Help with booking?

[masim]

Question about booking. Do you book a room only booking, then hope for a discount of either a percent off or free dining, or is it best to book a package and then adjust the whole thing if the deals come up? Which is easier to adjust?

 

[mickeystoontown]

Question about booking. Do you book a room only booking, then hope for a discount of either a percent off or free dining, or is it best to book a package and then adjust the whole thing if the deals come up? Which is easier to adjust?

If you are looking at a room only reservation but really want a package, then I would not book a room only reservation. Why? Because room only reservations and package reservations are two separate booking categories. You can not change a room only reservation over to a package. The room only reservation would have to be cancelled, a request for your deposit to be refunded will be made and then you'll have to book a package.

Having said all that, I have had success in applying a special offer to our packages in the past. As a matter of fact, I recently had an offer applied to our existing reservation.

 

[masim]

Thanks Mickey, but how would you then apply say a 35% off room only discount if that was the best option, as opposed to, say, the free dining plan? Then again, if we were able to get free dining, it would probably be the best discount for 4 adults and 1 child, no?

 

[mickeystoontown]

Thanks Mickey, but how would you then apply say a 35% off room only discount if that was the best option, as opposed to, say, the free dining plan? Then again, if we were able to get free dining, it would probably be the best discount for 4 adults and 1 child, no?

The latest promotion that Disney came out with (the one that I just took advantage of with 2012 booking dates) was a room only discount but I was able to add tickets and dining. I've read other posts where they used a room only offer and then added tickets and dining as well. Just be aware that any room only offer will apply to just the room portion of your trip and you'll be paying full price for the tickets and dining.

For our May, 2011 trip, we took advantage of two discounts (not at the same time since you can't stack two discounts). For our first two nights, I booked room only and then used the special offer that came out. Those two nights, we hung around the resort and "chilled" before starting our park touring. For the remainder of our stay, we took advantage of free dining.

For our family, the free dining offer saved us a ton of money because we are a family of three adults (at least in Disney's eyes ) so I would think that a free dining offer would be the best package for your family as well. The special offer that I just took advantage of was a % room only discount and saved us about $500 which is approximately the same price as the dining plan for one of us adults.

Hope that all made sense.

 

[masim]

I think so. I seems to me that , if available, free dining is the way to go. Our dates are somewhat flexible, and in the future, so I'll have time to look around. I hope I'm not on this site daily, as I have been for the last week or so! Thanks again for all your help.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I think so. I seems to me that , if available, free dining is the way to go. Our dates are somewhat flexible, and in the future, so I'll have time to look around. I hope I'm not on this site daily, as I have been for the last week or so! Thanks again for all your help.

Disney seems to be doing things differently with their promotions lately. The Mousesavers website has a complete list of historical offers but, like I said, it seems they are "shaking things up" lately in the offer department.

When we booked free dining the last week of May of this year, I was super surprised that it was even offered during that time period since I had never seen it before.

If your dates are flexible, then I'd say keep a close watch on the Disney World special offers page and on the Disboards. I, for one, know that the Disboards can be highly addictive and find myself on them daily.

 

[masim]

I know I'll be here too--once an addict! Thanks for your help. I'm sure I'll have a million more questions. Frequent reader but new poster, but addicted already!

 

[snykymom]

You can apply a "room only" discount to a package. It is called "room only" to emphasize that the discount applies to the room charges of a package, and you still have to pay full price for the tickets and dining plan.

If you want a package, book a package and you can then modify it with any offer that comes out. However, remember that you must be flexible with the resort/room type you've booked as each discount offer has limited availlability. You may have to change your resort, your dates or your room type to take advantage of the discounts of whatever type.

 

[masim]

How early can I book? I've called disney 3 times and been told 599, 499 and 399 days out. Whatever the correct time is, can you book a package this early, or room only, and would then have to upgrade it anyway? We are not going till 2013, planning on Sept. to take advantage of the value season and hopefully free dining, but could go other times if the offer was good enough. I am dying to book!

 

[Missytara]

499 days out. You have to call CRO; you cannot do it online that far in advance.

You will be quoted the highest rack rate for that particular season; when the rates are announced in August, they will be adjusted accordingly.

You can change your package up to 45 days in advance of check-in without paying any penalty.

 

[masim]

So would it be best to book the room, tickets and dining ASAP, and then adjust, as I will have planty of time before penalties? Or just the room, as you can add the tickets and dining at any time?

 

[masim]

Sorry to be a pain, but when should I start looking for the discounts for 9/2013, not till August of 2012?

 

[snykymom]

So would it be best to book the room, tickets and dining ASAP, and then adjust, as I will have planty of time before penalties? Or just the room, as you can add the tickets and dining at any time?

You can't book dining yet. You can book a room-only at the highest rack rate. The package rates haven't been released for 2013. Those will be released sometime in the late spring or summer of 2012.

Sorry to be a pain, but when should I start looking for the discounts for 9/2013, not till August of 2012?

Probably not until January of 2013, and even that's been early.

Just keep your eyes peeled here.

 

[Missytara]

Sorry to be a pain, but when should I start looking for the discounts for 9/2013, not till August of 2012?

That is awfully early for discounts; more like six months. The best thing to do is subscribe to a thread for that time frame and people will post info as it is announced.

I also have to agree with a PP that Disney is going to stick their toes in the water this year on discounts. Their stock is picking up a bit and their numbers on parks revenue are also up. An indication that people may be willing to book anyway.

I consistently go the week after Thanksgiving since 2000, and it was always very quiet that week. Two years ago, I upgraded under the 4/3 deal; the place was noticeably busier than usual. Last year, with room discounts and free dining, they fill the resorts to 98 percent capacity.

I braced myself this year when they offered free dining again, and it was back to the early years as far as attendence. The free dining made no difference that week.