Thoughts on Moderate/Value Resorts

Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795

"From what I've read on several WDW planning sites, if you book in advance, they won't automatically apply any discounts that come up later. However, if there is eventually a discount for your stay, they will happily apply it if you call and ask for it."

That is true. about two months before our trip last year we saw that a new discount had come out. We called and asked and they said as long the trip isn't paid off yet they can apply the discount. I think it cost like $150 to make the change, but the savings we got were much more than that.

 

Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795

I would probably wait until you can book the whole trip though...

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

What do you mean it cost $150 to make the change, Jenn?

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

I called tonight just to ask about reserving January rooms now. She said you can reserve rooms now with one nights stay down. Can add tickets, and dining later once packages are available.
She said the rate was a base rate, and if any discounts come up to call and let them know and they will apply.
Didn't book yet, still too early to know with work etc, but might do it before packages are available since I don't see any negative to doing that.

 

Originally Posted By danyoung

>While not every park as EMH every day, at least one park will have it, either in the morning or at night, every day. Some days, one park will have it in the morning and another will have it in the evening.<

They've actually cut back quite a bit on EMH. Now it's usually 3 or 4 mornings a week, and 1 or 2 evenings. And the evening is only 2 hours instead of 3.

 

Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795

There was a per person change fee. So if the discount was worked out to like $1000 off, the discount was actually like $850 after the fee.

That's nice that you can add the tickets and dining later if you want. Have you decided which resort you want? I bet your kiddos are getting excited. Mine were so into helping us plan the trip last year, since that was the first time any of had gone to WDW.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

<<What do you mean it cost $150 to make the change, Jenn?>>

Grrr... Iit is what I HATE about making reservations through Disney now. They run everything through the "Disney Travel Company", which requires periodic payments for the reservation with payment IN FULL required 30 days before you get there. Unlike every other hotel on earth where you can give them a credit card to hold the room without charge until 6 PM on the day of arrival and pay at checkout. At any rate, once the reservation has been paid in full, you have to pay a fee to make a change to it.

Maybe you can avoid this Mickey Mouse stuff ;-) by using a private Travel Agency... I'm not sure.

 

Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795

You can actually book rooms without paying in full in advance, at least at DLR, but packages have to be paid in full, 30 days for DLR and 45 days for WDW. If you are just getting a room, you have to put down one night's deposit (which is refundable up until I think 30 days in advance) and then they charge your card when you check out like normal hotels.

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

Yes, that is what the representative told me on the phone. You pay one night's charge, and then rest upon arrival. If I book early, I'll just make sure to not pay off entirely until we get there, to make sure if any new discounts come up I can add them without a fee.

She also said that tickets and dining have to be added on at least 3 days prior to your arrival or else they can't be added.

Although, If I'm not doing dining (which I haven't decided) there isn't any real reason to add tickets quickly to the reservation.

Once you add those, then you have to pay in full 45 days before arrival.

 

Originally Posted By tashajilek

"Too bad you couldn't play facebook games to win free hotels at WDW, right Tash?

"

I know! that would be awesome if Disney offered a similar game. When i go to Vegas next i will have the hotel paid for, free cirq tickets and free food credits. There is no way Disney would ever give away free rooms lol.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

Yes, I checked my records and found that final payment had to be 45 days before arrival, not 30. The only thing I ordered in addition to the room was a couple of Park Hopper passes. I guess that made it "a package". I wish I would have known. I would have just reserved the room and bought my hoppers at check-in.

 

Originally Posted By tashajilek

Do you get the park hoppers cheaper if purchased with the room?

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

I saw they offered in the past thanks to Yookeroo's like to the history of past deals offered, and some deals that claimed to give a discount, but I'm always leary of that. I guess I'm just so used to Disneyland's site, and combining tickets with rooms is almost always more than if purchased separately. At least it use to be when DL offered discounts for tickets on the website.

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

Sheesh, not even I can make out what I'm saying in that post.

Yes, Tash, I think they do at times offer discounts on tickets if purchased with rooms. But I don't think it's always cheaper. Only if they have a special running.

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

Jenn, forgot to mention, I'm most likely staying in the Little Mermaid section of Art of Animation.

I was considering Port Orleans, but after my kids saw pics of little mermaid rooms, I couldn't say no. They both were super excited. Couldn't believe even the rooms were decorated like movie.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

No, the hoppers are the same price. If I remember correctly "the package" also gives you some things you will likely never use... coupons for discounts on mini-golf, boat rentals, etc. You can't refuse it. If you want to reserve a room and park hoppers, you take the crud with it that is supposedly "free".

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

I'll be adding the water park and more option. Since we'll be getting a 5 or six day park pass, that will give us 5 or 6 "extra" admissions to water parks, "and more".

I'm thinking we'll probably do DisneyQuest, both water parks, and mini golf (which I hate, but kids always have wanted to try it). Since we'll only be there a week, I'm wondering how to fit it all in.

 

Originally Posted By tashajilek

LOL, well i dont want the crud either RT.

CC, im sure the Mermaid room will be pretty neat to stay in.

 

Originally Posted By tashajilek

Is it cheaper adding the water park and more option? or would it be cheaper just paying the admission seperate once? WDW is pretty huge, you may only want to have one visit to a water park. OR you can do something that your husband will kill you for and get premier passes lol. You will have access to WDW and DL 365 days a year, water parks, Disney quest and MORE! i was looking at it this year and i decided not too i was just looking at my premier pass i had for last year and was feeling sorry for myself lol.

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

6 day park hoppers for 2 adults and 2 kids with the water park fun and more option is $1388.78 purchased alone on the website.

The price for them when adding to a room to create a "package" is $1394.88.

But like I said at times I think they offer discounts on both room and tickets is purchased together. And of course if they offer free dining when you buy package it's a heck of a deal.

Tash when are you going?