PIN code / DLH reservation question...

[MemoriesintheMaking]

All right, I may be overthinking this, but I was wondering...if I were to go ahead and make a reservation in the next month or so for our 6-night stay at DLH in August 2011, do you think that would decrease my chances of receiving a PIN code in the mail in the future that would apply to our trip dates? I've been receiving them by mail and email pretty regularly for the last year, maybe because I've been signing up for any and all Disney emails, vacation planning DVD's, etc I come across. I would just hate to make the reservation this early, and then they wouldn't bother sending me a PIN code because, hey, I'm already booked! Again, maybe I'm way overthinking this.

Also, am I crazy for feeling the need to reserve this early? We will need two rooms, one of them being wheelchair accessible. I just noticed yesterday that while our parks days will be Monday, 8/15 - Friday, 8/19, and we will leave for home on Saturday, the 20th, the D23 Expo is scheduled to start that Friday, the 19th. That made me a bit nervous that rooms will book up earlier than usual because of that. AGAIN, overthinking??

Feel free to tell me I'm being obsessive and I need to chill out! I have had a lot of coffee today - maybe that's part of it.

And, while I'm here, just to confirm what I've gathered from reading, if I make a room-only reservation through central booking, I will pay one nights deposit on both rooms, but can make changes and/or cancel if needed up until 1 month before arrival - correct? But if it gets booked as a package, it's a $200 deposit, but no cancellation or changes w/o a $50 fee. So, I would want to make sure it's not a package I'm booking under. AND, if any special offers or PIN codes come through, I can call and change my room-only reservation to reflect the savings, right?

Thanks for letting me bounce these details off of you! I appreciate it!

 

[ConnieB]

You are right about it being best to do a room only at this point so that you can make changes without a fee. I would only make it a package if an extraordinary deal came along. Seeing as how it's still 8+ months away, you have a lot of potential deals to wade through. I would make the change anytime a better deal comes along....just keep making them until they're not better any more, lol.

And yes, I would go ahead and do it now just so that you don't have to worry that the D23 conference or some other event causes all the rooms to book up. Why worry about that when it's not necessary. I know some people can't afford to dole out the deposit so far in advance, but if you can afford to do so now, then do it since it's 100% refundable.

No one knows how or why they send PINS to some and not others....some get them multiple times a year, others wait years and still get none. Many have posted excited that they received a PIN and could use it on their previously booked room, so that doesn't seem to affect it either. When you call to make your reservation, and any time you call in again, ask them to check the names of everyone in your party for a PIN....can't tell you how many people didn't even know they had a PIN attached to their name. Just be careful because the person who is named on the PIN has to be the name the reservation is booked under and that person has to be there at check in. A few may get by, but for the most part they are pretty sticky about that rule....and you see many sad posters talk about the PIN being in Mom's name but she's not coming so they don't get the deal. Some feel that signing up for every mailing list, requesting the vacation DVDs and information on DVC and whatever else gets you into Disney's system improves your chances...others talk about they, spouse, parents, inlaws and even brothers and sisters signing up in the hopes....but nothing. So....it's some pixie dust formula that no one knows. One of the great mysteries of the World, lol.

Enjoy the planning stage of your visit....one of my favorite parts and a great way to fall asleep at night...dreaming about my next visit and all the great things I want to do. Better than dreaming about the negatives of life, lol.

 

[TheColtonsMom]

We changed our ressies several times and the $50 fee actually only applies when you make a change that reduces your total charges within the last 30 days before your stay. Even within that timeframe of 30 days if you spend your savings on something like the dining plan or meal vouchers or ground transport and they don't have to send you an actual refund they dont charge you the $50. I made changes today for our trip the 25th and managed to avoid the fee by spending our savings on other things to enhance our vacation.

 

[Sherry E]

You are right about it being best to do a room only at this point so that you can make changes without a fee. I would only make it a package if an extraordinary deal came along. Seeing as how it's still 8+ months away, you have a lot of potential deals to wade through. I would make the change anytime a better deal comes along....just keep making them until they're not better any more, lol.

And yes, I would go ahead and do it now just so that you don't have to worry that the D23 conference or some other event causes all the rooms to book up. Why worry about that when it's not necessary. I know some people can't afford to dole out the deposit so far in advance, but if you can afford to do so now, then do it since it's 100% refundable.

No one knows how or why they send PINS to some and not others....some get them multiple times a year, others wait years and still get none. Many have posted excited that they received a PIN and could use it on their previously booked room, so that doesn't seem to affect it either. When you call to make your reservation, and any time you call in again, ask them to check the names of everyone in your party for a PIN....can't tell you how many people didn't even know they had a PIN attached to their name. Just be careful because the person who is named on the PIN has to be the name the reservation is booked under and that person has to be there at check in. A few may get by, but for the most part they are pretty sticky about that rule....and you see many sad posters talk about the PIN being in Mom's name but she's not coming so they don't get the deal. Some feel that signing up for every mailing list, requesting the vacation DVDs and information on DVC and whatever else gets you into Disney's system improves your chances...others talk about they, spouse, parents, inlaws and even brothers and sisters signing up in the hopes....but nothing. So....it's some pixie dust formula that no one knows. One of the great mysteries of the World, lol.

Enjoy the planning stage of your visit....one of my favorite parts and a great way to fall asleep at night...dreaming about my next visit and all the great things I want to do. Better than dreaming about the negatives of life, lol.

I agree 100% with everything ConnieB said - from her advice about booking the room to the comments about the mysteries of receiving the elusive PIN codes. Everything she said was pretty much what I would have said as well!

 

[DahliaRW]

And you can cancel/change up to 7 days in advance, I believe. Though it may be 10. But it's not a month.