Early Booking Savings: Not Much

[Mike Bartenhagen]

I booked a trip for our family of 4 (2 adults and a 3 and 5 year old) in mid November of 2001. We are staying in a Cat. 6 cabin and the cost for our trip (no airfare, insurance, or transfers) is 2405.40 for the four of us. When we orginally booked the cost was 2525.40. We did have a discount in the price that our TA informed us of earlier this year. I went to the quotes page today on the DCL website and entered the dates, etc. that we will be traveling (Oct. 6-10). There were no cat. 6 cabins so I choose a cat 5 cabin. The cost was 2485.40 for the cabin. A grand total of 80.00 cheaper or 20.00 per person. I have read that Disney has done away with the Fall Fantasy rates in exchange for increased discounts based on how early you book. I saved 80.00 by booking 11 months out. We were going to go anyway so I guess 80.00 is better than nothing but I thought I would let others know that the EBS aren't that much at least in our case. In fact because I had to choose a cat 5 insteaad of a cat 6 the savings is probably closer to zero.

 

[Michelle]

Remember, early booking savings just reflect how full a particular SAILING is and if a cruise is not filling up as quickly the sailing will stay at a higher level of early booking savings for a longer time. That's especially true for the cruises that were repriced for the fall with the better early booking savings. It's entirely possible for cruises a couple of weeks apart to be priced quite differently.

It's still always the best advice to book as early as you can for the best possible savings, as it's impossible to tell how quickly the sailing will fill up.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[my3kids]

I just checked the same thing a few nights ago. For my trip, the cost has increased $1433 since I booked it last year. For our sailing, early booking was the only way to go....at least the only we we would go!

 

[MFan]

If your ship is not filling, then DCL will have to keep its prices down to try to fill it. This is especially true as you get closer to the sailing date. So, it's possible that the prices hasn't changed since your booking.

I know the price for my cabin and cruise date (5/10/2003) has gone up by about $100 pp since June.

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

We booked in June 2001 for our trip in November 2002 - I think we are paying a lot - $3360.25 7 day land / sea for a cat 5 with 2 adults and a 2 1/2 DD.

Does anyone know when I can see the pricing tier for early booking savings?

I looked on the DCL site and it looks like our ship is sold out because I can't get a quote what it would be if I booked today.

Lisa

 

[mcnuss]

I just checked out our dates -- Thanksgiving week on the Magic. The price has gone up almost $900 since I booked it in June! Clearly, early booking paid off for me.

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

I just checked for our March cruise.

First, the catagory we originally booked (a veranda on deck 6) isn't available anymore (at least not thru the DCL site) and the next best catagory (deluxe Oceanview) is $480 more than our original booking.

So certainly for us, EBS worked out very well.

 

[ducklite]

I booked about 18 months out, and saved about $2000. My sailing (August 24) is pretty close to full with what I understand.

Anne

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

Now that is strange - I looked on the DCL website before and I couldn't get a quote for the time we were going when I looked today I could get a quote for the same dates we are going for the land / sea package. We have a savings of $286.30 - but that is really not that significant since we booked last June 2001!! I really thought the savings would be more - not too much incentive there to book that early.

Lisa

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

Now that is strange - I looked on the DCL website before and I couldn't get a quote for the time we were going when I looked today I could get a quote for the same dates we are going for the land / sea package. We have a savings of $286.30 - but that is really not that significant since we booked last June 2001!! I really thought the savings would be more - not too much incentive there to book that early.

Lisa

 

[mcnuss]

Now that is strange - I looked on the DCL website before and I couldn't get a quote for the time we were going when I looked today I could get a quote for the same dates we are going for the land / sea package.

That seems to happen a lot. I think when DCL is updating its systems, you can't get a quote.

 

[MFan]

Originally posted by RIDISNEYLOVERS
Now that is strange - I looked on the DCL website before and I couldn't get a quote for the time we were going when I looked today I could get a quote for the same dates we are going for the land / sea package. We have a savings of $286.30 - but that is really not that significant since we booked last June 2001!! I really thought the savings would be more - not too much incentive there to book that early.

Lisa

Actually, I think there is a simple explaination. Your travel date of Oct 6-10 is right about 60 days from now. As you know, cancellation penalty begins at 60 days, so anyone who wants to cancel or can't come up with cash for the final payment will do so right about this time. That's why what may appeared to be a fully booked ship a couple of weeks ago has all kinds of availability now. I always suggest to people on this board who didn't get the cabin of their choice to call around 60+ days before their travel date to see if anything more preferable opens up.

 

[mrsltg]

Wow! I'm amazed. I saved $2200 by booking my 12/03 cruise back in June. I think that they do a great job with early booking. I think I'll check the DCL site now to see what my cabin is costing these days!!!

Remember... Book early, Book OFTEN!!!

Erin

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

MFan: That makes complete sense, I don't know why I didn't think of it!! Thanks for the insight!!

Lisa

 

[Gina]

I booked this past February for next February. I just checked the DCL site, and it looks the cat. 7 cabins are sold out... but the price for the cat. *8* cabins is over $500 more than I am paying for my cat. 7!! So early booking definitely paid off for me. Heck, if I could afford the deposit, I'd book 2004 right now!!

-gina-

 

[CRB#33]

The difference between April 2003 and April 2004 is $1,900 right now for a cat. 6. ($1,900. less in 2004)

 

[hydster]

We booked in Jan this year for our November cruise and we are paying $4819.25 for 5 of us in Room 8550 from Nov 17th-21st. We did the 4 day sea/3 day land package. I just looked today at the price and for a Deluxe Family Stateroom it is now 6099.25 so we have saved $1280.00 so far! I think booking early was GREAT for us!

Heidi

 

[aseafish]

There is a distinction between saving because you book early and DCL saying they are doing away with specials like Fall Fantasy in favor of early booking discounts. The pricing has always gone up as availabilty went down, I believe. Those are two different situations.