What and When to Book (e.g. Canadian Tickets, Resort Only, Pkg)

[Frozen2014]

We are looking at booking a trip for the last week in August 2022. We are narrowing in on the resort and hoping by next summer things are closer to normal. Also hoping that some discounts will be offered....especially as looking at a deluxe resort. (probably 6 nights or so)

Potential discounts:

• room
• free dining
• Canadian tickets

Question 1
So I'm confused with all of these what is ok to book now and what we should wait on.
E.g. Is it best to book room only.....and then wait to see if they offer Canadian tickets? I don't really see savings booking as a package anyways.

Question 2
Also wondering...lets say that all 3 are offered...can we get all 3? Or is it one discount only? Or maybe room or free dining, and then Canadian tickets if we book separately?

Question 3
Another question....this trip isn't 15 months from now...so when is a good time to book? It seems early...esp as still researching and pricing, but we don't want our resort and room category of choice to get sold out.

Thanks.

 

[wdwmom3]

First off whatever you book can be changed in the future. So don’t stress too much.

I wouldn’t count on any of those discounts. The dining plan isn’t even being offered right now and no idea when it will return. And no idea if they will do the Canadian resident tickets again. It all depends on what demand is like. And demand could be a lot higher then as things will be more opened up and a lot of people have been putting off trips.

The free dining can not normally be added to other discounts. But again we don’t know what they will offer.

I would book what fits your budget assuming no discounts. If you want a specific resort and room type you are best to book as soon as you can and put down a deposit. When discounts are announced you can always see if it works out cheaper. Sometimes only certain resorts or room types are eligible for certain discounts.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks. Yes sorry I should state that we are booking assuming no discounts so our budget is based on that. Hopefully things will be back by summer of 2022 but I do realize that these discounts might not be offered as Disney needs to make up for lost revenue and probably many are returning so not low demand. I noticed too on a mock booking that you cannot add a meal plan at this time.

Guess what I'm questioning is if say, we book a package now (resort + tickets)...and then they happen to offer Canadian tickets, then is it too late? Or can they just adjust the price? And do rooms typically sell out? Looking at one of the monorail resorts....if that has an impact on the answer.

 

[wdwmom3]

Thanks. Yes sorry I should state that we are booking assuming no discounts so our budget is based on that. Hopefully things will be back by summer of 2022 but I do realize that these discounts might not be offered as Disney needs to make up for lost revenue and probably many are returning so not low demand. I noticed too on a mock booking that you cannot add a meal plan at this time.

Guess what I'm questioning is if say, we book a package now (resort + tickets)...and then they happen to offer Canadian tickets, then is it too late? Or can they just adjust the price? And do rooms typically sell out? Looking at one of the monorail resorts....if that has an impact on the answer.

Some rooms do sell out at certain times. For example the garden wing at the contemporary can sell out because they are usually the cheapest. They may be able to adjust the price but it could depend on if there is still availability. You could always cancel and rebook.

The one thing about booking a package is the lower deposit. And you lock in the room and ticket price. So if they raise ticket prices you won’t have to pay more if you don’t change anything with your package.

 

[Honeypot]

The advantage to booking room and tickets is that you lock in the price (if they happen to go up) and that you only have to pay a $200 refundable deposit to hold. Honestly, if there is something specific you are looking for, I would just pick the dates and lock it in now. You can always cancel or change if a better deal comes along.

I am booked for next spring, and I am hoping a discount comes up (fingers crossed!), but honestly I'm not sure we will get any. We did book based on our budget and full rates, so either way we are fine. However I am super happy we booked because for the week we are going at CBR the only rooms left are preferred and pirate rooms so had I waited I wouldn't have got what I wanted.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks for the advice. Good to know it's better to book sooner rather than later.

One important question I don't think has been answered yet.....If they release Canadian tickets.....can we get these applied if we book as a package? Or this only works if we book as room only? And also, could we say get Canadian + Free Dining (only if offered of course)? Or it's one discount only when you book as a package? (Ok sorry...two confirmations)

 

[Average Joes]

In the past the free dining required that you book a room and park tickets both at full price. You could not get a discount on the Canadian tickets and get free dining. I would be shocked if they gave both discounts in the future. A room only discount and a Canadian ticket deal can be obtained together if offered.

We are considering going at the end of August 2022 until the Saturday of Labour Day weekend. The only thing we are debating now is renting DVC this September, if available. At least it gives us some sort of 'discount' and certainty on the cost. We are just hoping they release Canadian tickets so we can get those and do DVC. I am not holding by breath. I do understand wanting free dining with the food prices.

 

[Frozen2014]

In the past the free dining required that you book a room and park tickets both at full price. You could not get a discount on the Canadian tickets and get free dining. I would be shocked if they gave both discounts in the future. A room only discount and a Canadian ticket deal can be obtained together if offered.

We are considering going at the end of August 2022 until the Saturday of Labour Day weekend. The only thing we are debating now is renting DVC this September, if available. At least it gives us some sort of 'discount' and certainty on the cost. We are just hoping they release Canadian tickets so we can get those and do DVC. I am not holding by breath. I do understand wanting free dining with the food prices.

Exact same timing as us....return labor day weekend before school starts.

We aren't DVC so regular rates for us. I'm looking at last time we booked (and cancelled due to covid) and it looks like we booked room and Canadian tickets together. We were refunded everything when I cancelled so I think that might be a benefit too of booking together?

Ok but good to know...Dining is with room and tickets...but it's typically Canadian OR Free dining. Guessing that Free Dining is a better deal. Will see what, if any discounts are offered. I just want to make sure we don't book incorrectly and miss out of a discount in the manner that I book.

 

[Average Joes]

Renting DVC points. I don't have DVC. For example a standard view at AKL is $268 a night on average for a week around that time. No tax. That would be one of the cheaper options. Basically you get a deluxe for a modest discounted moderate price. If you can combine that with a Canadian discounted deal it is not a bad option if a deluxe was on the wish list.

I have not run the numbers which would have to be done. I don't know how many are in your group. I suspect if you had 4 people in a room for free QS it would be a better value than 20% off tickets (possible Canadian discount which is roughly $100 off per standard ticket) and a room discount on a Value. Note that to get the free QS in the past you needed to get a hopper package which is about $100 per person. If you would not use that the numbers may still hedge toward the free dinning depending on how many people you had and the type of room you wanted.

You can go on disney's website and run some numbers to figure out what value may be best. Use the 2020 prices to buy QS. Of course this is all just for fun because who knows what will happen. I am just odd enjoy talking about disney prices for some reason.

 

[Frozen2014]

Renting DVC points. I don't have DVC. For example a standard view at AKL is $268 a night on average for a week around that time. No tax. That would be one of the cheaper options. Basically you get a deluxe for a modest discounted moderate price. If you can combine that with a Canadian discounted deal it is not a bad option if a deluxe was on the wish list.

I have not run the numbers which would have to be done. I don't know how many are in your group. I suspect if you had 4 people in a room for free QS it would be a better value than 20% off tickets (possible Canadian discount which is roughly $100 off per standard ticket) and a room discount on a Value. Note that to get the free QS in the past you needed to get a hopper package which is about $100 per person. If you would not use that the numbers may still hedge toward the free dinning depending on how many people you had and the type of room you wanted.

You can go on disney's website and run some numbers to figure out what value may be best. Use the 2020 prices to buy QS. Of course this is all just for fun because who knows what will happen. I am just odd enjoy talking about disney prices for some reason.

Thanks. Don't quite understand how DVC points works but can look into it.

Correct...we are a family of 4. Didn't realize that you need park hopper for free dining. I don't see the advantage of park hopper at WDW as much as at Disneyland but guess being on the monorail, you could easily transfer from MK to Epcot and back to the hotel. Or on a party night (if starting in August this year as it has recently), go to MK in the day and then Epcot or elsewhere in evening.

Thank you...will look up old prices and see how things work out. And I totally get it...I'm a spreadsheet person and like that kind of thing too.

 

[suse66]

Also wondering...lets say that all 3 are offered...can we get all 3? Or is it one discount only? Or maybe room or free dining, and then Canadian tickets if we book separately?

Definitely one discount only. In the past I have found a good room discount on a deluxe (30 or 35 %) was a better value for my family of five than free dining. Free dining for the mid range plan at a value of $390/night seems good if you are going to eat all the food offered. For us, we never used all the credits so getting a room discount (potentially $200-$250/n) and then purchasing discounted park tickets was a better value for us. As well, having to purchase hoppers for each member of our party didn't make sense as I typically had an annual pass. Your mileage may vary depending on the age of your children etc.

I would book now and then see what discounts may become available. Hope this helps!

 

[Frozen2014]

Definitely one discount only. In the past I have found a good room discount on a deluxe (30 or 35 %) was a better value for my family of five than free dining. Free dining for the mid range plan at a value of $390/night seems good if you are going to eat all the food offered. For us, we never used all the credits so getting a room discount (potentially $200-$250/n) and then purchasing discounted park tickets was a better value for us. As well, having to purchase hoppers for each member of our party didn't make sense as I typically had an annual pass. Your mileage may vary depending on the age of your children etc.

I would book now and then see what discounts may become available. Hope this helps!

Thanks. Good to know as the room discount seems like great savings. Free dining is definitely seems huge bonus for us with not having to worry about the cost of food. I know last time we purchased it....we did have extra snack credits at the end, but that just meant we had rice crispy and other treats to bring home...lol. On the other hand, with only 5 park days we wouldn't really consider purchasing park hoppers (which I think adds around $400 for our family). Having said that, it would give us flexibility and I can see us spending more than $400 on lunch, dinners and snacks. But I will also calculate a possible 30 or 35% savings and see.

I'm assuming any booking can be modified? e.g. if we buy regular tickets now as part of a package and free dining comes up, then we can add park hoppers at the time? Or if we want to add another park day, then this can be done? (e.g. For now I'm assuming on arrival and departure day, we'll just enjoy the resort...but depends too on flight times)

We know our resort of choice...Contemporary.....just deciding on Garden Wing or Main Tower. Once we decide, seems like it's best to book resort + tickets.

 

[Donald - my hero]

there's an easy way to have a DIY dining plan that doesn't limit you to when where and what to eat, gives you the flexibility to make a meal from appetizers if that's all you want, have a huge milkshake and fries for lunch, let's you eat everywhere, not just places on the plan including the bars or smaller Cafe type locations everywhere on site, eliminates the push to get the biggest bang for your credits and if you have kids will let them eat off any ... GIFT CARDS! You can buy them here using Canadian credit card and not have foreign transaction fees, get them as you are able and then use them whenever you're hungry. We charged everything to the room and then went to the lobby occasionally and applied the cards to the balance (make sure to do it before midnight of your check out). I believe you can now pay for mobile orders with them as well. This let's you get the discount on rooms and tickets while having a much better cancelation policy.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks....that's a great option if not on a meal plan. I think I've noticed the gift cards at Shoppers. Thanks...will likely go with this option if no plan on our tickets.