Booking before or after discounts/promos are released?

[Jac79]

I’m looking to book a trip for 9/4 – 9/9 and stay at the Polynesian with my husband and two children (both under age 3). We are planning on doing 4 days at the parks, but not necessarily interested in park hopping.

I have a few questions for the group:

1) I’m wondering if there is a benefit to booking now, or waiting until (potential) offers for these dates are released. (The way I see it, if everyone books early without a deal, what is Disney’s benefit to offering a deal if they are already filling up? However if I don’t book, will I be at risk of it selling out/not having availability for the resort we want?)

2) I understand I would need to book the park hopper passes to get free dining. Do you know if this is required for percentage off offers as well? If I don’t book park hopper, can I add it on at a later date in order to get the free dining offer? (Or vice versa – add it now, but remove it later.)

3) I’ve already booked dining reservations, but haven’t tied it to a reservation. If I book my reservation now (without a deal), should I leave it not attached to a reservation for the time being in the event I get a deal and need to rebook? Any benefit to linking it to a reservation, or is this something I can do as I get closer to my trip?

4) Should I hold on getting the memory maker? (I thought I saw a post about reservations being harder to change/add a deal if this is already added versus adding at a later date, however wasn't completely following the discussion.)


Thanks!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

1) If you know your dates, you want to stay at the Poly and you will go regardless of a discount, yes, book now. You may want to see if there is a "September 2017" thread started under this forum to see what others are doing about discounts during that time frame.

2) To get a room-only percentage discount offer, you don't have to add any tickets or dining. Of course, you can (and turn the booking into a package), but it's not required. If you do add tickets to a room-only discount offer, you can add any type of ticket you would like (base ticket, park hopper, etc.). Yes, if you book a package now without park-hoppers and then want to add them to take advantage of free dining, you can do that. Again, if you are going to book now, I would book exactly what you would book IF you cannot take advantage of an offer (It sounds like that would be Poly with base tickets). There is no need to add hoppers now if you aren't going to use them and free dining hasn't been announced.

3) Dining reservations are completely separate from resort reservations. You should link your dining reservations to your MDE account so you can see them in your plans, but there is no way and no need to link them to a resort reservation.

4) I would probably hold off on Memory Maker until you have everything settled with your package.

So, in essence, my advice is to book now if you know what you want and will go regardless of a discount. When (and if) discounts are released, I would price out the free dining promo AND the room-only discount promo to see what will be the most cost effective for your family. Based on personal experience, with a family of two adults and two young children who aren't old enough for the dining plan, a room-only discount will most likely be the best bet for your family. If that is the case, you may even want to consider booking a room-only discount with WDW and buying your tickets from a discount ticket seller like Undercover Tourist for even more savings.

 

[dkrauss]

I’m looking to book a trip for 9/4 – 9/9 and stay at the Polynesian with my husband and two children (both under age 3). We are planning on doing 4 days at the parks, but not necessarily interested in park hopping.

I have a few questions for the group:

1) I’m wondering if there is a benefit to booking now, or waiting until (potential) offers for these dates are released. (The way I see it, if everyone books early without a deal, what is Disney’s benefit to offering a deal if they are already filling up? However if I don’t book, will I be at risk of it selling out/not having availability for the resort we want?)

We just went through this for our June trip. We got lucky and our resort/room was part of the discount off (AP discount). This isn't always the case.....and that's the only cavet to doing this. The one thing to remember if you do wait........there's always the possibility you lose the room you like. Again happened to us in June........lost a Standard room at WL because I waited.........in the end didn't matter........we got a better deal at the YC


3) I’ve already booked dining reservations, but haven’t tied it to a reservation. If I book my reservation now (without a deal), should I leave it not attached to a reservation for the time being in the event I get a deal and need to rebook? Any benefit to linking it to a reservation, or is this something I can do as I get closer to my trip?

NON-ISSUE as another Dis'er previously pointed out


4) Should I hold on getting the memory maker? (I thought I saw a post about reservations being harder to change/add a deal if this is already added versus adding at a later date, however wasn't completely following the discussion.)

I'm a big fan of Memory Maker.......but if you have doubts you can surely hold off until things are more stable. I believe you have until 3 day before you arrive to add it.


Thanks!

See above in blue............

Doug