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Sheryl · 12-05-2002

If you are flexible about where you stay, my advice is, and what helped me a lot, is to make reservations until you get the best deal! I've even made reservations in both my name and my husband's name at the same place for different dates just for a few days until I could get my plans straight - because it gave me more options. So, if you are you are flexible with accommodations, start looking now. Start comparing now...and as the dates move closer, keep rechecking. For instance, I booked about 4 months out at the Royal Plaza Hotel and got a great rate of $59.00 a night but keep checking and the rate dropped to $50.00 a night - so I made new ones and then cancelled my originals. (Always make the new ones before you cancel old ones). Well, I ended up canceling those too because I decided it might be my parents only trip to Disney and I should go ahead and splurge another $30 a night to stay onsite.

Also, keep a notebook for yourself and always get a cancellation number so you can prove you cancelled.

Like Mickey suggested, for the annual pass, if for some reason it wouldn't turn out to be a good deal for everyone in the family, it might be a good deal for one person in the family. You only need one to get the annual passholder's rates (when they come out) if you want to stay onsite at Disney. It has to be in the name of the person who makes the reservation. Also, for instance, I booked with the annual passholder's code while I was waiting for the Florida resident discounts to come out. I didn't actually have an annual pass.. I would have had to buy one though and present it if I would have kept that code on the reservation.

If you are planning to stay onsite AND pay for ultimate park hopper passes in advance - make three reservations instead of one. The reason is that in purchasing ultimate park hopper tickets you always get one day more at the park than the number of nights. For instance, you can buy a 1 night, 2 day ultimate park hopper stay OR a 2 night, 3 day ultimate park hopper stay OR a 3 night, 4 day ultimate park hopper stay, etc.
So, if you plan to buy them, make one reservation for the first night - the day you arrive - this will be a one night non-ultimate park hopper reservation (because if you aren't going to the park that day, why pay for it) and then make second reservation starting the second night with the ultimate park hoppers for those that need them - minus you, in case you have to buy that annual pass for the annual passholder's discount on the resort in the first place - you can always add the ultimate park hopper later or pay a little more to get it there on the second reservation. The second reservation should be for the second night through the length of stay, except for the last night - don't include the last night in the second reservation. The day you check in for the second ultimate park hopper reservation (the second reservation starting the second night) they can give you your tickets as early as 12:01am. Since you will already be there in the resort, you just have to go to the front desk that night or in the morning and check in on your second reservation to get your tickets. (I'm assuming they will kept you in the same room, otherwise they'll tell you - your room might not be ready for another 15 hours! :laugh) Then you'll want a third reservation for the last night, since you probably will leave in the morning and why pay for that day when the second reservation's ultimate park hopper's covered you until midnight the night before.

That was probably as clear as mud!
But you really could save at least $100 a person for the two ultimate park hopper days (the first day and the last day) you weren't going to use anyway.

Of course, if you do want to go to the park the day you arrive or leave....um....nevermind...

12-05-2002	#3 (permalink)
Sheryl Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 66	If you are flexible about where you stay, my advice is, and what helped me a lot, is to make reservations until you get the best deal! I've even made reservations in both my name and my husband's name at the same place for different dates just for a few days until I could get my plans straight - because it gave me more options. So, if you are you are flexible with accommodations, start looking now. Start comparing now...and as the dates move closer, keep rechecking. For instance, I booked about 4 months out at the Royal Plaza Hotel and got a great rate of $59.00 a night but keep checking and the rate dropped to $50.00 a night - so I made new ones and then cancelled my originals. (Always make the new ones before you cancel old ones). Well, I ended up canceling those too because I decided it might be my parents only trip to Disney and I should go ahead and splurge another $30 a night to stay onsite. Also, keep a notebook for yourself and always get a cancellation number so you can prove you cancelled. Like Mickey suggested, for the annual pass, if for some reason it wouldn't turn out to be a good deal for everyone in the family, it might be a good deal for one person in the family. You only need one to get the annual passholder's rates (when they come out) if you want to stay onsite at Disney. It has to be in the name of the person who makes the reservation. Also, for instance, I booked with the annual passholder's code while I was waiting for the Florida resident discounts to come out. I didn't actually have an annual pass.. I would have had to buy one though and present it if I would have kept that code on the reservation. If you are planning to stay onsite AND pay for ultimate park hopper passes in advance - make three reservations instead of one. The reason is that in purchasing ultimate park hopper tickets you always get one day more at the park than the number of nights. For instance, you can buy a 1 night, 2 day ultimate park hopper stay OR a 2 night, 3 day ultimate park hopper stay OR a 3 night, 4 day ultimate park hopper stay, etc. So, if you plan to buy them, make one reservation for the first night - the day you arrive - this will be a one night non-ultimate park hopper reservation (because if you aren't going to the park that day, why pay for it) and then make second reservation starting the second night with the ultimate park hoppers for those that need them - minus you, in case you have to buy that annual pass for the annual passholder's discount on the resort in the first place - you can always add the ultimate park hopper later or pay a little more to get it there on the second reservation. The second reservation should be for the second night through the length of stay, except for the last night - don't include the last night in the second reservation. The day you check in for the second ultimate park hopper reservation (the second reservation starting the second night) they can give you your tickets as early as 12:01am. Since you will already be there in the resort, you just have to go to the front desk that night or in the morning and check in on your second reservation to get your tickets. (I'm assuming they will kept you in the same room, otherwise they'll tell you - your room might not be ready for another 15 hours! :laugh) Then you'll want a third reservation for the last night, since you probably will leave in the morning and why pay for that day when the second reservation's ultimate park hopper's covered you until midnight the night before. That was probably as clear as mud! But you really could save at least $100 a person for the two ultimate park hopper days (the first day and the last day) you weren't going to use anyway. Of course, if you do want to go to the park the day you arrive or leave....um....nevermind...