Book First and Discount later?

[Revf]

Going back in May 2017 and was wondering, can you book your room in advance and later add the discount that Disney will release in January 2017? Is this doable or do you have to cancel and make new reservations in January?

 

[Amanda&Mike]

This is defiantly doable. We book all of our trips this way and it almost always works out. I say almost because our upcoming trip is the one exception. We are staying at BC in October and we' were waiting on the AP discount...when it came out we called to apply it to our existing reservation but we're told it was only available for 3 of the 4 nights, so for one night we have to pay the regular rate. We will keep checking and if the rate opens back up for that one day we will call to get it applied.

 

[JAHokie46]

I suppose this is what I will have to do.... although I am pretty sure there will be no discounts. Never been before and looking to plan a first trip.

My wife is a teacher and the school system has a policy of no vacations during school days with zero consideration due to teachers having winter break, summer, spring break, etc. If they are out more than 2 days a sick note from a doctor is required. That limits us to peak rates- summer, winter break, spring break, etc.

So we think we are going to do Spring break 2017- April 2 or 3 through April 9.

Should I go ahead and book a room only rate now to get it reserved? Because I believe rooms will go quickly due to other spring breaker, and it's very unlikely to get any kind of discount. Value is probably the only type of room in our budget, so we should probably go ahead and book now? We have a baby that will be 16 months at the time and hope he will appreciate the lights and sounds of the simpler no-heigh-restriction stuff to do.

 

[larissawbb]

I suppose this is what I will have to do.... although I am pretty sure there will be no discounts. Never been before and looking to plan a first trip.

My wife is a teacher and the school system has a policy of no vacations during school days with zero consideration due to teachers having winter break, summer, spring break, etc. If they are out more than 2 days a sick note from a doctor is required. That limits us to peak rates- summer, winter break, spring break, etc.

So we think we are going to do Spring break 2017- April 2 or 3 through April 9.

Should I go ahead and book a room only rate now to get it reserved? Because I believe rooms will go quickly due to other spring breaker, and it's very unlikely to get any kind of discount. Value is probably the only type of room in our budget, so we should probably go ahead and book now? We have a baby that will be 16 months at the time and hope he will appreciate the lights and sounds of the simpler no-heigh-restriction stuff to do.

If your dates are certain, you could rent DVC points for a studio and get a nicer resort for around the same price.

 

[Shanti]

Going back in May 2017 and was wondering, can you book your room in advance and later add the discount that Disney will release in January 2017? Is this doable or do you have to cancel and make new reservations in January?

You won't have to actually cancel & rebook, but you can't count on the discount being available for your resort & room type, because technically you'd be switching to another room that is being sold via discount, whereas your original room is being sold via rack rate. It's the same as switching your ressie to a different resort: you don't have to cancel first, but being able to change is subject to availabilty of the second room.

By booking the rack rate room first, you're actually reducing the chance that the room you want will be discounted later, as you've taken one room out of their "able-to-discount" inventory. So only book it if you're set on getting that room, discount or no discount.

It's depressing how many people pre-book like this, thinking they can "apply" free-dining or a room discount to their current room, rather than understanding that they'll be technically switching to a different room. This growing practice cuts down on discountable inventory and is leading to fewer rooms being available for discounts. This was a huge problem, in particular, for the free-dining period this year.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Book now, modify later. It's how we got fd last year. Bounce backed it this year.

 

[catfan98]

You won't have to actually cancel & rebook, but you can't count on the discount being available for your resort & room type, because technically you'd be switching to another room that is being sold via discount, whereas your original room is being sold via rack rate. It's the same as switching your ressie to a different resort: you don't have to cancel first, but being able to change is subject to availabilty of the second room.

By booking the rack rate room first, you're actually reducing the chance that the room you want will be discounted later, as you've taken one room out of their "able-to-discount" inventory. So only book it if you're set on getting that room, discount or no discount.

It's depressing how many people pre-book like this, thinking they can "apply" free-dining or a room discount to their current room, rather than understanding that they're technically switching to a different room. This growing practice cuts down on discountable inventory and is leading to fewer rooms being available for discounts. This was a huge problem, in particular, for the free-dining period this year.

I agree with your statement of "booking only if you are ok with the price at the time you book". I admit, I was one who originally thought "oh I will book and apply a discount later, that will be easy", I have even made comments on posts as to such in the past. Then I started seeing many posts stating as you have, of how it reduces inventory, and thought to myself...yes...that makes sense, why would they offer a discount if a resort is already mostly full? So I did some thinking and talking with my husband. And we decided that although we would love to stay Deluxe and had been looking at AKL or Poly (my dream), we KNOW we can't afford these without a really great discount because we need 2 rooms. And who knows if there will be a really great discount for the time period we are going on either of those resorts. We are vacationing the first week of April 2017, during spring break season, so I know it will be a busy time. And to the same effect that we would love to stay Deluxe, we also know that we do not want to stay Value. So, since I know it is a busy time, and I know we want a resort that we will be comfortable in, I went ahead and booked my 2017 rooms at POR at rack rate. This rate is affordable for us and we are happy with our choice and price regardless of whether a discount comes out or not. I do hope there is one, but if not, we are happy with our choice as is. I also have to book 2 rooms at a USO resort, and I am in the same boat there...will rates go down later. However, I know I need to book what I am comfortable with now. I am having a harder time with that one because I can't decide whether to splurge on a premier resort that offers the EP, or just be happy with a cheaper one. First world problem, I know. All in all, I'm just happy that we are able to come back to Disney and Universal!

 

[JAHokie46]

If your dates are certain, you could rent DVC points for a studio and get a nicer resort for around the same price.

OK if that is an option, is there somewhere that might explain this? I looked at booking Disney years and years ago and then had "life" happen and we never made it. Just getting back into refreshing myself with everything Disney and I was never familiar with DVC stuff to begin with. I will head over to the DVC board and start lookin!

 

[larissawbb]

OK if that is an option, is there somewhere that might explain this? I looked at booking Disney years and years ago and then had "life" happen and we never made it. Just getting back into refreshing myself with everything Disney and I was never familiar with DVC stuff to begin with. I will head over to the DVC board and start lookin!

You could use one of the big three dvc points rental agencies. I don't think I'm allowed to post them here but one of them is a sponsor of the dvc board. He has a point rental calculator on his site. You could also rent from an owner on this site but I haven't done that yet just through agencies. You can also add the dining plan if you wish to rentals.

 

[mickeynut1]

Going back in May 2017 and was wondering, can you book your room in advance and later add the discount that Disney will release in January 2017? Is this doable or do you have to cancel and make new reservations in January?

As long as what you have booked is available under the discount, you can have the discount applied to your existing reservation. Sometimes you have to be flexible with your resort and/or room type as having a reservation already in place does not guarantee a discount can be applied. As far as having to cancel and rebook, the only time that needs to be done is if you change reservation types (go from RO to package and vice versa). Since RO and packages are different reservation systems, money paid toward one cannot be applied to the other. With all of that said, if you will go regardless of a discount, I'd book now to make sure you get exactly what you want. However, if your trip is dependent on a discount, I'd wait to see what (if any) discounts come out before booking. Good luck.

 

[StayAwake]

Book now, modify later. It's how we got fd last year. Bounce backed it this year.

Were you able to apply a bounce back rate to an existing reservation? I'm afraid that my desired resort for January will sell out before I get there in August to call for a BB rate.

 

[mama2tyler]

I'm wondering the same thing...can someone help with this one? Btw, new here. 12 days out from WDW vacay staying at AKL. First time on-property dweller and we (my husband, son and I) are celebrating hubs and I 20th wedding anniversary and our 40th bday this year....our son is visiting Disney with us for the first time since he was 4. He's turning 12 this year.

WDW is aware of the celebratory nature of our stay and we're hoping to get upgraded (although we already have a savanna view room and it's HA with roll-in shower, I need those accommodations) so I guess the only other thing they could do is upgrade us to Club....would be nice If not I'm grateful for what we have. 7/11-7/17.....so excited!!

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

I'm wondering the same thing...can someone help with this one? Btw, new here. 12 days out from WDW vacay staying at AKL. First time on-property dweller and we (my husband, son and I) are celebrating hubs and I 20th wedding anniversary and our 40th bday this year....our son is visiting Disney with us for the first time since he was 4. He's turning 12 this year.

WDW is aware of the celebratory nature of our stay and we're hoping to get upgraded (although we already have a savanna view room and it's HA with roll-in shower, I need those accommodations) so I guess the only other thing they could do is upgrade us to Club....would be nice If not I'm grateful for what we have. 7/11-7/17.....so excited!!

How exciting! Have a wonderful time!!!! AKL is a great resort!

 

[mama2tyler]

How exciting! Have a wonderful time!!!! AKL is a great resort!

Thank you Being our first on property stay I believe we may be spoiled for future visits!! Originally we had CBR booked but being from FL....I felt like we weren't really seeing anything different from what we know....it's not really "new" to us, beach theme and nature has been calling out to me lately so this was a wonderful fit. Hubby is a photographer so this resort will have tons of scenic opportunities. Can't wait!!

 

[dpswift]

Were you able to apply a bounce back rate to an existing reservation? I'm afraid that my desired resort for January will sell out before I get there in August to call for a BB rate.

It would be a new reservation, they would cancel the one you have and then rebook. We had to cut our bounce back days and it was a hassle. They finally let me do it but it took a lot of begging.