Book Room or wait for discounts? What effect?

[Maverick]

I've read many posts where people will book their room(s) at rack rate to be sure they will have one and then will hope for a discount from Disney.

This almost seems counter productive to me because Disney won't discount any rooms if most of the rooms are already booked??? Maybe I'm missing something, but I think we should wait until close to the trip to book as there will be a better chance for a discount if Disney has more rooms available.

I do understand people may book early at rack rate if they want a specific hotel view / location or are planning a trip during holiday weeks, but we should not expect a discount if we need to be that specific. I'm pretty sure Disney does not sell out resorts that many weeks of the year based on what I've seen on Expedia.

I would like to hear from folks if there is a hole in my logic , but I don't think I'm booking until my chances for a discount are gone.

Mav

 

[sid]

if you book the room before the code comes out, you have already secured yourself a room at the resort that you're staying at. now, if you check the website (or call the DRC) regularly for whichever discount you're looking for, you can always modify your room reservation into that discounted code (as long as your room type is still available as a discounted room). there's nothing counter-productive. as i've always told guests, it's better to get the room now and change it later, than wait for the room and find out that the discount may not be available.

 

[hlane]

This almost seems counter productive to me because Disney won't discount any rooms if most of the rooms are already booked???

ITA! And that's why I'm waiting to book

 

[Deweysgirl]

I think SID summed it up nicely. I also agreed with that theory of waiting, but I waited so long I lost all discounts. Fl. Resident rates were not available for my dates at the hotel I wanted when the discounts were released and the AAA rooms were already gone by that time. So, now I am paying rack rate! I should have booked AAA when I had the chance.

 

[Maverick]

Deweysgirl,

Maybe I should have been a bit more clear in my original post...

For those of us that have NO options like AP / AAA / Florida Resident, I believe it makes sense to wait and see if Disney offers discounts to the general public before we book our rooms at rack rate.

The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that Disney will not discount rooms if they are booked or have high occupancy levels based on reservations already made, so why book early at rack? This will be one less room Disney would offer at a discount.

I've seen a lot of people say to book the room, even at rack rate, to 'make sure you have one'. Well, if we all do that, the resorts will appear full to Disney and they will have no reason to discount anything.

Mav

 

[Deweysgirl]

Maverick-I do agree with that. If no other discounts are available to a person, then hold out. I didn't want to book in advance based on your theory but seems no one is catching on to that idea. I guess people are too afraid of losing their desired hotel/view etc. so they book at rack rate which only fills up the hotels so why bother with a discount. Supply and Demand. We must find a way to work around these astronomical rack rates and I think you are definately on to something! Now to the hard part, convincing the masses!