Decisions, decisions, and moment of panic!

[fuzzlekins]

So here's my situation ... When we've gone to Disney in the past, we've stayed off-site through our vacation club b/c it's REALLY cheap (and nice). However, when we go in February, we're hoping for a free dining promotion, in which case we would stay on-site at a value resort. I've been researching and debating and just assumed that with the first week of Feb being a slow week, I'd have my pick of resorts. I just realized that All Star Music is now booked for my week! AAHHH! Now I'm starting to panic. If I made a Magic Your Way Pkg reservation now and they don't offer the dining plan, would I be able to cancel the whole thing without penalty? (we'd go off-site instead) I know that works for dining but what about vacation pkgs?

And secondly, which value resort would you choose? Obviously Art of Animation looks like the best value resort b/c it's new but is it worth the premium? I have to confess I'm also a bit concerned about the bed bug issue. I've seen it in the reviews of every Disney resort on TripAdvisor. What have been your experiences? Is one value resort nicer/cleaner than the others?

Thanks for the valuable input!

 

[fuzzlekins]

Follow-up note ... As I'm going through resort options again, All Star Music is once again available for the week I'm looking at. Odd. Maybe there was a cancellation but I guess it must be getting close to full or something.

 

[MMS1125]

what dates are you trying? How many in your party?
The first week of Feb isn't a bad week at all price and crowd wise. It has low crowds and value season prices however that's usually when a few of the rides are closed town for maintenance and such

 

[fuzzlekins]

We are looking at 2/1-2/9 for a party of 3. We went the same week this year and it was AWESOME. No real lines, great weather (could've gone either way of course) ... couldn't have asked for a better week. Hoping for the same in '13.

 

[MMS1125]

all the values show up for me. I'd likely say AoA-LM rooms only b/c they are new and only a few bucks more than ASMu or Pop a night. Only thing the latest free dining offer excluded the LM rooms. The previous one had included them so there's no telling what the winter promo will do. With it being a low crowd time hopefully they will be included if you go that route. You could always book a pkg now where you want and if there's not availability when a promo comes out you can switch to a resort that's included

 

[fuzzlekins]

Can you also cancel entirely if they don't offer the promo? It's okay if we're stuck with the tix - we'd ordinarily buy them from Undercover Tourist if we were staying off-site but not the end of the world - but no penalty for cancelling the room? And if they do offer the promo, is it easy to modify the reservation to include the free dining?

 

[MMS1125]

yes no penalty as long as you aren't w/in 45 days of your pkg

 

[MistressMerryweather]

All Star Movies was just recently refurbished, so the rooms would be cleaner, per se. You can do a room only reservations to hold your rooms, then you can add the dining plan on later, if it comes available for free.
Packages have to be paid for 45 days in advance and then you incur a fee if you cancel. Room only reservations can be canceled 5 days before you arrive. You can always add on any discount that comes along to your already existing reservation.

 

[Megsie1000]

Could be that the AS Music is the one chosen for the UDA National Dance Championship, which is the 2-3 of February. That won't really affect crowds in the parks too much, but they may take over one of the value resorts for those few days, which might be why you are having availability problems when you look.

 

[fuzzlekins]

Aah, I hadn't thought of that. So no tix - just the room. And it's easy to upgrade to a pkg? Does it have to be cancelled and rebooked? And if so, is there a chance of losing the room at that point?

Thanks!!

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Aah, I hadn't thought of that. So no tix - just the room. And it's easy to upgrade to a pkg? Does it have to be cancelled and rebooked? And if so, is there a chance of losing the room at that point?

Thanks!!

No, you can just add it on. Just book the room now, no tickets or dining. No room losing.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Now, if free dining doesn't come around and you decide to keep your room and pay to add on dining, you'll need to add your tickets and the dining 72 hours before you arrive.

 

[fuzzlekins]

Now, if free dining doesn't come around and you decide to keep your room and pay to add on dining, you'll need to add your tickets and the dining 72 hours before you arrive.

Nope, no chance of that. Without the free dining, we'll definitely go back to Liki Tiki. Thanks so much for the advice! You rock!!

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Never heard of the Liki Tiki. LOL Just looked it up. It looks really cool. I'll have to check it out for next year. Thanks!

 

[fuzzlekins]

We like it but I had never heard of it before either. It just happened that they have a relationship with Occidental Vacation Club, which means we got it last year for $155 for the WEEK! It was even cheaper the year before. Crazy I know! All other things being equal, we'd stay at a Disney resort so I wouldn't switch unless it's cheaper for you.

 

[MMS1125]

if you book room only and free dining comes out you have to rebook a pkg with free dining and cancel your room only reservation so that would require an add'l deposit. If you aren't going to stay at Disney w/out free dining I'd just wait and book the pkg when the promo is released since you aren't trying to make sure you have a room at a particular resort regardless.

 

[mickeynut1]

As the pp said, if you book room only now and want a package (free dining) later, the room only would have to be cancelled/refunded and a package booked, requiring a new $200 deposit as money paid toward one cannot be applied to the other. Also, if you book a package now and free dining does come out for your dates, you can have that promo applied to your existing reservation, but only if there is availability at the resort you have booked. Disney releases discounts to fill rooms, so if a resort is at or near capacity, Disney may not include that particular resort in the promo. I agree with the pp that if you will only stay onsite if free dining is offered, I would wait to book since having a reservation already in place does not guarantee a discount can be applied.

 

[fuzzlekins]

Hmm, all good info! Wish they would just release the 2013 free dining dates. I'm clearly not very patient.