Anyone else getting VERY frustrated?

[fla4fun]

I have paid rack rate in the past to go to Disney, but if that happens, then I don't get to go as often.

I think people could be "shooting themselves in the foot" by booking at rack rate hoping a discount will be offered, and then cancelling if no discount is released. If Disney sees the rooms booked, why should they offer a discount? You are better off not booking at all until the discount is actually offered so that Disney sees there are tons of rooms available that need to be sold. I know that's more difficult if you are flying instead of driving because of having to buy airline tickets, but I would never book something I couldn't afford and would have to cancel. I book what I can afford and if a better deal comes out, then I change it. If not, I've still got a vacation planned that is within my budget.

As far as those people who booked only to get their ADR's taken care of, you do realize you don't have to have a reservation to book an ADR, don't you? For the 180+10, yes - but to just make ADR's, no.

 

[my3squeals]

WHY? Our entire vacation to Florida this year depends on the discount. I would never pay $3000 to go to Pop Century at Disney with tickets and dining. Doesn't mean I can't afford it...it means I simply would never pay that. We will pay about $2400 to go to Universal stay at the Hard Rock Hotel and eat everyday. It is what something is worth to someone. We are also taking AMTRAK to Florida this year because it is cheaper than driving my SUV. That doesn't mean we can't afford to drive our car...but why drive and pay more when we can just take the train? It is all about saving money, and what sort of value things are to different people.

Exactly! Plus If I am not mistaken this thriead is about being frustrated over still no discount, not you can't afford it-don't book it. Sorry but I'm getting a little tired of every thread on these boards being overtaken by someone who feels it is some sort of given right to "argue" their point if they don't agree with the OP's question or thread. Go start your own entitled, " I only go to WDW because I can afford rack rate"

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

For the many who have booked a room already in anticipation of the FD discount, I wonder if those early bookings might some day kill the deal. Think about it - if Disney sees the rooms booked, why offer free dining? Same goes for making ADRs. If the restaurants are already booked, why offer free dining?

Early booking while hoping for a promo is probably a bad idea.

 

[Nayan]

Why do people feel the need to be critical of the discount only guests? Exactly what does it matter if it affords them to go and isn't exactly hurting you any?

I think it's more the way folks state it that riles everyone up. To me, with some posts I imagine someone standing with their arms crossed and snidely saying "Well! If Disney doesn't give me what I want I am not going!!". Now while I am sure that's not the case, it's hard to put feelings into written text but sometimes when we say something it comes out much different then what we really meant. As far as FD, it's not important to me so I really don't care. But really, what if Disney doesn't offer it this year? Or actually never offers it again? Would folks really never come down here anymore?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Book the trip and make ADRs. Both can be cancelled if Disney doesn't release discounts.

I disagree with the spirit of this. By booking, you're making WDW think that you're coming with no discount, which makes them less likely to release any discount.

 

[mking624]

For the many who have booked a room already in anticipation of the FD discount, I wonder if those early bookings might some day kill the deal. Think about it - if Disney sees the rooms booked, why offer free dining? Same goes for making ADRs. If the restaurants are already booked, why offer free dining?

Early booking while hoping for a promo is probably a bad idea.

Early booking is nothing new so it's unlikely to hurt anything. People book their ADRs and vacations early all the time, yet that hasn't prevented Disney from releasing promos (as quite of bit of business decisions are based on the previous fiscal year's performance). Guarantee there were people who booked their vacations and ADRs for this summer as soon as they could (and or the 180 mark)...yet Disney is still offering promos. The fall isn't any different. In fact, the chances of offering a fall promo is even higher than the summer just on attendance alone...since summer has a higher attendance rate. Now will it be free dining? I don't know. But I'm sure a promo of some sort will be released.

I do think free dining will eventually go away. But I honestly don't think it'll be because of early bookings as that's something that hasn't really changed. People still need to plan ahead, regardless of a promo.

 

[focusondisney]

Absolutely agree!! It's simple economics.

How is Disney supposed to know what offer best suits the expected crowd level when the bookings are skewed? If you really want free dining or a big discount offer, don't book your trip with the idea of cancelling if you don't get it...because the more bookings, the less crucial it is to Disney to offer the larger discounts.

As Canadian Guy, and others, have mentioned booking a trip ahead of time DOES NOT work as a "place holder" for a free dining or promo offer reservation. The promo room %'s are held in a different pool and your earlier reservation will have to be cancelled and switched to that % pool....even if the switch isn't apparent, it did happen. (I asked my TA!)

Pop Century and POR seem to be popular resorts during FD. If many people book PC and POR with the idea of cancelling their trip if no promo is offered, then Disney may look at the booking numbers at those resorts and see no reason to offer very many, if any, rooms up at the promo rate. Then people are scrambling to switch their vacations to resorts that have pools of promo rooms.

You can still make your ADRs at 180 days out if you aren't booked at a resort. Granted, you can't do the 180 + 10, so it's not as convenient, but you might up your chances of getting a great fall promo if you don't book ahead. (Just please cancel your ADRs if you won't be using them. )

I'll use a fall discount if one comes out that helps our vacation cost, but we're going in September anyway - this is a sisters' only trip planned for when our teens are back in school - it's our summer break!

I think you're exactly right about the hotels. How many times have we heard from people here that they had to change to All Star Sports for example because there were no rooms for free dining at Pop? It has happened pretty often. Maybe if people hadn't booked Pop with the intent of changing to free dining, the hotel wouldn't look so booked up. Then Disney might list more rooms for free dining at Pop. Disney does use free dining to fill empty rooms after all. If the hotel is already full, they won't offer rooms at that hotel.

 

[Port Orleans fan]

For the many who have booked a room already in anticipation of the FD discount, I wonder if those early bookings might some day kill the deal. Think about it - if Disney sees the rooms booked, why offer free dining? Same goes for making ADRs. If the restaurants are already booked, why offer free dining?

Early booking while hoping for a promo is probably a bad idea.

This is why I have not booked with Disney yet.

Although I do have my plane tickets and time off work already booked, I'm playing hard to get with Disney. So they better make me a good offer.

 

[Bridge203618]

I disagree with the spirit of this. By booking, you're making WDW think that you're coming with no discount, which makes them less likely to release any discount.

I don't think the small percentage of people that do this compared to Disney's total attendance would affect future discounts. As we have been told Disney isn't even focusing on that quarter yet. I think people forget that these boards make up a small percentage of people that are going to Disney, this just happens to be a large board with planners, not everyone going to disney starts here...

 

[mking624]

I disagree with the spirit of this. By booking, you're making WDW think that you're coming with no discount, which makes them less likely to release any discount.

Actually not really. Simply booking a ressie isn't an indication of who WILL be going...what's a better indication, and what they likely look to more, are the ressies that are already paid off. People book early all the time and people cancel all the time. So just looking at a ressie with only a deposit won't really give a reliable or accurate view of how business is. They'll look to see which vacations are already paid in full (since you're more likely to travel on an already paid vacation because that's a lot more invested than just a $200 deposit), how their previous fiscal year's performance was, and then make decisions to see how to improve it...which if you look at the numbers from last year, that's exactly what they're doing.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I think people could be "shooting themselves in the foot" by booking at rack rate hoping a discount will be offered, and then cancelling if no discount is
As far as those people who booked only to get their ADR's taken care of, you do realize you don't have to have a reservation to book an ADR, don't you? For the 180+10, yes - but to just make ADR's, no.

Totally get your point, BUT...


Like I posted before, just making ADRs without reservation requires you to pay in full for certain ADRs. We plan to go to HDDR and CRT in August. This would have been $1200+ to make 2 ADRs. I paid $400 to book our rooms.

Also I was able to book everything in one online session, using the 180 +10 rule. I would have had to get up at 3am for eleven days to make our ADRs.

I understand that booking our rooms do not guarantee us a room during FD. It was purely for the ADRs. I know I can cancel now without affecting them, but wanted the ease of just moving my deposit to our new reservation.

Another problem I point out is the increasing push CMs give to reserve. I was told on many occasions when calling about possible pins that I could reserve NOW and get the FD offer applied when it came out. I know this is not the case, but you have many CMs that simply don't understand. I'm sure there is a percentage of people who booked because of this.

I know there is a lot of speculation about FD, but I can not understand why Disney would not offer it THIS year...

1. economy still a factor
2. value/hurricane season...they are offering free QS dining with pin during their most busy time of year, summer
3. many things are closing because of the Fantasyland expansion
4.HARRY POTTER OPENS

I think many people are upset over the discounts that Disney is offering now because many are DVC owners. We looked into DVC 5 years ago and almost bought in. I'm so glad we didn't. Our circumstances changed (moved across country, etc)...but the discounts would have made us very envious of regular guests. DVC doesn't get FD, or these huge room discounts.

I remember last year Disney moved many guest who were staying at POP during FD to Saratoga because they overbooked. The uproar from DVC members was deafening. People were staying in rooms that went for $1200 a night...paying $82 and eating for free.

It is the luck of the draw. If you buy a dress full price, but your friend buys the same dress at 75% off do you demean your friend for not paying full price? Of course not.

 

[rie'smom]

We book our trips early all the time. If a discount comes out, good, if one doesn't, we still go. I need to book our ADRs and so we are always booked by 180 days unless we're planning a last minute trip.

Most people going to WDW do not even realize the discounts are out there unless it's advertised on tv. We, on the boards, are aware, and represent a minority of those who go to WDW. If we book early, it doesn't impact Disney's decision to release a discount. They've already said they' re cutting back on the discounts.

What's better, to book a room and ADRs or to wait and find that there are no rooms or ADRs available for your time frame?

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

...But really, what if Disney doesn't offer it this year? Or actually never offers it again? Would folks really never come down here anymore?

Some people will come, no matter the price. We come every year, and have only come during FD once - last year. We hated it because we do not like to live by such a strict schedule. We are considering going during FD again this year, but only because the rumor is that they would be offering it with the QSDP - our preference, which matches our planning style. In other words, the regular DDP is not for us, even for free.

But a number of families have been attracted to WDW for the first time by the free dining offer. Would those new customers ever have come without such a deep discount? Maybe not...

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Early booking is nothing new so it's unlikely to hurt anything...

Early booking at Value resorts during hurricane season is new. Those booking get more numerous every year as word spreads about Free Dining. 5 years ago, the Values and the parks were EMPTY in late August and through the month of September, even with free dining - no more. The word is out...

 

[mking624]

Early booking at Value resorts during hurricane season is new. Those booking get more numerous every year as word spreads about Free Dining. 5 years ago, the Values and the parks were EMPTY in late August and through the month of September, even with free dining - no more. The word is out...

I agree and disagree. I agree that the overall numbers during the fall value season are higher than they were several years ago. That said, their attendance in Q4 last year (which includes the fall value season) dropped by 4%, which indicates that even the early bookers (which they did exist) didn't really impact their decision to release the FD promo. Early booking is nothing new in the sense that people will still plan their vacations early regardless of a promo.

 

[my3squeals]

I agree and disagree. I agree that the overall numbers during the fall value season are higher than they were several years ago. That said, their attendance in Q4 last year (which includes the fall value season) dropped by 4%, which indicates that even the early bookers (which they did exist), didn't really impact their decision to release the FD promo. Early booking is nothing new in the sense that people will still plan their vacations early regardless of a promo.

mking you always have such great posts.

Also keep in mind the number of folks here who book then say, "we got a pin code after we booked" IF WDW was only interested in the early bookers why would they send those out. Pin codes I believe are truly random but come on, why would person x who has a trip booked get 4 and person y who has ordered a planning video and has no ressie get none? That being said, early bookers and even those who change or modify an existing vacation to benefit from a deal are a small percentage.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I agree and disagree. I agree that the overall numbers during the fall value season are higher than they were several years ago. That said, their attendance in Q4 last year (which includes the fall value season) dropped by 4%, which indicates that even the early bookers (which they did exist) didn't really impact their decision to release the FD promo. Early booking is nothing new in the sense that people will still plan their vacations early regardless of a promo.

Oh, I am not saying that there is sufficient booking density to effect it this year, but there will be eventually. The only way to keep it from happening is to choose not to book until the discount is offered. When enough book ahead of time, the offers will weaken to guage reaction.

It just makes sense for WDW. If they see that the resort bookings are low until they make this kind of offer every year, they will keep making them. But if they begin to feel that these offers are no longer necessary, they will end.

 

[StuckInKS]

If your entire vacation depends on getting a discount, you probably shouldn't be going.

Wouldn't the only people in this category be those who REFUSE to stay offsite? Even with FD, which for many is the BEST discount, staying off site and doing on CS meal/day in the parks can be way cheaper. You will get less food, but you'll survive and spend less money. So, it is not that those "having meltdowns and threatening to cancel" are going to Disney when they can't afford it, it is that they want to stay onsite with the full DDP and aren't willing to go any other way.

Another thing to think about: some people save a certain amount of money each month or use their tax returns to take vacations. When it is time to book, that is the money they have to spend. While they would like to spend that money at Disney with FD, if they don't get it they will have to vacation somewhere else. These people are not being unwise with their money, rather they are settling for what they can afford with the money they have set aside for vacation. Just because someone says "I'm going to have to cancel without a discount" does not mean that they are borrowing their vacation or borrowing money for other areas, while spending money on vacation. Some families save $2,000 with FD. It is unfair to say "since you saved $3,500 instead of $5,500 for your vacation, then you probably shouldn't have been going in the first place." Although you are looking at this from the standpoint of someone who has been unwise with his money, you have to realize that people spending what they can afford are not being unwise with their money. It's those spending what they can't afford who are.

 

[damone]

If you have a budget for vacation and FD allows you to take that budget to Disney but if no FD you can't do Disney, it doesn't mean they are living outside their means. It means they have a budget for vacation and they want or need to stick to it. If money is tight but they want to have a vacation, and can afford it with certain discounts, why does it matter? I just don't see why you get to judge if someone should take a vacation or not.

I'm not judging (or intending to judge) anyone. What people do is their own business. If they can't afford the trip without a discount, then they can't afford the trip. If someone chooses not to go because of no discount, but can afford it and choose not to spend the money, as I said, I don't see anything wrong with that. I just don't think people should book a trip they can't afford on the hopes they will get a discount.

 

[mking624]

Wouldn't the only people in this category be those who REFUSE to stay offsite? Even with FD, which for many is the BEST discount, staying off site and doing on CS meal/day in the parks can be way cheaper. You will get less food, but you'll survive and spend less money. So, it is not that those "having meltdowns and threatening to cancel" are going to Disney when they can't afford it, it is that they want to stay onsite with the full DDP and aren't willing to go any other way.

Another thing to think about: some people save a certain amount of money each month or use their tax returns to take vacations. When it is time to book, that is the money they have to spend. While they would like to spend that money at Disney with FD, if they don't get it they will have to vacation somewhere else. These people are not being unwise with their money, rather they are settling for what they can afford with the money they have set aside for vacation. Just because someone says "I'm going to have to cancel without a discount" does not mean that they are borrowing their vacation or borrowing money for other areas, while spending money on vacation. Some families save $2,000 with FD. It is unfair to say "since you saved $3,500 instead of $5,500 for your vacation, then you probably shouldn't have been going in the first place." Although you are looking at this from the standpoint of someone who has been unwise with his money, you have to realize that people spending what they can afford are not being unwise with their money. It's those spending what they can't afford who are.

Great post.
I think the only thing I don't FULLY agree with are about the people who would refuse to stay offsite because there may be other factors to consider. There was one time we looked into staying offsite to save money on the hotel. But adding in a car rental, the gas, and parking costs, we actually would have spent a bit more. But this obviously varies from family to family so it's definitely important to look at everything.