How strictly does Disney enforce the "Final Payment Due" 45-day rule?

[ready123go]

Does Disney enforce "Final Payment - For reservations made 46 days or more prior to guest arrival, final payment is due to Walt Disney Travel Co., Inc. (may be referred to as "Disney") at least 45 days prior to guest arrival."

If they enforce it, how strict are they?

I am considering other options that might not come through until right around (or after) my payment due date for my "Free Dining" package. Just wondered what others' experiences have been.

Also, any word of room discounts, as opposed to FD around Thanksgiving?

TIA

 

[TheRatPack]

I think they give you until 30 days out before they cancel it. I'd call them and let them know your situation and maybe they can make a note on it to not cancel it because you intend on paying it just a few days after the 45 day cut off?

Oh and if you're just short a few hundred you can always reduce your tickets down to the 2 day tickets (no hoppers...etc) and then call back before the 10 day mark and upgrade them again. Or upgrade them once you check in

 

[Lehuaann]

I received a past due email because, frankly, I forgot. Seems like they used to send reminder emails, so this was my first time being late out of several visits. Oops.


Anywhoo - here is what the email stated;

THIS RESERVATION WILL AUTOMATICALLY CANCEL AT 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE DATE SHOWN ABOVE.

 

[ready123go]

Thanks for the replies. I know I'm not alone in hoping that Disney releases an AP or Room Only special for autumn soon!

 

[smartblnde]

I keep seeing reference to 'AP.'. What is it and how does it work? I, too, am awaiting SOME kind of discount for our dates. If there IS.a discount released, we will do a tour, but, if not, we may not even go. As I said on another thread, I don't think I like this game.

J

 

[ready123go]

I keep seeing reference to 'AP.'. What is it and how does it work? I, too, am awaiting SOME kind of discount for our dates. If there IS.a discount released, we will do a tour, but, if not, we may not even go. As I said on another thread, I don't think I like this game.

J

AP=Annual Pass. When you purchase an Annual Pass you can register it online at Disney's website under 'Passholders'. They then give you special 'Passholder' offers, events, room discounts, news etc.

This is our first year with APs, so I really don't know how the offers compare to the regular offers.

 

[smartblnde]

Ready, I hope you have a great time! Let us know how the AP works for you.

 

[saturdaygirl]

i had this exact same question!

Oh and if you're just short a few hundred you can always reduce your tickets down to the 2 day tickets (no hoppers...etc) and then call back before the 10 day mark and upgrade them again. Or upgrade them once you check in

hm, i should try this because i want to add 2 more extra days to my package

 

[TheRatPack]

i had this exact same question!




hm, i should try this because i want to add 2 more extra days to my package

We did this one year.....we were just a few hundred short of paying the trip off in full at the 45 day mark. It was when the package only required 1 day tickets. So we called and decreased our tickets down to a 1 day base, no hopping or water park options...etc. That got us to the 'paid in full' point and then we just put money aside and when we checked in we added ticket days.

I think someone said that if you drop the dining package (if you're paying for the dining plan on your package) that you have to add it back to your reservations within 10 days of checking in? You can't add it back at check in....but the tickets I know you can. We have actually added days when we're at Disney and we want to squeeze in one more park day at the last second....and you still get the 'discount' of multiple days.

 

[Sunshinedaydream]

On one of my trips, I called them and gave a partial payment and the date when the final payment would be made (probably around 30 days out). They said they would note on the reservation and that it wouldn't be cancelled. It didn't seem to be an issue at all.

 

[ready123go]

On one of my trips, I called them and gave a partial payment and the date when the final payment would be made (probably around 30 days out). They said they would note on the reservation and that it wouldn't be cancelled. It didn't seem to be an issue at all.

Sweet! Thanks! Ran the numbers of our dates using FD, Room Only discount & AP discount. Even considering our TiW dining discount, we are still ahead taking the FD package instead. I was surprised. Go figure! I'll just apply the two-day tix to APs for next year or save them for another time. (Still deciding)

Thanks for all the info everyone!

 

[TheRatPack]

Free dining always works out best for us as well.....it's always good to run the numbers though, then you know you got the best deal available

Sounds like you've got enough information to make your decision....happy planning