August 2009 code watch

[KikiFan]

I'm sort of bummed about the "great special" that's going to be offered tomorrow. Apparently it's only for the first 6 months of '09. I hope they offer something as good for August!

 

[Pixiedust34]

I'm sort of bummed about the "great special" that's going to be offered tomorrow. Apparently it's only for the first 6 months of '09. I hope they offer something as good for August!

I agree! I'm toying with changing our trip to the end of June if this code will save us $$, but I'll have to check the math carefully. Plus, rumor has it that the code is the "buy 4 nights/get 3 free" package, and we want to stay 9-10 nights. I'm not sure how that would work (other than paying OOP for summer rates) for the extra nights. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

It would be great if a code were offered for all of August. Those at the end of August will most likely get free dining, but a having a code for the beginning and middle of August would be super!

 

[POOHLUV69]

I'm thinking about changing to the end of June too. I did the math and I'd save like $500 bucks. I don't hold out much hope for free dining at the beginning of August and I'm afraid a code might come out too late to apply to my ressies. What to do..........that's the BIG question and I dont have the answer.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I'm thinking about changing to the end of June too. I did the math and I'd save like $500 bucks. I don't hold out much hope for free dining at the beginning of August and I'm afraid a code might come out too late to apply to my ressies. What to do..........that's the BIG question and I dont have the answer.

The only time we could travel under the code is June 22 and then extending past the 27th. I did a lot of Disney Math yesterday comparing my new June quote to what our anticipated trip would cost in August, and the August trip we're already planning was less expensive!

Both trips were for just the room (POR) and 10 day MYD base tickets (no hoppers, no dining plan, etc.). If I had been able to look at a *value season* code instead of a *summer season* code, I would have saved with the code. But as it stands, we're keeping our August plans and will hope for a room code offer down the road.

Now that the "big code" has already been released to through the end of June, I wonder if/when a July-August (pre-free dining dates) code will be released?

 

[Maggie19]

After reading the other posts out there it sounds like people are disappointed because they would have to cut their trip short to take advantage of the deal.
We are staying part of our trip at the AKL villas in Aug.. Can you take advantage of the free dining at the villas or will we only be able to use it when we get to the Beach club? I have also seen somewhere that the free dining is only available to value resorts??
Lets hope for a GREAT deal the second half of the year!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Sorry guys and gals, I have to say that I am no longer an August 2009 code watcher.

I was able to change our August, 2009 vacation package to a May, 2009 vacation package using the new promo. It saved us over $300.00!

Two adults/One 12 year old, 9 day water parks and more tickets and the dining plan for just $2,700.00 for 10 days/9 nights. AND I am going to use the savings to buy our Pirate and Princess Party tickets.

I am still hoping that you guys get a really good deal for August!

 

[KikiFan]

Plus, rumor has it that the code is the "buy 4 nights/get 3 free" package, and we want to stay 9-10 nights. I'm not sure how that would work (other than paying OOP for summer rates) for the extra nights. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

Both trips were for just the room (POR) and 10 day MYD base tickets (no hoppers, no dining plan, etc.). If I had been able to look at a *value season* code instead of a *summer season* code, I would have saved with the code. But as it stands, we're keeping our August plans and will hope for a room code offer down the road.

That was my problem too! Our trip is for two weeks (15 days) But the problem is the deal only allows one set of 3 free days. So on a 15 day trip only 3 are free. But the rest of the days were at the higher summer rate instead of August value season. So our trip costs more. For a shorter trip this deal could really save you money. Not so much on a longer trip.
(It just occurred to me that if we hotel hop we might come out better - although I'm not really big on hotel hoping that might be the way to go. 2 ressies equal two "3 free packages" hmmm back to the drawing board. )

This offer is good till Dec 20. So I don't think we'll see any other special offers until after that date. I'm hoping for a pin, or a percentage off. That's usually been my best bet. But maybe, just maybe they'll offer free dining earlier. That would work too.

 

[mickeystoontown]

That was my problem too! Our trip is for two weeks (15 days) But the problem is the deal only allows one set of 3 free days. So on a 15 day trip only 3 are free. But the rest of the days were at the higher summer rate instead of August value season. So our trip costs more. For a shorter trip this deal could really save you money. Not so much on a longer trip.
(It just occurred to me that if we hotel hop we might come out better - although I'm not really big on hotel hoping that might be the way to go. 2 ressies equal two "3 free packages" hmmm back to the drawing board. )

This offer is good till Dec 20. So I don't think we'll see any other special offers until after that date. I'm hoping for a pin, or a percentage off. That's usually been my best bet. But maybe, just maybe they'll offer free dining earlier. That would work too.

Could you not book two Buy 4/Get 3 free packages? You might would come out better doing that. I don't know for sure but you could always run the numbers and see.

 

[KikiFan]

Could you not book two Buy 4/Get 3 free packages? You might would come out better doing that. I don't know for sure but you could always run the numbers and see.

Actually I was just coming back to report on that! I chatted with an online person and that was what she suggested too. So we tried pricing it out.

The problem that I keep coming up with is that if I switch to June the rack rate on the hotel goes up. I get three nights free, but the 4 nights I'm paying for are costing me $199 instead of $149. Plus we absolutely have to have PH and WP so that adds another $200 (twice! once for each week -since it's separate ressies)

So one week at a mod comes out to $1,514. That means 2 weeks at two dif modes will be 3,000 + tx.

Right now I've got a trip saved : 2 weeks at POFQ at a little over $2,800. And that's at rack rate - I haven't booked with a AAA discount or special - which I''m betting there will be.


If you're going for 2 weeks, and want PH and WP, the savings is around $100. Worst of all, you then have to put up 2 deposits. It's just not adding up for me. But I'm sure I'll get something better for Aug.

 

[suzydisney971]

My family and friends are thinking of going down in August or September. Does anyone know when the lovebugs come out? We went down last year the first week of October and they were out then but started going away later in the week. We will have a 15 mo old and an almost 2 yr old with us and I know we'll be doing a lot of sitting down and I don't want to have to deal with the bugs or have to have a stroller cover on the whole time. We also want to take advantage of free dining if it comes out. TIA!!!

 

[KikiFan]

Well I was there Aug 9-23 this summer and I didn't see any lovebugs. So I guess that time period is safe. Of course thats usually before free didning starts.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

Well I was there Aug 9-23 this summer and I didn't see any lovebugs. So I guess that time period is safe. Of course thats usually before free didning starts.

How were the crowds during that time?

 

[Pixiedust34]

I'm noticing that there are some good pin codes going to various people for trips at the beginning of the year. One of the pin codes is for free dining in the spring. Is it possible to get a pin code if you already have a reservation made? I wonder if/when pin codes will be available for mid-August?

I'm also wondering if some kind of discount code (for the general public) will be available for August earlier than usual, as the "buy 4, get 3 free" goes all the way to June and it was offered in November.

I'm hoping to save some money and keep checking for codes.

 

[tripplanner2]

Wow! Free dining code pins for spring? I did not see that but after last week with the buy 4 get 3, I have not been scouring so much because I figured that would be it for awhile. I still have to figure what is better for us, free dining or a good room discount. I think the good room discount will save us more because we are not big eaters but we are a family of 5 so need more space.

 

[KikiFan]

How were the crowds during that time?

It wasn't horrible. The waits ran about 30 - 40 minutes. Expedition everest and Toy Story Mania were insanely long though. But that's to be expected. However the first week (Aug 9 - 15) the Extra Magic hours were excellent. MK was open till 3am. We hit every EMH.

THe second week, was much lighter (Aug 17-23) I expected it to be lighter, but it was even lighter then expected due to TS Fay. If you were wiling to throw on the ponchos and slog it out, it was easy.

I'm noticing that there are some good pin codes going to various people for trips at the beginning of the year. One of the pin codes is for free dining in the spring. Is it possible to get a pin code if you already have a reservation made? I wonder if/when pin codes will be available for mid-August?

I'm also wondering if some kind of discount code (for the general public) will be available for August earlier than usual, as the "buy 4, get 3 free" goes all the way to June and it was offered in November.

I'm hoping to save some money and keep checking for codes.

I think it's going to be really hard to predict what they're going to do. Normally, it would be late Dec or Jan. I was thinking that it would be at least until the 4/3 offer expired 12/20. It seems to me like they're focusing on filling the parks for the first 6 months.

But I think we're all just going to have to stay on our toes and see what happens. I'm so hoping that they'll offer free dining earlier this year. I'd really like that.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Wow! Free dining code pins for spring? I did not see that but after last week with the buy 4 get 3, I have not been scouring so much because I figured that would be it for awhile. I still have to figure what is better for us, free dining or a good room discount. I think the good room discount will save us more because we are not big eaters but we are a family of 5 so need more space.

I think I might have mis-read about that spring code. It sounded like it was an offer for kids (3 to 9) to dine free. If you do a search on April codes, you might find the post.

I wish we could travel during the traditional FDing period (and we were just at WDW in Sept. and could have booked a bounceback), but dh is a teacher and we need to be home by August 23rd.

It wasn't horrible. The waits ran about 30 - 40 minutes. Expedition everest and Toy Story Mania were insanely long though. But that's to be expected. However the first week (Aug 9 - 15) the Extra Magic hours were excellent. MK was open till 3am. We hit every EMH.

THe second week, was much lighter (Aug 17-23) I expected it to be lighter, but it was even lighter then expected due to TS Fay. If you were wiling to throw on the ponchos and slog it out, it was easy.



I think it's going to be really hard to predict what they're going to do. Normally, it would be late Dec or Jan. I was thinking that it would be at least until the 4/3 offer expired 12/20. It seems to me like they're focusing on filling the parks for the first 6 months.

But I think we're all just going to have to stay on our toes and see what happens. I'm so hoping that they'll offer free dining earlier this year. I'd really like that.

We were at WDW in early Aug. 07 and I thought that the crowds were pretty heavy. POR was booked to capacity, and the water parks were closing to capacity on some days of our trip. I'm hoping for lighter crowds in 09.

I'd like a free dining offer, too. Or a great room code! We're doing a room only reservation, but would drop that and re-book with a package if a good deal (like free dining) comes our way.

 

[Smile4Me]

I'm noticing that there are some good pin codes going to various people for trips at the beginning of the year. One of the pin codes is for free dining in the spring. Is it possible to get a pin code if you already have a reservation made? I wonder if/when pin codes will be available for mid-August?

I'm also wondering if some kind of discount code (for the general public) will be available for August earlier than usual, as the "buy 4, get 3 free" goes all the way to June and it was offered in November.

I'm hoping to save some money and keep checking for codes.

Usually the codes for August and on,,,come out around March or April. Thats when Free Dining has come out the past two years. And yes you can get a code and or apply a code to a reservation that is already made! Good luck!

 

[shasess]

I'm sort of bummed about the "great special" that's going to be offered tomorrow. Apparently it's only for the first 6 months of '09. I hope they offer something as good for August!

Me too! I was thinking about changing my dates to May but that is just not possible. Hopefully something will come in for August...fingers crossed !

 

[Maggie19]

I just got a great pin code today 5 days plus 5 days free AND a $500.00 gift certificate!! Although you need to travel before the end of June and we are going in August!
This is my first pin code from Disney so I am hoping for another for the second half of the year.......

 

[Family Fun Mom]

It wasn't horrible. The waits ran about 30 - 40 minutes. Expedition everest and Toy Story Mania were insanely long though. But that's to be expected. However the first week (Aug 9 - 15) the Extra Magic hours were excellent. MK was open till 3am. We hit every EMH.

THe second week, was much lighter (Aug 17-23) I expected it to be lighter, but it was even lighter then expected due to TS Fay. If you were wiling to throw on the ponchos and slog it out, it was easy.


:

That's good news. We wanted to go the last two weeks of August but my daughter would miss her jr high orientation (we don't go back to school until after Labor Day). Lord help us all if she missed that! So, we're thinking about changing it to the first two weeks of August. Or the middle two. You helped me feel better about it. Thanks!