How to Haggle a good Disneyland Hotel Rate?

[Lou-Ann]

How do you get a Sr. rate? Do you have to be an AP holder or 65 or 55? Please do tell. I am a disabled Sr. Thanks so much.

 

[trodrigue]

You have to be 60 and then it is a 30% discount from what I have heard. We are planning a trip with my Mom, so she would qualify.

 

[Raidermouse]

From what I understand discounts are either or and not both, but I can be wrong.Whenever I have tried getting multiple discounts somewhere they would just let me use the one of greater discount and not both.But you never know.It never hurts to ask.

 

[tenkaren]

I am wondering if one person in our party get the annual pass, can we get the 10% even if the rooms are booked already? IF so, maybe I can buy the AP now.

Th anks

 

[Mom of three]

Hmm...now ya got me thinking with the whole Gay Days discount.

We have already reserved our package with AAA for Oct. 7-11

Does anyone know if I can have our agent call and request the discount for our reservation? I know that she had mentioned towards the end of the summer Disney sometimes comes out with a "4th night free" promo and we were kind of holding out for that.......but not sure now.

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

We have already reserved our package with AAA for Oct. 7-11

Does anyone know if I can have our agent call and request the discount for our reservation? I know that she had mentioned towards the end of the summer Disney sometimes comes out with a "4th night free" promo and we were kind of holding out for that.......but not sure now.

From what I found out when I talked with the agent on the phone, the rate was only good up until the 10th, then the group rate is over. So you may have to shift your days a bit, or not take a discount on the night of the 11th, if they'll allow you to do that.

And to the person who was asking if the Gay Day rate would work as well as another discount, again, what I found out today when I called was NO. Only one discounted rate applied.

It's kinda funny. We're guarenteed a room since we made reservations, obviously, but they have no idea in the hotel where they're going to place us because of the group lodging. It'll be a little surprise when we get there, for sure. I feel so at ease now that the hotel has been booked =)

On a question of more.... moral reasonings.... I feel bad for asking for this rate because neither I, nor either of my travelling companions is gay, and we will not be attending "gay days" events. I mean, we're gay friendly and we'll even wear red shirts so we blend in with the crowd, but uh... does anyone else think it was a bit tricky of us to ask for a rate on an event we won't really be attending?

 

[mmmears]

How do you get a Sr. rate? Do you have to be an AP holder or 65 or 55? Please do tell. I am a disabled Sr. Thanks so much.

All you have to do is ask for it. You have to prove that one member of your party (staying in that room) is over 60. No AP needed. However, there are a limited number of rooms available at a senior rate. We had to book our upcoming trip with just a AAA discount of 10%. But I called yesterday and a senior rate had opened up! We're saving almost $100 a night, so we're really excited! We're lucky to be taking my DM with us, and she qualifies for this rate.

The earlier you call the better, but if you cant get the senior rate, just keep trying!

 

[Mom of three]

From what I found out when I talked with the agent on the phone, the rate was only good up until the 10th, then the group rate is over. So you may have to shift your days a bit, or not take a discount on the night of the 11th, if they'll allow you to do that.

I figured that as well. Still...with the discount it would be worth it.

On a question of more.... moral reasonings.... I feel bad for asking for this rate because neither I, nor either of my travelling companions is gay, and we will not be attending "gay days" events. I mean, we're gay friendly and we'll even wear red shirts so we blend in with the crowd, but uh... does anyone else think it was a bit tricky of us to ask for a rate on an event we won't really be attending?

Well.....depends on how you define "gay". Call it a technicality if you will but in all reality...you will be very gay (happy) in DL. Am I right?

Im thinking this falls under the same category as: Technically I know my child is 10, but she could pull off being a 9 year old and eat of the kids menu/get in the movie for half price/ect. You get the idea.

While some may frown upon it and label it as "stealing", I simply think there could be worse things to fret over, honestly.

 

[amyamya]

I have stayed on site several times and have never been able to get a discounted rate by asking for one. This just doesn't happen with DLR hotels. They do have varied specials and offers so do your research and ask the right questions. The senior rate is 30% and if you have a bunch of factors that will give you a discount, i.e. AP, senior, Gay Days rate, they will give you the BEST rate. No combining offers. I considered using the Gay Days rate but am still waiting to see what the fall AP specials will offer...

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

I'm probably starting to overthink this a bit, I just want to make sure we're planning this right.

How many of you have ever stayed in the DLH? I'm assuming a fair number. I need some experienced people's advice on something.

We know there's going to be at least 2 of us going, possibly three. The third person may not come at all, or we may find someone else to come in their place if they can't make it. The CM I spoke with said changes can be made easily and you can cancel w/in 72 hours of the trip without incurring a fee, but has anyone ever had to change a reservation? I gave them the names of all three of us who SHOULD be going. But if that changes (I have this suspicion it will) are they going to ask me weird questions? Especially since I've gotten the special group rate? Also, the more I fiddle with the reservation, I fear it getting deleted or something, does this happen at all? Reservations getting lost in the void?

Also, when I called, they asked for my name, address, and CC#. Are they going to be mailing me a reservation number? I've got my confirmation number, but on the disneyland.com website, under the "my disney" section there's a place where you can punch in your reservation number. Should I be worried since I didn't GET a reservation number?

 

[vettegirl]

What about military rates/discounts at on site hotels. Does anyone know???

 

[dizneekrazee]

Im thinking this falls under the same category as: Technically I know my child is 10, but she could pull off being a 9 year old and eat of the kids menu/get in the movie for half price/ect. You get the idea.

While some may frown upon it and label it as "stealing", I simply think there could be worse things to fret over, honestly.

I totally agree. I see nothing wrong with a little "discount".

 

[avalon451]

We had to change our dates over by 1 day, so, now we're going the 6th through the 10th, but we got the $189 rate at the Disneyland Hotel. Very excited!! I first tried to haggle my way down from the $260 rate, but the reps wouldn't budge, which I found a bit surprising. So. Thanks so much for the tips everyone, our vacation is a reality now instead of a dream! =)

Wow. I know you said you are set on DL hotel, but I just can't help thinking about that queen deluxe room with balcony and park view, I have reserved at HoJo's for $74 Entertainment Book rate in October. Your dates are listed as the Ent rate, too.

$74... $189.... less than half... probably the same walking distance (depending on which tower you're in), buy your park tickets throug GAT and you'll still get 2 MMs...

Ah, well. We stayed at GHC the first time and loved it. Knowing what I know now, though, I wouldn't do it again.

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

Wow. I know you said you are set on DL hotel, but I just can't help thinking about that queen deluxe room with balcony and park view, I have reserved at HoJo's for $74 Entertainment Book rate in October. Your dates are listed as the Ent rate, too.

$74... $189.... less than half... probably the same walking distance (depending on which tower you're in), buy your park tickets throug GAT and you'll still get 2 MMs...

Ah, well. We stayed at GHC the first time and loved it. Knowing what I know now, though, I wouldn't do it again.

I know that $189 is still quite expensive, but I dunno. I remember walking in the Disneyland Hotel when I was 10 and wanting to stay there so badly, the desire to stay there has never left me. My dear friend and I just think that since this is the ONLY vacation we've taken in years and years (my last vacation was, oh.... 13 years ago ) that we can splurge a bit like this now. We're young. Not dipping into the kids' college funds, ya know? Haha.

I know the walking distance is still going to be the same, or possibly a little bit more. But the real deal breaker for me? Buying anything in the park and having it delivered to my hotel room. AMAZING.

 

[ironpig70]

theres 2 trains of thought here


1) book early non peak when hotels are not filled and want/need the money

2) book last minute anytime. hotels get last minute cancelations and if you are flexible you can save money by going across the logic of planning.

 

[The Blue Parrot]

My wife worked for a few years as a AAA travel agent and sold a lot of hotel rooms all around the country.

One of the best bargains she found was what were reffered to as "opportunity rates". Even at Disney, there were times when just calling in at the right time provided a better than usual rate.

Mind you, this wasn't an every day occurrence, but she did tell me on many occasions that she had been able to find someone a deal better than she thought she would.

As for haggling? You can use all of the proper call center buzz words and catch phrases you like. I worked in call centers for over 25 years and did my own part to "provide positive customer service experiences". But when it comes to hotel rooms anywhere, haggling won't do you much, if any good. Either the property has a room they need to sell or they don't. A lot of it has to do with the luck of the draw when you call.

As to the DL Hotel, I've stayed there once. If I recall it was in the Sierra, now the Magic tower, with a view of the quad area between the towers. The room wasn't large by any means but had two queen beds and a sofa bed. My wife and I shared the room with another couple. The room was smaller than some that I have stayed in at other off property rooms around the area. And the bathroom wasn't anything fancy with just the toilet, tub and two sinks all in the same room.

It isn't that there are not great rooms in the DL Hotel. But for the rate you got? Don't expect the moon and you won't be disappointed.

 

[Donald's Fan in PHX!]

You can "haggle" hotel prices all over the world. However it's the old rule of "supply and demand". You would have better luck haggling a deal off-site. The problem you will run into is that the Disneyland Hotel rarely, if ever, has rooms unfilled. They are usually booked year round regardless of the time of year.

 

[Queenbillabong]

Also, when I called, they asked for my name, address, and CC#. Are they going to be mailing me a reservation number? I've got my confirmation number, but on the disneyland.com website, under the "my disney" section there's a place where you can punch in your reservation number. Should I be worried since I didn't GET a reservation number?

The reservation number that you would use on "My Disney" is actually the WDTC package reservation number. If you book directly with the hotel, it's not the same thing at all. I wouldn't worry about it, it's just a different reservation system....