affordable ways to book a deluxe resort

[leebee]

Check Orbitz. They usually will book your rate at whatever Disney is giving for a discount, PLUS there is usually an Orbitz code that you can add to take an additional 15% off the room charge.
We usually rent DVC points. DH and I are staying at an Animal Kingdom Lodge studio villa, savanna view, for $205 a night. That's a splurge for our budget, but there's NO WAY we could afford AKL otherwise (and it's just the 2 of us, just for 2 nights, and it's my birthday!!).

 

[raddisneyfan]

I agree with some posters who indicate teacher's discount at Swan/Dolphin, but I think they were just bought by Marriott (but I could be wrong?), so who knows if that will still hold. I find that the best deluxe discounts have been in the Summer months. Don't even think about Christmas/New Year's break unless your kids are off until later in January and you can go the 2nd week in January. Forget about Easter and any Spring Break. This website has a discounts forum where people watch for discounts every month of the year, so you might want to start following there. Personally I wouldn't go the DVC route given the cancellation/refund policies. I really hope it works out for you and your family--I think teacher's always deserve a break!

 

[jriveiro724]

Best ways are either to rent DVC points or check Disney's website for special offers. Another option as Arielfan98 mentioned is to check for discounts at the Swan and Dolphin resorts (they are considered Deluxe resorts and they're right next to Epcot and Hollywood Studios). The Moderate Resorts are very nice as well and most of them are very close to the Parks.

 

[robinb]

My wife and I both teach - have 3 kids (actually only 1 in "Disney years"...). We are limited to the more expensive times to visit WDW when school is out.

I'm aware that prices are better during non-peak times but that's not an option.

How can we attempt to book a deluxe resort (epcot area or poly) at the most affordable rate given our travel limitations?

We typically purchase our tix from mousesavers, book with a room only discount, and don't do the dining plan.

I guess I'm asking what the best discounts are that can be expected for deluxe resorts during heavier travel times AND if that is the best way to get a lower price on the room. Would I be better off booking a whole package through Disney? Would even consider dining if it presented a good value/savings.

appreciate your thoughts.

(1) Teacher's discount at the Swan/Dolphin
(2) Booking Swan/Dolphin with SPG points. he Dolphin is 8,000 points per night with an SPG special but 4 nights get one free ... so 5 nights for 40,00 points. You can get the SPG Credit Card and get a 25,000 point bonus once you spend $3,000 on it. You'll need an extra 15,000 points which you can BUY from Starwood for .035 per point and there is a 35% discount. So, 15,000 points would cost you $341. You can use points to book as long as there is availability and the price does not change. I have a reservation at the Swolphin over New Year's Eve.
(3) Rent DVC points at BWV, BCV or the Poly. You will need to book early, though. For instance, the rest of the year in a studio is pretty much sold out.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

Can you split your stay? This is how we make Disney vacations a bit more affordable. We'll spend 4 nights at Pop Century while we visit AK, HS, and Epcot. Then we move to the CR for 3 nights to have a pool/resort day and then visit MK. The south/garden wing of the CR is considerably more affordable than the tower, although when our budget permits, we stay in the tower in a TPV room. WL is also more affordable and is MK-area but is not on the monorail. We haven't stayed there before but have heard the boat isn't much more inconvenient than the monorail (have to wait for both, sometimes the monorail stops on the tracks, etc) and can be fun. Our kids really want to stay there!

I agree with the advice that late summer is lower priced. Yes, I t's hot, but in my experience, the discounts are better and have more availability than those offered at other times. We've never tried renting DVC points but are considering it as an option for next Thanksgiving (2018).

 

[mindy lou]

This! We are paying around $230/ night for Poly mid August! We are doing a split stay and our BC rate is even less (don't have it off the top of my head). There is no way we could/would begin to touch deluxe otherwise.

August wouldn't be my first choice, but I work in a school too. DH can't go during my February or April vacation, we don't want to deal with crowds at Christmas so that leaves summer (and I do summer school for 5 of those weeks). So between schedules and the deals it is August for us!

 

[Ghostridethedolewhip]

I second the convention if possible. We have been able to stay at YC the last 6 years. It has gone up from about 199 to 239 but we take advantage of the full time we can book before and after.
Also AAA discount at Swan/Dolphin might save money, although that parking and resort fee are hard to swallow, it still will be less than the others in the area.

 

[Sommermo]

We booked through a TA and although I could not view the prices of a standard room at the Poly on the Disney website and the time of booking, it looks like we saved about 30% on the total for hotel and tickets with hopper (we were going to get hopper anyway because we like it). We went through the same TA two years ago and stayed at the Contemporary with about the same savings. Both times we had originally booked moderate through Disney and switched for just a little more money. These are standard view rooms, but we don't mind. Next time I want to do deluxe I am going straight to the TA. This is the only way we would stay deluxe.

 

[danikoski]

Late July/early August rates for Deluxe were not horrible this year, and on par with renting points, if you booked right when discounts came out. I was looking because we might do a trip next summer around that time. Also, there is always the possibility to get a 30% off PIN code. The best luck I've had doing that was by logging into MDE and repeatedly looking at specific date frame for rooms. I also sign up for surveys for Disney, or answer ones that show up in my email.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

A couple of ideas:
Swan/Dolphin would be EPCOT area and offer teacher discount. Note, however, that you lose magical express.
As mentioned, renting DVC points is an option.
Also, depending on where you teach use the "shoulder season." Go as soon as you can in May (pre-Memorial day) or as late as you can in August/September. If you can be there after about August 15, crowds and prices should be among the lowest and then hope for discounts.

Realistically think about if a Deluxe is in your budget/the best option. For example, would a moderate work as just as well? Could you do a split stay?

 

[Lynne M]

I would like to remind everyone of this important post at the top of our board:

Referring to Travel Agencies and other Businesses

When naming a travel agency, you MUST use the full URL so that our board's filtering software can remove the names of any businesses that are banned. Using nicknames or hints to guide posters to a banned business is not permitted.

 

[Trip planner]

i too am a teacher who prefers deluxe resorts. My best rates have come from stacking the disney discount with an Orbitz coupon code (the specific code did not have a $150 max discount). I also earned so many orbucks on the reservation that it almost completely paid for the hotel we stopped at on the drive down.

 

[Tigger's ally]

We chose to go ahead and buy one Annual Pass as opposed to renting points. Then we waited for the AP discounts to roll out. The AP was roughly $300 more than a 5 day parkhopper. We saved >$80 a night at the deluxe which earned our money back real quick. Used the 20% AP discount at most eating places and 10 to 15% off on souvenirs at most shopping places. We had rented before but having to book so far out with no option of moving the dates was a determining factor for us. I think now we will only rent on last minute deals after I retire. With the AP, the ability to make it a room only reservation allows to just have one night deposit and can cancel at anytime. Plus, you can use the AP multiple trips as well.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

i too am a teacher who prefers deluxe resorts. My best rates have come from stacking the disney discount with an Orbitz coupon code (the specific code did not have a $150 max discount). I also earned so many orbucks on the reservation that it almost completely paid for the hotel we stopped at on the drive down.

This has been my best deal, also. I am an AP holder (and a teacher), but the Orbitz discount on top of the Disney discount was better than the AP rate. The code I used had a max discount of $150, so I did a split stay of 3 nights at YC, 3 nights at BWI and saved $300 over the discounted Disney rate. We got both resorts for less than $280 a night during April spring break (a pretty expensive time to go). I have never tried a TA deal because I have not found one that covered my dates of travel.

We do get time off in September as our fall break and that is definitely the cheapest time to go. However, it is no longer the least crowded, and discounts are going down and prices going up for that time because it has become so popular.

 

[kboo]

• I've gotten PIN codes via email that have been up to 35% off for deluxe resorts - that led to a late August stay at CR Garden wing for about $270-280/nt.
• We got the PIN code discount for a standard studio at BWV (through disney cash reservations) that we couldn't see on the website (it disappeared while I was in the process of booking it) - first week of May for $289/nt. Upon checkin we got upgraded to pool view 1BR (do not expect this if renting points) - this was probably the biggest "discount" ever because of the pixie dust.
• Used the Orbitz 15% off on top of a Disney spring discount to get GF lagoon view for around $380 in late April. Then due to a room snafu where we had to move after the 1st night, we got comped our 1st night room rate and a ton of anytime/anywhere FPs.

Generally though, in any season (all of the above were not typical school breaks except maybe late August at CR), if you can handle the restrictions on a DVC point rental and can plan that far in advance, a point rental is the best "discount." I have gotten deluxe studios for <$300/night, and a LV 2Br/3Ba at BLT with a view of fireworks for about $650/nt. This was about 50% off what Disney would have charged through its cash reservations.

 

[Kimberle]

If you're willing to stay outside the Epcot area, the AKL and WL are beautiful deluxe resorts. There prices are the lowest of all deluxes. Go to Mousesavers.com to check the discount history. We've traveled a lot in the summer and have always gotten discounts.

 

[SwanVT2]

If you're willing to stay outside the Epcot area, the AKL and WL are beautiful deluxe resorts. There prices are the lowest of all deluxes. Go to Mousesavers.com to check the discount history. We've traveled a lot in the summer and have always gotten discounts.

I am a teacher. We go during February break and have saved by renting DVC points, teacher's discount at Swan or using SPG points at Swan.

 

[JerseyJanice]

The Swan is sumptuous. The rooms and service feel more deluxe to me than a couple of Disney deluxe resorts where I've stayed. The location, the pools, the boat, everything under one roof--it is a fabulous resort that can cost less than a Disney moderate.

If you have a Costco membership, their travel agency offers outstanding packages for the resort. The BOE discount is decent, but you can do very well through Costco too.

 

[keishashadow]

OP - Wyndham Bonnet Creek is lovely, many companies sell reservations vs renting directly. We've paid under $100 a night. Just do your homework.

Good luck with the Epcot resorts, the lower per point studios go fast. Members who own there snatch them up pronto

If you are adventurous there is always hotwire where you can book for 2 A/C. Many sites can help you ferret out the property but there's always an element of chance.

Hilton properties have some good deals via various corporate codes in the area. Have found great deals @ the Hyatt Grand Regency Cypress too

 

[mrsap]

This has been my best deal, also. I am an AP holder (and a teacher), but the Orbitz discount on top of the Disney discount was better than the AP rate. The code I used had a max discount of $150, so I did a split stay of 3 nights at YC, 3 nights at BWI and saved $300 over the discounted Disney rate. We got both resorts for less than $280 a night during April spring break (a pretty expensive time to go). I have never tried a TA deal because I have not found one that covered my dates of travel.

We do get time off in September as our fall break and that is definitely the cheapest time to go. However, it is no longer the least crowded, and discounts are going down and prices going up for that time because it has become so popular.

May I ask, when you say you use Orbitz and get the Disney discount plus Orbitz - how? Do they price match Disney's current offer? Thanks!