CBR $75 Gift Card deal ending

[agassizsmile]

I just dont know what to do! Im booked at cbr now but if no FD wondering if I should keep it or not! The darn gift card was a sneaky way of disney to hook guests.In reality the gift cards dont benefit guests it benefits Disney. The gift card is simply money recycled back to disney.Id much prefer an incentive that would actually apply to my package and reduce my balance due.The gidt cards dont reduce my balance.Sure I can buy stuff with gift card but its less important to me than actual savings.

 

[agassizsmile]

I just dont know what to do! Im booked at cbr now but if no FD wondering if I should keep it or not! The darn gift card was a sneaky way of disney to hook guests.In reality the gift cards dont benefit guests it benefits Disney. The gift card is simply money recycled back to disney.Id much prefer an incentive that would actually apply to my package and reduce my balance due.The gidt cards dont reduce my balance.Sure I can buy stuff with gift card but its less important to me than actual savings.

 

[aspen10]

If (after today) you need to change your reservation to add or remove a day, would you lose the $75 credit?

 

[Skallywag Steph]

If (after today) you need to change your reservation to add or remove a day, would you lose the $75 credit?

No one knows

 

[Skallywag Steph]

I just dont know what to do! Im booked at cbr now but if no FD wondering if I should keep it or not! The darn gift card was a sneaky way of disney to hook guests.In reality the gift cards dont benefit guests it benefits Disney. The gift card is simply money recycled back to disney.Id much prefer an incentive that would actually apply to my package and reduce my balance due.The gidt cards dont reduce my balance.Sure I can buy stuff with gift card but its less important to me than actual savings.

I think it was originally meant to compensate people who were already booked there so they wouldn't leave but word got out and lots of people from other resorts switched over for the gift card. And now they're full so I'm sure Disney is fine with that.

 

[tee11]

Bottom line-Disney didn't plan how they were going to handle the refurb very well at all-no "concrete" plan from the beginning.

They started out with a $25.00 GC as Compensation and then changed to a $75.00 GC as Compensation.

"If" they knew from the beginning they were not going to Compensate all Guests who will be experiencing the effects of the refurb,they should have just given Guests the option to change Resorts and let that be it.

That would have kept them from taking this PR hit.

I'm very surprised it was so chaotic after the announcement- the 25/75 GC was not all, some people also got their balance owed reduced per night (by $75) in addition to the GC compensation, others switched to resorts, that some people were told they couldn't switch to...and others yet were told (and did) pay the difference for the switch. Disney is such a highly experienced company, so it's even more mind boggling that they did not foresee this.

What they should have done:
Clear Announcement earlier, with email to already booked guests, and clearly spelled out on resort website, offer a free switch to another moderate resort, or a $75 per day gift card for all guests already booked.
New bookings after annnouncement: Depends - but make it the same for all guests that will be affected by this.

Just my opinion.

 

[tee11]

If (after today) you need to change your reservation to add or remove a day, would you lose the $75 credit?

That's a good question- but again, I wish they would make a decision, announce it, and apply it to all guests equally.

 

[akaDaddy]

Lets not forget, the $75 gift card "offer, promotion, discount, compensation, refund...whatever" did not go out to the masses by word of mouth or some casual post. Disney posted the $75 gift card on its reservation site, clearly stating the reason it was there. They also emailed all who had already made reservations prior to the construction announcement offering the $75 gift card or an alternative resort. Disney then continued the offer on its website as well as notifying travel agent, travel bloggers and others of the discount.

Disney knew what they were doing, i.e. filling up the rooms. Once they reached their goal, then no additional offers (or the continuation of an existing offers) were needed.

 

[kandb]

If your dates are in 2017, definitely no FD.

Wow, is NO FD in 2017 a definite? I didn't know that. Is that official?

 

[kandb]

Well I am not surprised... they started offering the GC as a compensation for those who had already booked and paid for their trip and couldn't change things.

Then people started booking those resorts BECAUSE the GC and extra compensation was offered to those guests, as Disney continued damage control.

But yesterday I got several emails from the various Disney trip planners I subscribe to, highlighting the GC and extra compensations as a REASON to book a Disney trip AT that hotel!

I am not the least surprised that once this transformed from damage control into a situation where guests are "gaming the system" and trying to get all the extras they can, now Disney WILL be losing money and they have to find a different method to appease the latecomers who have already booked the resort prior to the GC announcement.

The promotion was offered to already-booked resort guests to alleviate the stress of "no pool, no food, jackhammers and dust".... NOT for people to try to take a Disney vacation at tremendous daily discount! Which I have read more than one person on the DIS boards decided that the $75 GC plus the $75 discount on the room was enough reason to start planning a visit! LOL

How are guests "gaming the system"? They are going to a resort that should probably be closed since it doesn't offer the ammentities that most other resorts offer. Believe me, even with the $75/day, Disney will still make a ton of money on the people staying there. $75/day of a Disney card probably costs Disney around $25 day if you are buying their overpriced souvenirs and such.

 

[AngiTN]

I just dont know what to do! Im booked at cbr now but if no FD wondering if I should keep it or not! The darn gift card was a sneaky way of disney to hook guests.In reality the gift cards dont benefit guests it benefits Disney. The gift card is simply money recycled back to disney.Id much prefer an incentive that would actually apply to my package and reduce my balance due.The gidt cards dont reduce my balance.Sure I can buy stuff with gift card but its less important to me than actual savings.

Any money from Disney that reduces my total due be it off the room before I arrive or used towards charges after I arrive is the same thing, no? Take $75 off each night, totaling $500 or give me a card with $500 that I use toward room charges. What is the difference?

 

[Nutbean]

Any money from Disney that reduces my total due be it off the room before I arrive or used towards charges after I arrive is the same thing, no? Take $75 off each night, totaling $500 or give me a card with $500 that I use toward room charges. What is the difference?

Can you use the gift cards towards the cost of the room though? I thought you got them at check-in after you've already paid in full.

We'll be there 14 nights so I would actually prefer $1050 off the room cost vs. $1050 in gift cards that I'll have to spend while there.

 

[BattyKoda]

Can you use the gift cards towards the cost of the room though? I thought you got them at check-in after you've already paid in full.

We'll be there 14 nights so I would actually prefer $1050 off the room cost vs. $1050 in gift cards that I'll have to spend while there.

You won't be able to use it towards the cost of the room as that is due before you get there while the cards are given out once you get there... but I would assume (OUCH) that you will have other bills, such as food and whatnot? Use the gift card towards that.

 

[DisneyJen73]

I just booked CBR direct with Disney this morning and was told that I would receive the $75 per night gift cards when we check in at the front desk. I have read from a few sources that the gift card deal will not be available after tomorrow (I did not verify this with Disney).

I did call to verify with Disney today that the $75 gift card promo will not be available after today and to verify that yes, I will be getting the $75 per night gift card for the new reservation I made yesterday. We booked hotel only, I am not looking for free dining because we are only going to add the Halloween party to our stay since we are also booked on a 4 night Disney Cruise. I plan to use the gift cards to cover our food expenses. As far as I'm concerned, I see nothing wrong with taking advantage of the $75 per night gift card promo that Disney is offering for new bookings at CBR through today because of upcoming construction. As long as they are still offering, why shouldn't I take advantage of it to save myself some $? I don't mind some construction to be able to stay in a room that will give my family of 4 more room for the same cost of a night at Pop, where we would be a little more cramped. I do wonder what other incentives will be given along the way for disruption since supposedly they will be ending this offer of $75 gift cards per night. I do think that for the construction inconvenience, new bookings should get something, even if they know there will be construction ahead of time. I certainly wouldn't spend full price there to deal with the construction. I would just stay somewhere else.

 

[labattblue]

Called yesterday. I asked if the GC offer can be noted on my reservation(so I can screen shot it), or send me an email(or snail mail) noting the offer. I was told not possible for both.

Just don't want my daughter to get in a check in battle over this to start a vacation.

 

[Nutbean]

You won't be able to use it towards the cost of the room as that is due before you get there while the cards are given out once you get there... but I would assume (OUCH) that you will have other bills, such as food and whatnot? Use the gift card towards that.

Not if they offer free dining.

If they don't, and it's certainly looking that way, this whole gift card thing will be a moot point for us anyway as we'll be switching resorts to one that does.

 

[DisneyJen73]

Called yesterday. I asked if the GC offer can be noted on my reservation(so I can screen shot it), or send me an email(or snail mail) noting the offer. I was told not possible for both.

Just don't my daughter to get in a check in battle over this to start a vacation.

That's why I called to double check today...I just don't like not having anything in writing. I got both agents I talked to names, but nothing in writing that specifically says I will get it. Makes me nervous!

 

[BattyKoda]

Not if they offer free dining.

If they don't, and it's certainly looking that way, this whole gift card thing will be a moot point for us anyway as we'll be switching resorts to one that does.

Correct, I was going off of the assumption that there would be no free dining offered at CBR... a complete guess on my part.

It will be interesting to see how many switch to another resort if no other discounts are offered.

 

[dansdad]

Wow, is NO FD in 2017 a definite? I didn't know that. Is that official?

For CBR, as of today, yes it's definite.

 

[IrishNYC]

I just dont know what to do! Im booked at cbr now but if no FD wondering if I should keep it or not! The darn gift card was a sneaky way of disney to hook guests.In reality the gift cards dont benefit guests it benefits Disney. The gift card is simply money recycled back to disney.Id much prefer an incentive that would actually apply to my package and reduce my balance due.The gidt cards dont reduce my balance.Sure I can buy stuff with gift card but its less important to me than actual savings.

I've said it before, I'll say it again... FD offers are for NEW reservations. Having an existing reservation NEVER guarantees you of any offer that comes out after you book. If you have scored an offer on an existing reservation in the past you were lucky (I too have been lucky) to be able to make a switch, because you were technically cancelling and rebooking, EVEN IF you kept the same confirmation number. I'm not picking on you, @agassizsmile just pointing out the general consensus I see here over and over again. I don't understand why people book a vacation they aren't prepared to pay for unless a discount comes out. I know I booked during a time that is historically FD, but I am in no way counting on it, especially now that this fiasco has happened.

I guarantee that complaining is bound to follow when and if FD does get announced, and it's not for CBR. I can see it being the end of FD.