Booking extra days for flexibility?

[dman1967]

We are looking to book a week at the Polynesian in May 2017 (first time at Poly!) on a pin code discount.

We have had an issue in the past where we tried to add an extra day to a trip at Wilderness Lodge, but couldn't due to lack of availability.

Is it reasonable to book an extra day or two at both ends of the trip to keep flexibility until airline tix, etc. are worked out, then cancel the extra days? Or does this amount to canceling the reservation and rebooking a new one? Is it more trouble than it would be worth?

We are not trying to work the system to get extra days on booking ADRs or FP+, just trying to keep flexible for the time being.

Thanks!

 

[wilkeliza]

I believe now that canceling days is equivalent to canceling and re-booking. Yes all of that happens in the background but it is not unheard of for people to book Monday - Sunday at a resort and then when they go to modify their reservation be told there is no availability for Tuesday-Saturday if they are trying to drop days.

 

[RachaelA]

I was initially not able to cancel the last night of my AoA reservation next month. I called about 5 months out and tried to drop the last night and was told no. They had to escalate it to a manager and it took a couple days for them to decide if they would allow it "just this one time." I didn't realize it would be an issue (we own DVC and haven't stayed in a regular non DVC room in over 5 years).

 

[rwdavis2]

As was mentioned, if there is not availability to re-book the entire stay you can't cancel part of it. Too many people were doing what you want to do leaving WDW with somewhat unusable blocks of openings.

 

[mickeynut1]

We are looking to book a week at the Polynesian in May 2017 (first time at Poly!) on a pin code discount.

We have had an issue in the past where we tried to add an extra day to a trip at Wilderness Lodge, but couldn't due to lack of availability.

Is it reasonable to book an extra day or two at both ends of the trip to keep flexibility until airline tix, etc. are worked out, then cancel the extra days? Or does this amount to canceling the reservation and rebooking a new one? Is it more trouble than it would be worth?

We are not trying to work the system to get extra days on booking ADRs or FP+, just trying to keep flexible for the time being.

Thanks!

As long as the shorter stay is available, you will be able to take nights off; otherwise, you won't be able to modify. Taking nights off used to be easy, but Disney has changed that and now the shorter stay must be available as if it was a new reservation.

 

[nkereina]

You could always book beginning and/or ending nights as a separate reservation, if you need the flexibility. It wouldn't be under pin code pricing and you'd have some ticket/FP+/dining ramifications with it being separate, but it would at least guarantee you a room in the same hotel if you need that and aren't willing to do a split stay.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I have found that sometimes the code only works for the longer days anyway. Recently I was looking and I could get the discount if I put in a Wednesday-Sunday stay, but it was not available when I searched for a Thursday-Sunday stay. I've run across this oddity more than once, most recently earlier this week.