General Codes watch?

[fun & fancy free]

Thanks for the update.

 

[LauraAnn630]

As far as having to pay rack rate when we get there...We were going to have to pay rack rate anyways! Well take our chances! Right now Im saving $535.00

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

I wish Disney would just settle on a price and let everyone get the same price. Perhaps if they did that, they would fill the rooms.

This year especially, they are having no trouble filling rooms. Tourism is up.

 

[DMRick]

This year especially, they are having no trouble filling rooms. Tourism is up.

I keep reading people posting this, and I agree tourism is up, compared to how bad it has been, but I've had no problem getting rooms, except on holiday weeks. How do you know the rooms are filled? When they start building the Legendary side of Pop again, I'll believe it. I also think with the price of gas, that many people who would normally drive may rethink their vacation plans...and a lot of people drive.

We were there during the Northeast's break, when all the warnings were that it would be packed. We didn't go in the parks on President's Day, but for the rest of the week, we didn't find it to be packed at all. I was really surprised.

So, are the rooms really filled? I've not seen anything to indicate that..and of course that is just my opinion.

 

[Tonyspad]

So on March 17 without any general codes is it a good quess there will NOT be any GC's?

 

[jmclester]

I think that the MYW packages are the main reason we are not seeing any codes. They want to give it a good chance before dangling any carrots. The only thing I have seen on a weekly basis is the "Family of four for $1500" that the travel agencies are boasting. The fine print is that the fam of 4 needs to have one child and one junior which narrows the field some. Heck, I have always been able to live on a $1500 budget with my fam of 4 anyway! With the ticket purchase change, packages may look more attractive to some than trying to figure out how to purchase tix on their own. I have never found that packages (to WDW anyway) could save us any $. Time will tell in the meantime, book at rack and pray!

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

I keep reading people posting this, and I agree tourism is up, compared to how bad it has been, but I've had no problem getting rooms, except on holiday weeks. How do you know the rooms are filled? When they start building the Legendary side of Pop again, I'll believe it. I also think with the price of gas, that many people who would normally drive may rethink their vacation plans...and a lot of people drive.

So, are the rooms really filled? I've not seen anything to indicate that..and of course that is just my opinion.

I didn't mean to imply that the resorts were full, just that they are having no trouble filling rooms at the resorts. Disney's computers can see at a glance how full the resorts will be for a given time frame, and if that falls below a certain percentage, they know they need to offer discounts to the general public to get the rooms filled.

What I am saying is, this year, that they are having no trouble keeping the resorts at or above that magic percentage.

 

[DMRick]

What I am saying is, this year, that they are having no trouble keeping the resorts at or above that magic percentage.

But how do you know that? Where does this info come from? I'm very curious. I've heard from a couple of people who work there, (and one couple who just couldn't get enough hours, so they have left) that although they are doing better, they still have a long way to go. Lots of email and postcard codes still went out, as well as AP and FL codes. And, as I mentioned, I had my pick of resorts in May (obviously, I didn't try the first week, when I expect they will be hopping). Other than not being able to use codes/Ap's etc certain days, and the usual crowded campground, I haven't seen anyone having any trouble getting their room when they need it.

 

[westjones]

I didn't mean to imply that the resorts were full, just that they are having no trouble filling rooms at the resorts. Disney's computers can see at a glance how full the resorts will be for a given time frame, and if that falls below a certain percentage, they know they need to offer discounts to the general public to get the rooms filled.

What I am saying is, this year, that they are having no trouble keeping the resorts at or above that magic percentage.

That makes sense. I was hoping the Disney VISA would offer something. BUT the good news (for those of us going to Project X in June) is that Penny said yesterday that our group is going to get some sort of discount. So hopefully that will work out for us.

So anyone planning to go to the Project X event in June that WebmasterPenny is organizing, make sure you are signed up for her announcements because she is suppose to be giving us details soon.

DJ

 

[Lewisc]

But how do you know that? Where does this info come from? I'm very curious. I've heard from a couple of people who work there, (and one couple who just couldn't get enough hours, so they have left) that although they are doing better, they still have a long way to go. Lots of email and postcard codes still went out, as well as AP and FL codes. And, as I mentioned, I had my pick of resorts in May (obviously, I didn't try the first week, when I expect they will be hopping). Other than not being able to use codes/Ap's etc certain days, and the usual crowded campground, I haven't seen anyone having any trouble getting their room when they need it.

Doris--Everytime public codes are released some of the phone calls are from guests who've already planned a vacation and are calling to reduce their room rate. Disney has to decide how many NEW BOOKINGS a discounted code will produce vs just reducing the average room rate of guests that are already planning on staying.

Entertainment rate discounts are only offered if he hotel expects occupancy to be below 80%. Just becasue the hotels aren't 100% booked doesn't mean a hotel will issue discounts. Disney has to weigh discounting everyone's rates vs just closing some buildings, floors or wings during the very slow months. After 9-11 no amount of discounting would fill the roms so Disney moth balled entire resorts.

Although I'd think some discounts may be made available Disney is already discounting the passes with the new pricing scheme, offering ME for free and offerring the MYM dining. I'd expect more limited discounts than in the past few years.

I tried making a reservation for my daughter for spring break week. I understand 6 week notice isn't much notice but was surprised that the two times I called NO ROOMS were available; value, moderate or even deluxe.

 

[BostonRob]

Entertainment rate discounts are only offered if he hotel expects occupancy to be below 80%. Just becasue the hotels aren't 100% booked doesn't mean a hotel will issue discounts. Disney has to weigh discounting everyone's rates vs just closing some buildings, floors or wings during the very slow months.

I think a lot about that too. I often wonder why they don't offer more 'upgrade' rates or Deluxe/Mod only codes if the values are full. This would encourage more people already booked in the values to move up to a Mod or Deluxe, which in turn would open up more rooms in the Values. My only guess is that by the time the Values fill up, the Mods and Deluxes are full too. But the fact that the the seasonal dates vary between deluxes and values would indicate that this isn't necessarily the case. I'd love to know all the answers...

 

[DMRick]

Doris--Everytime public codes are released some of the phone calls are from guests who've already planned a vacation and are calling to reduce their room rate. Disney has to decide how many NEW BOOKINGS a discounted code will produce vs just reducing the average room rate of guests that are already planning on staying..

Yes, I understand all of the above. I just wondered how the person knew that rooms were filled or filling. As I said, other than holiday weeks (which I consider winter and spring break), there seems to be planty of rooms available.

I tried making a reservation for my daughter for spring break week. I understand 6 week notice isn't much notice but was surprised that the two times I called NO ROOMS were available; value, moderate or even deluxe.

Now that I understand..and just looking at the unavailable air for spring break, as always it's hard to get rooms that time of year. We couldn't get a value for apring break even in September..so we went for winter break instead. Plenty of rooms either side but for a couple of weeks, it's pretty packed.

 

[jpeltier]

Hi ya'll,
That code that was out on this board the other night is now out on a different web board.I hope that it does not impact those of you who used it!

 

[Lewisc]

Yes, I understand all of the above. I just wondered how the person knew that rooms were filled or filling. As I said, other than holiday weeks (which I consider winter and spring break), there seems to be planty of rooms available.

How do you know there are "plenty" of rooms? When we call up we're told if there is a room available not how many rooms are available. I don't think Disney releases occupancy statistics and all we're doing is speculating BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE; BUT

all of the articles in the travel sections of the newspapers indicate that travel is back up to pre 9-11 levels and Disney and cruise lines are included in the articles.

I wouldn't be shocked if Disney tried to release more of the room only discounts after the cancellation time for package reservations.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I will say that I have thought there are many rooms available the last week in April since there are so many options listed on their web site.
( YC/BC and I think CR were full for that week but there are many more options left.)
So for me, that's how I have kind of ganged it.

 

[spereira]

Can someone please tell me what the code is...you can PM me...

Thanks!!!

 

[DMRick]

Hi ya'll,
That code that was out on this board the other night is now out on a different web board.I hope that it does not impact those of you who used it!

Why would it being posted on another board affect us? I don't understand.

 

[DMRick]

How do you know there are "plenty" of rooms? When we call up we're told if there is a room available not how many rooms are available. I don't think Disney releases occupancy statistics and all we're doing is speculating BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE; BUT

all of the articles in the travel sections of the newspapers indicate that travel is back up to pre 9-11 levels and Disney and cruise lines are included in the articles.

I guess the way I'm gauging it, is the people on this board. Other than "holiday" times I'm not seeing anyone having a problem getting a room at any of the resorts. They may mention not being able to use a code or AP at a certain resort, but have you seen even one person say, I'm willing to pay rack rate, and they have no room for me? Until I see that, I won't presume that the rooms are filling. As far as being back to pre 9/11, I thought Disney was having a problem before 9/11 filling rooms. Codes started coming out before then, and the discussion on the boards were that travel was down. 9/11 pretty much killed it, but I don't remember it being spectalcular before that. My question was and still is, how does anyone know that the rooms are being filled? I'm not saying they aren't, just asking how anyone knows they are? I've not seen large crowds on any of my 6 trips (this will be our 7th, in May) within this year, and we've been twice just in 2005, with another upcoming trip. January was dead, as usual, and Feb, during a major NE winter break was not bad at all...we only waited a couple of times, but only for the most popular rides. I hope that the late nights is wooing people back, but obviously, they saw a need for this gimick (and the free transportation), or they wouldn't be having it.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

But how do you know that? Where does this info come from?

My neighbor runs a Disney-specialist travel agency.

 

[DMRick]

My neighbor runs a Disney-specialist travel agency.
*****
And Disney gives the travel agency that info? I guess I'm surprised because I found some info tonight that told me Disney didn't release that booking info. Of course I was also told by our local Disney travel agency, last month that they were told by Disney there would be no AP or FL rates at this time..luckily there was a miscommunication .