Why does WDW ask for a 1 night deposit on room only reservations?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

One thing I have always wondered is why WDW asks for a 1 night deposit when making room only reservations? I can see why a deposit needs to be made 45 days before you arrive on a package reservation, because of what that involves and etc. However for a standard room only reservation that would not include park tickets and etc, I wonder why WDW needs their guests to pay that?

 

[my2princessgirls]

I'm not really sure, but can you imagine how many reservations people would have if there wasn't a required deposit.

 

[LilGMom]

I imagine it is for the same reason that any hotel will charge you for one night stay when you make your reservation - to assure that they are getting their money. I think the cancellation policy is pretty comparable to what most hotels do too - you can cancel up to five days from the date of your reservation with no penalty and a full refund.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I imagine it is for the same reason that any hotel will charge you for one night stay when you make your reservation - to assure that they are getting their money.

Well whenever we make regular hotel reservations at a Marriott or Hampton Inn they don't require a 1 night deposit before arriving.

 

[LilGMom]

Well whenever we make regular hotel reservations at a Marriott or Hampton Inn they don't require a 1 night deposit before arriving.

Really? Interesting. Whenever I have made a reservation at a non-WDW resort like Holiday Inn or for our upcoming Lake Buena Vista Palace Resort stay I had to secure it with a credit card for the amount of one night's stay.

 

[PinkRhombus]

Say you're buying a house. You have to provide a deposit to show that you're serious. They'll be taking that house of the market and another with interest cannot buy it.

Same thing with hotel rooms. Marriott and Hiltons require deposits around here, or full prepayment during high demand....like here, now, as it's Derby Weekend.

Disney has to base a lot off of their inventories, probably. Food ordered for the park and resorts. How many buses they'll need in park and to/from the airport. Probably employee levels.

 

[christinec68]

I think it's to discourage people from randomly making reservations. Plus they love to have your money as long as they possibly can.

I can only think of one other hotel I stayed in that required a one night deposit with a 5+day cancellation period. Most places ask for a credit card hold (not charge) and you have until the day before arrival to cancel and sometimes you can cancel the same day.

 

[my2princessgirls]

Well whenever we make regular hotel reservations at a Marriott or Hampton Inn they don't require a 1 night deposit before arriving.

Yes, but when someone is planning a WDW vacation and they can't decide where they want to stay (or if they will have enough money), they could in theory book more than one resort, then be a no show. Then Disney is stuck at the last minute with rooms that could have been filled, but aren't because someone double (or triple, etc) booked. If there are no consequences then people will do it. By requiring you to make a deposit, they are making sure that you are serious about it. DCL requires a deposit per PERSON, not just per room.

 

[BrianD]

A lot of the major hotel chains do require you to guarantee a reservation with a credit card, but do not charge you the one night's deposit unless you don't cancel within a couple of days, or even by 6:00 PM the day you are supposed to arrive.

That said, this applies to normal hotel chains, and I've seen some resorts (in more special/exotic locals - i.e. Disney) charge the one night deposit, and have more strict cancellation policies. I think it's for two reasons: 1, It helps to prevent reservation abuse. And 2, There are a lot less "last minute" reservations at a place like Disney than at a normal hotel chain.

 

[bytheblood]

I imagine it is for the same reason that any hotel will charge you for one night stay when you make your reservation - to assure that they are getting their money. I think the cancellation policy is pretty comparable to what most hotels do too - you can cancel up to five days from the date of your reservation with no penalty and a full refund.

Well whenever we make regular hotel reservations at a Marriott or Hampton Inn they don't require a 1 night deposit before arriving.

At hotels outside of Disney (like Doubletree, Marriott, etc), they take my credit card number, but they do not charge me until I arrive and check-in.

 

[bytheblood]

Yes, but when someone is planning a WDW vacation and they can't decide where they want to stay (or if they will have enough money), they could in theory book more than one resort, then be a no show. Then Disney is stuck at the last minute with rooms that could have been filled, but aren't because someone double (or triple, etc) booked. If there are no consequences then people will do it. By requiring you to make a deposit, they are making sure that you are serious about it. DCL requires a deposit per PERSON, not just per room.

I think that is exactly the reason.

 

[paladin]

The standard industry practice is to require a credit card to guarantee a reservation (i.e. hold it past 4pm or 6pm depending on the location), but you are not charged until you check in or don't show up for the reservation.

However, hotels in resort areas, like the Disney resorts and many offsite hotels in the Orlando area, and places like Hawaii, some ski resorts, etc. generally require a one-night deposit. Resort area hotels also, like Disney, have stricter cancellation policies than non-resort areas.

Note that these are generalizations - a specific hotel/or a specific area may have different rules or requirements.

 

[jjwampler]

It is good that they charge that first night or I would go crazy and book six hotels while I plan my dream Disney vacations! I would single-handedly screw up their reservation system

 

[jldixon62]

Well whenever we make regular hotel reservations at a Marriott or Hampton Inn they don't require a 1 night deposit before arriving.

The difference may be that these are resorts and not just hotels. I usually pay a depoist when staying at resort properties.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

You can't make simultaneous reservations at WDW regardless of deposit.

 

[ppony]

Well whenever we make regular hotel reservations at a Marriott or Hampton Inn they don't require a 1 night deposit before arriving.

Some do some don't. I have one this year for Embassy Suites that didn't but another at another (I can't remember where ATM) that did. Unless they have always done it, I bet WDW got tired of multiple ressies under one person or alone family and/or cancellations that they ended up not being able to fill.

 

[safetymom]

If you are going to popular vacation spots most hotels will require a one night deposit. Marriott also offers rates that you prepay to get a better rate.

 

[cm8]

It is good that they charge that first night or I would go crazy and book six hotels while I plan my dream Disney vacations! I would single-handedly screw up their reservation system

at least you are being honest. I think that what you said had me laughing so hard I had to up my o2 lpm I was about to