Good time to book hotel

[chantaldb]

We are thinking of visiting Disneyland in the last week of February. What would be a good time to start booking our hotel? Would it be a good idea to book a room now which we can cancel? Or book a non- cancellable one at a lower rate. Are rates likely to drop still?

Accidentally, we are hoping to complete our goal to have visited all Disney parks and resorts later this year by visiting Shanghai. So budget is a consideration, we are definitely staying off site, and looking at Desert Inn or Park Vue.

 

[JKalai]

As soon as possible.

Most reservations can be canceled with no penalty, it just depends on who you book through. Whoever you book through I would just read through all the fine print and make sure you're able to cancel it within an x amount of days and make sure you cancel it within that time frame.

I'm a room reservation agent here in Las Vegas for a big resort and we get a lot of people that call us, ask us for rates on rooms, don't choose to book and will "call back later". Then they decide to call back a week later and find out that the rate has nearly doubled because someone just announced a specific event or convention happening in town. As they say... the early bird gets the worm.

If you want to be flexible with your reservation, NEVER book through a third party website (Expedia, Travelocity etc.). If you want to change anything on it, you'll have to contact the third party to do so. We at the hotel are never able to touch a room booked through another website (we can't even add another person to check in). You'll then have to call their customer service to modify anything on it and 9 times out of 10 they are really really bad. Always, always, always book through the hotel directly. They'll have much more flexibility if you wanted to change anything on the reservation.

 

[Indiana Scott]

I agree with JKalai, the sooner the better.
We waited until two months before and found ourselves severely limited in choices. That goes for air fare too.

 

[julesann]

I agree with PPs. However, I would not book one that I couldn't cancel. The price different usually isn't that much. I'd book a refundable reservation now and if you can't decide where you want to stay, book several. There may be some discounts offered in the coming months for 2017 from different companies (Cheaptickets and Orbitz for example) and you can always rebook. Be careful to read the fine print if you are booking with your cc.

I have several bookings for our upcoming stay and I had to pay for them up front to get the Cheap Tickets 18% discount. I am glad I did this because prices have almost doubled for Halloween time. And, my travel partner just tore her ACL and I may need to stay at the hotel that has a shuttle versus walking distance and I am waiting to see how she heals in the next 6 weeks.

 

[GatorChris]

Right away. In fact, you've no doubt missed on the cheapest prices for hotels nearest the Harbor entrance (Desert Inn, Park Vue, Park Place, etc.). I seriously doubt that prices will be cheaper in a few months than they are now. Supply and Demand.

 

[Aladora]

Both Desert Inn & Suites and Park Vue Inn have 48 hour cancellation policy. The only difference is that PVI charges a 1 night refundable deposit and the DI&S does not. Either way, I would absolutely book something now and you can always cancel later on!

 

[MommyLove]

As soon as possible.

Most reservations can be canceled with no penalty, it just depends on who you book through. Whoever you book through I would just read through all the fine print and make sure you're able to cancel it within an x amount of days and make sure you cancel it within that time frame.

I'm a room reservation agent here in Las Vegas for a big resort and we get a lot of people that call us, ask us for rates on rooms, don't choose to book and will "call back later". Then they decide to call back a week later and find out that the rate has nearly doubled because someone just announced a specific event or convention happening in town. As they say... the early bird gets the worm.

If you want to be flexible with your reservation, NEVER book through a third party website (Expedia, Travelocity etc.). If you want to change anything on it, you'll have to contact the third party to do so. We at the hotel are never able to touch a room booked through another website (we can't even add another person to check in). You'll then have to call their customer service to modify anything on it and 9 times out of 10 they are really really bad. Always, always, always book through the hotel directly. They'll have much more flexibility if you wanted to change anything on the reservation.

Exactly. All of that.

The only difference is that PVI charges a 1 night refundable deposit

We've stayed at Park Vue many times and have a reservation for this coming December (made it a couple months ago. So excited!). There have been times when we've had to cancel a Park Vue reservation and getting a refund on the deposit has never been a problem, so don't let that be a concern.

 

[chantaldb]

Thanks for the advice.
We just came up with the idea of going to California in February last weekend.
We'll go ahead and book the Desert Inn now then.
Just need to sort out our flights afterwards (we live in the Netherlands), but that should not be a problem.
Pity that this Disneyland does not offer any value hotels (we usually stay onsite). But there seems to be plenty of choice offsite.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Thanks for the advice.
We just came up with the idea of going to California in February last weekend.
We'll go ahead and book the Desert Inn now then.
Just need to sort out our flights afterwards (we live in the Netherlands), but that should not be a problem.
Pity that this Disneyland does not offer any value hotels (we usually stay onsite). But there seems to be plenty of choice offsite.

Offsite is closer walking distance so better IMO. my favorite close motel is best western park place inn.