How to payment plans work?

[mermaid86]

(ps: it's supposed to be "How DO payment plans work?" oops)

I tried doing a search, but couldn't get what I was looking for, so please forgive me if this has been asked a million times

How exactly do payment plans work?? I want to book a June vacation soon but wont have ALL the money right away. Come the end of September we will have well over half the money due for everything and I was wondering if it was smarter to wait until we have all the money saved and pay at once, or if we can pay a deposit of the majority of the trip and then pay the rest off between October and June? I dont know exactly how booking works.. this will be my first time doing it myself (We were there this past June, and upon coming home, I made DBF sign a contract saying we have to go back in 2008 And the contract stated that as the 2008 rates are released we start the planning and booking And yes... there is an actual signed contract hanging on our fridge!)

Also, with it being so early, since all the flight information isnt out yet, am I still able to book everything else and add the flight later?? ( I would be getting the resort, meal plan, tickets, etc. up front)

Any info. would be helpful If I could just book and pay everything right now I would, but being a college kid.. money is tight. I've been good about saving, (from begining of July to around middle of September I expect to have over $2,500 in the disney jar) but I want to book sooner than later to make sure we get the room we want and everything, so thats why I was wonding if I could just deposite that ASAP and make smaller payments throughout the months.

Thanks again, and my apologies if you've all answered this a zillion times before!

 

[never_enough_pooh]

Hi!

If you book a Disney trip through Disney you have to pay a $200.00 deposit.

The remainder of your balance is due 45 days before your trip. You can pay off before that if you want, and you can also make partial payments either on line or by phone at any time!

 

[mermaid86]

thank you!!! very good news

 

[Princess Amy]

I would book it now and pay it off as you get the money. If you waited, the resort and room you wanted may not be available.

If you are booking airfare through Disney then you have to pay for the whole balance for airfare at time of booking. If you are going through Southwest or any other airline you can definitely wait until cheaper prices come out.

You will have to pay a $200 deposit to book the vacation. And like the above poster mentioned, the remaining balance is due 45 days prior to arrival. So if between now and then you need to change anything you can do so without paying a penalty. After the 45 days, then there is a penalty fee.

 

[mermaid86]

If you are booking airfare through Disney then you have to pay for the whole balance for airfare at time of booking. If you are going through Southwest or any other airline you can definitely wait until cheaper prices come out.

So I can book the rest of the package (room, dining and tickets) now and wait for airfare until later? Am I still able to do airfare through Disney at a later day, as long as I pay that in full to them when I book it? I just want to make sure that we get the magical express option so we get to the resort and everything.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[lustergirl]

So I can book the rest of the package (room, dining and tickets) now and wait for airfare until later? Am I still able to do airfare through Disney at a later day, as long as I pay that in full to them when I book it? I just want to make sure that we get the magical express option so we get to the resort and everything.

Thanks for all your help!

You can book your package now and wait to purchase airfare later. If you decide to book your airfare through disney you will have to pay the air portion when doing so. I always book airfare on my own through Southwest and still enjoy DME- you just have to call disney with your flight info going down and coming home- hope this makes sense.

I always use the payment plan option- it is like having a disney vacation on layaway!!

 

[clombardi]

So I can book the rest of the package (room, dining and tickets) now and wait for airfare until later? Am I still able to do airfare through Disney at a later day, as long as I pay that in full to them when I book it? I just want to make sure that we get the magical express option so we get to the resort and everything.

Thanks for all your help!

You could do that, but I don't think you get a very good value booking airfare with Disney. You could try Southwest or Airtran, even USAir.

 

[mermaid86]

You could do that, but I don't think you get a very good value booking airfare with Disney. You could try Southwest or Airtran, even USAir.

This past June we used AirTran, and I believe it was booked through the Disney site (DBF's dad got everything for us) So, it is cheaper to go directly through AirTran rather than through Disney for the same flight?

 

[clombardi]

This past June we used AirTran, and I believe it was booked through the Disney site (DBF's dad got everything for us) So, it is cheaper to go directly through AirTran rather than through Disney for the same flight?

I guess I can't say it is always cheaper to make your own airfare ressies, but I can say that it has always been cheaper for me.

If you sign up for email alerts from the various airlines, they will send you emails about their sales. If you go to Southwest, download a feature called "DING." These can be amazing rates. For example, my flight out of Philadelphia on August 24 is $59. That includes the tax and fees! My flight home on Sept 3 is $78 including taxes and fees. That's $137 roundtrip.

You should check out the Transportation forum here on the DIS. It is very informative.

 

[Princess Amy]

When we booked our vacation for this December, I just asked them to do our airfare too. The lady at Disney said we got a great deal and it was the same price as the Airtran online special at the time. I just booked it to get that out of the way.

As all airlines, usually the closer it gets to the day you are leaving the cheaper the prices. But you are also throwing in the problem that there might be no more seats available and in return you might have to pay a higher price just to get a flight at all.

I believe you are able to book your vacation and then later down the road if you want to book airfare through Disney you can aske them to put it on your reservation. Of course the only way to truly find out is if you call Disney and ask them.