value hotels july price expectations

[sddis]

I'm looking at value hotels in July 2020. Looks like I can get close to rack rates (170 a night). Is that as good as it gets? Or should I monitor over time to see if it drops?
The only other time I went to disney, I went to the value hotel and I got it for half the current rates. But that was in late august with the 20% off deal.

I'd also like to try the better hotels but they are 2x-5x more expensive. Is there any tricks to get those other hotel prices in the same planet as the value hotels? Total package I'm looking it is like $3500 for family of 4 coming from NY, stayin at value hotel for 5 nights, and non hopper tickets for 5 days. That includes airfair, tickets and hotel. I wouldn't mind paying another $500 for some luxury, but not much more than that.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

We are currently awaiting discounts to drop for winter/spring 2020. Summer discounts come out around January but with Disney these days nobody knows for sure. It's a wait and see game. Usually free dining is offered for July. You pay rack rate for the hotel room plus at least 4 days with park hopper ticket and you get the QS dining plan at the values/moderates for free. Bigger discounts are offered for the deluxe hotels but their prices are so high that (at least for us) we would never pay those prices even with a discount. Also you could try to rent DVC points for the deluxes but that comes with its own set of rules which I am not familiar with. The most expensive value is AOA, POP, ASMOVIES in that order and then ASMusic and ASSports are the cheapest. ASMusic is undergoing a renovation of the rooms so keep that in mind if that would be a problem for you. ASSports still has old style rooms, it will be next after Music.

Book the package you want with a deposit and keep an eye out for discounts. Then you can call and have whichever discount is better for you applied to your package to reduce the price, or I believe you can actually apply it online through MDE.

 

[siren0119]

Getting moderates or deluxes for $170 or less a night? Possible with moderates, but not as likely with deluxes.

You may want to read through the Priceline Express thread here, it's definitely possible to snag moderates for close to rack rate of value resorts - but the tradeoff is that the deals tend to show up 6-8 weeks before your travel time so you may want to book a refundable room that you could cancel if a better deal came around. Priceline Express deals are nonrefundable once you book. Sometimes the regular Priceline offerings are priced pretty well too, and those are refundable.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/priceline-express-deals.3598657/
Also, if you book now, you can watch for discounts and modify (or cancel and rebook if package deals show up that are better priced than just a room reservation, or if a deal on a higher category hotel comes up that fits your budget). Value resorts get the smallest % off discount, and if free dining is offered they get the lowest level dining package (QS only).

If you're willing to put the time in and research and look into 3rd party sites like undercover tourist, priceline and hotwire, there are definitely deals to be had - you just have to keep your eye out for them!

 

[lanejudy]

Special offers for next summer won't be out for a while yet. It's possible rack rates may increase before then, who knows, WDW has been messing with hotel rates lately with little increases here and there. Rates won't decrease, but there could be either a package offered that lowers your overall cost or a room-only discount. I wouldn't expect to see those for several months yet.

Room-only discounts offer a higher percentage "off" for the moderate and deluxe resorts than for value resorts. 30% off a deluxe may help to bring that into range of a value at rack rate. You'd have to play with some numbers.

Just know that it can be hard to adjust a current reservation. Having a current reservation does not make it easier to apply a discount or special offer. If you book a package now but a room-only discount is a better deal later, you'll have to cancel and re-book. If you book a room-only now but a package offer comes out as a better deal, again you'll have to cancel and re-book. Discounts and special offers are put out to fill rooms, if everyone books ahead and waits for a discount, there may be none offered or limited offerings.

So in a nutshell -- if you are definite on your plans and ok with the current price, go ahead and book. If there is question on any part (dates, length, price, etc.), I would hold off.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[sddis]

We are currently awaiting discounts to drop for winter/spring 2020. Summer discounts come out around January but with Disney these days nobody knows for sure. It's a wait and see game. Usually free dining is offered for July. You pay rack rate for the hotel room plus at least 4 days with park hopper ticket and you get the QS dining plan at the values/moderates for free. Bigger discounts are offered for the deluxe hotels but their prices are so high that (at least for us) we would never pay those prices even with a discount. Also you could try to rent DVC points for the deluxes but that comes with its own set of rules which I am not familiar with. The most expensive value is AOA, POP, ASMOVIES in that order and then ASMusic and ASSports are the cheapest. ASMusic is undergoing a renovation of the rooms so keep that in mind if that would be a problem for you. ASSports still has old style rooms, it will be next after Music.

Book the package you want with a deposit and keep an eye out for discounts. Then you can call and have whichever discount is better for you applied to your package to reduce the price, or I believe you can actually apply it online through MDE.

Where should I book the package I want... on undercover tourist? Or is this all through MDE? So if I want to take advantage of any future deals, I have to give up on the savings from going through undercover tourist?

 

[siren0119]

Where should I book the package I want... on undercover tourist? Or is this all through MDE? So if I want to take advantage of any future deals, I have to give up on the savings from going through undercover tourist?

If you book on Undercover tourist, you can't modify or change your reservation with Disney (they are the broker and have to handle anything related to bookings with them) - you can cancel a reservation with them up to 5 days before check-in but you will pay a 5% handling fee on the cost of your booking.

You would have to do the math yourself if a deal came up to decide if the discount you got from Disney was better than what you'd lose by canceling with UT, and if it was you'd cancel with UT and book directly with Disney.

 

[sddis]

If you book on Undercover tourist, you can't modify or change your reservation with Disney (they are the broker and have to handle anything related to bookings with them) - you can cancel a reservation with them up to 5 days before check-in but you will pay a 5% handling fee on the cost of your booking.

You would have to do the math yourself if a deal came up to decide if the discount you got from Disney was better than what you'd lose by canceling with UT, and if it was you'd cancel with UT and book directly with Disney.

Okay thanks. Looks like I'll risk an extra $150 just to see if I get free dining later. This is like gambling lol

 

[Jake]

As any big company. Disney has projections of reservations, as in January, July reservation should be X. If the reservation are falling short they discount the rooms to get more people. If reservation are higher there no discount.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

If I were you free dining in July would be my objective, especially with 4 people in a value room. That is a great deal. I would book with Disney and the moment FD was offered (if it actually is) I would grab it. Even with QS that is potentially $220/day of food and alcoholic drinks. Also, you can upgrade for a surcharge to the regular DP with a TS/QS. There is no room discount that could match that even booked through 3rd parties. Remember if you book through Undercover Tourist or any 3rd party you cannot add the dining plan even if you wish to pay for it. The package must be through Disney so I think that is your safest bet.

If FD or room discount is not offered you could always cancel your package with Disney before 30 days arrival (no charge), get a refund of your deposit and book cheaper room/tickets with a 3rd party vendor, so really no gamble at all.