As a repeat guest, Disney's going to have to work harder to get me.

[Bete]

I have the current FD offer, but I want more dates and maybe even multiple kind discount offers. As is, I won't do it.

I'm not an ingrate, but we've been there so much in past years that to repeat another trip, Disney has to give me more choices on time and offers. I'm really looking for Christmas time. I feel the Xmas season has more to offer with all the special events there. I don't tire of going at that time of year. Even Epcot's Flower and Garden Fest is not enough to intice me with the current free offer.

I'm contemplating a Williamsburg vacation instead for June. We can't afford multiple trips; so, Disney better get those later year discount offers out soon if they want our business.

Anyone else feel the same way?

 

[amcdona3]

yes- i am not pleased with disney. we go every summer and have not gotten the free dining pin, wish we did b/c we are going in july, it would be perfect!

 

[Sandisw]

No, but we bought DVC so we didn't to worry about what our repeat trips to the world would cost.

However, I certainly understand that you have to make the decisions that work within your budget and wanting to go is not always possible if Disney's rates are too high.

So, here is hoping that something comes out for your soon that will allow you to go to WDW in December if that is what you prefer over the June Williamsburg trip.

 

[McKelly]

I have the current FD offer, but I want more dates and maybe even multiple kind discount offers. As is, I won't do it.

I'm not an ingrate, but we've been there so much in past years that to repeat another trip, Disney has to give me more choices on time and offers. I'm really looking for Christmas time. I feel the Xmas season has more to offer with all the special events there. I don't tire of going at that time of year. Even Epcot's Flower and Garden Fest is not enough to intice me with the current free offer.

I'm contemplating a Williamsburg vacation instead for June. We can't afford multiple trips; so, Disney better get those later year discount offers out soon if they want our business.

Anyone else feel the same way?

Another unhappy Disney Lover here - and we WANT to go in summer and didn't get the FD PIN, which would have allowed us to go. I hear all the Disney is a business stuff, but we have gone every year, sometimes twice, for the last ten years and it really makes me angry that we were overlooked for the discount. I can't help feeling that way!!

So we are planning Williamsburg too for this summer, as a result of no summer discounts, thus far. Maybe it's a good thing..........

 

[Amy&Dan]

Yes and no!

I think what gets me off Disney trips and planning is the wacky way they do their discounts. And like you, we have been many, many times over the years.

As my Disney Vacation Career has progressed so has my knowledge. And that's not necessarily a good thing. Once I learn the pins for fd or deep room discounts are out there, it gets hard for me to just shrug it off and say "well, that's life". I have to say, this whole process has taken some of the magic away from me, especially with the planning which used to be my favorite part. I had a miserable experience yesterday where I was told by the first cm "you have a fd pin" only to be told by the second one "don't see it". 30 minutes waiting on the phone, and finally got put to a manager who did find it and apologized profusely but the bottom line is, vacations should be fun, not something that feels like a stressful negotiation processl. And I feel bad for all my disboard friends who did not get the pin and are still waiting. I was right there with them until yesterday morning. This is only the second pin I have gotten, the first one was also never found when I called and I never received an email, I only found out about that one when I called to add another night to my trip (that I had booked under the fd general public offer). Again, it was like "nice I got a pin" but then "why didn't anybody see it when I called all those other times and where's my email or snail mail notification". Stupid process. Plenty of trips, we have had to pay full price, others we maybe got an AP rate but again, very long into the process, all the while wondering if we'd ever get a discount. Its gotten old.

For next year, Disney is going to have to offer me something very good, very early on before I'll even consider going. We are for sure going in 2013 for one last trip before my son goes into the Marines and it will be spring break. I want to stay deluxe if we can and that will be expensive. So I know I may have to very well skip 2012 because I doubt Disney will release anything that is deep enough for me to go in time for me to get really good airfare. Too bad, so sad, we'll survive and clearly so will Disney. I think we are going to Texas instead to visit family and go to the beach which is somthing we can drive to, plan out, and not have to sit around wondering and worrying if a deal will come out.

I just wish they'd release reasonable room rates for the year that already have the discount figured in, do away with free dining altogether (even though I love getting it), price the DDP a bit more reasonably since they aren't offering it for free half the year or more, and if bookings are down, then maybe slash rates for everyone. Dreaming I know but to me Disney is the lion teasing the little mouse and I for one am a bit sick of it. Heck, the cm's at CRO don't even know half the time what deals are out and how to find your pin. Their whole discount system is a mess.

Now all that is the "yes" part to my answer. The "no" part is that my family is the proverbial "all about making memories at our Happy Place" group and that does draw us in pretty hard and consistently. But this last round of me waiting for Disney to decide how bad they want my business has taken its toll. We'll see. I got my pin at long last exactly 3 months before we leave and for next year, I am not willing to wait that long again.

Williamsburg is wonderful! We went a few years ago and it sort of reminded me of a Disney trip in that you are very immersed into a theme. It was a nice mix of education and fun and I hope we get back there again someday.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I know what you mean, OP. We went to Disney 8 years in a row. Last year we broke our streak and didn't go. The economy and of course being one of the families that doesn't get pins to tempt us and make it more affordable. We get every sort of email from Disney under the sun, but not the elusive pins so many others get. This year is up in the air. 95% says we're not going again, but who knows, the public discount for my dates is tempting. Things are just so expensive everywhere. A little break would be terrific.

 

[nooneshome]

We haven't been back to WDW in over a year and we were averaging 2-3 trips per year the last six years. Our FD Thanksgiving trip had to be canceled because of my eye problems. But that has been cleared after a few surgeries and I am ready to go back. It has been a bad year all around and this Disney family needs some pixie dust!!! I am trying to convince DW to go on a late May early June trip with FD. We haven't received the PIN yet but if we do it will be hard not to book. This being said it is hard for us to keep going back unless we get a great deal like FD.

 

[grammytcmabhh]

We are trying to plan a trip for October for ourselves, daughter and family. The kids desperately love Disney, and had a great time when we were there in April. Since April, life has changed for most Americans. Dollars are harder to come by, and they have to stretch farther and farther. This whole pincode system where people call numerous times, speak to managers is ridiculous. Just tell us what it will cost with the best offer you have Disney. Only certain people get a percentage off, certain people get free dining and certain people get nothing.

I have choices with my vacation dollars, and there are some pretty awesome places to visit in this country. Memories with family can be made at any location, it doesn't have to be at DisneyWorld. We might rent a houseboat, or a mountain cabin with white water rafting....but calling WDW and stressing over costs and the best deal isn't the best way to plan a vacation. JMHO

 

[princesspeach]

IMHO I think disney should just lower their prices to an affordable level and get rid of all the silly pin codes and discounts. It would make it much easier for people to plan vacations ahead of time. There would also be a lot less switching resorts. You could just book what you could afford the first time and stick with it.

 

[Ziggy]

IMHO I think disney should just lower their prices to an affordable level and get rid of all the silly pin codes and discounts. It would make it much easier for people to plan vacations ahead of time. There would also be a lot less switching resorts. You could just book what you could afford the first time and stick with it.

Totally agree, it would also save a lot of stress for guests and CMs alike.

 

[ncbunnie]

IMHO I think disney should just lower their prices to an affordable level and get rid of all the silly pin codes and discounts. It would make it much easier for people to plan vacations ahead of time. There would also be a lot less switching resorts. You could just book what you could afford the first time and stick with it.

Here's another "amen!" to that from the back pew.

I've already decided this year that as our dates near I will call and explain what I paid last year for the same dates/package. If there isn't a similar "deal" available (I don't care what they call it), we will be taking an alternative vacation.

I refuse to play games for months on end for a vacation. I think the secret to avoiding the cat-and-mouse game is to just not be dead-set on going to WDW. There are lots of other tourist locations out there that will be happy to take my money.

 

[dhardawa]

Yes, I do. I booked November on the 40/35 PIN, but I want free dining and will likely cancel if I don't get it. There are too many other places I can go for me to be tied to Disney without a great offer.

 

[dhardawa]

Yes and no!

I think what gets me off Disney trips and planning is the wacky way they do their discounts. And like you, we have been many, many times over the years.

As my Disney Vacation Career has progressed so has my knowledge. And that's not necessarily a good thing. Once I learn the pins for fd or deep room discounts are out there, it gets hard for me to just shrug it off and say "well, that's life". I have to say, this whole process has taken some of the magic away from me, especially with the planning which used to be my favorite part. I had a miserable experience yesterday where I was told by the first cm "you have a fd pin" only to be told by the second one "don't see it". 30 minutes waiting on the phone, and finally got put to a manager who did find it and apologized profusely but the bottom line is, vacations should be fun, not something that feels like a stressful negotiation processl. And I feel bad for all my disboard friends who did not get the pin and are still waiting. I was right there with them until yesterday morning. This is only the second pin I have gotten, the first one was also never found when I called and I never received an email, I only found out about that one when I called to add another night to my trip (that I had booked under the fd general public offer). Again, it was like "nice I got a pin" but then "why didn't anybody see it when I called all those other times and where's my email or snail mail notification". Stupid process. Plenty of trips, we have had to pay full price, others we maybe got an AP rate but again, very long into the process, all the while wondering if we'd ever get a discount. Its gotten old.

For next year, Disney is going to have to offer me something very good, very early on before I'll even consider going. We are for sure going in 2013 for one last trip before my son goes into the Marines and it will be spring break. I want to stay deluxe if we can and that will be expensive. So I know I may have to very well skip 2012 because I doubt Disney will release anything that is deep enough for me to go in time for me to get really good airfare. Too bad, so sad, we'll survive and clearly so will Disney. I think we are going to Texas instead to visit family and go to the beach which is somthing we can drive to, plan out, and not have to sit around wondering and worrying if a deal will come out.

I just wish they'd release reasonable room rates for the year that already have the discount figured in, do away with free dining altogether (even though I love getting it), price the DDP a bit more reasonably since they aren't offering it for free half the year or more, and if bookings are down, then maybe slash rates for everyone. Dreaming I know but to me Disney is the lion teasing the little mouse and I for one am a bit sick of it. Heck, the cm's at CRO don't even know half the time what deals are out and how to find your pin. Their whole discount system is a mess.

Now all that is the "yes" part to my answer. The "no" part is that my family is the proverbial "all about making memories at our Happy Place" group and that does draw us in pretty hard and consistently. But this last round of me waiting for Disney to decide how bad they want my business has taken its toll. We'll see. I got my pin at long last exactly 3 months before we leave and for next year, I am not willing to wait that long again.

Williamsburg is wonderful! We went a few years ago and it sort of reminded me of a Disney trip in that you are very immersed into a theme. It was a nice mix of education and fun and I hope we get back there again someday.

You really need to revise this and turn it into an email to Disney. This sums up how so many of us feel and I bet Disney doesn't have a clue.

 

[maxiesmom]

You really need to revise this and turn it into an email to Disney. This sums up how so many of us feel and I bet Disney doesn't have a clue.

I think Disney knows what they are doing. If they can still get a large number of people to pay rack rate, why offer discounted rooms to everyone? Not everyone qualifies for any kind of discount, and you simply can't depend on pin codes or free dining being offered.

Truth is, everyone loves a sale. Most retail experts will tell you that. People are happier to pay a sale price for something, even if that item costs more to begin with. People claim they just want lower base prices, but it isn't true.

Kind of how people claimed they would be willing to pay a bit more for more leg rooms, so AA took out seats. Turns out people really were not willing to pay more, so the seats went back in.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Yes, we have been considering off-site accommodations for the first time in 10 years. Once we start considering offsite, we start thinking about offsite restaurants, Sea World, Universal, etc. Usually, we stay onsite and do all Disney even though we have a car and could visit other places.

We do love the Disney immersion, but it is tempting right now to get a place with 2 seperate bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a large balcony, etc. for the same price we are paying to stay at Pop. And, yes, I've factored in parking and gas. If we stay offsite, we would only do 2 Disney park days.

And (as I mentioned on another post), there are many rooms available right now for our dates - 3 weeks from now - at most Disney resorts. I don't understand why there has been no bigger discount offered. We have the 20 / 25 / 35 public offer. Not horrible, but after 2 trips on free dining, $200 off doesnt seem like much of a deal. Especially after you factor in peak rates, which seem so high! If we could have gotten 35% off, as I've seen for other dates, I would probably not be whining as much!!! I know I am...sorry! In my defense, it doesn't help that we would have gone over Thanksgiving again (with free dining) but my inlaws wanted to go over Spring Break and now they are not going anyway. Not angry, just frustrated!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I think Disney knows what they are doing. If they can still get a large number of people to pay rack rate, why offer discounted rooms to everyone? Not everyone qualifies for any kind of discount, and you simply can't depend on pin codes or free dining being offered.

Truth is, everyone loves a sale. Most retail experts will tell you that. People are happier to pay a sale price for something, even if that item costs more to begin with. People claim they just want lower base prices, but it isn't true.

Kind of how people claimed they would be willing to pay a bit more for more leg rooms, so AA took out seats. Turns out people really were not willing to pay more, so the seats went back in.

Yes and no to your post! First of all, when I go retail, I see a rack of clothes and it says 20% off. Easy. I don't have to call ahead and pray that I am one of the lucky ones that can buy that shirt at 20% off. Now at some places (Kohls comes to mind) I might need a coupon but at least at Kohls and other such places I can stack my discounts. I get the 20% off that is advertised on the sales rack, then I get to take my coupon to the cashier and get another discount after the sales prices are figured. Disney doesn't work that way. And the stakes are much higher since we are talking about a vacation that costs thousands of dollars.

I think lately many of us who have seen the way this pin code thing has morphed because of internet forums like this now realize that if Disney would just have rooms priced to sell in the first place, we'd be happy. I have a certain overall budget for vacations, with Disney I never know where or how or even if I'll fit into that budget. Value rack rate? Mod with a code or fd? Offsite but wait I have to rent a car and pay to park? The list goes on. Dh and I had our airfare, it was on Southwest and we were very close to chaning to a beach vacation. I was really on the fence and it worked out but not everybody is so lucky.

Codes and pins have been around for years. But the price of rooms has gone up a bunch. Getting a code back in 2005 for my POR room that was priced at $129 rack rate was great. Getting one for the same room, six years later post economy crash is crucial because my rack rate is so much higher. As is food, tickets and now they do this thing where I have four different rates in 14 nights. AP rates don't come out for so long and people are up in arms about that because they feel like they can't plan. Again, AP's are park tickets not room discount cards but the precedent was set by Disney and in this economy AP holders want what they have always had and they want it in a timely fashion so they can plan.

Disney has made eveything far more complicated and in this economy they need to come up wtih something easy, consistent and save everybody a lot of agony.

I also do not often buy something just to get it on sale. I might try out a new grocery product occasionally but no, I won't book a vacation that costs thousands of dollars just to get the sale. I think most people have a certain amount of money they can spend on vacations and the best deal is the one they go with.

Free dining might lure in some folks who have never gone or were only thinking of going but if you don't offer it across the board, you'll lose many others to other destinations in the process.

And American airlines did do that and ppl didn't like it. However, they could fly on United or Southwest to the same destination at roughly the same time the AA ticket was. For Disney, there is nothing quite else like it for families to go to. If I don't go to Disney sure I can go to the beach, or DC or the mountains but it won't be the same thing. If there was and they offered the same thing for much lower, I'd go with it. Disney has a unique product and yeah some of us are slaves to it by choice, but that still doesn't mean we have to like the crazy way they do their pricing and discounts.

I forgot to add that the manager who finally found my code (like the first cm did) told me how sad she is when a customer, who comes to Disney so many times is a victim of a messed up system. She said again and again, how much she hopes we'll keep returning. She also mentions how the cm's at CRO are up in arms over the way they have to deal with all these calls, not just for the volume but for having to tell people, most of whom are loyal repeat customers "no you don't have a pin and no I don't know if a general offer will come out". The first rule of retail or sales is the customer is right! Not the customer is not worthy of a sales price. She told me to please email my story to guest services and I did. We'll see if I hear back.

 

[kungaloosh22]

Amy&Dan, I love your posts.

This whole PIN system is so messed up. It's nice for some, but it makes many loyal customers and cast members miserable.

On our last WDW trip a couple years ago, we spent significantly less on our hotel rooms than we're being charged this year (same resort), and they weren't "on sale" then -- the base price was just a lot more reasonable.

We've cut the 10 nights we originally booked at Disney this fall to only 5 nights. We're spending the rest of our vacation time at non-Disney hotels. If Disney offers me a discount later, I'll take it for those 5 nights, but I doubt they can make me rebook the other nights at this point because I've gotten quite excited about my new choice. For the first time in the decades I've been visiting Disney parks, my excitement about our trip is laced with a sense of bitterness/resentment toward Disney and their "sorry, YOU don't qualify" system. (I even had a dream the other night that I was trying to check-in and was told I couldn't have a balcony-room because I didn't have a PIN for that and therefore didn't "qualify." Ugh!) Who knows, we may even end up with a discount, but I'll still be annoyed with the whole system. I think they should discount rooms that aren't selling to the whole public, and let it be first-come, first-served. Or at least offer the discounts to AP holders and/or other frequent visitors. If they want to target new people, send those people notice of the upcoming public discounts.

On the plus side, I'm quite happy with my upcoming non-Disney resorts, one of which is at Universal. There are a lot of wonderful hotels offsite, as well as tons of other non-Disney stuff to do in Orlando. And, there are a lot of other places we like to go besides Orlando, so yeah, I do agree with the OP. At this point I do see our WDW visits getting fewer and further between.

 

[undertheseas]

I really want to go back, it's been 2.5 years after going almost every year (we had a baby). Now airfare is way up and so is gas (driving would cost us almost as much as we spent flying last time) and it's only the QS free dining for moderates. Even cutting the trip from 10 days to 6, it's just not possible this year. I hope to save more money and cross my fingers for free dining next year unless we get a better discount than this.

 

[princesspeach]

I don't think disney knows what they are doing or their revenues would not be down. I don't buy stuff just because its on sale(except disney because thats the only way I can afford it). I hardly ever pay attention to sales coupons etc. I have a pretty good idea what is a fare price for any item, and what I am willing to pay. Disney deluxe rack rates are not reasonable. When we vacation in Hawaii or San diego. I don't even spend the time looking for sales. I am pretty comfortable with the hotel rates. Most nice hotels charge between 150-400 a night. Disney starts at about 500 for a standard view room when you include the tax. If you wan't a view than tack on another 100 bucks. Then you include the overpriced food and tickets. Without a deep discount I doubt many familys would stay deluxe. There is always the exception of course. I'm paying 6,700 for 9 days at the bwv. Without the 40% off pin I got it would be closer to 9,000. I'm not willing to pay 9,000 for a disney vacation. I'm also not willing to stay in a value or mod. I will just vacation elsewhere. Like a previous poster we will be spending a few nights at a Universal resort. There prices our much more in line with what I am used to paying for a resort. There in the $200- 300 range and thats without a discount.

 

[juliemcalister]

I think Disney marketing has lost its way. As we've enjoyed several discounted trips over the past few years, I've believed the statements that discounts would not be around forever.

I'm not entitled to a discount nor do I expect one. However I question the marketing strategy that casts customers in the role of stalkers who feel the need to call repeatedly to obtain haphazardly assigned discount.