Confused regarding booking and offers

[kaity230]

I want to book my vacation ASAP to ensure I get the resorts I want. However, it will not be until next year. If I am to book the package of tickets and room now what happens if free dining or some other discounts become available later? Can I switch a preexisting reservation to include the offers or will I need to start over? Also I am planning a split stay, will that affect anything? Thanks so much - my mind is spinning with questions!

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Can I suggest that you take a good look over at www.mousesavers.com because the site has just about everything that you ever would need to know about deals on WDW vacations and then some.

 

[kaity230]

Timon-n-Pumba, thank you, I actually have already been using that site - its wonderful, but nowhere on it can I find the answer to my question

 

[kaity230]

Sorry, I thought of another question for you all!

As I'm doing a split stay I guess one reservation will be a package with tickets and one a room only ressie, so only one can have free dining? Or can you get free dining with room only? Would I be better to just book two room only ressies for now, and add a 10 day parkhopper to one later?

 

[nurse.darcy]

No free dining with room only. When you do a split stay you must book both reservations separately and pay a deposit on both reservations. If you book now and a discount comes out later, you will need to cancel your current ressie and add the discount - there are no guarantees that you will be able to get your current choices in hotels at the discounts. Hope I was able to help you here.

 

[disneyfan55]

Sorry, I thought of another question for you all!

As I'm doing a split stay I guess one reservation will be a package with tickets and one a room only ressie, so only one can have free dining? Or can you get free dining with room only? Would I be better to just book two room only ressies for now, and add a 10 day parkhopper to one later?

During free dining I would skip the split stay in order to receive the dining. Just what I would do. Sometimes, with Deluxe, you can receive a better room only discount than the free dining cost. I really think the free dining is most valuable with a Value resort.

 

[kaity230]

Thank you for your help! It makes much more sense now.

I am pretty set on the split stay - family can't decide between Poly and YC!
As it's a once in a lifetime kinda trip we want to experience it all.

How far in advance is free dining/room only discounts generally announced?

 

[disneyfan55]

Thank you for your help! It makes much more sense now.

I am pretty set on the split stay - family can't decide between Poly and YC!
As it's a once in a lifetime kinda trip we want to experience it all.

How far in advance is free dining/room only discounts generally announced?

The Free Dining was available through the bounceback last year as well as starting mid April this year first to Disney Visa holders (only a few days) and then to the General Public. It had to be booked by June 20th I believe. Also, you do pay rack rate for this offer.

Other offers are a few months prior to stay. Generally AP and FL residents have an offer first. You can book a reservation and then aske to apply a discount code when one is available. General Public as well had the offer ending Sept 27.

If you have a Disney Visa you can earn Disney Dollars 1% and these become worth a dollar and may be spent in WDW and on many Disney products. At times, like now, Disney Visa has offers to earn bonus dollars (5 times currently on various purchases of Grocery, Gas, Dining and Airline - all holders do not receive the offer, however, many do)

Hope this helps. Any other questions, please ask.