Great 'last minute' rates??

[CPer'sMom]

Just saw this posted on another board and wondered if anyone else has found this to be true ....

""quote....
Some of the best rates & packages we got were spur of the moment. Many times we decide on Monday to leave on Tuesday for FL. We have never been disapointed in any of the rates we get at the last minute. Many times the rates are better than AP rates when booking at the last minute, and lower than Castmember rates. I have a niece who's a Castmember, and she said many times we pay less than CMs.""
""end quote

Really???

 

[hercamore]

Uh huh, sure.


herc.

 

[ADisneygirl]

I have never found this to be true. We often go on the spur of the moment and there are never any special rates for last minute reservations. In fact, we often have to settle for whatever is available if our favorites are booked.

 

[Allison]

No, not really.

 

[MaryFMac]

We booked last Saturday for a weekend starting this Friday, and not only were almost all of the resorts booked, all AAA discounts were taken.

No, not any kind of deal. At all.

 

[jann1033]

yrs ago a friend of ours would not make a ressie and get fantasic deals by taking what he got when he got there( usually in those days he stayed at the cont.) but i think those days are long gone. now if they are empty they put out a promo...i have read on travel sites you should always bargain for your room but i really don't know how often that works, it never has for me, disney or anywhere else

 

[CPer'sMom]

Glad to see your replies ... I thought I'd been missing something.

Of course this same person also said this ~~

quote
"""It also helps to mention things to CRO if you are reserving with Disney yourself - birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

I was on a business trip and stayed at Caribe Royale with my DH for a week before Memorial Day. We checked out, and I called CRO from a cell phone in the parking lot at one of the outlet malls to make a reservation. I asked for either Wilderness Lodge or Poly. Told them his birthday was the next day. When we checked in to the WL, they upgraded our room to Concierge, even though they gave us a great Passport discount for just a regular room. The next day, when we went to lunch at the WL, they brought him a birthday ice cream; that night at the Beach Club for the Cape May Buffet for dinner, they brought a cake for him. Since we do priority seating, they knew by our room key card, that there was a birthday."""
quote

 

[Phrank40]

I've many times had a room off site and checked for an onsite resort right before I've left for Orlando and I've never seen any big discounts for Disney resorts. If a AAA rate is available I might get it but Disney doesn't seem to slash there rates just to book a room. Perhaps right after 9/11 when travel was down it was possible to find really great rates at the last minute, but I wouldn't plan your vacation on getting a great rate at Disney resort by calling the night before you left.

Phrank

 

[limabeanmom2003]

Yes, this does happen.

A good friend of mine was visiting family in Orlando and went over to Animal Kingdom Lodge to visit. They fell in love with the place. They went up to the front desk to find out how much $ for the night, and of course were told they had to call CRO. So, they called from the lobby and paid about 50% of the price. Spring break had just ended and I guess they had a lot of availability.