Does anyone actually pay rack rate for deluxe resorts?

[Pakey]

I paid one night at rack rate at BC CL in 2009 when our return flights were cancelled for weather and it was MLK weekend. I haven't gotten over it yet.

We spend a lot of money on vacations; we have travelled the globe staying in 5 star hotels. I just can't justify Disney rack rates for 3, maybe 4 star hotels.

 

[Sue M]

I pay rack rate..I just can't be bothered waiting for a pin. I'm pretty frugal the rest of the time so vacations are splurge time for me.

Don't you even look to see if there is a discount available

 

[DisneyDar]

Yes, we have paid rack rate several times during the New Years Holiday, but I sure don't like it!

 

[LovinPooh]

I have booked AKL for 1st week of March, and everyday I pray and pray for a discount. Free dine preferrably. That saves us the most $$. I dont want to have to pay rack rate...I never have. But if I have to, then I have to for this one. The last 2 years I have gotten free dine, and in 2009 got the buy 4get 3 deal. Any kind of deal. I hate paying the mouse the full price. I dream of staying at Poly or Contemporary... but I am super psyched for our 1st deluxe trip to AKL. Hoping DH sees the deluxe differnece, cause hes still all about the mods lol.

Come on Disney... there is no reason not to offer somethign for 1st week of March

 

[stepdisney]

Folks, if you have free dining, I don't believe that's what was meant by the question. Of course you are paying rack rate if you have a free dining offer, but you're still getting a discount.

If you are newly learning about Disney room discounts, you may not know why some are paying rack rate. It doesn't hurt to include reasons for paying rack rate.

 

[Princesspyc]

You don't ever have to pay rack rate if you book a package through AAA travel. You don't have to be a member. If there is no promo, you get the AAA rate. If the AAA rate prices out cheaper than the promo, you can keep the AAA rate.

 

[buckeyecinderella]

Does anyone know when all of these discounts started historically? Pre AK? Pre Studios? Pre EPCOT? I think I've usually used a discount over the last 10 or so years, but prior to that I don't recall. Growing up I certainly don't remember us getting any special discounts!

 

[vicki_c]

Does anyone know when all of these discounts started historically? Pre AK? Pre Studios? Pre EPCOT? I think I've usually used a discount over the last 10 or so years, but prior to that I don't recall. Growing up I certainly don't remember us getting any special discounts!

I know for my first 2 grown-up trips (1996 and 2001), we didn't have any discounts that I knew of. (We booked with AAA those times and I have no clue - didn't seem like much of a deal at all.) But I didn't know too much on those trips at all, so maybe I just wasn't aware. In 2004 - I'm not sure, I was getting a little smarter by that point, but still wasn't really thinking about saving money.

After that we were FL residents, so I started using discounts. And now I'm smart. But even today, I will still pay rack rate if (1) I'm out of DVC points and no DVC member discounts are available and (2) no other offers are out or work for me and (3) the dates I want to go are the dates I want to go. (Even though we own DVC, we still average a trip a year paying cash.)

I have never rearranged my trip dates that I already had planned in my mind, or with my family, to take advantage of any discount. It just kind of depends on what I have planned or not, and when they do/don't release offers. If I can get a deal, obviously I would take it, but if one's not available, we most likely would book anyway.

 

[Masonmj84]

I've historically felt like we've had a good deal at Disney paying rack rate at a mod + free dining.

But, I've recently been nudged to stay deluxe (mostly for the convenience factor). While I can technically afford deluxe rack rates, paying them seems almost financially irresponsible.

The stratey I'd hoped to rely on was to go in the off-season (which we already do) and rely on really good discounts (at least 35%). But Disney seems to be doing away with those.

Now I'm looking into renting DVC points. Seems like a better deal all around and I don't have to stress waiting/hoping for discounts (and DW would really appreciate having a washer/dryer in the room).

The biggest downside I see to renting points (provided you're working through a reputable broker) is that you have to commit so early (11 months in advance for the best locations) and it's non-refundable. So I need to research vacation insurance to see how much of that risk can be mitigated.

 

[Butterflygirl35]

I have never paid rack rate...

Then again I live in FL and have a flexible job.. Taking a long weekend last minute is easy for me to do... (and the kids always have some kind of teacher planning day, holiday... etc)

I always check for deals.. Whether it be bounceback, through TA or renting DVC points...

Thats why I can afford to go five times a year and stay either Deluxe or Moderate.. If I paid rack..... Then I would only be able to go once or twice a year..... (and at 5 times a year I still am going through withdrawals in between).... Yes I am an addict...

 

[Karabee]

No Rack Rates for me! I love the Deluxe but I would never, ever pay $400 for a room there. If I won't pay $400 for a room to stay in D.C. or Rome, I can't justify paying that for Disney World. I'll wait for a deal, a PIN, or my latest obsession is renting points

 

[HelenParr]

When my job was less flexible (and I was less WDW flexible) we paid rack rate a couple of times for the room we wanted (and could not manage to get on discount).

Over time, I have become less picky about room/resort choices and job is more flexible on dates. I cannot recall last time we did not have a discount (AP or bounceback mostly).

Not sure what I would do if there was no discount -I think I'd pay the rack rate to get the room I want.

It sure is not the Four Seasons, but I love it, so I pay Four Seasons prices.

 

[ocalla]

I haven't had to yet. Next year will be our 4th deluxe stay..............fingers crossed it won't be at rack rate!!!

 

[Dani C]

I have, kind of. Payed rack rate with free dining offer, then upgraded the tickets to annual passes rather than renewing the previous ones a few months early. Turned out to be a better deal when all tallied up.

 

[carrie1626]

If you are newly learning about Disney room discounts, you may not know why some are paying rack rate. It doesn't hurt to include reasons for paying rack rate.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Don't you even look to see if there is a discount available

No..I decide when I want to go and where I want to stay and I book the trip. When I used to go in September, sometimes there was free dining but if I missed it, no problem.

I don't drink, don't smoke and buy most everything else on sale. So, I have no issue treating myself on vacation. The most I've paid was $680 per night for a Club Level lagoon view room at the Poly. Expensive yes, but it was awesome. My sister and I still talk about how cool that room was- we could sit out on the balcony and watch Wishes every night, drinks in hand and feet up.

I don't have tons of flexibility with my schedule, so if I just book what I want and what I can afford at the time.

 

[Sammie]

Many people do, that do not book their own trips and rely on a general travel agent.

 

[chimo2u]

Yes we do pay rack rate because we travel during value season with free dining. I hate that the rates are so high but the FD is a better discount for my family of 2A and 2 DS's 17 and 11 who eat a LOT of the very expensive Disney Food.

us too! We are paying rack rate I guess because I have free dining....but with 4 Disney adults, FD was our best discount at the POLY even with paying rack rate. Nothing saves us more, except a 40% off room code, which wasn't available, unfortunately! So I'm happy to take FD and pay rack rate

 

[spiceycat]

Does anyone know when all of these discounts started historically? Pre AK? Pre Studios? Pre EPCOT? I think I've usually used a discount over the last 10 or so years, but prior to that I don't recall. Growing up I certainly don't remember us getting any special discounts!

way back in the 70's Disney have a discount program It was called the MK club - and you got some excellent discount - sometimes as much as 40 to 50% off. you got the MK club thru work - if your workplace participated - it was free - your work only had to ask Disney for it then.

they did away with it when GF was opened. maybe before then.

you could also get a discount if you were a stockholder at Disney - but again that was done away with at about the same time.

now if those days - WDW did not use travel agents - so many ta would tell thei customers that they did not want to stay at WDW - but offsite.

disney is much fair these days. the discount is on the website. in the old days they would list the discount in an almost hidden place - and you would not get it -unless you click on that discount....

now most of the time it is hard to miss

 

[JessNewbs]

I am planning our first trip and wondering where you all get your discounts from? I am not sure where to book or who to book with to get the best price?