Information on Room Only Reservations

[biochemgirl]

I'm looking at booking my first onsite stay and need information about when the total payment is due. It looks like booking with Disney, it's a deposit of one night stay with the balance due upon arrival? Also, can I use giftcards to pay on the balance?

What about with a TA? I like this option so I can book several months ahead and have help looking for savings/specials and making any changes. I want to stay during the whole week of Thanksgiving 2018 and any help getting a better deal will be important with peak pricing. If I book with a TA, do I still only have to do a deposit and pay the balance later? Can I use Disney giftcards to pay for a room when using a TA?

Thanks!

 

[danielocha30]

TA for room only? the discounts are easy to find online or even here in the boards, Disney is very flexible like you said a deposit and then you can pay up to check in.
Yes you can pay with gift card even your deposit.

 

[loves to dive]

As previous poster said, you can pay with gift cards. As far as a TA, it might depend on the TA. I used to use one years ago (I'm talking like 30 years ago) and they are just go betweens between you and Disney so they go on the same schedule Disney does.

 

[Chip_Dale]

If you want to pay your balance with gift cards contact them the day before. They put the transaction through early in the AM before you arrive with credit card on file. It can be reversed

 

[fla4fun]

Just be aware that if you book online with an OTA like Expedia, they may require full payment up front if using a code or coupon. I booked my Pop room only stay through Expedia because I had a coupon that would be expiring soon (and my December dates fall during a blackout on the bounce back offer) and I had to pay the full amount up front. Up until the point where I entered the coupon code I did have the option of a one night deposit. Just be sure to read any fine print before you click "Book It!".

I have used regular TA's a couple times and their payment requirement were the same as Disney's - one night at booking with balance due at check in. I did it for the same reason - due to things at home being a little chaotic I wanted assistance watching for discounts. However, if you pay attention here at the DIS, you will probably know about the discount before they do (that happened to me both times, and once the TA didn't believe me at first). So now I either use an OTA or go direct with Disney, depending on who has the best deal.

 

[biochemgirl]

TA for room only? the discounts are easy to find online or even here in the boards, Disney is very flexible like you said a deposit and then you can pay up to check in.
Yes you can pay with gift card even your deposit.

There is a TA I found through the boards that seems to have great agency specials no other agency has and the users on this board have rave reviews. At this point, I'm thinking of going through them. The only reason I haven't contacted the agent directly yet is that I worry asking for information 20 months out might be overkill

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There is a TA I found through the boards that seems to have great agency specials no other agency has and the users on this board have rave reviews. At this point, I'm thinking of going through them. The only reason I haven't contacted the agent directly yet is that I worry asking for information 20 months out might be overkill

They can't do anything 20 months out. Until Disney rates are out, they can't negotiate specials. Disney rates for 2018 won't be out until June or July.

Room-only via a TA special will have its own terms.

 

[Marthasor]

They can't do anything 20 months out. Until Disney rates are out, they can't negotiate specials. Disney rates for 2018 won't be out until June or July.

Room-only via a TA special will have its own terms.

Yes, this exactly. If you are looking for information from a particular agency, the best thing to do is to subscribe to that agency's newsletter or like/follow their Facebook page. That is the fastest way to get up-to-date info from any agency including any special rates or promos they may be offering. As PP pointed out, agency promos will have their own terms and conditions which may not completely align with WDW's. Most EarMarked agencies will accept Disney gift cards as payment as they are simply taking your payment info and giving it to Disney to pay off your trip, they aren't processing payments themselves. But you would have to ask the particular agency you are working with. Maybe shoot them an e-mail and ask or ask the question on their FB page?