Flash sales/ better offers and upgrade - how do they work?

[jillrobinson]

Can you only upgrade with a flash sale or a better offer if you're outside the 60 days period ?

Can you still make changes to a booking using the offers if you've paid in full outside the 60 days ?

Just wondering what people's experiences have been, basically our hol is due to be paid beginning of January, but I have the money now and ideally would like to pay off the holiday just so I'm not tempted to go mad and spend more money on Christmas, but would it jeopardise my chances of being able to make use of an offer if one came up for our dates in March ?

Thanks is advance

 

[torsie24]

Last trip I paid in full straight away (pretty sure I have done for all 3)

And I had no problems upgrading to the new offer (moved from NPB to HNY and added HB+ for £60) and that was only a cuple of weeks before going.

Im pretty sure if you're giving them more money they'll happily take it! Lol.

 

[MickeysFavouriteGirl]

We're going in March too and hoping for a flash sale so I can add the half board on (maybe even full board depending on price)

 

[daiseyirl]

We are going in march also, ive booked the dlh but i know i can get it cheaper if there is a 40% or 50% sale. Will they let me add on half board to make up the diffrence in price???

I prob should have held off awhile but i didn't have the nerve as i really want to stay there and i was happyish with the price.

 

[NPB]

Also going in March & hoping for a flash sale! If there is one, when would it be likely to be??

Tortoise, what month did you go when you stayed in hny? And how soon before going did you upgrade?

 

[jillrobinson]

That's good to know, thank you Torsie

Thinking about it I have added on HB just before a trip once before and they didn't have a problem with that.

I'm happy to stay at SL, quite looking forward to it in fact and seeing the new theme, the boys loved it last time we stayed there but I wasn't impressed so it'll be nice to give it another chance to impress me, but a 50% flash sale would sorely tempt me to upgrade to HNY that hotel was something else, I absolutely loved it there.

 

[wmoon]

Hi we booked DLH at 30% earlier in the year and when the 40% offer came up they let us add on character meals, cafe mickey and cowboy cookout to make up the difference in price.
This was the first time we did this but from other posts it seems to be a bit hit or miss if they will let you take advantage of the bigger discounts.

 

[Jonjo]

I booked under the 2 nights 2 days for free offer and then up graded when the last 40% off was on and saved £120. I've paid in full now and not sure what to do if another fash sale happens for our dates in March.

I have a shareholders card so don't think pre-booking the meal vouchers are worth the money these days.

 

[Ware Bears]

We booked two rooms at the Newport Bay under either a 25% or 30% offer (can't remember which) and paid in full as we like to book online through Quidco. When a 40% offer came out which included our dates I phoned up and was able to upgrade to Admirals Floor rooms and add half board plus dining. The CM I spoke to did in fact offer me a refund, she said if I didn't want the dining plan she would refer me to a supervisor to see if I could have a refund but I didn't want to push my luck (!) so added the dining plan which was approx £30 a night for all of us for 3 nights working out at approx £10 per person per meal. I think it's definitely better to phone Central Reservations in France regarding this rather than the UK booking line, I think people are more successful doing this.

I have a shareholders card so don't think pre-booking the meal vouchers are worth the money these days.

I quite agree

We ate at Cape Cod and Parkside Diner and these worked out equal to using shareholders discount if we'd paid full price for the vouchers, especially Cape Cod where the CM gave us HUGE drinks plus multiple refills (I only had to pay for the cocktails ). At Agrabah Cafe we would have been out of pocket if we'd paid full price for the vouchers because it costs less than the face value of the voucher. I think if you buy vouchers like we did for far less than the usual price it's OK but otherwise they're not worth it, especially if you have a shareholders card or an annual pass.

 

[daiseyirl]

Thats good to hear, ive the dlh booked under the winter magical offer hope there is a 40% sale and hopefully i can add half boards instead.

 

[Rosabelle]

Hi all

I'm reading this with great interest as the last time we went , Christmas 2010, our stay was available at a much cheaper price (€300!)after we'd booked. I did nothing about it and just chalked it up to bad timing on my part.


Now I see this thread and I'm all

I booked and paid in full last month for 13-16th February.
3 adults 1 child.
The 13th I booked through Expedia for the Cheyenne as we're arriving late and dont need tickets. That's €81.00.
Then our two night package is at the SL costing €569.

So could some very kind patient soul please explain (step by step because I'm ) how to go about doing what you are all talking about.

That is of course if our stay is available cheaper is that right?

I really appreciate your input

Thanks guys
Rosie x

 

[Jonjo]

So could some very kind patient soul please explain (step by step because I'm ) how to go about doing what you are all talking about.

Here is my example for you.

I've booked a trip for March next year staying at Disney's Hotel Santa Fe and wanted to pre-book one of the Rio Grande premium rooms there so we would be close to the park. I know you can some times be lucky on check in and get one but we wanted one of the newly refurbished Cars themed rooms and be close to the parks.

The Santa Fe hotel has two premium room sections the Rio Grande rooms which is a room near the Rio Grande river and nearer the parks and the Eldorado rooms which are located near to the main reception building so you are nearer the restaurant, bar and shop. Rooms in both premium areas are charged at the same rate.

So in June I booked a Rio Grande room for two adults at Disney's Hotel Santa Fe for 6 nights, 7 days for March 2013 using the 2 nights 2 days for free offer for £706.

Then when DLP launched the 40% off offer in September I phoned them and moved my booking from a Rio Grande room to an Eldorado room. With the 40% discount the booking now came to £586. A saving of £120.

Before the 40% offer ended I moved my booking back to a Rio Grande room.

If I booked the same holiday today on the DLP website it would cost me £950

Hope this helps.

 

[MickeysFavouriteGirl]

How is best to take advantage of a flash sale when adding the meal plans? How would I ask? Lol

 

[Rosabelle]

Thanks a lot Johnjo

That's a great way of doing business

Would I be right in saying that I should know what type of extra / upgrade I'm requesting or will they just offer me what's available ?

Thanks again

 

[Jonjo]

I always find it best to call with a plan in mind so you know yourself what you are trying to achieve. Ask for a room or hotel upgrade, or add an extra like a meal plan or add an extra day.

Sometimes by just moving the date of the booking forward a day or by adding an additonal day or moving hotels will trigger the discount on their reservation system, then change your mind and move it back to the origonal booking you had and hey presto you have your discount.

Sometimes if you have already paid in full you might be offered a refund of the price difference.

 

[daiseyirl]

I always find it best to call with a plan in mind so you know yourself what you are trying to achieve. Ask for a room or hotel upgrade, or add an extra like a meal plan or add an extra day.

Sometimes by just moving the date of the booking forward a day or by adding an additonal day or moving hotels will trigger the discount on their reservation system, then change your mind and move it back to the origonal booking you had and hey presto you have your discount.

Sometimes if you have already paid in full you might be offered a refund of the price difference.

thats really good idea re: moving the date by a day! will keep that in mind for our march trip