2014 vacation packages

[Shunasee]

Keeping my fingers crossed for early July.

We already booked airfare for our 02/14 trip. It was to good to pass up!

 

[coltink]

For free dining in the latter half of this year you have to book by Aug13th. I suspect that they'll announce the 2014 promos shortly after that.

 

[SnowWhite607]

I'm right there with ya!

Same here! Have room only for March but need to make it into a package. HURRY UP!!! LOL!

 

[Broncobilly83]

I know I am eagerly awaiting the packages too, as I am planning Nov 2014 and I would like to know what to budget before Christmas

 

[mickeystoontown]

I know I am eagerly awaiting the packages too, as I am planning Nov 2014 and I would like to know what to budget before Christmas

In the past, I've taken the amount that I paid for that year's vacation and added about $500 or so to it to get an guestimate of the next year's packages. It just gives me an idea of what I need to plan for. But, next year, we are staying for a full two weeks (this years's trip was 11 days) so I'll guestimate even more.

 

[hfarah]

....

 

[Q-man]

If you really want to book a package, then I'd say wait until the package prices are published.

If you were to book a room only reservation now, you can't simply convert the room only to a package. The room only reservation would have to be cancelled and a request for your deposit refund be made.

Then, you'd have to book a package and pay the $200 deposit (this has been the package deposit for many years but is subject to change).

With a room only reservation, you must pay a deposit equal to one night's stay and pay the balance upon arrival. With a package, you pay the package deposit of $200 and the balance must be paid off 45 days prior to your arrival.

I make all of my requests after I book our package. I do that by calling them after the reservations are made. Please note that your requests are just that "requests". Having said that, I've always had my requests granted. Make sure that you don't have too many requests and that they are in the order of importance to you. For example, my mother traveled with us this past trip and it was important for us to have a ground floor room and that our reservations be linked. So, those were my requests. I also call back about a month before we arrive and make sure that my requests are still noted on the reservation.

If you have more questions, feel free to ask.

Unless there is a free dining offer involved we make room only ressies and just step over to guest services at check-in to add what we want. That way we don't have to pay 45 days out and incur trip insurance costs.

 

[style2k7]

I read somewhere that if you book through a travel agency you can book sooner.

 

[DanenRox]

Keeping my fingers crossed for early July.

We already booked airfare for our 02/14 trip. It was to good to pass up!

We did too! Crazy, right? No....it's Disney! We LOVED staying in the FW cabins last year and plan on returning in Feb 2014. Can't wait to book though I know I have to have to have to wait.

 

[Cafeen]

I read somewhere that if you book through a travel agency you can book sooner.

Overseas TAs can usually book sooner, since an international trip can be a "bit" more involved than me heading down from Mobile, AL .

However, the package rates will not be out for them as the room and dining rates will not yet be settled. They likely (going off of intuition and logic here) follow the same rules as next year room booking and have disclaimers that the prices aren't final until Disney releases the information (note: if you book a room only farther out than the rates are available, it will quote you at the previous year's highest rate for that room type, once the information is released, it'll adjust the quote down to what it should be.)

Again, could be totally wrong, but that's what I think is most likely in those situations.

 

[ckelly14]

I assume that room only reservations cannot be made online until; the package prices are available? Tried to do this but every room was "unavailable"....

 

[Cafeen]

I assume that room only reservations cannot be made online until; the package prices are available? Tried to do this but every room was "unavailable"....

You should be able to book room-only up to 499 days out. The system was down for maintenance this morning, so that may be part of it?

 

[MakinMagic]

You can not make reservations online for 2014 until pricing is officially released.

You can, however, make room only reservations, up to 499 days in advance, by calling the reservation center.

Rates are not guaranteed until 2014 pricing is officially available later in the Summer.

 

[Tcrow55]

So, I went ahead and made a room only reservation last Friday for our April 2014 trip. Yay! This morning I received a really extensive survey from Disney marketing research. I spent about 30 minutes filling it out, answering as honestly as possible. I'm hoping survey participation results in, as I read someplace, the potential issuance of a PIN code. I know...too much to hope for, but I can dream, right?

On another note, has anybody done WDW over Easter. Are there any special Easter observances or celebrations?

Troy

 

[SwimChicSQ]

Call center says that packages for 2014 (January at least) should drop in late July or Early August, is it time yet?! I hate waiting!

 

[mchelle77]

Subbing, and wondering ...

We're currently booked for November, but my husband (wedding industry) may have a bridal show the weekend we're due to get back, so we're considering January now (11-19). How do you make ADRs at your 180 days (which would be mid-July ... or July 5, with that whole "180 days +10 ... " which I'm not completely clear on. Obviously LOL) if you can't book the vacation until August?

The only upside to switching is the ADR situation ... we decided to go in November just this week so some restaurants I would like were completely booked. At least if we move to January I've got a shot!

 

[mickeystoontown]

On another thread, black562 said that the packages should be released this week.

 

[diamondpixienc]

On another thread, black562 said that the packages should be released this week.

I sure hope so as the my ADR date would be July 3 for the early January dates I want. The kiddos have 2 must do's although not the end of the world but you can only have breakfast with Princesses and Lilo and Stitch at a Disney property.

 

[momof2mouses]

Haven't been to WDW since 2008...and so excited to be planning for Feb 2014 Ready for package rates to be released!