Is it possible to book a deluxe resort in the $300 range? And can you have more than one room reservation?

[flounder21]

We're new to WDW vacations, and are planning a trip in mid-November 2018 for five nights. We've booked a room at Pop Century which I'm sure will be fine, but I'd love to stay in one of the deluxe resorts, particularly one that would be close to the Magic Kingdom (we're doing two days there, one day Epcot, one day AK). I keep reading that having an afternoon break is a very good idea if you have young children (we have a five-year-old), and frankly, I think we'll need daily breaks, too, to recharge. So down to my question: I'm seeing when I search our date range a few of the deluxe resorts in the $400 range. I've heard that Disney often does offer discounts, but at the moment, there aren't any that apply to November. Will there likely be a discount at some point, and if so, how much would it likely be off the price tag we'd pay if we reserved a room now? I know I'd need to check back frequently to see if any discount has gone into effect over the next few months, but is it wise to go ahead and lock in a room now at a higher price than I want to pay, and plan that I should be able to secure a discount that would knock it down some, like 20% off or something? And also, would it be possible for me to hold onto our Pop Century reservation (in case the price tag doesn't come down enough for us to go for a deluxe resort) while also reserving a room in a deluxe resort and waiting to see if it comes down enough?

 

[Tony the Tigger]

We did get AKL last September for $264, but that’s about as far away from the Monorail as you can get.

We typically get AP or FL resident rates. They are only slightly better than regular sale rates (often in that 20-25% range you mentioned.)

So yes, you can book now and if the rate is available for your room when you call, they’ll apply it retroactively. Keep in mind not all rooms or hotels are in every sale.

November, the later you get, the harder it will be to get a good deal (I think) so I would stay on top of it, stay plugged in here (they usually announce here as soon as the sales are announced) and cross your fingers - but obviously don’t book a $500 room because that won’t likely go on sale for $300.

I don’t see why you couldn’t keep both, but you’ll need a separate deposit on each. When you cancel one (before the deadline to do so passes) they can either refund your deposit or (possibly more helpful by that time) apply it to your other reservation (so it’s like another payment, and less to pay when you get there.)

 

[Nemo14]

You might want to check with a Disney travel agent about all this This site has a sponsor , @Kingdom Konsultant , who can answer your questions and handle the arrangements (including any discounts) for you at no additional charge to you. I highly recommend them.

 

[Epcotfan21]

I think your best chance for something in the $300 range at that time of year and close to MK would be Wilderness Lodge. You also might want to check David's DVC rentals, as you might be able to get a studio for around that price at a Deluxe resort.

My #1 recommendation is Swan/Dolphin. I know it's not by the MK and people are always turned off by the idea it's not a "Disney owned resort" but the rooms are great, the location is amazing and is a deluxe hotel at typically much cheaper prices than other Disney deluxe resorts.

 

[Tom P.]

I agree with the recommendation for Wilderness Lodge. It is generally the cheapest of the deluxe resorts. And while it's not on the monorail line, it's close to Magic Kingdom and you can access MK by boat instead of by bus.

 

[21stamps]

I vote for Wilderness Lodge as well.

When we went in November 2016 i think it was around $400 per night for a bunk bed room.

 

[eliza61nyc]

I'm almost willing to lay money on the ability to get a discount. Simply keep your eyes on the wdw site. right now they promotion is 20% off of deluxe resorts until the end of may. so I'd say around July you may start to see stuff for the end of the year. Of course Thanksgiving is usually not discounted.

 

[slappy magoo]

I think your best chance for something in the $300 range at that time of year and close to MK would be Wilderness Lodge. You also might want to check David's DVC rentals, as you might be able to get a studio for around that price at a Deluxe resort.

I did a search at David's DVC Rentals for 5 nights, check in Sunday 11/11, check out Friday 11/16. I don't know if those are your dates but you said mid-November
Standard view at Bay Lake Towers - 255 a night
Studio Lake View at Bay Lake Towers - $306 a night
Standard view at Polynesian - also $306 a night
Standard view at Grand Floridian - $289 a night

Same rooms on Travelocity are at least twice that.

I'm emphasizing the Lake View @ Bay Lake because I also went to the Disney Vacation Club website to see what was available in a studio in all of the monorail resorts, and throughout ALL of November, the pickings are very very slim but those dates at that resort in that category is, as of this writing, still available.

So if you're really considering upgrading, I wouldn't wait, I'd go to David's and try to book that room. I doubt you'd do significantly better with any offer Disney might have, short of a free dining offer that might counteract the high price of the room, and even then, I think you'd do better with this.

Outside of the monorail resorts, the usual suspects still have decent availability, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West and Animal Kingdom Kidani Village (Savannah view), all very nice resorts and great value (especially Old Key West, those 5 nights are only 800 bucks!)

 

[larandtra]

I wouldnt bet on huge discounts but you are likely to find something. Its just a roll of the dice. Poly/GF/Contemporary likely not, as they book out pretty rapidly. On the positive side, mid november, between F&W and Thanksgiving, Wilderness Lodge is likely your best bet and a really nice resort. Otherwise, Davids is likely your best bet if you dont want to risk Disney not having any sort of promo. Ive gotten WL, AKL, or Beach/Yacht club last minute before at a decent rate. But its a risk you take.

 

[daisyduckie]

I'm don't think it happens very often, but I have seen posts from people with multiple reservations who were contacted by Disney and told to pick one.

 

[MissingDisney]

Yes, you can have multiple reservations. I’ve almost always had to have at least 2 because of unsure travel dates. Just because one has a reservation and then a promotion starts doesn’t mean you automatically get the lower rate, though, so don’t count on that guaranteeing a lower rate in the future. It would depend on several factors. You’d need to cancel one prior to the deadline to avoid penalties.

 

[flounder21]

I did a search at David's DVC Rentals for 5 nights, check in Sunday 11/11, check out Friday 11/16. I don't know if those are your dates but you said mid-November
Standard view at Bay Lake Towers - 255 a night
Studio Lake View at Bay Lake Towers - $306 a night
Standard view at Polynesian - also $306 a night
Standard view at Grand Floridian - $289 a night

Same rooms on Travelocity are at least twice that.

I'm emphasizing the Lake View @ Bay Lake because I also went to the Disney Vacation Club website to see what was available in a studio in all of the monorail resorts, and throughout ALL of November, the pickings are very very slim but those dates at that resort in that category is, as of this writing, still available.

So if you're really considering upgrading, I wouldn't wait, I'd go to David's and try to book that room. I doubt you'd do significantly better with any offer Disney might have, short of a free dining offer that might counteract the high price of the room, and even then, I think you'd do better with this.

Outside of the monorail resorts, the usual suspects still have decent availability, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West and Animal Kingdom Kidani Village (Savannah view), all very nice resorts and great value (especially Old Key West, those 5 nights are only 800 bucks!)

Thank you so much for looking that up for me. I had had a quick look, but couldn't see where to search dates and price tags. Those rates look great; I'm definitely going to that website today to try and lock in one of those rooms!

 

[flounder21]

Going mid-November (not thanksgiving week) the BEST deal you can probably get is for $469/night (standard) at the Contemporary. That is a steal for Contemporary which normally runs roughly $550-600/night normally.

I just checked the prices for a 5-night stay from November 11th-16th 2018.

I did a double take when I saw Contemporary for $469/night.

Don't suppose you have to go in November? September is one of the most inexpensive times to go to Disney.

Good to know that is sort of the "going rate" for a room at Contemporary booked through Disney. Unfortunately, we are locked in to November as we're flying in internationally and then staying for Thanksgiving.

 

[flounder21]

I did a search at David's DVC Rentals for 5 nights, check in Sunday 11/11, check out Friday 11/16. I don't know if those are your dates but you said mid-November
Standard view at Bay Lake Towers - 255 a night
Studio Lake View at Bay Lake Towers - $306 a night
Standard view at Polynesian - also $306 a night
Standard view at Grand Floridian - $289 a night

Same rooms on Travelocity are at least twice that.

I'm emphasizing the Lake View @ Bay Lake because I also went to the Disney Vacation Club website to see what was available in a studio in all of the monorail resorts, and throughout ALL of November, the pickings are very very slim but those dates at that resort in that category is, as of this writing, still available.

So if you're really considering upgrading, I wouldn't wait, I'd go to David's and try to book that room. I doubt you'd do significantly better with any offer Disney might have, short of a free dining offer that might counteract the high price of the room, and even then, I think you'd do better with this.

Outside of the monorail resorts, the usual suspects still have decent availability, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West and Animal Kingdom Kidani Village (Savannah view), all very nice resorts and great value (especially Old Key West, those 5 nights are only 800 bucks!)

I'm having a closer look at the website mentioned above, and I can't find anything that lists availability and prices. Is that available only to already registered members, or something like that? Or am I at the wrong place? https://www.dvcrequest.com

 

[jaklgreen]

I'm having a closer look at the website mentioned above, and I can't find anything that lists availability and prices. Is that available only to already registered members, or something like that? Or am I at the wrong place? https://www.dvcrequest.com

They won't know availability until you put in a request for a reservation. But any one of us who are DVC members can do a quick check on the dates that you are looking for. Go to Davids site and put in your dates and the prices will pop up. If you want to book with them, then you put in the reservation request(they will ask for deposit) and then they try to match you with a DVC member that has points they want to sell. If they match you then you pay in full right then. No refunds.

 

[andy773]

I’m a DVC member and I just checked the dates mentioned above. The only one of those studios still available is BLT Lake View. If you put in a request at David’s, know that you will have to pay the higher rate, since it’s more than 7 months away. David’s web site will explain why.

 

[slappy magoo]

I'm having a closer look at the website mentioned above, and I can't find anything that lists availability and prices. Is that available only to already registered members, or something like that? Or am I at the wrong place? https://www.dvcrequest.com

Go here
https://www.dvcrequest.com/cost-calculator.asp

Specify the dates you want and it spits out the price you'll pay them for every DVC resort, every category. I attached screen grab.

But as far as checking availability, I did that on the official DVC website, which you can't access without being a member. I just did again, and Bay Lake, Lake view is still showing availability, but that's it as far as monorail resorts go for the specific dates I entered (11/11 checkin for 5 nights). But other dates are only showing scattered availability, a few nights here or there, not 5 in a row. If that's what you want, David's will likely be as good as you can get, and I suspect you should move quickly. But...no pressure.

 

[flounder21]

Go here
https://www.dvcrequest.com/cost-calculator.asp

Specify the dates you want and it spits out the price you'll pay them for every DVC resort, every category. I attached screen grab.

But as far as checking availability, I did that on the official DVC website, which you can't access without being a member. I just did again, and Bay Lake, Lake view is still showing availability, but that's it as far as monorail resorts go for the specific dates I entered (11/11 checkin for 5 nights). But other dates are only showing scattered availability, a few nights here or there, not 5 in a row. If that's what you want, David's will likely be as good as you can get, and I suspect you should move quickly. But...no pressure.

Thank you for that additional information, and for having a look at other dates around that time. I've spoken to my husband, and I think for now we're going to hold off on going for a DVC rental because of the no refund policy. We're still a little too far off from our target date to be 100% sure everything is going to fall in place. I might go for it in a month or two to see if we can get anything for five nights in November (knowing it almost certainly won't be a monorail resort, but still something nicer than Pop Century) and see what happens. Not sure how quickly everything typically sells out with the DVC rentals, or if it's changing to some extent with new availability popping up now and then? At any rate, I might try and see what happens. Thanks everyone for sharing this information; I wouldn't have looked into it otherwise!

 

[daisyduckie]

Yes, you can have multiple reservations. I’ve almost always had to have at least 2 because of unsure travel dates. Just because one has a reservation and then a promotion starts doesn’t mean you automatically get the lower rate, though, so don’t count on that guaranteeing a lower rate in the future. It would depend on several factors. You’d need to cancel one prior to the deadline to avoid penalties.

I think it is different when you have different travel dates. That just looks like 2 separate trips. Having 2 at the same time looks like you are booking 2 rooms with no intention of using them both.

 

[MissingDisney]

I think it is different when you have different travel dates. That just looks like 2 separate trips. Having 2 at the same time looks like you are booking 2 rooms with no intention of using them both.

A friend just did this at Christmas. Same dates, same people, same everything. Literally just couldn’t decide where she wanted to stay and couldn’t decide. The rep on the phone actually recommended she book both, if she was able to pay the required deposit on each, that is, so she wouldn’t risk losing the rooms, until she could decide. (There was a promo) She did right then, with the same rep on the phone with Disney directly. No issues.