How do I get a discounted rate for disney package?

[atomarchio]

Thinking of taking the family (wife and 2 girls ages 6 and 4) to a Disney Resort and package with parkhoppers and meal plan.

I am thinking of going either Thanksgiving week or Christmas week. How do I get a discount?

From reading these forurms it sounds as if this discount is only available via mail? If so, what can I do to get Disney to send me this discount in the mail?

Is there any change I can even get a discount going during either of these weeks?>

Please let me know. Thank you.

 

[snykymom]

No one knows exactly how to get PIN codes (which are usually e-mail discounts). There are some public codes that come out every year - right now, it's free dining.

However, you've chosen two of the most popular times to go. It is possible to get a package deal, like free dining, that begins just before the Christmas holiday week, which will then allow you to keep the dining during that week. But it's tough to get.

 

[larryz]

Welcome to the boards!

Discounts come in various flavors.

1) Annual Passholder discounts, vary, and aren't available all year round, but can save you some dollars when they are. Buy an annual pass and look for posts on the AP discounts.

2) Disney Visa cardholder discounts, also vary, and can save some money while affording perks like delayed payments and earning Disney points which you can use to lower your vaca costs. Apply for the card and read the fine print, then start charging your way to a Disney vacation!

3) Pin offers are snail-mailed, or emailed, to those who register with the Disney official site and who indicated interest in scheduling a vacation at WDW. Go to Disney.go.com, find the link to register with the site, give a good email address, fill in the profile questions, order a WDW planning DVD (free), browse and shop for a few vacations (you don't have to book it, you can save up to 5 trips in your account) and sit back and wait for the pins to roll in. The pins often come with restrictions, like expiration dates, black-out dates, and are not transferable.

4) Public discounts, like room-only deals or free dining plan, abound during the slower periods of the year, like late Sep thru mid-Dec. Unfortunately for you, Thanksgiving and Christmas are the two busiest times of the year, and discounts for those periods are relatively rare. They happen, but usually via pin code offers.

5) AAA discounts are available if you're a(n) AAA member and you book your trip thru a AAA Travel Office. I've heard lots of good things about AAA's customer service, and there are certain other perks associated with booking a trip thru AAA. Join AAA, call the nearest AAA Disney Travel Specialist, and start booking!

That's about all I can think of. Does that help? For more information, check the stickies at the top of this forum... http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1686236 and http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=762220

 

[mlittig]

atomarchio, to the DISboards Your girls will be at such a perfect age for Disney Happy planning
:

 

[atomarchio]

We would like to get a suite for 4 of us at medium priced resort? Not sure which one to go with.

Can you give me any suggestions for a middle of the road Disney hotel that I can order the pass hoppers and meal plans. I don't need a fancy room but would like the extra space.

I have 2 girls (6 & 4) that are very princess oriented.

Please let me know your thoughts/suggestions. Thank you.

 

[larryz]

We would like to get a suite for 4 of us at medium priced resort? Not sure which one to go with.

Can you give me any suggestions for a middle of the road Disney hotel that I can order the pass hoppers and meal plans. I don't need a fancy room but would like the extra space.

I have 2 girls (6 & 4) that are very princess oriented.

Please let me know your thoughts/suggestions. Thank you.

Sounds like a resort with bunkbeds might be right up your alley. Wilderness Lodge (called WL on the boards) and Animal Kingdom Lodge (AKL) offer them at a slight premium over their regular prices. In value season, that's 240 a night. This year. Next year is slightly higher. Most resort suites are hugely expensive... when you go to the Disney site and start pricing trips with suites, you'll see what I mean. Many times, you can reserve two standard connecting rooms for much less than a suite. At Disney, suite means "luxury," not just "extra space." There are deluxe rooms at a few of the Value resorts, and premium rooms at the moderates. In the next year or so, I hear Disney will be opening up a family suite resort (more space, less luxury) for those bigger families (5 or 6) without costing an arm and a leg. Go to disney.go.com and search the room options.

 

[nicki.momof3]

We would like to get a suite for 4 of us at medium priced resort? Not sure which one to go with.

Can you give me any suggestions for a middle of the road Disney hotel that I can order the pass hoppers and meal plans. I don't need a fancy room but would like the extra space.

I have 2 girls (6 & 4) that are very princess oriented.

Please let me know your thoughts/suggestions. Thank you.

WDW does not have "suites" at its moderate resorts (middle of the line). If you want a suite you have to go to a value resort family suite or a delxe resort $$$.

Sounds like you have never planned a WDW vacations before - it can be very overwhelming. I would recommend calling a travel agent or getting the unofficial guide and read a little before choosing.

None of the resort are princess themed. Only character theming is at CBR and those are pirate rooms.

 

[nicki.momof3]

I am thinking of going either Thanksgiving week or Christmas week. How do I get a discount?

If you can arrive by 12/21/10 and book by the end of this week you can try to get a great deal with free dining. As long as you arrive by 12/21/10 you can stay up to 10 days (christmas week) and still get free dining.

At this point you might not have a huge selections of rooms but if you are interested you should call. It is a huge savings.

 

[atomarchio]

If you can arrive by 12/21/10 and book by the end of this week you can try to get a great deal with free dining. As long as you arrive by 12/21/10 you can stay up to 10 days (christmas week) and still get free dining.

At this point you might not have a huge selections of rooms but if you are interested you should call. It is a huge savings.

Is there a code I would reference when I call for this deal with free dining?

Do you know if free dining is available week of thanksgiving? Do you think I am booking with enough advance notice for Thanksgiving week?

Please let me know. Thanks.

 

[disneyfan55]

Is there a code I would reference when I call for this deal with free dining?

Do you know if free dining is available week of thanksgiving? Do you think I am booking with enough advance notice for Thanksgiving week?

Please let me know. Thanks.

The WDW website gives the dates for the special. As long as you start by even an end date of a date range Free Dining is an option for the entire stay. As far as thanksgiving week, you would have to start by Nov 18, but get free dining for the entire stay (up to 14 days) Christmas works the same as another poster has said.

 

[nicki.momof3]

Is there a code I would reference when I call for this deal with free dining?

Do you know if free dining is available week of thanksgiving? Do you think I am booking with enough advance notice for Thanksgiving week?

Please let me know. Thanks.

Go onto the WDW website and at the bottom of the screen you will see a box that says "free dining". Go into it and the free dining dates are posted. To check availability click on the link "check availablity". You have to use the link in the free dining link not the one on the main page.

A call to a travel agent may help - the deadline to book is quickly approaching.

 

[atomarchio]

I was able to get free dining. However, we could not get dining at Cinderella's Castle or Chef Mickeys. Most of them were booked.

So now I have to cancel the $200 that I used to hold the reservation.

Is there a way to check availability for the character dining online? If so, does anyone have the link to that?

We're thinking of checking this first and the booking the trip based on dining availability.

Please let me know. Thanks.

 

[snykymom]

I was able to get free dining. However, we could not get dining at Cinderella's Castle or Chef Mickeys. Most of them were booked.

So now I have to cancel the $200 that I used to hold the reservation.

Is there a way to check availability for the character dining online? If so, does anyone have the link to that?

We're thinking of checking this first and the booking the trip based on dining availability.

Please let me know. Thanks.

Go to the WDW official site. Hover your mouse over WHERE TO EAT , and click on "Make Dining Reservations." Then you can book your dining.

That's only available 180 days before your reservation. If you have a reservation at a Disney hotel, you can then check for the coming 10 days (180 days before up to 170 days before). If you don't have a reservation, you have to check one day at a time.

 

[wlwilliams9]

Welcome to the DIS!!

Here are a few tips from a seasoned professional!!

1. If this is your first visit with your family, DON'T go over Easter/spring break, 4th of July, Christmas or Thanksgiving. Way too busy! Even seasoned, I would not attempt going to Disney during these times!

2. If more space than a typical hotel sized room is important to you, look into staying at a Disney Vacation Club 1 bedroom villa, it may be less pricey than a suite at a deluxe. All Star Music Family suites is another option. Otherwise, value, moderate and deluxe hotel rooms are typical hotel rooms that get a tiny bit bigger as the price goes up.

3. Cinderella's Royal Table (CRT) and Chef Mickey's (CM) book up fast, you have to make ressies for these to restaurants at the 180 day mark. Yup, that's right, 6 months in advance!!! If you can't get into CRT, try Akerhaus in Norway at Epcot. We had great princess interaction there last year!

4. As other's have suggested, you might want to find a good travel agent to help you navigate everything Disney! With that said, I wouldn't just go to any travel agent, find one here on the DIS who is "Disney smart"! Not all TA's know the ins and outs of Disney like a Disney fan!! Dreams Unlimited is a sponser of the DIS and could help!

5. Stick with the DIS, the stuff you will learn from these boards is priceless! Make sure to check out the Resorts thread, Disney for Families thread and Theme Park thread!!

Good luck and I hope you find the perfect time for your family vacation. Your girls are the perfect age for Disney! Actually, every age is perfect for Disney!

 

[nicki.momof3]

I was able to get free dining. However, we could not get dining at Cinderella's Castle or Chef Mickeys. Most of them were booked.

So now I have to cancel the $200 that I used to hold the reservation.

Is there a way to check availability for the character dining online? If so, does anyone have the link to that?

We're thinking of checking this first and the booking the trip based on dining availability.

Please let me know. Thanks.

There are other great character options besides chef mickeys and CRT.
1. Donalds breakfast safari - major characters are there and kids love it.
2. Norway - all the princesses are there and interaction is great
3. 1900 park fare - Cinderella
4. Cape may - fun characters
5. Crystal palace - lovely = pooh characters are there

I would not cancel because of reservaitons - find some you like - for a first WDW trip there is so much to see dining is not #1.

 

[DisneyPsycho]

I can't blame you for wanting to make sure you can get the Cinderella's Castle dining...for some that experience isn't important but it sounds important to you What I would do is have your available vacation dates in hand and call the dining reservation number ( can't think of it but it is on their website) and speak to a live person rather than doing it on the website...she/he can check all options for you in one phone call...also remember that Disney is decorated for Christmas well before "Christmas" week and if you go early in December you get to see it all without the large crowds...personally I have pulled my kids out of school for most of our Disney trips... I look at it as a learning experience Another thing to remember that the free dining is a GREAT value... but also remember that during the "free dining" specials, ALL table service resturants book up very early on...Maybe go at a time when that is not offered and find a great room discount...and I can't emphasize enough about planning... "just going with the flow" at Disney is chaos! Save the laid back trips for St. Thomas!!! I am in no way affiliated with tourguidemike.com (DISboards is, though) but his website has proved invaluable to us...you pay like 20 dollars for his advice and it will be the best 20 bucks you will spend for your trip... we have a spreadsheet filled with our touring plans... yeah a bit Psychotic here