General Discount Strategy

[clarkfamily]

I have only two trips under my belt, but because of my thorough research and planning I was starting to feel l like a real Disney planning "expert"... But, now, as I sit down to begin planning our third trip, I've already gotten myself terribly confused...??

...and even after studying the history of release dates of each Disney discount, I still can't remember this:

Was our discount released in time for us to start making ADRs, or did I have to make ADRs first, without knowing if we'd have a discount?

I can't believe I don't remember this, but I don't. When I reviewed the discount release dates this morning, I was surprised to find that most of them are right near that six month window, but sometimes even after the six month window if the travel dates fall at the very beginning of the promotion. This surprised me, because I thought I remembered that I had full knowledge of our discount, travel dates, and resort choice prior to making any ADRs. But as I look at the chart of historical releases, I am beginning to think that I may need to plan our 2014 trip and make ADRs before knowing the discount dates and availability for our trip.

Could those of you who truly are expert planners weigh in here? Which usually comes first: do you have your discount locked in before making ADRs or do you more often have to make your ADRs and then later lock in your discount?

Thanks for the help!

 

[FiggieFan]

When I booked both my 2011 and 2012 trips, the discounts came out before I booked and hit the 180 day dining reservation window. When booking for February 2013, the discounts were still not available when I was about ready to hit my 180 day mark for dining ADR's. I booked my resort reservation so I could make my ADR's. The resort and package discount came out 2 months later than in previous years.

I would not be surprised if that continues to happen more frequently since offers are usually based on the amount of people currently booked and usually offered when there are lower periods of visitors. It is also a "package" discount now, instead of "free dining". It was still a great savings, but not as much as the previous years "free dining" offers. The great thing was, is that they can now apply a coupon code to your existing reservation for the discount instead of having to cancel all existing reservations and rebook.

 

[clarkfamily]

The great thing was, is that they can now apply a coupon code to your existing reservation for the discount instead of having to cancel all existing reservations and rebook.

That's a great change since our last trip!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

For our October 2010 and 2011 trips, we had 40% off PIN codes that came before our 180 day mark.

For our January 2011, April 2012 and upcoming April 2013 trips, discounts were released after our 180 day mark.

Looking back further, for our April/May 2009 trip, it looks like the discount came out/we booked just about 10 days after our 180 day mark. In looking at my old emails (I used to email myself confirmation numbers back in the "old days" before online ADRs ; ), I think this was the temporary period where the ADR window changed because of some system change going on because I only booked CRT and CM (which stayed 180 days) at that point and then had to wait until the 90 mark for everything else.

 

[clarkfamily]

For our October 2010 and 2011 trips, we had 40% off PIN codes that came before our 180 day mark.

For our January 2011, April 2012 and upcoming April 2013 trips, discounts were released after our 180 day mark.

Looking back further, for our April/May 2009 trip, it looks like the discount came out/we booked just about 10 days after our 180 day mark. In looking at my old emails (I used to email myself confirmation numbers back in the "old days" before online ADRs ; ), I think this was the temporary period where the ADR window changed because of some system change going on because I only booked CRT and CM (which stayed 180 days) at that point and then had to wait until the 90 mark for everything else.

Wow! LittleStinkerbelle, thank you for such detailed information! Exactly what I needed. Looks like I need to get used the idea of booking before knowing promotions, and then possibly changing reservations and ADRs after the promotion details are released, if necessary!

The biggest reason I find this to be frustrating is that changing a trip by even just a day or two can make a big difference to us in terms of which parks we end up in on which days...which can change all the ADRs...ugh. But the savings make the trips doable for us...so I can live with it!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Wow! LittleStinkerbelle, thank you for such detailed information! Exactly what I needed. Looks like I need to get used the idea of booking before knowing promotions, and then possibly changing reservations and ADRs after the promotion details are released, if necessary!

The biggest reason I find this to be frustrating is that changing a trip by even just a day or two can make a big difference to us in terms of which parks we end up in on which days...which can change all the ADRs...ugh. But the savings make the trips doable for us...so I can live with it!

Glad it helped! About 5 years ago I started keeping folders of all my planning emails. It's fun to look back but also helpful when I'm wondering when flight schedules, discounts, etc. were released.

Good luck with your plans!