Room block questions?

[Ember]

So I got my room block builder today... (Everything is getting closer! YAY!) But I am confused! I have to guarantee for a min. of 25 nights, right? But I also don't want anyone to be unable to get the discounted rates. So with approx. 40 guests and roughly 25 guest rooms. So does that mean that each guest will only get the discount for one night? What about the 14 nights that we need for our honeymoon??

 

[DisneyBug81]

You can guarantee more than 25 nights. 25 is just the minimum that Dinsey requires. And if you're going to need 14 nights for your honeymoon, you will definitely need more than 25 total! Just be aware that if you guarantee more than your minimum nights, you are responsible for that higher number. DFTW adds 10% to your required nights (you would get to block 28 rooms for a guarantee of 25 nights). You can also add more nights as necessary (by calling the number that deals with group sales), but they will change your "guarantee" to reflect the increase.

Hope that wasn't too confusing ...

 

[princessbride6205]

Do you know how many rooms you could guarantee? If you're SURE you will use more than the 25, it would be good to up it. That said, it was my experience that as long as the resort wasn't sold out, guests were still able to book with the wedding discount, even once the held room nights had been reserved.

You may find it helpful to send out informal save-the-dates to your guests asking them which hotel they might stay at and for how many nights. We were very surprised that the majority of our guests wanted the Yacht Club! We thought everyone would be staying moderate - and in the end, most went deluxe and the others preferred Value. Good luck with your block!

Also, if you end up guaranteeing extra nights and for some reason in a few months you are worried about making your room requirement - I'm sure there are a few people here who would be glad to be a part of your block and earn the discount.

 

[disprincessatheart]

My EM has been REALLY helpful with the room block. My mom has changed her mind about what hotel she wants to stay in - she was set on the Coronado until she realized that the only sit down restaurant there serves "mexican" food (she's a super picky eater), so now she's leaning towards the Contemporary (plus in late April next year, the price difference is only about $60 per night, so she's decided to splurge). Of course now she's torn between the two hotels, so our EM has both on hold for her and my sister for the week. She said once we do our planning visit and people start to book, she'll just cancel the extras that we don't need.

We'll also probably end up well over our 25 nights, so my EM told me the same as another poster said - they'll get the discount at one of your 3 hotels (others resorts won't get discount) as long as there are discount rooms available in those resorts. I was told that it works like discount fares on an airplane. There are only a certain number of discounted rooms available for any one night, and once they're sold out, they're sold out. The reason for the room block is to hold some of those discounted rooms, but by no means are those 25 nights the only ones available to you and your guests at a discount.

For my room block (just did mine in July) I reserved our room at the GF , a room for my mom and dad, a room for my sister and her DH and kids, a room for my other BM, 1 room each for my two good friends that are coming, and one room for my DF's dad and brother. Those were all people I could ask - Where do you want to stay and for how many nights. That way I knew what I was booking and wasn't taking a shot in the dark.
I figured once most of them book - they're all planners like me, so they'll book as soon as they get the save the dates - then I'll add a couple more rooms - 20% more than whatever we've booked already, so that we're not on the hook for any more rooms if no one else decides to stay at Disney.

Anyway, I hope that helps. My EM told me that they really make it seem more difficult than it is - start with enough to cover the people you KNOW will book, and add on from there later. The only way that you have to be really concerned to try and hold enough for everyone so they don't get locked out of the discount is if you're planning your wedding for a really busy time of the year, and in that case, make sure everyone knows they need to book early or risk paying full price.

Good luck!