When to book?

[MeeskaMomma]

We just finished out first Disney trip. It was amazing!! We have already decided to go next year and stay at the same place. I only planned this trip 2 months in advance so we just took whatever deal was available. Sincewe have over a year this time around I was wondering when is the best time to book? When and where can you find te best discounts on resorts? Finally, if you book during hurricane season and there is a huricane do you get reimbursed?

 

[My3Princez]

We just finished out first Disney trip. It was amazing!! We have already decided to go next year and stay at the same place. I only planned this trip 2 months in advance so we just took whatever deal was available. Sincewe have over a year this time around I was wondering when is the best time to book? When and where can you find te best discounts on resorts? Finally, if you book during hurricane season and there is a huricane do you get reimbursed?

If you stayed onsite and want to do that again, you can book as soon as you want to, and if a future discount comes up that saves you some money, you can call and add that discount to your reservation. If you stayed offsite, that's another story - those deals vary.
If you book during hurricane season and there is a hurricane, the only way you get reimbursed is if you purchase travel insurance that covers that scenario.

 

[Nathansmommy]

We went last year in august, we planned it out in 3 months, we decided we're going next year in march 2014, but this time we are taking our 2 year old son, we wanted to book our vacation already, but sadly the 2014 rates are not out yet, I called the disney line and they said that the 2014 rates should come out during the summer, but you can book a resort 500 days in advance, but you cant book a package. We're just waiting for the 2014 rates so we can book ASAP.

 

[Aliceacc]

We're going in August 2014. I plan to book as soon as they open up the 2014 dates, sometime this summer. I see no reason to wait-- I may as well get the room I want at the resort I want. Any discounts that come up can be applied to an existing reservation.

As far as hurricane season goes: we only go during hurricane season; we're both teachers. So we ALWAYS get trip insurance. (Actually, we would get it anyway.) When we left for WDW in 2008, Tropical Storm Faye wasn't on the radar-- not ours, at least. But on our last day, she was a very real threat. It was great being able to send a fax to our travel agent, asking what would happen in the event our flight got cancelled. He got back to me with a voice mail, and we happily enjoyed our last day of vacation.

 

[Marionnette]

We just finished out first Disney trip. It was amazing!! We have already decided to go next year and stay at the same place. I only planned this trip 2 months in advance so we just took whatever deal was available. Sincewe have over a year this time around I was wondering when is the best time to book? When and where can you find te best discounts on resorts? Finally, if you book during hurricane season and there is a huricane do you get reimbursed?

The best time to book?

When the deal for your stay comes out. The earlier that you book the discount price, the better chance that you have of getting the room that you want. You could always book now but the rates for 2014 are not available, so you would have to book a room-only reservation and be prepared to change it later. Since there's no real advantage to doing this, I wouldn't bother. Booking this far in advance serves no purpose.​

When and where can you find the best discounts on resorts?

• Follow the "watch" threads on the Codes and Rates subforum on the Resorts board. There are also TA's that book blocks of rooms at the deluxe (and sometimes the moderate) resorts. They sell those rooms at a pretty good discount. You would need to do a google search for those TA's. The one that I'm familiar with cannot be posted on the disboards.

Finally, if you book during hurricane season and there is a hurricane do you get reimbursed?

Buy trip insurance if you're worried about having your trip interrupted by a hurricane. Disney doesn't always offer discounts to visitors who are stranded in Orlando because of hurricanes or other acts of God. And you will pay a $200 fee for last-minute cancellations if bad weather prevents you from arriving. If you booked your own airfare, you will need to include that in the total cost of your trip when buying insurance.​