4/3 deals

[hkp1042]

When they have the 4/3 discounts do you have to book room only or can you book that as a package?

 

[ancestry]

The 4/3 was for a package and required the purchase of tickets. You couldn't book room only -- just like free dining required the purchase of tickets.

 

[hkp1042]

thanks! We plan to purchase tickets I just wanted to make sure I am in the no when some deals show up...LOL This Disney things has my head spinning.

 

[seetheworld]

The 4/3 was for a package and required the purchase of tickets. You couldn't book room only -- just like free dining required the purchase of tickets.

What happened with the 4/3 if you were an AP holder?

 

[chocovrdmicears]

What happened with the 4/3 if you were an AP holder?

I would assume the same thing as with the Free Dining promo that requires two day tickets. You would have to buy the necessary tickets for the promotion/package but you could save them for later.

 

[TJA]

What happened with the 4/3 if you were an AP holder?

We're AP holders and did the 4/3 deal. We had to purchase 1-day base tickets.

 

[Seahunt]

When they have the 4/3 discounts do you have to book room only or can you book that as a package?

To help you see what it looked like, here's how Disney unveiled it last year (THIS IS EXPIRED, so nobody get excited! ):

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The new year will bring new ways for guests to celebrate their special occasions with family and friends at Walt Disney World Resort – and special savings that make a Disney vacation even more affordable.

Guests who buy a four-night/four-day non-discounted Walt Disney Travel Co. Magic Your Way hotel and ticket package for stays most nights from Jan. 4 to April 4, 2009, and April 19 to June 27, 2009, will receive three extra nights of hotel accommodations and three more days added to their theme park tickets for free.

As a bonus, guests traveling on this package from Jan. 4 to March 29, 2009, will also receive a free $200 Disney Gift Card to splurge on merchandise, dining or other Disney fun.

“Walt Disney World Resort has always presented a great entertainment value for our guests,” said Walt Disney World President Meg Crofton. “This special travel offer makes it even easier for guests to enjoy a magical, memory-making Disney vacation in 2009.”

With this special offer, a family of four can get a 7-night stay at a Disney Value Resort and a 7-day Magic Your Way base ticket for each family member for as little as $1271. The package can be booked now through Dec. 20, 2008.

A Look at Prices and Savings for this Walt Disney World Special Offer for a Family of Four

Disney Value Resorts

$1,271 ($316 savings)
Jan. 4-Feb. 12, 2009

$1,466 ($484 savings)
Feb. 13-April 4, 2009

$1,375 ($416 savings)
April 19-May 21, 2009

$1,421 ($450 savings)
May 22 –June 27, 2009

Disney Moderate Resorts

$1,571 ($541 savings)
Jan. 4-Jan. 12, 2009
Jan. 19-Feb. 12, 2009

$1,778 ($718 savings)
Feb. 13-April 4, 2009

$1,666 ($634 savings)
April 19-May 21, 2009

$1,733 ($685 savings)
May 22-June 27, 2009

Select Disney Deluxe Resorts

$1,981 ($848 savings)
Jan. 4-Feb. 12, 2009

$2,498 ($1,281 savings)
Feb. 13-April 4, 2009

$2,206 ($1,017 savings)
April 19-May 21, 2009

$2,206 ($1,017 savings)
May 22-May 25, 2009
June 2-June 27, 2009

Select Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts

$2,228 ($1,034 savings)
Jan.12-Feb. 9, 2009

$2,611 ($1,320 savings)
Feb. 16- April 4, 2009

$2,363 ($1,135 savings)
April 19- May 21, 2009

$2,363 ($1,135 savings)
May 22 –June 27, 2009

-- Prices are valid for stays most nights during the dates listed above and are based on two adults, one junior (ages 10 to 17) and one child (ages 3 to 9) in a standard room at a Value Resort, Moderate Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (Deluxe Resort) or a studio at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (Deluxe Villa Resort).

-- Savings based on the non-discounted price of a 7-night/7-day Magic Your Way package. Guests traveling between 1/4/09 and 3/29/09 can save an additional $200 with the free $200 Disney Gift Card included with the package. One gift card per reservation provided at check-in. Visit DisneyGiftCard.com for participating locations and terms and conditions.

-- The number of packages allocated for this offer is limited. Tickets are valid for one theme park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use.

-- Other room types are available at varying rates.

Guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels get an extra dose of pixie dust with great perks and services including: Complimentary on-property transportation; Disney’s Magical Express, which offers complimentary airport shuttle and luggage delivery; and Extra Magic Hours, where each day one of the Walt Disney World theme parks opens one hour early or stays open up to three hours later, providing extra time in the parks to experience select attractions.

Then on February 9, 2009 the offer was extended to stays to August 15, 2009 (you had to book by 3/29/09):
Starting February 9, the buy 4 get 3 free promotion will be available for stays through August 15, 2009

**********
HTH!

 

[hkp1042]

OMG that is awesome. I totally hope they do it again this year. I would be eternally grateful...lol

 

[pmaurer74]

this is what I am totally hoping for! When did it come out last year?

 

[lupp2217]

It was actually the deal for the 2009 summer months. This year it wasn't offered.

 

[sndral]

Mousesavers has a list of historical discounts. The deal quoted above is the one offered 11/06/08, I believe.
9/28/09, there was a 4/3 offered for 11/09-3/10.
So, if they are offering anything maybe this monday? Although, they already have free dinning for most of 2011 out there and room only through 2/11, my guess is that these will be the 2011 discounts w/ room % off extended.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I booked 4/3 for 2009 and got the $200 gift card. I had to purchase at least 1 day tickets even though I had APs. It was worth buying the tickets to get the 43% discount on the room and gift card.

Last year the 4/3 required a 4 day ticket purchase so I went with a 40% room discount instead. I think there was even a better discount but I couldn't get that on the AKL CL room I had booked.

I let my AP expire so I would be pretty happy if they offered 4/3 again.

 

[SarahD]

I seem to remember a press release that said these deals were a thing of the past - only offered in the most extreme of situations/economies. And while things aren't great, they're not as bad as they were. We've technically been out of a recession since June of 2009. I'll be happy with free dining dates through the end of 2011. I've no idea how to guess when they'll release those late dates, though, since they have released so far into 2011 already.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I seem to remember a press release that said these deals were a thing of the past - only offered in the most extreme of situations/economies. And while things aren't great, they're not as bad as they were. We've technically been out of a recession since June of 2009. I'll be happy with free dining dates through the end of 2011. I've no idea how to guess when they'll release those late dates, though, since they have released so far into 2011 already.

Wasn't that press release put out BEFORE all the free dining offers for 2011?

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Wasn't that press release put out BEFORE all the free dining offers for 2011?

Yes, but while there are still deals out there, the availability is changing. The free dining promo came with a lot of black out periods. I seem to remember people getting free dining over Christmas or using the 4/3 promo over Easter and I don't think your likely to see that again. They've also raised the base ticket requirement for some of the promos.

 

[cjsm&d]

It was actually the deal for the 2009 summer months. This year it wasn't offered.

Yes it was offered this year.

We have gone the past two year (09, 10) on the 4/3. Stayed at POR in March 09 and CSR in February 10.

The offers came out in October I believe each year, and ended in January. The dates you could book ran from December through the end of March.

I'm hoping it comes again this year. I have an active PIN (25/30/40), but it expires at the end of the year. Not sure if I can use it by the end of the year for a date in March 11?