Should I pay $200 deposit NOW on a December trip or wait?

[Brooknwdw]

HI!

You guys have always given such great advise so this is my question.
I am planning a trip in December. Look like great dates for us would be Dec 11-16, 6 nights to be exact.

On Disney website my quote was $2117 for:

6 night/7 day at All star Movies
7 day myw tickets
dining plan

This is for two adults, Ds8 Ds10 (at time of trip anyway).

This is about what we pais last year for a early June Package, except less because our son will be 10 this time.


SO ANYWAY..should I reserve now, pay the $200 deposit (don't have all the cash saved yet) or WAIT to make ressies in case they offer any deals?
If they do offer anything do they let you apply a discount to an existing ressie?


TIA!!

 

[BamaBaloo]

We are trying to answer this question ourselves. We are planning to go from 12/7 - 12/6 for DS 5th birthday and his first ever WDW trip. Right now, we are leaning toward Coronado Springs.

 

[shellbelle]

If you really want to stay at AS Movies, I'd book now. You never know if it will fill up and then you will have to choose another hotel.

 

[Priorityonecb]

My advice...book it now. Then keep an eagle eye out for any special deals going on for your dates. The second you see one...give them a call and they will adjust the rate! Good luck!! I am right there with you on this one! We have reservations...but are hoping for a great deal to come along for October.

 

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

I would book now, but I am an overplanner. What I did in May 2005 for our August 2006 Land/Sea package was make our ressies with deposit and I have been paying a couple hundred dollars every month and now my payment in full date is quickly approaching and I almost have the vacation paid. It wasn't too painful and it means all major things are paid for, with the exception of airfare. I am waiting for a really deal and to be closer to the time when we will leave.

Have fun!

Disney Crazy Debbie

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

Book now, that way you can pay it off as you go,i LOVED doing the payment plan

BamaBaloo, we stayed at coronado in August, my kids LOVED it, especially the pool, have a GREAT time

 

[Mickeyistheman]

Book Now!!!!

You never know if that will sell out or not, but you only have to put down $200 and if I am not mistaken you can cancel outside of 45 days prior to departure date and get back your full deposit. So why not!!

Good Luck!!!

 

[mytwotinks]

You can also just book the room and add the rest on later if you want. You'd have less due right now.

 

[zookeeper]

SIMILAR QUESTION HERE...

Last September we got the free dining plan ( which was amazing). I heard that every year beginning in late August they usually offer some kind of deal because of hurricanes and the start of the off-season due to back-to-school dates. If I were to book now would I be able to apply any future offers to my trip? Can anyone tell me from their own experience please. I'd love to book now and start paying it off a little at a time, but I'd hate to miss out on a great deal because I jumped the gun. Thanks for your help

 

[cobbler]

I would book now. You can always cancel or change later, you have up to 45 days prior to get that $$ back if you need to.

 

[Brooknwdw]

Thanks so much to all!
I think I will book now. Last year we stayed at sports, loved it, this time kids want to try Movies! (Toy story seection I think).

So that was another question I had...you can "pay on it" as you go, right? Like when I save a couple hundred, I can call & make that payment or send them a check? Does it have to be a set-up payment plan or just as you can?

Thanks again!

 

[Brooknwdw]

If you really want to stay at AS Movies, I'd book now. You never know if it will fill up and then you will have to choose another hotel.

Oh my Gosh...hopefully that won't happen in early December! I picked this date becuase it is suppose to be one of the "least crowded/best" times of the year to go.
I am gettin' alittle nervous now!

 

[Chrisypoo]

If you have AAA, I'd say give them a call (or email) and see what their rates are (I saved about $200), if not I'd book now.

 

[Sinderelli]

Thanks so much to all!
I think I will book now. Last year we stayed at sports, loved it, this time kids want to try Movies! (Toy story seection I think).

So that was another question I had...you can "pay on it" as you go, right? Like when I save a couple hundred, I can call & make that payment or send them a check? Does it have to be a set-up payment plan or just as you can?

Thanks again!

Yes, you can pay on it as you go, as long as your balance is paid by a certain amount of days before your trip (I think it's 45 days, but I'm not sure). What a great thing....Disney on Layaway! I Love it!

 

[Kristina]

Hi Brooknwdw

We too hope to visit the World in December, however nothing is certain yet. If we do I plan on getting a package also but first we will book a room only. The deposit is only one night's room rate which for us will be cheaper than the 200 dollar package deposit since we will be staying at the Pop Century. However we will also be paying off the ressie before we get there so mostly we will be getting a room only ressie at first for the better cancelation rate, which for us is really important. With a room only you can change or cancel up to 5 days beforehand without having to pay anything where as with a package it's free 45 days prior, but after that it's 100 dollars and when it gets down to the wire at 5 days prior, it jumps to 200 smackaroos .

With our last trip we had already changed to the package in order to get the "free dining" but this time I was thinking we would wait and change it to a package when we get there or perhaps a few days prior. Not sure if that would be without hick-ups however! Time will tell!

Have fun, you are going to the World at Christmas time! Woo hooo

 

[Brooknwdw]

Hi again

Just an update, I went ahead & made my ressies tonight! Paid my deposit & got a confirmation number..that makes it seem so much more REAL!

The Cm assured me that I can in fact change or cancel the ressie up to 45 days out (which is October 27th) with no charges.

WOW I am so excited.

OH...I did not pay for preferred room but requested Toy Story building closest to the main building. Does that sound like a good choice?


Thanks!

 

[Allison]

FYI-You cannot make payments on reservations booked ONLINE.

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

FYI-You cannot make payments on reservations booked ONLINE.

YOU CAN! I made my reservation yesterday for our trip in August and put down the deposit.. and now I have the option of making payments when I want to. It's just that the minimum payment you can make at a time is $30.

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Woops, sorry! $20 minimum payment!

 

[Allison]

YOU CAN! I made my reservation yesterday for our trip in August and put down the deposit.. and now I have the option of making payments when I want to. It's just that the minimum payment you can make at a time is $30.

Hmmm...that's interesting. I was reading a post a few days ago where someone was upset they couldn't make payments. They had made a payment and then it was returned to them. Maybe it was for room only and not a package.