Help! I'm SO CONFUSED about discounts and codes....

[rarrington]

Hello! I just found these boards last week and have spent countless hours trying to read so much! We are thinking about planning a trip to DW in May of 2005 and are considering the Contemporary Resort for our stay. I see where people mention booking the room and then watching for discount codes - do I understand correctly that they would give a discount on a room you'd already booked at a higher rate? Of course we want MK view in the tower. I was thinking we need to book ASAP to try to be sure we can actually get a room at that time (regular season). I've even started considering Tower Concierge just to be sure we are high up in the tower, although I really don't want to pay the extra bucks for what sounds like so little (cont. breakfast and snacks). Do you get water and sodas during the day???
Also, does anyone know if AAA discount typically would apply to deluxe accomodations? I'm not yet a member but wonder if it's worthwhile...but I see they say 10-15% off standard room rates...so not sure what that really means for staying in Tower.
This is my first trip to Disney since 1986 when I was a teenager and went for 2 days. I'm getting really excited!!!! I have 2 children - ages 5 and 2 at the time we will go, so I'm thinking the Contemporary for the convenience to the MK and to see fireworks.

If you do get a discount of some sort, do they still tend to honor your special requests (like high in the tower and MK view) as much as they would someone paying full price?

Any comments or suggestions???

I REALLY appreciate any input for planning this trip. I have several books and have looked on the internet alot but still so confused! Thanks!!!

Rosemary - hoping to go May 2005

 

[harlock_jds]

codes are often limited to a certain room class, for example the most recent code (like this Septembers) seems to be limited to the garden rooms (not the tower) at the CR so you would likely not get a discount for a tower room. As long as the code was valid for the level of room you were staying and the resort you were at then you could rebook at a pretty good savings. HOWEVER you will notice the codes are usually MUCH better for lower end resorts (like the value and mod resorts) or for resorts that are out of the way (like the AKL, the Wl used to be discounted strongly at times but that doesn't seem to be true anymore) than they are for the resorts on the monorail (like the CR where you are staying). Since rooms like the Cr tower are booked no matter the price you may not see much of a price break.

Requests are honored as best they can, even with codes, however you have to remember the classes of rooms and expect to stay in the same class (however people do get upgrades, but this is most common at out of the way resorts like the AKL than places with the CR).

P.s AAA discounts seem to apply everywhere as long as the quota of AAA rooms haven't been booked, However I've noticed this is not that great of a discount, only take it if nothing else is available (and the savings does usually cover the cost of the membership)

 

[julybride]

I see where people mention booking the room and then watching for discount codes - do I understand correctly that they would give a discount on a room you'd already booked at a higher rate

Yes, they will let you apply the new discount if there is availability when you call to change your discount code.

Also, does anyone know if AAA discount typically would apply to deluxe accomodations?

You can get the AAA discount at the deluxe resorts. Again it is based on availability.

If you do get a discount of some sort, do they still tend to honor your special requests (like high in the tower and MK view) as much as they would someone paying full price?


When you call to apply a new discount code to your existing ressie your requests remain with the reservation.


I believe a lot to the travel companies will do this for you. (Make a ressie and then watch for codes and change as needed for you.) You may want to ask some of the other Dis folks if they would recommend one of these companies for you.

 

[ajksmom]

I was pricing the CR for late June w/ AAA. The discount then amounted to taking the tax off the room. In other words, if you see the posted rack rate (w/out tax) for CR thats what you pay w/ AAA but it includes tax. 274.00 per night for Tower in regular season. If you go to AAA's website, click on hotels, and enter your info - you will get the disc. rates w/out needing a membership.

Kristy

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Instead of driving yourself crazy about discounts and codes why not check out some of the Disney Specialists like Dreams Unlimited from this site or Small World Vacations from mousesaver.com.
They will make the reservation for you and continually look for discounts. We are using Small World Vacations this year because I was tired of trying to figure out all the possible discounts. They originally got us a AAA discount at the Boardwalk. Then a few months later a code came out. They asked my permission to cancel the original reservation and make a new one with the code. Then an even better deal came out and they modified that reservation. I ended up saving around $800.00 off rack rates. SO easy and FREE! They even made my priority seatings for me. Saves a lot of time, worrying, hassles. I will let the Disney specialists take care of us from now on.
PLEASE don't think any travel agent can do this. You are better off sticking with these specialists since they know Disney inside and out.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

Originally posted by wdwgoofeeee
Instead of driving yourself crazy about discounts and codes why not check out some of the Disney Specialists like Dreams Unlimited from this site or Small World Vacations from mousesaver.com.
They will make the reservation for you and continually look for discounts. We are using Small World Vacations this year because I was tired of trying to figure out all the possible discounts.

Be sure to give Joe at Dream Come True Vacations a try too - he saved me $390 on my last trip!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Hey, rarrington!

If you would like to learn a little more about the different codes and how they work, check out mousesavers.com. This is a very good primer for all the codes and discounts, as well as the different ticket media.

Good luck, and hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[rarrington]

Thank you all for these tips! That really helps!

Do these places like Small World Vacations and Dreams Unlimited charge for these services? Sure does sound like it would be nice to let them deal with all this!!

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

There was no charge involved using Small World Vacations. I would imagine the same holds true for Dreams Unlimited. They get a commission from Disney for their work.
Check them out. It will save you a LOT of time, work, maybe even save you from a headache!!!!