Do I Still Qualify For 2018 Discounts Even If Booked My Package Months Ago?

October 3, 2017

Q: I noticed 2018 discount packages came out today. I booked my vacation package earlier this Summer does that mean I miss out on the savings?

A: As you may have heard, Disney released the first round of discounts for 2018. This includes a room discount of up to 25% or savings of up to $500 when booking a package that includes resort, tickets and dining for stays between January – March 2018. More information on both discounts can be found here. This is good news for Disney-goers that have been waiting for discounts to crop up before booking, but what does it mean for those early-birds that booked their packages ages ago?

Disney actually has a pretty great discount policy. If a discount comes out during your dates and your reservation meets all of the eligibility requirements (you’re not at one of the excluded resorts, you aren’t travelling during blackout dates, the discount hasn’t sold out and you meet the minimum length of stay guidelines) you should be able to apply a discount to your package even after you’ve booked for a nice bit of savings.

This policy also gives you the ability to switch discounts. So if you were to book a room only discount but a package discount comes out closer to your stay, you can move to the discount providing you with the greater savings.

Does this mean I have to cancel my reservation and rebook? And if so what happens to the deposit? Disney will allow you to convert a Magic Your Way package to a discount offer and keep your reservation number. The only time a refund needs to be reissued and the reservation rebooked is when you move from a room only reservation to a vacation package. If moving from a standard package to a discount package, the deposits stay applied to your discounted package.

What if I’ve already paid in full for my Walt Disney World Vacation? At the 30-day booking window, final payment is due, your booking is finalized and Disney starts to ship MagicBands and Magical Express info. However, if you’ve paid in full and you haven’t yet reached the 30-day mark, Disney will refund you for any discounts applied to your booking when it means that you have overpaid. The card used to make payments on your account will be credited automatically

My travel dates fall outside of the Early 2018 discounts? How do I know if/when new discounts will be released? Though there’s no guarantee that Disney World will release the same discounts year on year, the offers do tend to follow a pretty predictable pattern. Check out this article for a list of possible upcoming discounts in 2018.

Also, if your vacation plans are dependent on a discount, then consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. One of the services most Disney TA’s provide is discount monitoring. They’ll scout for discounts for you to make sure that you’re always getting the best rates out there and are great at keeping guests “in-the-know.”

I’m already on a discount (Military, AAA etc.) can I apply more than one discount to my reservations? No. Disney does not allow you to stack discounts. You can only use one discount at a time. However, Disney (or your travel agent) can help you cost out options to make sure that you are going with the one that provides you with the best savings. Readers should note that some discounts lock in your rates like AAA or those booked through Expedia. It pays to ask if you can swap discounts before booking your vacation package.

Hopefully, the answers to these commonly asked discount questions will help you bag yourselves a bargain. And remember, Disney Addicts offers its own travel agent service via MickeyTravels. Read below to find out how you can get your FREE quote and we’ll start monitoring for discounts for you!

Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider booking your next Disney holiday with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I can help you plot out your perfect package, work with you to come up with unique ways to make your holiday truly your own, and will make sure that you are always getting the best deals and discounts (even after you’ve booked.) Best of all my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025 via email at mroden@mickeytravels.com or follow along on Facebook.

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Do I Still Qualify For 2018 Discounts Even If Booked My Package Months Ago? 2

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