Book Restricted Room Now or Wait a Year?

[DISfirstTimer]

I’ve been wanting to take my family of 4 on our first DCL. My DD 6 and DS 8. We are very likely 1 and done. I came across 7 Night on the Wonder in our price range but it’s restricted meaning we must pay in full, no refund, and no room choice.

Should I book this or wait a year and book a 7 day on the fantasy which would include castaway cay (wonder cruise doesn’t). I’d wait until the next release and hope I could snag one in my budget.

Thoughts?

 

[coast2coastmickey]

If you can get on a sailing that goes to Castaway Cay, do that. Our first Disney cruise was last December on the Dream and we liked it so much along with Castaway Cay, we booked our next cruise on the Wonder leaving 11/29 this year, which happens to have two stops at Castaway Cay.

We booked that first cruise thinking we'd be one-and-done if we didn't like it...let's just say that we're already looking at cruise #3 for 2020.

 

[Lisa F]

I’ve been wanting to take my family of 4 on our first DCL. My DD 6 and DS 8. We are very likely 1 and done. I came across 7 Night on the Wonder in our price range but it’s restricted meaning we must pay in full, no refund, and no room choice.

Should I book this or wait a year and book a 7 day on the fantasy which would include castaway cay (wonder cruise doesn’t). I’d wait until the next release and hope I could snag one in my budget.

Thoughts?

I'd wait and include CC - it may not be the Fantasy but if I thought I'd only do one DCL cruise ever, I would want it to include CC which IMO is a major highlight. If you wait a year you could have time to save up a bit more to give you a bit more choice/flexibility. I took over 2 years to save for my Fantasy cruise and I'm not sure when/if I'd do another DCL cruise given how expensive they are. I did do the dream in 2018 and used the onboard booking for the Fantasy in 2020 but in 2018 I really wanted to take my son with my parents and they wanted a shorter cruise and the SWDAS cruise is a huge bucket list item for me to take my son on. Beyond that I am not sure when I'd make it back on due to the cost.

 

[MomOTwins]

I would suggest a shorter cruise to save money, and one that includes castaway cay. Castaway Cay was hands down our favorite part of a Disney cruise. I would rather have a 4 or 5 day cruise that includes CC than a 7 day cruise without.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

I sail on GTY fares and think they're totally fine! However, I'd wait for a cruise in my budget that includes Castway Cay.

 

[BarlowFamily]

Agreed to wait for CC. But don't let GTY scare you. I looked at the "category" GTY (number and letter) and what rooms were still available in that category, and was fine with any of them so I figured I'd be safe with GTY. It was a great deal for us!

 

[DWillowBay]

Worth it to wait for CC.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Agreed to wait for CC. But don't let GTY scare you. I looked at the "category" GTY (number and letter) and what rooms were still available in that category, and was fine with any of them so I figured I'd be safe with GTY. It was a great deal for us!

OP is talking about the last minute restricted *GT fares, not the GTY rates. Different animal.

GTY is offered when a certain percentage of rooms within a specific category are booked at anytime during the booking time before final payment. The category goes GTY, you can't select a specific room, and the cost is the same as if you could. The GTY is category specific, and the reservation will say "GTY 9B" (or 4A, or 10C).

*GT is offered, generally, after the Paid in Full date, and is for a type of room, IGT (interior); OGT (oceanview); and VGT (verandah). You must pay in full and there are no refunds.

 

[StarSeven7]

Do you like the itinerary on the Wonder other than it not including Castaway Cay? We haven't taken our first cruise yet but we picked a 7 night on the Wonder (Southern Caribbean) that does not include Castaway Cay and I'm completely fine with that! The primary reason we are going on the cruise is to explore some islands that we've never been to so CC wasn't a huge priority for us. It really depends on what you're looking for in a cruise!

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Wait, save your money, and reserve the cruise you want for your family. You know your budget. Stick to it.

 

[DISfirstTimer]

I sail on GTY fares and think they're totally fine! However, I'd wait for a cruise in my budget that includes Castway Cay.

OP is talking about the last minute restricted *GT fares, not the GTY rates. Different animal.

GTY is offered when a certain percentage of rooms within a specific category are booked at anytime during the booking time before final payment. The category goes GTY, you can't select a specific room, and the cost is the same as if you could. The GTY is category specific, and the reservation will say "GTY 9B" (or 4A, or 10C).

*GT is offered, generally, after the Paid in Full date, and is for a type of room, IGT (interior); OGT (oceanview); and VGT (verandah). You must pay in full and there are no refunds.

Actually it’s not a pay in full time for this cruise. This particular cruise is Feb 2020 but to get the advertised rate it’s pay in full and non refundable. It’s about $2000 more to pick my own room.

 

[DISfirstTimer]

Do you like the itinerary on the Wonder other than it not including Castaway Cay? We haven't taken our first cruise yet but we picked a 7 night on the Wonder (Southern Caribbean) that does not include Castaway Cay and I'm completely fine with that! The primary reason we are going on the cruise is to explore some islands that we've never been to so CC wasn't a huge priority for us. It really depends on what you're looking for in a cruise!

Yes! I love the intinerary otherwise. It’s the same stops as the Fantasty minus Castaways

 

[lklgoodman]

I really love the Wonder. It's a great ship, but if you really think you'll only do one cruise, I would wait and go on the Fantasy. As others have already said, CC is really great. The Fantasy has the Aquaduck, the mini golf, and the midship detective agency game, all are a lot of fun. The Wonder doesn't have these, so if you can only go on one cruise, you might as well go on the one that offers more to do. Which ever you pick will be great. Not sure what time of year you are looking at, but we always cruise Jan--early March, less expensive than other times of the year. We've done 2 Star Wars cruises with a 3rd booked for next Jan. on the Fantasy and it was several thousands cheaper than the same cruise would be in the summer.

Edit to add. Just saw you are looking at Feb 2020. If you want to wait for Feb. 2021, then those cruises will probably be listed sometime this Oct.

 

[Lisa F]

Actually it’s not a pay in full time for this cruise. This particular cruise is Feb 2020 but to get the advertised rate it’s pay in full and non refundable. It’s about $2000 more to pick my own room.

if you book early enough (ie you like that time of year and book right at opening) the price might be closer to what you are looking to pay. If I were to book my current cruise today that I booked on opening day for gold for February 2020 (we are booked on the fantasy) and it was $4465 before discount for two people in a cat 5B, if I were to book it right this second it would be $5389 - $924 difference and that's just for two people. Not sure what it would be for 4. It won't be as cheap as the GT I'd guess but still cheaper than comparing prices now for February 2020.

 

[DISfirstTimer]

If I were to book my current cruise today that I booked on opening day for gold for February 2020 (we are booked on the fantasy) and it was $4465 before discount for two people in a cat 5B, if I were to book it right this second it would be $5389 - $924 difference and that's just for two people. Not sure what it would be for 4. It won't be as cheap as the GT I'd guess but still cheaper than comparing prices now for February 2020.

The GT in the Wonder for is $4600 for us the Fantasy for the same dates is over $8000!!! I was hoping to keep A budget around $5k. Is that a realistic price for 7 day on Fantasy on release day?

 

[Lisa F]

The GT in the Wonder for is $4600 for us the Fantasy for the same dates is over $8000!!! I was hoping to keep A budget around $5k. Is that a realistic price for 7 day on Fantasy on release day?

I think more like $6500 is what I am seeing for january/february time frame for 4 in a verandah - you can check past prices on touring plans disney cruise line fare tracker. So somewhere in the middle. I'm guessing you are looking at president's week for prices to be that high.

 

[lklgoodman]

The GT in the Wonder for is $4600 for us the Fantasy for the same dates is over $8000!!! I was hoping to keep A budget around $5k. Is that a realistic price for 7 day on Fantasy on release day?

My family of 3 has done 2 cruises on the Fantasy with a third booked for next Jan. All have been Oceanview cabins. First was in 2017, spent around $4,200. Our 2019 was around $4,500 and our cruise for next year was listed a little over $5,000 on opening day. If you book with a travel agent you can often get a couple hundred $$ of onboard credit. I see a lot of people talking about good deals they get by booking through Costco. We don't have a membership with Costco, so don't know what the deals are, but a lot of people on here book through them.

 

[DISfirstTimer]

I'm guessing you are looking at president's week for prices to be that high.

Yes, I’m a teacher so I have to vacation during breaks. Thanks for tip on fare tracker.

 

[Geomom]

I don't think you're going to beat that rate for a 7 nt cruise for 4 people, especially in a vacation week. (I struggle to get an oceanview room under $1000/nt for the 4 of us in the summer.) If this cruise was already past PIF date I'd probably say 'wait', but you will still be able to book things (port adventures, etc.) with the first timers at 75 days out.

We've only been on the Wonder (pre-renovation) and the Magic; and we loved both those ships. We loved Rapunzels restaurant on the Magic and I'd assume that Tiana's Place would be just as good! The Wonder also got the Frozen show after we were on it, and that's supposed to be a great show. So, I think there is plenty to love about the Wonder. We have yet to go to Castaway Cay as our first cruise was Alaska, and second was Northern Europe...we also haven't had a Pirate night yet as they couldn't do fireworks on those itineraries.

And as others said, while you say it's one and done, it may not be. In case it's not...while on the ship, at the future cruises desk, book a 'placeholder reservation' for a $250 (refundable) deposit. It will give you 10% off a non-discounted rate on a future cruise within 24 mths and an on board credit (OBC) of either $100 (under 7 nts) or $200 (7 nts or more). The discounts aren't good over Easter/Christmas/New Year's, but your other vacation weeks should be fine! If you don't use the placeholder within the 24 mths you'll be refunded your $250.

 

[StarSeven7]

If you're a teacher and can only stick to school breaks, I would book the cruise that you know you can afford this coming February! If you wait, you're taking a gamble that you will find a cruise for the following year in your price range. Plus, a cruise on the Fantasy adds Castaway Cay, but you're not guaranteed to stop there. What if you hold off for a year, end up paying a bit more money, and for some reason they can't dock on Castaway Cay? My daughter's birthday is the same week as President's Day and she always wants to travel then, but it's SO expensive! We booked our January 2020 cruise in March 2019 and she wanted to cruise over her birthday so badly but the price was a lot more and I just couldn't justify it! (Plus, the itinerary we really wanted only was available in January!) So if it was me, I would book the cruise on the Wonder - you can enjoy an extra sea day! But good luck deciding!