December 2011 Code Watch!

[cybrkitn]

Is this with a pin code? I called Disney and they said no rooms are available with this promotion? Just wondering if you need a pin?

Many Thanks

Charleyann

I just double-checked my email. Yes, it's a Pin Code (and not a very good one at that).

 

[Charleyann]

I just double-checked my email. Yes, it's a Pin Code (and not a very good one at that).

Much appreciated. We would have taken it , but we are there only two nights and then onto the Disney Dream....

Charleyann

 

[havoc315]

I'm debating whether or not to call Disney and let them know that this deal is way too restrictive and may turn people away (unless that's what they want to do ). There has got to be a better deal out there than this.

My other issue with this is that the week we are going is Pop Warner week. They take up some of the Value resorts and once they fill up, they use POR (according to what the CM told me on the phone a few months ago). I know Disney has a limited number of rooms with this current "deal" (and I use the term loosely), but this is ridiculous!

I'm also not saying that we're "entitled" to a discount either. We're still going whether a discount is available or not. But it would make it a little easier on my brother, for instance, who is coming with us this time. He doesn't make much and has been saving for this trip. He hasn't had a real, decent vacation in a very long time (in about 20 years). So in his case, a discount would be great to help off-set the cost for him.

Disney certainly tries to create a reputation for magic and pixie dust, etc, etc.
But the bottom line--- It is a business, trying to maximize profit -- it's bottom line.
It doesn't offer discounts out of "charity." Disney offers discounts in an effort to maximize profits -- to sell unsold rooms.

Now, if they have tons of empty rooms that nobody is booking, then they most certainly need to offer more discounts.
But if bookings are solid..... Why should they offer discounts to people who are willing to pay full price?

You can go ahead and complain to Disney that the discount is too restrictive. And I'm sure you will get a very polite response. But as long as bookings are solid, they won't really care about your complaint.
PINs and discounts are sales, they are bargains off of full price.
It's hard to make a very legitimate complaint that "Your sale is horrible! You should be discounting even more!"
Disney will be too polite to say this to you directly, but the reality is.... If the price is too high for you... then don't book.

For the most part.. their discounts aren't about public relations (some exceptions), their discounts are just a way to entice a few more people to book rooms.

Yes, it does stink for those people who really can't afford full price, for those people who have come to rely on discounted prices for the last few years.
But would you walk into a Mercedes dealership and demand that they cut their prices by 40% so you can afford a luxury automobile?

(Whether a Disney vacation is a luxury product, is an entirely different discussion).

 

[PVMom]

We'll be staying at POFQ December 17-23rd. I booked our trip back in January. I called to make reservations, I was informed at the end of the call that I had a pin code. I'm paying $106.60 a night, except for the Saturday night stay which is $113.10.

 

[wishesUT]

I wonder how many people end up in a moderate resort for $67 a night. Sounds too good to be true. It's an interesting marketing strategy that's for sure. If anyone books with it they'll have to let us know what they get. We'll also be there over Pop Warner week and I don't know that I'd want to risk ending up in All Stars or POR.

 

[lillieandlilahsmommy]

I wonder how many people end up in a moderate resort for $67 a night. Sounds too good to be true. It's an interesting marketing strategy that's for sure. If anyone books with it they'll have to let us know what they get. We'll also be there over Pop Warner week and I don't know that I'd want to risk ending up in All Stars or POR.

When is Pop Warner Week? We booked Pop Century Dec 2-8 and I specifically asked about Pop Warner and they said it was not during that time? Was the Disney booking agent wrong? And what is Pop Warner: cheerleading, football?

 

[PVMom]

When is Pop Warner Week? We booked Pop Century Dec 2-8 and I specifically asked about Pop Warner and they said it was not during that time? Was the Disney booking agent wrong? And what is Pop Warner: cheerleading, football?

It's December 3rd-10th this year.

 

[PVMom]

I copied this from the Pop Warner site.

The 2011 Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships will take place from Saturday, December 3rd through Saturday, December 10th at ESPN Wide World of Sports™ Complex.

 

[lillieandlilahsmommy]

I copied this from the Pop Warner site.

The 2011 Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships will take place from Saturday, December 3rd through Saturday, December 10th at ESPN Wide World of Sports™ Complex.

Does that mean the parks are going to be packed with these kids? I am flexible on my dates and can come right after TG or the week after this, I was just wanting to avoid holiday crowds. I certainly don't want to trade holiday crowds for this kind of a crowd. Any advice would be appreciated, I would hate for our first holiday trip to be less enjoyable due to a big event they are having.

 

[mom2rtk]

Does that mean the parks are going to be packed with these kids? I am flexible on my dates and can come right after TG or the week after this, I was just wanting to avoid holiday crowds. I certainly don't want to trade holiday crowds for this kind of a crowd. Any advice would be appreciated, I would hate for our first holiday trip to be less enjoyable due to a big event they are having.

No, the parks won't be overrun. But some resorts might. Traditionally they have stayed at the All-Star values plus some moderates. This could mean lots of kids running around the grounds at all hours. You might see some in the parks, but not massive quantities because they do have Pop Warner activities during many of the days.

Also, it means that these dates might be blacked out on any general public deals that come out (like last year).

 

[DisneyGuess]

Does that mean the parks are going to be packed with these kids? I am flexible on my dates and can come right after TG or the week after this, I was just wanting to avoid holiday crowds. I certainly don't want to trade holiday crowds for this kind of a crowd. Any advice would be appreciated, I would hate for our first holiday trip to be less enjoyable due to a big event they are having.

POP Warner doesn't affect park crowds. They spend most of their day at Disney's Wide World of Sports. The only places it really affects anyone are the ones staying in the same resorts, which are generally the All Stars, mostly Sports with the overflow going to POR. You may notice some around the parks in the evenings or after the competition is over as I'm sure some families stay a little after just to enjoy the parks. but most will leave on the 10th.

 

[lillieandlilahsmommy]

Is there any way to find out in advance if the dates are going to be blacked out or do I have to wait for the deals to start coming out? I can easily move my dates to Dec. 9-16 instead. I just need a deal or we are cancelling, I booked my trip in advance so I could get ADRs. How are the crowds the second week of Dec?

Thanks for the insight you both gave, it kind of ticks me off. I asked the Disney res guy about this specifically, he kind of played dumb and said he "looked it up" and it was in January.

 

[DisneyGuess]

Is there any way to find out in advance if the dates are going to be blacked out or do I have to wait for the deals to start coming out? I can easily move my dates to Dec. 9-16 instead. I just need a deal or we are cancelling, I booked my trip in advance so I could get ADRs. How are the crowds the second week of Dec?

Thanks for the insight you both gave, it kind of ticks me off. I asked the Disney res guy about this specifically, he kind of played dumb and said he "looked it up" and it was in January.

No way to know in advance, you just have to wait & see. But historically, the dates for the week of POP Warner are blacked out for FD, etc. Based on the PW dates, the blackout period will probably be December 3-9.
We are going December 10-18. It is also a low crowd week, maybe a bit cooler than the 1st week & may get a bit more crowded on the weekend, December 17 & 18 as you're getting closer to Christmas.
The people that you talk to on the ressie line rarely know that kind of thing & probably had no idea how to look it up. POP Warner is generally the 1st full week of December each year. In fact, I rarely ask the person I'm booking with on the phone any questions so I do not get bad info or advice. They aren't really up on things all the time.

 

[lillieandlilahsmommy]

No way to know in advance, you just have to wait & see. But historically, the dates for the week of POP Warner are blacked out for FD, etc. Based on the PW dates, the blackout period will probably be December 3-9.
We are going December 10-18. It is also a low crowd week, maybe a bit cooler than the 1st week & may get a bit more crowded on the weekend, December 17 & 18 as you're getting closer to Christmas.
The people that you talk to on the ressie line rarely know that kind of thing & probably had no idea how to look it up. POP Warner is generally the 1st full week of December each year. In fact, I rarely ask the person I'm booking with on the phone any questions so I do not get bad info or advice. They aren't really up on things all the time.

Thank you for the tips, I think I am going to trade my weeks and keep crossing my fingers for a deal!

 

[couchpotato]

Okay I think I am more stressed now than before I started reading the posts.

We were last in Disneyworld the 1st week of December 2009, which was pop warner week, and we had free dining.

I am planning a trip for 19 people for the 1st week of December 2011, many of whom have never been before and some of whom are not going to be able to commit to going unless we get a free dining offer.

Assuming there is no free dining that 1st week of December (I am STILL hoping) what is the cheapest place to get 5 or 6 day park hoppers and where is the cheapest place to stay (we WILL stay off property if we can get a good deal and there is no free dining at Disney).

Thanks for the help - I want everyone to have fun and not stress about the cost.

 

[Bete]

They are starting to come out for later in the year. I called to check for any pincodes with Disney. This pincode is 2 days old according to the CM I talked with today.

My pincode is good for Oct 10 to Dec 22 (blocked out for Thanksgiving week)and it expires on July 1. This makes me feel that this code may go public; because, it's only about a week for me to have this code and then it expires.

I couldn't get a good answer about the discount. The CM wasn't informed enough for me to respect the answer. Supposedly, I was told it's a 30% off resort discount code and it's the same percentage across the board on all resort levels which rarely happens.

When I got my quotes this 30% didn't seem right. It looks like 30% on value and 22% on deluxe with room only. Deluxe usually gets a better percent off; so, this doesn't quite make sense. Sorry, I didn't get a moderate resort quote. Also, there was no available rooms for the lower cost rooms at the Contemporary or the Grand Floridian for my dates. I think room availability is not so good for this rate.

I'm going to try again with some quotes to see what happens. I just wanted to let everyone know that pincodes are beginning to surface for the end of the year. Good luck to all.

 

[heartse]

They are starting to come out for later in the year. I called to check for any pincodes with Disney. This pincode is 2 days old according to the CM I talked with today.

My pincode is good for Oct 10 to Dec 22 (blocked out for Thanksgiving week)and it expires on July 1. This makes me feel that this code may go public; because, it's only about a week for me to have this code and then it expires.

I couldn't get a good answer about the discount. The CM wasn't informed enough for me to respect the answer. Supposedly, I was told it's a 30% off resort discount code and it's the same percentage across the board on all resort levels which rarely happens.

When I got my quotes this 30% didn't seem right. It looks like 30% on value and 22% on deluxe with room only. Deluxe usually gets a better percent off; so, this doesn't quite make sense. Sorry, I didn't get a moderate resort quote. Also, there was no available rooms for the lower cost rooms at the Contemporary or the Grand Floridian for my dates. I think room availability is not so good for this rate.

I'm going to try again with some quotes to see what happens. I just wanted to let everyone know that pincodes are beginning to surface for the end of the year. Good luck to all.

I am guessing it was a room discount only. I have been hoping for a FD for the first week of December.

 

[Brandilovesdisney]

From all the discounts I've seen it seems Disney is trying varients of the same room discount to see what grabs people for future PIN codes. So far I haven't seen too many people overly excited about any of the offers

 

[kellyg403]

We did get a pin code for 20% of rooms...across the board but the last day to use the code was 6/22. The dates were 12/1 - 12/22. I keep hoping there is something else coming along. We are not sure if we are going this year, the real world keeps looming! If we go, it will be budget to begin with, so we are discussing the different budget scenarios that work for us. A room only code would work, but dh is definitely one who goes to WDW for sit down meals. I would hate to deprive him of that option just to be on 'budget'

Much more thinking to be done, but there are codes out there! Firmly believe there will be a public code. If what we received in the mail is any indication, it will be a percent off code for the December time frame. I still wish for free dining though!

Kelly

 

[DisneyGuess]

<Sigh> Waiting, waiting, waiting, lol. The fact that we had to cancel our beach vaca for next week really hasn't helped!