2009 Confusion

[RoseGrows]

My husband and I are taking our grown children, their wives and our grandchildren to WDW in January. We're hoping to stay at the Grand Floridian. Originally, we were going to go from the January 4 - 11. However, we found out that the Disney Marathon was the 10 and 11th. Does anyone know if that will cause chaos? Second, I'm a crazy planner. I like to have everything in place. It bothers me that the prices are not available, but what can you do. Is it best to reserve a room only reservation? I understand that I can convert this to a package at a later date. However, here's the question ... IF SOME KIND OF A DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE LATER, CAN I GET IT APPLIED TO A PACKAGE? Otherwise, should I just go with a room reservation, and not bother with the package? This is harder than doing my income taxes!!!!!

 

[bas71873]

My husband and I are taking our grown children, their wives and our grandchildren to WDW in January. We're hoping to stay at the Grand Floridian. Originally, we were going to go from the January 4 - 11. However, we found out that the Disney Marathon was the 10 and 11th. Does anyone know if that will cause chaos? My guess would be no, since it's after the holiday madness, but I have no first hand experience...someone else may. Second, I'm a crazy planner. I like to have everything in place. It bothers me that the prices are not available, but what can you do. Is it best to reserve a room only reservation? YES!!! I would get on the phone and get the room booked ASAP. You can always add to it and make changes, take advantage of discounts later. I understand that I can convert this to a package at a later date. However, here's the question ... IF SOME KIND OF A DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE LATER, CAN I GET IT APPLIED TO A PACKAGE? YEP!! Otherwise, should I just go with a room reservation, and not bother with the package? This is harder than doing my income taxes!!!!!

It's really not that hard. Get your rooms booked now and then decide what else you want to do, then you can decide on tickets, hoppers/no hoppers, dining/no dining...it will all fall into place. Check out www.allears.net too.....it's a great source of info, as are these boards. Helped me tremendously.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Hi Rose! Welcome to the DISBoards!



I'm going to take a swipe at this..


1. Dirty Little Secret # 1- Tho lots of DIS'ers swear by it... It's really pointless to make a room-only reservation ahead of the 2009 rates since a room only reservation can not be 'converted' to a package.. but rather has to be cancelled and then rebooked. In talking to a couple of friends who work Disney reservations they revealed that when you cancel the room only reservation, the room does NOT return to available inventory immediately... so, on the off chance the resort was 'sold out' for those dates you may not get the package you wanted in the end anyway. It is truly pointless for the most part, unless you intend to keep it as a room only reservation. It may make you feel better, but it doesn't help you get a package for the dates you want at the resort you want.

2. Dirty Little Secret # 2 - Anytime you have multiple reservations, cancelling, rebooking, changing resorts, changing your mind on dates ... that's an opportunity for something to go wrong and THAT could be a major headache down the road. Why risk that?

3. If a discount comes available for your dates AND there is availability for that discount at the resort you've booked .. for those dates .. then yes, the discount can be applied to a previously booked package. Generally speaking, if you can be flexible in your dates OR your resort choice OR ideally.. BOTH .. then you have the best chance of being able to score a discount

4. New room and package rates for 2009 should be available in mid to late August.

5. This is a question best suited to the resorts board and as such, I'll be moving this there for the benefit of others with the same questions.

6. Numbered lists are fun - Just ask RustyScupper!

Knox

 

[safetymom]

Welcome RoseGrows to the DIS.

 

[Lovin Mickey]

Try booking through AAA. Our agent was incredibly helpful and pulls all the files when a new discount comes up. She even helped us move up our travel dates so we could get free dining and an extra day for $40 less than what we were paying before.

 

[JWeigant]

Hi. If I wanted to go ahead and reserve a room actually the family suite at ASMu - I know I can reserve the room at the 2008 rack rate and then wait for the 2009 rates to come out , right? If Disney decides to offer free dining again in Sept - can I then add the free dining or not?

And, could I change the room only to the whole package - tickets, dining and everything? One more, when would it have to be completely paid for?

Thanks so much for all your help! I just get confused on the whole room onlly, package, when you can do what ....whew!

 

[granolacruncher11]

You would not be able to add the free dining if you got a "deal" on the room. Free dining is only included in a package where you have paid full price for the room and purchased at least a one day park ticket for everyone in the room.

If you purchase the whole package you need to give a $200 deposit and the whole amount is due 45 days prior to check in.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Hi. If I wanted to go ahead and reserve a room actually the family suite at ASMu - I know I can reserve the room at the 2008 rack rate and then wait for the 2009 rates to come out , right? If Disney decides to offer free dining again in Sept - can I then add the free dining or not?

And, could I change the room only to the whole package - tickets, dining and everything? One more, when would it have to be completely paid for?

Thanks so much for all your help! I just get confused on the whole room onlly, package, when you can do what ....whew!

1. Yes.
2. As long as they have the offer going, and there is availability there, yes. When DIsney offers a deal of any kind, they only diesignate so many rooms at that special offer. Once that number of rooms is booked, they can't book more. So essentially you would be canelling your current room and rebooking another room in the same location.

When they do offer free dining, it is only as the complete package. You must get your tickets in the same package.

4. Full payment is due about 45days from travel, I think. That's also the latest date to cancel with no penalty, I think. But do read the fine print for yourself.

Even if they don't have 'free dining,' as long as they offer the same kind of dining in 2009, under teh current system, you can book a room only and later change it over to a full dining package. I think the cut off for doing so though is 45 days out. Room only bookings have different terms. They can be cancelled closer to the actual date, but it depends whether you book vie website or over the phone.

 

[skier_pete]

Another thing - I remember reading somewhere on here that the ASMu Suites were not eligible for the FD package because they are very popular and don't need to use the discount...can anyone confirm or deny this?

SkierPete

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I think you are right SkierPete. I was thinking the same thing right after I posted, but wasn't positive. Probably OP would want to change to two reg. rooms to get free dining or maybe a room at a mod.

 

[jenjersnap]

Suites are generally not included in the free dining offer, if what I read is true.

Would you go in September 2009 even if you were NOT able to get a special discount? Then, I would reserve because the family suites are quite popular.

If you would not go unless you got a discount, then I wouldn't reserve now. When guests have "placeholder" reservations while they wait for a discount, it appears to Disney that their occupancy is higher than it actually is ... potentially, making the likelihood that they will offer a discount lower. If their rooms are full, why offer a discount, kwim?

 

[CanadianGuy]

There is already a thread going with this identical question on resorts.. I'll merge this thread with that one.

Also -- copy and paste the same answer

1. Dirty Little Secret # 1- Tho lots of DIS'ers swear by it... It's really pointless to make a room-only reservation ahead of the 2009 rates since a room only reservation can not be 'converted' to a package.. but rather has to be cancelled and then rebooked. In talking to a couple of friends who work Disney reservations they revealed that when you cancel the room only reservation, the room does NOT return to available inventory immediately... so, on the off chance the resort was 'sold out' for those dates you may not get the package you wanted in the end anyway. It is truly pointless for the most part, unless you intend to keep it as a room only reservation. It may make you feel better, but it doesn't help you get a package for the dates you want at the resort you want.

2. Dirty Little Secret # 2 - Anytime you have multiple reservations, cancelling, rebooking, changing resorts, changing your mind on dates ... that's an opportunity for something to go wrong and THAT could be a major headache down the road. Why risk that?

3. Dirty Little Secret # 3 - As several posters have noted, placeholder reservations actually REDUCE the number of rooms and resorts available for booking the free dining promotion. They are ill advised if that's your intent.

4. If a discount comes available for your dates AND there is availability for that discount at the resort you've booked .. for those dates .. then yes, the discount can be applied to a previously booked package. Generally speaking, if you can be flexible in your dates OR your resort choice OR ideally.. BOTH .. then you have the best chance of being able to score a discount

5. New room and package rates for 2009 should be available in mid to late August.

6. This is a question best suited to the resorts board and as such, I'll be moving this there for the benefit of others with the same questions.

7. Numbered lists are fun - Just ask RustyScupper!

Knox

 

[pinkteacup]

RoseGrows-

We have gone to WDW for the past several years in January. This past Jan we were in Disney during marathon weekend and I didn't notice any chaos and the crowds were very light in the parks. I actually think it is busier for MLK weekend. As far as your room reservations, I have booked room only reservations for all our trips thru Disney using my AAA card for a discount. It has always come out less for us to purchase room and tickets separately. We do not do the dining plan and I don't recall it ever even being offered for free during any of our winter trips. Good luck and happy planning.

Lisa

 

[parmtoo]

My husband and I are taking our grown children, their wives and our grandchildren to WDW in January. We're hoping to stay at the Grand Floridian. Originally, we were going to go from the January 4 - 11. However, we found out that the Disney Marathon was the 10 and 11th. Does anyone know if that will cause chaos? Second, I'm a crazy planner. I like to have everything in place. It bothers me that the prices are not available, but what can you do. Is it best to reserve a room only reservation? I understand that I can convert this to a package at a later date. However, here's the question ... IF SOME KIND OF A DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE LATER, CAN I GET IT APPLIED TO A PACKAGE? Otherwise, should I just go with a room reservation, and not bother with the package? This is harder than doing my income taxes!!!!!

Where are you thinking of staying? We are also planning a trip for late Jan-early Feb. w/ our 2 grown girls, their husbands, our 3 grandson's & our 13 yo son. We are really hoping to stay at Fort Wilderness in 2 of the cabins, but haven't booked yet, (also waiting for 09 rates). We were thinking it would be nice to have the kitchen for the babies, and the privacy of the cabin.
Happy planning!

 

[Flossbolna]

Hi and welcome to the boards! Have you considered using a travel agent? There are a number of specialised Disney travel agents around. The DISboards are sponsored by Dreams Unlimited and I have only heard good things about them. Other unofficial websites are sponsored by other travel agents. The great things about those specialised travel agents is that they really know about Disney and they will also help you to rebook your stay if a code should come out for your travel dates. They are all internet based, so it does not really matter where you live. And most of them offer to take care of your ADRs and such. Especially with a large group I would really recommend a travel agent!

 

[RoseGrows]

I took your advice and found a travel agent - she is great!!! She has provided advice about which place to stay, has made all of our arrangements for meals, etc. It has made a huge difference in planning this trip. Thanks for the great suggestion.

 

[Flossbolna]

This sounds great. I hope you have a fantastic trip! And don't forget: These boards are great for getting good advice on WDW!