Rookie Resort discounts January 2013

[MikeinBoston]

Hi Folks, after about a 3 year period of missing.. I'm heading back to WDW. Last time I went was in 2009, and stayed at POR. It was a semi-last minute booking and I got in on a 30% off deal the week before thanksgiving. I realize that as of now they have some summer deals posted, my question is.. should I book my package now, or wait a few months and see if they will offer any deals. My thinking is this: Book the package now, as I may not be able to book during my scheduled week off in January.. or wait and see if any deals will come out... or finally book a package, then if I can get a better deal, cancel my package and re-book?? I already have my flight deal booked so I'm really stuck on certain dates. I've seen on Mousesavers, that discounts for this period last time were released in August, as well as a month before. I'm just afraid all the rooms will eventually get booked!

Thanks in advance!

 

[peaceluv&mickeymouse]

If you have your air booked why not secure the resort you want. Book your package and then apply any discounts that come out later.

We have booked everything and are just waiting for FD or some other discount to be announced.

Also staiyng at POR Riverside in January.

 

[monica9]

Hi...If you have your flights booked already, I would just go with it and book it now. Can you change your flights without a charge? I would just book the resort. I have switched my resorts dates, room, package, etc what feels like a dozen times already and all was fine. I think as long as you change things up before the full payment is due you will be fine.

Where are you thinking of staying this time? How long? How many of you?

 

[Kristallc]

I would book. The other times I have gone, I have booked, then applied PINs when they came out later.
This year we are booked at POR for jan 26th -feb2 hoping for free dining! (or no eating ha ha, we are poor)

 

[MikeinBoston]

I didn't realize you could apply for discounts that come out later down the line. I can't really adjust my flights because thats my designated time off from work. So say I book a package today.. and in November, a 30% deal comes out, will they apply the discount if I call and ask?

We are staying Jan 3-7, and just me and the girlfriend.

 

[mickeynut1]

I didn't realize you could apply for discounts that come out later down the line. I can't really adjust my flights because thats my designated time off from work. So say I book a package today.. and in November, a 30% deal comes out, will they apply the discount if I call and ask?

We are staying Jan 3-7, and just me and the girlfriend.

Yes, you can apply a discount to a current reservation provided the resort you have booked is available under that promo. Not all resorts/room types are always included, so sometimes you have to be flexible with your resort in order to take advantage of a discount. I would have a 2nd resort choice in mind just in case your first choice isn't available, should a discount come out for your dates. Good luck .

 

[MikeinBoston]

Hi folks, thanks for the answers! I went ahead and booked just so my specific dates would be locked in. Now if a deal comes up, i'll try to use in the future.

 

[jcjen519]

I would book now for sure. We are going the first week of January and staying at Bay Lake. We made the reservations several months ago and really had trouble getting what we wanted. Granted, we were using DVC points. still though, I'd book to make sure I got what I wanted, you can always apply discounts later or if you decide you didn't get enough of a discount to justify the resort you chose you can change.

 

[kerplop]

Yeah if you've already booked your flights, you're going either way. A discount would be great I'm sure, but you might as well get the hotel you want for sure and wait to see if you get lucky

 

[Sue M]

As mentioned, having a resort booked now doesn't guarantee that you'll get a discount should they come out. WDW is releasing discounts a bit later these days, and not all resorts or room categories are discounted.

If you're not planning on getting the DDP, I'd book a room only, if you have AAA, you'll get a discounted rate. Then you can buy your park tickets thru Undercover Tourist, which had discounts esp if you use the mousesavers.com link.

Another thought people have expressed is that booking ahead without a discount can work against you. Disney is only discounting rooms and resorts that need rooms filled. If they are filled enough at rack rate, they won't release discounts for that resort, as we've seen this year with WL and FQ only receiving 5% discounts. While other deluxe got 30% discounts.

Personally, I wait for discounts, or book with a AAA rate. Even if I have flight booked. I know I can get a room in one of the resorts. And it's usually my 1st pick. I phone the moment the discounts are released.

For Jan, I booked room only with AAA room discount thru WDW. Now I'm waiting to see if any better discounts are released.