Originally Posted By sharon2 Hello everyone!! I'm looking for advice on how far in advance to book the DLH? Best rooms? Best discount?? we use AAA to book WDW. We plan to go in summer & catch an Angels vs. Red Sox game..Fenway Park is way to expensive.. LAX vs. Orange County? Thanx for any info-Sharon
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP I've never stayed at the DLH, but I've listened to lots of talk here. Based on that, I'd advise booking as soon as your dates are somewhat firm, keeping an eye on specials, and then calling and changing your reservations if a good special comes along. APs have a minor discount at all times (10%?), better than nothing. Sometimes, when they are slow, they'll offer much better AP discounts, not likely to happen in the summer, spring or fall are distinct possibliities for these sort of discounts. If you can miss some school fall and spring are usually preferable to summer: cheaper, less crowded (but with shorter hours and less show times). Much to my disgust as a child Baseball season does go from April (May?) to October. I highly reccomend October, but you do have to be able to miss school.
Originally Posted By LuLu You now get charged for 1 night at the time you reserve, just in case that affects your timing.
Originally Posted By mater4 If you book through AAA which we have done I am not sure if the DLR charge will matter as you have to put a percentage down for the package and have it paid in full 1 month before your vacation. Of course at that point you have to pay a fee to change or cancel. Booking the trip on your own like Lulu said they will charge one night to the card but if you cancel within the timeframe they allow you will get refunded the room charge.
Originally Posted By Dalia3001 I was wondering the same thing. I am planning a trip for December, but our dates are a bit up in the air right now. We want to take advantage of Magic Morning but to do that we need a package. It looks like if you book a package, you get charged a fee for any change or cancellation. Maybe that was always the case, but I'm sorry to not be able to book now and just change plans if needed. : (
Originally Posted By nemopoppins If you buy a package I think you do lose a lot of deposit if you have to cancel. Also, you have to pay a large amount up front and then you have to pay in full pretty far in advance. If you reserve your DLH room only through room reservations and get your tickets separately and airfare separately, you won't have to put down a deposit for the hotel if you give them a credit card number. They'll only charge the hotel when you're there, but I think they will charge a night if you cancel after about 72 hours prior. I think you can get the AAA discounted park tickets online as long as you buy a standard length park hopper. However, with the airline tickets, you might have to pay when you purchase if you want to get good fares. So many things to consider, good luck.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer The Walt Disney Company releases its next years deals, including discounted tickets, special seasonal promotions around September or October for next year, so if you are looking at a 2009 visit, I would wait until Disney releases the information, which can include free extra nights in hotel rooms (both Disney and Good Neighbor), and special deals on tickets, especially for the January through April period.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss LAX has more flights, but it is a bit of a nightmare as airports go, and it is further away too. SNA on the other hand, is relatively small and easy to get into and out of, plus it is fairly close to DLR. SNA is definitely a better choice; I'd put LGB at #2 (or #1 if you love JetBlue.)
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter Dalia3001, just an FYI, you can currently get one Magic Morning with each Parkhopper you buy through Disney's website. . . no package deal needed.
Originally Posted By mater4 You can also buy your passes through AAA without a package and get the free parking and magic morning. They are the same price as the DL site. >>If you reserve your DLH room only through room reservations and get your tickets separately and airfare separately, you won't have to put down a deposit for the hotel if you give them a credit card number. << To my knowledge the new policy states that one night will be charged on the credit card immediately but you can get a full refund if you cancel within the timeframe they give you. AAA charges $200 to book a package that must be paid a month before the trip. 30+ days they charge $25 for change and $100 to cancel. 29-5 days before trip it is $50 to change and $200 to cancel.
Originally Posted By LuLu To clarify my post #3, the new Disney policy, for a couple months now, if you book a DLR hotel directly thru Disney you will be charged one night at the time of your booking. The following is based on my memory so do check it! The deposit is refundable if you cancel 5 or more days ahead of your stay, but they have said it could take up to 6 weeks to see your refund.
Originally Posted By LuLu Posted on March 30 by Darkbeer: ... the cancelation policy which up till now, was 72 hours, is now 5 days. ... they now automatically charge at reservation time your first night stay. If you do cancel with at least 5 days notice, then you will have the first night stay refunded within 6 weeks.
Originally Posted By Dalia3001 Thanks for the info about getting magic mornings by buying your park hopper through the website! I'm glad I don't necessarily have to get a package. : )
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter You're welcome! It always feels good to think you might be saving a fellow LPer some $$$ that is better spent *inside* the parks.
Originally Posted By eortiz01757 Totally agree with you Sharon2. I have free tickets for 7-25 and it will still cost me at least $100 by time I travel into town, pay tolls, parking and eat! Crazy! But there is not place like it to catch a game.
Originally Posted By sharon2 ^^^NO WAY!! we'll be there the 26th!!! even those "free tickets" are very expensive!!
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl We have friends that get a lot of free tickets for the EMC club. I usually don't like to go to the Yankees game..I hate the bad sportsmanship (on both sides) that this rivalry brings out. At least up in the boxes you don't have so much of that. We used to go every month, but now it is just too expensive, plus since they won in 2004, you cannot get tickets! (lots of people jumped on the bandwagon...where we they when the Sox were stinking up the place?)
Originally Posted By sharon2 ^^^ I saw Flava Flav wearing a Red Sox hat, give me a break!! Last time I went to a game(2004) Ben Affleck(sp) was there..he's so cute!!
