Room only discount

[ELG13]

Do these work like the free dining and whatnot? I'm trying to decide if I should book now for May or wait until the discounts are released. So if I book now can I apply the discount after or do I have to book after it's released to get the discount? The first time I booked with FDD I booked early and didn't know why people were so rushed about it when it released. Then I was told the room I had didn't qualify and I would have to cancel and rebook. It worked out just fine that time but I don't what that hassle this time around lol. That was also several years ago. I'm a little more seasoned these days. We are wanting to get tback to the cabins. We usually go every September but we cancelled this year because we were supposed to have a newborn but he unfortunately passed shortly after birth so......I'm wanting to go back sooner than September and get the kids

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

If a discount is make or break then you should wait until its released.
If you can take or leave it then book what you want and see if it is eligible.
The other thing you should know about room rate discounts is that its not like a package discount where if you check in on the last day you get it for the whole trip.
Instead its a day by day discount.
Meaning if its only available on Sunday to Thursday nights and you're staying Friday and Saturday your room will not be discounted on those nights.

 

[ELG13]

If a discount is make or break then you should wait until its released.
If you can take or leave it then book what you want and see if it is eligible.
The other thing you should know about room rate discounts is that its not like a package discount where if you check in on the last day you get it for the whole trip.
Instead its a day by day discount.
Meaning if its only available on Sunday to Thursday nights and you're staying Friday and Saturday your room will not be discounted on those nights.

Definitely not make or break...we are going regardless. I just didn't know if we would have to cancel the original reservation and be booked on a new room or if they would be able to just apply it to the room. I'm hoping that the dates cover the days we are there because looking at the history, we will save several hundred dollars and after hearing how the Ft. Looks these days with reflections being built, I want to save all the money I can so I'm not broke and disappointed after our trip lol.

 

[Master Yoda]

When it comes to promotions, having a room booked in advance only slightly increases the chance that Disney will NOT offer a promotion on that type of room. It does not "hold your place" for when a promotion comes out as most people think. Even though it seems like they are applying a discount to an existing reservation when you call in and make the change, in reality, they are making a new reservation and canceling the old one. If that room is no longer available to book, they can't apply the promotion.

Disney offers room promotions based on booking rates. If they are falling short, they offer a promotion. If they meet or exceed their projections they do not. When you book a room in advance of a promotion all it does is get them closer to meeting their numbers.

If you are set on a particular resort and room type and/or you are traveling during a busy time of year then it is best to book in advance and let the chips fall where they may.

If your room type and location are flexible (eg value resort...don't care which one) and/or your travel dates are flexible and during a less busy time, then it is somewhat safe to wait for a promotion to drop before you book.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Definitely not make or break...we are going regardless. I just didn't know if we would have to cancel the original reservation and be booked on a new room or if they would be able to just apply it to the room. I'm hoping that the dates cover the days we are there because looking at the history, we will save several hundred dollars and after hearing how the Ft. Looks these days with reflections being built, I want to save all the money I can so I'm not broke and disappointed after our trip lol.

Its really just a gamble if you can modify or have to cancel and rebook.
If you're staying in a resort and room category that usually sees the discounts then its likely that you could just modify and add the discount.
But say you book the little mermaid rooms in AOA or a room at POFQ... those generally are excluded from many discounts so you likely would not be eligible and would have to cancel what you have an rebook something else.

 

[ELG13]

When it comes to promotions, having a room booked in advance only slightly increases the chance that Disney will NOT offer a promotion on that type of room. It does not "hold your place" for when a promotion comes out as most people think. Even though it seems like they are applying a discount to an existing reservation when you call in and make the change, in reality, they are making a new reservation and canceling the old one. If that room is no longer available to book, they can't apply the promotion.

Disney offers room promotions based on booking rates. If they are falling short, they offer a promotion. If they meet or exceed their projections they do not. When you book a room in advance of a promotion all it does is get them closer to meeting their numbers.

If you are set on a particular resort and room type and/or you are traveling during a busy time of year then it is best to book in advance and let the chips fall where they may.

If your room type and location are flexible (eg value resort...don't care which one) and/or your travel dates are flexible and during a less busy time, then it is somewhat safe to wait for a promotion to drop before you book.

This makes a ton of sense. I'm not really worried about cabins being sold out so I'll probably just wait. I haven't booked during a promotion in a while (or maybe I have but didn't pay attention). I'll just wait it out and keep saving. I know May 2020 promotions come out in January 2020 so I might need to bury my money in a coffee can in the backyard so I don't spend it during the holidays lol!!

 

[ELG13]

Its really just a gamble if you can modify or have to cancel and rebook.
If you're staying in a resort and room category that usually sees the discounts then its likely that you could just modify and add the discount.
But say you book the little mermaid rooms in AOA or a room at POFQ... those generally are excluded from many discounts so you likely would not be eligible and would have to cancel what you have an rebook something else.

I've always seen them hit on the cabins. Right now it's $125 off a night so I'm hoping for something similar. I'm planning for rack rate but hoping for less.

 

[Master Yoda]

This makes a ton of sense. I'm not really worried about cabins being sold out so I'll probably just wait. I haven't booked during a promotion in a while (or maybe I have but didn't pay attention). I'll just wait it out and keep saving. I know May 2020 promotions come out in January 2020 so I might need to bury my money in a coffee can in the backyard so I don't spend it during the holidays lol!!

The best way to do this is book with a TA like the travel sponsor of this site @Kingdom Konsultant . They do not charge for their services (Disney pays them a commission) and they keep track of all of Disney's promotions. If one comes out that you qualify for, they rebook it automatically so you never have to worry about missing a promotion.

 

[ELG13]

The best way to do this is book with a TA like the travel sponsor of this site @Kingdom Konsultant . They do not charge for their services (Disney pays them a commission) and they keep track of all of Disney's promotions. If one comes out that you qualify for, they rebook it automatically so you never have to worry about missing a promotion.

How would I get in touch with them? I'm not that familiar with this site....I have always done my own bookings no problem but if he can find me a better deal or take the worry from me I'll be happy to use them!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

How would I get in touch with them? I'm not that familiar with this site....I have always done my own bookings no problem but if he can find me a better deal or take the worry from me I'll be happy to use them!

If you are used to booking yourself I would not recommend giving up control to a travel agent.
You would not be able to change anything about your reservation without going through them. Personally I like to be able to contact Disney directly instead of having to contact a 3rd party and ask them to change something for me.

 

[ELG13]

If you are used to booking yourself I would not recommend giving up control to a travel agent.
You would not be able to change anything about your reservation without going through them. Personally I like to be able to contact Disney directly instead of having to contact a 3rd party and ask them to change something for me.

Oh yeah...no thanks. that sounds awful. I'm too much of a control freak with our Disney trips. And I change my.mind alot if a good fast pass opens or an ADR

 

[ELG13]

If you are used to booking yourself I would not recommend giving up control to a travel agent.
You would not be able to change anything about your reservation without going through them. Personally I like to be able to contact Disney directly instead of having to contact a 3rd party and ask them to change something for me.

Oh no that sounds awful. I'm too much a control freak who also changes plans quite a bit leading up to the trip. It is awesome it's offered for free though. More people should use them!

 

[Master Yoda]

How would I get in touch with them? I'm not that familiar with this site....I have always done my own bookings no problem but if he can find me a better deal or take the worry from me I'll be happy to use them!

Their website is http://kingdomkonsultant.com/

As to the control thing...The only thing they control is the room reservation. They will need to make any payments and will need to make any changes to that. Outside of that, everything else (fastpasses, dining, events, etc) can be done by you or them.

If you want to do your own dining reservations you can. Same with fastpasses and everything else outside of the room reservation.

I have been using KK for years and can't imagine doing it any other way.

In many cases booking a trip from start to finish takes a couple of emails. I send Marie my dates and resort choices, she returns numbers, and I tell her what to book. At that point, I am pretty much done until I go on the trip. No searching for promotions, no waiting on the phone or online to try and get a reservation changed...Marie does all of that.

If I need to make a change, a single email often takes care of that as well.

If I want her to book dining I send her restaurants, times and dates and she does that at 180 days out as well saving me from getting online at 6:00 AM to make them myself.

 

[nickys]

Their website is http://kingdomkonsultant.com/

As to the control thing...The only thing they control is the room reservation. They will need to make any payments and will need to make any changes to that. Outside of that, everything else (fastpasses, dining, events, etc) can be done by you or them.

If you want to do your own dining reservations you can. Same with fastpasses and everything else outside of the room reservation.

I have been using KK for years and can't imagine doing it any other way.

In many cases booking a trip from start to finish takes a couple of emails. I send Marie my dates and resort choices, she returns numbers, and I tell her what to book. At that point, I am pretty much done until I go on the trip. No searching for promotions, no waiting on the phone or online to try and get a reservation changed...Marie does all of that.

If I need to make a change, a single email often takes care of that as well.

If I want her to book dining I send her restaurants, times and dates and she does that at 180 days out as well saving me from getting online at 6:00 AM to make them myself.

Or you could send a PM to Pam here on the forum - user @Kingdom Konsultant. At least a couple of her staff are also here on the forum.

Now that I’ve tagged her, she’ll probably reply anyway!

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

Keep in mind that when you book through Kingdom Konsultant Travel, you have the choice of having us help with dining and/or fastpasses and doing them yourself. You certainly do not have to have a travel agent do it if you want that control

Pam

 

[DryerLintFan]

I am so sorry for your loss.

I don't have anything worthwhile to add to the answers above, but I cannot imagine that pain.