When do you payoff your trip?

[darnheather]

Right now I'm around 85 days out and had planned on paying half this month and half next month just to spread the impact. I'm feeling kind of guilty that I haven't made a payment toward the trip this month but we've had a lot of unusual expenses due to our upcoming move so money is a bit tighter than normal. Is it really ok, to wait until we're 45-50 days out to finish paying?

What do most people do?

 

[travelitis]

As long as you pay by when Disney says final is due, what does it matter? Why not leave your money in your savings account and let it work for you until then? Even if the interest is negligible, in the event something happens to cancel your plans, it's much easier if you're seeking a refund of just the deposit. As a former TA, I pay deposit then hold the balance until the final is due. Then if I need to change dates or cancel, I don't have so much money tied up, because they don't just transfer your deposit to the new dates. They collect a new deposit and refund the first one.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We only make the deposit at booking and then pay it off sometime before 45 days, whenever we have the money saved and we're confident our plans aren't going to change. Not sure why you're feeling guilty about not paying this month? They don't expect a payment every month.

 

[luvmy3]

I normally pay it in full right away because I just like to have it done with. This trip I am paying off with GCs and Target limits how many I can purchase online in a single transaction so I've been emailing my TA with some every couple weeks.
Like others have said, don't worry about how often you make a payment, as long as its paid in full by 45 days that is all that matters

 

[ssawka]

I don't believe in paying any bill until it is due unless there is an incentive (lower fee, etc.) to do so. Why advance a company an interest free loan?

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I booked in May 2013 with the 1300 dollars I had saved up from September 2012 and I'm planning on paying it off in August. My due date is October. I need new glasses in September, and then I need to start putting away spending money.

I *do* usually wait until the due date because my sister needs that long to come up with her half of the money, but this year I'm paying for the both of us so my budget worked out a few months early. It's perfectly fine to do this.

 

[epsmith921]

Agree with previous posters, I never like to give anyone my money until I have to. Why let them use your money for free? It just took me a full week to get my deposit back from the swan. And of course my card calculated interest on it in the meantime. I cancelled it the day after I booked it.

 

[texasroni75]

I like to pay it off as soon as possible so I can focus on setting aside our spending money and purchasing whatever else we need for the trip. 60 days out is the longest I've waited to pay in full. Once booked, I've never cancelled or made a change to the reservation - I consider the trip "set in stone" LOL.

Our upcoming trip is the first time I booked and paid in full the same day - but it took 3.5 years of saving to be able to do that!

 

[mefordis]

I have the money before I book it. I pay according to their requirements - deposit then when the remainder is due 45 days prior to check in.

 

[Egdisney]

This is my first trip. I am waiting on paying it off to see if any discounts will be offered that will change the price(I am going in October). I would rather not have to wait for it to be credited back to my card if the price is lower. I hope they announce discounts soon because I am hoping to use the Southwest CC I just got to pay off the balance and then book my return flights using the points. I already booked tickets for the departure as I got a great deal. The only reason I will be paying in advance of the due date is because of needing the points to credit.

 

[TrulyMadlyDisney]

I do the same as some above. I leave my money in my account so i get the interest. Then on 46 days before, i pay in full.

 

[ceecee]

I don't believe in paying any bill until it is due unless there is an incentive (lower fee, etc.) to do so. Why advance a company an interest free loan?

I feel the same way. I pay the deposit and then call a few days before it's due and put it on the charge which we do pay off right away. We have never used the Disney Visa's 6 mos of whatever it is interest free. I have changed my reservation only once but by then you are usually sure it's set.

 

[darnheather]

Thanks everybody. We did easily have the money when I booked a month ago. However, thanks to some things that went wrong through no fault of our own, we have to stay an extra 2 weeks in our current rental (paying the full months rent) while also paying a mortgage. Sometimes military life is like this.

 

[Patience]

We are planning to pay in full sometime in July for our trip in September. I don't want to leave it until the very last minute but, like others, I don't see a reason to pay in full too far in advance.

 

[DawnM]

We don't do Disney packages, so we typically pre-pay tickets and lodging fully before we go.

Gas, food, and such are put on CC while there and paid off when we get the bill.

Dawn