Tricky question..

[minnie56]

We are going to be in Disney Dec 28-Jan 02...

The great rates (annual passholder) must have you arriving by Dec 26th.

If I book 7 nights at AKL and don't arrive until the 28th (I could call and say I am detained by weather???) if I pay for the room (s) for 2 nights whilst not actually there...is that 'legal'??

Anybody ever done this?
The rates are so good for AKL savannah view...it works out not too much more than 5 nights at Coronado Springs and I hate to miss the opportunity.

I did ask a CM and she said "Well, I won't tell" but I cannot just not arrive??

Thanks...

 

[safetymom]

If you don't check in then you would be considered a no show whether you paid or not. Your reservation would be cancelled.

 

[>>^..^<<]

The total cost of paying for the extra 2 nights (without being there) + your real nights is lower than the total cost for arriving on the 28th?

Wow..

I would be concerned something would go terribly wrong by fudging the dates and not arriving for 2 days. New Years is an extremely busy time and the resorts will be bustling...

Personally I think I would stick with the higher cost on the correct dates - but do let us know what you decide and how it goes.


>>^..^<<

 

[justhat]

I know if you call and tell them you need to modify the reservation because you can't get there due to weather, they would not cancel the reservation. I know this because when we were there in February we got stuck there for 3 extra nights (we were supposed to fly home Monday night but our flight was cancelled because of the blizzard in DC and we had to stay until Thursday night, the earliest the airline could get us on another flight). When we went to the front desk at ASMu to extend our stay, the CM told us lots of people had called to say that they were stuck in their home cities and couldn't get down there for another 2 days and wanted to be sure they would still have a room. I'm pretty sure they were charged for the nights they didn't go, but like you said, it's worth it since it'll cost less (which I totally understand since we went last year 12/27-1/4 and had we checked in on the 24th or whatever day was the deadline for the AP rate, our whole stay would have been cheaper including the additional nights than paying rack rates during holiday season). To check on that though and make sure no policies have changed, called WDW and (without mentioning your reservation if you want) tell them that you have reservations during the holiday period but you're afraid of weather related problems and if you got there a day late but called to explain, would they still hold your room. I mean, if you're paying for it, I don't see why they'd care if it's occupied or empty, but check anyway.

 

[minnie56]

For the input!

To stay for 5 nights at Coronado Springs (2 rooms) the total is $2,051........7 nights at AKL (2 rooms) is $2,325, so although it is more...I get a lot more bang for my buck!

I could have a friend check us in....but that gets complicated as his I.D etc would be used or I could pay the entire booking in advance and merely notify them I will be delayed.

At this point..I really am toying with the idea...haven't thought it all out properly yet.I just hate to pass up on a good deal....

Thanks again

 

[mep319]

They didn't ask for ID when we checked in at the AKL on 10/24...just an FYI.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Originally posted by mep319
They didn't ask for ID when we checked in at the AKL on 10/24...just an FYI.

They didn't ask for a credit card?

With the new homeland security stuff.. I had to show my passport, they asked for it in concierge - even though they knew me as I had stayed there before - they wrote my passport number down and looked at my photo.

>>^..^<<

 

[minnie56]

I mean credit card really for room charging and then the name won't match and it could be hard to get it reversed back?

What a tangled web 'I' weave....

 

[minnie56]

as 'Cruise List Mistress' says..
I also was asked for my passport when I checked in this past August ...

 

[mep319]

We did but only after they asked if I wanted room charging privledges, I got the impression if we didn't want the charging privleges he wouldn't have asked...he did ask for anything...we were paid if full prior to arriving so no CC would have been needed...we had a room only w/ an AP rate. They did not ask for id or AP..which I offered to show... he declined. Kind of amusing...we only had expired passes too...needed to pick up and activate the new ones......kind of makes you wonder....

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Minie56

I know just send me your AP and credit card in the mail...and I will go to AKL check-in early for you....No Trouble at all...
I wont charge anything to the room , have a party, drink or smoke in the room.....promise

Have a great trip......



P.S. ANYONE WANT TO PARTY AT AKL

 

[Jynohn]

We had planned to do this exact same thing for our upcoming trip. The AP dates expired on 12/26, but we wouldn't have been arriving until the 28th. I booked anyway, because it would have been cheaper to just pay for the extra nights that we wouldn't be using rather than paying rack rates for the rest of the trip.

We ended up having to push back our trip until Jan. 1st, so I cancelled (now waiting for those new AP rates to come out!) But we shared the same way of thinking. Why would Disney care if the rooms are occupied or not, as long as they're paid for

 

[Jynohn]

Duplicate post. Sorry!

 

[minnie56]

Too funny!

Thanks for the offer...I like the party in AKL bit!

 

[freediverdude]

I imagine that's true- if you book to arrive by Dec. 26th, you get passholder discount on value season rate, and if you book the arrival date as Dec. 27th, you pay full holiday season rack rate with no discounts. So in this case, the passholder rate is going to be more than 50% off the regular holiday rate, so it may indeed be cheaper to book 7 nights at the special passholder rate than 5 nights at the holiday rate- much cheaper in fact. I originally booked my Pop Century reservation for Dec. 24-27th, at the holiday rate of $124 a night plus tax, making it 138 a night, or 414 for 3 nights. When I called back a couple months later to see if the passholder rate was available, it was, and the rate changed to $59 a night, or 66 including tax, so I added on 2 more nights, making it $330 for 5 nights, instead of the previous 414 for only 3 nights LOL. But, on the other hand, I don't know what their policy is about not checking in on your check-in date. If it was completely paid for, you might get away with calling them on each of the two days before you actually get there, asking them not to give away the room, but I think I would call anonymously to the AKL beforehand and ask what they do in situations like that, and kind of "feel out" whether you could really do it or not, since it would ruin the trip if it didn't work out.

 

[PamNC]

I would be afraid to try it. What if you do this and get down there and the reservation is all screwed up? Then, you'll have to book a room at rack rate or go home. Not worth it. But, I admire your determination. You know, in some sick way it's kind of fun to come up with a scheme to get the best rate.

And, every single time we check in, we have to show our driver's license.

PamNC

 

[my3boys]

We went through this situation last year; discount required that we checked in on 12/25, but we hadn't planned to arrive until 12/28. The money we saved was HUGE by checking in with the discount on 12/25 since we had 3 rooms reserved. We truly saved several thousands (and better view!).

However, we became too nervous over the delay with the check-in, and the thought of stretching the truth to check in on 12/28. We ended up changing our flight reservations and arriving earlier, and even with the fee for changing the flight, we still were saving so much money.

Best of luck!

 

[minnie56]

I called and told them what I wanted to do and I needed some Disney Magic!!

They said if I had someone check in for me (my father-in-law) and added his name to one of my rooms...he could check in for all 3 rooms for us.It will be paid in full...no I.D required other than my AP which I have to fax a copy of to AKL prior to arrival. I booked it...and one of our rooms will arrive on the 27th. and I have told my in-laws by all means...stay for 2 nights if they want.

For me...and my 2 rooms...we cannot arrive until the 28th because we are on a cruise ship until then!

I am still apprehensive tho...