Change fee for reservation changes?

[jvattes]

Hi all --

So ready to book our Disney vacation for next year!!! But having been burned by booking vacations (not Disney) so far in advance when life/family/circumstance changes necessitate changing the vacation, I am hesitant to do so.

Is there a change fee for changing a vacation that is booked? Is there a penalty for cancelling a vacation - and if so, how much? If an offer comes up after we book that we would like to take advantage of, is it possible to do so and if so, how?

Thanks so much!!

 

[fla4fun]

The penalties vary depending on whether you book a package or a room only reservation.

Room only reservations can be changed or cancelled without penalty up to a week prior to arrival. After that point, you lose one night's room rate as the penalty. If a room only discount comes out after you booked, you can call and see if there is availability at your resort under the discount. Most times there is, but occasionally I've had to change room type or resort to use the discount. There is no charge for making this kind of change, or any changes, to a room only reservation.

Packages can be changed and cancelled, but there are varying penalties based on how far you are from your check in date, and whether your change is upgrading or downgrading the package. With packages, you might also incur price increases on tickets if you make changes after a ticket price increase occurs, depending on the change.

I have booked packages a couple times just because they were good deals even with the mandatory ticket purchase (I have an AP), but I did worry that I might end up with an emergency that would result in a cancellation. I feel much more comfortable with a room only reservation. By a week out, I know I'm pretty committed to going and that if something came up at that point that caused a cancellation I would probably be more concerned about what had happened than about losing one night's rate.

 

[jvattes]

So if I book room only at this time, can I add tickets and dining (packages) later as it gets closer and I am feeling "safer" in making my plans?

 

[3pletprincesses]

for packages you can change it as you see fit until 45 days prior to arrival. All you need is a $200 deposit to make your reservation. I always make plans way ahead of time and have to always switch things around.

 

[mickeynut1]

So if I book room only at this time, can I add tickets and dining (packages) later as it gets closer and I am feeling "safer" in making my plans?

If you book room only now and want to change to a package later, the room only would have to be cancelled/refunded and a package booked, requiring a new $200 deposit (or payment in full if you are 44 days or less from arrival). One cannot be "converted" to the other as they are different reservation systems so money paid toward one cannot be applied to the other, therefore, the need for cancelling and rebooking.

Also, as the pp mentioned, you can make any changes you want to a package for no fee if these changes are done before the 45 day mark (which is when final payment is due). If changes are made 44 days from arrival, the change fee is usually waived if the total cost of the package increases; if the cost decreases, you will be charged a $50 change fee. For room only, as the pp stated, you can make as many changes as you like without a fee up to 5 or 6 days prior to arrival. Cancelling a package prior to the 45 day mark there's no fee; if cancelled 44 days or less prior to arrival, you would be charged a $200 cancellation fee. Room only cancellation fee is your deposit of 1 night's room rate + tax.