Anyone else getting VERY frustrated?

[damone]

Nah, we like our two week trips, and I can do all of the Orlando area stuff (less WDW) for less than that $3k, so it will either be free dining or a 2 week flex pass for our family.

We can afford to stay wherever we want, but we are also looking for value for our discretionary spending in this economy.

That's completely different than canceling an entire trip due to no free dining. You clearly can afford to take a trip and have a backup plan IF there is no free dining. Your vacation doesn't depend on it, know what I mean?

 

[Port Orleans fan]

I am a little frustrated they have not put out any fall promo (hoping FD). I'm waiting for the fall promo release, so I can book my airfare. I haven't got my airfare because the cost has been to high. If they have special deals on airfare I would like to book, but now I am waiting for Disney to release there promo's first. I don't have luck on my side. I really need some pixie dust my way.

Always buy airfare first. Disney is more flexible than airlines.

 

[stitchfriend]

Always buy airfare first. Disney is more flexible than airlines.

My time frame is the last week of Aug. I can't go any other time due to work, and my kids go back to school. I have a child entering High School, she doesn't want to be pulled out. She is taking all honors classes, to much work to make up for a week long vacation. My DH says if no promo no trip. It makes it more affordable for our family to take a nice vacation.

 

[Bridge203618]

I disagree and find it faulty logic. If the only way you could buy groceries was with coupons, would you tell people they shouldn't be buying food unless they could pay full price? Should they not prepare a shopping list in case they get the coupons they need? Of course not. It's not as if people here are being irresponsible and STILL going if a discount isn't offered and they can't afford it. They're booking to reserve a spot and if the discount doesn't work out, they cancel. That's a pretty reasonable thing to do, that way if a discount does come out, they don't have to worry about it being an issue. And if a discount doesn't come out, they cancel the trip, the deposit is given back to them, and no money is lost.

Excellent post! You shouldn't just go to Disney if you can afford full price!

 

[kittycat9]

Then don't go for 2 weeks. Go for 1. Do what you can afford. If free dining comes out, then take 2 weeks.

I have to agree. Plus, there are plenty of other things a family can do besides disney - or even incorporating disney, but not making it the bulk of your trip. Last year it was only 3 days of our 2 week vacation, since we were driving - yet still left a big impression on our children.

 

[Bridge203618]

Agree to disagree.

Far too many people buy things (vacations, cars, homes) on the assumption they will get a discount, a tax credit, a bigger refund. That's a reason why the debt in our country is so out of control, and why there is such a mortgage crisis. People simply need to start living within their means. And yes, if that means skipping a vacation, then so be it.

They aren't living outside their means if they can afford it with a discount, that is smarter than charging it and paying for it later. Don't you think Disney has all of the discounts so that people can afford it? Disney would not survive if only families that could afford full price were attending. I see no harm in people finding discounts to plan a vacation of a lifetime with their family. What kind of operation would Disney be if they only catered to those families that could afford full price. Totally nothing wrong with getting the best deal for your family.

 

[damone]

Excellent post! You shouldn't just go to Disney if you can afford full price!

I'm only saying you shouldn't book what you can't afford. If you can only afford a Deluxe with a discount, book a Moderate until a discount comes out. If you can only afford a Moderate with a discount, book a Value until a discount comes out. If you can't afford to eat on vacation without free dining......What can I say?

 

[verlee]

Then don't go for 2 weeks. Go for 1. Do what you can afford. If free dining comes out, then take 2 weeks.

It may not be because people don't have money but rather that they want to make the best of the money they have.

If people have lets say... $3000. They have saved/ budgeted this amount for vacation. This family really would like to spend this money on a wdw vacation. They have found that FD makes this work for that amount of money. If FD does not come out then they need to make a decision. They may choose to spend their money somewhere else.

A decision to cancel does not = having no money. It may mean they are making a choice to maximize their money somewhere else.

Just a thought

 

[verlee]

They aren't living outside their means if they can afford it with a discount, that is smarter than charging it and paying for it later. Don't you think Disney has all of the discounts so that people can afford it? Disney would not survive if only families that could afford full price were attending. I see no harm in people finding discounts to plan a vacation of a lifetime with their family. What kind of operation would Disney be if they only catered to those families that could afford full price. Totally nothing wrong with getting the best deal for your family.

 

[damone]

They aren't living outside their means if they can afford it with a discount, that is smarter than charging it and paying for it later. Don't you think Disney has all of the discounts so that people can afford it? Disney would not survive if only families that could afford full price were attending. I see no harm in people finding discounts to plan a vacation of a lifetime with their family. What kind of operation would Disney be if they only catered to those families that could afford full price. Totally nothing wrong with getting the best deal for your family.

I guess I'm not conveying myself here.

There is nothing wrong with getting a discount for your vacation. I got one for mine. What I find a problem with is people saying "If Disney doesn't come out with free dining, I'll have to cancel." There are other discounts people can get.

I'm sorry - But if people don't think there's something wrong there, they're kidding themselves.

 

[ancestry]

It may not be because people don't have money but rather that they want to make the best of the money they have.

If people have lets say... $3000. They have saved/ budgeted this amount for vacation. This family really would like to spend this money on a wdw vacation. They have found that FD makes this work for that amount of money. If FD does not come out then they need to make a decision. They may choose to spend their money somewhere else.

A decision to cancel does not = having no money. It may mean they are making a choice to maximize their money somewhere else.

Just a thought

I agree. I am willing to pay a certain price for things. Even if I can afford to pay more it doesn't mean that I am willing pay more. For our trip in May we are booked at a deluxe club level with a 40% discount code. I would never ever pay full rack rate for a deluxe club level. It just is not worth it to me. That doesn't mean that I couldn't afford to pay for it, it is just that it isn't worth it to me. The 40% discount makes the prices a bit more worth it but even then I still think they are rather high. This has nothing to do with "affordability" but rather with what I perceive the value to be.

 

[damone]

It may not be because people don't have money but rather that they want to make the best of the money they have.

A decision to cancel does not = having no money. It may mean they are making a choice to maximize their money somewhere else.

These 2 scenarios, again, I see no problem with. It's the people getting ticked at Disney for no Free Dining saying they can't afford to go without it. That's all I'm saying. If no Free Dining is really and truly going to make going to Disney unaffordable, then I don't think they should be going.

 

[The.Epcot.Man]

site address is not resolving for me right now.....maybe they are updating it with an offer!

going in october, discount or not, but FD would be nice....

hey...where's the thread for airline discounts?

 

[damone]

I agree. I am willing to pay a certain price for things. Even if I can afford to pay more it doesn't mean that I am willing pay more. For our trip in May we are booked at a deluxe club level with a 40% discount code. I would never ever pay full rack rate for a deluxe club level. It just is not worth it to me. That doesn't mean that I couldn't afford to pay for it, it is just that it isn't worth it to me. The 40% discount makes the prices a bit more worth it but even then I still think they are rather high. This has nothing to do with "affordability" but rather with what I perceive the value to be.

Another scenario that I agree with. I wouldn't pay rack rate for a Deluxe either.

I think (judging by their posts) for some, it IS a question of affordability. There are some saying they WILL HAVE TO cancel their trip without free dining.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Our vacation is booked because with or without a code, we are going. I would like to get free dining since we have gotten used to getting it, but if not, like my DH said, we had a good run.

But, if lots of people book then a code doesn't have to come out because it looks like the rooms are booked and they don't need to. Then they all cancel but it may be too late for them to give out a code. Well it seems like a bad idea to me. If it were me, I wish people would book what you can afford to pay and will pay no matter what then maybe a code will come out, and then if you want to upgrade with a code do that. I don't know if that makes sense, but it does in my head.

Right now we have 9 nights at a value resort with 6 day base tickets and QSDP. That total is what we plan on paying. If a discount comes out we are happy to take it, but if not we know the worst case senario with our bill right now. We have already saved a little with a pin we had, but ran the numbers before we knew we had it so we already have saved about $200, not much, but if nothing else we'll take it.

Good luck everyone, I do hope one comes out so we have a better chance of getting one in November.

 

[damone]

Our vacation is booked because with or without a code, we are going. I would like to get free dining since we have gotten used to getting it, but if not, like my DH said, we had a good run.

But, if lots of people book then a code doesn't have to come out because it looks like the rooms are booked and they don't need to. Then they all cancel but it may be too late for them to give out a code. Well it seems like a bad idea to me. If it were me, I wish people would book what you can afford to pay and will pay no matter what then maybe a code will come out, and then if you want to upgrade with a code do that. I don't know if that makes sense, but it does in my head.

Right now we have 9 nights at a value resort with 6 day base tickets and QSDP. That total is what we plan on paying. If a discount comes out we are happy to take it, but if not we know the worst case senario with our bill right now. We have already saved a little with a pin we had, but ran the numbers before we knew we had it so we already have saved about $200, not much, but if nothing else we'll take it.

Good luck everyone, I do hope one comes out so we have a better chance of getting one in November.

This.

 

[disneymomma1978]

I guess I'm not conveying myself here.

There is nothing wrong with getting a discount for your vacation. I got one for mine. What I find a problem with is people saying "If Disney doesn't come out with free dining, I'll have to cancel." There are other discounts people can get.

I'm sorry - But if people don't think there's something wrong there, they're kidding themselves.

I may be in the minority here but I agree with you. I also find it odd that people book a vacation at DW, assuming they will get the FD. And if they don't get the FD, they can't afford to go at all.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting the best deal for your money. But booking a vacation that you can't afford unless you get a big part of that package for free? That's where it seems odd to me. I wouldn't book a vacation unless I fully intended to go on that vacation (barring unforeseen circumstances), deal or no deal.
IMHO you should only book what you can afford. If a deal comes out and you can use it to upgrade/lengthen your trip, GREAT! If not, at least you can still afford to go on the vacation you originally booked.
I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers, it's just my point of view.

 

[verlee]

These 2 scenarios, again, I see no problem with. It's the people getting ticked at Disney for no Free Dining saying they can't afford to go without it. That's all I'm saying. If no Free Dining is really and truly going to make going to Disney unaffordable, then I don't think they should be going.

I agree

 

[jlk806]

Nah, we like our two week trips, and I can do all of the Orlando area stuff (less WDW) for less than that $3k, so it will either be free dining or a 2 week flex pass for our family.

We can afford to stay wherever we want, but we are also looking for value for our discretionary spending in this economy.

AS it is none of anyone elses business how long you choose to vacation for! We like longer trips too!

 

[damone]

AS it is none of anyone elses business how long you choose to vacation for! We like longer trips too!

We all do. But if it's either a shorter trip or no trip, go for the shorter trip.