Getting Reservations

[msb578]

I know you mentioned a PIN, and I'm not sure of the specific offer you received.

But sometimes you can do well with Orbitz or Cheaptickets. They sometimes have blocks of rooms available when Disney doesn't. And you can often get 15% or 20% promo codes that apply on top of Disney room-only discounts.

No packages though, that way. So the dining plan isn't a possibility.

 

[DisneyWithAMilitaryTwist]

Sorry. This may seem obvious but what is a PIN? I've seen it mentioned a few times.

 

[Tabteacher]

As far as a season where heat is out, i would choose late January or February.
Also, early December may be a good time in between holidays.

As for the deals, they won't come out until around 6 mos before, but you can always book earlier and then get the discount applied/re-book/modify when discounts come out.

You may look into POFQ, it's the only non-deluxe we're have any interest in staying at these days.

For the most part we've always booked less than 180 days. Just did a last min trip in April, booked less than a month out, found availability. We have an ann trip planned for end of june - 1st of july and was able to switch from swan to poly last week at a very good rate (35% off) and there is still availability.

I'm surprised to find you're having that much trouble :/ best of luck to you!

I looked online & you can't get to any dates in 2017 to book? Do you know when they open up 2017? If I call will, will they book into 2017? Thanks.

 

[Tabteacher]

I booked 65 days out last year, and did end up getting exactly what I wanted! (Until I tried to extend).

I understand your frustration! You have to go day by day on the website. Even if you call the person on the phone has to do the same. There is no calendar that they look at.

When I tried to book for first week of December '16 I had a lot of problems with availability. But like I said before, I extended 1 night to make it work.

It's time consuming!

I used a travel agent this time (friend of a friend). And she is wonderful!! Last year I didn't go thru her, but she mailed maps of WDW with tips to me..I just thought that was so nice! (Was my 1st trip to WDW with kiddo and I was very stressed trying to plan "perfectly")

It doesn't cost you anything extra.
That said, I am a control freak and still am doing all of the planning myself, but if I wanted to I could sit back and let her do it. She's been great recommending transportation options to port etc with my cruise as well.

If you want her info I can pm you, she'll get back to you asap.

If you want to do it yourself that's fine too, just keep playing with dates and you will find something!

Don't give up! There is a light at the end of the tunnel!

I would love her info if you don't mind. Thanks.

 

[dansdad]

I looked online & you can't get to any dates in 2017 to book? Do you know when they open up 2017?

You can't book Online or book packages until the Room Rates come out. Rates for the next year usually come out June-July timeframe.

If I call will, will they book into 2017? Thanks.

If you call, you can book a Room Only up to 499 days out. So as of today, you could book a Room Only up until Sept. 23 2017.

 

[Tabteacher]

Sorry. This may seem obvious but what is a PIN? I've seen it mentioned a few times.

Try reading here. If the link won't work, I think you can check the forums & it is explained better than I can.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/everything-you-need-to-know-about-discount-codes.1686236/

 

[Shanti]

I am so discouraged. Anytime I try I can not ever find rooms & dates available. Is there some secret I'm missing? Like come on a certain day? Stay a certain length of time?
We are retired & pretty flexible. I refuse to go in hot weather tho. As a school teacher & a family with a son, we went I think 7 times in the summer. No more. We went once in Nov. after we retired & loved it. We have PINs sometimes. We try as soon as a special comes out.
We are not traveling with kids. So we do not want to stay in a Value Resort. We have stayed at CB & not crazy about it, mostly because of the size. We stayed at Dixie Landings-I know it has a different name now. We thought it lacked theming. We stayed at the Disney Inn before it was Shades of Green.
We liked WI, AK, YC. I hated Saratoga!!
The only theming we saw was one horse statue. Room was in poor condition.
I do not want a few of a roof or parking lot.
I had a PIN & they said 2 adults at the Polynesian or Contemporary for 5 nights with tickets & dining was almost $10,000!!
We tried AAA & the lady had the public website. She said we couldn't get any discounts. We tried a travel agent & the possibilities she gave us were nothing like we requested.
I don't understand how when I chose dates on the web site usually the only rooms open are value, or the cabins, or Saratoga. Those are dates with no specials.
What am I missing?

Always glad to help a fellow teacher. Fall is the "new summer" at Disney, being crowded, hard-to-book things for, and expensive. Summer and mid-winter are the best times for lower resort rates (especially when using room-only discounts), though even then, you'll notice that prices are high. Disney is much more expensive than it was years ago, and the crowds are now spread throughout the year, so you won't find any truly "off" time to visit.

I recommend staying away from packages, particularly ones that involve a dining plan, unless you get a "free dining" offer. The current paid dining plan is expensive and typically costs more than the price you'd pay out-of-pocket. You can book a room-only reservation, then later add tickets to it. This costs no more than booking a package, and gives you more flexibility, as packages must be paid-in-full 30 days before & have change/cancellation penalties, while room-only reservations are more flexible. Given that there is no price savings with a package at Disney (& AAA no longer gets any discounts or advantages from them, either), I think booking directly via the Disney website is the best way to go. Some people like TA's, but plenty of people have been burned by them, too.

Maybe visit in late January or early February, when prices & crowds will be relatively low (but still not really low)? Or stay at an offsite hotel that's on Disney property, like Hilton Bonnet Creek?

 

[Tabteacher]

I understand your frustration, if you tell people on this board what you are looking for they might be able to see if anything is open and what discounts can be applied. I recall that most of the discounts offered for deluxes seemed to be almost exclusively for club level rooms. I know it's hard, but try not to be discouraged. Sites like Orbitz and Expedia may have different and/or more availability than Disney's website.

There are probably hundreds if not thousands of different possibilities if you only give them a two month window, they can't possibly check them all but if you give them several specific ranges I'm sure they would be able to be more helpful. The travel agency that runs this board does a good job and they should be able to help you.

ETA: I just searched 10/30-11/4 using the back to school offer (since those are the latest dates available with that offer and I think you want November/December). There is a pool view room at AKL which has arguably the best theme for $3122 which includes 5 day PH tickets and the regular DP.

Thanks--But if we stay at Animal Kingdom again, we would want a view of the savannah again. I don't think I would ever want a view of a swimming pool anywhere. Found one room I think at Boardwalk & it said view of roofs. I'm not paying hundreds of dollars a night to see a roof or pool or parking lot. Just me. The resort & room are the most important parts of the trip for me.

 

[Tabteacher]

I understand your frustration, if you tell people on this board what you are looking for they might be able to see if anything is open and what discounts can be applied. I recall that most of the discounts offered for deluxes seemed to be almost exclusively for club level rooms. I know it's hard, but try not to be discouraged. Sites like Orbitz and Expedia may have different and/or more availability than Disney's website.

There are probably hundreds if not thousands of different possibilities if you only give them a two month window, they can't possibly check them all but if you give them several specific ranges I'm sure they would be able to be more helpful. The travel agency that runs this board does a good job and they should be able to help you.

ETA: I just searched 10/30-11/4 using the back to school offer (since those are the latest dates available with that offer and I think you want November/December). There is a pool view room at AKL which has arguably the best theme for $3122 which includes 5 day PH tickets and the regular DP.

 

[Tabteacher]

Always glad to help a fellow teacher. Fall is the "new summer" at Disney, being crowded, hard-to-book things for, and expensive. Summer and mid-winter are the best times for lower resort rates (especially when using room-only discounts), though even then, you'll notice that prices are high. Disney is much more expensive than it was years ago, and the crowds are now spread throughout the year, so you won't find any truly "off" time to visit.

I recommend staying away from packages, particularly ones that involve a dining plan, unless you get a "free dining" offer. The current paid dining plan is expensive and typically costs more than the price you'd pay out-of-pocket. You can book a room-only reservation, then later add tickets to it. This costs no more than booking a package, and gives you more flexibility, as packages must be paid-in-full 30 days before & have change/cancellation penalties, while room-only reservations are more flexible. Given that there is no price savings with a package at Disney (& AAA no longer gets any discounts or advantages from them, either), I think booking directly via the Disney website is the best way to go. Some people like TA's, but plenty of people have been burned by them, too.

Maybe visit in late January or early February, when prices & crowds will be relatively low (but still not really low)? Or stay at an offsite hotel that's on Disney property, like Hilton Bonnet Creek?

Thank you! I missed your comments earlier somehow.

 

[Tabteacher]

Btw I am very envious of your pin code!!! I keep checking my email every day in hopes of receiving one.lol

Have a wonderful trip!

Thanks! Looking into 2017 now.