Resort room only - $200 down?

[mefordis]

I thought we only needed to put $200 deposit on a room only reservation but it's asking me for the total amount, 1 night in April. Is it because it's so close to the reservation date?

Also, should I buy a package for 1 day at the park? Or buy the tickets separately?

Thx.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I believe for a room only booking, you have to pay one night as your deposit. Since your reservation is for just one night, that is why you have to pay the whole thing.

 

[saraheliz]

Room only is a one night deposit. Package is $200 down.

 

[mefordis]

Room only is a one night deposit. Package is $200 down.

Ah sorry I got that one mixed up didn't I? Too much multitasking.

 

[mefordis]

I think I should get the package because if I have to cancel within 30 days I can get a complete refund, correct?

 

[Vitamin D]

I think I should get the package because if I have to cancel within 30 days I can get a complete refund, correct?

Yes. They will also charge you the entire balance at 30 days prior to arrival. After that point none of your funds are refundable.

EDIT: The strike through is incorrect. Someone posted the official policy below. After 30 days, and up to 2 days prior to arrival, you can still receive a refund minus the $200 deposit.

 

[lockets]

room only res you can get your money back as long as canx before 5 days prior

 

[nw6675]

For packages:

Deposit and Payment Procedures •​ For reservations made 31 days or more prior to guest arrival, a deposit of $200 per reservation will be due and must be received by Walt Disney Travel Co., Inc. (“Disney”) within 3 days of booking the reservation or the reservation will automatically be cancelled. The total price of travel protection plan is also due at the time the plan is requested. For reservations that include runDisney race registrations, the cost of such race registrations is due at the time of booking. •​ Payment in full is due to Walt Disney Travel Co., Inc. 30 days prior to guest arrival. •​ For reservations made 30 days or less prior to guest arrival, payment in full is due to Walt Disney Travel Co., Inc. at time the reservation is made. •​ Payment may be made with a valid payment card, check, money order, bank wire transfer or ACH. Please see invoice for instructions on how to send payment.

Cancellation and Refunds •​ For cancellations made 30 days or more prior to guest arrival, amounts paid, minus cancellation fees assessed by third party hotels or other suppliers, non-refundable runDisney race registrations, non-refundable travel protection plan costs, and other amounts owed, will be refunded. •​ For cancellations made 2 days to 29 days prior to guest arrival, amounts paid, minus a cancellation fee of $200.00 per package and minus any cancellation fees assessed by third party hotels or other suppliers, non-refundable runDisney race registrations, non-refundable travel protection plan costs, and other amounts owed, will be refunded. •​ For cancellations made 1 day or less prior to guest arrival or for no-shows, the full price of the package is non-refundable.

 

[Vitamin D]

For packages:

​

Deposit and Payment Procedures​ •​ For reservations made 31 days or more prior to guest arrival, a deposit of $200 per reservation will be due and must be received by Walt Disney Travel Co., Inc. (“Disney”) within 3 days of booking the reservation or the reservation will automatically be cancelled. The total price of travel protection plan is also due at the time the plan is requested. For reservations that include runDisney race registrations, the cost of such race registrations is due at the time of booking. •​ Payment in full is due to Walt Disney Travel Co., Inc. 30 days prior to guest arrival. •​ For reservations made 30 days or less prior to guest arrival, payment in full is due to Walt Disney Travel Co., Inc. at time the reservation is made. •​ Payment may be made with a valid payment card, check, money order, bank wire transfer or ACH. Please see invoice for instructions on how to send payment.

Cancellation and Refunds​ •​ For cancellations made 30 days or more prior to guest arrival, amounts paid, minus cancellation fees assessed by third party hotels or other suppliers, non-refundable runDisney race registrations, non-refundable travel protection plan costs, and other amounts owed, will be refunded. •​ For cancellations made 2 days to 29 days prior to guest arrival, amounts paid, minus a cancellation fee of $200.00 per package and minus any cancellation fees assessed by third party hotels or other suppliers, non-refundable runDisney race registrations, non-refundable travel protection plan costs, and other amounts owed, will be refunded. •​ For cancellations made 1 day or less prior to guest arrival or for no-shows, the full price of the package is non-refundable.

Good info. I thought the entire thing was non refundable after the full payment deadline. I will update my post.

 

[mefordis]

Thank you so much for all of your wisdom! Another question: can I convert my room only to a package online?

I'm so glad I could cancel a package a mere 2 days before with only sacrificing $200! I hope I don't have to do that, though.

Again, you guys are so helpful!

Edit: I got a discount on a room only so if I go in and add tickets will it become a package with the same rules as a package, or a room only with separate tickets?

I would wait until the week we travel to buy the tickets, except now we must make park reservations and I'd like to secure our park (Epcot on a Friday) early.
If I buy tickets now we won't get a refund if we cancel the room only, correct? Or do they all become a package that I can cancel 2 days before check in for a refund?

 

[lanejudy]

Edit: I got a discount on a room only so if I go in and add tickets will it become a package with the same rules as a package, or a room only with separate tickets?

No, not automatically. You would need to pay for tickets in full and still have a room-only reservation with tickets separate from the room. WDW's booking system runs 2 parallel but separate streams -- packages and room-only. Changing from a room-only to a package would require cancel/rebook. They may or may not be able to shift the funds paid. If you might want to add tickets, I would book a "basic package" which is essentially the room-only with package terms for payment and cancellation. $200 deposit, balance due at 30 days, $200 penalty if cancelled within 30 days (and usually no penalty if you push it out to a future date). Then you can add tickets at any point and the tickets are part of the package terms.

 

[mefordis]

No, not automatically. You would need to pay for tickets in full and still have a room-only reservation with tickets separate from the room. WDW's booking system runs 2 parallel but separate streams -- packages and room-only. Changing from a room-only to a package would require cancel/rebook. They may or may not be able to shift the funds paid. If you might want to add tickets, I would book a "basic package" which is essentially the room-only with package terms for payment and cancellation. $200 deposit, balance due at 30 days, $200 penalty if cancelled within 30 days (and usually no penalty if you push it out to a future date). Then you can add tickets at any point and the tickets are part of the package terms.

Thank you! The package is way more expensive.
The room only rate is $546 per room (we need 2 rooms)
Tickets run about $136 and we only need one day, for Epcot.

The package for one room, 2 people would be $1304 before tax, 2 day park ticket.

If I select "no ticket" the rate of the room becomes $726.75, not the $546 a room only would give me.

What would you guys do? Just keep the $546 room only reservations and add tickets and if we cancel, I guess we can use the tickets another time, or just be out of luck?

Thanks!

 

[MomOTwins]

Thank you! The package is way more expensive.
The room only rate is $546 per room (we need 2 rooms)
Tickets run about $136 and we only need one day, for Epcot.

The package for one room, 2 people would be $1304 before tax, 2 day park ticket.

If I select "no ticket" the rate of the room becomes $726.75, not the $546 a room only would give me.

What would you guys do? Just keep the $546 room only reservations and add tickets and if we cancel, I guess we can use the tickets another time, or just be out of luck?

Thanks!

Since your one day is Epcot, I would just wait and buy tickets closer to your travel. That’s what I did on a recent trip where my only disney plans were a single epcot day (actually waited until I flew down to florida just in case I got sick or my flight got cancelled). Epcot rarely sells out of park reservations except on major holidays so buying tickets far in advance of travel is not essential. You can still make dining reservations at 60 days without buying a ticket beforehand and making a park reservation.

 

[lanejudy]

Agree. I would book the lower room-only rate and wait to buy the tickets. Just keep an eye on the Theme Park Reservations calendar and be ready to buy tickets if things are starting to fill. As PP says, Epcot is unlikely to sell-out or will be the last park to do so. If you do buy tickets and then end up cancelling, you can always use those tickets as credit towards another visit.

 

[pixieprincess925]

I guess we can use the tickets another time, or just be out of luck?

The price you paid for the tickets never goes away. You can always use that towards another trip. However, there have been reports that the ticket no longer shows up on MDE, so many people don't know if their ticket is still valid. Make sure you take a picture of the ticket (or confirmation code/receipt) before your expected park day!
You will have to call in, but your park ticket will still be on your account and you can then use it towards value for another visit.
** if the day you want to visit turns out to be a less expensive ticket day than what you already purchased, my understanding is that you would not get a refund to the less expensive price. I do not know if that value stays in your account or not.

 

[mefordis]

The price you paid for the tickets never goes away. You can always use that towards another trip. However, there have been reports that the ticket no longer shows up on MDE, so many people don't know if their ticket is still valid. Make sure you take a picture of the ticket (or confirmation code/receipt) before your expected park day!
You will have to call in, but your park ticket will still be on your account and you can then use it towards value for another visit.
** if the day you want to visit turns out to be a less expensive ticket day than what you already purchased, my understanding is that you would not get a refund to the less expensive price. I do not know if that value stays in your account or not.

Thank you. The tickets can only be used for the person it's purchased for, correct?

I made a reservation for the room only, 2 rooms. I'll buy tickets closer to the date. We will be at Universal for a day before and my kids are so fickle I worry they will want to spend 2 days at Universal instead of 1 day at Univ and 1 day at Epcot.