Help an Oldie out trying to plan again after 10+ years?

[CeeCee101]

Hello, I am restarting a plan for a trip to WDW after an absence of 10+ years. we used to go all the time and we’re experts but now feel like prize idiots as everything has changed. I am reading things like mad and trying to figure it out and posting questions here and there. My next set is on resorts.

we are Boomers, couple, no kids or grandkids. What we used to do is buy Annual Passes even though we don’t live in Florida. We did this to get good discounts on deluxe resorts plus the perks like free parking. We like to stay first part of the trip at Epcot hotels—Boardwalk, Yacht, Beach. The second part we like to stay at a MK deluxe hotel like Contemporary or WL. We could get those good AP discounts and then also have the park hopper with the ticket. We like to park hop.

Now it looks like the APs are discontinued at least for awhile? We’re not going until 2023 and are pretty flexible on when. Should we:

1. Try this strategy again if APs are going to be resold?
2. Notice that we can now rent points from DVC members? Is this a good way to go to get our preferred areas?
3. Disney website says if we are Disney+ subscribers we can, on select dates, get 25% off hotel rates. Should we go this route? We are D+ subscribers.

Thanks for any insights you can provide, feels like everything we knew from all those years before is not helpful these days.

 

[FSU Girl]

No one knows if or when annual passes will go on sale again. I wouldn’t hold out for that, but if they do end up selling again you can always modify your existing reservation to something that has a discount later on.

If you don’t plan to modify or cancel your trip renting DVC points will definitely get you cheaper rates.

If you see a hotel with the Disney plus deal you like book it. You can modify your hotel reservation a million times if you want to a different hotel, dates or discounts.

 

[maryj11]

Depends on what month you will be going. There are some good discounts out for certain months. Prices are cheaper in September and after New Years. You would have to check to see which has the cheaper prices. Discounts have not been the same since covid. You never know what they are going to release or when.
We went last year in December and there were no discounts for the resorts we stayed at Caribbean Beach and WL. Discounts did start Dec 12, but we went before that.
We are going in December again. WL nature view room is around 700 a night! I gave up on booking with Disney and just booked the Polynesian with the DVC rental store. It was super easy and we had a reservation booked after 3 weeks. They do have a cancellation policy where you can get a credit for future dates up to 2 years if you have to cancel.
If you go with the DVC rental store or any other DVC rental get your requests in at 11 months out.
You could rent points at Copper Creek Villas or Boulder Ridge that’s located at WL and then book an Epcot resort.
I have just been frustrated with how high the prices have gone up! They have really bumped them up over the past couple of years.

 

[focusondisney]

This is the first time there is a discount offered for Disney + subscribers. No idea if it will be offered in 2023. There is often a Disney Visa discount once a year too, so you may get lucky if you have that.

We are a couple in our 60s from NY state. We’ve had APs for at least 10 years running & had them off & on before that too. Ours expire in early May. I have been debating if we should renew or not. We are planning a trip in September & January, so I am leaning towards renewing. We do a lot of table service restaurants, so the 10% discount for that helps quite a bit.

We have stayed club level at YC most trips since the early 90s & last year was the first time we ever paid rack rate. We leave Tuesday for 2 nights at CR tower club then 6 at YC CL. The CR was with the public discount. The YC stay I was able to find the last 3 nights with the AP discount, so you still can find them. First 3 nights are rack rate, but the resort appears totally sold out so of course no discount.

I am leary of renting DVC points, but I wasn’t aware of the 2 year credit the PP mentioned. I have booked refundable reservations thru Priceline & gotten a discount when none were available directly thru Disney. And don’t forget Swan & Dolphin in the Epcot area too. They are always on my radar & they have a senior rate. I’m pretty sure I’ll book them one of these trips. I guess you’ll just have to keep an eye out when you’re ready to book do the math for your stays.

 

[maryj11]

This is the first time there is a discount offered for Disney + subscribers. No idea if it will be offered in 2023. There is often a Disney Visa discount once a year too, so you may get lucky if you have that.

We are a couple in our 60s from NY state. We’ve had APs for at least 10 years running & had them off & on before that too. Ours expire in early May. I have been debating if we should renew or not. We are planning a trip in September & January, so I am leaning towards renewing. We do a lot of table service restaurants, so the 10% discount for that helps quite a bit.

We have stayed club level at YC most trips since the early 90s & last year was the first time we ever paid rack rate. We leave Tuesday for 2 nights at CR tower club then 6 at YC CL. The CR was with the public discount. The YC stay I was able to find the last 3 nights with the AP discount, so you still can find them. First 3 nights are rack rate, but the resort appears totally sold out so of course no discount.

I am leary of renting DVC points, but I wasn’t aware of the 2 year credit the PP mentioned. I have booked refundable reservations thru Priceline & gotten a discount when none were available directly thru Disney. And don’t forget Swan & Dolphin in the Epcot area too. They are always on my radar & they have a senior rate. I’m pretty sure I’ll book them one of these trips. I guess you’ll just have to keep an eye out when you’re ready to book do the math for your stays.

They do have certain rules with their cancellation policy here it is-

 

[CeeCee101]

I spoke to WDW directly today to ask about the Disney+ subscriber discounts they have listed because they don’t go out online past September right now and we are looking at probably late January to visit. I was told that new Room discounts will be listed as of September 22. They said of course I could make a reservation now and make changes later but at least for the Disney+ subscribers discount (who knows if they will ever have this again) the hotel room selection was limited and that any other packages will be revealed September 22.

 

[maryj11]

I spoke to WDW directly today to ask about the Disney+ subscriber discounts they have listed because they don’t go out online past September right now and we are looking at probably late January to visit. I was told that new Room discounts will be listed as of September 22. They said of course I could make a reservation now and make changes later but at least for the Disney+ subscribers discount (who knows if they will ever have this again) the hotel room selection was limited and that any other packages will be revealed September 22.

I hope they are right. I know CM’s have given out wrong information before. There probably will be a discount sometime and it may only have certain dates. Just be on the lookout.