How to book?

[firegurl]

It's been 5 years since I booked a WDW trip in any traditional fashion. That being said, I am anxious to book my next one for November 2020. I know if I book a package now and a discount becomes available I can change it (subject to availability of course) but in all of trips, I have never booked Room Only for longer than a night. Ultimately we will be booking room, tickets and dining plan based on the best pricing. If there is an offer later than requires purchase of tickets, I will do that. If there is a Room Only discount, I would be fine with purchasing tickets through UT or another source. I have also toyed with the idea of purchasing an AP.

My question is-What is the best way to book knowing that the ressie will change or should I really not bother with it yet.?Should I book RO or book a package? What needs to be done to cancel a package and make it RO and vice versa?

The further caveat to this is that there will be at least 2 other rooms (and families) joining us. At least one of those families is also anxious to book. While I greatly enjoy every detail of the planning and have the availability to make the calls for those changes, the other families do not. I am their WDW guide so I want to help direct them as much as possible as well.

 

[_19disnA]

If you have a specific week in mind to travel, it is much better to make a reservation while rooms are still available at your desired resort. Once they are sold out, you will be out of luck and have to stay elsewhere. If a discount becomes available for the type of room you have reserved, you will be able to take advantage of the lower price. (There is NO guarantee all types of rooms at a specific resort will EVER go on sale.)

There are some other similar threads on this topic and some people waited too long to make a reservation and now find there is no availability.

 

[mamamelody2]

I would book now. If you are going to want the dining plan and tickets, I would just go ahead and book a package. You can cancel without penalty until 30 days out. If there is a better deal that comes out between now and then and there is availability, you can either modify your reservation or cancel/re-book. You may find that a discount comes out sometime next year, but it's not actually any cheaper because likely room rates, ticket rates or both may have increased in the meantime.

 

[YawningDodo]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong (no, really! I need to know for my 2021 trip!), but my understanding is that if you want to book the dining plan you have to book it as part of a package that also includes both your room and your park tickets. So keep that in mind as you're making your plans.

If you're reasonably sure what reservation you want (e.g. you've picked your dates, picked a resort, know for sure you want the dining plan, and know how many park days you want tickets for), there's absolutely no harm in booking it now and you can potentially save yourself headaches later by doing so if your resort of choice fills up. As @mamamelody2 pointed out, prices may increase before discounts roll out for your resort of choice, so you may not save any money by waiting. And, too, if a better discount does come along, you can simply cancel and rebook (again, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think nowadays the rule is that you can't modify--but you can cancel without penalty up to a certain number of days before your trip and make a new booking with a new discount).

The only thing I wouldn't do at this stage is book anything nonrefundable. So if you were going to rent DVC points for this trip--definitely don't do that until everything is all locked in (tbh this is why I have yet to rent DVC points; my plans are never firm enough far enough out). Also, if you do think you might want to buy discount tickets from UT, don't do that yet!! I jumped the gun and bought tickets from UT earlier this summer for my upcoming July 2020 trip, and it was only pure dumb luck that the package discounts Disney just released this week weren't any good for me. I'd really be kicking myself right now if Free Dining were an option for my trip dates, since I'm locked in on having already paid for tickets and wouldn't be able to rebook my room as part of a package without paying for my tickets twice over.

tl;dr: Book now, but only book things you can cancel without a penalty so you're not locked in if a better option comes along later.

 

[_19disnA]

Park tickets do NOT need to be part of the package of room/dining plan. We got tickets at a discount from another source so we only booked our room and dining plan and it worked out fine when we stayed at the Contemporary earlier this year.

 

[firegurl]

I think I wasn't being clear. I literally mean HOW to book? We are set on the resort (between 2 but would be willing to switch if a discount came up), dates, type of ticket and dining plan. I just don't remember the specifics, like if I book a package and want to turn it into a ticketless package later can I modify or do I have to cancel and rebook? If I book a room only and decide later to buy an AP, can I modify to AP discount (if available) or do I have to cancel? If I book room only now and later want to change it to a ticketless package...

 

[YawningDodo]

Park tickets do NOT need to be part of the package of room/dining plan. We got tickets at a discount from another source so we only booked our room and dining plan and it worked out fine when we stayed at the Contemporary earlier this year.

That's really good to know, thank you for posting!

 

[mrd7896]

if you book now with a package you would only need a small deposit.
if you book now with only a hotel, your deposit will be a one nights stay
not sure about AP as i am not one
i have booked clients a package then got rid of tickets and the only difference was the deposit that was required

regardless...the deposit is so small and refundable so just get your name on a res at the resort you want before it is too late!

general knowledge as i am a TA is that deluxe/villas get promos and if you are holding off for a dining promo it is *usually* a free standard dining
moderates are*usually* for quick service dining and AoA and Pop may also be available for that as well.
most resorts get room promos aside from All-stars and POFQ..again...*usually*