October 2011 Code Watch

[brinkmom]

Thank you for the response!!! Any idea how much the fee is? I am pretty sure we will not have any GP offers before our due date. We had used a 35% off moderate resorts, but free dining would be more of a savings for us. I'm just trying to weigh all of our options.

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Thank you for the response!!! Any idea how much the fee is? I am pretty sure we will not have any GP offers before our due date. We had used a 35% off moderate resorts, but free dining would be more of a savings for us. I'm just trying to weigh all of our options.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but if you have a room only reservation you can cancel up until 5 days before your arrival without any fee.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but if you have a room only reservation you can cancel up until 5 days before your arrival without any fee.

Yes, with a room only reservation, you can change or cancel your reservation without penalty up until 5 days prior to check-in.

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Just be aware that if you go from room-only res to package, the money doesn't transfer. You have to pay for the new package res and get refunded for the room-only.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Yes, with a room only reservation, you can change or cancel your reservation without penalty up until 5 days prior to check-in.

Then wouldn't most people be better off just to book a room only until the discounts come out? I don't see any advantage in having a MYW package booked until free dining comes out (if it does). Am I right? Can you change over to a package at any point between the 45 and 5 day mark without penalty? Just trying to figure out what I need to do if this comes down to the wire. I already have a package booked, but I'm wondering if I should change to a room only ressie in case free dining comes out after my 45 day mark.

 

[goNsoon2WDW]

Then wouldn't most people be better off just to book a room only until the discounts come out? I don't see any advantage in having a MYW package booked until free dining comes out (if it does). Am I right? Can you change over to a package at any point between the 45 and 5 day mark without penalty? Just trying to figure out what I need to do if this comes down to the wire. I already have a package booked, but I'm wondering if I should change to a room only ressie in case free dining comes out after my 45 day mark.

Hmmmm! This is definitely something to think about. It seems like this could save us having to pay the change fee as well. I hope someone can clarify if this is a good plan or show us where the holes in this are.

 

[DaymanX]

I was wondering the same thing. We have a 20% off room only PIN right now for October (no FD). Was going to book that for the worst case, then add tickets later at reg. price if a general discount doesn't come out.

If a good offer comes along Aug 13th or later, we can just cancel and re-book, right?

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Then wouldn't most people be better off just to book a room only until the discounts come out? I don't see any advantage in having a MYW package booked until free dining comes out (if it does). Am I right? Can you change over to a package at any point between the 45 and 5 day mark without penalty? Just trying to figure out what I need to do if this comes down to the wire. I already have a package booked, but I'm wondering if I should change to a room only ressie in case free dining comes out after my 45 day mark.

Hmmmm! This is definitely something to think about. It seems like this could save us having to pay the change fee as well. I hope someone can clarify if this is a good plan or show us where the holes in this are.

I was wondering the same thing. We have a 20% off room only PIN right now for October (no FD). Was going to book that for the worst case, then add tickets later at reg. price if a general discount doesn't come out.

If a good offer comes along Aug 13th or later, we can just cancel and re-book, right?

The only potential problem with that is - If you have a room only and want to change your reservation to a package, you will need to cancel the room only reservation, Disney will refund you the money, then you will have to book a new reservation, requiring a new $200 (or payment due in full within 45 days). Disney cannot apply funds to a new reservation from canceled one.

One other thing worth mentioning (not sure if it applies to anyone as I haven't had enough coffee yet)
If you want the Dining Plan - You must have a pacakge booked (not a room only) and you must add the Dining Plan to your package at least 3 days before you check in.

 

[dskib]

Then wouldn't most people be better off just to book a room only until the discounts come out? I don't see any advantage in having a MYW package booked until free dining comes out (if it does). Am I right? Can you change over to a package at any point between the 45 and 5 day mark without penalty? Just trying to figure out what I need to do if this comes down to the wire. I already have a package booked, but I'm wondering if I should change to a room only ressie in case free dining comes out after my 45 day mark.

Example: I had a room only ressie at POP a while back. I decided to change it to a pkg and add dining/ tickets with free dining. In order to do that, she needed to make an entirely new reservation (she can't just add dining/tickets to a room only ressie,) Problem was that POP was already booked. So I couldn't make a new ressie. If I had just booked the package in the first place, she just would have applied the discount.

 

[FigmentChick]

OK, I am posting this here and on the Rumor thread, so if you read it twice I apologize.

*****RUMOR ALERT*****

I called and spoke to Tab (don't you just love the names they choose?) last night. I called because, quite seriously, I am considering cancelling my Disney reservation for POR and switching to an off-site hotel. There are pros and cons associated with this, but, considering I can save more than $1,000 if I stay off site, I'm considering it.

Anyway.....I asked if I loose my trip insurance should I cancel. He said yes (which I already knew). And then he asked why I was considering cancelling. I told him because I can save much more money by staying off site and, yes, I know it doesn't have the Disney perks, but Disney hasn't released any discounts or free dining for October yet.

Then he said something that made me very happy: "Do you think you can hold off cancelling your current reservation for two weeks?" I said, well, it's not like the rate at the hotel is going to change, so yeah, I guess, but why? He told me that it was his opinion that discounts for October would be released in about two weeks.....six weeks prior to the dates of travel. We talked about how Disney was cutting back on discounts and he said that's where this six weeks out thing is coming from. He agreed that Disney was cutting back, but that does not mean cutting out....that they are just releasing the discounts and offers so much closer to the dates of travel than they have in the past.

I hope this makes everyone a little happier today (I know I went to sleep happier) and that our codes are released soon!!!!!!

 

[disneymom1229]

This is very encouraging!! Still, I am hoping that they will put out those free dining dates for 2012 like they did for 2011. We took advantage of that for our trip this year and would like to do the same for our next trip... I'll be watching..

 

[jsgrand0]

While of course I hope this is true, I can see this as just getting you to keep your reservation, and maybe deciding not to cancel it....sorry to kill the magic, just looking at it from a "business standpoint"...hate when I try to cancel ANYTHING because they always try to lower your rate, give you an extended free trial...whatever they need to do to keep you from cancelling!!

Enough of the Debbie Downer attitude...I hope he's right! We are booked for October 1! So hopefully something offered soon so I don't have to pay a change fee if it comes along too close to my date! Getting excited!! Only 66 more days!!

 

[disneygal58]

OK, I am posting this here and on the Rumor thread, so if you read it twice I apologize.

*****RUMOR ALERT*****

I called and spoke to Tab (don't you just love the names they choose?) last night. I called because, quite seriously, I am considering cancelling my Disney reservation for POR and switching to an off-site hotel. There are pros and cons associated with this, but, considering I can save more than $1,000 if I stay off site, I'm considering it.

Anyway.....I asked if I loose my trip insurance should I cancel. He said yes (which I already knew). And then he asked why I was considering cancelling. I told him because I can save much more money by staying off site and, yes, I know it doesn't have the Disney perks, but Disney hasn't released any discounts or free dining for October yet.

Then he said something that made me very happy: "Do you think you can hold off cancelling your current reservation for two weeks?" I said, well, it's not like the rate at the hotel is going to change, so yeah, I guess, but why? He told me that it was his opinion that discounts for October would be released in about two weeks.....six weeks prior to the dates of travel. We talked about how Disney was cutting back on discounts and he said that's where this six weeks out thing is coming from. He agreed that Disney was cutting back, but that does not mean cutting out....that they are just releasing the discounts and offers so much closer to the dates of travel than they have in the past.

I hope this makes everyone a little happier today (I know I went to sleep happier) and that our codes are released soon!!!!!!

Thank you - just the encouragement that I need today!
Dawn

 

[Granite]

We have a reservation for the 2nd week in October. FD or Room discount would be great but either way we are there. It is vacation and you only live once. I have no doubt there will be a discount offered mid August for October. The real question is...how good will the discount be?

 

[jsgrand0]

Thank you for the response!!! Any idea how much the fee is? I am pretty sure we will not have any GP offers before our due date. We had used a 35% off moderate resorts, but free dining would be more of a savings for us. I'm just trying to weigh all of our options.

If you're asking how much the change fee is, it is $50....and it is waived if your package price goes UP (even by $1)

 

[FigmentChick]

Thank you for the response!!! Any idea how much the fee is? I am pretty sure we will not have any GP offers before our due date. We had used a 35% off moderate resorts, but free dining would be more of a savings for us. I'm just trying to weigh all of our options.

For room only, there is no change fee. If you have a package, the change fee if you go down a level within 45 days of your arrival date (are techinically "owed" money once you make the change), the fee is $50. If you make a lateral move ($0 owed), there is no fee. If you move up, for instance to a deluxe, you just pay the difference in price, the fee is waived.


And you guys are welcome....I needed the pixie dust, too!!! I'm getting so depressed with nothing upon nothing being released. Not even rumors from TouringPlans (they had an "in" on the latest free dining offer).

 

[jsgrand0]

We have a reservation for the 2nd week in October. FD or Room discount would be great but either way we are there. It is vacation and you only live once. I have no doubt there will be a discount offered mid August for October. The real question is...how good will the discount be?

That's what I'm wondering!

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Example: I had a room only ressie at POP a while back. I decided to change it to a pkg and add dining/ tickets with free dining. In order to do that, she needed to make an entirely new reservation (she can't just add dining/tickets to a room only ressie,) Problem was that POP was already booked. So I couldn't make a new ressie. If I had just booked the package in the first place, she just would have applied the discount.

Even if you have a package at a resort, there still has to be rooms available at that resort to book. For example, if a hotel has 2000 rooms only 300 rooms will be set aside for the promotion. They don't discount every room.

 

[Granite]

I know most everyone has heard a rumor...

So take this with a grain of salt.

My "insider" stated a dining discount will be offered. What that means...who knows. Free QS dining, possibly. Free TS, maybe. Or maybe my insider is thinking about changing careers and becoming a WDW Bus Driver.

 

[goNsoon2WDW]

If you're asking how much the change fee is, it is $50....and it is waived if your package price goes UP (even by $1)

For room only, there is no change fee. If you have a package, the change fee if you go down a level within 45 days of your arrival date (are techinically "owed" money once you make the change), the fee is $50. If you make a lateral move ($0 owed), there is no fee. If you move up, for instance to a deluxe, you just pay the difference in price, the fee is waived.

Even if you have a package at a resort, there still has to be rooms available at that resort to book. For example, if a hotel has 2000 rooms only 300 rooms will be set aside for the promotion. They don't discount every room.

Sorry I am still trying to figure this out. Could you help clarify what would happen in the scenarios in my head?

#1 - If I have a package reserved with 10 days at CSR and 10-day park hopper tickets and then FD comes out (fingers crossed). I call back within my 45 day window and add the FD offer I would be charged a $50 fee. Is this right?

#2 - If I have a package reserved with 10 days at CSR and 10-day basic tickets and then FD comes out (fingers crossed) similar to what is offered for September where the photobook is part of the package. I call back within my 45 day window and add the FD / photobook offer to our package, I would NOT be charged a $50 fee because the package price would go up to include the price of the photobook. Then if we decide to upgrade to park hopper tickets we can do this at the parks. Is this right?

#3 - If I have a package reserved with 10 days at CSR and 10-day basic tickets and then FD comes out (fingers crossed). I call back within my 45 day window and add the FD offer and add park hopper to our tickets, I would NOT be charged a $50 fee. Is this right?

#4 - If I have a package reserved with 10 days at CSR and 10-day basic tickets and then FD comes out (fingers crossed). I call back within my 45 day window and try to add the FD offer but they do not have a room associated with the FD offer, I would NOT be able to get the promotion. Is this right?

Sorry for so many questions. I am just trying to figure out what happens "if" and how to avoid being charged a fee.

TIA