when possible to book for '09?

[yoplit]

just as many as you are (i'm sure) i am a plan-o-holic, a group of us 7 friends are planning our trip for march-april '09, and since i have been designated as the travel agent i need all my i's dotted and t's crossed.....so, does anyone know when i can actually start booking our vacation, and is it better to do this online, or over the phone?

 

[mommyluvsnoah]

It is my understanding that you can book a room only reservation now but can not book your package (ie tickets, ph, DDE, etc) until the package prices for 2009 are released. That should be sometime around August. At that point you can upgrade your room only reservation to include whatever package options you want.

I am new to this but planning a trip for 2009 also and this is what I was told. HTH.

 

[SamanthaH]

The above poster is correct. I booked a "room only" reservation for Jan. 2009. This has to be done over the phone, and you may book a "room only" up to 499 days in advance to secure the room. When I booked, my first 2 choices in resorts were not available (CR- MK or bay lake room and the Poly- any room, not concierge) The CM told she she thought these rooms were actually booked and not that they hadn't been released yet. So, if you have your heart set on a certain resort, it would be worth securing a room. She said to check back about the 2009 packages in June, but others on this site say August is usually the time the new packages are released. Hope this helps.

 

[jess20k]

The rates for 2009 packages usually come out the first or second week of August.

The only other option would be like the previous posters stated. You would have to book a room only based on this years rates with Disney directly, with a deposit of one night's stay. Once the 2009 rates become available they would cancel that reservation, and refund your deposit. Then they would make a new booking for you based on the 2009 rates.

The only advantage to this is that your room would be secured. Even though they cancel the original booking, your room is guaranteed. Otherwise, I personally think it is better to just wait for the rates to come out.

 

[jmsaj]

Once the 2009 rates become available they would cancel that reservation, and refund your deposit. Then they would make a new booking for you based on the 2009 rates.

I have always booked before the rates for that year have come out. It is easier and then when the rates come out they just adjust the amount due and send a new confirmation but it has always been the same reservation.

 

[jess20k]

I have always booked before the rates for that year have come out. It is easier and then when the rates come out they just adjust the amount due and send a new confirmation but it has always been the same reservation.

That is strange...anyone else experience this? When I have done this in the past, they actually had to cancel the reservation, then rebook. Maybe something has changed?

 

[brentalex]

That is strange...anyone else experience this? When I have done this in the past, they actually had to cancel the reservation, then rebook. Maybe something has changed?

If you change to a package then they will cancel the room only reservation and make a new one. But if you stay with a room only reservation then they will not have to cancel it once the real rates are released. Even if you add a AAA discount to the room only reservation, it will stay as the same reservation.

 

[jess20k]

If you change to a package then they will cancel the room only reservation and make a new one. But if you stay with a room only reservation then they will not have to cancel it once the real rates are released. Even if you add a AAA discount to the room only reservation, it will stay as the same reservation.

Thanks...yes, that is what we did, we booked the room only, and then added the package once the rates came out.

 

[yoplit]

so in your opinion is it better to book as a package the room and tickets together, or just make a room reservation and add the tickets later. do you actually save money doing that?

 

[jess20k]

I like to book my entire package at the same time when possible. If there is some kind of discount available for room only packages, that is too good to pass up, then I would book everything separately. But, we also like to do the DDP, which you can only purchase as part of the Magic Your Way Package, so it all depends.

But, since the rates aren't out yet for 2009, there won't be any discounts until then.

I personally think it is easier to wait until the package rates come out, the only time that we do hold the room only through Diseny is if we are worried that the resort room catagory that we want would be sold out.

I also usually book through AAA anymore anyway, we end up saving some $$$$. Those package rates also usually come out around the first or second week of August.