Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Disney now prices its standard packages at the same rates as if you had
purchased individual components separately at full price. However, what Disney
doesn't tell you is that components can usually be purchased separately at a dis-
count—and those discounts are not reflected in the brochure prices of Disney's
packages. (Sometimes you can get special-offer packages that do include dis-
counts; see below.)
Disney'spackagesoftenincludeextrasyouareunlikelytouse.Also,packages
require a $200 deposit and full payment 45 days in advance; plus, they have strin-
gent change and cancellation policies. Generally, booking room-only requires a
deposit of one night's room rate with the remainder due at check-in. Your reserva-
tion can be changed or canceled for any reason until five days before check-in.
Whether you decide to book a Disney vacation package or create your own,
there are a number of ways to save:
• BE FLEXIBLE.
Buying a room or package with a discount code is a little like
shopping for clothes at a discount store: If you wear size XX-small or XXXX-
large, or you like green when everyone else is wearing pink, you're a lot more
likely to score a bargain. Likewise, resort discounts are available only when Dis-
ney has excess rooms. You're more likely to get a discount during less-popular
times (such as value season) and at larger or less-popular resorts.
• BE PERSISTENT.
This is the most important tip. Disney allots a certain number
of rooms to each discount. Once the discounted rooms are gone, you won't get
that rate unless someone cancels. Fortunately, people change and cancel reserva-
tions all the time. If you can't get your preferred dates or hotel with one discount
code, try another one (if available) or keep calling back first thing in the morning
to check for cancellations—the system resets overnight, and any reservations with
unpaid deposits are automatically released for resale.
Star ratings apply to
room quality only
and describe the property's standard ac-
commodations. For most hotels and motels, a standard accommodation is a hotel
roomwith either onekingbedortwoqueen beds.Inanall-suite property,the standard
accommodation is either a studio or one-bedroom suite. In addition to standard ac-
commodations, many hotels offer luxury rooms and special suites that are not rated in
this guide. Star ratings for rooms are assigned without regard to whether a property
has a restaurant, recreational facilities, entertainment, or other extras.
In addition to stars (which delineate broad categories), we also employ a numer-
ical rating system. Our rating scale is 0-100, with 100 as the best possible rating.
Numerical ratings are presented to show the difference we perceive between one
