Layaway was a feature once popular at department stores which let you purchase a product without paying the entire cost up front. You would find the item you wanted to buy, take it to the Layaway counter, pay a deposit, and then come back and make periodic payments over time. Once you paid for the item in full, they’d let you have it. Some stores put an expiration on the layaway, which meant you could only postpone your final payment for so long before they put the item back on the shelf and refunded your money.
Layaway almost completely disappeared during the 1980s with the increasing popularity of credit cards and store cards. However, layaway has made a comeback in recent history because of the recession. It’s a great way to buy a product that may disappear from the shelves before you are able to pay for it – and it’s interest-free (although some stores charge a small layaway fee).
While department store layaway has had its ups and downs, do you know where it’s been alive and well for years? You guessed it: Disney!
When you book a Disney vacation, you reap the benefits of “Disney Layaway” (Disclaimer: This is not a real thing. This term was made up for this article, so don’t call and ask for it or we’ll all feel silly!).
Let’s take a Walt Disney World vacation, for example:
When you book a Walt Disney World vacation package, you pay a flat $200 deposit. This is especially helpful because it’s hard to cough up a few thousand dollars all at once, and the interest on a credit card would be awful. Plus, if you’re going to visit during a busy time of the year, rooms become pretty scarce when you’re within 6 months, so it’s nice to reserve the room and tickets early without paying for the entire trip.
Disney then puts the vacation on “layaway” for you. In this case, there is an expiration period. You will have to pay the balance no later than 45 days before your check-in date, but if you plan far enough ahead, this gives you plenty of time to save.
So, between the time you book, and the 45-day mark, you can make as many (or as few) payments as you’d like – whatever fits your budget. If you play your cards right, you’ll have very little to pay when you reach 45 days, thus making less of an impact on your bank account or credit card. And best of all, there are no fees or interest charges for this luxury.
While the due dates and deposit amounts vary, this “layaway” system works for Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line vacations as well. You’re not just limited to Walt Disney World in Florida.
Unfortunately, just like in the days of driving to the department store every time you wanted to apply a payment toward your purchase, you’ll have to call Disney and sit on hold every time you want to apply a payment toward your vacation…unless you book with a travel agent.
Among many other concierge style services – which are all free, by the way – A Disney Vacation Planner allows you to make as many progress payments as you want for your Disney vacation, and it only takes about a minute of your time while you enter your payment information on their secure website. You can do it from work, in a coffee shop, at home in your PJs or even on your smart phone. They save you precious time sitting on hold on long distance calls. Not to mention, they’ll send you friendly reminders so you don’t miss that all-important 45-day mark in the hustle and bustle of your busy life.
And you’re not limited to using a Credit Card – you can use a Debit Card, Disney Gift Card or a Disney Visa Rewards Point Card!
Now, think back to the days of layaway. If the item you bought went on sale after you’d put it into layaway, would you be eligible for the sale price? Not likely. But if so, would the store contact you and offer to reduce the price for you and offer a refund? Not a chance – and unfortunately, neither will Disney if you book directly with them. Unless you spend all day researching discounts and take the time out of your day to call Disney and specifically ask for the lower rate, you’ll end up paying full price.
But guess, what – if you book with an authorized Disney vacation planner, they’ll watch for new discount offers and if your reservation qualifies (and the new offer is a better deal than your current booking), they’ll make the change automatically! And if the new deal might cost you a few extra dollars but would offer a nicer hotel or more amenities, they’ll present you with the options and let you make the decision based on your budget. You’ll never be up-sold and you’ll always know whether or not you qualify for a new discount.
To recap, if you want to take a Disney vacation, put it on “layaway”, pay using multiple forms of payment from the comfort of your computer, and benefit from a possible post-sale price reduction – all while receiving personal attention and concierge treatment – be sure to contact a Disney Vacation Planner. You’ll be guaranteed their unparalleled service, expert support, and an economical and magical vacation.
Learn more about planning your Walt Disney World vacation. Plus overwhelmed with all the planning? Destinations in Florida can help you plan your perfect trip.
How do you set this up? This will be our first trip and I’m eager to take my little ones.
Ive been looking into this a lot recently and this will be our first trip as well, you can book online although it seems to only give you up to 6 months in advance. After talking to a disney agent on chat, she informed me that you can call and book dates that are further ahead such as right now online you can only book through dec 2016 but if i were to call an agent i can book in 2017. I hope this helps.
How long can I have a layaway for my Disney Trip?
When we went, we wanted to do a photo ornament because we had photopass (awesome!) and we used this to make one for our tree..you just add your own photo!
http://www.zazzle.com/geometric_blue_and_green_circles-256988026017183227
You can make payments directly on the Disney web site. Paid off my last trip to Disney this way.
how to do set up the payment plan?
how do i set up the disney payment plan. this will be my family first trip to disney & with this we should be able to go next year
Am I understanding right that you can book it all on disney site and still make payments on it? With only a deposit?
I would like to go to Disney world. Got Married Never Had! A honeymoon. Couldn,t afford It with Layway Possible.
What about traveling with families…do they have the experience of helping those out with toddlers (since they are just husband and wife)?
You can actually make payments online as well… you just log into your disney account on disneyworld.com and under the My Reservations tab you can bringup your trip with your confirmation number check in date and last name and it gives you the option to make a payment on your trip using any method of payment credit card/debit cards/ disney rewards card/ gift card…
I’ve done this for several trips…
I booked our trip for this year in February. We will be in Disney Dec. 22-28. My husband has always wanted to go over Christmas. We budgeted the trip into our budget and pay it first out of our bills. You can go online and make the payments without having to call and wait on someone to do it for you, your payments just have to be over $20. I have been doing it since Feb. and never once had to speak to a person. I did this all through the Disney site. They email me a statement telling me how much I have paid, and how much I have left to pay.
Doing it this way is also another way to get the infamous “pin code” , because of the traffic you provide to their site.
You guys will ADORE Disney during the holidays. It’s not as crowded and the Christmas decorations are lovely. :)
The last 3 years we’ve booked our vacation on the Disney website. I’ve never called to make a payment, I’ve always logged into My Disney Vacation account and made a payment either by credit card or Disney rewards card. It’s much faster than calling.
Makes going to DW more affordable. Small payments over a period of time can go a long way
I think it’s great that Disney allows you to make payments towards your vacation, but if you are able to have a bit of resistance, you may be better off saving that money instead of making the payment. Get an online account such as ING that pays a better rate than brick & mortar banks. (There’s also a 2-3 day delay when making withdrawls so that can also be a deterrent to using the money.) Make a payment to yourself instead of Disney. Pay Disney when you have to such as on the 45 day prior to arrival mark. That way you not only save time by not being on hold all the time and earn some interest in the process. Pay yourself first. Pay others afterward.
ITA that as a general rule, it’s best to wait to pay money. This is why, unlike the majority of the American public, my husband and I would rather owe than get a refund at tax time, because a refund means we paid the government extra, whereas owing means we kept the money to ourselves all year long, haha!
But anyway … I’m totally with you, BUT I would say that if you are disorganized and forgetful like me, it’s best to get payments out of the early. If not, then by all means wait until the last possible minute and rack up that interest! :-)
I do this, too. I have a savings account for my Disney World trip & one for the Disney cruise. Every 2 weeks (payday), ING automatically transfer the amount I specified out to each of the accounts and I earn interest up to the day I make my final payment – online, of course. I’d never sit on hold to make a payment when you can just do it online.
I love the layaway analogy!