How to patiently wait for discount before booking

[Caitriona]

Does anyone have any tips or strategies on being able to patiently wait to book if we're only going back next year based on discounts?

I don't want to make the same mistakes that I made last year. I booked as soon as package rates were released in June and then spent months waiting and wondering and hoping for a PIN for our mid-April dates. I thought it was kind of stressful. I was fortunate to end up with a PIN attached to our name to get free dining, but no general public package discounts were ever released for our dates, so I consider myself VERY lucky.


I'm really torn between wanting to go back mid-September for MNSSHP or the first week of December for MVMCP and to see the lights and decorations.

I'm hoping for free dining or a great public discount for either (and yes, I know that nothing is guaranteed) The kids say that they would prefer going to the Halloween party, I'd prefer going before Christmas for the atmosphere, DH would like either.... and I'm worried that if I pass up booking for September and if nothing is released for December that we'll have missed the deadline to book for free dining in September by that time (IF it's released again next year)

I figure that I could book for September and if something is released for December, I could change it, but then I risk the possibility of being too close to our September dates by that point and the closer it gets to September, I'd want to have our flights long booked.

It would help if I could make up my mind, and I did promise DH that we'll only go back if I can get a nice discount, since he really liked free dining and would like to do it again. I'm also undecided about resorts. Kids want to go back to ASMo and I'd like to stay at AoA or even try out Pop (even though I LOVED ASMo) but I just want to stay at wherever a promotion applied...)

I'm so impatient and even though I'm very undecided at this point about our dates, it's going to be hard NOT to book when the 2013 packages are released this summer!!!

 

[fla4fun]

Well, as an AP and Florida Resident, I've had my fair share of waiting. The good thing is I don't have to plan airfare - that would make the wait more difficult.

You say you are considering September vs. December. I can tell you that September typically has more offers than December does. Plus, September is a cheaper rack rate for the discounts to deduct from. So if I were you, I would seriously consider booking for September. Yes, it's hotter, and you do get the Halloween treatment vs. the holidays in December, but it's still a fun time to go, and if the kids prefer the Halloween party, that's a plus.

I just booked my September trip on a bounceback this week, but although all of September is included in the bounceback offer, only one week of December is, and the week that is included only covers half of my dates. So I'll be waiting not so patiently to see if an AP offer comes out that covers all the dates. There really isn't any way to make the wait better - but it's less stressful than thinking you'll have to cancel a reservation you can't afford if you don't get the discount.

 

[ThumpersMommy]

I agree with fla4fun, Septemeber usually has better discounts. If you are going this year, depending on where you want to stay, I think you still have a month or so before you need to book. I've been going the end of Sept/early Oct the past few years and have not booked until the end of July. But now with the high air fare, booking earlier is better. I hope something comes out for your dates soon.