Does Anyone Ever Pay Rack Rate?

[Sandi]

We have had to paid rack a few times. There are certain times of the year that there are no discounts available -- but we usually will pick a mod or a value at those times. I can't imagine paying rack at a deluxe, but I'm sure plenty of people do.

 

[DizzDoll]

It has become our mantra. . .we will not take our college students, we will not take our college students. . .

Too funny!!! My daughter is getting ready to go to college in September of '09 and ALREADY she's saying that she has 5 more years of family vacations!!! I told her to check her math . THEN she said that she'll need vacation time when she gets into vet school to relieve her of the stress and pressure!!! . Good Lord...she ain't seen NUTTIN' yet

Anyhoo, I pay rack rate as well to start for our trips in August but usually in June I get a code and apply that so I get a little savings along the way. Every little bit helps.

 

[Nora03]

I'm glad this thread has finally taken off. It's interesting to see what others do about the high prices. Oh, those deluxe prices scare me, but I'm telling myself it's only for a few days.

Tess, you'll notice in my first post that I said we just came back from two weeks at WDW with our adult kids and grandkids. So, don't think you won't be taking your kids again. You'll love to take them and the grandkids to see their faces and the joy they get out of it. Believe me, it's worth every penny. We rented a six bedroom vacation home and loved it, but we just need one little hotel room for two of us this time. I hate to pay more per night for the hotel room than we paid per night for six bedrooms!!!

Now, I just want to plan our next trip on our own. We have to go at this time (mid-March) because we've already booked a condo on the Gulf Coast for two weeks and want to go to Disney for a few days first.

Thanks for everyone's input. I've had some suggestions in other threads about getting a code. I'm going to do my best, or try using CAA (same as AAA).

Nora

 

[Minnie1156]

Keep telling yourself that

Yeah, I took myself that 5 years ago and I am still taking my daughter. She is 21. They never stop!!! (But I love it)

 

[Tess]

Tess, you'll notice in my first post that I said we just came back from two weeks at WDW with our adult kids and grandkids. So, don't think you won't be taking your kids again. You'll love to take them and the grandkids to see their faces and the joy they get out of it. Believe me, it's worth every penny.

Nora

Grandkids???? Let's hope not for another 5-10 years! My husband and I have already discussed how cool it will be to take our grandchildren--all in good time though--no rush!

Yeah, I took myself that 5 years ago and I am still taking my daughter. She is 21. They never stop!!! (But I love it)

Our eldest is 20--I know they would love it if we would continue to take them, but they are becoming expensive enough. Two less tickets and meals on a vacation makes it affordable for my husband and I (especially with all the college tuition/expenses ).

We have been blessed with two children who love to vacation with their parents and enjoy Disney as much as do my husband and I. I guess I should qualify my post and never say "never". . .(we really do enjoy having them with us though).

It won't be long now, we have some year end senior stuff to get through, graduation, and then we will be off a couple of days later. . .we are getting excited to have it all wrapped up and be off!

 

[disneyfan55]

Still going with mine and they are 30 and almost 28!

 

[disneyfan55]

AP rates are based on availability. We already have APs and when the rates came out I put TONS of dates in to see if I could get a club level room at AKL to come up. Nope. Nothing. No point in buying an AP just for a discount if there are no discounts for your room type.

I guess sometimes you have to be a little flexible in order to get the discounts offered. Sorry none are available for you.

 

[angeleigh]

We're paying rack rate for club level at AKL in August.
No AAA rates, no AP rates, no availability for club level on DVC points. Ordinarily I would NOT pay rack rate.

Maybe we will see you there. We are staying AKL club level in August but lucky for us we got a code back in January.

 

[spooky1]

We're paying rack rate for club level at AKL in August.

No discounts yet this year for Yacht Club CL ... I am hoping something will pop on our name before I pay it off. Last year we had a 40% code for WL - that was sweet!

 

[PamNC]

My answer to the question in your title bar...is no, we never pay rack rate. We prefer to stay deluxe but I would never pay rack rate. We MAY have paid rack rate for a night or two at a moderate but I even try to avoid that. Why pay it when you don't have to? There is a wealth of info out there regarding discounts, these boards, mousesavers...allearsnet.com. Just tons of info. Keep abreast of it and you'll be able to say the same thing. "I don't pay rack rate."

As far as Disney having your address, I think the key is signing up on Disney.com, but who knows. Those emails are so random. Hopefully you'll get one, but no matter how many things you sign up for, you may never receive one.

Worst case scenario, AAA offers decent rates sometimes.

Enjoy - and join us on the codes and rates boards and play the code game with the rest of it. It's kind of an obsession with me.

PamNC

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The only reason we are paying rack rate is because I want to do the Sunrise Safari, and you HAVE to be staying club level to do it. It's for my birthday. I booked the room back in November and have been looking for some way to discount it ever since. There are simply NO discounts for those nights.
We have never been lucky enough to get a code by mail or e-mail, so I don't know if that would have worked or not.

We just bought DVC with AKV as our home resort, so if we like staying club level we can always book it with points next year. But I think once we have done the safari we'll be cool with not staying club level next time.

 

[WDW~Lover]

I never have paid full price and never will. Even with a discount it is still $$$

 

[BillyFeat]

We have never paid "rack rate" for our stays in Disney.

 

[jdcthree]

First trip was rack rate holiday season. Our other 2 trips I was smarter.

 

[mommykds]

Nope, never paid rack rate ever at Disney.

 

[larryz]

We usually use the Florida resident discounts, but if it's not available, and I really want to stay in a resort, I'll pay rack.

 

[pooh6890]

Last time we stayed rack rate was at the CT Consierge MK Tower View.....we stayed 4 nights @ $340/night......worth every single penny. It was my twins' birthday...they were 12 (they are 23 now). We came in one night and they had not one but two tables set up with linen, silverware, soda and 2 birthday cakes......we were totally amazed. That has not happened ever again. We really appreciated it and had a wonderful vacation that year. The only other rates we knew of back then were aaa. Then we became friends with a CM there and she used to book our trips every year with her 50% discount. Now we use Fla Resident discounts or codes or aaa.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Looking at availability resort-wide for mid-August I would venture to guess those concierge nights won't be our only rack rate nights this time around. It won't surprise me if there are no AP discounts for the room we have booked in between our 2 DVC ressies. This is not my year for room discounts.

 

[jnykly]

We usually get free dining, but we did have to pay rack rate at the Poly last December...paid full price for the entire package.

We tried everything...AAA, AP, codes...nada was available.

Our saving grace was that it wasn't during the holiday, so we still had value rates.

 

[moonpie85]

Yes, in fact thats all I've ever paid. Twice at the GF and now once at POR