Welcome back to planDisney, Shawna!
I am so excited to hear you are planning your first-ever visit to Walt Disney World Resort. Be sure to pick up a 1st Visit Celebration Button when you arrive at your resort. This way, everyone can welcome you to The Most Magical Place on Earth throughout your stay!
Shawna, this is a great question! You are correct. When you
book a Disney vacation package, you will make an initial deposit, and then you can pay over time or all at once. Final payment is due 30 days before your check-in date, and
your stay and deposit are refundable as long as you cancel before that 29-day mark. A Disney vacation package includes your room and tickets. You can also add on options like
the Disney Dining Plan and Memory Maker. A vacation package also
comes with Magical Extras! This means, along with a great stay, you will get mini golf vouchers, special discounts, and more.
Booking a room-only reservation has a different deposit and cancellation policy. When you are booking a Disney Resort hotel room that is not part of a package, your deposit will be the amount of the first night's stay, and the balance is due when you check in to your resort. A room-only reservation must be canceled eight days prior to arrival for a full refund. It is also important to note that when you
purchase theme park tickets separately, they are non-refundable. (Though you may be able to change the dates on your tickets.) Before picking the best option for your crew, I also recommend
checking out the Special Offers page! You can find some great vacation package offers and room-only deals that may make this the easiest decision ever.
Once you have your vacation booked, be sure to
download the My Disney Experience app. This is your pocket guide for planning in advance and on the go throughout your visit. You can book dining reservations, secure Lightning Lanes, check wait times, and even save time in the parks with the
Mobile Food Ordering feature.
I hope your first trip is magical!
Tammy