When can I book?

[dizneekrazee]

Helo everyone! This is my 1st time posting on any of the WDW boards. Hope I am in the right place. We are planning our 1st trip to WDW, for next year, but I am wondering how far in advance does WDW allow to book acommodations on site?

Also, we have not finalized dates yet, but we were considering late Sept/early Oct. Is either better crowd wise? Price wise?
I know it is way to early to have dates for the Halloween festivities, but generally speaking, when would they begin? Is it daily or select days of the week like at DL?

Sorry so many questions.

 

[jenjifer]

You can book a room now, but if you want to book a package you need to wait until the rates come out -- sometime around June/July, based on past years.

I'm counting the days as well... I want to book NOW!!

 

[Missytara]

You can book a room only reservation up to 499 days before check-in.

You will be quoted the highest rack rate and must leave the first night's deposit.

In August, when the rates are released, if you want to continue with a room-only, the rates will be adjusted accordingly.

If you wish to convert it to a package, you cancel the room-only, get a credit for your deposit. You then book the package and place a deposit of $200.00. You can alter the package up to 45 days before check-in with no penalty.

Any changes, up or down, up to 14 days before you check-in, you will pay a small penalty.

Anytime after kids go back to school in the Northeast in the third week of August to the end of September is good. There is also traditionally free dining offered every year.

Once you get into October starts the F & W Festival and then Halloween (MNSSHP) starts, it begins to get crowded.

 

[DisGirl1971]

Helo everyone! This is my 1st time posting on any of the WDW boards. Hope I am in the right place. We are planning our 1st trip to WDW, for next year, but I am wondering how far in advance does WDW allow to book acommodations on site?

Also, we have not finalized dates yet, but we were considering late Sept/early Oct. Is either better crowd wise? Price wise?
I know it is way to early to have dates for the Halloween festivities, but generally speaking, when would they begin? Is it daily or select days of the week like at DL?

Sorry so many questions.

You can book a room-only reservation 499 days out, but only book a room only if you know positively that you won't need a package for your resort, tickets or dining. Also, you must be booked under a package to get the dining plan or to apply a free dining disocunt. A room-only reservation can not be "converted" into a package reserervation.

The 2013 packages will be released around August 1, 2012.

The first week of September and the last week of October will have the lowest crowds of that time frame. Columbus Day/Week is usually pretty busy and has been blacked out for discounts for the last 2 years. It is still extremely hot in September, the temps won't really cool down much until the end of October.

The Halloween parties usually start around the second week of September. They are typically 3 nights a week, but could have more dates the closer to that you get to Halloween week. The official MNSSHP and MVMCP dates are usually released May 1, each year.

September and October do usually have free dining dates for select dates. Here is a link here on the disboards that has info about booking a free dining discount and all the past free dining dates and release dates:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2771101

 

[dizneekrazee]

Thank you all for your responses. Very helpful.

Regarding the packages, do you know if it is possible to book part of our stay as a package, and the other part as room only? I actually get some comp passes each year from work, just not enough that would cover our entire stay.

And can anybody tell me how the free dining works?

 

[dizneekrazee]

Thank you all for your responses. Very helpful.

Regarding the packages, do you know if it is possible to book part of our stay as a package, and the other part as room only? I actually get some comp passes each year from work, just not enough that would cover our entire stay.

And can anybody tell me how the free dining works?

 

[Missytara]

Thank you all for your responses. Very helpful.

Regarding the packages, do you know if it is possible to book part of our stay as a package, and the other part as room only? I actually get some comp passes each year from work, just not enough that would cover our entire stay.

And can anybody tell me how the free dining works?

You can do a split stay; it is two different ressies with two different confirmation numbers. They will each require a deposit and have different pay off dates, so keep an eye on that.

For free dining, it is like any promo. Only a number of rooms per resort are offered for free dining to fill resorts.

You pay full rack rate for the room and get free dining. Usually the values are the QS plan and the mods and deluxes offer DDP. You can pay the difference at the values to upgrade to DDP.

You get the best bang for your buck in free dining for values and mods. The deluxes do better with a room discount, since rack rate can be high. It isn't totally free, but if you do it right, you can make it work for you.

I snagged free dining for my entire traveling party. We were one child and myself in one room, and four adults and an infant in the other room. We saved a fortune, and I booked the most expensive places I could that didn't require 2TS credits.

The caveat with free dining is that you are required to purchase at least a two-day ticket with your package.

 

[dizneekrazee]

Thank you, more than likely, we would book a 3 day package, and use my comp tix either before or after.

So, I reviewed the link provided, and I still wonder if it would benefit me. I am actually a Disney Store Cast Member, so I already receive discounts on my dining, and discounts on my room(s). I will really have to look at the difference to see if it saves me any. I dont even know if booking a package without the FD if I would get a CM rate. I may have to purchase everything seperately.

Thank you so much for your help. I think I am still just outside the 499 day booking window for the dates I have in mind.

I am sure I will be back as the dates get closer with many more questions