Advice on Booking with Tentative Dates and a Promo?

[coolingjupiter]

So I hope that this is the right section of the forum to post this. Basically, I'm a teacher who wants to travel to WDW for Memorial Day (I know, I know, the crowds will be nuts, but I'm actually doing a solo trip so I'm hoping that with it being just me, I can weave in and out of the crowds more easily). Basically, I am planning on arriving Thursday, May 21st and traveling home the 25th (Memorial Day). I have to use two personal days since I'll be taking off the Friday before a holiday (we only get the Monday off). However, if we don't use any snow days, we get back a day and there is a chance that the day we will get back is that Friday (score!) OR that Tuesday (score?). I would like to use the day that we get back instead of two personal days (only get four in total) and it would be a shame to take off the Friday when I could have just gone from Friday evening to Tuesday. This will obviously all be a moot point if we use another snow day. The current promo I want to use is the Sun and Fun offer at Pop Century, which has to be booked by the end of February, way before the decision to give back days will be made. Should I book Thursday to Tuesday, knowing that I'll either have to cancel Thursday night or cancel Monday night? If I do this, when I go to adjust my days, will it be treated as a new booking and therefore I'll be charged the non-discounted amount? Or will it just be chopping off a nights and that's it? Thanks in advance!

 

[maxiesmom]

Disney no longer will allow guests to just take off nights. The new set of nights you want have to be available for a new booking.

 

[zemmer]

I would make 2 bookings (Thursday to Monday and Friday to Tuesday) and cancel the one you don’t need when you get firm dates.

 

[SandS_K]

You could book a couple of different packages. It does require a $200 payment for each package. Once you know your dates, cancel the ones that you don't want. You do have to either cancel or make your final payment a month before you go. Another option would be book the days you know you will be there. Then add a room only for the first/last night, once you know your dates. We have done this when airlines have been cheaper by flying in a day early or staying a day later. We save money by staying an extra day at Disney.

 

[coolingjupiter]

Thanks, everyone. I don't know why I didn't think of booking two packages!!!

 

[coolingjupiter]

My next issue will be FastPasses. It looks like I can start booking FastPasses March 22nd. If we've used a snow day at that point, like I said, this will all be a moot point. However, if we haven't and we are getting back a day, there is a good chance that we won't know which day it will be at that point (we've gotten snow days in March and even April in the past; plus all the principals have to agree on a date). Ugh! At that point I'll probably have to just bite the bullet and pick a trip no matter what. There are no other options, right? I can't double-book FastPasses!

 

[zemmer]

To be on the safe side, you could wait to book fp until the window of your later trip opens (March 23?). Then I think you’d be safe for either trip.