Booking pre-possible discount?

[DisneyGuy]

I posted a while back about whether or not we should book our trip before the possible discount and the advice was that yes, we should. Well, long story short, we didn't. The big reason was that we know you can't just "apply" a discount to an existing reservation so really, it doesn't lock in anything unless we are willing to pay rack rate, correct? We aren't willing to pay rack rates right now for a Deluxe resort. That being said, I check quite a bit to see what is available for our dates (we have plane tickets) and there's not much and where we wanted to stay (and our back up choices) are completely booked. So while sitting here waiting for the possible discount, i'm thinking - what is there to even discount? Disney thinks these rooms are full even if people plan to cancel if the discount doesn't happen. How does a resort that's booked even offer a discount? I keep thinking we messed up by not booking but i've never booked pre-discount before. I think we messed up but maybe i'm wrong?

 

[Bird003]

I would book something. Switch it if something else pops open.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Idk if discounts will come. Everything is booking at rack rate, even into 2022. It's crazy!

 

[OpieDoodle]

I'd just book it, if a discount comes along sometimes you can apply it other times you may have to cancel and redo your reservation. Just keep an eye out

 

[Ensusieasm]

I posted a while back about whether or not we should book our trip before the possible discount and the advice was that yes, we should. Well, long story short, we didn't. The big reason was that we know you can't just "apply" a discount to an existing reservation so really, it doesn't lock in anything unless we are willing to pay rack rate, correct? We aren't willing to pay rack rates right now for a Deluxe resort. That being said, I check quite a bit to see what is available for our dates (we have plane tickets) and there's not much and where we wanted to stay (and our back up choices) are completely booked. So while sitting here waiting for the possible discount, i'm thinking - what is there to even discount? Disney thinks these rooms are full even if people plan to cancel if the discount doesn't happen. How does a resort that's booked even offer a discount? I keep thinking we messed up by not booking but i've never booked pre-discount before. I think we messed up but maybe i'm wrong?

Since Deluxe without a discount is too expensive, book a moderate resort as a back up plan since you already have plane tickets. Then, if a discount for your deluxe resort is offered, you can make the switch.

 

[Lewisc]

You have your plane tickets. Book something you can cancel and you can live with. A moderate. Offsite.

 

[Fangorn]

... i'm thinking - what is there to even discount? Disney thinks these rooms are full even if people plan to cancel if the discount doesn't happen. How does a resort that's booked even offer a discount?

This has always been the case. Years ago, before the the internet and social media were so ubiquitous, most people didn't know about booking to hold a room and changing later when a discount came out. They just booked, rarely even knowing if/when discounts happened. Disney uses discounts to increase occupancy. Over the years, as more people started booking but fully expecting to get a discount later (because they learned that that was a thing from the internet), those discounts started drying up. Disney doesnt need to offer discounts if the resorts are full.

This discussion was happening 5-6 years ago.

Keep looking. Anything can happen. People do cancel. You may get lucky.

Steve
Steve

 

[Bjkandma]

If you don't book now, you may loose out. You can always book a package, total down payment is only $200. The rest is due 30 days before arrival. Disney is celebrating their 50th anniversary and after the past year plus, everyone is ready. You are correct, if resorts are full, there isn't A reason for discounts.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Pre-Covid I would never book before discounts, because WDW will look at the % of bookings at resorts before they decide which resorts and how many rooms will be covered by the discount. So if a resort has a high % of reservations already, then they may not even have a discount for that resort or they will have a low number of rooms available for the discount. And I have never paid WDW ridiculous rack rates.

 

[DisneyGuy]

Checking out Swan or Dolphin-have stayed at both and liked them. Will possibly switch if a good discount becomes available for a deluxe resort and if they make it more worthwhile to pay those prices.
Thanks everyone!

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Always book when you know where and when or you WILL be sorry. A modify button with appear if a discount comes that your choice has eligibility for.

 

[snikki]

I book what I can afford and when discounts come out I move resorts if there’s a good deal elsewhere. Or I switch to a discounted package where I am currently. I now use a TA who does all this for me. Much much easier.

 

[taterheads]

Everywhere onsite is booking at rack rate out past spring break of next year. I do not think there are going to be any discounts or promotions in the near future. In fact until the remaining resorts open again and pent up demand from covid revenge travel subsides, there will be no discounts because they don't have to in order to keep resorts full. In short, always book something you can live with and modify later if a discout becomes available. You can modify on my disney experience to add a promotion to an already existing reservation, people say you can't but you can, so long as you aren't switching resorts or packages, just adding the discount. If you are fully paid they issue a refund to the card you paid on. Of course that is all based on pre-covid regultions where park reservations were unneccessary. If you switched resorts now, it would likely cancel and rebook, also canceling your park reservations. But, if youve not booked anything, I would just book something you can live with so you're not closed out, especially if you've already invested in plane tickets.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Always book when you know where and when or you WILL be sorry. A modify button with appear if a discount comes that your choice has eligibility for.

Hmmm, 16 years, 40+ trips NEVER been sorry that I waited for discounts to come out. Just saying.

 

[Marthasor]

I posted a while back about whether or not we should book our trip before the possible discount and the advice was that yes, we should. Well, long story short, we didn't. The big reason was that we know you can't just "apply" a discount to an existing reservation so really, it doesn't lock in anything unless we are willing to pay rack rate, correct? We aren't willing to pay rack rates right now for a Deluxe resort. That being said, I check quite a bit to see what is available for our dates (we have plane tickets) and there's not much and where we wanted to stay (and our back up choices) are completely booked. So while sitting here waiting for the possible discount, i'm thinking - what is there to even discount? Disney thinks these rooms are full even if people plan to cancel if the discount doesn't happen. How does a resort that's booked even offer a discount? I keep thinking we messed up by not booking but i've never booked pre-discount before. I think we messed up but maybe i'm wrong?

If your plane tickets are booked, I would try to book something within your budget now, whether that's onsite or offsite. Just keep checking. Availability fluctuates all the time and, the closer you get to your dates, the more it seems to fluctuate. We went to WDW in mid-June. I had BC booked at rack rate and just kept checking. Lo and behold, YC starting showing up with an AP rate, but not for all of my dates. I just kept checking and, about a few days before we were leaving, YC was in the AP discount inventory for our entire trip. Can I guarantee it will happen? No, but it's worth checking. I'm in a similar boat as you. We want to go the week before Christmas and deluxe rates are outrageous. $1000 per night for a standard room at GF - no thanks. I booked Dolphin as a back-up and got a great rate. Is it my number 1 choice? No. But if a preferred resort doesn't end up in the discount inventory, we'll be very happy there and will save a ton of money.

 

[DisneyGuy]

So here’s what we decided - the plane tickets are actually able to be modified at no extra cost (we bought them because of this offer) - so we looked into shortening our stay by 2 nights and my favorite and #1 choice (Yacht Club) was available-we booked it at rack rate and while I still think the price is insane, I can make it work for a shorter stay. If a good discount comes out, maybe we can extend but if not, we’ll change our return flight and just come home earlier.

Between Covid and the 50th anniversary we’re up against a lot of things so if we have to stay less nights but still can stay at our favorite resort, I’m happy. We’ll spend less on a shorter trip in general so that will help.

I will continue to keep looking for discounts though and as always thank you all for the advice!

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Hmmm, 16 years, 40+ trips NEVER been sorry that I waited for discounts to come out. Just saying.

I was being snarky. I'm just giddy POR is opening back up.

 

[Marthasor]

So here’s what we decided - the plane tickets are actually able to be modified at no extra cost (we bought them because of this offer) - so we looked into shortening our stay by 2 nights and my favorite and #1 choice (Yacht Club) was available-we booked it at rack rate and while I still think the price is insane, I can make it work for a shorter stay. If a good discount comes out, maybe we can extend but if not, we’ll change our return flight and just come home earlier.

Between Covid and the 50th anniversary we’re up against a lot of things so if we have to stay less nights but still can stay at our favorite resort, I’m happy. We’ll spend less on a shorter trip in general so that will help.

I will continue to keep looking for discounts though and as always thank you all for the advice!

I hope it all works out for you! We stayed at YC in mid-June and, though I've stayed there twice before, I have to say our last trip was one of the very best - resort looked beautiful and the CMs were super nice. I hope you find your discount!

 

[DizneyFamof4]

I was being snarky. I'm just giddy POR is opening back up.

One of our family favorites

 

[saraheliz]

We booked what what we could afford now and are hoping discounts come out that will allow us to upgrade (we aren't going until next summer). It's still year out so we didn't *need* to do anything yet, but this was supposed to be a spring 2021 trip so I just wanted something booked!! I'm hoping we can go a little nicer, though, as we get closer! Families of 5 are tough at Disney, especially since we don't do well sharing one bathroom!