Changing dates on your hotel & ticket package

[OldSchoolReasons]

Hi all,

We're about to put our deposit down for our 2017 holiday (hotel & park tickets), but flights haven't been released yet and won't be until September.

I know flights from London to Orlando go every day, but if there aren't suitable flight times and we have to book a different date - how flexible are Disney about jiggling your stay dates?

I presume we'll have to pay the difference between dates, but is there an admin fee?

Thanks guys!

 

[chmurf]

e're about to put our deposit down for our 2017 holiday (hotel & park tickets),

well, don't book until the free dining are released (probably in April if they're released)

should you need to change your dates, they're quite good at it

if your modified stay costs more than the orignial one, you'll just pay the difference. No fee
if the price is the same, no fee either
if the price is less, then you'll pay a £50 amendment fee

note that if your booked a deal like free dining, there would need to be a room, available under the same rate/deal, for you to move dates without losing your deal.

 

[OldSchoolReasons]

well, don't book until the free dining are released (probably in April if they're released)

should you need to change your dates, they're quite good at it

if your modified stay costs more than the orignial one, you'll just pay the difference. No fee
if the price is the same, no fee either
if the price is less, then you'll pay a £50 amendment fee

note that if your booked a deal like free dining, there would need to be a room, available under the same rate/deal, for you to move dates without losing your deal.

Stop the press - I thought free dining wasn't available for August holidays?

If I can grab free dining, I'll definitely book flights in September when they're released and book a hotel/ticket package later.

Glad they're flexible though!

 

[OldSchoolReasons]

In fact - I have just realised I've been using US deal information *face palm*

So free dining is usually released in April for UK arrivals that same year? Or for stays in 2016 & 2017?

Also is it linked to hotel class i.e Budget gets you quick service, Moderate gets you the next level and Deluxe gets you top tier?

Thank you - this is why I love these boards.

 

[chmurf]

So free dining is usually released in April for UK arrivals that same year? Or for stays in 2016 & 2017?

uk free dining is over for 2016 stays (it ended in november 2015)

this month we're waiting for 2017 free dining packages.

Also is it linked to hotel class i.e Budget gets you quick service, Moderate gets you the next level and Deluxe gets you top tier?

it's different from US free dining

value gets nothing (possibly a free breakfast, aka 1CS credit no snack no mug) for the first part of the deal (april-july for a ballpark figure)

moderate get free QSDP (2CS)

deluxe get free DDP (1TS, 1CS)


packages also come with a 14 days utlimate ticket ( 14 days of entry, hopper, waterpark, and memory maker)

If I can grab free dining, I'll definitely book flights in September when they're released and book a hotel/ticket package later.

you will need to book the free dining package in april - june this year for a 2017 stays in order to get the full perks (e.g. free $200 gift card, if it's offered this year)

the deal will be slowly phased out. First part will see full perks and benefits, second part over the summer will have decreased benefits (smaller gift card, no dining on values, for example) and the last part over fall will lose any goody such as the gift card

or so it worked in previous years

OKW and SSR are also hoped to get the usual 30% off on top of the free DDP deal

 

[Elise79]

We are expecting free dining to be announced end of April.

Last year the offer was:
Value - free breakfast (which is one CS credit)
Moderate - free quick service
Deluxe/DVC - free DDP

In addition OKW/SSR had a discount of 28ish percent. They didn't actually advertise the discount last year this was just my calculation of the discount percentage.

Plus for bookings from April to July there was a $200 gift card offer. It then reduced to $100 and then nothing.

There are rumours that there will be some changes this year but who knows what they will be.

 

[BudgieMama]

We booked this year's trip last April when they opened up the free dining offer. A few months down the line, when the flights were released, they were stupid for the days we booked, but saved £600 if we could move our dates with Disney forward by a day (arrive a day early, leave a day early). Called Disney, and they shifted it for free because the price was the same. We knew we might get a £50 charge, big compared to the £600 we were saving on flights, it wouldn't be so bad... and we now arrive on our wedding anniversary

 

[OldSchoolReasons]

Thank you everyone! I had no idea about this and you have certainly saved me some money.

While the gift card offer sounds great, in all fairness any freebie is better than nothing. I think last time we got a booklet of vouchers for restaurants we didn't eat at and VIP viewing for Wishes and I was fairly stoked on that alone.

I shall hold my horses until April!