Cancellation policies

[aubriee]

We are leaving in 11 days for WDW. I currently have a preferred room at CBR booked as a ticketless pkg under the AP discount with DDP. A coworker of mine owns several times shares and has banked all the time she can, so will lose some weeks if they are not used by the first of the year. She has offered me a week at Westgate Town Center, just one mile outside WDW gates (over by AK) for just $400.00. We'd have a bedroom with a king bed, bathroom with whirlpool tub, living room, fully equipped kitchen, screened in balcony, 14 swimming pools and 14 hot tubs, etc. For $400.00 and just one mile off property it seems too good to pass up (comes out to $57.14/night for alot more space and more amenities). We were planning on getting a rental car anyway, so transportation would not play into the decision, nor do we usually stay for EMH. We currently have CBR book for six nights and RPR over at Universal booked for two nights. both under AP discounts.

If we took her up on the time share offer, we'd have seven nights at her time share and one night at RPR over at Universal. We'd save about $740.00 on just the room portions of the trip and figure we can eat cheaper than the DDP anyway (my husband just wanted to do it for convenience this trip). However, being just 11 days out, how would the cancellation policy work? Even if we have to pay $200.00 to cancel we'd still come out way ahead. However, I got to thinking that I'll be going back to WDW in early May (haven't made that reservation yet) and wondered if I could just switch the monies to that trip and if I did so would I still have to pay the $200.00 penalty? Of course, my current trip is booked under the AP discount and AP discounts are not out for May yet. But could I book a room at rack rate, add the DDP just like I've got now, making it a ticketless pkg and not have to pay the $200.00 cancellation fee? I know if the price goes down I'd have to pay a fee, but if I added the DDP (like I've got now) I could go back later and cancel the DDP. Right? The trip in 11 days my husband is going with me, so we have two DDPs added to that trip, but the trip in May is a solo trip. If that matters? Anyway can I move the trip (even though it's booked under an AP discount code) and also drop a person?

 

[auralia]

Generally if the trip you switch to is more expensive than the one you currently have booked the change fee is waves

 

[mickeynut1]

I don't have personal experience with it, but from what I understand, you will not be charged the $200 cancellation fee if you change your trip to different dates, even though you are less than 45 days from arrival. With that said, changing your reservation to May shouldn't be a problem and although you have an AP discount on the room now, the room would just go to rack rate for May and you should be able to add an AP discount should something come out for those dates. Good luck.

 

[aaarcher86]

You can change it without the fee. You won't be able to do a room/dp reservation though since you can't put the AP discount on there and you'll be moving to a regular reservation. To put the DP on a reservation you're required to have at least 1 day of tix, so you'll have to toss a day of tix on there as well until you can switch to an AP discount.

 

[mickeynut1]

You won't be able to do a room/dp reservation though since you can't put the AP discount on there and you'll be moving to a regular reservation. To put the DP on a reservation you're required to have at least 1 day of tix, so you'll have to toss a day of tix on there as well until you can switch to an AP discount.

We've never had APs, but I have researched them as we are thinking of getting them for our next trip and from what I understand you could book a ticketless package (AP + Dine) with or without a discount. Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the package is dependent on having an AP, not having an AP discount as AP holders can add the DDP at any time without having to buy tickets.

 

[aubriee]

We've never had APs, but I have researched them as we are thinking of getting them for our next trip and from what I understand you could book a ticketless package (AP + Dine) with or without a discount. Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the package is dependent on having an AP, not having an AP discount as AP holders can add the DDP at any time without having to buy tickets.

True! As AP holders we can add the DDP to a rack rate room or an AP discounted room, without having to buy park tickets. I've done it (booked a room at rack rate and added the DDP, making it an AP ticketless pkg), then just had them adjust the room rate later when the AP discount comes out. The only time AP holders have to buy park tickets, to add the DDP, is if we book a GP room discount, or a use a PIN, or free dining (free dining requires even AP holders to buy two day park tickets).

I just wondered if I'd have to pay the $200.00 cancellation fee, switching this late.

 

[mickeynut1]

True! As AP holders we can add the DDP to a rack rate room or an AP discounted room, without having to buy park tickets. I've done it (booked a room at rack rate and added the DDP, making it an AP ticketless pkg), then just had them adjust the room rate later when the AP discount comes out. The only time AP holders have to buy park tickets, to add the DDP, is if we book a GP room discount, or a use a PIN, or free dining (free dining requires even AP holders to buy two day park tickets).

I just wondered if I'd have to pay the $200.00 cancellation fee, switching this late.

Thanks for verifying . If you do decide to change dates and not actually cancel the reservation all together, please report back as to whether or not you were charged a fee .

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

You shouldn't have a fee but I've been told the dining plan has to be added at least 48-72 hours prior to arrival. There seems to be varying reports on the success of doing this, and probably will depend on who you happen to get on the phone. Never be afraid to ask to be connected to a supervisor if things don't seem to be working out correctly. Those systems are tricky to maneuver sometimes!

 

[aubriee]

Generally if the trip you switch to is more expensive than the one you currently have booked the change fee is waves

Thanks for verifying . If you do decide to change dates and not actually cancel the reservation all together, please report back as to whether or not you were charged a fee .

You shouldn't have a fee but I've been told the dining plan has to be added at least 48-72 hours prior to arrival. There seems to be varying reports on the success of doing this, and probably will depend on who you happen to get on the phone. Never be afraid to ask to be connected to a supervisor if things don't seem to be working out correctly. Those systems are tricky to maneuver sometimes!

OK, I called Disney and asked if I could just move the trip to May and not have to pay any penalties. I was told that since I was changing dates but keeping the reservation, I would not have to pay the $200.00 cancellation fee, but would be charged a $50.00 modification fee and also a $15.00 administrative paperwork fee. I told him that since the price was going up, that I thought the fees would be waived. He seemed to know what he was doing, but said he'd double check and see what he could do. He finally came back, but told me the $50.00 modification fee and the $15.00 administrative paperwork fee could not be waived, but that was better than paying the $200.00 cancellation fee that it would cost me if I cancelled. Oh, well with the $740.00 I'm saving by using the time share, $65.00 isn't bad and now I'll also have my meals and room for my May trip also already paid for (at least it should be completely paid for when the AP discounts for May come out and I apply them.)

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

OK, I called Disney and asked if I could just move the trip to May and not have to pay any penalties. I was told that since I was changing dates but keeping the reservation, I would not have to pay the $200.00 cancellation fee, but would be charged a $50.00 modification fee and also a $15.00 administrative paperwork fee. I told him that since the price was going up, that I thought the fees would be waived. He seemed to know what he was doing, but said he'd double check and see what he could do. He finally came back, but told me the $50.00 modification fee and the $15.00 administrative paperwork fee could not be waived, but that was better than paying the $200.00 cancellation fee that it would cost me if I cancelled. Oh, well with the $740.00 I'm saving by using the time share, $65.00 isn't bad and now I'll also have my meals and room for my May trip also already paid for (at least it should be completely paid for when the AP discounts for May come out and I apply them.)

Thanks for reporting back! People ask me this question all the time!

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

OK, I'm confused.
Room only reservations can be cancelled with no penalty 5 or more days before vacation start date. At 11 days out, you are fine.
Are you subject to a cancellation fee because by adding DDP you turned a room only reservation into a package?
If so, I did not know those were subject to cancellation fees.
What time frame puts them outside of cancellation fees?
If that is not the reason, why were you subject to a cancellation fee?

 

[tobikaye]

OK, I'm confused.
Room only reservations can be cancelled with no penalty 5 or more days before vacation start date. At 11 days out, you are fine.
Are you subject to a cancellation fee because by adding DDP you turned a room only reservation into a package?
If so, I did not know those were subject to cancellation fees.
What time frame puts them outside of cancellation fees?
If that is not the reason, why were you subject to a cancellation fee?

Yes, since the OP added the dining plan to the room, it became a package and was subject to the normal package cancellation times. I believe for packages it is 45 days from arrival. Basically anything that is not specifically a room only reservation is considered a packages. So room+tickets or AP room+dining or room+tickets+dining are all considered packages.

 

[aaarcher86]

We've never had APs, but I have researched them as we are thinking of getting them for our next trip and from what I understand you could book a ticketless package (AP + Dine) with or without a discount. Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the package is dependent on having an AP, not having an AP discount as AP holders can add the DDP at any time without having to buy tickets.

Oh definitely. You can get a DP without tix with an AP discount, military, or cast member discount.

I totally spaced on the AP part!!! Thanks for catching it! In my head I was thinking of the AP discount that they release being the only way to add the DP (versus just a regular AP ticketless pkg) - I just applied the same reasoning to the AP DP as the CM DP, but they're not quite the same!

 

[mickeynut1]

OK, I called Disney and asked if I could just move the trip to May and not have to pay any penalties. I was told that since I was changing dates but keeping the reservation, I would not have to pay the $200.00 cancellation fee, but would be charged a $50.00 modification fee and also a $15.00 administrative paperwork fee. I told him that since the price was going up, that I thought the fees would be waived. He seemed to know what he was doing, but said he'd double check and see what he could do. He finally came back, but told me the $50.00 modification fee and the $15.00 administrative paperwork fee could not be waived, but that was better than paying the $200.00 cancellation fee that it would cost me if I cancelled. Oh, well with the $740.00 I'm saving by using the time share, $65.00 isn't bad and now I'll also have my meals and room for my May trip also already paid for (at least it should be completely paid for when the AP discounts for May come out and I apply them.)

Thanks for reporting back . I forgot about the $15 fee that Disney now charges for any changes made 14 days or less prior to arrival, regardless of what it does to the total cost. I have read many reports that people with packages have been less than 45 days from arrival and moved their vacation to a later time and have not been charged the $50 change fee, so I wonder if Disney changed that and is now charging the $50 fee regardless of what it does to the total price . I'm glad you were able to make the change and save some money. Have a great trip .

Yes, since the OP added the dining plan to the room, it became a package and was subject to the normal package cancellation times. I believe for packages it is 45 days from arrival. Basically anything that is not specifically a room only reservation is considered a packages. So room+tickets or AP room+dining or room+tickets+dining are all considered packages.

This is correct .

Oh definitely. You can get a DP without tix with an AP discount, military, or cast member discount.

I totally spaced on the AP part!!! Thanks for catching it! In my head I was thinking of the AP discount that they release being the only way to add the DP (versus just a regular AP ticketless pkg) - I just applied the same reasoning to the AP DP as the CM DP, but they're not quite the same!

Not a problem . I just wanted to make sure I understood it correctly for future reference as we are most likely getting APs for our next trip .

 

[Marthasor]

I'm a little shocked they charged you the $50 change fee. It was always my understanding that if you re-scheduled within 45 days prior to your original check-in date, but your new reservation was higher priced, no fee would be charged. I get the $15 - I've been charged that before, too when booking less than 14 days prior to check-in, but the $50? If you have a moment, you may want to call Disney back and ask another CM about that one.

 

[vicki_c]

I'm a little shocked they charged you the $50 change fee. It was always my understanding that if you re-scheduled within 45 days prior to your original check-in date, but your new reservation was higher priced, no fee would be charged. I get the $15 - I've been charged that before, too when booking less than 14 days prior to check-in, but the $50? If you have a moment, you may want to call Disney back and ask another CM about that one.

I think they changed from $15 to $50. The paperwork says you may be charged right in it. Not getting charged if the price goes up is more of a bonus even if it seems like no one was getting charged.