Questions about making reservations? very confused!!

[MinnieM21]

Help me please! I'm absolutely clueless and very confused about the process of making reservations! All this planning is SO overwhelming and I'd greatly appreciate your guys help. It's my first Walt Disney World trip and so...I need quite a bit of help regarding hotel reservations. Ok here are my questions!


I plan on purchasing an AP so my quetion is how do I get my AP discount on the room (assuming there are AP rates at the time)? Can I call and make the reservation and call later and give them the code when it comes out or something like that? Or do I make the reservation and tell them I want the AP rate?

Ok next question! I plan on staying at the Poly for my trip. Do I tell them what longhouse I would like to be in at the time of the reservation? Or do I make the reservation and call back later to tell them about where I would like to be located if possible? Because I heard something about calling a couple days before to make specific requests. I'm sorry I'm SOOO confused!

Thanks for helping me out!

 

[johnsonet]

Don't worry - it will be fine.

Call Central Reservations at 407-W-DISNEY. Tell them you'd like to see if there are any Passholder rates for the dates of your trip. You don't need to already have an AP at this point. I know from personal experience. Just have it at check-in. I hope your trip is soon - if not the AP rates, if any, will not yet be out. Anyway, if your dates are further off than a couple of months or so, and you want to reserve a room now, book what you want (and are willing to pay the deposit for) and then later you can call back and modify your reservation.
Specify that you'd like to have the 6-day cancellation policy (if indeed this is what you want. (WDW Travel Co. offers less flexibility), although I believe the deposit is a flat $200) Your deposit if done thru Central Reservations will be one night's accomodations including tax with the balance due at check-in. I'm sorry my answer is so disjointed
The Cast Member may or may not ask if you have any special requests. However, now IS the time to make them (or call back later with them and have them added to your reservation). I have repeatedly read that this is the best way to do it. Keep it as straightforward as possible and keep in mind that they are merely requests and are never guaranteed. Make your requests in order of importance to you. For example, my recent requests at AKL were:
#1 non-smoking room (check)
#2 Zebra Trail (check)
#3 bunk bed room (no-go )
Hey, 2 out of 3 "ain't" bad
Good luck!

 

[susy]

When you call, specify that you wish to make a room only reservation with one night's deposit and a five day out cancel policy. Make your requests now, like described above. If you travel at a busy time, you might not get the AP rate due to availability. Be flexible. Have a list ready of alternative "views" or resorts. For example, if you wanted a WL standard and there is not AP rate available for your dates, then ask for a woods or courtyard view-if they have it, it will be less than the standard at rack rate. Does this make sense?

 

[MinnieM21]

Thank you both so much! You both were a big help to me!!It's all so clear now !!!