Do you pay for tix/hotel when you book?

[lonestarTX]

I'm a little confused. So when you book a hotel anywhere else, you just "hold" the room w/ a credit card & then they charge it when you check in/out. I've read a lot of people saying, "yeah, I paid off my trip", etc. I'm gonna be booking soon so I'm wondering how the Disney hotels work. Wondering if you pay in installments, all at one time, at check in, check out? HELP!

Thanks all!

 

[NMAmy]

With most packages, you pay the first night as a deposit when booking the trip. Your entire package prices (tickets, room, dining plan--whatever you've signed up for) is due at 45 days prior to arrival.

For a room only reservation, you pay the first night's deposit. Then you pay the remainder upon arrival. That's why I really prefer room only reservations. Just before I leave home, I mail a check to my credit card company and pay off the whole thing.

 

[lonestarTX]

With most packages, you pay the first night as a deposit when booking the trip. Your entire package prices (tickets, room, dining plan--whatever you've signed up for) is due at 45 days prior to arrival.

For a room only reservation, you pay the first night's deposit. Then you pay the remainder upon arrival. That's why I really prefer room only reservations. Just before I leave home, I mail a check to my credit card company and pay off the whole thing.

Thanks for the info! So, if you do room only, then you have to buy park tix at the gate? Aren't the park tix otherwise on your key card to the world/room key? (sorry if all my lingo is wrong)

 

[Chip_Dale]

Package reservation require a $200 deposit and balance at 45 days.

 

[Sue M]

As mentioned if you book a pkg with Disney, you pay your $200 deposit, then 45 days ahead of arrival you must be paid in full. It's easy to make payments on line. I divide how many months I have before the 45 day mark, and pay that each month. Pkg can be room + park tickets, or room, park tix + dining plan.

If you don't want the dining plan, a room only res is a good way to go. You pay your 1 night deposit, then can pay the balance on arrival. Although I still make monthy payments by phone to Disney, because I prefer to have everything paid in full a month before anyway. With room only, Disney doesn't give you the option to pay online, so have to phone.

Also with room only, you can get park tickets from another ticket seller at a discount. I have used Undercover Tourist. Use the link from mousesavers.com for an extra discount. They always run specials. Sometimes saving up to $15 or more off per ticket. They list full price incl tax. Shipping is free,( and fast) and they mail you real tickets, not vouchers.

So if you are shopping prices, important to compare apples to apples.
Disney and some other sites don't list full ticket price till you go to check out, then you see tax, and some sites charge shipping fee. Also some sites just mail you a voucher, and when you get to WDW, you have to go to a customer service kiosk to exchange it for tickets.

 

[TimeLady]

I've booked my family's Disney vacation twice. Last time, it was a room only reservation. I paid my one day deposit when I booked, then the rest when I checked in. I was able to get a discount on the tickets through my employer, so it was worth it to do that way.
This time, we decided to take advantage of the free dining plan offer, so I had to book a package with hotel and tickets through Disney. As others have stated, they required a $200 dollar deposit with the total due 45 before our arrival date. I wasn't expecting that either, but it worked out okay. It was super easy to make payments over the phone with my debit card.

 

[POOHsie]

If you book a package, you are required to buy minimum one or two day tickets per person. Packages are prepaid, but there is no need to purchase more than the minimum required tickets at this point. When you arrive, you can add days to the tickets as needed. This will give you extra time to save up for the total ticket expense.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

We've done both...

For our trip a few years ago, I just made a "room only" reservation. We paid for the remainder of the hotel cost at check in. We had purchased tickets from another company.

For our 2 trips for 2012, we have booked packages w/ hotel, dining plan and tickets, so those will need to be paid in full 45 days prior to arrival.

 

[Marthasor]

Thanks for the info! So, if you do room only, then you have to buy park tix at the gate? Aren't the park tix otherwise on your key card to the world/room key? (sorry if all my lingo is wrong)

If you book room only, and you want to buy your tickets once you arrive at WDW, you can buy them at your resort's concierge desk (all WDW resorts have a concierge desk. You do not have to be staying club level to access this service). The concierge desk can also put your tickets on your KTTW card.

 

[Missytara]

If you book room only, and you want to buy your tickets once you arrive at WDW, you can buy them at your resort's concierge desk (all WDW resorts have a concierge desk. You do not have to be staying club level to access this service). The concierge desk can also put your tickets on your KTTW card.

You can also purchase them at guest relations at any park or DTD.

 

[Missyrose]

Or if you book room-only, you can buy your tickets from a discounted re-seller such as Undercover Tourist. You can save a bit on the tickets and they're very reputable.