Room only reservation - any difference between calling and online?

[peg2001]

It's been 3 years since we've been to WDW and it looks like there's been lots of changes, from the structure of admission to the "preferred" buildings at the All Star resorts. (I'm floored that folks will pay extra each night just to save a few steps, but that's another thread!)

I'm preparing to make a room only reservation for early December. Does it matter if I call WDW or use their online reservation system in regards to the terms and conditions (deposit, date of final payment, date for cancellation, etc.)?

Many thanks. . .
Peg

 

[Cool-Beans]

If you're booking room-only, there isn't a date for final deposit. You pay the first night's room and tax when you book it and the rest isn't due until you check in.

If you stay a long way from the main lobby/food court areas, you'll see why people who don't drive pay the extra money to be close. It can be a long walk after a long day of walking. Plus, a lot of people take the stuff back to their room and it starts getting cold.

 

[dawgsgirl]

There is a BIG difference between calling and booking online. You can book a room only online, but everything online is considered a package. Payment due 45 days out. If you call and book a room only, you can cancel up to 5 days before and can pay when you get there. The deposit on a package is $200 and for a room only is the cost of the room for one night. CALL and get your room only. Don't fool with the online thing!

 

[gardenia]

Dawgsgirl has it right, and please be sure to use the TOLL FREE NUMBER to book: 800-828-0228. I hate it when people say they booked online to avoid long-distance charges.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If you're booking room-only, there isn't a date for final deposit. You pay the first night's room and tax when you book it and the rest isn't due until you check in.

If that's true how come when WDW e-mails or mails you the confirmations they say a deposit of $ is due by a certin date, because the back of our confirmations say these words. DEPOSIT REQUIREMENTS: If a deposit is not recieved by the date indicated on the front of the confirmation, the reservation will automatically cancel. Deposit requiremnets for arrivals are subject to change and additional depositis may be required. I am guessing the last line is what they meant by paying it when you check-in, but if that were true why do the confirmations not say that in writting? I am not worried about our reservations because when my Dad booked them he paid the 1st night deposit right away over the phone and the area on our confirmations where it says Deposit Amount Due it says $0.00, since it says they recived the 1st night.

 

[klofan]

I just booked a room only at disneyworld.com. All they did was ask for a deposit (first night's pay) and I got a confirmation e-mail telling me that the balance is due at check-in.

 

[winniethepoohsmom]

Also if you book online you can't apply any discounts such as any promotions or a AAA discount. I prefer to talk with someone in case I want to ask any questions or make any requests about room location such as a certain building maybe closer to the pool or a certain view just make sure it's not a preferred room if you don't want that. Linda

 

[peg2001]

Thank you, everyone. To be safe, I'll call (thanks for the toll-free number!) and be sure I get a room only reservation.

Peg

 

[raven69david]

Everything you need to know about booking online and extra payments can be found here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=905380

Know it, learn it, live it....

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

I booked our September vacation via WDW reservations, but before doing that I went to the AAA website to see which rate was better. I could have booked a room only with AAA discount via AAA's website, but chose to call Disney direct. I wanted to be sure to get preferred room, King bed & anniversary buttons & knew I could only get those specifics via WDW reservations.

 

[fla4fun]

You CAN book a room only reservation online and only have to pay the one night room deposit. I do it all the time for last minute reservations. However, the big problem has been that the cancellation policy for room only reservations online was the same as the packages: 45 days. Even though when you read through the reservation it says 5 days, in the terms and conditions it would still read 45 days. Some people have reported that this has changed, and some are still reporting having issues with the 45 day policy. So just to be on the safe side, I call if I'm booking more than a week or two ahead, but for the last minute reservations, I'll book online.

 

[Cool-Beans]

If that's true how come when WDW e-mails or mails you the confirmations they say a deposit of $ is due by a certin date, because the back of our confirmations say these words. DEPOSIT REQUIREMENTS: If a deposit is not recieved by the date indicated on the front of the confirmation, the reservation will automatically cancel. Deposit requiremnets for arrivals are subject to change and additional depositis may be required. I am guessing the last line is what they meant by paying it when you check-in, but if that were true why do the confirmations not say that in writting? I am not worried about our reservations because when my Dad booked them he paid the 1st night deposit right away over the phone and the area on our confirmations where it says Deposit Amount Due it says $0.00, since it says they recived the 1st night.

A deposit of first night's room and tax is required. You just don't have to pay it in full. But I rarely, if ever, book a hotel more than 30 days out. I've been known to call while driving in from MCO.

I can tell you that as recently as December I have booked online and paid only the first night's room and tax. Yesterday I called and booked another hotel for this Friday and paid the whole thing, but I didn't have to...all I had to pay was the first night's room and tax.

I don't book packages and have never been asked to pay more than the first night's room and tax for any room-only reservation.

I assume it is the same for others because I don't think Disney likes me best. That would be nice, though. "Beanie, we like you best and will let you do whatever you want!" I'd like that.

 

[TinkrBeth]

I booked both resorts (room only) online, paid the first night on both and my confirmation says that balance is due at check in

 

[MiamiBeach]

Cancellation is NOT 45 days for room-only booked online. I booked a room just the other day and this is the cancellation policy that was in the email confirmation:

Cancellation Policy

• In order to receive a full refund of your deposit, notification of cancellation must be received at least six (6) days prior to your arrival date.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I booked both resorts (room only) online, paid the first night on both and my confirmation says that balance is due at check in

Maybe there is a difference when booking a room only reservation threw CRO and doing it online. Since we always book our reservations threw CRO I can say that no where in writting do our confirmations say the remaining balance is due at check-in, because they say once you pay the 1st night over the phone that's it and there is nothing else left to pay.

 

[CleveRocks]

For room-only ...

The only difference I'm aware of is the required timing of paying that deposit of first night's room rental. Online, you must pay it immediately with a credit card. If you phone the Disney Reservations Center, they will ask you to pay that deposit immediately on the phone with them, but that's not a requirement -- you can pay it within 14 days, either by check-in-the-mail or by calling back with credit card info. They won't "offer" that option to you, but you can tell them that's how you prefer to do it and it's totally kosher.

So that's it, as far as I know ... online = pay deposit immediately; phone = option of paying deposit within 14 days.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

For room-only ...

The only difference I'm aware of is the required timing of paying that deposit of first night's room rental. Online, you must pay it immediately with a credit card. If you phone the Disney Reservations Center, they will ask you to pay that deposit immediately on the phone with them, but that's not a requirement -- you can pay it within 14 days, either by check-in-the-mail or by calling back with credit card info. They won't "offer" that option to you, but you can tell them that's how you prefer to do it and it's totally kosher.

So that's it, as far as I know ... online = pay deposit immediately; phone = option of paying deposit within 14 days.

Like I said before we always pick the option of paying it immediately on the phone with them, because it can be taken of right away. I am sure if everyone was able to do it like that they would, but obviously people may not have the money right away to pay the 1st night deposit. So it's good WDW gives you those options which is why booking over the phone sounds better then doing it online.

 

[fla4fun]

Cancellation is NOT 45 days for room-only booked online. I booked a room just the other day and this is the cancellation policy that was in the email confirmation:

Cancellation Policy

• In order to receive a full refund of your deposit, notification of cancellation must be received at least six (6) days prior to your arrival date.

The disparity was between what printed in email and what appeared in terms and conditions you are supposed to read and acknowledge before you book the room. Some people were having problems because the terms and conditions read 45 days regardless of whether you were booking a package or a room only, and there were CM's enforcing it. It was more of an issue if you were booking a discount, such as an AP or Florida Resident discount, rather than a rack rate booking. I hope they do finally have it straightened out, because it is much easier (provided the website is actually working) to book online as opposed to over the phone.

 

[ss0414]

Some information regarding the online reservations and changes I made recently.
For our recent trip 06/29 - 07/06, I rented points from a DVC member; however, I needed a room 6/29. Having an annual pass, I made a reservation in May on the internet for BWI for 6/29. To make a long story shorter, during a 30 day period, I changed our room only reservation three times. Each time I booked the room online, called after and cancelled the previous reservation. Each time I cancelled, I was told a credit for the previous room would appear on my AmEx within 5 - 7 days. Anyway, kept waiting for credit on AmEx. Finally, last week I called and they had to transfer me to accounting. She said because I made the reservations on line and they were cancelled within 45 days of arrival, they would not be refunded. She said booking by phone is the only way that carrys the 5 day cancellation refund policy. I explained to her that all three times I called to cancel I asked each person on the phone if this would be a problem and each time I was told "no problem, refund will be credited within 5-7 days". Anyway, she told me had I not called the refunds would never have been credited. It all worked out in the end, but next time I'm so indecisive, I'll use the phone to make and cancel.