Do any DIS'ers pay rack rate?

[DKx3]

I,m starting to feel like I went about this whole Disney thing all wrong. To start, I am a chronic overplanner. So, when DH agreed to go to WDW, I looked into some pricing, used the advice of my sister, and booked package with DU. So far I'm very happy with them, but I was unaware when I booked about alot of the discounts, AAA, codes... I'm not going until Nov. 2005. I don't plan on changing now, but in the future should I get room only w/AAA and get tickets myself? Unless codes come out (booked at POP) or there are teacher discounts for my time at Dolphin, it looks like I'm going to be paying rack rate. It's okay, I budgeted for that, but I sure hate to miss a sale! What do you all think?

 

[Loves2Travel]

RACK RATE!??!?!?!?!?

im outta here!

 

[eleanor]

Never ever pay rack rate. Egad!

 

[daannzzz]

I plan my trips according to when I want to go and where I want to stay and I pay rack rate. IF PER CHANCE a code comes up during that time I will use it at my chosen resort. If the code is for a different resort I consider changing. I do not persue the discount codes too aggresively. I did that one year and it was a pain in the butt and I kept worrying about a better deal and panicing that I was paying to much. No, I plan what I can afford at rack rate, and take it from there.

 

[skiwee1]

We paid rack rate for years because we didn't know about discounts. Now we do know but still pay rack to get the resort we want. Discounts are great when you can get one but it doesn't stop me from staying in my favorite resort if I don't. We paid rackrate for the Poly last May when we couldn't get a discount. No biggie.

 

[debster812]

DKx3--are you happy with the rate your are currently paying?

If so, then I think you'll be fine.

Would I pay rack rate? If I had to (ie had a trip planned, and no discounts were available for our dates). I generally book what I can afford, and then we either upgrade resorts, or take the money and use it for food, etc.

I am all for saving a buck, but not at the expense of making myself and my family crazy.

 

[jl3614]

I've paid rack rate for value resorts before when no discounts (even no AAA) were available. I'd probably consider paying rack rate at a moderate - but never at a deluxe. We can only go certain times - generally during high (spring break) and normal (summer) season, rack rate certainly would be a little easier to swallow during value season.

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

I,m starting to feel like I went about this whole Disney thing all wrong. To start, I am a chronic overplanner. So, when DH agreed to go to WDW, I looked into some pricing, used the advice of my sister, and booked package with DU. So far I'm very happy with them, but I was unaware when I booked about alot of the discounts, AAA, codes... I'm not going until Nov. 2005. I don't plan on changing now, but in the future should I get room only w/AAA and get tickets myself? Unless codes come out (booked at POP) or there are teacher discounts for my time at Dolphin, it looks like I'm going to be paying rack rate. It's okay, I budgeted for that, but I sure hate to miss a sale! What do you all think?

I'm in the same boat. I just booked our vacation through Disney and now I'm reading all this code stuff. Well, this isn't our first trip and it certaintly won't be our last so I guess we know for next time huh

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

I personally will not pay rack rate, but nither would I book a package or meal plans, I have too many other options available. Each person has to determine what is a good value for themselves and family. What makes a vacation special is what makes your family happy.

Since you have until Nov before your trip call DU and see if you can change to room only rate, they will still assist you with tickets ect, ect.

 

[luckymum22]

I did as you said, AAA room only reservation and we'll get our tickets separately. But I feel the same way! I consider the AAA discount a Rack Rate - $140 a night to stay (POFQ) in a moderate? That is no deal!
I booked through Magical Journeys and I'm waiting for them to find a cheaper rate but right now it looks like AAA is it. We just changed our plans for 3 of our 7 nights and are staying at a friends timeshare. We have to sit through the whole sales speech but it seems like a MUCH larger space (including a full kitchen) for a whole lot less $$$. I wonder if Disney will see that the lack of room only discount codes will make people go off-site? I think they are pushing the whole MYW pakages so they can encourage people to try the new dining plan and keep more of our dollars in the park.
Are there any lurkers out there who found any room-only discount codes?

 

[DisneyGoddess]

Sadly, this next trip in May will be rack rate. I think am pretty savvy about discounts, codes and alike, but there are times when there are no options. This go around we want to stay at YC with the dining package, and there are no AAA rates for my dates. I have my agent calling daily to check - but so far nothing. I wish we would have made our choices earlier because I think that is why I am stuck - I waited way to long to book.

I've thought about every option to get a discounted rate, but to no avail - if we want YC for our honeymoon and the dining package, we have to pay rack rate.

 

[BrinxFam]

We've only been twice but booked throught Disney both times. I know we could do things alot less expensive but that's just how we choose to do it. DH says just pay what they say and let it be done. We plan the trip we want and enjoy it!

 

[DKx3]

So, am I to understand that codes are only available for room only reservations? And yes, I'm okay with the rate I am paying for my package, but I sure would like to upgrade to AKL for a discounted price. It's easy to start off saying I just want to go to Disney World and the resort is just a place to sleep, but it's just as easy to get sucked in to wanting more. I'm still waiting and seeing how quickly I save the money for the package and meals, and if it's going well, possibly upgrading to AKL with or without a discount. I guess I'll just wait and see. I'll am thrilled to be going no matter what!

 

[DisneyDotty]

Rack rate all the way, baby!
We went with the MYW plus dining plan and are staying at the CR. I'm very lucky because my DH knows nothing of the codes/AAA rates and thought I was doing well when I saved us $500 on ticket price because I found our old park hoppers from years back! (We still had to do MYW because we didn't have enough days on old passes.) I refuse to get caught up in codes watch--I'm going, paid too much, and don't care.

 

[DKx3]

[ refuse to get caught up in codes watch--I'm going, paid too much, and don't care. [/QUOTE]

I should have your great attitude!

 

[Wendy31]

I was paying rack rate for our FW cabin in May & feeling really stupid about it after reading all these threads about codes . . .

So, I called our local AAA office who told me to call Disney. I called Disney & spoke w/ a very nice CM who said, "I'm sure you could get a AAA discount, just call your AAA office & they'll transfer your package."

(We have a package - MYW w/ dining & 7-day, park hopper tickets.)

So, I called AAA back &, this time, spoke w/ someone who is familiar w/ WDW. As it turns out, there is a AAA discount on our cabin for the week we're there. The AAA agent transferred my package to AAA, & we're saving about $120.00. (This is after the $60 AAA membership fee.) Plus, we're saving on the hotel we're staying at in St. Augustine on our way down & on our way back home.

My point - even though you already have a package, it's not to late to get a discount - even on your package. And, while we're not saving a lot, I still felt better about saving "some".

So, you might call your AAA agent. However, I don't know how far out the AAA discounts are posted . . .

 

[pezpam]

If you want to look into codes and such, but don't want the hassle, you could contact a travel agent who specializes in WDW travel. I used Small World Vacations last year and the agent helping me (Stephanie) voluntarily alerted me to several codes and discounts. I saved a bundle on my room after she told me that I could get a lower rate simply by showing up a day earlier - I had forgotten to check the dates of the various seasons and almost paid dearly for that oversight.

Help with the trip YOU want and automatic help with codes and such, all from an agent that won't charge you fees to do all of this? Priceless.

 

[jpeltier]

We've paid rack rate for 24 years. I remembered hearing or reading about a discount and looked into it with a web search. We would go w/out a discount but we're taking DD(11)and her friend(11) and paying all of her friend's expenses,as well as our own----so this was a great time for us to be able to get a discount(AP)! Disney is magic with or without the discount

 

[Troy08]

I have to go during school vacations-my travel companion is my brother and he is a school principal. We only went once on a code-actually it was a free upgrade-just a per chance thing. Every other time we have paid rack rate. It bothers me sometimes to think I am the only one who paid rack when everyone else on thses boards seems to have gotten some kind of deal. I get irked at the "I would never pay rack rate" posts, they make it seen like only some people are smart enough to get a code rate. We are going again this summer, booked AAA discount at WL, but it really isn't much of a savings, so im my mind its rack rate. We want to stay at WL, there are no real deals in July, so we will pay the going rate and enjoy ourselves.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

We have AAA so I at leat make sure we are getting that rate. (So far we have been lucky with a postcard and AP rates.)