Is there any flexibility when you book your vacation online through WDW?

[atp]

I'm planning on going to WDW in mid to late October and staying there for 13-15 days so I can see the halloween decorations and also do food and wine (hopefully watch Hanson play there if they do that again).

However, I don't exactly get to choose when I will be able to start my vacation get the confirmation that it will actually happen until it gets closer to the date. So while I'd like to book my trip as soon as a special offer like free dining or a discount is available, I might not be able to do that.

Also, this may or may not be a solo trip.

So my questions are:

- What are my options? Can I book something now and then change it to take advantage of free dining or some other special offer if it becomes available? Will I have to pay anything to make changes?

- If I make a reservation for 2 people, with tickets, and the other person cannot come, am I just out of the money (and the tickets)? Can I easily include another person in my reservation?

- I've read that you can pay your trip in installments, so to speak, as long as you pay the full amount by the time it's due. Is that option available online?

Since I don't live in the US, I'd need to make all these changes online...is that possible? I have booked my trip online before, in 2010 but since it was last minute I just paid for everything at the time of booking and there were no changes that I needed to make so I have no clue what my options are.

If anyone could give me any advice on what to do, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!

 

[Tracie]

I'm planning on going to WDW in mid to late October and staying there for 13-15 days so I can see the halloween decorations and also do food and wine (hopefully watch Hanson play there if they do that again).

However, I don't exactly get to choose when I will be able to start my vacation get the confirmation that it will actually happen until it gets closer to the date. So while I'd like to book my trip as soon as a special offer like free dining or a discount is available, I might not be able to do that.

Also, this may or may not be a solo trip.

So my questions are:

- What are my options? Can I book something now and then change it to take advantage of free dining or some other special offer if it becomes available? Will I have to pay anything to make changes?


- If I make a reservation for 2 people, with tickets, and the other person cannot come, am I just out of the money (and the tickets)? Can I easily include another person in my reservation?


- I've read that you can pay your trip in installments, so to speak, as long as you pay the full amount by the time it's due. Is that option available online?

Since I don't live in the US, I'd need to make all these changes online...is that possible? I have booked my trip online before, in 2010 but since it was last minute I just paid for everything at the time of booking and there were no changes that I needed to make so I have no clue what my options are.

If anyone could give me any advice on what to do, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!

You can book now and then make changes to take advantage of a promo, if there is availability for that promo. But you would have to call to modify the reservation.

I have taken someone off a reservation, before the 45 day mark, and it was no problem. My balance due was adjusted. Once again I booked online and had to call to make the change.

I have never added anyone to a reservation, but I'm sure it would be no problem, and the balance due would be adjusted. You would have to call to adjust the reservation.

You can make payments online, your package would need to be paid in full by the 45 day mark, and the final payment can be made online also.

 

[CarrieR]

You can book whenever and then modify to FD or a room discount without a problem -- if there's availability for your resort and room type. Otherwise you might have to change to where there is availability (not a big deal, unless your heart is set on a specific resort/room type.)

If you're not sure if someone is going to join you, I would book the reservation just for yourself. You can add someone at any point without penalty. Removing someone (decreasing the package price) is done without penalty prior to 45 days out, and a financial penalty -- I think $50? -- closer to the date. But you could add somebody even just a week before travel for just the cost of their ticket.

Also, you should be able to change the dates of your trip even after the booking window has closed, so long as there's availability. For example, if FD were offered Oct 1-31 and had to be booked by June 30 -- you booked mid-June for Oct 1-15, then in July your scheduled changed and were coming Oct 10-25. Even though the booking window has closed, they can still modify that for you, IF there is availability.

To add a second person to the room, there is no change in the room fee, you just pay for their tickets and dining (if applicable.) Additional adults, beyond that, require a nightly fee -- I know it's $10/person/night in the values and more than that in the mods and deluxes. So, for example, four adults in a value on a 3-night trip would be an extra $60 on top of the basic room quote ($10x2=20 a night x3 nights = 60.) But it pays for itself when you split the room with that extra person This is a change you would have to call for.

Yes, you can pay in installments online, no problem. You just select to "pay your balance" or something similar -- even if it acts like you'll have to pay it in full, there is an option to select amount on the payment screen. The only quirk I've found is that you can't use multiple gift cards to pay on the trip online on the day your final payment is due.

 

[atp]

You can book now and then make changes to take advantage of a promo, if there is availability for that promo. But you would have to call to modify the reservation.

I have taken someone off a reservation, before the 45 day mark, and it was no problem. My balance due was adjusted. Once again I booked online and had to call to make the change.

I have never added anyone to a reservation, but I'm sure it would be no problem, and the balance due would be adjusted. You would have to call to adjust the reservation.

You can make payments online, your package would need to be paid in full by the 45 day mark, and the final payment can be made online also.

Thank you for replying!

It's a shame I can't make the changes online, but at least I can make the payments online, that will help a lot.

 

[atp]

You can book whenever and then modify to FD or a room discount without a problem -- if there's availability for your resort and room type. Otherwise you might have to change to where there is availability (not a big deal, unless your heart is set on a specific resort/room type.)

If you're not sure if someone is going to join you, I would book the reservation just for yourself. You can add someone at any point without penalty. Removing someone (decreasing the package price) is done without penalty prior to 45 days out, and a financial penalty -- I think $50? -- closer to the date. But you could add somebody even just a week before travel for just the cost of their ticket.

Also, you should be able to change the dates of your trip even after the booking window has closed, so long as there's availability. For example, if FD were offered Oct 1-31 and had to be booked by June 30 -- you booked mid-June for Oct 1-15, then in July your scheduled changed and were coming Oct 10-25. Even though the booking window has closed, they can still modify that for you, IF there is availability.

To add a second person to the room, there is no change in the room fee, you just pay for their tickets and dining (if applicable.) Additional adults, beyond that, require a nightly fee -- I know it's $10/person/night in the values and more than that in the mods and deluxes. So, for example, four adults in a value on a 3-night trip would be an extra $60 on top of the basic room quote ($10x2=20 a night x3 nights = 60.) But it pays for itself when you split the room with that extra person This is a change you would have to call for.

Yes, you can pay in installments online, no problem. You just select to "pay your balance" or something similar -- even if it acts like you'll have to pay it in full, there is an option to select amount on the payment screen. The only quirk I've found is that you can't use multiple gift cards to pay on the trip online on the day your final payment is due.

Wow, thank you so much for this explanation. That was really helpful.
I don't have my heart set on any resort. I have my heart set on saving money, as long as I can get a value resort, I'm good, so I think that makes things easier for me. I had no idea I could change my dates after the window for FD closed. That is good to know, I might need to do that.

I'm hoping I won't need to make any changes, that my job will agree to let me start my vacation on the day I choose, but I was afraid to book anything and then lose all the money if I my job decides to change my vacation dates.

Thanks again for explaining it so well!