wait for discount before booking?

[west&east]

So is it the consensus that booking your desired room makes it less likely that you will be able to apply a discount to that room once it becomes available?
I want to book a certain category that I believe has only 5 rooms at one hotel (BC Deluxe CL). Should I reserve now and hope to apply a GP room only discount when it comes out, or wait??? My dates are fairly set but if I can't get my preferred room I will change rooms or resorts.

 

[HelenParr]

I always book the room I want -- and hope for a discount later on that room or another room category/resort.

I understand the theory behind not booking without a discount: trying to avoid taking up the rooms, thereby creating need for Disney to include that room category in discounts. But I diagree that it should drive your decision and strategy on a room. There are simply too many people vying for rooms (particularly scarce rooms) to hope you can time it exactly right.

 

[Tltorrez]

Availability of discounts is based on booking percentage. Percent is set for the resort/ room type. If bookings are below that line, discounts are available. If they go above, discounts are not available. If someone cancels, it can become available again.

For me, it comes down to whether you will keep the room even with no discount available. I don't see how booking ahead of the discount can help, and it could conceivably hurt ( by increasing the number if bookings). I just won't book a room that is totally dependent on a discount to be in my price range, until I have the discount in hand.

In my current case, I can only stay Deluxe with the discount. Other trips we're not so limited but this time we are. So I'll wait until the discount comes out and take anything available on the boardwalk. If nothing is available, I'll drop down to Mod or even Val. For this trip we're committed to going no matter where we end up but our budget has a ceiling.

 

[Missytara]

I always book what I can afford and then if a discount comes out, it is just icing on the cake.

The last three years, I was able to get discounts; once I upgraded for the same price and the last two, I took the discounts.

I see so many people posting that they cannot go without a discount. I think that is not a good approach, because as the PP stated, there are enough people out there willing to pay it that don't even know about discounts. Like me, the first seven years I didn't even know what a discount was.

 

[mickeynut1]

If you are taking the trip and will book that room regardless of whether or not you get a discount, I would book now to make sure you get what you want. But if you will only go or book that room with a discount, I'd wait because booking now will not guarantee a discount can be applied later. And as others have said, Disney gives discounts on rooms that need to be filled. So if a certain room type/category is near capacity, those rooms most likely will not be available under a discount as Disney will see no need to let those go at a lower rate since people already have them booked at rack rate or under a different promo.

 

[west&east]

Thanks all! I think we will wait. My preference is BC CL Deluxe but would take not deluxe CL at BC, maybe try YC or would go back to WL. We need a room for 2 adults and 3 kids and prefer club level so I will just wait and see...

 

[basketlacey]

JMHO but I won't book what I won't pay for. It takes some of the fun out of it I think. If you are going on those dates regardless of price, then go for it. Otherwise, I would wait and see what discounts come out first so you have more flexibility.

 

[ancestry]

I, too, only book what we can afford. We often stay deluxe or deluxe CL but I refuse to pay full price for either of those. I don't book them until I have a discount in hand. Nothing is worse than having to downgrade or cancel.

Also if there is only five rooms of the type you want at a specific resort then the chance of getting that room on a discount is very very slim.

We have had our eyes on the WL Junior Suites which sleep six people and they rarely are included in a discount. I've been told it is because they sell out without having to be discounted.

 

[padawans]

You have to keep in mind that those rooms are available at a discount, but there are a lot of different discounts out there bb, interline, travel agent, pin codes, and ap. I have had the chance to book deluxe cl rooms with a interline discount,ap and pin code. In my experience the hardest rooms to get at a discount are the standard club level. I would book what you can afford and then upgrade if what you want is available.

 

[west&east]

I would never book CL without a discount, but I am now hooked on CL! This time, I am splitting the room cost with a friend, so staying rack rate is doable but of course, I'd still rather have the discount.
Last three trips got great discounts (40%) on AKL CL savannah view (I think all AKL CL are savannah view so I think that was "standard"), WL CL (don't remember picking anything but standard) and BC CL Lagoon View. (We were traveling with friends who booked standard CL at the discount, they ended up having adjoining rooms with us, lagoon view!)

 

[PFopma]

I would not book early for the following reasons:

If WDW has less bookings more discounts may become available.

I have never had a problem getting the hotel/room I wanted any time of the year.

The consensus here is that you probably won't get any pin codes once you book.

The discount code date ranges seem to be all over the place with extensive black out periods. Would rather wait and plan the trip based on the discount time frame than be disappointed later that my dates are not available.