When Do You Book Car, Hotels, Etc?

[mom23]

My family is cruising in October and I am wondering if I should stay booking things like our rental car, lodging at Cape Canveral, and excursions (providing they are not Disney excursions) like Dolphin Encounter or Atlantis hotel? I am not sure when is appropriate to start booking and what if the rate changes after I book?

 

[markºoº]

I would start looking about 6 months out. With rental cars you can always book now and then rebook if better rates come out latter. Sometimes you can do the same with hotels but be careful of internet only rates thay make you pay up front and are nonrefundable.

If there is any particular excusion you MUST do, feel free to book well in advance - 3 or 4 months. Prices generally will not change for excursions like they do for cars and hotels. Most people really do not start to book until 1 or 2 months before a sail date. DIS members (including myself) tend to be compulsive planners and always book well in advance. If you know what you want, there really is no reason not to book well in advance.

 

[Skuba2]

I would book as soon as possible which means as soon as the dates open up which could mean up to a year in advance. This is especially if you want specific things like a van over a car at the rental agency or a specific room at the hotel. If you don't care what you get, then you can probably wait. Remember how many people will be getting rooms and cars--not just Disney boats--but other cruise lines and land tourists as well. Particularly out of the airport.

I am cruising 7/1/06 and keep check on web sites of the airline, hotel and car agency I use to see if the dates have opened yet. I get pretty specific things, so I want to make sure they are available.

DG