Am I missing something? Why can't I just pay for my resort reservation online?

[VAfamily1998]

A couple weeks ago I made a resort reservation, my check in day is tomorrow. The reservation is with just a standard discount that anyone is eligible for (so not pass holder, military, etc.)
When I made the reservation, there was no option to pay in full. The only option was to pay the minimum. I did not see any way to make a larger payment. So now, I still have the balance to pay, and there is no way to do that online? The only way to do that is to call on the phone, press a bunch of additional buttons for options, and then hold while listing to fuzzy/static music?
If I don't do this, I will have to go to the front desk when I arrive to complete check in (as opposed to going directly to my room when it is ready?) I've already done the direct to room stuff and have a credit card on file in the mydisneyexperience, but my reservation is not paid in full. I don't see anything there where I can make payments.

Or am I missing something?

 

[Marrila]

If you have a room only reservation you need to call. (Or you may have to stop at check in when you arrive.) It probably won't be a long wait, they haven't released any new offers in the last few days.
Edited to add info

 

[DizneyFamof4]

You should be fine as long as you did the online check-in and have a good CC on file. I personally like to call and pay it off, never thought it was a big deal or time consuming and totally enjoyed the music, it sure was not fuzzy/static.

• If you check in online using the My Disney Experience app, the credit card on file will be charged the full balance on the morning of your arrival.
• An authorization hold for estimated incidental expenses will also be placed on your card

Added: FYI you can pay online for package reservations, just not RO.

 

[msmayor]

My last two trips were room-only reservations, and I didn't go anywhere near the check-in desk. I had no issues with mobile check-in, getting my room assignment and having our magic bands as our room key. I made sure a valid credit card was used for my mobile check-in and it all worked beautifully.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Thanks. I went ahead and called. The music is often static-y when I call. Maybe it's just my phone but it's literally been that way for years.

I had to select options several times

1. To select English
2. To select Disney World in Florida
3. To select that I already have a reservation
4. To select payments
5. To select that I don't know the extension number of a cast member to speak with

It took about 25 minutes (including the time it took to select the options above) to be connected with a cast member. So the total time was about half an hour.

I just wish there was a way to do it online. I could have sworn I used to be able to pay it online, many years ago-even without a package.

Edited to add: I wanted to use redemption rewards from my Chase Disney visa to pay the room balance, so that's why I wanted to pay it off before my arrival date, instead of just letting my card on file be automatically charged.

 

[focusondisney]

Edited to add: I wanted to use redemption rewards from my Chase Disney visa to pay the room balance, so that's why I wanted to pay it off before my arrival date, instead of just letting my card on file be automatically charged.

For future reference, you can still use a redemption card or gift cards even after check in. Just go to the front desk at any point during your stay & have them applied. A hold might be placed on you credit card, but the whole amount isn’t actually charged until your check out day. Even if it gets charged, the front desk CM can remove that charge & apply your redemption card instead.

Also, yes, the Disney phone tree is definitely annoying. We all wish we could pay room only online.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Edited to add: I wanted to use redemption rewards from my Chase Disney visa to pay the room balance, so that's why I wanted to pay it off before my arrival date, instead of just letting my card on file be automatically charged.

A couple thoughts on this.

Chase now has a Pay Yourself Back feature where you make a Disney charge to the visa and apply points direct to the charge within 90 days. No need for redemption card stuff.

Even if they fully charge your card on check in day you can go to the front desk anytime that day and pay any part of it with a different payment method. They will then refund the card on file for that amount.

 

[leebee]

I was coming here to ask the exact same question! I have a split stay coming up. First resort is paid in full, second has a balance. I have a gift card that I want to use to pay the balance on the room and then use the rest of the gift card at Food&Wine... but we are going to Epcot BEFORE I check into the second resort. Guess I'll have to call (but this is freaking stupid... Disney has no trouble taking my money online for park passes, LLMP, etc).

 

[Wood Nymph]

We had a room only reservation with a passholder discount for our recent stay at POR. The balance on our room was charged to the credit card on file on our check out day. I usually pay in full before we arrive, but this time I didn't do that. I was surprised that they didn't charge us on the day we checked in.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

I personally do not like having my CC charged and then have WDW do a refund becuase it can take 10 business days to get the credit back, but mainly because the 1 time I did it, the CM hosed everything up and I wasted almost an hour with the manager to correct it
I also pay our entire trip using discounted GC's. I call to pay it off before check-in and then every couple days I will go to the lobby and payoff our room charges up to that point. It is never a hassle or time consuming, I usually do it first thing in morning while the family is getting ready or late at night when we get back from the park. I also have them give me a printout so I can go over everything because I have found some mischarges before.
BTW; when they first allowed payments online RO was part of it, but it did not even last more than a few month's I got to use it twice (with GC's) and then when I went back to do the final payment it was already gone. I have no idea how WDW messed it up but since it has not been back since it must have been a "doozy". LOL

 

[pens4821]

I thought that in the past you could do it without waiting for a CM through an automated system. I feel like we did that in either 2022 or 2024 when we started doing split stays (maybe both). I tried last week and had to wait about 10 minutes on hold to talk to someone with no option to do it over the phone. Not that it’s bad, but I feel like the automated way was much quicker.