When Do the Discounts on Rooms Begin?

[n2mm]

Just thinking about our travel plans for next year (2004) and after reading about everyone's great rates on the rooms, I am wondering when I should start checking rates. Do the FAN Club rates and Entertainment rates get released about the same time?

 

[nicolep91]

I'm not sure if the resorts have a "set" time for releasing discounted rooms, but it seems as if the Entertainment rates and FAN Club rates are available at least 8-10 months in advance. I made our reservations at the Entertainment rate at RPR in March for our November trip and those dates are all sold out now. Depending on when your trip is next year, I probably start calling now to check on rates. You can always reserve a room now and then add a discount to it at a later date if they are not available now.

 

[bjakmom]

Just called today to check on discount rates for Jan - none in the system yet is what they said. I did make my reservations with regular room rate and they even told me on the phone to call back frequently to check for discount rates, which they would then apply to my reservation - said there was no set time or day on which they came into the system. Five day cancellation policy, so I have plenty of time to get a better rate or switch to where I can get one - I certainly won't be paying the $369.(+tax) per room at club level that I reserved - I need too many rooms!

 

[mark & sandra]

Another thing to remember is your length of stay. Many times they say that the Entertainment rate is not available but if you play around with your dates (add on) they seem to become available. Last year I asked for Entertainment rate for 1/24-1/27, it wasn't available. I was told 1/22-1/25 was. I first asked if I could add on the 26st and 27th and they said sure. Then I asked if I could add on the 19th -27th at the Entertainment rate and they also said yes. The trick it seems is to use some combination of your vacation dates to first get the Entertainment rate and then try to get all your dates covered.

 

[bjakmom]

m&s - do you remember what month you made those reservations in for last Jan? I have seen posts that said the disc rates for the next year didn't come out until Oct of the year before - that seems a bit late to me, as the disc rates for Dec are already being given- maybe I should call back and see if different Jan dates are available yet as you suggest.

 

[disneyqt]

Will someone please explain to me what Fan Club and Entertainment rates are and how do you go about getting those?

 

[mark & sandra]

bjakmom- We usually go twice a year. The end of Jan. and Memorial weekend. We book our next trip as soon as we return, so I would guess we booked the HRH for our Jan. trip at the end of May. I do remember not getting the Entertainment rate first. We had a Fan Club rate of 169.00, then switched to an Entertainment rate of 125.00 later. It's good that you booked first, now you just need to worry about your rate. We had planed to split our Jan. stay between a Disney hotel and the HRH, so we had some play in our dates. Don't forget that changing your dates also changes your flight days and car rental plans too.

disneyqt- These are special lower rates that you can use to get better then rack rates(full price). The Fan Club is free to join. Send an e-mail to Tinkerbarb, she seems to help out all who are in need, for the Entertainment rate, you need to purchase an Entertainment book,(about 20-30$). You don't need to buy it until after you get the entertainment rate. Just ask if the Entertainment rate is available during your dates when booking. Just remember that the books expire yearly, around the end of Nov. I think, so don't buy one too early.