Can you book a Disney Resort hotel at other sites besides Disney?

[nuge67]

Seems I found sites like Hotels.com offering better deals, some up to $50 or more off than the Disney site is offering. Wanted to know if there was a catch?

Thoughts? Recommendations?

 

[Rpo0921]

We booked a night through one of the travel sites last year, I could add it to MDE and we had a room when we got there so no complaints from me about it.

 

[nuge67]

We booked a night through one of the travel sites last year, I could add it to MDE and we had a room when we got there so no complaints from me about it.

WOW... See, we have 2 free nights at Pop Century and wanted to stay there the night before as we come in too late to enjoy the parks. We looked at Disney it was 147 a night, Hotels.com was 107 a night. Worried that there was a catch?

 

[lanejudy]

The booking site acts as a TA -- any changes or cancellations will need to made through them. The reservation is also subject to their policies (non-refundable or earlier cancellation dates, etc.) as well as any fees. I only mention that so you go into it knowing upfront what may be different. Lots of people book through 3rd party sites and it is legit -- same hotel, same rooms as you'd get booking direct through WDW.

 

[Mle8308]

WOW... See, we have 2 free nights at Pop Century and wanted to stay there the night before as we come in too late to enjoy the parks. We looked at Disney it was 147 a night, Hotels.com was 107 a night. Worried that there was a catch?

Just be aware it might not be the same room category as you are seeing on the Disney site. Sometimes 3rd party sites purchase a block of rooms from Disney and the "view" is not guaranteed. It's run of the house, so meaning whatever Disney wants to assign you based on occupancy. In my hotel days, when that type of room was booked, it was generally not our best rooms. It might be rooms not yet refurbished or in less desirable locations. If you book a specific view/category through the website, then that is what you should get. There are always different types of rates when they are through a third party. Definitely legit, but not always the same as booking through Disney directly. If it doesn't matter to people what their view/location is, it can be a big money saver, and not just at Disney.