Is this how its done????

[Simba's Girl]

We are in the process of planning our next trip to disney. *This* time we are less flexible in our vacation availability dates than in the past.

Yet we have been spoiled in the past with being able to go when there's been pretty good discounts, so we need to get this to work to our advantage.

The dates we are aiming for are during the last 2 weeks of August to first week of September 2013. However our "window" of time to go is the week after July 4th till the week after Labor Day and *maybe* sometime during the fall. The reason is that one of my kids is a competitive dancer and can't take time away during the season-this has nothing to do with school.

The time frame we are aiming for seems to be when FD and room % discounts are offered which is good and we are fairly confident that those will be there in the future. However we do want to firm our dates enough to say "we are going" (obviously flexible within a day/two)....soooo my plan is this:

Book room-only at "rack" rate and visit here and the disney site frequently to see when discounts are announced.

• When that happens, call and apply discount to room OR switch to a resort/room that has a discount

That's how you all do it right????

My concerns are: how should I book the original reservation? Online (when they are out) or on the phone? What is the best way to do this if I want to make payments throughout the year? Do I have the option of applying disney giftcards to the balance?

Thanks (because I am sure this question has been asked a zillion times!) and Happy 4th!!!!

 

[mommyof3princess27]

I wouldnt book room only because you will need to completely cancel that to change to a package for FDing*if it comes out) Now in 2010 I had a discount for room only and they added it to the package. A deposit for room only is one nights fee but a package is a flat $200. Personally, I would look at this site http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html for the past few years discounts then I would book a package

 

[Simba's Girl]

Yes totally love, love, love that site!

hmmm....

I was under the impression that you would need to re-book regardless of weather or not it was a package/room-only?

Can someone confirm?

Perhaps then that is why making payments would not be a great idea until the vacation is set in stone...

 

[mickeynut1]

I was under the impression that you would need to re-book regardless of weather or not it was a package/room-only?

Can someone confirm?

Perhaps then that is why making payments would not be a great idea until the vacation is set in stone...

If you go from room only to a package, the room only would have to be cancelled/refunded and a package booked, requiring a new $200 deposit. The same goes for going from a package to room only as they are different reservation systems and money paid toward one cannot be transferred to the other. If you book one and are considering changing to the other, then yes, it would be a good idea to wait to make payments until you are sure of what you want since the money from one would have to be cancelled and refunded.

 

[Brave]

Yes totally love, love, love that site!

hmmm....

I was under the impression that you would need to re-book regardless of weather or not it was a package/room-only?

Can someone confirm?

Perhaps then that is why making payments would not be a great idea until the vacation is set in stone...

If you know you are going to WDW next year and will need resort tickets and possibly dining, then you need to book a Magic Your Way Package when the 2013 packages are released on July 11. You only have to put down a $200.00 deposit and you can make payments in any amount at any time. Even if you have to switch resort, switch dates, etc., you would keep the same reservation number and all monies would be still be applied to the reservation. Also, when any room or free dining discounts are released you would just call and have the discont code added to your existing reservation.

It would be a total waste of time and money, as you can NOT convert a room only reservation into a package reservation or make those kinds of changes, as in adding a free dining code.

 

[tinkmom76]

I had a package booked for December 2012 and was able to book the bounce back room only rate while staying at WL last month. I had already paid my $200 deposit for the package. The CM just modified the room rate on my reservation and nothing else changed. I still have the same reservation number and everything. The only thing that changed was the remaining balance.