Help! Question about ressie & codes

[gemini14]

I'm trying to figure all this out.

My plan;
book a value in Jan, not sure if it should be with or without passes.

a code comes out, I apply it to my ressie, but can I also upgrade to a moderate then?

what if the code offers free hoppers & water parks, will that be applied to my ressies (so should I already have passes or does it not matter)

Bottom line I am trying to get either value or moderate room with or without passes but when codes come out apply it to ressie. Will I have to cancel and rebook and will they transfer funds?

I hope I make sense with all my questions.

thanks

 

[rt2dz]

Codes come out in two forms, room only or package. Package requires a ticket purchase (unless an AP package, then dining plan required). Room only is for the room only and tickets will be purchased separately.

You may switch from a room only ressie to a package or vice versa. If switching from a package to a room only, it must be done 45 days out in order to avoid change fees. You may also change hotels at any time, provided availability. Disney will never charge you to upgrade, but they will charge you to downgrade if within 5 days of a room only reservation booked via phone or 45 days for a package or room only reservation booked via internet. A code may be applied to an existing reservation.

Changes made via phone will generally have you keep your same confirmation number. At least, I’ve never had one change, regardless of the type of change. Down payments are also transferred. If the new down payment will cost more, you must pay the difference. For example, your room only reservation is $105, but all packages cost $200. When you switch from room only to package, you must pay an additional $95. If you are within the 45 day window for a package, you must pay all of the remaining balance.

If you purchase tickets separately, you can generally not apply those to a package later. I’ve heard, despite being against policy, that some people have had tickets purchased through Disney applied to a package, but it is an exception and I wouldn’t count on it.

If I were you, I’d pick the hotel you want and book a room only reservation. I doubt there will be another ticket price increase, so wait until you see if a code will be out for January to purchase tickets. When the codes come out, run the numbers to see which is the better deal and then apply the code. Be flexible, availability isn’t everywhere for codes. That leaves you free to upgrade to a package easily or keep the room only reservation. If a code doesn’t come out or you keep the room only reservation, purchase a few weeks in advance from a discount retailer (Undercover Tourist via MouseSavers newsletter link, Maple Leaf Tickets, etc).