Picture this Disney Addicts…you’ve been saving for a magical Walt Disney World vacation and spent countless hours planning the theme parks you want to visit, the restaurants where you want to eat, and the magnificent Walt Disney World resort you want to stay in. Then … excitement as you see a commercial while watching your favorite television show, while reading through social media you see an announcement or your travel agent gives you a call – Disney has just released a promotion! But what exactly does this mean for your vacation? Is your Walt Disney World resort hotel included in the discount? Let’s take a closer look into the details of a typical promotion release, what Walt Disney World Resort hotels are typically excluded from these promotions, and how it could save you on your next Walt Disney World vacation.
What does a Disney promotion usually look like?
Throughout the year Disney will release promotions, with examples including a percentage off the cost of your resort hotel room or the ever-popular free dining promotion. When a promotion is released from Disney, there are a few things usually included. First, there will be a book by date. The book by date is a date that you have until the promotion is no longer bookable … think of it as a promotion booking expiration date. Next, you will notice an availability date. These dates will give you a window of when the promotions are available. Then you will see the offer details. These details will give you everything you need to know about the discount offer including length of stay restrictions, ticket purchase requirements, limited rooms and if there are any Walt Disney World Resort hotels that are excluded in the discount offer. Wait, what?!? Not every Walt Disney World Resort hotel is included in these offers? That’s correct – there are several resorts that historically are not included when promotions are released.
Which Walt Disney World Resorts or room types are typically excluded?
Common resort hotels that are excluded from promotions include:
- 3-bedroom villas
- The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- The Little Mermaid Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Sometimes other resorts are excluded in other promotions (occasionally with the free dining offer) such as
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside
Please note this information is based on previous promotion history and any future promotions could include or exclude different resort hotels that are not listed above.
What if I already have a vacation booked?
If a discount is released and you already have a reservation booked at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel that is included in the promotion, no worries. It’s as easy as you or your travel agent calling and having the discount applied to your current vacation if there is availability. If a discount is released and you are booked at one of the excluded resorts, you can try to change your resort to one of the resort hotels included in the offer (if there is availability as the number of rooms is often limited). When switching, remember that your deposit should carry over, however, the increase or decrease in cost will be calculated and you will be given a new balance due.
What if I haven’t booked yet?
If you haven’t booked, then a promotion release is a perfect time to book! You or your travel agent can look over all the different resort options that are available. Once you narrow down a resort within your budget, book it and start the countdown to your magical vacation.
Important to remember is that all discount offers are not created equal. Often times the amount of discount varies depending on the resort … a value resort may have a lower percentage of discount off a room than a deluxe resort room. Something else to keep in mind is that you cannot apply more than one discount to your vacation package. For instance, if you booked one of the amazing Bounce Back offers before leaving your Walt Disney World Resort hotel after your last vacation, you will not be able to apply another discount on top of that. If another discount is released later that you are interested in, then you will choose which discount you would prefer to have applied to your vacation (all based on availability).
Not sure if there is a current promotion for your Walt Disney World vacation? If you are using a travel agent, they should monitor for promotion releases and let you know when a promotion is available that would apply to your current vacation package. Make sure to contact your travel agent today or search the Walt Disney World website and look under the special offers tab to start planning your spectacular vacation.
Photo Source: Disney Parks Blog
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As a travel planner with Key to the World Travel, I get to help families plan their own magical vacations every single day! It's a dream come true! I have a wonderful husband who supports my dream and a spunky daughter who always keeps me on my toes! If I am not planning amazing adventures, I am usually baking or reading a good book.
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