Concerning resort reservation

[ctniners]

Hi guys...we just got back from wdw on sunday we got to spend valentines day with the kids..to our surprise it was pretty busy....but as always we had a great time...now we are making plans on going on January 7th of 2013 (long long time to wait)...we are hoping to find less crowds and cooler weather...so i have 2 questions:

1. When do you think Disney will start opening those dates for resorts reservations and

2. When do you think they will release any specials or free meal plans offers for January?

Thanks for the help

 

[vicki_c]

You can call now and make a reservation for room-only, you just can't do it on line and I don't believe you will be able to book it as a package either.

Your time frame most likely includes marathon weekend and discounts are scarcer at that time.

(You might look a pushing your dates to later in January for more potential discounts when they are released - we have gotten discounts in the past over the 3rd/4th week of January / 1st week of February.

 

[mickeynut1]

You can call now and make a reservation for room-only, you just can't do it on line and I don't believe you will be able to book it as a package either.

This is correct. You can book room only now which will be quoted at the highest rate for 2012 and then adjusted once the 2013 rates are released, which should be sometime this summer. New rates usually come out in August, but this past year the 2012 rates came out in early June 2011. For a package or to book online you have to wait until the 2013 rates are released. If you want a package to begin with, it's best to wait until the new rates come out as changing from a room only to a package requires the room only to be cancelled/refunded and a package booked, requiring a new $200 deposit, as money paid toward one can't be transferred to the other.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hi guys...we just got back from wdw on sunday we got to spend valentines day with the kids..to our surprise it was pretty busy....but as always we had a great time...now we are making plans on going on January 7th of 2013 (long long time to wait)...we are hoping to find less crowds and cooler weather...so i have 2 questions:

1. When do you think Disney will start opening those dates for resorts reservations and

2. When do you think they will release any specials or free meal plans offers for January?

Thanks for the help

Disney Marathon is Jan 11-13. It will be hard getting to MK or Epcot on the 12th or 13th in the morning. Weather-wise, it's been in the 30's and in the 80's in the past. So you just don't know.

 

[fla4fun]

If you have a choice, go after MLK weekend. If you have to choose between marathon weekend and MLK weekend, choose marathon weekend. The most crowded January trip I've ever taken included MLK weekend.

As far as the weather, I was hoping for cooler weather for my December and January trips - I didn't have to put on a jacket once. You just never know what the weather will be. We've had summer temperatures so far this winter with only a day or two here and there that is more spring like than summer. I haven't even had to cover my plants . . . . .

 

[ctniners]

Thanks for the input...it looks like MLK day in 2013 will be Monday the 21st so that gives me a week in between the marathon and MLK day when we can go....Jan 14th sounds fine......the biggest issue is the specials....we do like the meal plan offer, the last 4 times we have been there we were able to go in dates when they were running the this offer.
This last time we spoke with another couple who told us that sometimes they have stay 3 days and get 2 days free...according to them getting two days free is the same as getting the meal plan for free so if that is the case and they are running that offer then that would also be a possiblilty.

Does anyone know where I can find the dates they ran specials in 2011? or even January 2012?

 

[MDChris]

We typically book our trip for March of every year and we always look for deals (Free dining on the last two). The free dining plans for January through March have come out in August of each year. I would definitely check back in mid to late July and you will start to see grumblings about upcoming plans.

 

[ctniners]

I guess we could arrive on the 13th and just skip the parks where they are running the marathon that day.

I found out that Christmas and new year week is very busy....I have a question...do you know what they consider that week?.....is it up to January 1st or 5th?....I would assume that by the 5th the big crowds should be gone right? or am I wrong?

 

[hes122]

Historical Disney discounts

http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html

FWIW, when I was there in January 2011 it was during a FD promotion, but our reservation wasn't long enough to cash in on it. We were there the weekend after MLK.