Anyone else getting VERY frustrated?

[damone]

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.

This is exactly what I'm saying. Or rather, trying to say and failing at saying.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I actually think what they've done is reward people who have booked their packages, by giving them their ADRs. We're now pretty much done with the 180 day ADR window for any early fall free dining, and if you at least committed your deposit to going without Free Dining, you got your 180+10 ADRs confirmed before the masses descend, if they ever do.

My inclination is that free dining isn't coming, that Disney will be busy enough with people coming down for Harry Potter.

 

[mking624]

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.

That doesn't even make logical sense. If you CAN afford a trip with a discount, then obviously you can afford the trip, just within a particular budget. Just because someone can't afford to pay rack rate doesn't mean they can't afford it at all. It means that they can afford it within certain means, a certain budget, or however you prefer to word it. I just don't understand why there is so much criticism about those who are actually being wise with their money by choosing to cancel if a promo doesn't release, rather than than going well beyond a budget if they cannot afford the higher price point.

 

[Bridge203618]

I just don't think people should book a trip they can't afford on the hopes they will get a discount.

Thats the judging part.... you are deciding who should book their trip and who shouldn't.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Thats the judging part.... you are deciding who should book their trip and who shouldn't.

That's not necessarily judgmental. It's booking a room that could otherwise be used for a family who could definitely afford the trip.

 

[dizneedoll]

That's not at all what I am saying.

I've explained this about half a dozen times. Not sure how else I can make it any easier to understand. All I am saying is, don't book what you can't afford. If you can't afford to go to Disney without eating for free, then you shouldn't go (unless you don't want to eat.)

Again, you CAN afford it. I'm referring to the people (again) that claim they can't afford the vacation they have booked without getting a discount.

Hey, maybe I'm wrong. Just stating my opinion. To me, if FD (or any discount) is literally going to make or break a vacation, it would seem to me like money is a bit tight.

If you want to say that you yourself would not book a trip if you couldn't afford rack rate or if you were dependent on a discount, thats fine. What really gets me is when people start dictating to other people what they should or should not be doing with their own money. It's not your business to say what people should book or when they should book it. I've never been to Disney without a discount of some sort. Whether or not I can afford to go without one is no one's business but mine. The OP didn't ask anyones opinion about whether or not they should go.

 

[rie'smom]

I think the problem with posting is sometimes people misinterpret what a poster means. We can't see their expressions and hear inflections. It's happened to me both ways. When this happens, let it go because it usually escalates.

 

[damone]

Thats the judging part.... you are deciding who should book their trip and who shouldn't.

I'm not judging. I'm giving my opinion. There are people out there who would like to get a room who can't because it's being held for someone who has no intention of keeping that room without a discount. We were trying to get a 2 bedroom villa at the Beach Club, but there's none available. It happens.

 

[damone]

I think the problem with posting is sometimes people misinterpret what a poster means. We can't see their expressions and hear inflections. It's happened to me both ways. When this happens, let it go because it usually escalates.

Agreed. I KNOW I'm not coming across how I'm intending to. I'm certainly not trying to insult anyone or tell who should take vacation and who shouldn't.

Part of my feelings stems from personal experience. I used to budget my vacation every year around my tax refund. Then one year, we didn't get one. Yeah - That stunk! But, it was my fault. I shouldn't have booked until we knew we could afford it. It was very disappointing.

 

[mking624]

That's not necessarily judgmental. It's booking a room that could otherwise be used for a family who could definitely afford the trip.

Again, a family on a discount can still afford the trip...they're just affording it within a certain limit. Last I checked, Disney wasn't a reserved travel spot for only those who can afford rack rate. Discounts are there to benefit all, not just those with the ability to pay full price.

I think back a couple of years ago when my husband graduated from seminary. I was dress shopping for the occasion. There was a particular dress I fell in love with but the tag was $100. At the time, I could not afford to be able to buy it at full price. That dress was stuck in my mind because I really liked it, but I continued to shop around. Then I heard the store I found that dress in was having a big sale so I went to check it out. The dress was at 50% off...allowing me to be able to afford it. I bought it. I guess according to some of the arguments I've seen here, I should have walked away because I couldn't afford the full retail price. I should have let someone else who COULD afford the full retail price to take advantage of the 50% sale price. But see how that doesn't make sense? The price dropped, allowing me to actually afford it without going over any budget. Vacations are the same way for many people...just on a larger scale than something like a dress.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Again, a family on a discount can still afford the trip...they're just affording it within a certain limit. Last I checked, Disney wasn't a reserved travel spot for only those who can afford rack rate. Discounts are there to benefit all, not just those with the ability to pay full price.

That's fine, of course. But you shouldn't reserve a room you're not sure you're going to use.

 

[damone]

That's fine, of course. But you shouldn't reserve a room you're not sure you're going to use.

LOL - Can I use this as my signature? It would be a lot easier than trying to explain what I'm trying to say.

 

[rie'smom]

That's fine, of course. But you shouldn't reserve a room you're not sure you're going to use.

That's your opinion.

Disney doesn't state that as a policy. We would go no matter what, however, if WDW decides to release the discounts, there will be those who come here to complain that they couldn't get the ADRs they wanted.

 

[mking624]

Agreed. I KNOW I'm not coming across how I'm intending to. I'm certainly not trying to insult anyone or tell who should take vacation and who shouldn't.

Part of my feelings stems from personal experience. I used to budget my vacation every year around my tax refund. Then one year, we didn't get one. Yeah - That stunk! But, it was my fault. I shouldn't have booked until we knew we could afford it. It was very disappointing.

Ah see THIS makes more sense. You were depending on money that wasn't there, at least not yet...and in that case, I agree with you. I just think that's something very different than only being able to go on a discount because that's not an indication they don't have the money for the trip, only that it's within a certain budget (and if they cancel the trip, that frees up the room for another family). Now, if the money isn't there at all and you book hoping the money, rather than a discount, magically appears...that's definitely a spending problem.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

That's your opinion.

Disney doesn't state that as a policy. We would go no matter what, however, if WDW decides to release the discounts, there will be those who come here to complain that they couldn't get the ADRs they wanted.

Well, that's not Disney's fault. You don't need a reservation to make an ADR.

 

[mking624]

That's fine, of course. But you shouldn't reserve a room you're not sure you're going to use.

A reservation isn't a guarantee you WILL be there. And that's not just a money issue. Things happen. Think of insurance...do you have insurance of any type? Health, car, home...vacation? Do you always use it? And for some people I could ask if they have ever used it. Would it be fair for me to say "you shouldn't get things you aren't really using, if at all"?
The issue here is with people booking and eventually canceling. If they are canceling, the room frees up for someone else. Same concept with an ADR. I'd think there would be more of a problem if there was a booking and potential vacationer never bothered to cancel if they couldn't go.

Well, that's not Disney's fault. You don't need a reservation to make an ADR.

You do if you want the 180+10...which for some restaurants can be extremely helpful. But if you're content with just doing 180 for each day, then no, you don't need a ressie. However, there's no difference...just because no money is involved with MOST ADRs, you're still making a reservation on the assumption you can go. Many people on this board have admitted to making ADRs that they've never showed up to (due to double booking or some other reason)...and therefore preventing other people from being able to make an ADR at that place. That's a situation that seems to be far more prevalent than booking a vacation which then prevents someone else from being able to do so. Disney has way more rooms than they do seats at a restaurant.

 

[my3squeals]

Now, if the money isn't there at all and you book hoping the money, rather than a discount, magically appears...that's definitely a spending problem.

Nicely said. It's funny how things sound so much different from post to post. Now back to the thread at hand....

I am VERY FRUSTRATED disney hasn't released their fall discount, or at least anxious about it. It easier to type though with the lack of fingernails LOL!

 

[needtogomore]

I doubt that Disney likes the crowds- more people=more money made

apparently not, although crowds are up spending in the parks is down

 

[rie'smom]

Disney's policy is you have to cancel 45 days out wit no penalty or if you book room only, you have 5 days with no penalty.
If WDW decides no free dining this year and they see that attendance drops a lot, maybe they'll rethink it. Some people have stopped going to Disney during free dining because they don't like the crowds that come with FD. There was a time when Sept. and Oct were popular because the crowds were lower.

We book room only and add the package before we go if we decide to do the dining plan. I've added it 5 days before a trip with no problem.

If some choose to wait, and Disney does release the discount, they are taking a chance that the ADRs they want, won't be available.

 

[Wendy*Darling]

If some choose to wait, and Disney does release the discount, they are taking a chance that the ADRs they want, won't be available.

I think that is the risk you have to take if you know for sure that the only way you can go is with free dining. Not to say that you shouldn't go if that is the case, but if you know going in that you absolutely, positively can not go unless the total for room, tickets and dining is less than $X and you can only get to $X with free dining (or another discount of comparable amount, in which case you'll be OK too), then either you book early and hope for a discount knowing you have to cancel if it doesn't come OR you wait and if that means losing out on some ADRs, so be it. If your trip isn't worth it without certain ADRs, then you have to work with that scenario, but it doesn't guarantee free dining will come or that it will come on a timeline that will make you happy.

180 days from today is October 2nd, which is usually towards the end of the Free Dining promo so obviously Disney isn't concerned abour releasing Free Dining in time for 180 day ADRs. If they were, this discussion wouldn't be happening at all! I don't think they plan their discount releases around convenience for guest ADR planning, they do it to fit their business model. Yeah, it's aggravating for those of us who plan obsessively, but it's business. People will fill the popular restaurants no matter what - promo or no promo - so they aren't worried about that part of it. In fact, I bet they'd love to see more people forced to eat at the oddball restaurants because the more people coming back saying "OMG, I had the best meal at _____" might mean that demand goes off there and takes some pressure off of the big gun restaurants.