Booking for Jan 2013

[ashmac8]

Hi,
I am new to the board but not to being a total vacation planner exraordinaire. I have been reading lots of threads and the info is great.

I know I want to go at the end of January next year. I am fairly certain I want a deluxe resort (maybe wilderness or animal kingdom) and 4 day passes.

A travel agent told me I can't book until this summer but that seems awfully late. Is there any harm in me buying the resort passes now? And more importantly how can I get my hotel reservations in the next few months?

Thanks in advance,
Ashley

 

[mickeynut1]

Room only can be booked 499 days out, so you can book the room now for January 2013. You will be quoted the highest rate for 2012 and your reservation will be adjusted once the 2013 rates are released, which should be sometime this summer. A deposit of 1 night's room rate + tax is required, with the balance due at check in. If you want a package, you will have to wait until the 2013 rates come out. Packages require a $200 deposit, with the balance due 45 days prior to arrival. You can buy park tickets any time you want, you don't have to have a room booked to buy tickets .

 

[haPevraftr]

Also, you should know that since you plan to travel at the end of January it won't be so crowded that you need to worry about not getting the resort of your choice. Your best bet is to do some research and decide whether you will be usiing the Dining Plan (which would require you to book a package) or not. Then you or your TA can keep your eyes open for any deals that may come out for that time of year, whether it be a room only discount or a package discount. At that point it is really a matter of doing the "disney math" to determine what the best deal is for you, but if you have all of the legwork done, you can book what you want as soon as any general public discount comes out.

 

[Goofy4]

You (or your TA) can also continue to look for discounts after you book your room. Note that switching from room-only to a package is a cancel and re-book (and more work for your TA).

 

[ashmac8]

Thanks guys. Is it better to book as a package or seperately price wise? I had been talking to triple A but I can find park tickets cheaper than they can.

I've booked lots of trips but this is my first time booking a disney trip and I have a lot to learn.

 

[haPevraftr]

Deciding what is better really depends on what you want. Some people really want the dining plan and if you do that, you must book a package. That having been said, there is much debate on these boards about whether the dining plan is a good deal. Some people take advantage of free dining if it is offered because the savings on food is higher than a % off room only discount. This tends to be true (depending on the size of your family) when booking a value or moderate resort. For those that prefer to stay deluxe, the room only discount (depending on the size of your family) is often higher. If you book a room only discount, you can't get the free dining plan if it is offered.
Ticket costs (through WDW) are not dependent on whether you book room only or a package.
If you choose to book room only (and not get the dining plan), you can purchase tickets from a discount ticket seller (most on these boards recommend Undercover Tourist accessed via the Mousesavers Newsletter) for the best (and trusted) deal on tickets.

 

[cwt580]

so we could buy 6day parkhoppers for 4 of us upon arrival? same price whether in a pkg or not??

we are undecided about dxdp since we are doing a 2ts credit dinner everynight for 4 adults for 7 days. We are thinking a pkg so that means we must wait till possibly aug 2012 for pkg rates to come out since a person cannot book a pkg till they are released. Can we apply a room only discount to a pkg(towards room only) since thats normally only offered during the dates we are going?

Still think its odd you can book a room only way in advance but not a pkg. unless they maybe plan on elimnating dining plan sometime soon........a deposit is a deposit. I understand the changing from room only sytem to pkg res system. but some of us may know exactly what they want already.

 

[haPevraftr]

Yes, if you book room only, you can buy tix when you arrive.

If you book a package, it is a $200 deposit and the remainder is due 45 days out.

If you book room only, you pay one night's stay as a deposit (if you book before 2013 rates are released, you will pay the highest nightly rate of 2012 and the price will be adjusted when 2013 rates are released).
If you decide to add the dining plan, you must buy tickets from WDW and pay for the dining plan before arriving ( you can't add DDP upon arrival).

 

[cwt580]

so i guess im waiting for another 6months till pkg rates for 2013 come out.



urghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....dag nabbit
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