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Do last minute deals REALLY Exist???
- Thread starter US 192
- Start date
scpergj
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure about right now, but I do have experience with this at Disney.
Back in 2003, my family had been having a bit of a bad time. I had lost my job and didn't work for a year, then only part time for another year and a half while I went back to college to get my degree in Information Systems. I was scheduled to graduate at the beginning of December of 2003. My dad died in September of 2003, and my wife's mother and step-father (now ex step-father) decided to spend Christmas away from the rest of the family at their timeshare in Orlando. Now, we live in suburban Jacksonville, so it's not like it's far, but with all of the other things that we had been through, that was a big blow to my wife...Christmas without her mom. Well, good things started happening. I did graduate from college, then my employer, who originally was a co-op with the university, offered me a full time job, which I started the second week of December, and I had an idea. So, the week before the weekend before Christmas (like 10 days before Christmas), I called Disney on a whim to see if they might have a room, just for a night, so we could at least see her mom the weekend before Christmas...and they did! They had just opened the Pop Century the week before we stayed there, and it was great! Not only did they have room, they had Florida Resident discounted rooms, and we only paid $49 for the room. It was awesome. We didn't go to any parks, since we were only there for one night and one day, but we did go to Downtown Disney, and had breakfast at 'Ohana...again, I got that reservation like three days before we were to show up.
I have heard that if they don't have something available, just call shortly before you want to do whatever (hotel stay, meal reservations, ect) and they MAY have an opening due to cancellations. It worked for me!
Kevin
Kevin
Back in 2003, my family had been having a bit of a bad time. I had lost my job and didn't work for a year, then only part time for another year and a half while I went back to college to get my degree in Information Systems. I was scheduled to graduate at the beginning of December of 2003. My dad died in September of 2003, and my wife's mother and step-father (now ex step-father) decided to spend Christmas away from the rest of the family at their timeshare in Orlando. Now, we live in suburban Jacksonville, so it's not like it's far, but with all of the other things that we had been through, that was a big blow to my wife...Christmas without her mom. Well, good things started happening. I did graduate from college, then my employer, who originally was a co-op with the university, offered me a full time job, which I started the second week of December, and I had an idea. So, the week before the weekend before Christmas (like 10 days before Christmas), I called Disney on a whim to see if they might have a room, just for a night, so we could at least see her mom the weekend before Christmas...and they did! They had just opened the Pop Century the week before we stayed there, and it was great! Not only did they have room, they had Florida Resident discounted rooms, and we only paid $49 for the room. It was awesome. We didn't go to any parks, since we were only there for one night and one day, but we did go to Downtown Disney, and had breakfast at 'Ohana...again, I got that reservation like three days before we were to show up.
I have heard that if they don't have something available, just call shortly before you want to do whatever (hotel stay, meal reservations, ect) and they MAY have an opening due to cancellations. It worked for me!
Kevin
Kevin
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"Deals" or availability? I don't think Disney has any real last minute deals themselves. They aren't hurting enough to. But as pointed out above, if you are trying to get in last minute, they do sometimes have cancellations. But the more they go up on cancellation penalties, the less likely you are going to find them.
If you are willing to stay outside of the parks, then a lot of those hotels DO have last minute deals. Try their websites directly, and even give them a call - they might have things available over the phone that you can't find on the web site. You can also do the Hotwire and Priceline thing, too, if you are not that picky.
All in all, I don't think you are going to find any huge savings by waiting, but unless you are deep into the most popular periods, I don't think you are going to spend more by waiting, unless you have your heart set on a Disney hotel.
If you are willing to stay outside of the parks, then a lot of those hotels DO have last minute deals. Try their websites directly, and even give them a call - they might have things available over the phone that you can't find on the web site. You can also do the Hotwire and Priceline thing, too, if you are not that picky.
All in all, I don't think you are going to find any huge savings by waiting, but unless you are deep into the most popular periods, I don't think you are going to spend more by waiting, unless you have your heart set on a Disney hotel.
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DisneyMusician2
Well-Known Member
I wish it was easy enough to do....Nah, no real deals. Especially if you have to catch a flight to get there, good luck getting a last-minute fare you really want to pay!
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If you are having trouble with last minute airfare (this is in the US at least), 1st check Jet Blue and Spirit and the other smaller airlines which rarely show up on sites like Expedia. They often still have decent fares available - I have booked only a few days in advance. Also be sure to check each airline's web site - they often have the lowest fares there. If you are willing to be flexible you are likely to be able to find something fairly cheap.
Oh, and if you aren't finding good fares that way, try looking at one-way flights - often you can combine different carries and get a better deal.
Oh, and if you aren't finding good fares that way, try looking at one-way flights - often you can combine different carries and get a better deal.
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