A new code twist....

[DISNEY FIX]

Hey has anbody seen the latest code for 50% off? At FTD?
Valentines Day ?!?!

 

[MEK]

kt mom - you don't have to explain yourself anymore to anyone. You did nothing wrong. You and your mother made the best decision you could at the time, based on the information you had. You just picked a bad time to post.

That's what I meant - your mom didn't know what the pin was, so she said it was left at home - best decision made based on the info at the time of the call.

I hope you have a great trip and I am happy to see this thread exhausted itself!

 

[Portugal1000]

I originally booked a studio at WLV for $183 from 19-26 Dec. I used the code I got from here as we do not get codes in England. I did not give a pin and none was requested. I then called a week later as I really wanted a 1 bedroom villa and they were able to offer me one at BWV for $253 for the same period. Again I was not asked for a pin and didn't have to tell them my code. I found that it worked best to give as little info as possible. The way I look at it is if they are happy to take a code from you without you having to have one against your name then it must be ok.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

I too told the CM about the code but that I did not have a PIn. CM said I didn't need a pin and I booked it. Honestly KT Mom don't worry about the nasty naysayers. You did nothing wrong!!!!! I am HAPPY I got the code so I guess I will BRAG along with you!!!!!!

I agree!! I am another who did not have a code but called and told the CM that it was my understanding there was code out there. She looked it up and appied it to my package.......I did nothing wrong was was honest and upfront that I had no code. She found it for me!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

UGH! And here I thought I was sooo special cause I received one! Just kidding..well, I am going to try this next time if I dont get lucky enough to receive that crazy pin# ! I really think its a marketing "thing" . Those folks over at Disney are pretty smart I tell ya!

 

[speedyf]

I called today for a reservation at the end of May for CBR. I asked about the infamous 3 letter code and she told me that the $105 rate was only good at Coronado Springs. The other moderates had no availability using that code. I told her to go ahead and book there.

As she started to process the reservation, she stopped and told me that I needed a pin code. I told her that I didn't have one and she told me I was ineligible for that rate.

I'm just wondering if the system has now been updated or if maybe many of these people that did receive the rate really had pin codes attached somehow.

The CM checked my profile and found no pin code information...so, I'm now waiting for AP rates to be released. I'm sure the AP rates won't be as good. Last year, the AP rates were $125 for moderates. The pin rate going around for the summer is $105 for moderates (40% off $175 rack).

Congrats to all of you who scored discounts with "the code".

Speed

 

[DisneyBride'03]

I would try anc all back and maybe get another CM...so many folks here have done that! If I knew when I booked I could have stayed at a mod..I would have. My postcard just advertised Value resorts, but I am excited about the POP!!
So many people say it depends on what CM you get! Try again, it wouldn't hurt! Good Luck!

 

[DisOrBust]

I haven't read the whole thread and I don't want too, . I just want to remind those and let the newer Diser know 3 yrs ago there was a "code" issue back when NO CODES were allowed to be posted on the Dis. It was the time when mousesavers started. Well I remember reading 2 posts by people who tried to use the "postcard" rate without the postcard and were charged rack rate on arrival. It has also happened with others trying to use Florida resident rates.

I also have never heard the outcomes with the Honeymoon suites at the BWI glitch if those rates were honored.

THIS IS JUST AN FYI.

 

[speedyf]

I tried again today without success. The CM even looked up my account and said..."looks like you were looking for these dates before". He checked the code and again told me I was ineligible for it.

After he quoted me the $175 per night for the CBR and asked if I wanted to lock in the reservation, I told him no and gave him the sob story that we will probably end up staying at a value because the $175 per night quote was a bit out of our price range....(hoping for some sympathy from the CM and some type of miracle upgrade....didn't happen).

Just wanted to also say that a 3 letter code that was supposed to be associated with a pin code was being spread around in 2005. I used the code without a problem and recieved a rate of $79 per night at Port Orleans Riverside in June 2005. I had no problem applying the code to my reservation and no problems upon check-in.

Guess I will wait for the AP rates to be released. In the past the AP rates have been just about as good as PIN rates. I'm hoping for that to be the case this year....but, I'm doubtful I will see an AP rate equivalent to the PIN code rate of $105 per night for the end of May at CBR. It will probably be closer to last year's $125 per night....if not more.

If it's too high....we have no problems staying Value. We just kinda fell in love with CBR on our last trip (especially at $99 per night on an AP rate).

I also don't like the fact that a "value" resort is now $109 per night during the summer. I think it's about time they built some "sub-value" resorts. Maybe half the size of the value resort rooms (about 130 sq foot).

Speed

 

[DisneyBride'03]

I really think that the rates at Value's are inflated for the seasons..they release rooms for $83..which is pretty good considering you're in WDW. I would have loved...loved to get those rates you got at a mod!! woohoo! For you!
I think you will do fine if you get your AP rate!! Well, at least you tried, and you never know what could happen from now til May!!

 

[boomhauer]

I also don't like the fact that a "value" resort is now $109 per night during the summer. I think it's about time they built some "sub-value" resorts. Maybe half the size of the value resort rooms (about 130 sq foot).

This I agree with. $109 for a hotel, is hardly a "Value".

 

[WDWVillain]

This I agree with. $109 for a hotel, is hardly a "Value".

that USED to be the Moderate resorts prices!! I paid that in May 2004 at the CBR!

 

[NYDisGuy]

I haven't read the whole thread and I don't want too, . I just want to remind those and let the newer Diser know 3 yrs ago there was a "code" issue back when NO CODES were allowed to be posted on the Dis. It was the time when mousesavers started. Well I remember reading 2 posts by people who tried to use the "postcard" rate without the postcard and were charged rack rate on arrival. It has also happened with others trying to use Florida resident rates.

I also have never heard the outcomes with the Honeymoon suites at the BWI glitch if those rates were honored.

THIS IS JUST AN FYI.

No where on the postcard does it say you need to bring it in. Many people were told they had a pin attached to their name. If they give you the discount on the phone, make you come to Florida just to charge you rack rate, thats a little thing called bait and switch.

 

[CanadianGuy]

FWIW---

Disney is supposedly (according to Jim Hill Media and a few other sites) looking at creating a Downtown Disney 'West' -- on the west end of the resort property. This area would include more shopping areas, some chain-type counter service food places and potentially, some 'economy' level hotel rooms. These 'economy' rooms would be competing with the places on 192 that offer 35-55$ a night rooms.

There has been no word on what these resorts would look like, how they might be themed - if at all - or what amenities they may or may not have. In fact, as Jim Hill pointed out - they may never be built. But they do have plans for them currently.

J

 

[calgarygary]

I wouldn't hold your breath on their building on the west side. If you consider where Disney has been putting their investments in past years (DVC), and the fact that POP Century remains incomplete, it is hard to imagine that Disney would put capital expenditure into properties that are below value resorts.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Calgary:

You're probably right.. But with the other side of Pop likely to be family suites.. (like they've done to some buildings at ASMu) .,. that wouldn't affect this decision.

Right now, according to Disney.. the sector of the market that Disney Resorts 'loses' the most guests to -- is that category of economy hotels on 192.

Given that their statistics say that a guests stay 'on property' is far more lucrative to Disney thru the side-benefits (Meals, shows, etc..) .. this would be a wise investment.

Still, I wouldn't expect them to open before 2010 at the soonest.. again.. if they open at all. But it would appear the shopping district will get built regardless.

J

 

[calgarygary]

There is still a problem in your logic though:
1) Margin in low budget accomodations would not be sufficient to maintain Disney level of service. If Disney lowered the service to increase margin, it would have a detrimental impact on brand.
2) Disney is already getting a good percentage of food and entertainment budget of those staying offsite in low budget hotel/motels.
3)The focus of recent Disney expenditures has been to attract those that have a larger vacation budget. Thus you see more DVC building (2 new complexes with a 3rd close to fruition) while a budget complex remains incomplete.
4)Traditionally, those staying in budget properties spend less on food and entertainment and those expenditures are more often in lower margin establishments (counterservice, non-alcoholic beverages).

I know that if I have limited capital expenditure, which Disney like all companies does, than I am going to put that investment into an area that will provide the greatest return. I would expect another deluxe along the lines of WL or AKL and the possible development of a new category (Mid Deluxe) before they spent the money on low budget.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Gary:

Your points are all well taken - but this isn't my logic.

It's Disney's. It's their plan... their logic. Not mine.

The thinking apparently is that if a given guest is off-site.. then most times they have a rental car. If they have a rental car, they may use it to visit other Orlando attractions more frequently than they might if they stayed on-site and used Disney transportation. That's 'lost revenue' for Disney.

If you can take the rental car out of their budget and force them to put that money into a hotel room.. then you've captured more of their money and more of their time... and possibly 100% of their travel budget.

That's why they took over the whole Magical Express thing. Captive audience and all that. This is a money maker .. even tho they don't charge for it.

Personally, I would never stay off-site without a rental car. (or onsite for that matter) but that's me. If I were a family on a tight budget and looking at I-192 and a rental or Disney Value without.. I'd seriously consider the value option if the finances worked out. Sometimes -- at peak rate times -- the value proposition doesn't work for on-site vs off-site.

And given that current value resorts can and do go for 139$ a night sometimes.. and 82$ a night other times.. and sometimes even discount those rates up to 40%. Clearly Disney can make money on those Pop rooms at 49$ a night when discounted to 40%.

And people said that .. when values were introduced .. it would diminish the Disney brand. Well it's not clear yet (15 years later) if that's true or not.. But it HAS opened the experience of an on-site vacation up to millions who would never been able to afford it otherwise. And many of them now scrimp and save to move up to those higher levels of resort.. Because their value experience was so good.. they want to experience the next level.

It's "Aspirational Marketing 101" and Disney has done it very successfully.

I suspect these new accommodations would be cheaper than current values rack rates.. but still more than the budget joints on I-192.

And you have to consider the market size. The segment of the market travelling in the budget category is still much, much larger than all the other resort levels. There are almost 10,000 value rooms at Disney. To maintain the value proposition.. most Deluxe resorts have only about 500 or so rooms. Mods have on average 1000 per resort.

So, yes, there is a higher rate of return on moderate and deluxe levels. But as you go up the scale, the size of the market diminishes greatly.

And the investment in an economy level would be -- accordingly -- much lower than the investment in a deluxe, DVC or moderate level property. It would recoup the investment on a similar timeframe because while the revenue is lower.. so is the total investment.

Like I said - they may never be built. BUT.. there are plans for economy level accommodations on the books. That's my only point.

I really don't think we're arguing..

J

 

[CanadianGuy]

I should have said the second largest category of 'guest loss' after the cheap 192 accommodations is the segment that rents the 'villa's or 'homes' off-site.

That would jive with Disney building more DVC and similar level properities to capture that audience as well. And the other point with DVC resorts, is they get the money for all your vacations up front. Disney can use that money and the interest it earns to their advantage in other areas. A well sold DVC property recoups most of the intial investment rather quickly at 101$ a vacation point.

Disney capital is somewhat limited. But I don't believe it's so limited as to mean they have to choose either / or in this situation.

Nevermind.. I think we ARE arguing.

J

 

[tiki23]

Nevermind.. I think we ARE arguing.

J

And here I thought you were having a reasonable discussion. It doesn't look like arguing!