How long?

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We just got back Sunday and we are ready to go back to WDW!!!

How long after you get home do you typically start to see e-mail or postcards with discount codes? The rates for Values are showing $99 per night for the dates I wanted, and that added to airfare and park passes is a bit steep considering we JUST CAME HOME.

I am absolutely squirming to start planning our next trip! The fact that the school district hasn't released the 2005-06 calendar is making me crazy!

 

[debbiedoo]

We have a school schedule for 2005-2006 school year schedule on our interenet site. It can change but probably not. Check there.

Usually your county schools.org

 

[Selket]

As many times as I've been to WDW I've only once gotten a postcard. I have been able to take advantage of discount codes for the general public however - and the discounts are as good or almost as good. I'm hoping for codes for May right now so I can move up to a deluxe.

Good luck!

 

[zippehsmom]

I usually start planning as soon as I get back. That's what I did last time.

Your school calendar may not be out because your teachers may be negotiating a new contract. Our contract is tied in with our contracts, so for example this year our contract was not settled until December. So, we did not have a firm calendar until that time. Now we have a calendar for the next 3 years. They usually don't vary to much, so you should be able to look at previous years and take a guess.

zippehsmom

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

If I remember correctly I had the school calendar by about March for the upcoming year. The districts have to submit a request for waiver if they want to start the school year prior to August something-or-other, so that is probably what is holding it up. They can't set the calendar very well until they know when they are starting.

I am looking at October (possibly) but that is "regular" season, not value. We loved Pop for $55 per night, but $99 per night for a longer stay would add up quickly.

Anyone ever gotten an e-mail or postcard right after they got home?

That's what I was hoping for, but I suppose if they sent me something NOW it wouldn't be good in October!

 

[magsmom]

I am PINLESS no more - I received a PIN last week, and I am using the PIN in June.

Now, when I called with my PIN the CM said "Oh, your last trip was in February, 2004, correct?" Since I am a DVC member they did not have that information (It is booked differently), which makes me think that they may send you a PIN if you have not gone within a year. They also missed our trip in August to POFQ.

I still got a great rate with AKL, and I am not stressing out over codes.

I would not depend so much on PINs or postcards as no one knows how DIsney sifts through data. There are other ways to save on rooms.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I hope I can figure out something other than $99 per night for Value or staying offsite. Neither one of those makes me very happy! I'll just wait and watch and see what I can come up with. There are several things that need to happen between now and October before I will know if we can even begin to afford to go back, so I am probably putting the cart before the horse!

 

[daisylove]

They pretty much know that I will be back whether they give me something off or not. As a Fla res and Ap I always have those rates to fall back on. So 4 trips a year since WDW opened and only 1 postcard ever.
Went in Dec and started immediately planning for June but can't last that long so stuck a short 4 day trip in at the end of Feb. DD and I are going back! Mickey did you miss us?

 

[aubriee]

Hey it's a small world after all JackSkellington. We were down there at the same time. We just got back Saturday (Jan 15th) and are also from near Dallas (about 20 miles east). I was down there with my adult son and 8 y/o GD (stayed WL and AKL), but the whole time I was down there I was planning a solo trip for May. I was going to wait until the AP codes came out, but just two days after coming home I couldn't wait and went ahead and booked POP for May 14-May 21. When I called a few days ago to book my May trip, I told the CM I had an AP and asked him to check my file to see if I qualified for any discounts. Since I just returned, I was hoping for an e-mail type code. Unfortunately he said no and then laughed and said you were just here. I booked for $99.00/night, but am hoping for a good AP code.

By the way how was POP? I booked it because as I said, we just got back from a trip and I'm taking my younger son and D-I-L in late September and would like to do another solo trip in early Dec. Financially POP makes sense, but I just can't seem to get excited about it. Help please!! Give me a reason to fall in love with POP.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We really liked Pop. Our room was ready when we arrived (although check-in isn't until 3 PM and we got there at 11:30 AM). Everyone was very nice, our room was very clean and quiet. We thought the bus system was GREAT both going to the parks and coming back. We had a rate of $55 per night which we felt was just unbeatable. For me, DH, and DS8 it was fine. We really weren't in the room much!

We really didn't need extra amenities, so we were glad to save the $$ and spend them in the parks!

I have stayed at more moderate hotels when I travel to conferences, but Pop was great. I didn't mind not having room service or a mini bar or whatever. We didn't go to the pool so I don't know about that. The arcade looked really fun but it was always so late when we came in DS never got to go play.

I say give it a try. We were very pleased!

 

[bigbabyblues]

Anyone ever gotten an e-mail or postcard right after they got home?

Well, I got a postcard two weeks after we got home from our fall trip last year, but it was only that they wanted me to take a survey. The email and postcard discounts seem to be pretty much random, I don't think we've ever gotten one, and it was 7 years in between our first trip and our second.

Hope you're able to find a way to go!

Steph

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

I usually start to plan the next trip while I'm at WDW and then I confirm it when I arrive home and call WDW to book it ....