40% off Email code used by someone else

[Missin'Disney]

hey Puzzles, how frustrating for your family to go through. I want to give Disney the benefit of the doubt, but after hearing everything your sis went through it does seem like a sneaky marketing ploy to get you exited about planning a trip and then hope that even though they tell you no rooms are available that you will still book at rack rate.

We've only received a pin once, for 40% last year, and were able to book Poly on our first attempt without any problems for an October '07 visit. It was great, cause the cost of the Poly is definitely prohibitive for us without at least 30% off. Anyway, I'm sorry for all your stress. Definitely lessens "the magic" to have to go through all that just to take a trip!

 

[MEK]

another update:
my sister-in-law has called every single day this week, at different times of the day, to try to get a reservation with the discount and NOTHING at all was available ever.

I must admit, I think its wrong for them to send out the pin codes when they know there is no availability. Its frustrating for people to sit on hold forever, to waste days of their time stressing over it, trying to use the offer that they were sent. The odds seem like trying to win the lottery to get a discount on a room.

I think some people get the codes sent to them so late that there is truely nothing available. None the less it is very stressful and annoying. This is one of the reasons I purchased DVC. I really didn't want to spend precious time and money searching for a deal everytime I planned a trip.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

Yes, I think the codes are real, but all the availability is gone by the time some of you on here and your friends are trying to book. They only have X number of rooms available with the codes, so just because there is availability at a hotel, doesn't mean there is availability with the code. I don't think it is bait and switch at all. Don't the offers say limited availability?

 

[mbanks21]

the offer does say limited availibility and some people try to check 3-4 weeks AFTER a code is released and get upset when theres nothing left

 

[Luv2Roam]

These are probably the cases too from what I am reading. That and guests have to arrive during the dates listed. They can stay during the block out periods. However they cannot arrive and use the code in between the dates listed.
In this example a guest could not arrive Sept 28 - Oct 18 and use the code. They could arrive Sept 26 and stay during the block out.
8/10–9/27/08, 10/19–11/1/08, 11/9–11/15/08 and 12/7–12/13/08

If no expiration date is listed I suspect they can book up until the last day of arrival (unless it is a minimum 3 night stay ). But obviously the offer will expire for certain in December.

Just from what I read here, and personal experience, the better the deal -- the faster the rooms go -- esp on weekends and popular resorts.
Usually the further into the offer the more a guest is likely to find the more expensive rooms are remaining. I have found this myself when booking. A moderate may not be available -- but a 2 bedroom villa is! Stands to reason there are more people wanting a moderate room than a villa.

I don't think it is a bait and switch or scam. It is limited room availability and nothing more.

 

[tiger4me2]

Yes, I think the codes are real, but all the availability is gone by the time some of you on here and your friends are trying to book. They only have X number of rooms available with the codes, so just because there is availability at a hotel, doesn't mean there is availability with the code. I don't think it is bait and switch at all. Don't the offers say limited availability?

This is very correct. I realize some see it there on the Disney web site but Disney only hold so many room types & resorts to each code that they have out there. Sometime you get a break & get a code sometimes you can't but to complain about it is not fair to me it how the cookie crumbles. I would love to get a 40% off code & never have in the 27 times I have been to Disney. I did get the Disney Visa email & was able to book what resort I wanted but had to play with the dates. If it work out great if not oh well. There is a saying the early bird get the worm lol. It is limited to dates etc.. Oh well just my two cents.

 

[Emagine]

I just did a post similar to this yday. I got the same thing in email friday around 11 am and called around 2 to book the discount. The first CM told us we could not use it because it was for the room only and we wanted into the parks. DUH!!! Who goes to stay just in the room? They would not apply it to just the room.

DH called back yday to see if someone else would do differently. Well they did but not too pleasing. The pin has been in circulation for a very long time and they had no availablity. Funny thing is we booked the package friday with out the discount for the week it said to do. They still would not apply it.

Needless to say I dont like being teased with discounts to be told they should not be in circulation any longer. I have had nothing but booking problems the past two days from that to the meals and mis info from the CMs. If it were not for the peeps here I do not know if I would have the correct info.

New or old CM, they need not email pins if you can not use them.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Some pins are for room only. Some room only codes can be converted to a package. Again it all depends on availability, and what restrictions are attached to the code.
Many guests prefer to book room onlys. Then of course they get into the parks. They just buy their tickets separately.
The discounts only apply to the room anyway. So when people have codes at a certain percent off, that percentage goes against the room. Not the room, tickets, dining, etc. Packages do however have freebies attached to them, whether they be WDTC or AAA WDTC packages.
I think many are confused with discount codes. Many, esp newcomers in the WDW discount world, think - I have a room or package. And I have a code. Just use that code against what I have.
Many view the codes I think as they would a AAA membership or a coupon. As example, just because someone has a room only reservation and an AP, does not mean they automatically get a AP room discount.
And as mentioned, each code has a set number of room types and quantity set against them. Once they are gone, they are gone. If there are cancellations, sometimes those rooms go back into inventory. Sometimes not, from what I read on the Dis.