How does the 40% Friends and Family discount work?

[figmentfinesse]

Hello all!

My s/o and I grabbed dinner with one of his good high school friends who is a cast member during our WDW trip last week. He mentioned this discount and let us know he’d be happy to help us when we knew when our next trip would be.

I’ve got the dates now but it’s not until next August, and I’ve got a few questions about how it works so I can decide if it’s something we should “bother” him with.

1. How does the actual booking occur? Does he do it? Do we do it? Do we have to call?

2. We are totally guilty of changing dates and resorts a few times over the year leading up to our trip. Is that something we would have to bug him about?

3.Is it your standard put 200 dollars down kind of thing? Pay before deadline?

4. How far out do they release and typically are there any resorts excluded?


Thank you so much, we are solidly moderate people budget wise and this might just put deluxe into our reach!

 

[zoo2tycoon]

Hello all!

My s/o and I grabbed dinner with one of his good high school friends who is a cast member during our WDW trip last week. He mentioned this discount and let us know he’d be happy to help us when we knew when our next trip would be.

I’ve got the dates now but it’s not until next August, and I’ve got a few questions about how it works so I can decide if it’s something we should “bother” him with.

1. How does the actual booking occur? Does he do it? Do we do it? Do we have to call?

2. We are totally guilty of changing dates and resorts a few times over the year leading up to our trip. Is that something we would have to bug him about?

3.Is it your standard put 200 dollars down kind of thing? Pay before deadline?

4. How far out do they release and typically are there any resorts excluded?


Thank you so much, we are solidly moderate people budget wise and this might just put deluxe into our reach!

Best thing would be to ask him.

 

[Dug720]

Hello all!

My s/o and I grabbed dinner with one of his good high school friends who is a cast member during our WDW trip last week. He mentioned this discount and let us know he’d be happy to help us when we knew when our next trip would be.

I’ve got the dates now but it’s not until next August, and I’ve got a few questions about how it works so I can decide if it’s something we should “bother” him with.

1. How does the actual booking occur? Does he do it? Do we do it? Do we have to call?

2. We are totally guilty of changing dates and resorts a few times over the year leading up to our trip. Is that something we would have to bug him about?

3.Is it your standard put 200 dollars down kind of thing? Pay before deadline?

4. How far out do they release and typically are there any resorts excluded?


Thank you so much, we are solidly moderate people budget wise and this might just put deluxe into our reach!

As someone who has been a CM and has a sister who is as well...

1. He would have to do it. And he would have to be there to check you in. Sometimes it requires that they stay as well. Depends on the discount.

2. Yep. As he would have to see if what you want to change to is even available. At times it would require cancelling what you have and not just changing.

3. Usually it is a one night deposit. The $200 is only for packages. This is room-only.

4. It all depends. There is never any rhyme or reason.They get released solely to fill rooms.

 

[jcbftw]

Yeah, I have a few CM friends and the biggest discount they can get for me solo (i.e., they are not also checking into the room or a linked reservation) is like 10%. In my experience, you only get access to the best discounts if the CM is travelling with you. Honestly, the amount of hassle involved if the CM is not with you is just not worth it, IMO.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Sometimes you only get the higher discount if the CM is staying on the reservation with you. Then you have to pay an extra adult fee, too.

 

[penel3]

My niece is a CM, I utilized her discount once....and I couldn’t handle having zero control. It completely stressed me out, and you aren’t able to do a package so tix were separate and I believe DDP was not an option. In the end, Disney releases enough discounts that we were only saving maybe 5-10% in reality over what I could’ve gotten on my own. To me, it wasn’t worth my added stress or the pressure I had put on her. Now I literally just add her to my reservation, package and all, because for the past 2 years, with SWGE opening and COVID-19, I also didn’t want to have to deal with her being “blocked” from park entry, as Disney sometimes does to CM’s to ensure guest access.

 

[Dave006]

Hello all!

My s/o and I grabbed dinner with one of his good high school friends who is a cast member during our WDW trip last week. He mentioned this discount and let us know he’d be happy to help us when we knew when our next trip would be.

I’ve got the dates now but it’s not until next August, and I’ve got a few questions about how it works so I can decide if it’s something we should “bother” him with.

1. How does the actual booking occur? Does he do it? Do we do it? Do we have to call?

The CM will need to call or check the Hub (internal system) for offers that are available to CMs or Friends & Family for a given time frame. The CM must book the reservation.

2. We are totally guilty of changing dates and resorts a few times over the year leading up to our trip. Is that something we would have to bug him about?

That is bad due to the fact the CM must make all changes or updates to the reservation. For now make your own reservation and play the change the resort and dates until April-May and then check with your CM friend for "CM Friends & family" offers for Resorts, rates, and dates.

3. Is it your standard put 200 dollars down kind of thing? Pay before deadline?

No it is a one night deposit Room Only (RO) offering as others have indicated and not a package. If and when the DDP returns it would be available to add to the RO booking. The reservation would be in your names and using your Credit card for deposit.

4. How far out do they release and typically are there any resorts excluded?

The timing, discounts and availability vary by quarter or season. The discounts vary by resort classification: Value, Moderate, Deluxe / DVC. Yes there are exclusions as with any offer.

Thank you so much, we are solidly moderate people budget wise and this might just put deluxe into our reach!

The best discount is offered when the CM is staying on the reservation. Your CM friend can take a look now for current offers and provide you an idea of availability / discounts currently. The lower booking seasons have the highest discounts if offered.

Note discounts may not be offered during the dates you are wanting due to resort occupancy rates.

Dave