Need Room/Ticket/Reservation Advice ASAP

[Mambo Junkie]

I currently have a package for AoA for me, DH, DS and family, total 4 adults, 2 children. My son is taking a college class and he is in danger of not passing, which means he and family may not get to go to WDW. Our trip is October 31 - November 6.
I just went online and made an additional room only reservation for the same days. DH and I will go regardless. I also have MNSSHP tickets for the 31st. I don't know what to do at this point. I choose fps in 9 days and my DS finds out if he passes or not in 9 days.
Should I keep both reservations and choose fps then cancel if he can't go? At this point I don't want to buy tickets to add to the room only if he isn't able to go. However, I am uncomfortable keeping both reservations, plus, if I end up dropping the package after I choose fps will I lose the fps? Do I add tickets to the room only reservation before I drop the package, and if he is unable to go, I keep the 4 additional tickets for a later date, and use the 2 for me and DH?
I'm totally confused.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Plus, if I go with the room only and add tickets to it, I save 600.00 vs the package.

 

[LizGirl]

Packages are fully refundable up to 45 days out, right? It would seem like you could call and remove him from the reservation once he finds out his grades since you'll be at 60 days. His ticket would disappear so he'd lose Fastpass, but I would imagine you and hubby would keep yours.

I wouldn't buy additional tickets at this point. You have time to react between when he learns his grades and when you are locked into the package. Once he learns his fate, then you can figure out which option is more affordable and cancel the other.

ETA: I just looked at the Walt Disney World Resorts terms and conditions and it looks like you can cancel a package without penalty up to 30 days before arrival:
"For cancellations made 30 days or more prior to guest arrival, amounts paid, minus cancellation fees assessed by third party hotels or other suppliers, non-refundable air transportation, non-refundable runDisney race registrations, travel insurance premiums, and other amounts owed, will be refunded."

 

[Wild4Walt]

LizGirl has great advise. I would check your cancelation schedule but I also think up to 45 days prior it's fully refundable and then after that there is still a refund scale if it was all booked via Disney direct ( not a 3rd party operator as they have their own refund schedules ).

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Thank you! So, I keep the room only AND the package, and make my fp selections in 9 days. Then if he can't go, I keep my fp options as well as my room only, and all that I lose are his tickets 9and fps), and I can cancel the package? I would have to add tickets for me and DH before I do this in order to keep my fps?
ETA: In the event he passes and I have the fps picked out, I can then add the tickets and cancel the package without losing the fps?
Edit again: I did purchase the insurance. Too expensive a trip not to, lol

 

[Cece_Kay]

Thank you! So, I keep the room only AND the package, and make my fp selections in 9 days. Then if he can't go, I keep my fp options as well as my room only, and all that I lose are his tickets 9and fps), and I can cancel the package? I would have to add tickets for me and DH before I do this in order to keep my fps?
ETA: In the event he passes and I have the fps picked out, I can then add the tickets and cancel the package without losing the fps?
Edit again: I did purchase the insurance. Too expensive a trip not to, lol

The FPs on the tickets associated with your package will be lost if you cancel your package. If you keep the package and remove your son then only your son's FPs are lost.

 

[lanejudy]

Just checking that I understand correctly -- the package is with a suite and you won't need or want a suite for just 2 of you; the room-only is your back-up plan, in case DS and family can't go, right?

If DS can go, you keep the package with the suite as-is. Nothing to worry about. Cancel the room-only. You have until 5 days prior to arrival to cancel the room-only without penalty.

If DS can't go -- FIRST you will need to purchase tickets for you/DH before cancelling the package. Once you cancel the package, the tickets plus any FPs will be lost if you don't already have additional tickets linked to you and DH. That's why you need to purchase the tickets first and link to MDE, then cancel the package. You have until 30 days prior to arrival to cancel the package without penalty.

Purchase MNSSHP tickets after you know whether or not DS will be going. Only purchase the number of party tickets needed.

Good luck to DS with his finals and I hope you all get to enjoy the vacation!

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Ok, so if I cancel the package now and purchase 6 tickets separately, then I pick fps in 9 days, I can simply cancel the fps made for DS and family, and keep the tickets for a later trip? I will have to cancel him off thereservation anyway. This will allow me and DH to keep our fps? I am leaning toward keeping the room only regardless as it's cheaper than the package.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Just checking that I understand correctly -- the package is with a suite and you won't need or want a suite for just 2 of you; the room-only is your back-up plan, in case DS and family can't go, right?

If DS can go, you keep the package with the suite as-is. Nothing to worry about. Cancel the room-only. You have until 5 days prior to arrival to cancel the room-only without penalty.

If DS can't go -- FIRST you will need to purchase tickets for you/DH before cancelling the package. Once you cancel the package, the tickets plus any FPs will be lost if you don't already have additional tickets linked to you and DH. That's why you need to purchase the tickets first and link to MDE, then cancel the package. You have until 30 days prior to arrival to cancel the package without penalty.

Purchase MNSSHP tickets after you know whether or not DS will be going. Only purchase the number of party tickets needed.

Good luck to DS with his finals and I hope you all get to enjoy the vacation!

Yes, I have both a package and a room only, and both are for AoA. In the event DS+ can't go, I would then cancel the AoA room only and re-book (or change to) just me and DH . If I buy tickets separately, then I keep my fps, even dropping the package (maybe wait to cancel the package)? Can I choose fps in 9 days, and if I find out DS+ can't go, just buy tickets for me and DH, link them, and still keep our fps?
Hopefully DS will get to go. Thank you so much for your advice. I'm really only interested in 3 fps, as I have PPO ADRs, an EMM ticket, and I've already purchased the MNSSHP tickets so there's not much I can do about that.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would not cancel the package. If my DS could not go, I would cancel his tickets, and then see if there was any other resorts that could accommodate my DH and I, and have the reservation package moved to that resort.

 

[LizGirl]

Ok, so if I cancel the package now and purchase 6 tickets separately, then I pick fps in 9 days, I can simply cancel the fps made for DS and family, and keep the tickets for a later trip? I will have to cancel him off thereservation anyway. This will allow me and DH to keep our fps? I am leaning toward keeping the room only regardless as it's cheaper than the package.

Yes, this works EXCEPT I don't know what the expiration date would be on the new tickets. You'd need to verify that you'd be able to use them whenever you are thinking your next trip would be. They don't last forever like they used to.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I now have booked a room only and have 6 tickets not attached to a room. I have the possibility of getting a last minute room at Saratoga Springs but will not know for sure until 6 weeks prior to my trip. If I am able to get the SS room, and drop the AoA reservation, will I lose my fps? They are not attached to the room but to the ticket, correct? I am an RCI member and they have last minute rooms, but not until after I get my fps. I don't have enough points to get one at 60 days out.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Yes, this works EXCEPT I don't know what the expiration date would be on the new tickets. You'd need to verify that you'd be able to use them whenever you are thinking your next trip would be. They don't last forever like they used to.

Thank you. As things stand, I am going to take a leap of faith and hope he passes, lol. We go enough that I'm sure the tickets will be used at a later date, and DH and I can use ours in October.
ETA: I really don't want to have a package when my fp date becomes available because I think that will only complicate things, even though I will have a room only and individual ticket. I also think canceling the package ASAP gives someone else an opportunity to book it.

 

[LizGirl]

Your fastpasses are tied to the tickets so you should be able to move rooms if that comes available. I would drop the AoA reservation under the 30 day mark so you don't trip some weird eligibility thing for booking fastpasses at 60 days.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Your fastpasses are tied to the tickets so you should be able to move rooms if that comes available. I would drop the AoA reservation under the 30 day mark so you don't trip some weird eligibility thing for booking fastpasses at 60 days.

WHat is the latest you can drop a room only without penalty? I want to be able to drop it quickly so as to give availability to someone else.

 

[LizGirl]

WHat is the latest you can drop a room only without penalty? I want to be able to drop it quickly so as to give availability to someone else.

5 days before arrival. If you log in an look at your reservation, it should give you a date on there.