OK, question regarding reservations

[rt2dz]

I know I've read it on here, and a million other places, that you can book 499 days out. What I am looking for is the definitive "proof". I have someone who is saying, that's not right, that's not right. And it's making me wonder, is it right? Is it on the Disney website? Can someone point it out to me?

TIA!

 

[WDSearcher]

From the Disney website: "Walt Disney World® Resort reservations are currently only available for check-in dates up to and including December 31, 2010." (Which is technically 514 days from today.)

http://bookwdw.reservations.disney....rocessEngine?startOver=true&gatewayID=landing

 

[rt2dz]

I appreciate it, but that's not really helping me. What this other person is saying is that in, let's say April 2010 you decide you want to book for April 2011, or even March 2011, that is it can't be done because they'll only book through December 2010 and you have to wait until August 2010 to make that March/April 2011 trip. I need to find "proof" that you can.

It's not so much once rates have been released kind of thing, but prior to rates being released. As a matter of fact, this person was saying you couldn't book a mid-January 2010 trip this past July 2009, despite the fact that there are people with Easter 2010 booked already.

I do appreciate the effort though!! Thank you.

 

[Anglefan]

How would it benefit Disney to only allow reservations 7-8 months in advance? Not in any way. So it's not going to happen.

 

[Katie Dawn]

You could call WDW and ask.

The question is: how badly do you want to be right? If they are really irking you, it might just be worth that phone call.

 

[rt2dz]

You could call WDW and ask.

The question is: how badly do you want to be right? If they are really irking you, it might just be worth that phone call.

It's really irking me. I know it's dumb, but it's casting doubt on *everything* I know/say about Disney to others--this person is telling everyone I don't know what I'm talking about. And, a lot of people IRL ask me questions because I've spent YEARS traveling to WDW--every year since 1976, sometimes multiple trips in a year, and I'm here. I swear, I don't tell people things that are not 100% true. But this person... I think they're jealous.

I have sent guest relations an email because "it has to be in writing." I'm not sure a guest relations reply would be good enough though, so I'm looking, searching, obsessively for proof I "couldn't doctor."

I know of no other group that would be better to ask for help.

Someone? Anyone? Robo?

 

[supersuperwendy]

I appreciate it, but that's not really helping me. What this other person is saying is that in, let's say April 2010 you decide you want to book for April 2011, or even March 2011, that is it can't be done because they'll only book through December 2010 and you have to wait until August 2010 to make that March/April 2011 trip. I need to find "proof" that you can.

It's not so much once rates have been released kind of thing, but prior to rates being released. As a matter of fact, this person was saying you couldn't book a mid-January 2010 trip this past July 2009, despite the fact that there are people with Easter 2010 booked already.

I do appreciate the effort though!! Thank you.

For quite a while you could book a room only in 2010 I think through March prior to 2010 rates being published the other day.

For packages..you can only book what disney has released. Right now you can only book through dec. 31, 2010 and would not be able to book a package for any date in 2011 until the packages for 2011 have been published which will prob be next August...so yes in fact...your friend is right.

 

[rt2dz]

It's not packages we're discussing. It is room only reservations. I explained that you don't get a firm price, but are charged the highest rate available for the current year and it is adjusted when rates are released; I told them at that time you can adjust the ressie to a package. It's not even online booking were talking about; I explained that too! But they insist I'm wrong.

I sent them to the info on Pass Porter and MouseSavers. This person's excuse is it's wrong or it would be on Disney's site. I found a mention of it on the honeymoon page, but they said it must have been a long time ago because that page still says 180 days for dining, so it just must be really outdated.

At this point and time, it's just really driving me batty. They need definitive proof, and I'm determined to get it.

 

[Anglefan]

There is no way in hell you can't book any 2011 stays until next August. That doesn't make any sense.

 

[vicki_c]

You could call on the phone and make your own room-only reservation for 499 days from now, pay the deposit and then cancel and get a refund.

You could show them your e-mail confirmation.

But that would be pretty drastic.

 

[rt2dz]

You could call on the phone and make your own room-only reservation for 499 days from now, pay the deposit and then cancel and get a refund.

You could show them your e-mail confirmation.

But that would be pretty drastic.

I'd probably get accused of doctoring the reservation. Besides, I'd be afraid of them having too much personal info. It's a very casual friend, more of an acquaintance. But if I get desperate enough

Oh, wait, that wouldn't work! WDSearcher pointed out that Dec 31, 2010 is 514 days from today. Darn!

 

[cberhorst]

I don't know if this would be enough proof for this person, and it's not technically in writing, but I know I've read this policy several times on the Mom's Panel on the Disney site. I've seen the question asked and their responses always say you can book room only reservations 499 days out by calling. Not sure if that would help....

 

[snykymom]

Maybe not the answer you wanted, but -- you and your friend are both right.

You cannot book 499 days out on the Disney website. It's not set up to handle reservations for rooms which have no set price yet. Therefore, the information that your friend has received from the website is correct.

You can book 499 days out by calling Disney directly.

 

[rt2dz]

Maybe not the answer you wanted, but -- you and your friend are both right.

You cannot book 499 days out on the Disney website. It's not set up to handle reservations for rooms which have no set price yet. Therefore, the information that your friend has received from the website is correct.

You can book 499 days out by calling Disney directly.

Actually, that is exactly what I explained. You can't book online until rates are released AND you can't book packages until rates are released, but you can book by phone a room only reservation 499 days in advance. What this person is saying is that you can not book via phone for a room-only reservation 499 days in advance, only after rates are released. SO, this person is not correct and I'm looking for it in writing *somewhere* directly from Disney.

I wouldn't mind so much if this person was being ignorant in and of themselves, but when I give people (who ask me) information, this person is going back and telling them I'm wrong and I'm going to ruin their vacations. Even if it doesn't have anything to do with this. I just want to shut them up.

 

[snykymom]

Actually, that is exactly what I explained. You can't book online until rates are released AND you can't book packages until rates are released, but you can book by phone a room only reservation 499 days in advance. What this person is saying is that you can not book via phone for a room-only reservation 499 days in advance, only after rates are released. SO, this person is not correct and I'm looking for it in writing *somewhere* directly from Disney.

I wouldn't mind so much if this person was being ignorant in and of themselves, but when I give people (who ask me) information, this person is going back and telling them I'm wrong and I'm going to ruin their vacations. Even if it doesn't have anything to do with this. I just want to shut them up.

Here's the response from the Mom's Panel, which does appear on the Disney website:

How far in advance can you book your Disney vacation?
- Asked by Mallory from ME on 1/25/2009
Answered by
Karen P., NH

Hi Mallory,

Welcome to the Moms Panel, and thank you for your question!

There are really two answers to this question. If you wanted to book a room-only reservation you could do so 499 days in advance, vacation packages on the other hand, are usually based on the calendar year and are currently only available for travel in 2009. Historically the packages are released sometime in the late summer or early fall (for the next year).

So if you wanted a package for next March, you could book a room now because it is within the 499 day window, and then once the packages for 2010 are released later this year you could call and have your room-only reservation converted to a package.

Hope this helps!

http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.c...e=search&sort=&page=&qid=28457&pid=80&cid=146(note the "disney.go.com" in the URL.)

 

[safetymom]

You can book 499 days in advance but the price will not be guaranteed. Once the rates are released for your dates the reservation price will be adjusted.