Don't know whether to book now or not

[SageFemme]

I wanted to vent and get some advice from y'all. No one else understands my stress but I knew y'all would!

I just became a single mom to my 7 yr old daughter a year ago and we are planning a trip for Sept. 19-24. We are doing the Memories Vacation package w/free dining. I thought it would be funner to invite my cousin who is my age and her 6 yr old sister.

I have money saved up for my trip and am ready to book it at any time however she needs to ask her dad to help with half the costs for her portion. We can save $250 each if we book at the same time and share a room however I'm really doubting her ability to pay as she keeps putting it off to ask her dad. I'm wondering how long I should give her before I just go ahead and book it as ADR's are becoming more and more unavailable due to the free dining.

Should I book all 4 of us and just cancel her and her sister when it becomes evident that they won't be able to go?

Does the "full refund before 45 days" thing apply if you are just removing people or only if you cancel the whole package?

Would we still save $250 if I somehow added her onto our package (if that's possible) later on?

I'm so stressed out!

 

[graceesmom]

Why don't you just book your room with you and your daughter. Then if your cousin and her sister can go, you can add them to the room. That will not cost anything except the extra costs of the tickets if you are doing a package and dining if you are doing that.

For the hard to get reservations, make 2 reservations for 2 people or make a reservation for a 2 top and a 4 top, then cancel which one you don't need once she either commits or says she's not going to be able to go.

 

[SageFemme]

Thank you! Could she get the free dining as well if I add her later?

 

[laurafergie]

I wanted to vent and get some advice from y'all. No one else understands my stress but I knew y'all would!

I just became a single mom to my 7 yr old daughter a year ago and we are planning a trip for Sept. 19-24. We are doing the Memories Vacation package w/free dining. I thought it would be funner to invite my cousin who is my age and her 6 yr old sister.

I have money saved up for my trip and am ready to book it at any time however she needs to ask her dad to help with half the costs for her portion. We can save $250 each if we book at the same time and share a room however I'm really doubting her ability to pay as she keeps putting it off to ask her dad. I'm wondering how long I should give her before I just go ahead and book it as ADR's are becoming more and more unavailable due to the free dining.

Should I book all 4 of us and just cancel her and her sister when it becomes evident that they won't be able to go?

Does the "full refund before 45 days" thing apply if you are just removing people or only if you cancel the whole package?

Would we still save $250 if I somehow added her onto our package (if that's possible) later on?

I'm so stressed out!

You can add people, take away people, add tickets, add or take away anything before the 45 day mark and you will receive a full refund. The only problem in your situation is that there only a certain number of rooms per resort for the different promotions.

Personally, I have found it is easier to take away, than to add - so I would go ahead and book your cousin and her daughter, the deposit is still the same, and your cousin would have until the 45 day mark to pay her portion.

BUT, I would gave your cousin a firm deadline for commitment and stick to it.

You do not need a reservation to book ADRS, you could book as party of four, and if you cousin doesn't go, again, it's easier to take away, than to add.

 

[laurafergie]

Thank you! Could she get the free dining as well if I add her later?

Yes, as long as there is room at the resort for the promotion. And you do it before the promotion ends. Note, this doesn't mean "room or space" for your cousin in your room. There are only so many spots for the promotion at each resort, so you have to take that into consideration, if you add your cousin- you may have to move resorts. As I stated above, it's always easier to take away at Disney, than to add - at least in my experience.

 

[SageFemme]

Thank you guys so much! Y'all have eased my mind!

 

[honeydiane1953]

You can add people, take away people, add tickets, add or take away anything before the 45 day mark and you will receive a full refund. The only problem in your situation is that there only a certain number of rooms per resort for the different promotions.

Personally, I have found it is easier to take away, than to add - so I would go ahead and book your cousin and her daughter, the deposit is still the same, and your cousin would have until the 45 day mark to pay her portion.

BUT, I would gave your cousin a firm deadline for commitment and stick to it.

You do not need a reservation to book ADRS, you could book as party of four, and if you cousin doesn't go, again, it's easier to take away, than to add.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

The deposit on one room/package is only $200 dollars, so really I would book the room with all potential guest on the reservation, put the $200 deposit down and if needed remove the other guests later on.

 

[Karenj2]

The deposit on one room/package is only $200 dollars, so really I would book the room with all potential guest on the reservation, put the $200 deposit down and if needed remove the other guests later on.

I'd do this, but with a slight modification. Get your cousin to give you $100 NOW for the deposit. Without some money put upfront, she'll be more likely to back out. Even if she (and you) don't finish paying for the package until the 45 day mark, at least she's giving you a strong indication that she really wants to go.

 

[ilovemk76]

If it was me, I would give her the date that I needed her half and then book then for either just us or all of us.