There are some Disney World hotel SCAMS out there.
If you’re planning a stay at a Disney World Resort Hotel, there are some important tips you need to know before your visit so that you can have the best vacation possible and avoid any misfortunes. That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of Disney World hotel scams to avoid!
Booking Through Sketchy Websites
The first major warning is that you should NEVER book your Disney World vacation or hotel stay through sketchy websites. Confirmed reputable travel sites are sometimes fine, but really, it’s best to book through the Disney World website or through a certified travel agent.
We’ve encountered many situations where people booked their hotel stay through a “budget” site and then arrived at the resort to find that they didn’t have a reservation at all, or their room was double-booked. If you want to save, use the discounts available on Disney’s site instead.
Thinking You Have to Follow the “Promo” Language
When Disney World releases promotions and special offers, they’re often titled something like “stay four nights or more and save,” making people think that they need to book a minimum of a four-night stay. However, that’s not always the case.
When a new special offer arrives on the Disney World website that you’d like to book, make sure to check out the offer details — including the minimum and maximum stay requirements. Oftentimes, you can use those deals for shorter stays than they’re advertised for!
Renting DVC Points From Random People
One popular way to save on a Disney World vacation is to rent Disney Vacation Club points from owners who won’t be able to use them. Several dedicated websites offer DVC rentals in an authorized way, but there are also sketchy ways to rent points that could be a scam.
We definitely advise against renting DVC points from randos in Facebook groups or from people on Craigslist. If these deals fall through (like they sometimes do), you’ll have nothing to back you up, and you’ll be out the money that you spent!
Fake Front Desk Phone Calls
And finally, we have to share a warning about a scam we’ve seen in the past — there have been instances of people getting phone calls in their hotel rooms where someone claiming to be the “front desk” asks for their credit card information.
The resort will NOT call you and ask for this kind of personal information over the phone during your stay, and if you get any questionable phone calls of this type, you should report them to the front desk in person.
Basically, be cautious about your personal information when spending the big $$$ on a Disney trip! As long as you make smart decisions, you should be able to have a successful vacation.
To learn more tips before your trip to Disney World, check out the video below!
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What’s your best hotel tip for Disney World? Tell us in the comments!
I like to call the airlines first to see what kind of deal I can get. I prefer to call the WDW reservations to book a hotel around Mother’s Day. I love the festival of flowers. I don’t travel with children but, I really enjoy their little faces that light up during the parades and fireworks. They are innocent and very sweet!
You forgot the pizza flyer scam
Do not rent, buy points or buy an already reserved unit. As a DVC member, Disney is looking into people who are doing this, as doing this is strictly prohibited in membership contract. They will be banned from making further reservations and lose their membership. If you buy from one of these people, you will be out as well.
Just reserve through Disney directly or a travel agent.
You forgot to mention the pizza flyer scam. I’ve always heard to not order pizza from random flyers. You give credit card info to strangers and don’t get the pizza