Does ANYONE pay rack rate anymore???

[Disneymoon04]

Or am I the only sucker? LOL..

I'm not a AAA or DVC member, I'm not a FL resident and I don't have an AP. Is there anything for people like me? I want to make ressies today, but it looks like silly ol' me will be paying the full amount.

Also, a somewhat related question... I'm making ressies without having money for the deposit, but I should have it in 5 days. What happens if the check isn't here in time for me to pay the deposit? Do they just drop the reservation and I have to start over?

Bobbi

 

[jkovick]

I didn't know you could make a ressie without a deposit.................I really do learn something new on these boards everyday!

 

[Disneymoon04]

jkovick - from the time you make the ressies you have 14 days to give a deposit!

 

[Carrieberry]

Hi Bobbi!

Congrats on your upcoming wedding! I got married in Vegas too!


If you make your ressie today you have 14 days to get the deposit to them. They can and will extend it if you mail it and call by the due date and they still have not received it in the mail. Otherwise, yes, the computer will automatically drop the ressie and you will have to start over.

Here is what you need to do:
Call and ask to make a room only reservation (assuming this is what you want and I would do it this way because if you do it all seperate you can save serious $$ over the packages) through the Central Reservations Office (CRO). Be sure you tell them that you want to book a room and only pay the one nights deposit, not the $200 deposit for a package (required for the Travel Company). The phones automatically give you to the Travel company and some of them will only book a package, so be sure to clarify that you only want to pay the one nights deposit. Book your dates at the rack rates.

Sign up for the newsletter (once a month) on www.mousesavers.com The newsletter will notify you of upcoming codes relased for discounts.

Then send in your one nights deposit. In the upcoming months, keep coming here, as well as checking your newsletter every month for the codes. When you see one for the moderates, for the dates of your trip, call back and ask for the code to be applied to your existing ressie and that is how you get the discount! Just so you know though, there have not been discounts for when you are going very often since 2/19 is presidents day and that week is considered their peak season. Here is a link to the historical code times for the last few years http://www.mousesavers.com/faq.html#codetrends

You will have to pay the rack rate for your first nights deposit, but the amount will be credited to your balance if you can switch over to a better rate. This is how most people get their discounts.

First timers to WDW, and people who have not done their research and planning well in advance before going are usually the ones that pay rack rate, along with people who are going on holiday weekends since rarely are discounts offered for those, so don't feel like a sucker if you are unable to get one, it is just due to the dates of your arrival. I could have kicked myself after booking our first trip through Delta and then coming back and finding this site (in 1998)!! Good Luck and let us know if you have any questions!

 

[jkovick]

Thanks for the info! By the way, I feel your pain about the rack rate. Our trip coming up is rack rate, unless a code comes out before then and we can upgrade.

 

[ducklite]

I think a lot of people pay the rack rate because they just don't know any better. If I had to guess, I'd say well over 50% of people who go to WDW pay rack rate.

Anne

 

[>>^..^<<]

Yup ~ I do LOL

I should really know better - I was a travel agent for 12 years, but last year I paid rack for 9 nights at AKL concierge.

This year I got a deal on the Disney part of my holiday but I'm paying rack at Universal - 2700.00 for 6 nights club level... I did have other options... it's a long story but it ended up staying rack rate


>>^..^<<

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

Last time I paid rack rate was in 1999 before I found these boards . . .

We stayed at GF Lagoon View in 1999 with a $455/night rack rate

Problem is now I won't go to WDW and pay rack rate when I know I could of paid a discount rate . . .For instance we just came back from WL Woodsview in June paid $155/night includ. tax DH would like us to go back alone for our Anniversary in October and since there are no codes yet we'd be paying $266/night incld tax for Standard View . . .and I refuse . . .I've become totally spoiled with paying a code rate.

So come on codes I wanna go back!

 

[Tinkbell]

Originally posted by ducklite
I think a lot of people pay the rack rate because they just don't know any better.

I agree. I used to fall into this category until I got on the internet and found this place! I was so amazed by the discounts people were getting.

 

[Sunshine2U]

We paid rack rate for 3-nights at BC over Easter week. That's why we were onsite 3-nights only! We slid down to Tampa and spent 2-days at Busch Gardens and a couple of days at the beach. Not too many discounts out for Easter week!

 

[susy]

Hi Disneymoon,

What is the rack rate right now? What is the AAA rate? Find this stuff out. It may save you money to buy a AAA membership depending on how many nights you are staying. I would find out how much a membership costs and then call Disney and see if you can get a AAA rate. Figure out the difference. I think a DC membership might be cheaper. Find out the DC rate also.

By the way, when we stayed at CSR, it was peak season. We had a FL Resident rate of $109 and we thought it was a steal. I had an $84 rate at CBR was like "okay, I guess it was worth it".

 

[Deb & Bill]

We paid rack rate for one night last month. We called from the car since we decided to leave a little early and wanted to add a night at CS. One night wasn't so bad, though.

 

[susy]

About the rack rates... my dad travels extensively and says he has never paid rack rate anywhere in his life.


We did once at Disney. It was at the ASSp for $99. It was October and our AC was broken. It was a Friday and it could not be repaired until Monday. My DH came home from work and said that if I wanted to go to Disney, I'd better be ready in half an hour. I called CRO, packed and was ready. One problem-and this earns me the worst mother of the year title. I did not pack ANY snacks or drinks. Being that I was busy with the AC problem all afternon, I had not given my son ANYTHING to eat or drink since lunch. We were on the road at 7:30 when I thought of this. We woke him up and took him into a BK on the turnpike. I will never forgive myself for that one. Or for paying $99 at the All Stars. $49 okay- not at all close to being worth $99!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[susy]

One more story... I promise.

A lady at my son's preschool could not believe some of the rates I was quoting her. They have always paid rack rate. She is a FL Resident AND a passholder! Not anymore. I gave her a few websites and lots of tips.

 

[Lexxiefern]

I definately think the majority of visitors pay rack rate. Somehow the codes have remained pretty quiet - unless of course you have a computer We did two trips on rack rate. Then last October DH and I decided to bite the bullet and pay the ridiculous prices for GF. First I heard about the disney club - so I joined. It saved us about $300 I think. Then I found out about the AP rates (thank you mousesavers!). We ended paying about half of what we were going to originally pay.


But I will never pay rack rate again!!

 

[D'AngelosdoDisney]

try reservationsystems.com they have a good deal and its not rack rate.

 

[DrTomorrow]

I agree with the "well over 50%" / "most people" crowd. It's important to remember that we here on DIS (and mousesavers, and WDWIG, and RADP, and ...) are the small (but lovable) minority. Worrying about PS ressies 60, 90, 120 days out; drawing maps to figure out exactly which room number (not building, not floor) to fax in your request 3-4 days out; getting Alien Green Mickey Mouse heads from Home Depot - these are not the acts of the vast majority of WDW visitors.

I'd love to do a study on this. Come up with something and spread the word among all Internet Insiders to see how / if it affects anything at WDW. Something like 'never go to EMH'. I doubt it would be noticable.

 

[Jen D]

I'm not sure I've ever paid rack rate anywhere in my life! I've always been a comparison shopper and can find deals.

I almost paid rack rate last February. We planned a trip at the very last minute-- 20 days in advance--- and all the codes had expired. We wanted to go cheap and were prepared to pay All Stars rack rate. Lo and behold, they offered me an upsell rate for a moderate at $10 more. The discount queen lives!