Ease of Rebooking or Cancelling

[PMC0849]

I am thinking of booking right now (about a year out) to insure I can get the resort I want instead of waiting for to see if there are any deals later in the year. Is it easy to rebook if the rates go down or a sale is announced for the time you would be staying? Also how easy is it to cancel for a full refund incase something happens and we can't even go?

 

[Master Yoda]

To answer your second question first...as along as you are outside of the cancellation period, which for a package is 45 days, canceling for a full refund is quite easy. All you have to do is call and cancel.

Your first question is a little more nuanced.

First and foremost, booking in advance does nothing to help you re-book the same room if a promotion comes out. If anything, it reduces the chance that any promotion that does come out will include the resort you booked.

Promotions are released based on booking rates. When a resort falls below those booking rates they put the rooms on sale via a promotion. If they are meeting or exceeding their booking rates then they do not. Therefore, booking a room in advance helps them to make their booking rates and can theoretically exclude your resort from any promotions that are released.

Once a promotion does come out it is easy to re-book, all you have to do is call, but as mentioned before, having that room already booked will in no way help you to get it again.

The advice I would give clients doing what you are doing it to book what you can afford at rack rates. If a promotion does come out for your travel dates you can use the savings to upgrade your resort or simply pocket the cash.

 

[officialtom]

Both

To answer your second question first...as along as you are outside of the cancellation period, which for a package is 45 days, canceling for a full refund is quite easy. All you have to do is call and cancel.

Your first question is a little more nuanced.

First and foremost, booking in advance does nothing to help you re-book the same room if a promotion comes out. If anything, it reduces the chance that any promotion that does come out will include the resort you booked.

Promotions are released based on booking rates. When a resort falls below those booking rates they put the rooms on sale via a promotion. If they are meeting or exceeding their booking rates then they do not. Therefore, booking a room in advance helps them to make their booking rates and can theoretically exclude your resort from any promotions that are released.

Once a promotion does come out it is easy to re-book, all you have to do is call, but as mentioned before, having that room already booked will in no way help you to get it again.

The advice I would give clients doing what you are doing it to book what you can afford at rack rates. If a promotion does come out for your travel dates you can use the savings to upgrade your resort or simply pocket the cash.

Great advice!! Seconded.

 

[DisneyJoe]

To answer your second question first...as along as you are outside of the cancellation period, which for a package is 45 days, canceling for a full refund is quite easy. All you have to do is call and cancel.

It is now 30 days, not 45.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

While it's true that booking in advance could reduce the need for Disney to discount that room in the future, I doubt it's that likely. You can look at the historical discounts (http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/) and the offerings are pretty consistent year to year.

I wouldn't hesitate to book now if you want to secure something specific. If you are counting on a deal, you'll want to be flexible on your dates and resort choice.

To make things easy, always use a Disney specialized travel agent. They will be on top of offers, and will call to make changes for you the moment discounts are released.