Room Only Payment Policy Changes??

[forever a child]

Just wondering....has WDW changed their policy for payment deadlines for Room Only resort bookings? My DD booked a trip with a room only discount for her and 3 friends for May of this year. She had to pay it off in full by March 24th. I always thought you paid one night in full and the balance upon arrival. I never have had to pay in full for a ROOM ONLY ressie, only for packages.

Is this something new? Just thought it was strange.

[BrerGnat]

She better call back and make sure it is a room only! They have a sneaky way of turning those into a package by adding some random vouchers but then you are under package payment and cancellation rules. She should only have to pay the deposit of one night. They usually make that due within 7days of booking.

[BrerGnat]

She didn't add a dining plan, did she?

[forever a child]

She forwarded me the email. It states is is a "Basic Package" which I assume is because it was tied to a pin code offer that was under both her name and my name. It includes a free round of mini golf and WDTC Magical Extras (but doesn't state what those extras are exactly).

I guess that explains it, because they bought their tickets separately through one of the places I have used in the past and already entered their ticket numbers to be tied to their magic bands.

I have never seen a basic package offer before without tickets and/or dinning.

I had just told her that each of the girls could pay their portion upon arrival but then she ended up having to pay it off early, so they just paid her since she made the ressie and put it on her on credit card.

[Polynesian Dweller]

In Disney parlance a basic package includes room, coupons and luggage tags. It doesn't include tickets or dining plans. It has the same payment rules as any other package.

If the pin indicated that it must be used for a package through WDT then they would apply the lowest package which is what they call basic.

[chrim]

In Disney parlance a basic package includes room, coupons and luggage tags. It doesn't include tickets or dining plans. It has the same payment rules as any other package.

If the pin indicated that it must be used for a package through WDT then they would apply the lowest package which is what they call basic.

I generally agree with the above. To be specific, it sounds like your DD reserved her stay thought WDTC and not CRO. Granted, both are reached through the same phone number, but the payment, change, and fee policies are different. Sometimes a given discount is available via either the WDTC or CRO (Central Reservations Office) method, just with a different code. Or, sometimes and offer might only be available through one of those methods.

And yes, Disney will, and does, sell a "package," via WDTC, that doesn't include any park tickets or dining plan.

To me, it is just a little quirk of how WDW has worked for the past decade or so.