When Should I Book For May 2017?

[Kodachrome_Dreams]

I just had a look at availability for four nights in mid-May, and rates at the Deluxe resorts are $450 and up per night. Should I wait to book? If so, when should I expect promotional rates to be available?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Here is a history of when promos get released: http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/#2016

May discounts were released in December for 2016 dates.

 

[Leelo]

I read several places that you can book early and then apply the discount later when it comes out IF it applies to what you have booked so I chatted with a Disney person on their website and they told me that same thing.

 

[mickeynut1]

I just had a look at availability for four nights in mid-May, and rates at the Deluxe resorts are $450 and up per night. Should I wait to book? If so, when should I expect promotional rates to be available?

If you know your dates and will go regardless of discounts, I'd book now to make sure you get what you want. If your trip is dependent on a discount, I'd wait to see what (if any) discounts come out for your dates. As Leelo posted, you can apply a discount later, but only if what you have booked is available under that discount. Sometimes you have to be flexible with your resort and/or room type (and sometimes dates) as having a reservation already in place does not guarantee a discount can be applied.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I read several places that you can book early and then apply the discount later when it comes out if it applies to what you have booked so I chatted with a Disney person on their website and they told me that same thing.

This is somewhat true, but there are caveats:

• The discount must apply for your dates, resort and room type.
• Not every room, date, resort will be eligible.
• Every room booked from inventory reduces the number of rooms eligible for discount, since discounts exist to fill rooms.
• The discount is not really applied to your existing booking; your booking is really cancelled and rebooked.

If you will not travel without a discount, it's not recommended to book before the discount comes out. You need date flexibility, resort flexibility and you also need inventory to be offered.

 

[Leelo]

This is somewhat true, but there are caveats:

I capitalized my "if" for more clarity.

 

[Regan117]

If there's a specific room type you want and you are willing to pay rack rate either way, I'd book it now regardless of discounts. We are already booked for May 2017 because we needed a suite that sleeps 9 people...so I didn't want to leave it to chance.

 

[KrazeeK120]

We had a budget in mind for what we wanted to spend and I had a resort in mind. Coincidentally, the rooms at that resort are exactly what we budgeted at rack rate. I went ahead and booked our May 2017 vacation because I wanted to make sure we'd get to stay where we wanted. If a discount comes out later that can be applied, I'll take that as a bonus.

If you don't have your heart set on a particular resort or room type, you can most definitely wait until discounts come out. But if you know you want something in particular and are happy with the price, it would be best to book now IMO.

 

[Kodachrome_Dreams]

Thanks, this is very helpful. I think I will wait until December then. If resort rates don't come down, we will just choose a different destination altogether for that trip.

 

[oceanmarina]

This is somewhat true, but there are caveats:

• The discount must apply for your dates, resort and room type.
• Not every room, date, resort will be eligible.
• Every room booked from inventory reduces the number of rooms eligible for discount, since discounts exist to fill rooms.
• The discount is not really applied to your existing booking; your booking is really cancelled and rebooked.

If you will not travel without a discount, it's not recommended to book before the discount comes out. You need date flexibility, resort flexibility and you also need inventory to be offered.

Yes I agree it's best to wait for the travel deal. Because if you book your airfare and the deal is not for all days, it becomes problematic.

It's frustrating as the deals come out months after airfare is released - and while you can get a better deal on airfare by booking it earlier, the dates you choose might not coincide with your Disney deal. And it's super expensive to change airfare once it's booked .