How do you combine 2 bookings?

[bxtx]

I have two FtW campground bookings for Thanksgiving which run straight after one another as I had to piece the trip together as our school district changed TG vacation. We do the dining plan (to give Mommy a break) so had to buy park tickets on both (1 day and 5 day) direct from Disney.

When I called to combine the 2 reservations together, I was told they were unable to do this! This means the cost of the park entry tickets are costing $361 more than they have to...

6 day tickets for my family = $1141
5 days + 1 day tickets = $1502

Surely the reservations can be combined? Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[mnsprk]

Maybe we've been bs'd but, I have always been told that in order to change a package (add/remove days) they have to cancel it and start over creating a new package.

 

[DaveInTN]

For our Fort trip last Thanksgiving we had two reservations back to back, and I was also told they could not be combined. You may need to try adding days onto whichever one it would be easiest to do so (assuming you have a reservation covering Thanksgiving week and maybe the other covers less popular days before or after?), and then cancel the 2nd reservation once you have successfully "replaced" those days on the first.

 

[BradyBz12]

Maybe we've been bs'd but, I have always been told that in order to change a package (add/remove days) they have to cancel it and start over creating a new package.

Our experience as well - as far as I know (and have been told) there's no way to truly "combine" 2 packages in Disney's reservation system. Unfortunately this also means there needs to be availability in the system to book the new package. It's not as easy as canceling existing ressies and then re-snagging all those days to put together the new ones. Cancellations get dumped back into the pool and there's no way to hang onto them or guarantee of grabbing them even if you rebook immediately.

So definitely don't cancel anything until you have what you want already in hand and confirmed.

 

[bxtx]

Maybe we've been bs'd but, I have always been told that in order to change a package (add/remove days) they have to cancel it and start over creating a new package.

Yes, thats what I was told too but I thought I was being BS'ed too! Geez. I'm being penalised for staying longer.

At the moment, both ressies are MYW + Dining. One runs 1st half TG week, 2nd runs TG day + 10 days.

I really don't want to spend the extra $361 - it seems like a complete rip-off!

 

[BradyBz12]

I think there's a limit on the number of days you can book a package for, but can't remember if it's 10 or 14 days. I know for sure you can't get more than a 10 day MYW park ticket.

 

[bxtx]

If I can't combine the 2 bookings, is there a way to reduce my overall price?

For example, I could extend my 5 day tickets to 6 so we get our entry - can you use the tickets before you are 'scheduled' to arrive?

Or can you get Dining Plan without a MYW ticket?

Just trying to keep my costs down!

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[BradyBz12]

IIRC you only need a 1 day tix to create a package with dining - unless it's FREE dining. I believe they changed that requirement to 2 days this year (someone please correct me if I'm wrong).

However if you're asking if they'll let you count a 6 day ticket on one package as the "1 day" needed on the 2nd, no they won't. Each booked package must have the minimum number of required park tix attached to it.

One possibility if 1) you'll be returning to WDW at some point and 2) neither of these packages are FREE dining.... might be to drop both packages down to 1 day park tix and then hang onto package #2's park tix. Unused park tix never expire and you can sit on them for as long as you like.

Then take the 1 day park tix from package #1 and upgrade them to the total number of days you need once you get there.

The only catch there is that you'll have a spare set of 1 day tix on your hands, but like I said, you can use them on a future trip. Just keep in mind that if you book a package in the future, you won't be able to apply those tix to it - they'd really only be good with a "room only" or just a plain old park visit with no room (or offsite room) situation.

If you do this and want to make sure you don't use those 1 day tix by accident, have them taken off your KTTW cards for the 2nd package. And yes, with 2 packages you'll very likely need to checkout/in on the changeover day and get a new set of KTTW cards. We've had to do that in the past to make sure all the dining credits were accounted for properly.

 

[medic9016]

Unused park tix never expire and you can sit on them for as long as you like.

Tickets expire 14 days after the first day used on them, unless you purchase the no expiration add-on.

 

[BradyBz12]

Tickets expire 14 days after the first day used on them, unless you purchase the no expiration add-on.

Right, multi-day tix expire 14 days from first use unless you purchase the no-expire option. I meant she could hold onto the unused 1 day, separate ticket. Unused tix don't expire.

 

[bxtx]

We have 3 nights for the first part of TG week, then 10 days. Both MYW with dining. We will go to the parks 6 times to leave Fort'ing time! Thinking of changing res #1 to Room Only, and keeping Res #2 as MYW with dining, extending park tix from 5 to 6. Worked out even paying out of pocket for our existing ADRs on the first 3 nights, we would still save over $550 because of the huge cost of a one day ticket!

 

[bxtx]

I changed Res #1 from a 3 night MYW dining + 1 day ticket to a room only and saved $551! I changed Res #2 - kept it 10 days MYW dining and upped it from 5 to 6 day park tickets at the huge additional cost to me of $15.97. It's all over Thanksgiving so I couldn't get the one new reservation with everything and then cancel the old ones.

That was a worthwhile conversation! I just REALLY hope that we don't have to move campsites! I will fax the front office 2 weeks before we arrive and beg them

I'm quite pleased with myself

 

[BradyBz12]

You've done quite well, grasshopper!!

One thing on the site request - don't send it too soon or it won't necessarily get to the site assigner on duty when you check in. Rule of thumb that's worked really well for us has been 4-5 days prior to arrival. Definitely tougher if you're checking in over a busy period though.

In my experience they'll do what they can to NOT move you. My advice - pour on the sugar.. and cry if you need to.

Good luck and have a wonderful trip!

 

[BradyBz12]

You've done quite well, grasshopper!!

One thing on the site request - don't send it too soon or it won't necessarily get to the site assigner on duty when you check in. Rule of thumb that's worked really well for us has been 4-5 days prior to arrival. Definitely tougher if you're checking in over a busy period though.

In my experience they'll do what they can to NOT move you. My advice - pour on the sugar.. and cry if you need to.

Good luck and have a wonderful trip!

 

[bxtx]

In my experience they'll do what they can to NOT move you. My advice - pour on the sugar.. and cry if you need to.

Excellent advice Master.... take in my super cute baby and plead in my very English accent?!

 

[BradyBz12]

Excellent advice Master.... take in my super cute baby and plead in my very English accent?!

Ah you have NOTHING to worry about - well played!!