Do you think a Fall/Winter room only discount will be released on Oct 2?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Since the current Spring/Summer room only public discount ends on October 1, 2011 does anyone think on October 2 or sometime after a new set off Fall/Winter public room only discount will be released?

 

[fla4fun]

I wish! I want to visit in January, and I don't want to book without a discount. I'm not even picky about where I'll stay on this particular trip - since January is cooler weather there's no problem with spread out resorts, or resorts with separate buildings or resorts without shade at the bus stops. My biggest concern will be the budget on this one. I'd prefer deluxe, but if nothing happens as far as discounts, I'll go moderate or look for a good Swan/Dolphin discount.

Here's hoping for some good winter discounts !

 

[minniebeth]

I'm hoping, hoping! I'm praying for a room only discount for the first week in January. I'm there before free dining starts and wouldn't be able to take advantage of it anyway.

 

[THERESA522]

There has to be something, right? Oh, I wish they'd just release another discount already! I'm really surprised we haven't seen any room only discounts lately.

I want to play a May 2012 trip, but I won't do it without a discount. Now I'm concerned how long they're going to make me wait for one (if any!).

 

[vinotinto]

Who knows? The last public room discount had dates that ended in September. There's still no room only discount for October, with only 3 days left in September. For those of us going in October, chances are we won't see a GP room only discount.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

Here's hoping we hear something soon.

 

[tinacaplan]

I find it very hard to believe that Disney doesn't need to offer GP room discounts at this point. The consumer confidence index, which measures how much money people are spending, is still way down and unemployment hasn't really budged. Given the current economic climate, I just don't see how they'll be able to stop discounts all together. But maybe I'm wrong and they've been able to fill rooms through free dining.

 

[LindyN]

Even though the economy here in the USA is not that great, there are plenty of other places in the world where things are better. A vacation to the USA is a great bargain for many international visitors.

If Disney can achieve a level of occupancy they like without a discount, then they won't lower their price. I've seen a lot of people this summer typically not there: Paraguay, Argentina, lots of French and Germans. A trip to the USA is incredibly cheap for them with our weak dollar.

 

[havoc315]

Do not expect any discounts announced soon for the American general public. Disney is starting to be more concerned with the integrity of their product and pricing, as opposed to pushing up occupancy by a couple of points. They don't want the public to have an expectation of deep discounting, and they are willing to have a bit of pain in the "weaning" process.

There will still be plenty of discounts, as Disney tries to book empty rooms. But those discounts will be quieter, more targeted. As we have seen, discounts being offered to international markets, that are not offered to the American market. (Canada and the UK both have gotten offers unavailable to the American general public). They will continue to offer AP discounts and military discounts... again, they can target these discounts to certain groups. And with targeting as well, they can always offer pins.

Typically, their goal is around 80% occupancy at the hotels. They are trying to reach those goals without resorting to "discounts for everyone."

Obviously, if they start seeing occupancy rates like 60-70%... They may have no choice but to resort to deep discounting again.
But if residency slips from 81% to 79%... expect to just see them be a bit more aggressive with PINs.

 

[1308Miles]

Since the current Spring/Summer room only public discount ends on October 1, 2011 does anyone think on October 2 or sometime after a new set off Fall/Winter public room only discount will be released?

So here's a question...we check in to the Poly on October 2nd. If, by some chance, a GP discount is released on 10/2 (and our dates are included), can we apply it?

 

[LindyN]

So here's a question...we check in to the Poly on October 2nd. If, by some chance, a GP discount is released on 10/2 (and our dates are included), can we apply it?

Doubtful. Disney doesn't go backwards on discounts.

 

[npcougar]

I don't think so. We are past the historical dates that it has been released in the past. We are seeing more pins that give a cheap upgrade to a moderate or deluxe from a value. I think their strategy is to offer RO offers outside the US but focus on targeted pin campaigns combined with free dining in the US. If values open up, they will release pins to upgrade people. This will free up more room in the values. If it is successful, I can see this ending the RO offers year round.

 

[havoc315]

So here's a question...we check in to the Poly on October 2nd. If, by some chance, a GP discount is released on 10/2 (and our dates are included), can we apply it?

It is a safe bet that there will be no discount covering October 2nd.

 

[missnanse]

Truth is Disney is doing great. They made what will end up a multi million dollar deal when they sold our soaps All My children and One Life To Live. They can live off of those profits for years because they get residuals from the company. I am a Soap Columnist so believe me they know how to wheel and deal.
I am waiting for Nov 9-18th and am no hopeful.

 

[npcougar]

Truth is Disney is doing great. They made what will end up a multi million dollar deal when they sold our soaps All My children and One Life To Live. They can live off of those profits for years because they get residuals from the company. I am a Soap Columnist so believe me they know how to wheel and deal.
I am waiting for Nov 9-18th and am no hopeful.

That is a different branch of Disney so that really doesn't come into play here.

 

[Cotillard]

Do not expect any discounts announced soon for the American general public. Disney is starting to be more concerned with the integrity of their product and pricing, as opposed to pushing up occupancy by a couple of points. They don't want the public to have an expectation of deep discounting, and they are willing to have a bit of pain in the "weaning" process.
There will still be plenty of discounts, as Disney tries to book empty rooms. But those discounts will be quieter, more targeted. As we have seen, discounts being offered to international markets, that are not offered to the American market. (Canada and the UK both have gotten offers unavailable to the American general public). They will continue to offer AP discounts and military discounts... again, they can target these discounts to certain groups. And with targeting as well, they can always offer pins.

Typically, their goal is around 80% occupancy at the hotels. They are trying to reach those goals without resorting to "discounts for everyone."

Obviously, if they start seeing occupancy rates like 60-70%... They may have no choice but to resort to deep discounting again.
But if residency slips from 81% to 79%... expect to just see them be a bit more aggressive with PINs.

Great post and I think you're dead on

 

[LaurieN]

Do not expect any discounts announced soon for the American general public. Disney is starting to be more concerned with the integrity of their product and pricing, as opposed to pushing up occupancy by a couple of points. They don't want the public to have an expectation of deep discounting, and they are willing to have a bit of pain in the "weaning" process.

There will still be plenty of discounts, as Disney tries to book empty rooms. But those discounts will be quieter, more targeted. As we have seen, discounts being offered to international markets, that are not offered to the American market. (Canada and the UK both have gotten offers unavailable to the American general public). They will continue to offer AP discounts and military discounts... again, they can target these discounts to certain groups. And with targeting as well, they can always offer pins.

Typically, their goal is around 80% occupancy at the hotels. They are trying to reach those goals without resorting to "discounts for everyone."

Obviously, if they start seeing occupancy rates like 60-70%... They may have no choice but to resort to deep discounting again.
But if residency slips from 81% to 79%... expect to just see them be a bit more aggressive with PINs.

I think you are spot on with this! Seems there are a lot of "up sell" pins floating around: people who are booked at a value being offered a mod or deluxe for just a few $$ more. This opens up the less expensive rooms for them to resell at rack rate and still fill the others without offering discounts to everyone. So far it seems like its working out well for Disney.
That being said, I check everyday for availability for my dates and there seems to be A LOT available both at rack rate and free dining. I've pretty much lost hope of getting a discount for our trip at this point, we are only 56 days away. If some GP room only discount comes out it would be awesome, if not that's oh well we are going either way I've waited for this trip for 2 years!
Laurie

 

[havoc315]

Seems there are a lot of "up sell" pins floating around: people who are booked at a value being offered a mod or deluxe for just a few $$ more. This opens up the less expensive rooms for them to resell at rack rate and still fill the others without offering discounts to everyone.

Bingo. Some reports suggest that occupancy rates at value resorts are doing just fine, but deluxe and moderate resorts have seen declines in occupancy. So that is precisely why you are seeing the upsell pins.

As to availability... I've seen some dates in October that seem pretty solidly booked. The moderates especially for certain dates--- perhaps they are hosting conferences. For other dates and other hotels, you can usually find some occupancy, but not in every room category.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Historical room only codes -

Released December 4/08 for dates starting January 4/09
Released November 30/08 for dates starting January 1/10
Released January 1/09 for dates starting January 1/10
Released August 16/10 for dates starting January 1/11


Seems to me that it is still possible for a room only code for the winter to come out. It's frustrating that historically room codes started right off in the New Year and so far the only offer for Jan 2012 is FD which doesn't start until the 8th.

 

[Sue M]

I'm watching too for room only Jan codes! So far we've booked POR with a 20% CAA discount. Free dining is right in the middle of our trip, so we've decided instead of making 2 reservations to have free DDP our last 4 days, and room only for the first part, we'll go room only. and just sprinkle in a few of our fav TS places.

We've already booked free dining for Aug 2012 with BB offer we got in our room this past August.

I've been seeing lots of posts where people have said they've been offered deluxe upgrades for $29 a night more. Wow! That would be a no brainer.