Book now, discount later?

[mystery222184]

Hey DISers, I need some info on something I should probably already know but I always book when a discount is out

I'm planning on heading back to Disney for the first week of Dec (WL CL) with either the visa GP room discount, AP discount, or partial Bounceback from my July GF trip. I want go use the Target debit for an extra 10% in a few months. I'm growing slightly concerned with availability after reading some others posts.

Would there be a benefit to booking now and then applying discounts later when released? How much if a down payment is required today and could I pay the whole trip with gift cards anyway later on and have my credit card refunded whatever the down payment is ? Thanks so much!!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hey DISers, I need some info on something I should probably already know but I always book when a discount is out

I'm planning on heading back to Disney for the first week of Dec (WL CL) with either the visa GP room discount, AP discount, or partial Bounceback from my July GF trip. I want go use the Target debit for an extra 10% in a few months. I'm growing slightly concerned with availability after reading some others posts.

Would there be a benefit to booking now and then applying discounts later when released? How much if a down payment is required today and could I pay the whole trip with gift cards anyway later on and have my credit card refunded whatever the down payment is ? Thanks so much!!

I would only book it now if you can afford to stay there without a discount. WL CL and Poly CL are two of the hardest room categories to find a discounted rate. I would go ahead and book what you can budget for now, then upgrade later if a discount comes out. I know many DISers will disagree with me, but I don't think holding CL rooms helps because the more rooms that are booked the less likely they will go into a discounted inventory. Just my own personal opinion.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Your best discount would come from a bounce back that offered 35% off room rates. Normal GP discounts for WL are usually only 20% off. But the WL is a popular resort in December. It is a tough choice but I always like to book a room as soon as I decide to travel. It can always be cancelled later.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Your best discount would come from a bounce back that offered 35% off room rates. Normal GP discounts for WL are usually only 20% off. But the WL is a popular resort in December. It is a tough choice but I always like to book a room as soon as I decide to travel. It can always be cancelled later.

True, but if you book a room you can't afford by the time discounts are released you might not be able to get your second or third choice.

 

[mystery222184]

Ahh thanks so far guys - hopefully some more people can chime in. Also if someone can confirm I would be refunded whatever deposit I put down later by using gift cards- that would be great!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Ahh thanks so far guys - hopefully some more people can chime in. Also if someone can confirm I would be refunded whatever deposit I put down later by using gift cards- that would be great!

If you pay with gift cards then your refund will be applied to those same gift cards. Make sure you don't lose them.

 

[mystery222184]

If you pay with gift cards then your refund will be applied to those same gift cards. Make sure you don't lose them.

Sorry- I meant if I booked now with a normal credit card. Would I be able to book later when I find out the discount with gift cards in full... And have my down payment from now credited back to the card

 

[Wood Nymph]

Sorry- I meant if I booked now with a normal credit card. Would I be able to book later when I find out the discount with gift cards in full... And have my down payment from now credited back to the card

Yes, you would get a refund when you cancelled the room reservation. If you made the reservation with a normal credit card, then they would refund the credit card.

You can make a new reservation and pay for it with gift cards. They always let you pay in full, so that is no problem. Just hold on to those gift cards, because if you ever want a refund, they have to refund the gift cards that you used.

 

[mickeynut1]

Hey DISers, I need some info on something I should probably already know but I always book when a discount is out

I'm planning on heading back to Disney for the first week of Dec (WL CL) with either the visa GP room discount, AP discount, or partial Bounceback from my July GF trip. I want go use the Target debit for an extra 10% in a few months. I'm growing slightly concerned with availability after reading some others posts.

Would there be a benefit to booking now and then applying discounts later when released? How much if a down payment is required today and could I pay the whole trip with gift cards anyway later on and have my credit card refunded whatever the down payment is ? Thanks so much!!

If you will go regardless of whether or not a discount comes out, I would book now to make sure you get what you want. If you will go only if a discount comes out, I would wait to book. Disney releases discounts to fill rooms, so if a certain resort is booking up, there will be no need for a discount to be offered on that particular resort. Booking a room "in hopes" of a discount will be one less room Disney has to fill. Another thing to keep in mind is if you do book now and a discount does come out for your dates, there would have to be availability for that resort/room type under the discount in order to have it applied to your reservation as having a reservation already in place does not guarantee a discount can be applied.

If you book room only, a deposit equal to 1 night's room rate + tax will be required at time of booking, with the balance due at check in. For a package, a deposit of $200 is required, with the balance due 45 days prior to arrival. The only way to have the original deposit refunded is if you cancel the reservation and rebook using the gift cards as a deposit can't be refunded only to be replaced by another form of payment.

 

[mystery222184]

Thanks guys- ill have to think it over!