Book now or wait until discounts?

[Joy70]

I'm hoping some of you Disney veterans can help me out! We're planning our 2nd trip to Disney World for January or February of 2016. From what I can find on-line it looks like most discounts for this time period aren't released until around October. Can we book our vacation package now and change it if a discount opens up later for a better time or different resort? Is there a charge for changing your reservations later? Also, last time we paid for it all at once, but is this required or can you just pay a portion up front and the rest later? That may determine which resort we end up booking for. Thanks!

 

[Wood Nymph]

I'm hoping some of you Disney veterans can help me out! We're planning our 2nd trip to Disney for January or February of 2016. From what I can find on-line it looks like most discounts for this time period aren't released until around October. Can we book our vacation package now and change it if a discount opens up later for a better time or different resort? Is there a charge for changing your reservations later? Also, last time we paid for it all at once, but is this required or can you just pay a portion up front and the rest later? That may determine which resort we end up booking for. Thanks!

You can book your vacation package now and when a discount comes out you can contact Disney to get the discount providing there is availability for your dates, resort and room type. You might have to change resorts, room types or dates to get the discount.

You only have to pay $200 at time of booking. You have until 45 days out to pay the balance in full.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Remember that WDW offers discounts to fill rooms. If they already have plenty of reservations, they don't need to offer discounts. So the more people who try this book-now-and-apply-a-discount-later method may find there are no discounts at the resort they want.

Do you really need to book your reservation for a Jan. or Feb. trip before Oct.?

 

[dizzyr]

You do if you want to book ADR's at 180 days out.

 

[margot31]

I had made a reservation with a pin code and later went in and checked when they released the military discounts. I was very lucky to be able to stay at the resort I had booked and I was able to actually upgrade and pay less.

 

[Babsy]

Yes, you can change room only reservations anytime. I think that packages have a change fee under certain conditions, but that it is likely to be waived if you are upgrading the package. Perhaps someone else has more information on this. I only book room only, so my knowledge of package reservations is scanty.

If you want a particular room type and resort regardless of whether or not you get a discount, then book that now. If you want a certain resort or category, but it depends upon whether or not you get a discount, book a different resort where you would be willing to stay if no discounts are offered. You want to book something now in order to be able to book your ADR's at 180 days.

If you want a package, then book a package now. If you will be looking for room only, then book room only now. It is easier to change package for package or room only for room only. You have to completely cancel and rebook if you are witching between the different reservation types.

Good luck!

 

[saskdw]

The simple answer is only book now if you are willing to go without a discount.

If you require a discount or are only willing to go with a discount than wait until they come out.

 

[mountdew1]

As mentioned, discounts are offered to fill up rooms. So if they need to have 20 rooms booked and you are room 20, they may choose to not offer a discount. My suggestion whenever this comes up depends on how much you are set on your room choice and time of travel. If you absolutely must have a CBR pirate room, then by all means, book it now and consider yourself lucky if a discount comes out. But if you simply want a moderate, and don't care much about what resort, then wait until it gets closer. This is also dependent on travel time. Going during peak? I'd make it for peak of mind. Off season? Just adds more weight to the wait argument.

 

[Joy70]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. You all have raised some good points. I was more inclined to just wait until October, especially if we don't end up going until late February, because I hate having to go through the trouble of changing everything if a better deal opens up. However I would like to get those A.D.R.`s at 180 days since I do plan to book a package. If I do book then I will make sure to choose a resort I would stay in (and be able to afford) even without a discount. Thanks again!

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

I book adrs every trip at 180 days and I don't book the room until discounts are released. Yes, you can't book the 180+10, but I've had no problems getting ressies at even the most popular restaurants. (This may be different for those going during extremely busy times. We go during non busy seasons.) You just log into your disney account every day and make the reservation for the day that is 180 days from that day. You don't have to have a hotel reservation to make dining reservations at 180 days----you just don't get the 180+10 benefit. Since you might have to change room location view or even resort to fit the discount, I see no point in booking the room and then spending additional time later changing it to a discount room.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Remember that WDW offers discounts to fill rooms. If they already have plenty of reservations, they don't need to offer discounts. So the more people who try this book-now-and-apply-a-discount-later method may find there are no discounts at the resort they want.

Do you really need to book your reservation for a Jan. or Feb. trip before Oct.?

I booked in March and got free dining the day it was announced. All I did was "modify" the reservation. So your argument isn't entirely accurate. I will always book early to get my room reserved.

Discounts are icing.

 

[Sue M]

Remember that WDW offers discounts to fill rooms. If they already have plenty of reservations, they don't need to offer discounts. So the more people who try this book-now-and-apply-a-discount-later method may find there are no discounts at the resort they want.

Do you really need to book your reservation for a Jan. or Feb. trip before Oct.?

This! Booking a reservation before discounts are released works against you, and lessens your chance of a discount.

You do if you want to book ADR's at 180 days out.

Anyone can make dining reservations 180 days out. Plenty of people stay off site. You don't need a WDW resort reservation to book ADRs, you just don't get the 180+10, so you would have to go online daily to make your ADRs for each day. I'd rather do that and increase my chances of a discount.

 

[kaytieeldr]

As mentioned, discounts are offered to fill up rooms. So if they need to have 20 rooms booked and you are room 20, they may choose to not offer a discount.

I booked in March and got free dining the day it was announced. All I did was "modify" the reservation. So your argument isn't entirely accurate.

Well, it's an example, not an argument. But it's an accurate example. Guests who are able to modify a reservation are booked at a resort that hasn't met its occupancy goals yet.

 

[Fizban]

I'm hoping some of you Disney veterans can help me out! We're planning our 2nd trip to Disney World for January or February of 2016. From what I can find on-line it looks like most discounts for this time period aren't released until around October. Can we book our vacation package now and change it if a discount opens up later for a better time or different resort? Is there a charge for changing your reservations later? Also, last time we paid for it all at once, but is this required or can you just pay a portion up front and the rest later? That may determine which resort we end up booking for. Thanks!

Book now. They dont ding you for changing reservations later and yes Dis will be happy to apply whatever discounts become available.