Where to book for a trip over a year away

[THpoohbear]

Out of my 5 trips to WDW, none of them have been booked more than a few months out. The discount codes and promotions have always been released before I've booked. I have no experience booking a hotel prior to the discount codes. So... here is my quandry:

We are planning for a WDW trip in early December 2013 to celebrate out 10th wedding anniversary. I'm hoping to make it a "dream" WDW trip, which is to stay at the Poly for 11 nights (a full day for each year of marriage!). Whether we can afford this or not is yet to be seen. It will be a stretch for sure. I was hoping to save save save this year because we really didn't have a vacation planned for this year and then save throughout next year, but my DH didn't jump on the saving for the trip bandwagon until this week, and due to other circumstances we will have very little from this year to apply over to next year. The "normal" cost of a WDW trip for us already is going up quite a bit since DS will be 4 and it will be the first time we need to pay for food, airfare, and park tickets for him.

If we do a full 10 day trip, with no hotel discounts, we could perhaps swing a moderate, or for $500 more, Art of Animation Suites or the Wilderness Lodge at about a 25% discount.

I'd like to book something on Wednesday when the dates/rates are released to have something on the books. I'm concerned that if I wait for the discounts to come out (probably not likely until late summer/early fall 2013) to decide where we want to book, we will have a hard time with availability because of the length of the trip. So my first thought is to book what we can definitely afford (maybe the AoA suites because I'm pretty sure those are going to be popular), and then hope for discounts that allow us to upgrade to the Poly or WL.

But then what if we could end up affording the Poly and I tried to upgrade but there was no availability?! That would break my heart!

Should I book the Poly so I know I have the room if we can swing it? And then downgrade if we can't? Or book what we can more likely swing and then upgrade if we can?

My heart is set on the Poly. I really want to relax at the resort. We will have a just over 1 year old, and a just over 4 year old. The ease of the monorail is calling to me. Next down the line we would choose WL (which we may if any big construction projects are announced for the Poly during our stay). After that is probably AoA suites or POR.

Please help!!! Thank you!

[GusMan]

Hi Nancy,
In the past, we would book over a year out using current pricing as our guide as to what we can afford. If discounts come up, or if there are any other offers, we see if a change would benefit us from a cost perspective or a "where we would really like to stay" perspective. (Or hopefully both.)

In essence, its a matter of at least getting a room at a place where we would like to stay just to make sure we have something. Everything from that point is just pixie dust.

One thing we liked to do is get a package so that we could get 6 months 0% on our Disney Visa card. We would put the deposit and then some down to hold the room then pay it off. After that 6 months, do it again with another amount. Do it a third time when your last payment is due. Its a nice way to get a 0% loan on our vacation.

[scoobydooby]

Book the Poly! You can always cancel it if you need to and there's nothing like a reservation made to aid saving. We always book this way then work out how much to stash away each month. If you don't think you 'owe' it saving is harder. Plus the Poly will be perfect with a double stroller on the go.

[RMartin]

One thing that helped us is booking and paying the $200 deposit then we could go online and make partial payments. You can pay as little as $20. Final payment is due 45 days prior to trip.

[Drince88]

If you think you can swing the Poly without a discount with a little scrimping, then I think you should go for the Poly now.
If you just don't think you can do the Poly without a discount, then I think you should book whatever you could afford if you put your mind to it.
If a discount comes out, it won't make any difference in availabity if you're already there or not. There are only so many discounted rooms available, and you'll be technically rebooking when you get the discount applied if you're already there.

[Barberella]

Taking into account your 1 year old and 4 year old, and an early December 2013 trip, I would book the Poly.

Then in spring 2013 - I would take stock of the vacation budget and savings achieved to date and decide to either keep the Poly (I think you'll know at that point whether or not you can stay there) or phone and transfer to whatever resort is the next on the list which you believe you can fit in your budget. (Personally, I'd try for the Wilderness Lodge at that point, since the Magic Kingdom is a bus or a boat ride away and we adults sometimes forget that 4 year olds find boat rides exciting, plus the WL has a nice laid-back feeling to it).

My point is that if you do decide in the spring of 2013 that the Poly doesn't fit into the vacation budget, I think you have a really good chance that far out to still get all the days you will need at the one resort that you believe you will have the $$$ for. And even after that, you can still modify your resort yet again, but availability of all the days at one resort might be limited.

[THpoohbear]

Thank you all for your input. It was very helpful! I've learned two things today! 1) December isn't open for booking yet as it is more than 499 days away. I thought when they said 2013 dates it would mean the entire year, but I guess not. So, I have a bit more think time before my initial reservation. 2) AAA discounts come out about the same time, for the entire year, so by the time I can book my Decmeber dates, I should know if I can get a AAA discount or not. On another forum some have reported booking the Poly for 2013 with a good AAA discount, so this gives me hope (while other resorts are giving as little as 3%)!

One thing we liked to do is get a package so that we could get 6 months 0% on our Disney Visa card. We would put the deposit and then some down to hold the room then pay it off. After that 6 months, do it again with another amount. Do it a third time when your last payment is due. Its a nice way to get a 0% loan on our vacation.

I would like to do this... but, I really like to keep all the elements separate so I can get the best deal on each, and get the better cancelation/trip change rules. Unless something changes, I think the only way I'd switch over to a package is if they offer free dining and after calculations, it turns out better for us than a different discount. I personally am hoping for a room only discount vs. free dining because I'm thinking of limiting our table service meals much more than in the past. With two little ones I don't think they will be as much fun. Last trip DS was 18 months, and unfortunately, sick with a doozy of a cold. He fussed at almost all our meals even though normally he is very well behaved. Also, since I'm here by DL, I might end up with a premier AP if the discounts warrant it, and then won't need a WDW ticket for myself.

Book the Poly! You can always cancel it if you need to and there's nothing like a reservation made to aid saving. .... Plus the Poly will be perfect with a double stroller on the go.

I like setting the goal high and trying to save! I feel *very* motivated! Yes, all I can think about is how wonderful that monorail is going to be with kids and stroller(s) in tow. Collapsing one stroller, dragging it on the bus, with stuff, with kid, was doable, but with two littles it just sounds... well, not fun. I LOVE that you can walk to the TTC from the Poly, too.

If a discount comes out, it won't make any difference in availabity if you're already there or not. There are only so many discounted rooms available, and you'll be technically rebooking when you get the discount applied if you're already there.

Good point. Hadn't thought of it like that.

Taking into account your 1 year old and 4 year old, and an early December 2013 trip, I would book the Poly.

Then in spring 2013 - I would take stock of the vacation budget and savings achieved to date and decide to either keep the Poly (I think you'll know at that point whether or not you can stay there) or phone and transfer to whatever resort is the next on the list which you believe you can fit in your budget.
My point is that if you do decide in the spring of 2013 that the Poly doesn't fit into the vacation budget, I think you have a really good chance that far out to still get all the days you will need at the one resort that you believe you will have the $$$ for.

Also, a really good point! Thank you!

All points considered, I'm going to book the Poly and see what kind of AAA discount I can get there, and at the WL for reference. We'll re-evaluate in the spring, (before my 180 ADR mark, I think) and change if necessary.

I'm feeling very excited!

[CariBelle]

I am SO happy you posted this Nancy! I am trying to start our planning for WDW in August 2013 and had zero clue where to really start! I hadn't even thought of AAA.

[cbarry]

We've been booking through AAA for many years now. Sometimes they have great rates. For instance, next month I'll be at Caribbean Beach for $123 per night. That's pretty good. Plus, we get great service through them. We've used the same agent for many years now. One year when she sent us our paperwork in the mail, it was in a large box, which we thought was odd. When we opened it we were quite surprised to find three Disney Store plush toys inside, one for each of our kids. I use her for everything since that moment.

[Drince88]

When you work with AAA, though - make sure you get a DISNEY SPECIALIST travel agent, and not a general one. Some of the general ones just don't have the knowledge you want them to have, given the fact that you can't change anything related to the reservation without their assistance.

[mkraemer]

There are often offers through Disney that are better than the standard AAA discount percentage. When something such as free dining is offered, you cannot get the AAA room discount rate, because Disney allows only one discount per reservation. Period.

And when it comes to working with a travel agent, make sure they know their stuff. I have been appalled when I've been at some Disney agent trips at the utter and complete lack of knowledge that I see from some Big Box agency agents. They get to attend because of the volume their agencies generate, but there's nothing like really understanding how the resorts and ships work.

Most Big Box agents (not all, as some other posters have indicated here), are 'order takers.' They book your trip, and that's that. Disney sends your travel docs directly to you, and you have no real assistance in planning your trip. If you have a question, you call Big Box and talk to someone who doesn't know a thing about your reservation.

Unless you have a good, close relationship with your travel agent, your reservation will retain the pricing that's set at the time of booking. You will have the burden of responsibility to contact the booking agent and request a change if a new offer is released...and perhaps incur a change fee.

Not all agents work this way and keep on top of offers for their clients. I have found offers that have saved clients hundreds of dollars, and sometimes they choose to save the funds or afford a 'better' resort than they originally booked.

To address the original poster's query...2013 is available to book now. There are no discounts through Disney for those dates. But if you have your heart set on a resort (which sounds like you do), then it's a small matter of a $200 deposit to secure your dates and ensure the ticket prices. So, it's a good idea to make a reservation, knowing you will likely have some kind of offer for your travel dates (no guarantees, though!). That way, you will have the assurance you are at the resort you want and can make all the dining reservations for your stay at the 180-day mark.

[THpoohbear]

Most of 2013 is open for booking, but December is not yet. I called yesterday to confirm. I'm planning on doing the booking myself, asking for a AAA discount by booking with Disney directly. As I understand it, when my dates open up, Disney will be able to tell me if a AAA discount applies for my dates right away because AAA releases their discounts for the entire year at one time. I'm planning on going with whatever AAA discount there is, and then changing the ressie if a better discount becomes available. I'm not sure how the Pop Warner dates will land since Thanksgiving will be so late next year. It looks like the last time Thanksgiving was late (in 2008?) Pop Warner was the second week of December instead of the first. I'm planning on flying in the Monday after Thanksgiving. If Pop Warner is that week I know my chances of a discount are not as good, but I am hoping that something will crop up better than the AAA discount. I just figured the AAA discount will give me a baseline for my budget.

I think I'm too much of a control freak to not have the capability to tinker with my reservation myself! Although I do think travel agents can be wonderful, and Mary, it sounds like you do an awesome job at what you do. I follow the dicount codes and rates very closely, and have been to WDW several times so I feel like I know my way around.

I'm in the process of making a "savings board" with pixar monopoly money! All the funds I need to save will be posted one one side, and as I save, they will be moved to the other side. I'm very excited about it!!! It will be a fun visual.

[THpoohbear]

Chirs, what a great agent you have! What a fun story about her going above and beyond for your kids. BTW, I'm totally inspired by the pics you have posted of your marina view from the Fiji building. I'm going for that. I really really would like to book a MK view, but garden view at the Poly is already blowing my budget up.

[mkraemer]

I'm in the process of making a "savings board" with pixar monopoly money! All the funds I need to save will be posted one one side, and as I save, they will be moved to the other side. I'm very excited about it!!! It will be a fun visual.

You know, it's things like this that really make the pre-planning and anticipation fun for a vacation far in the future.

PS: Last time I stayed at the Polynesian, I had a marina view, which was great.

[cbarry]

Chirs, what a great agent you have! What a fun story about her going above and beyond for your kids. BTW, I'm totally inspired by the pics you have posted of your marina view from the Fiji building. I'm going for that. I really really would like to book a MK view, but garden view at the Poly is already blowing my budget up.

Hey Nancy,

I think it's one of the better kept secrets in WDW, those "garden view" rooms in the Fiji building. Totally worth it. Last summer we requested the same thing Garden View, Fiji. We got Fiji, we got garden view, but it was on the other side of the building facing Luau Cove. We had a great lagoon view, we could see the monorail and part of the Grand Floridian off in the distance. Check it out here, it's the 7th picture down in this article.
http://www.mouseplanet.com/9741/My_D...WorldRevisited

I liked the marina side better, with the Contemporary off in the distance and the ferry boats going back and forth. Hard to request a specific side though. Give it a shot. When we got there they had nothing left on the marina side. There were two rooms on the Luau Cove side. One was right next to the elevator - we didn't want that - one was a few doors down in the center of the building. We opted for the latter and were pretty happy with the view. At least they worked with me. Enjoy. It's an amazing place to stay!

Chris

[D2000lands]

I'm not sure how the Pop Warner dates will land since Thanksgiving will be so late next year. It looks like the last time Thanksgiving was late (in 2008?) Pop Warner was the second week of December instead of the first. I'm planning on flying in the Monday after Thanksgiving. If Pop Warner is that week I know my chances of a discount are not as good, but I am hoping that something will crop up better than the AAA discount. I just figured the AAA discount will give me a baseline for my budget.

Pop Warner occurs during the first full week in December (that's why I'll be on the Disney Fantasy the first week of December this year and then go to the parks the week after). So, looking at the 2013 calendar, I would expect Pop Warner for 2013 to happen from December 1-7, 2013.

[3Princesses1Prince]

Pop Warner occurs during the first full week in December (that's why I'll be on the Disney Fantasy the first week of December this year and then go to the parks the week after). So, looking at the 2013 calendar, I would expect Pop Warner for 2013 to happen from December 1-7, 2013.

It would start thanksgiving weekend?

[D2000lands]

Pop Warner has said that it would occurs on the first full week in December. So yes, at this point, I do think it would be December 1-7 for 2013 at this point.

[danyoung]

I think I'm too much of a control freak to not have the capability to tinker with my reservation myself! Although I do think travel agents can be wonderful, and Mary, it sounds like you do an awesome job at what you do.

Sadly I fall into this category. I used Mary's service for some bookings a few years back, and she did a wonderful job. But for whatever reason I just didn't like being one person removed from the process of booking, upgrading, etc. For those who need a travel agent, Mary is just incredible! But for folks like me, it's simply more fun to read up, do the online studying, and book direct.

[THpoohbear]

It would start thanksgiving weekend?

The thing is, Pop Warner always has their regional championships on Thanksgiving Weekend. The winners from those then travel to WDW. It would be difficult to ask those kids/families to up and leave on Thanksgiving weekend the day or two after the champ games, especially considering Thanksgiving is one of the most heavily traveled weekends of the year. So from the info I've been gathering, there is a good chance it will be bumped to the second week as it was in 2008.

I'm very much hoping so, because then hopefully there will be discounts available for our check in date.

[THpoohbear]

I liked the marina side better, with the Contemporary off in the distance and the ferry boats going back and forth. Hard to request a specific side though. Give it a shot. When we got there they had nothing left on the marina side. There were two rooms on the Luau Cove side. One was right next to the elevator - we didn't want that - one was a few doors down in the center of the building. We opted for the latter and were pretty happy with the view. At least they worked with me. Enjoy. It's an amazing place to stay!

Chris

Thanks Chris! My plan to request Fiji, third floor, marina side. We'll see how it pans out. I've always had terrible luck with room requests being filled, except for our last trip at the Wilderness Lodge. They fulfilled all my requests! I'm looking at an 11 night trip, which I know will probably make my room choices pretty limited. But, since we will check in on the Monday after Thanksgiving I'm really hoping there will be some selection, if everyone clears out on the Saturday or Sunday before.

[3Princesses1Prince]

The thing is, Pop Warner always has their regional championships on Thanksgiving Weekend. The winners from those then travel to WDW. It would be difficult to ask those kids/families to up and leave on Thanksgiving weekend the day or two after the champ games, especially considering Thanksgiving is one of the most heavily traveled weekends of the year. So from the info I've been gathering, there is a good chance it will be bumped to the second week as it was in 2008.

I'm very much hoping so, because then hopefully there will be discounts available for our check in date.

You are correct. Every thing I've seen says they arrive the weekend after thanksgiving. It doesn't make sense for them to have to arrive (and take up so many rooms) thanksgiving weekend.

[THpoohbear]

I'm booked I'm booked I'M BOOKED!!! Today was the first day I could book for the entirety of my dates. I wouldn't bother to book so early except that I wanted to lock in the AAA discount just in case in doesn't get any better than that. The AAA discount is 10%. They guy first told me that no discounts have been released, but I knew better, so told him I understood that is the case for other discounts, but it was my understanding that AAA 2013 had already been released for the whole year. He again said he didn't think so, but said he would check, and sure enough, the rate was available!

So I'm using the AAA rate as my savings goal, and hoping for something better to come along.

YIPPEE!!!

[TinaMouse]

We COMPLETELY understand your excitement!

[cbarry]

I'm booked I'm booked I'M BOOKED!!! Today was the first day I could book for the entirety of my dates. I wouldn't bother to book so early except that I wanted to lock in the AAA discount just in case in doesn't get any better than that. The AAA discount is 10%. They guy first told me that no discounts have been released, but I knew better, so told him I understood that is the case for other discounts, but it was my understanding that AAA 2013 had already been released for the whole year. He again said he didn't think so, but said he would check, and sure enough, the rate was available!

So I'm using the AAA rate as my savings goal, and hoping for something better to come along.

YIPPEE!!!

Congrats Nancy!
Nothing feels better than having that reservation finally booked. Good luck with your requests. I found the Poly easy to work with. The week before arrival, I sent them a fax with the request as well. I'd have to dig out the number, but I think I found it on the Tikiman website.

Chris