Retroactive Summer 2018 Promotions-Need Advice from Wise Disboard Friends

[Little E]

I have a conundrum, and I'd appreciate some insight and guidance from my Disboard friends. Long story very short, we have a short Disneyland trip planned that was originally tacked on to a longer CA national parks trip. We have had to pull the plug on the other pieces of our CA trip, and are trying to figure out if we can just go to Disneyland for the three days we had planned.

I'm a WDW vet, but this will be our first Disneyland trip. I've always used a TA to book our WDW trips, and she has always helped me navigate the booking process. I booked our Disneyland trip all on my own this time, so this is new territory for me. According to several other Disboard threads I've researched, it looks like there just aren't summer promotions in July at Disneyland. From what I can see, the current promotion runs through mid-June, and historically there are mid-August promotions that come out in mid-July. I know that there is never a guarantee of any promotions at all, but it would really help us if we could apply a promotion to our on property stay. We currently have a three day package including park tickets and the Disneyland Hotel reserved July 17-20. We are toying with the idea of moving the trip to mid-August. My oldest starts band camp 8/20, so we HAVE to be back before this starts. I'm planning on calling Disneyland this morning to see what's available. In the meantime, I've been playing around on the website with dates and hotel availability.

Here's where I'm stuck. If I move our reservation to mid-August, right now, no current promotion is in place to take advantage of. I know that historically they come out mid-July. Our 30 day window to pay our final payment for the reservation may be BEFORE any promotions are released. If I make my final payment and THEN a promotion comes out, can I get the difference back? How does this dilemma work? We want to go to Disneyland, but I'd really rather not pay rack rate.

Any advice my wise Disboard friends can offer would be awesome. Our dates in mid-August are somewhat flexible before August 20. Is there a secret about moving a reservation that I should know about? What if our dates only overlap a summer promotion for a day or two and not for the duration of the time we're there...can I still get the promotion? Any other tips or tricks about applying promotions to reservations that have already been made?

TIA friends!

 

[Whistlebee]

I’d book a room direct with Disney and see if a promotion comes out. I’d book a room on Orbitz and use coupon codes to save 15% and I would definitely buy my tickets thru Last minute travel club to save money on your tickets. My advice is to not use a travel agent. Book it yourself, save money!

 

[HydroGuy]

Also, WDW needs to use promotions more in times like summer because of weather. DLR does not. Also DLR depends less on vacationers from out of the area. The only time I see summer promotions at DLR is during a deep recession. 2009-2010 had some good ones.

Bottom line is I do not know what to advice because it seems so unlikely to be anything of significance.

 

[agamble]

Be careful going too late in August. You want to go before local APs are unblocked. You're probably okay if you're going beforr the 20th, but check the block out calendar.

If you want to stay at a Disney owned hotel then be prepared to pay for it and hope a discount comes out. I personally doubt there will be any until after your August dates.

If you want to save money consider an off site hotel. There are some nice ones around that are still half the cost of a Disney hotel. Several new condo style hotels opened in the last few years. Unfortunately this close to your trip room rates will be higher than if you had booked several months ago. But still cheaper than a Disney hotel. Unlike WDW there are plenty of close hotels to the parks, some are even closer than the Disney hotels. As a previous response said you can purchase your tickets through Last Minute Travel to save money if you opt to not do a package.

 

[Little E]

Thank you, everyone, for your feedback! I really appreciate it! I rebooked for August, and I'm hoping that I hit on a promotion time. When I talked with the CM who helped me change my reservation from July dates to August dates, she let me know that if I have paid for my package in full, and then a promotion is released days after I've paid, I should call DL. As long as the promotion covers the length of our stay, we are eligible for a refund of the difference in cost. During our stay, it's considered a "credit", and we can use this credit towards anything we like at DL. If we do not use the credit, it gets refunded to my credit card. This made me feel a lot better.

 

[Geemo]

Thank you, everyone, for your feedback! I really appreciate it! I rebooked for August, and I'm hoping that I hit on a promotion time. When I talked with the CM who helped me change my reservation from July dates to August dates, she let me know that if I have paid for my package in full, and then a promotion is released days after I've paid, I should call DL. As long as the promotion covers the length of our stay, we are eligible for a refund of the difference in cost. During our stay, it's considered a "credit", and we can use this credit towards anything we like at DL. If we do not use the credit, it gets refunded to my credit card. This made me feel a lot better.

I'm hoping for DLR hotel discounts to makeup for the new hotel construction that will be taking place beginning this summer.
As long as your dates are before the block-outs are lifted you should be fine.

 

[Little E]

@Geemo where do I go to look for blockout dates?

 

[PHXscuba]

The SoCal AP dates are the ones that end up skewing things ...

Here's the link on the Disneyland site: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/blockout-dates/

Historically Disneyland hasn't needed many summer promos. We got one last August but we arrived pretty much when the APs opened back up, so probably after your travel dates

My only other thought would be to un-bundle your hotel/tickets. If you aren't 100% certain of dates or even if you'll be able to go, paying hotel-only gives you like a 5-day cancellation window instead of 30. And you can buy the tickets whenever or through whoever you want.

PHXscuba

 

[Little E]

Thank you, @PHXscuba !

 

[Princess Katelet]

I'm a WDW vet as well, ALWAYS staying on property for my 10+ stays in the past two decades. However, I went to DLR back in 2012 and haven't given WDW another thought and wouldn't go there again unless someone else paid. I'm utterly hooked on DLR.

I have never stayed on property at DLR, despite always staying on property at WDW. My first trip I was really worried it would be awful to not be in a
Disney hotel but I was soooo wrong. I stayed at Candy Cane Inn and have for my four subsequent trips after 2012, too. It's just down the street from the gates of DLR and directly in front of Cars Land at DCA. You simply walk ten minutes down the palm tree studded path to the gates and you're in!! They also have a free shuttle and free parking and free breakfast.

I mention all that just in case you are trying to save more money; I wanted you to know staying in a Disney hotel 'on property' isn't necessary like it tends to be at WDW. I also used to do the whole packages at WDW (room, tickets, dining) but with staying at Candy Cane I just purchase tickets from Last Minute Travel and save $30 to $50 PER TICKET. You can also purchase at the Candy Cane check in desk but there will not be a discount. DON'T purchase at the gates...the lines are awful at the ticket booths.

I hope you have a fabulous time!!

 

[katyringo]

I know as a WDW vet you hear off site hotel and shutter... but really you will save the most money but cutting the on site hotel and staying accross the street on harbor. And across the street is really across the street. It was less then a 10min walk from our hotel to the entrance to Disneyland.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

The OP might find some very helpful information here:

A DLR Guide for WDW Vets

https://www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-dlr-area-hotel-for-you.3656512/

 

[Little E]

Thank you so much, everyone! While we are really excited about trying Disneyland, I've been a little nervous about how it compares to WDW. It's good to know that the Land is as awesome as the World! Thanks also for the off site hotel information. We have always stayed on site at WDW; we've thoroughly enjoyed a variety of values, moderates, and deluxe hotels. Because this may be our only visit to Disneyland, we really wanted to try to stay onsite. However, I'll definitely check out the resorts close by DL. It sounds like DL is a totally different "mojo" than WDW, and maybe an off site option would be good for us to save some money. I'll keep you posted!

 

[Geemo]

Thank you so much, everyone! While we are really excited about trying Disneyland, I've been a little nervous about how it compares to WDW. It's good to know that the Land is as awesome as the World! Thanks also for the off site hotel information. We have always stayed on site at WDW; we've thoroughly enjoyed a variety of values, moderates, and deluxe hotels. Because this may be our only visit to Disneyland, we really wanted to try to stay onsite. However, I'll definitely check out the resorts close by DL. It sounds like DL is a totally different "mojo" than WDW, and maybe an off site option would be good for us to save some money. I'll keep you posted!

The savings by stay off-site might allow for various perks in the parks.
I thoroughly enjoy the WOC Dessert Party.
A character breakfast at one of the restaurants.
Fantasmic! dinner package.
A parade viewing meal package...
All of these do add up.

If the time in your room is limited (shower and sleeping) staying on-site isn't necessary for a DLR trip.
The hotels are open to the public and if you's like to see them, you can stroll through each one.

I also prefer to book room and ticket on my own. It generally saves money and you have a better control over everything.
If you do stay on-site watch for a Special Promotion for Aug 6th to end of September. If Disney follows past timing it will be announce mid July.
The promotion is anywhere from 10% to 25%, depending on hotel and dates.


Enjoy your trip

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... It sounds like DL is a totally different "mojo" than WDW, and maybe an off site option would be good for us to save some money. I'll keep you posted!

DLR is definitely a whole different "mojo" than WDW! (Note that this isn't a bad thing at all, just different!) We've stayed on and off site, enjoyed both, and found a good balance for us. Now we stay off site and use the savings to splurge (yes, baby!) in the parks on things like the WOC Dessert Party, F! Dining Package, nice TS dinners, tours, hard ticket extras (e.g. MHP), etc. For others, staying on site is their splurge. Do your research, ask any and all questions here, then find what will work best for you! You're going to have a great trip!