was helpful, Elizabeth. Please come back and see us if you need anything else. We are here to help you with recommendations for dining, experiences, and other magical tips to make your vacation as magical as can be.
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.