ROOM ONLY? Advance Disney Planning

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Wed, 10/17/2012 - 14:10

Magic Mirror

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ROOM ONLY? Advance Disney Planning

We are going back to Disney!!!!!!! We are looking at the first week of December 2013.
AJ would love to see the Christmas decorations and the weather will be more cool for us Michigan Girls

I was reading on Mousesavers and they recommend if you book this far in advance to only book your resort room
and not the Magic Your Way package. Their reasoning is if better offers and deals come your way over the upcoming
year, you will have a better chance at taking advantage of it and not being caught in any fine print of the package restrictions.

We would really like to stay at the French Quarters again..it was a very good fit for us. I also saw there are cheerleading competitions which start in the beginning of December and they frequently book up the All Stars and sometimes moderates, so I don't want to take a chance in losing our Resort for some reason.

I see many of you have advance planning when going to Disney.... so do you only start with your hotel reservations
when you are a year or more out ? or do you book Magic Your Way with park tickets, meal options, etc. ???

I'm so happy we are going back~ there is so much I feel I left unfinished this time

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Wed, 10/17/2012 - 15:04

angels444

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You will be there when we are there I always buy the magic your way package in advance sometimes as far out as 10 months and have never had a problem with switching to a better package. Then again I have never tried to switch after it was paid off, (the 44th day to arrival day) I guess if you want to switch a couple weeks before you could have a problem, but when they put out new promos there are travel no earlier and no later days. Like the newest promo is travel after Jan 2nd. The only promo going on for your week is the save UP to 30% off rooms, free dining is gone for your week. Personally I like to lock in the best deal at time, switch if I can and by the 45th day decide which deal is best for me and pay it off.

What days are you going? Maybe we will see each other what am I saying the hotel is small enough we will cross paths at some time . I will be the Happy blonde in the Happy Birthday button

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Wed, 10/17/2012 - 15:34

Kristen K.

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I'm a DVC Member so I don't have much smart to say about the best way to book a room these days. However I did want to say...

Hoorah! For another Trip!

Wed, 10/17/2012 - 15:43

scrappy

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We do often book pretty far in advance. Most of the time we do book room only. There are a few things to consider though. A room only reservation will require one nights stay as a down payment whereas a package only requires $200. And I believe that if you book your package before the annual ticket price increase you get to keep the lower price. I am not real sure when they raise the prices but I think it is during the summer. The biggest pain to me is when I want to change something and to do so means I have to cancel our existing reservation and start all over again. This also means they have to refund your money and you have to pay again. I wish I could tell you in which case this happens but I can not figure out the why/when this happens. It does not always happen. For our upcoming Jan trip we just called and had them change our room only to the discounted Visa cardholders room only. They did that without changing a thing. I THINK they have to change your reservations if you CHANGE your reservations from one type to another but I am not sure of that. If that is the case, this would apply to you if you change from room only to a package.

Wed, 10/17/2012 - 15:45

Kristen K.

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scrappy wrote:

And I believe that if you book your package before the annual ticket price increase you get to keep the lower price. I am not real sure when they raise the prices but I think it is during the summer.

2012 Tickets went up in June
2011 Tickets went up in August

Wed, 10/17/2012 - 16:21

Magic Mirror

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angels444 wrote:

The only promo going on for your week is the save UP to 30% off rooms, free dining is gone for your week.

Angels- We are going Dec. 1st thru 7th 2013.....
I only see the 30% off listed for 2012....did you see it somewhere for 2013?

Thanks everyone for your thoughts!

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Wed, 10/17/2012 - 16:44

angels444

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Magic Mirror wrote:

angels444 wrote:
The only promo going on for your week is the save UP to 30% off rooms, free dining is gone for your week.

Angels- We are going Dec. 1st thru 7th 2013.....
I only see the 30% off listed for 2012....did you see it somewhere for 2013?

Thanks everyone for your thoughts!

We will still be there. I had a BOG ressie I was going to offer you on the 8th if you were going to be there still.

I have always upgraded my packages and I have never had to refund and redo my deposit. When I went from a basic package to the free dining I asked if I needed to make a new deposit the CM said no. They use to do that but they can move it now but not all the cm seem to do different things. The first CM I called said that French quarter was not available for free dining but the second one I called gave it to me with no problems. If I get an answer I don't like I always call and ask another
employee. I say employee because I do it with everyone. Insurance, cable, phone sometimes employees. I don't whine or say I didn't like that answer I just ask the same question twice. You would be amazed how often I get different answers. Then again 20 years I use to be CS supervisor for a cable company and no matter how much training we did you could call 3 reps and get 3 different answers sometimes.

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Wed, 10/17/2012 - 16:58

scrappy

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I do not think going from a package to a package is a problem and neither is from a room only to a discounted room only. The problem is when going from a room only to a package. The last time I had this problem I had booked a non discounted room only. Once a passholders discount was announced I changed it to that. Still no problem. However, when I called to add a dining plan (my reservations now became a package even though I still was not purchasing tickets) they had to cancel what I had and make a new reservation which also meant refunding my money and then charging me again.

Wed, 10/17/2012 - 17:35

Magic Mirror

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Angels- thanks for BOG try ~ I will not be able to confirm my dates till end of January 2013....we have a new schedule and union contract at work so our senior vacation picks are being done different...we are doing a (non disney) alaskan cruise with friends in May 2013 so I have to secure that time off first..my second round pick I'm hoping Dec. will still be available....Work gets in the way of my vacation life !

Scrappy, thanks for insight...that does make sense in some way

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Wed, 10/17/2012 - 18:06

nikkirugby13

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MM --- I'm so excited for you!!! Yay!!! Hopefully you'll attend the MMVCP and have better weather then you did for the Halloween party!!

I'm also excited for us, because it means a new trip report when you get back!!!

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Wed, 10/17/2012 - 18:21

Magic Mirror

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aww shucks... thanks Nikki! I loved doing the trip report..still have more photo's from AJ's camera to add..finished archiving mine..so hoping to start on hers tomorrow .....

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Wed, 10/17/2012 - 18:50

angels444

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Magic Mirror wrote:

Angels- thanks for BOG try ~ I will not be able to confirm my dates till end of January 2013....we have a new schedule and union contract at work so our senior vacation picks are being done different...we are doing a (non disney) alaskan cruise with friends in May 2013 so I have to secure that time off first..my second round pick I'm hoping Dec. will still be available....Work gets in the way of my vacation life !

Scrappy, thanks for insight...that does make sense in some way

I miss read the 2013 part. duh Really I don't drink I just didn't notice.

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Wed, 10/17/2012 - 23:02

JoAnn C

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I booked this year's trip (package) in January. I didn't have any issues when they announced free dining in July for my trip.

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Wed, 10/17/2012 - 23:39

Magic Mirror

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Angels I'm glad you told me you're going this year.. I already wrote a note to myself to watch for the blonde birthday girl LOL

Good to hear JoAnn ! Thanks!

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Thu, 10/18/2012 - 00:37

PirateGirl

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MM my friend and I plan on going in January to our TA to book our vacation in October. That is how I want to start the new year out. 2012 has been crappy and I want something to really look forward to.....but I am already there.

Thu, 10/18/2012 - 05:21

Magic Mirror

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Pirate...I agree....2012 has had more crappy challenges than I wanted....so here's a toast that 2013 brings all of us a better year and tons of Disney fun! It's getting better already....I found you guys and you all make me smile

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Thu, 10/18/2012 - 12:04

Kristen K.

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Magic Mirror wrote:

Pirate...I agree....2012 has had more crappy challenges than I wanted....

Here too! I have never been so happy to see a year come to an end as I will be for this one.

Thu, 10/18/2012 - 15:36

BuffaloBill

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Yea verily! Can't wait to kick 2012 to the curb.

Thu, 10/18/2012 - 20:17

PirateGirl

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Well I guess we are all in agreement. Can we have new years eve on 10/31/12?

Thu, 10/18/2012 - 20:41

DisneyDee27

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I booked our trip well in advance and when Disney changed the free dining dates to include my dates they refunded a nice chunk of money. I'd say book the entire package and stay on top of any special offers then call them and get money back.
As others have said ticket prices went up and you run the risk of paying that up charge. When I asked for a and received my refund I didn't have to cancel and rebook. I was we'l within the allowed time change window.
Good luck and congrats on going back to the magic

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Thu, 10/18/2012 - 20:47

DisneyDee27

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Magic Mirror wrote:

Angels- thanks for BOG try ~ I will not be able to confirm my dates till end of January 2013....we have a new schedule and union contract at work so our senior vacation picks are being done different...we are doing a (non disney) alaskan cruise with friends in May 2013 so I have to secure that time off first..my second round pick I'm hoping Dec. will still be available....Work gets in the way of my vacation life !

Scrappy, thanks for insight...that does make sense in some way

I'm right in the middle on our picks however we get ours done by mid December. So I had to wait until more senior officers got their picks. I will say that my guys/girls will hold a spot if you have something major planned. Perhaps you can ask around with your platoon/shift.
Be safe out there.

PirateGirl wrote:

Well I guess we are all in agreement. Can we have new years eve on 10/31/12?

I'm going to have to vote no on ending the year early. I've got 3 more Disney vacations that I am looking forward to and surely need. My 2012 was much better than 2011 (I'm kicking Cancers a$$) and I really need my end of the year trips.
Dee

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Thu, 10/18/2012 - 21:05

PirateGirl

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DisneyDee I understand. I know you shouldn't wish your life away but this year has been horrendous for me. My father died in January and many upheavals at work have occurred and I have had enough of this year. I want you to have the best rest of the year with all of your magical trips since you have stared down the big C.

Thu, 10/18/2012 - 21:24

DisneyDee27

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PirateGirl wrote:

DisneyDee I understand. I know you shouldn't wish your life away but this year has been horrendous for me. My father died in January and many upheavals at work have occurred and I have had enough of this year. I want you to have the best rest of the year with all of your magical trips since you have stared down the big C.

Thanks and I'm so sorry for your loss. I totally get where you are and I don't mean to be selfish

Here's to an awesome happy and healthy 2013

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Fri, 10/19/2012 - 00:55

PirateGirl

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DisneyDee27 wrote:

PirateGirl wrote:
DisneyDee I understand. I know you shouldn't wish your life away but this year has been horrendous for me. My father died in January and many upheavals at work have occurred and I have had enough of this year. I want you to have the best rest of the year with all of your magical trips since you have stared down the big C.

Thanks and I'm so sorry for your loss. I totally get where you are and I don't mean to be selfish
Here's to an awesome happy and healthy 2013

You're not being selfish at all. I hope that if we are at WDW next year at the same time we can meet!

Fri, 10/19/2012 - 08:13

DisneyDee27

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PirateGirl wrote:

DisneyDee27 wrote:
PirateGirl wrote:
DisneyDee I understand. I know you shouldn't wish your life away but this year has been horrendous for me. My father died in January and many upheavals at work have occurred and I have had enough of this year. I want you to have the best rest of the year with all of your magical trips since you have stared down the big C.

Thanks and I'm so sorry for your loss. I totally get where you are and I don't mean to be selfish
Here's to an awesome happy and healthy 2013

You're not being selfish at all. I hope that if we are at WDW next year at the same time we can meet!

Im not sure when we're going to WDW next year. I have no disney trips planned after this December If we do and our dates coincide I'm in for a meet n greet

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