Making changes (dropping days) to existing reservation?

[Luisfba]

I want to grab a room with the current room only sale, but am unsure whether we are staying 4 nights or 5 nights. Any issues with making a reservation now for 5 nights and then dropping 1 if needed? (reservation would be for mid October). My concern is, would I forfeit the sale rate if the change is made after the sale ends?

Reason I ask is the terms and conditions states: "Room Rates are guaranteed as long as guest room's reservation is not changed."

 

[dansdad]

WDW had a policy change where you are no longer able to just drop a night any longer. In order to drop a night there would have to be availability under the discount for the new amount of nights. Basically, you would have to be able to book a new reservation under the discount for the 4 nights.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

WDW had a policy change where you are no longer able to just drop a night any longer. In order to drop a night there would have to be availability under the discount for the new amount of nights. Basically, you would have to be able to book a new reservation under the discount for the 4 nights.

Things are tightening up a bit. I would try not to risk your discount.

 

[KBoopaloo]

I *just* had this issue today and feared that I would have to switch my resort plans around because there was no availability for one of the nights of my trip (what would have been my new arrival day after dropping my original arrival day). I called Disney and the CM I got was fantastic. She immediately connected with guest services to get it taken care of. I did not have to do anything other than explain that I needed to drop a day. BUT she could not do it on her own and had to have guest services override whatever their regular policy is so there is no guarantee you'll be able to get them to do it for you. I was honestly expecting a bigger problem and was already making contingency plans and I was pleasantly surprised. So it can be done but you are definitely taking a risk.

 

[Luisfba]

What if the change (dropping the 1 night) happens before the sale ends? Is that still a risk/issue?

(If I dropped the night while the discount is still being offered - if I made the change before 8/31), wouldn't there be availability for the 4 nights I'd be dropping to since I'm holding those nights?)

 

[dansdad]

What if the change (dropping the 1 night) happens before the sale ends? Is that still a risk/issue?

Yes. See below.

(If I dropped the night while the discount is still being offered - if I made the change before 8/31), wouldn't there be availability for the 4 nights I'd be dropping to since I'm holding those nights?)

Logically, you would think so. But that's not how WDW sees it. There would have to be 4 nights available under the discount separate to your 5 night reservation. Crazy, I know.

 

[KBoopaloo]

What if the change (dropping the 1 night) happens before the sale ends? Is that still a risk/issue?

(If I dropped the night while the discount is still being offered - if I made the change before 8/31), wouldn't there be availability for the 4 nights I'd be dropping to since I'm holding those nights?)

You would think so but I guess not. When I tried to change the reservation online myself, it would only give me options of available room types and rates and my room type and rate was not available. My reservation is under an AP discount which is still running and available to book but not for my room type for one of my dates so it looked completely unavailable. I don't know what would happen if you just canceled your whole reservation and then tried to rebook after the cancellation in hopes that the room you had previously booked was returned to inventory. I was possibly going to try that if the CM was unable to drop just the one night for me but it didn't come to that thanks to the great CM on the phone.

 

[Luisfba]

Darn. I don't think we will finalize plans for a couple of months (some info we need regarding work/school stuff). I guess my only option is to pick one duration and hope that's what we end up with?

Recommendations?

 

[Kimberly9701]

What if the change (dropping the 1 night) happens before the sale ends? Is that still a risk/issue?

(If I dropped the night while the discount is still being offered - if I made the change before 8/31), wouldn't there be availability for the 4 nights I'd be dropping to since I'm holding those nights?)

It all depends if their is any kind of length of stay requirement. When I booked CR in March I first had a hold for a couple of days while I was making final decision on two different weeks. The hold expired and within 24 hours I decided that I would stick with 12/3-12/6.
Easy right? Nope.
Within that 24 hours a CR TPV room was no longer allowed for 3 nights. I could do 1, I could do 2, or I could do 4. Totally crazy. I ended up booking the 3 nights in Lake View..but after a day of it driving me absolutely nuts.. and getting a TA involved.. I gave in and just switched to 4 nights to get the TPV.
We were told that a night can not be dropped later.

Oh well..1 extra day in Disney.. Worse things could happen..

 

[Kimberly9701]

Darn. I don't think we will finalize plans for a couple of months (some info we need regarding work/school stuff). I guess my only option is to pick one duration and hope that's what we end up with?

Recommendations?

I highly recommend to make sure that one more day wouldn't make or break school or work time.. And book the longer one if possible. Especially if you're at a resort that could fill up.

 

[Luisfba]

Maybe the safe thing to do will be to book the shorter stay.. and if at the time we decide we want to go the longer we'll have to see if the rate is available for the longer stay at that time. If they have rooms but not rooms at the rate, would they just leave the 4 days at the discount and 1 at the rack rate?

(I'm wondering if booking through an online travel agent (Orbitz) will have same restrictions...)

 

[dansdad]

(I'm wondering if booking through an online travel agent (Orbitz) will have same restrictions...)

Yes.

 

[Luisfba]

Could I just make two reservations and cancel the one I don't go for? (I'd probably need 2 MDE accounts?) Although I'm not sure I feel all right about tying up an extra sets of rooms.. Just trying to see options.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Booking two reservations is pretty much what you would have to do. Although somewhere in these boards are posts that say sometimes WDW takes it upon themselves to cancel double bookings. Can you use someone else (age 18 or older) who will be going with you as the main name on one reservation?

 

[Luisfba]

Hmm..

How would that work? I am the MDE account holder. I can see MDE has the option to make someone other than me the primary guest, but what does that mean? Can I still manage the reservation even though it's not in my name, or would my wife need to get involved in the process at some point? (she really doesn't want to be involved in the whole planning and coordination.. given I'm the Disney addict that's all on me)

What if instead I hold two on two separate accounts (but under my name), could that be flagged as a double booking?

 

[dansdad]

What if instead I hold two on two separate accounts (but under my name), could that be flagged as a double booking?

Yup.

 

[aaarcher86]

Just book the 4 night stay and a separate 1 night stay.

 

[Luisfba]

Just book the 4 night stay and a separate 1 night stay.

That's just a brilliant idea. Thanks. If I do that.. would they then 'combine' at check-in (I doubt I'd be able to do so over the phone would I?), or would I have to check-out and back-in (and potentially swap rooms)?

 

[Kimberly9701]

That's just a brilliant idea. Thanks. If I do that.. would they then 'combine' at check-in (I doubt I'd be able to do so over the phone would I?), or would I have to check-out and back-in (and potentially swap rooms)?

As soon as you know that the dates are available for you to stay the extra night-- call and try to combine.

 

[aaarcher86]

That's just a brilliant idea. Thanks. If I do that.. would they then 'combine' at check-in (I doubt I'd be able to do so over the phone would I?), or would I have to check-out and back-in (and potentially swap rooms)?

They will link them, but they'll still be separate. I'd say 9/10 you'll stay in the same room, but you still have to check out/in as a technicality.