Booking Question

[Sparrow624]

How "late" in the year can/do you book and still get a decent room?

Example: My wife and I are hoping to go for 4 nights and 5 days June 25-29. This COMPLETELY depends on our tax refund (which we usually get in late March). We are hoping to stay at WL, AKL, or POR.

I know I could go ahead and book now and then "ask for a refund" as the castmembers on the phone say if the money does not come through, but I don't want to 1. Be tempted to spend money we don't have come March/April and 2. Have our hopes up and break them.

So, my question, has anyone had success booking that late? We usually book in October for our summer trips, but that just does not seem like a possibility this year.

I know we will be at the mercy of availability for dinners that late, but I am more concerned about hotels.

 

[Mousemommy1]

How "late" in the year can/do you book and still get a decent room?

Example: My wife and I are hoping to go for 4 nights and 5 days June 25-29. This COMPLETELY depends on our tax refund (which we usually get in late March). We are hoping to stay at WL, AKL, or POR.

I know I could go ahead and book now and then "ask for a refund" as the castmembers on the phone say if the money does not come through, but I don't want to 1. Be tempted to spend money we don't have come March/April and 2. Have our hopes up and break them.

So, my question, has anyone had success booking that late? We usually book in October for our summer trips, but that just does not seem like a possibility this year.

I know we will be at the mercy of availability for dinners that late, but I am more concerned about hotels.

You will be subject to the availability at the time of booking, which unless there is a huge event going on (like Easter week) your choices should be pretty good BUT, you would be likely be booking w/out any sort of discount unless you have a discount like AP or military that are good for longer periods of time. Most resort promotions are offered months in advance of the travel dates, and have a cut off time to book, so you'd be more likely to pay rack rate.

 

[Missytara]

I would book a room-only for now and you pay one night's deposit and you can book up to alot less days than the package deal of 45 days.

Then you can convert it into a package when you know the size of your return. It also helps if deals come along and you can either keep your ressie at a savings, or upgrade, or choose somewhere else for the savings.

Gives you a lot of flexibility. I recommend that a lot to my friends that are in the same boat.

 

[Sparrow624]

Not so concerned about "rack rate." According to MouseSavers, for the last 4 years, room only discounts for the summer have kicked in around sometime between 3/27 and 6/1, so, if the trend continues as it usually does, there should be "deep" discounts for late June travel kicking in then. Usually, I have a trip booked well in advance and just call to have those discounts applied. I am more concerned about room availability.

 

[Sparrow624]

I would book a room-only for now and you pay one night's deposit and you can book up to alot less days than the package deal of 45 days.

Then you can convert it into a package when you know the size of your return. It also helps if deals come along and you can either keep your ressie at a savings, or upgrade, or choose somewhere else for the savings.

Gives you a lot of flexibility. I recommend that a lot to my friends that are in the same boat.

If I book a "room only" ressie now, can I ask for the one nights refund if late March hits and we do not get the return we are expecting? We usually use our return in conjunction with other funds to take a 7 night trip, but this year we are working with the refund only.

 

[Missytara]

If I book a "room only" ressie now, can I ask for the one nights refund if late March hits and we do not get the return we are expecting? We usually use our return in conjunction with other funds to take a 7 night trip, but this year we are working with the refund only.

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure it is like 6 or 5 days, cannot remember which one.

Significantly more than the 45 day for the package.

That is why I was saying to do the room only; you have plenty of time to call for the refund.

Forgive me, I said "booked", I meant "cancel"!

 

[dansdad]

Accoding to Disney's website, you must cancel at least 5 days prior to your arrival to receive a full refund on a room only reservation. I just checked their Terms and Conditions for 2013 section.

 

[Sparrow624]

Now that may be the way to go then. Awesome. Thanks.