Fall promotions

[LaurLaur04]

I booked a trip for Sept17-25th for my daughter and I. No discounts of course since none are out and I haven't received any pins. Now, should a discount come out can I add to my reservation, or will they cancel it and make a new one? I know free dining has been offered in past years, but I would rather have a package discount or gift card or something because my daughter is 2 and can't be on the DDP anyways. How helpful are CMs with this? I didn't want to wait as last year I didn't get my resort of choice because I waited too long. I haven't already paid the majority for it, but still owe a little less than $500. Holding that off until its due in case a promotion comes up.

 

[brekin67]

You can add a promotion code at any time. If it is in the 45 day window, they charge a $50 change fee, which is minimal compared to the discount you will get.
They just tack on the promotion code to your existing reservation. The CM's are helpful to tell you which code or pin you have that will give you the best discount.

 

[Jeananne]

I was having this same dilemma. We plan to go in October but I have not made the reservation because I was waiting for a fall promotion to come out. Do you think I should just go ahead and make the reservation and keep an eye on promotions?

 

[siskaren]

Definitely. Book what you're comfortable with paying, then when a promotion comes out, you can have it applied to your reservation or if it's in your budget, go for an upgrade.

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

Just b/c a promotion is out does NOT mean that all you have to do is call and they will give it to you. We attempted to add a promotion once and b/c Disney didn't have the room actually available to be booked, they would not give it to us on our existing ressie. There must be a room available in the catagory you are booking. That's why they say, "rooms are limited". We even tried to cancel our ressie and have them rebook it, but they said no rooms were available even it we did cancel. In order to get the promotion, we cancelled our ressie and made a new one with something they had available. We went from CL at WL to CL at the Poly. I don't believe that this is a common occurance, but everyone needs to be aware that this can and does happen.

We are waiting for the fall promotions (if there are any) to be annouced and then we will book, but we are not making ressies with the hope that there will be rooms to apply the promo to.

 

[aubriee]

Just b/c a promotion is out does NOT mean that all you have to do is call and they will give it to you. We attempted to add a promotion once and b/c Disney didn't have the room actually available to be booked, they would not give it to us on our existing ressie. There must be a room available in the catagory you are booking. That's why they say, "rooms are limited". We even tried to cancel our ressie and have them rebook it, but they said no rooms were available even it we did cancel. In order to get the promotion, we cancelled our ressie and made a new one with something they had available. We went from CL at WL to CL at the Poly. I don't believe that this is a common occurance, but everyone needs to be aware that this can and does happen.

We are waiting for the fall promotions (if there are any) to be annouced and then we will book, but we are not making ressies with the hope that there will be rooms to apply the promo to.

Very true! Every fall we read on here where people have had to change from the resort they were currently booked at to another. Only so many rooms are released for each discount promo. Once those rooms are gone, they do not usually open more for that promo. The resort will still have rooms available, but none to be booked under that particular discount. Every fall you read where people are having to switch from POP to one of the All Stars, in order to get free dining. I know one year we had to move our ressie from POFQ to PORS, in order to get free dining, as all the free dining rooms at POFQ were gone. Your best bet is to keep an eye out for discounts and then call the very first day they open up. Don't make the mistake we did and be out of town for a week, only to return to find free dining opened up while you were gone and now no free dining rooms are available at your resort of choice.

 

[su_A_ve]

Bounceback last fall was for free dining for bookings between mid august and end of Sept.

Pin codes went out in Jan. for free dining for the same timeframe.

It's possible that a free dining offer will come out for the general public or at least DVR holders, but it's a guess...

In any case, you should keep your reservation, ideally as a package, and then apply the code once it comes out.