Questions about booking room only

[everythingALICE]

Hey guys,
I'm looking to book a package for the beginning of January (really hoping for free dining!), but since it looks like package rates may not be released until August, I have a few questions about booking a room-only reservation.

1. Will the room-only reservation allow me to book ADRs at 180 +10 days?
2. Can I then upgrade to a package (w/ tickets & dining) once those are released?
3. If I book room only and put down the deposit, I can change the reservation and the deposit will not be lost, correct? I just want to make sure that if I change dates (really around FD) or change resorts that the deposit won't be lost.

Thanks in advance!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Ok, if you book a room only, 1) you can book your ADR's at 180+10

2) You can upgrade to a package, but they will cancel the room only and refund the money and book the package and you will pay the deposit separately.

3) You can change the room only reservation and will not lose your deposit, as long as you cancel 5 days prior to check in, of course, as I said above if you change to a package, they will cancel the room only and rebook. The package will fall under the 45 day cancellation policy

 

[dmband]

as long as you cancel 5 days prior to check in

7 days they told me when i made our last ressie

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

7 days they told me when i made our last ressie

It's 5 for a room only, we had more than 13 room only reservations, one being 2 weeks ago and one coming up in August. I just looked at my confirmation that I just got and it says cancellation is 5 days prior to arrival.

 

[everythingALICE]

Perfect! Thanks for the info - it really helps.

If I were to change, it would be well before the stay. We would likely only switch dates if our original dates were too early for FD (assuming it will be offered sometime in January). Also debating between the new AoA resort or POR.

Thanks again!

 

[purple figment]

Hey guys,
I'm looking to book a package for the beginning of January (really hoping for free dining!), but since it looks like package rates may not be released until August, I have a few questions about booking a room-only reservation.

1. Will the room-only reservation allow me to book ADRs at 180 +10 days? Yes.

2. Can I then upgrade to a package (w/ tickets & dining) once those are released? Actually you will not be "upgrading" to a package because packages and room only reservations are booked by 2 different offices within Disney. If you decide to book a package they will cancel the room only, refund your deposit, and book a package with a new deposit of$200 and all of the rules regarding final payment date and change fees/penalties for a package will apply.

3. If I book room only and put down the deposit, I can change the reservation and the deposit will not be lost, correct? They will refund your deposit up to 5 days before check in date. I just want to make sure that if I change dates (really around FD) or change resorts that the deposit won't be lost.

Thanks in advance!

Having a room only res won't guarantee a FD package reservation because of the cancel room only and book package scenario. Also, while your room only deposit will be refunded, you'll have to pay the package deposit - the room only deposit won't be applied to the package deposit.

If you start by booking a package (room + tickets) now, you'll pay the $200 deposit and if a FD offer comes out you'll be able to modify your package res. You won't have to pay another deposit when you do the modification. However, be aware that package final payment is due 45 days before your check in date and there are penalties if you cancel your trip after that date.

 

[everythingALICE]

Having a room only res won't guarantee a FD package reservation because of the cancel room only and book package scenario. Also, while your room only deposit will be refunded, you'll have to pay the package deposit - the room only deposit won't be applied to the package deposit.

If you start by booking a package (room + tickets) now, you'll pay the $200 deposit and if a FD offer comes out you'll be able to modify your package res. You won't have to pay another deposit when you do the modification. However, be aware that package final payment is due 45 days before your check in date and there are penalties if you cancel your trip after that date.

Yeah, I'm trying to determine if booking the room now would be more trouble than it's worth. Normally I would book a package now, but package rates are not available for 2013 yet. Since I would be able to book ADRs in July (and package rates may not be released until August), I was thinking it may make sense to book the room so that I can make them all at once, opposed to having to make them individually day by day at 180 days out.

 

[elfbo]

We are going end of Jan 13, and hoping for FD. We booked room only back in Feb, so we could be sure to be able to do our dining rez at 180 +10, even if the packages weren't out by that point. We will be rebooking as a package as soon as those open up ... and hope the dining rez's follow so I dont have to track in 2 separate locations.

Its a bit of a pain that the deposit wont be directly applied to the new reservation.

Which leads me to wonder ... does anyone know if you cancel a room do your ADRs get cancelled as well? It may be eaiser to just book the package myself, and call and cancel the room only, rather than having the modify and then change the names and add people ...

 

[purple figment]

if you cancel a room do your ADRs get cancelled as well?

No, your dining reservations won't be cancelled. Except to access the 180 + 10 your resort reservation has no bearing on your dining reservations.

 

[peaceluv&mickeymouse]

I was wondering all these same things. I ended up making the room only res to guarantee we stay at the new AoA resort LM rooms. I plan on purchasing a package and am hoping for free dining as well. The CM told me to call when packages come out and they will convert my room only res to a package, but they just have to get guest services involved. ?? We will see when the packages come out how this will work. I was just afraid the new resort might sell out.
Our trip is Jan 3-13. Rreally hoping for 10 days of FD!!