When to start booking tavel for the 2010 marathon weekend?

[ArelysAdriana]

I plan on doing the half again next year, but this time I won't be living 30 minutes from the mouse since I just moved to Louisiana. So my question is, when do you start booking your hotel, flights, etc?

I tried to look up hotel rates on the Disney site, but it is currently only booking though December 31st. I also tried looking at flights on Southwest's site, but that was only booking through August. Does anyone know when you can start booking for January on the Disney site? What about on Southwest?

I'm sure these are really stupid questions, but I have never booked travel myself and I haven't had to book a trip in Disney since I lived so close, so I am way confused.

Thanks in advance

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I can't help with WDW resorts but as a DVC BWV person, I finalized my Jan trip for 1/6-1/17 1 Bd this week! Will book my FF flights with UAL next month

 

[ArelysAdriana]

I can't help with WDW resorts but as a DVC BWV person, I finalized my Jan trip for 1/6-1/17 1 Bd this week! Will book my FF flights with UAL next month

That's fantastic. Congrats on (almost) booking everything!

Does anyone else know when the resorts start booking for January? I want to make sure I'm able to get a room at one of the value resorts and I'm sure those go quickly.

 

[Sandy321]

Are you familiar then with airline prices from LA to MCO - if not you can always post on the Transportation board - coming from Chicago I know that if I can get a round trip for $200 or less I book it! The prices usually dont come down - but I do know many that play around with the Southwest prices (they have a DING fare - Transportation board has a running thread with SW ding fares)

I just dont like to wait till 3 months before! You can book a ressie with Disney but they do caution that prices could increase - (we also are going the DVC route so we're booked!)

I do know that Disney and the Marathon have good transportation to and from the all the resorts - just be aware of times - I missed the last bus out to cheer on the marathoners - and they close roads - so I grabbed a taxi ($20) next time I wont fall asleep and miss the bus!

( a few WISH veterans love the closeness of POR or OKW to the start of the race)

 

[timmac]

I rented DVC points for 9 nights, spanning across Marathon Weekend... started looking towards the end of January so that I'd have someone able to help me right at the 11 month window

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Does anyone else know when the resorts start booking for January? I want to make sure I'm able to get a room at one of the value resorts and I'm sure those go quickly.

You can actually book your marathon weekend trip right now through the Disney website. Here is the link to the 2010 Marathon Weekend bookings from the Disney World Marathon site. Or just go to the site and click on "Travel Details" and then "Packages" and you'll find the Book Now link. You can also call CRO and tell them that you want to book a Marathon Weekend Package, and they'll be able to book it for you. The one thing that they can't do is add the dining plan to your package, as they don't know what changes will be made to the program for 2010.

 

[jessily]

Last year Disney put out their 2009 rates in August. I booked a room in April just to assure I would have something (I paid a 1 night deposit based on 2008 peak season rates), then when 2009 rates came out in August I called and adjusted my reservation accordingly. If you're worried about not having a room, book now. You can always cancel or make changes once rates for 2010 come out.

 

[ArelysAdriana]

Are you familiar then with airline prices from LA to MCO - if not you can always post on the Transportation board - coming from Chicago I know that if I can get a round trip for $200 or less I book it! The prices usually dont come down - but I do know many that play around with the Southwest prices (they have a DING fare - Transportation board has a running thread with SW ding fares)

I just dont like to wait till 3 months before! You can book a ressie with Disney but they do caution that prices could increase - (we also are going the DVC route so we're booked!)

I do know that Disney and the Marathon have good transportation to and from the all the resorts - just be aware of times - I missed the last bus out to cheer on the marathoners - and they close roads - so I grabbed a taxi ($20) next time I wont fall asleep and miss the bus!

( a few WISH veterans love the closeness of POR or OKW to the start of the race)

I know all about SW's DING airfares and SW also has their "wanna get away" or whatever it is called that is pretty well priced (or so I think, I'm not very travel savvy.) I am hoping to keep airfare to $200 or below.

I don't like waiting until the last 3 months either. I definitely want to book everything ASAP. I'm an obsessive planner and I know I won't be able to rest until I have everything booked.

I think missing the bus would be my biggest fear! I set 4 alarms this year just in case and also made my boyfriend stand guard to make sure I didn't wake up late

I rented DVC points for 9 nights, spanning across Marathon Weekend... started looking towards the end of January so that I'd have someone able to help me right at the 11 month window

That's awesome. Renting DVC points crossed my mind, but I'm trying to do this as cheap as humanly possible.

You can actually book your marathon weekend trip right now through the Disney website. Here is the link to the 2010 Marathon Weekend bookings from the Disney World Marathon site. Or just go to the site and click on "Travel Details" and then "Packages" and you'll find the Book Now link. You can also call CRO and tell them that you want to book a Marathon Weekend Package, and they'll be able to book it for you. The one thing that they can't do is add the dining plan to your package, as they don't know what changes will be made to the program for 2010.

Thank you so much for that link. I have no idea how I missed it (I swear, I spent hours trying to figure out how I could book so far in advance.) No worries about the dining plan, I wasn't planning on getting it.

Last year Disney put out their 2009 rates in August. I booked a room in April just to assure I would have something (I paid a 1 night deposit based on 2008 peak season rates), then when 2009 rates came out in August I called and adjusted my reservation accordingly. If you're worried about not having a room, book now. You can always cancel or make changes once rates for 2010 come out.

Thanks for the info! I'll probably just book something now just to have it and change it later if need be.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I also booked my room through the Marathon phone number. Booked at Pop for a few days before and after the half at 2008 peak rates. The lady just said keep an eye out and when they drop, call back. Didn't book tickets or anything though!

 

[bunnyfoo]

Last year, I booked my airfare in October. The rates were too high before then. I booked my hotel room in July but only because I wanted to stay in a specific room type.

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

That's fantastic. Congrats on (almost) booking everything!

Does anyone else know when the resorts start booking for January? I want to make sure I'm able to get a room at one of the value resorts and I'm sure those go quickly.

Someone already mentioned that Disney opens their package booking for 2010 in August. I'm going to book a room-only reservation in April and then change it to a package in August when they become available. I think we booked our airfare in October and got a decent rate with Delta $160 pp/rt. Closer to our trip time, SW was offering $49 one way out of Baltimore but it was too late for us. Besides, we liked being able to leave from the local airport rather than driving well over an hour to get to Baltimore.

 

[Duanerice]

Since I drive up, yes up, to Disney, I only need to worry about a room. I booked the Pop earlier this week. I paid the sky high rate for a one night deposit but will adjust it when the AAA rate comes out. Something crazy like $135 + tax per night. last year I think I ended up paying $74 + tax a night.

Just a bit of caution about booking the marathon package. Last year I was told that if I booked the marathon package I would not be able to change it into the AAA or Florida Resident rates when they came out. Of course I would get the normal rack rate adjustment but I would not be able to switch it to another rate plan such as AAA. If you don't have AAA or aren't a Florida resident then it shouldn't matter. Just a heads up.

enjoy,
Duane

 

[JoanneNC]

What are the easiest resorts to stay at in regards to transportation to the start of the 1/2 marathon?

Thanks

 

[Duanerice]

What are the easiest resorts to stay at in regards to transportation to the start of the 1/2 marathon?

Thanks

They all offer convenient travel. The monorail resorts are of course the best but other than that, they are all the same - busses, lots of busses.
enjoy,
Duane

 

[mkymsehi]

WISH Team member Kira, who is based in Philadelphia, is a Disney Certified Travel Agent.

She has already booked me for December, 2009 and January, 2010.

PM me if you would like to have her contact information.

 

[JoanneNC]

Would the Epcot hotels be convenient to avoid the buses? I have never stayed in any of them so that it why I am ignorant of their location in regards to the start, etc

Thanks

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Would the Epcot hotels be convenient to avoid the buses? I have never stayed in any of them so that it why I am ignorant of their location in regards to the start, etc

Thanks

Joanne, The only benefit is that you can walk through Epcot after the races(if you have a park pass) instead of taking a bus back. That's why we stay as we bus to the start and take a nice 1 mile walk back to our room at BWV.

 

[RebeccaDreamsDisney]

There will be six of us (adults) and we are thinking 2 rooms at either Pop Century or French Quarter. The difference is approx. $950 but split b/w 6 is not that bad. Do you think I should book these packages now and take advantage of any discounts when they come up and just add the dining plan when I can or would it be ok to wait?
I'm trying desperately to get a comparison price difference from CAA to the marathon package but the people at our CAA agency seem to be confused. I know they can't get me the 2010 price but I'd like just a value season 2009 and they are somewhat useless lol.
Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[mkymsehi]

The last two years during WDW Marathon Weekend I stayed at POP Century for cheap!

In 2008 I paid for POP Century $62.63 a night, with tax. $31.32 per person, double occupancy.

In 2009 I paid for POP Century $55.13 a night, with tax. $18.38 per person, triple occupancy.

Each time I told my Disney Certified Travel agent I was a AAA member, and an annual Passholder. Whichever rate was the cheapest, my reservation was changed to reflect the lowest rate possible, when the discounts come out.

Right now I'm reserved at $163.13 a night since 2010 rates are not out yet. I'm confident rates will go down in the fall.

Theme park tickets are not included, but I have an annual passport. I'm sure they could be added.

Magical Express from/to the airport is included, so that's a plus.

 

[ArelysAdriana]

The last two years during WDW Marathon Weekend I stayed at POP Century for cheap!

In 2008 I paid for POP Century $62.63 a night, with tax. $31.32 per person, double occupancy.

In 2009 I paid for POP Century $55.13 a night, with tax. $18.38 per person, triple occupancy.

Each time I told my Disney Certified Travel agent I was a AAA member, and an annual Passholder. Whichever rate was the cheapest, my reservation was changed to reflect the lowest rate possible, when the discounts come out.

Right now I'm reserved at $163.13 a night since 2010 rates are not out yet. I'm confident rates will go down in the fall.

Theme park tickets are not included, but I have an annual passport. I'm sure they could be added.

Magical Express from/to the airport is included, so that's a plus.

Do you know if I book now with that marathon package link that was posted on the first page, if the prices go down and I can get a bigger discount, will I be able to change it?