Making a reservation for Feb 2012 ??

[DisneyRookie2007]

I'm not sure what is the best way to go about this - perhaps some of you can post your experiences or suggestions.

2 questions:

(1) Out next trip is tentative for Feb 28-Mar 8, 2012. Those are the dates we want to go but have not yet purchased any airfare yet. Since airfare pricing is always variable and Disney prices will be stable, we are waiting until a seat sale or lower prices become available. As a result, our dates might change by 1-2 days on either end.

We've been told to book a "room-only" reservation for our dates to "hold" our spot. However, a Disney CM advised us to add a 1 day ticket as well (to avoid having to cancel our reservation and receive the refund (which can take a few months). From what I can understand, by adding a 1 day ticket, we can avoid this refund delay as now we would only need to "modify" our reservation and not cancel it outright. Any experience with this ?

(2) Also, my DD and her best friend want to come along - and have their own rooms. However, they are only 17 and cannot make their own reservations. I am assuming my wife could make 1 reservation while I make another separate reservation? Once the rooms were assigned, the girls could then be in 1 room while my wife and I in another? A request would be made for ADJOINING/CONNECTING rooms - knowing there is no guarantee it could be provided. Would Disney have any issues with this arrangement ?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I'm not sure what is the best way to go about this - perhaps some of you can post your experiences or suggestions.

2 questions:

(1) Out next trip is tentative for Feb 28-Mar 8, 2012. Those are the dates we want to go but have not yet purchased any airfare yet. Since airfare pricing is always variable and Disney prices will be stable, we are waiting until a seat sale or lower prices become available. As a result, our dates might change by 1-2 days on either end.

We've been told to book a "room-only" reservation for our dates to "hold" our spot. However, a Disney CM advised us to add a 1 day ticket as well (to avoid having to cancel our reservation and receive the refund (which can take a few months). From what I can understand, by adding a 1 day ticket, we can avoid this refund delay as now we would only need to "modify" our reservation and not cancel it outright. Any experience with this ?

(2) Also, my DD and her best friend want to come along - and have their own rooms. However, they are only 17 and cannot make their own reservations. I am assuming my wife could make 1 reservation while I make another separate reservation? Once the rooms were assigned, the girls could then be in 1 room while my wife and I in another? A request would be made for ADJOINING/CONNECTING rooms - knowing there is no guarantee it could be provided. Would Disney have any issues with this arrangement ?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Just call and make your package reservation, all you have to put down is $200.00. If your dates change, just call and change the dates. It shouldn't be a problem at all. You are traveling at a relatively low crowd week, so I highly doubt any resort is going to sell out. If you were traveling during a high crowd/holiday week there might be an issue changing dates, but that doesn't really factor into your dates. Also, there is no need for you and your wife to call and make separate reservations for two rooms. When you book your package, just book two rooms, as both children traveling are under the age of 18, it will still be considered one reservation - even with 2 rooms. We book 2 connecting rooms every year and have always gotten that request and, again, with you traveling in a low crowd season, there really shouldn't be an issue with you getting 2 connecting rooms.

 

[Hootch]

think the CM gave you good advice. With a room only reservation you have to pay for one night's stay. For a package, like adding a ticket, you have to pay $200. So if you're at the concierge level at the Grand Floridian, the room only will require a higher deposit. At POP it will require a lower deposit.

There are some other differences. Packages have to be paid off 45 days in advance versus paying at the beginning of the stay for room only. A cancellation fee ($200 this year I believe) applies for cancellations after that.

I have switched resorts and the CM refunded my current deposit and charged for the new higher deposit in separates transactions. Both transactions showed up on the same credit card statement.

In my experience companies often quote factors that they can easily achieve. (One of Deming's quality rules for the service industry is to set expectations and exceed them.) Refunds and rebates often have language like allow six to eight weeks. They will easily beat this almost all of the time. When you get your reservation confirmation, the small print will even say that Disney has the right to alter or cancel your reservation. This does happen sometime but that's usually accompanied by a reservation at the next step up in resort.

I looked for some written policy on Disney's refund policy regarding room only refunds but couldn't find anything. Taking a few months like the CM quoted is ludicrous. It would shock me if this was Disney policy. It's completely unreasonable for a company that relies on its reputation for business.