How to change your reservation for a better deal?

[PersonalizedMouse]

I want to get my ADR's in. Has anyone ever make reservations and then changed them when a better deal comes along. Im scared I wont have dining if I don't. What are the penalties and can u only do it once?

 

[dzneelvr]

I can't say it works for everyone, but in all our years of annual trips to WDW, I reserve first the resort, then the flight, then the ADRs at the earliest availability(most 180 days, some special events later). If you then need to reserve a new ADR and cancel an existing one, so be it the CMs at the WDW Dine line are wonderfully helpful, so ask them for advice as you go along as well. they've helped me immensely with some questions I had about our Christmas dining ADRs.

 

[havoc315]

You can book your ADRs before booking the resort. Remember, even off site guests can make ADRs.

 

[aubriee]

I frequently book a resort with whatever deal is available and then modify it as other deals come out. I've booked at rack rate just to start paying on it, then switched to free dining, then switched again when the AP rates come out. There is no limit to the number of times you can modify a resort reservation. Last January when the GP codes came out for alot of dates in 2011 I used it to make reservations for my May and Sept trips. When the AP discounts came out, I switched my May trip to that. While I was there in May I switched my Sept trip to the bounceback deal and then made another bounceback ressie for late Nov/early Dec. The first day of my Nov/Dec trip was not available under the bounceback dates, so I booked a one night room only using rack rate. The only reason I booked that one night ressie at rack rate was so I could get the 180+10 for my ADRs. When the AP discounts come out for Nov/Dec I'll switch that one night ressie to the AP discount and if the AP discount beats my current bounceback deal, I switch the rest of the trip to the AP discount too and just make it one reservation instead of a split stay. If the current AP discount had beaten the bounceback for my Sept trip, I would have switched to that. Normally the AP discounts beats the bouncebacks, but for some reason this fall they didn't. My point is, I'm always modifying my reservations as better deals come out and have never had a problem doing so. You can modify a resort reservation as many times as you want.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

I want to get my ADR's in. Has anyone ever make reservations and then changed them when a better deal comes along. Im scared I wont have dining if I don't. What are the penalties and can u only do it once?

As others have said, you don't need to be staying on-site to book ADRs at any of the Disney restaurants.

As for changing reservations, you need to keep in mind the different rules for room only vs packages. With a room only reservation, you need to pay one night's room rate as a deposit within 7 days of reserving your room (if you reserve online, the deposit is required at time of booking). Final payment of the remainder is due at check-in. You can change or cancel your reservation without penalty up until 5 days prior to check-in.

With a package reservation, you must pay a $200 deposit within 7 days of reserving your package (again, if you reserve online, the deposit is required at time of booking). Final payment of the entire remainder is due 45 days prior to check-in. You have to pay in full right away if you are booking less than 45 days in advance. You can change or cancel your reservation without penalty up until 45 days in advance. If you cancel 44 days or less in advance, there is a cancellation fee of $200. You'll also lose any non-refundable elements, such as travel insurance and airfare.

 

[aubriee]

As others have said, you don't need to be staying on-site to book ADRs at any of the Disney restaurants.

While it's true anyone (onsite or off site) can book ADRs at 180 days out, in order to take advantage of the 180+10 perk, you must have a onsite resort booked by that 180 day mark, otherwise you have to call back everyday. I'll book a room at rack rate, just to get the 180+10 perk, then modify the reservation as discounts come out.

 

[JanetMom]

When you book at rack rate and then switch to a package, doesn't the reservation number change? Is so, do your ADRs automatically follow to your new reservation number?

 

[THERESA522]

When you book at rack rate and then switch to a package, doesn't the reservation number change? Is so, do your ADRs automatically follow to your new reservation number?

Your dining reservations are tied to your name, NOT your room # or reservation #. So it's no problem to switch resorts or packages when making new plans for dining.

 

[zaksmom]

Yesterday I changed a reservation at CBR for Oct I that I made with a PIN last winter. I added a day. I forgot that the day I added was a black -ut day on the PIN. The extra day was rack rate. So I told him not to add the day. The CM spent at least 1/2 hour looking for another deal for me that didn't have that blackout day. He found me something -"magically" he said - we are no longer using that PIN # and the cost per night was about $8 less than our original reservation. Got the extra day for less than I thought I would! We have the reservation number as before.

 

[JanetMom]

Your dining reservations are tied to your name, NOT your room # or reservation #. So it's no problem to switch resorts or packages when making new plans for dining.

Excellent - thanks!

At this point we just have the room reservation. I figure if there are no discounts I can call anytime to add on the tickets, but if a discount comes out I will try to change to a package, if available.

My main concern right now is that my ADR slot opens up in mid-September so I wasn't sure if I needed to move to a package prior to then.

So, I'll continue to wait for a discount and make the ADRs when the date arrives.

Thanks,

Janet