Can someone help me answer a few questions about booking a trip?

[susanrose73]

Hi, I'm thinking of booking a trip in August. I am hoping for either a room discount or maybe even free dining to be offered, so I'm not sure how to proceed with booking the trip.

Originally, i was going to go ahead and book a package with room, park tickets and dining, but if i do that and a room discount is offered later, will i lose any ADRs that i make or FP+ reservations that i make now?


Should i book a room only reservation instead for now? Would I still be allowed to make ADRs and FP+ ressies with a room only reservation?

Sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong forum.....

Thanks,
Susan

 

[siskaren]

You will not lose your ADRs if you add a discount to your reservation. I have heard of some glitchiness with FP reservations if changes are made (although to be honest, I don't know the details), but since you can't make FP reservations until you're 60 days out from your arrival and if a discount comes out it should come out before your 60 day mark, you wouldn't have to worry.

Making FP reservations at 60 days and ADRs at 180+10 is not dependent on having a package; the only thing that matters is that you're staying on property. However, if you initially book a room only and then want to change it to a package, Disney would have to cancel your room-only and then book you a package as a new reservation, whereas if you have a package to begin with, they can just make a change to it, assuming that there's availability at your resort for your dates. (There's a limited number of rooms available for any discount, and already having a reservation doesn't give you an advantage for getting one of those rooms.)

 

[susanrose73]

Thanks for your response!

I thought if i booked the package now and a room discount came out, that they'd have to cancel my original package which would then cancel out my ADRs.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Thanks for your response!

I thought if i booked the package now and a room discount came out, that they'd have to cancel my original package which would then cancel out my ADRs.

ADR's are not tied to room reservations. Anyone can make an ADR. You just need a credit card to do it. So you won't lose your ADR if you make or cancel any rooms.

FP's are tied to tickets. You can't make fp selections unless you buy tickets. As long as the tickets show up in your MDE account, you should be able to keep any fp selections that you make. The secret to success would be to make any changes to your reservation before your 60 day opens, then you won't have a problem. Most sales come out more than 60 days ahead of time, so you should be fine.

If you book a room only and later decide to make it a package, then they will cancel your reservation and make a new one. But your ADR's won't be affected. You could always book the package and then cancel the room only. Then you should have no problems with the fps.

 

[susanrose73]

Thank you! I think I'll go ahead and book the package then!

 

[AshleyLovesDisney]

One thing you can do is book through a group like AAA - they will book everything and then if you get a discount later (like free dining) they basically refund you for it.

 

[hedberg1661]

If you are looking for Free Dining that generally happens in September when the kids go back to school. Last year we started seeing the free dining promo in May. Good luck!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Don't book a room only reservation if what you really want is a package. A room only will not hold your place for a package.

ADRs are separate and will not be affected no matter what you do with your resort reservation.

 

[susanrose73]

Good advice, all.

One other question:
If one person in my party isn't able to come on vacation after i book it, would i be able to get refunded that portion? (I assume it would have to be 45 days before the trip?)

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you make any changes to your package prior to 45 days out, your total will be adjusted. If you make a change to your package after 45 days, there is a change fee (I believe $50). That fee is generally waived if the change you are making increases the cost of the package, but removing a person would decrease the cost, so it's suggested you try to do that before you get to 45 days.