Explain in small words, please? :)

[Baklava]

Okay, *what* exactly is happening tomorrow with booking? Are there discounts coming out or is it just booking a package online at full price?

I have a room only reservation already. Will there be some advantage to being up early and on the phone to Disney?

 

[disney world dreamer]

i've seen some threads that have said packages for 2016 are being released for booking tomorrow.
(keep in mind i didn't actually dive into the threads as i am not all that interested in booking for next year as of now. infact i'm still contemplating another 2015 trip)

if discounts are coming out tomorrow then i highly doubt it would be for dates in 2016.
instead the discounts would probably be extensions of current discounts.

 

[Baklava]

Yes, but what I'm not clear on is what "packages" means. I've booked my room, I can book tickets and dining plan any time I want, right? So how is a "package" different from what I've already got access to?

 

[disney world dreamer]

Yes, but what I'm not clear on is what "packages" means. I've booked my room, I can book tickets and dining plan any time I want, right? So how is a "package" different from what I've already got access to?

incorrect.
until tomorrow you can only make a room only reservation for 2016.
you could not have booked a package that includes a room, tickets, and dining plan until they release the 2016 packages which is happening tomorrow.

 

[Baklava]

Gotcha. But there's no need to rush or anything, right? Tickets and dining packages won't sell out.

 

[Lori72]

What types of deals are normally included in the packages???? I currently have a room booked at POR for Jan. 30th Are there other deals that come out after the "package" prices? Any advice much appreciated!

 

[disney world dreamer]

Gotcha. But there's no need to rush or anything, right? Tickets and dining packages won't sell out.

when you book is up to you.
lol no vacation packages for 2016 will not sell out tomorrow.

 

[Baklava]

when you book is up to you.
lol no vacation packages for 2016 will not sell out tomorrow.

Thanks, you've been very helpful. Sometimes the "obvious" language just isn't for newcomers.

 

[disney world dreamer]

What types of deals are normally included in the packages???? I currently have a room booked at POR for Jan. 30th Are there other deals that come out after the "package" prices? Any advice much appreciated!

discounts (probably room discounts and package discounts) will likely come out in the early fall for early 2016 dates.

 

[Lori72]

Sorry to hijack the thread.... I take it you can book a "package" and if there are further discounts they will be applied? Also -- what is the benefit of booking the "package" vs. buying everything separately? Do they discount dining or room rates? or do you get some "additional" thrown in for purchasing a package?

 

[disney world dreamer]

Sorry to hijack the thread.... I take it you can book a "package" and if there are further discounts they will be applied? Also -- what is the benefit of booking the "package" vs. buying everything separately? Do they discount dining or room rates? or do you get some "additional" thrown in for purchasing a package?

future discounts that come out won't be automatically applied but you can contact whoever you booked through and have your reservations altered to include the discount.

from what disney says if you don't book a package that includes room and tickets you cannot add a dining plan. (although i've seen where numerous people have booked a "ticketless package" and have been able to add a dining plan)

if you book a package you will get a complimentary luggage tag per person and a booklet with free/discounted prices for different things like an arcade card with 100pts loaded onto it and one free hair wrap charm with the purchase of getting a hair wrap.

 

[minnie mum]

Gotcha. But there's no need to rush or anything, right? Tickets and dining packages won't sell out.

What types of deals are normally included in the packages???? I currently have a room booked at POR for Jan. 30th Are there other deals that come out after the "package" prices? Any advice much appreciated!

Both of you are apparently missing a bit of knowledge on the differences between room only reservations and package vacations.

A room only reservation is just that. Only a resort room reservation - no tickets and no dining plan. You pay a one night deposit and the balance is due at check in. You can make a RO reservation up to 499 days in advance. Any tickets that you might want would be purchased as a separate purchase, and payment for these would be due at the time of ordering.

A package vacation is a room reservation with tickets (with or without a dining plan and other options). You pay a $200 deposit on the total cost of the package, with the balance due 45 days before check in. Everyone staying in the room must be on the same package (# of nights, same ticket type and days, dining plan, etc). Packages for the coming year normally come out in early summer, once the room prices for the next year have been set. Tomorrow, June 22, packages for 2016 will be available for booking. These will be rack rates, with no discounts. Package pricing is simply a sum of the individual components.

You cannot just add tickets and/ or dining to a room reservation and turn it into a package. They are 2 completely different reservation systems, and money paid towards one cannot just be shifted to the other. You would need to cancel the first reservation ( your deposit will be refunded) and make a new reservation with a new deposit.

Discounts or special offers are completely separate things. There are room discounts (a % off the rack rate of a given resort) that can be applied to either a room only reservation or the room component of a package.

There are free dining offers that can only be applied to packages. And any special offer will be limited to a limited number of the total rooms available at any given resort. Having a reservation already does not guarantee that you will be able to get a discount if and when it is offered.

 

[Lori72]

Both of you are apparently missing a bit of knowledge on the differences between room only reservations and package vacations.

A room only reservation is just that. Only a resort room reservation - no tickets and no dining plan. You pay a one night deposit and the balance is due at check in. You can make a RO reservation up to 499 days in advance. Any tickets that you might want would be purchased as a separate purchase, and payment for these would be due at the time of ordering.

A package vacation is a room reservation with tickets (with or without a dining plan and other options). You pay a $200 deposit on the total cost of the package, with the balance due 45 days before check in. Everyone staying in the room must be on the same package (# of nights, same ticket type and days, dining plan, etc). Packages for the coming year normally come out in early summer, once the room prices for the next year have been set. Tomorrow, June 22, packages for 2016 will be available for booking. These will be rack rates, with no discounts. Package pricing is simply a sum of the individual components.

You cannot just add tickets and/ or dining to a room reservation and turn it into a package. They are 2 completely different reservation systems, and money paid towards one cannot just be shifted to the other. You would need to cancel the first reservation ( your deposit will be refunded) and make a new reservation with a new deposit.

Discounts or special offers are completely separate things. There are room discounts (a % off the rack rate of a given resort) that can be applied to either a room only reservation or the room component of a package.

There are free dining offers that can only be applied to packages. And any special offer will be limited to a limited number of the total rooms available at any given resort. Having a reservation already does not guarantee that you will be able to get a discount if and when it is offered.

Thank you so much for the information! That is exactly what I needed - someone to spell it out simply. Very helpful. I will proceed to contact my TA and arrange for my RO reservation to be turned into a package deal.

 

[Baklava]

Both of you are apparently missing a bit of knowledge on the differences between room only reservations and package vacations.

A room only reservation is just that. Only a resort room reservation - no tickets and no dining plan. You pay a one night deposit and the balance is due at check in. You can make a RO reservation up to 499 days in advance. Any tickets that you might want would be purchased as a separate purchase, and payment for these would be due at the time of ordering.

A package vacation is a room reservation with tickets (with or without a dining plan and other options). You pay a $200 deposit on the total cost of the package, with the balance due 45 days before check in. Everyone staying in the room must be on the same package (# of nights, same ticket type and days, dining plan, etc). Packages for the coming year normally come out in early summer, once the room prices for the next year have been set. Tomorrow, June 22, packages for 2016 will be available for booking. These will be rack rates, with no discounts. Package pricing is simply a sum of the individual components.

You cannot just add tickets and/ or dining to a room reservation and turn it into a package. They are 2 completely different reservation systems, and money paid towards one cannot just be shifted to the other. You would need to cancel the first reservation ( your deposit will be refunded) and make a new reservation with a new deposit.

Discounts or special offers are completely separate things. There are room discounts (a % off the rack rate of a given resort) that can be applied to either a room only reservation or the room component of a package.

There are free dining offers that can only be applied to packages. And any special offer will be limited to a limited number of the total rooms available at any given resort. Having a reservation already does not guarantee that you will be able to get a discount if and when it is offered.

THANK YOU! This was all really important. I just got off the phone. My RO is cancelled and my package is booked. She refunded my RO deposit (note: she said this can take 1-2 billing cycles to happen- it could be a little wait to get your money back) and took the $200 deposit.

They have changed the due date for final payment. It is now 30 days from arrival instead of 45.

We'll be watching for discounts. FD will save us more than the room discounts, so we're hoping for that one.

The CM was REALLY perky! She clearly loves her job, I think she was almost as excited as I was.

 

[Andrea1973]

WHOOOOO HOOOO I have waited over 320 days for this day to happen!!!! IM SOOOO FREAKING HAPPY! If I had any rhythm at all I would dance!!! Now to choose my dates...
Disney for finally letting me book!!! let the magic begin!!!

 

[Baklava]

I'm 197 days out! I'm working on my plan B for ADRs, just to be prepared...

 

[clr055]

I hadn't even considered doing a plan B list... hhmm

 

[Baklava]

I hadn't even considered doing a plan B list... hhmm

I was already, and the CM suggested it, so I think it might be wise.

 

[Accident]

You lost your deposit? The biggest tip/trick we do is book anything we can find when we want to go and then adjust our reservation nonstop until we arrive. The website is really friendly to this. I've altered my reservation 3 times in the last 2 weeks changes just about everything to get more money off. Anytime we see a new discount or get an email (or friends/family get an email). We always jump online, try out the new promo see if we want to adjust. You don't do any changes until you submit them on the website so you can see a side by side of old vs new.

 

[Baklava]

Who lost their deposit? My RO deposit is being refunded, it just may take a while.