reservations before AP rates out?

[dismom3]

Hello everyone! I've read about people making ressies prior to AP codes coming out and then calling to have the codes applied later on. Is there any advantage to making prior ressies? If Disney allows only a certain amount of rooms for the AP codes, why is it an advantage to book ahead of time? Shouldn't you just wait and book it when the codes are out instead of booking ahead and then applying the rate? I'm confused. Does it matter at all? Any advantage? Thanks guys for any feedback.

 

[TLinden16]

Welcome to the DIS, Dismom3!

I usually book in advance because I have my heart set on a particular resort. Basically, I just want to have a room secured at the resort I want to stay at. Then, as soon as I hear about the AP rates coming out, I change apply the rate. If you do this right when they come out, you can usually get the rate applied to your stay. The only time I haven't been able to get the resort I want at the discount rate is when I've booked it well after the codes came out.

I don't necessarily think there is an advantage to booking the room in advance (although it does make it easier when you call to apply the discount because your information is already in the system).

Karen

 

[dismom3]

You really don't have a better chance at securing the AP rate, right? Because you could have the ressie and call right away, but they still might not have any rooms left for that rate. I really don't want to book it ahead because I know I wouldn't stay at a deluxe without an AP rate. I shouldn't book ahead then right?

 

[Gary M]

In the past, I have booked a room before the room only rates came out. This winter we plan on going to WDW during early Dec. and then again in early Feb.. Since we will not pay rack room rate, I thought it would not be wise to book a room at a rate that we will not use and take it out of the inventory. I would think that the powers to be, decide on how many rooms to make available for discounts, by how many rooms are booked. If the room only discounts don't become available, then we will vacation somewhere besides WDW.

For the last few years we have gone to WDW 3 to 4 times per year and have received room discounts each time, except for the first couple of trips, when we didn't know about discounts.

Unless you plan on paying rack room rates at the resort you have reservations, then I think it is self defeating to take the room out of the inventory.

 

[dismom3]

You are SO right! I never thought about that (taking the rooms out of inventory) and how it would affect how many discounts rooms could become available. Thank you very much for enlightening me. I'm not going to make a ressie ahead of time; I'll wait until the codes come out to book. Thanks!!

 

[DebbieB]

You have to decide if you want to take the chance. It backfired on me last October. I wanted BWI Oct 1 to 6. I didn't book, I wanted to wait for the AP rates. Turned out there was a convention and Oct 1 became totally sold out at all the Epcot resorts (incl Swan & Dolphin). Oct 2 to 6 did become available for an AP rate. If I would have reserved it, I could have paid regular rate for Oct 1 and then did a separate AP reservation for Oct 2 to 6. I already had airline tickets so I couldn't change the dates. I didn't want to move after the first night. So we stayed at CBR.

 

[CarolMN]

It's counterproductive to book a room at a rate you are not willing to pay. As already posted, if enough people do that, Disney will offer fewer (or no) discounts. Their objective is to fill the rooms for the highest number of dollars they can get.

That said, if you are going to go no matter what, it's a good idea to book a room at a resort and rate that you will use if a better opportunity doesn't present itself.

Best wishes -