Can someone explain the payment plans/options for making reservations? I did a search on wdw.com but can't find anything. Dh thinks we have to pay everything all at once & I keep thinking there's no way! LOL Thanks for all the help.
It depends whether you book a package or room-only. Let's assume, for simplicity, that you are booking by phone through Disney.
PACKAGE:
At the time you make your reservation, they will ask for a $200 deposit. You could do it over the phone right then and there by credit/debit card, but you have 14 days to do this. In other words, you can make the reservation without that immediate $200 payment, and call back within 14 days to give the $200 payment by credit card. You can also mail in a check, receivable by Disney by not later than that 14 day mark.
If you are also booking airfare through WDTC, then THAT you MUST pay immediately, at the moment you make the reservation by phone. For the airfare portion of things, you do not have the option of paying it within 14 days -- you must pay that instant.
The balance of your package cost must be paid by not later than 45 days prior to your trip. You can do this by phone (credit/debit), but you can also mail in a check.
ROOM-ONLY:
The required deposit is one night's room rental (incluidng applicable taxes). As above, they will ask for it immediately, but rest assured that you have 14 days to do it by phone or mail.
You must pay off the balance in-full at the time you check in at your resort.
In either case, you may certainly pay earlier than is required, but any earlier payments are strictly at your option and are not required in any way.
When you check in at your resort, you will NOT be required to leave a credit/debit card imprint (for "incidentals" or anything like that). WDW is one of the few hoteliers in the country that does not require this. You may choose to set up a room charge account, but this is purely optional (I recommend you do so). Room charge can be backed up with a credit card, debit card, travelers checks, cash, even Disney Dollars. If you set up a room charge with a debit/credit card, you will NOT have anything immediatelhy charged to your account, no hold will be placed on your account ... in fact, they won't even check to see if you have the available credit or available balance. Your plastic won't be charged at all until you either reach your room charge limit or it becomes about 3:00 a.m. on the morning of check-out day. Prior to either of those things occurring, you are free to go to the front desk and pay down some or all of your room charge with any other method, if you desire.
