Fall (October) Resort Package Discounts

[khaz]

Hi All,

Around what date does Disney release discount packages for the fall? Is it August? We're looking to go in October and stay and Disneyland Resort or Grand Californian.

Thanks!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Late August probably.

 

[Argento]

One thing to bear in mind is that demand at the parks this year may be sufficient that they feel no need to offer discounts going into the later summer/fall.

The best advice I've ever seen on these boards is book early to secure your reservation and then apply the discount after the fact when, and if, they are announced.

 

[chrissiecutie]

One thing to bear in mind is that demand at the parks this year may be sufficient that they feel no need to offer discounts going into the later summer/fall.

The best advice I've ever seen on these boards is book early to secure your reservation and then apply the discount after the fact when, and if, they are announced.

Good Advice!

If you book direct through Disney and then can't get a lower price and decide you want to cancel your reservation- do you know if there's a cancellation fee??

 

[Babybears]

Good Advice!

If you book direct through Disney and then can't get a lower price and decide you want to cancel your reservation- do you know if there's a cancellation fee??

There is a $200.00 cancellation fee if you cancel within 30 days of your trip. Prior to that, no cancellation fees or penalties for cancelling. If you see a lower rate and make a change, there is a $50.00 change fee if you are within 30 days of travel, also. Again, if you change before 30 days, there is no charge for the change.

This applies to reservations made through WDTC, Costco and AAA as they all are actually booked through WDTC (just routed through Costco & AAA and added perks that they provide).

 

[tallpkb]

It is my understanding that if you book ' a la carte ', there is no cancellation fee if cancelled within, I'm thinking, 72 hours??

 

[ParkHopper1]

For resort hotels you can cancel up to 5 days out on a Hotel Only reservation booked directly.

 

[Babybears]

There is a $200.00 cancellation fee if you cancel within 30 days of your trip. Prior to that, no cancellation fees or penalties for cancelling. If you see a lower rate and make a change, there is a $50.00 change fee if you are within 30 days of travel, also. Again, if you change before 30 days, there is no charge for the change.

This applies to reservations made through WDTC, Costco and AAA as they all are actually booked through WDTC (just routed through Costco & AAA and added perks that they provide).

Just to clarify, in my above post, I am referring to the cancellation/change policy if you book a "Package".

 

[cari12]

If you book hotel only throught he Disney website, do you pay in full upfront for the reservation? Last time we booked through Expedia so there you have to pay the full amount upon booking.

 

[nicolispicoli]

If you book hotel only throught he Disney website, do you pay in full upfront for the reservation? Last time we booked through Expedia so there you have to pay the full amount upon booking.

If you book a room only, you have to pay one nights stay as a deposit and the balance when you check out.

With packages, you pay $200 down and pay the balance 45 days out.

 

[Marc Jenks]

Not sure of the dates yet, so I will practice patience.

 

[mabdallah]

With our package the total amount is due 30 days before we go. For instance our trip is August 11 - 17, our entire package amount is due on July 12th. At least that is what is stated on our invoice from WDTC.

 

[cari12]

If you book a room only, you have to pay one nights stay as a deposit and the balance when you check out.

With packages, you pay $200 down and pay the balance 45 days out.

And if the prices go down between now and the dates booked, will they reduce the price on the reservation?

 

[Babybears]

With our package the total amount is due 30 days before we go. For instance our trip is August 11 - 17, our entire package amount is due on July 12th. At least that is what is stated on our invoice from WDTC.

You are correct, when booking a package, the total is due 30 days before travel.

 

[Babybears]

And if the prices go down between now and the dates booked, will they reduce the price on the reservation?

Not sure of the procedures on this if you book "room only", but I can help with some info if you book a "package".

If you have a package and a promotion comes out after you have booked, you can call and have them modify your package to apply the discount. There are a few catches though:

1. Changes prior to 30 days of travel can be done at no charge. Within 30 days there would be a $50.00 change fee that you would incur. However, if the savings is $250.00, a $50.00 change fee would still be worth it.

2. Your type of accomodations have to still be available for the promotion. They only allot a certain amount of rooms for any given promotion, and say you had a "standard room" booked prior and a 25% off promotion came out and you tried to apply it, it is possible that they may not have any "standard rooms" available for that particular promotion. This happened to us last year, but still worked out because although there were no "Standard" rooms left for the promotion, they did have a concierge room available at the discount, so we essentially paid the same amount (so no savings) but were able to add a huge upgrade.

3. If there has been a ticket increase, such as recently, and you booked prior to the increase, your package price is locked in at the lower rates. If you were to make a package change, say right now, after the ticket price increase if there were a promotion you were trying to apply, the newer increased ticket price would be factored in to your new quote. For instance, we booked prior to the ticket increase, and if I were to book today it would be over $200 more for the same package, due to the ticket increase. A package change may not be worth it to us unless a future promotion could save us more than $200, if that makes sense.

Sorry, rambling, but just trying to help with what we have experienced in the past. Hope this helps!

 

[Monica D]

I'm working on our reservation for the last week of September/first week of October and have been told by a few hotels that there is already limited availability. Not sure when in October you're planning on going, but I don't think I'd wait until August to book. One option would be to reserve something refundable, and if you can get a reservation at one of the DLR's you could cancel the other one.