A Stressful Package Reservation Dilemma

[KuyaJeff]

We're finding ourselves in a situation where funds for our trip have unexpectedly been delayed.... I'm starting to really stress out.

Plans could possibly change because we might not be able to make our 45 deadline...maybe even the 30 day one I hear where they just cancel it automatically, but there is also a posisbility of funds coming later. In either case, we have had a back-up date for such a situation.

So my question is:

Is it possible(dare I say it, "kosher") to change a reservation, past the 45 day payment deadline, to a later date if we think we are going to be late...even just by a few days?

...then when the funds arrive change it back and pay it all at once?

My logic is that we still manage to maintain the promo code we have for the original dates that are still valid for the second date. I don't want to lose the entire $200 deposit and figure making two changes will be a smaller loss than risking the loss of a promo code and not getting the refunds in time to make another reservation after that 30 day mark.

Will Disney work with me, even beyond that 30 day mark? I'm already embarassed to admit that we might not make the 45 day mark.

Oh, and this is the timeline we have/had:
45-Days: December 10, 2013
30 Days: December 25, 2013
Promo Ends: December 31, 2013
Package Dates Booked: Janaury 24-31, 2013

Thanks in advance for any clarification, advice and feedback on this tricky situation.

 

[DebbieB]

We're finding ourselves in a situation where funds for our trip have unexpectedly been delayed.... I'm starting to really stress out.

Plans could possibly change because we might not be able to make our 45 deadline...maybe even the 30 day one I hear where they just cancel it automatically, but there is also a posisbility of funds coming later. In either case, we have had a back-up date for such a situation.

So my question is:

Is it possible(dare I say it, "kosher") to change a reservation, past the 45 day payment deadline, to a later date if we think we are going to be late...even just by a few days?

...then when the funds arrive change it back and pay it all at once?

My logic is that we still manage to maintain the promo code we have for the original dates that are still valid for the second date. I don't want to lose the entire $200 deposit and figure making two changes will be a smaller loss than risking the loss of a promo code and not getting the refunds in time to make another reservation after that 30 day mark.

Will Disney work with me, even beyond that 30 day mark? I'm already embarassed to admit that we might not make the 45 day mark.

Oh, and this is the timeline we have/had:
45-Days: December 10, 2013
30 Days: December 25, 2013
Promo Ends: December 31, 2013
Package Dates Booked: Janaury 24-31, 2013

Thanks in advance for any clarification, advice and feedback on this tricky situation.

How many days tickets did you buy with your package? If you bought more than the minimum for the package, you could cut back to reduce your balance and then upgrade when you get there.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

There's no guarantee your original dates / resort/ room type will still be available when you go to change it back.

As the above poster stated, you can change your tickets to the min. days required for the package and upgrade later once your funds come in.

Was your promo code for a package? Or a room only and you added on to make a package? If it was for a room only you could change it back to room only and add on the tickets, etc. later once you have the $$.

 

[KuyaJeff]

How many days tickets did you buy with your package? If you bought more than the minimum for the package, you could cut back to reduce your balance and then upgrade when you get there.

We had 8 day parkhoppers.

There's no guarantee your original dates / resort/ room type will still be available when you go to change it back.

As the above poster stated, you can change your tickets to the min. days required for the package and upgrade later once your funds come in.

Was your promo code for a package? Or a room only and you added on to make a package? If it was for a room only you could change it back to room only and add on the tickets, etc. later once you have the $$.

We had the room only and made it into a package.

Thanks for your help, after reading your post and chatting it up with two different cast members, I think I've made my plan of attack:

1. Call Disney and possibly change to lower resort to lower costs.
2. Downgrade tickets to non-parkhopping 1 day tickets.
3. Get rid of dining plan.
4. Get charged $50 to the total balance.
5. As funds trickle in, upgrade each component(dining &tickets) before December 31st.

The cast member said that if I change and funds go down, it's a $50 charge. And as long as the balance goes up, I don't get charged since it is considered an upgrade. She also mentioned that if I make any changes to the reservation within 14 days of arrival, I would be charged $15 that would be added to the balance.

Whew, crisis averted!

 

[disneydreamkate]

We will be at AKL the same dates as you. Have a magical trip! It is such a wonderful resort.

 

[aaarcher86]

Op, that sounds like a good plan. All of that is easy to do and will work for your situation.

There's no guarantee your original dates / resort/ room type will still be available when you go to change it back.

As the above poster stated, you can change your tickets to the min. days required for the package and upgrade later once your funds come in.

Was your promo code for a package? Or a room only and you added on to make a package? If it was for a room only you could change it back to room only and add on the tickets, etc. later once you have the $$.

To change a package to a room only the OP would have to cancel and rebook which is a PITA - paying a new deposit amd waiting for a refund.

 

[KuyaJeff]

So I made all the changes...it was a little tricky with the new system. The cast member seemed a little judgmental with all the changes and at times sounded rude. But in the end we're all set and paid in full for "Pop Century" (temporarily, of course).

Sent from my HTC One X using DISBoards

 

[lufty]

I am under the 30 day window and I just 'upgraded' from the Art of animation to Carribean beach. We are staying there a couple days before going on a cruise, and when I called to add the tickets and decided to add a dining plan (once in a while where I work will have extra free passes to park so was holding out hope, darn) the wonderful lady on the phone said she would check for specials. AOA didn't have any because its excluded due to being new, but I was able to upgrade to Carribean beach and add all the other stuff cheaper than the same optoins with AOA. Bonus for us as far as I am concerned. They didn't charge me anything since I was adding more to the reservation, and didn't seem to mind at all with me changing under 30 days. Hopefully the new baggage tags will get here before we leave. Never tried the magical express before so am new to all that. Suppose I should be working, but I'm too excited and keep looking at pictures of the resort since we have never been to this one before.

 

[Missyrose]

So I made all the changes...it was a little tricky with the new system. The cast member seemed a little judgmental with all the changes and at times sounded rude. But in the end we're all set and paid in full for "Pop Century" (temporarily, of course).

Sent from my HTC One X using DISBoards

Wait, you moved your reservation to a different resort? I thought you were going to cut out the tickets and dining plan until you could pay for them? Geez, I hope there's room at AKL for your discount when you want to move back.

 

[KuyaJeff]

Wait, you moved your reservation to a different resort? I thought you were going to cut out the tickets and dining plan until you could pay for them? Geez, I hope there's room at AKL for your discount when you want to move back.

I hope so too...

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[auprincess]

I hope so too...

Sent from my HTC One X using DISBoards

The good news is you are going during a time where crowds are low (well, for Disney anyway) ~ so it shouldn't be full, however, they only give so many discounts per resort. Fingers crossed that it is still available...I'm sure you're already planning this, but if it were me, the first upgrade I would make as funds came in would be back to AKL!

 

[KuyaJeff]

We've actually made the "adult decision" to change from our previous plan of Animal Kingdom Lodge to Coronado Springs. It was actually our orignal plan months ago, so we'll be "comfortable".

 

[chloelovesdisney]

It sounds like things are pretty tight, Pop Century is very nice and you would have a little more cushion for spending money. It's still Disney with all the perks of the Magical Express, EMH, etc.. The big benefit, imo, of the moderate and deluxe hotels is the pool, but that probably won't be used in January anyway.