I don't understand WHY Disney is offering all of these codes!

[tiki23]

I'm not complaining, mind you!

I just find it curious that Disney is having to push so much to fill rooms when the travel industry, and the economy in general, has rebounded so far.

Anyone have any theories?

 

[DisneyWorldWisher]

They need to send some codes to me.

 

[Lilo&Stitch]

I have 2 theories, one is that the codes are part of the year of a million dreams celebration and my other thought is that they are trying to fill up enough rooms so they don't need to offer free dining this year

 

[dee519]

I'm sure in the off season they want to fill up the rooms but we were there December of 06 for 2 weeks and some of the resorts (i.e. Boardwalk) was booked solid for the entire time we were there

 

[InstImpres]

I don't really think Disney is offering more codes than usual, just different timing than in the past. They are allowing people to plan ahead. JMHO

 

[bell.of.the.ball]

I want to know why Disney doent offer me a code when i travel down there 1 or 2 times a year for 7 years.

 

[OhMari]

I've waited over since July for a code over Easter. Absolutely nothing. I do have my trip payed off. I am just really scared that it is going to be really packed in the parks like christmas was.

 

[n2mm]

I have 2 theories, one is that the codes are part of the year of a million dreams celebration and my other thought is that they are trying to fill up enough rooms so they don't need to offer free dining this year

This is exactly what I'm thinking too!

 

[perd]

I've waited over since July for a code over Easter. Absolutely nothing. I do have my trip payed off. I am just really scared that it is going to be really packed in the parks like christmas was.

No way I would go at Christmas again. We really didn't ride much of anything because we were waiting in line more than we were riding. I don't think they should pack so many people in there that you have to wait forever to get on a ride. We felt like sardines everywhere we went and we didn't pay $6000 for a vacation to feel like sardines!

 

[bicker]

Codes are better for Disney than regular discounting. It helps them target their discounts to the folks they feel are least likely to visit otherwise.

 

[cindyfan]

I've waited over since July for a code over Easter. Absolutely nothing. I do have my trip payed off. I am just really scared that it is going to be really packed in the parks like christmas was.

OhMari..... it will be crowded over Easter break.... prepare yourself.
But.... OT a bit..... I see you are going with the band!! how exciting! We have to wait 2 more years till my DD's HS Band goes..... they go every 4 years. But we are already looking forward to it!! yahoo!!!
Where is your band staying? Our Band usually stays at All Stars..... I think this time around it'd be nice if they could get Pop.
Hope you have a great time!!!!

 

[FayeW]

I'm not complaining, mind you!

I just find it curious that Disney is having to push so much to fill rooms when the travel industry, and the economy in general, has rebounded so far.

Anyone have any theories?

Funny you should ask...

Whenever Universal offers promotions and discounts there is much and about how deseperate they must be to be to be offering such deals. I can only assume the same must be true of Disney. Perhaps the great rates being offered by the other Orlando destinations are putting more pressure on their bottom line than some would like to believe.

Whatever...it served their purpose because we are planning our first onsite stay because of the discount.

 

[bicker]

Does Universal make use of PIN codes? I thought most of their discounts were offered to the general public.

 

[n2mm]

Does Universal make use of PIN codes? I thought most of their discounts were offered to the general public.

not really pin, but they do have discounts for ap holders, AAA, Lowe's members, and FAN club members. Often the ap holders generally have the best discounts. Sometimes their discounts are about 50% off. I've gotten the hard rock resort for $129 a night as an AP holder in May. I've gotten portofino resort for $149 a night in July.

 

[bicker]

It make sense that that they'd have affinity discounts just like Disney does (for AP Holders, AAA, and Disney VISA). What I'm wondering, though, is if they're offering any significant discounts to the general public.

 

[boomhauer]

It make sense that that they'd have affinity discounts just like Disney does (for AP Holders, AAA, and Disney VISA). What I'm wondering, though, is if they're offering any significant discounts to the general public.

Check out their website. They have deal (good ones) open to the general public. Stay for at least 4 nights, get free tickets to the parks. 7 days of admission for the same price as 1 day at Disney. Those are just a couple of them. If you look under Rates and Offers, it brings up quite a few.

 

[FayeW]

Does Universal make use of PIN codes? I thought most of their discounts were offered to the general public.

What's the difference? Both accomplish the same goal of filling rooms that might otherwise remain vacant and/or enticing guests to stay onsite to build brand loyalty. FWIW, at least half of the people reporting getting the current 40% off discount hadn't received the mail out or email...they just simply called an asked for a discount. Sounds pretty "general public" to me.

 

[bicker]

What's the difference? Both accomplish the same goal of filling rooms that might otherwise remain vacant and/or enticing guests to stay onsite to build brand loyalty.

Not really. Targeted discount don't foster "brand loyalty" but rather provide incentive to guests who are less likely to exhibit loyalty (defined by business as the willingness to pay a premium for the service). So with PIN codes, Disney is reserving discounts for guests who they have determined, through their marketing research, are less likely to visit WDW in the absence of a discount. They're also making it less likely that a guest can get a discount if Disney determined, through their marketing research, that that guest would be more likely to visit WDW even without a discount.

So discounts available through targeted mechanisms (such as PIN codes) say very little about whether a service provider is "desperate" (as mentioned earlier in this thread), as compared to discounts available to the general public. If Disney is offering strictly PIN coded discounts while Universal is offering lots of general public discounts, that says something about their relative situations. That would tend to be consistent with what we've read, regarding how much DME and the Dining Plan have hurt non-Disney hotels.

 

[kribit]

We received the promotional card in the mail and it indicates that you have to use the numbers in the yellow box on the outside when making a reservation. When booking our trip, the cm didn't ask for the numbers (although we received the card the day after booking and have them if they need them).

My question is where did the 3 letter codes come from? Our promotional mailer doesn't show the letter codes anywhere. Strange.

 

[WDWVillain]

I want to know why Disney doent offer me a code when i travel down there 1 or 2 times a year for 7 years.

that is becasue you DO travel there yearly! I have been to disney 22 times and going several times a year, I always used an AP discount and never got codes in the mail. Well, I have not been for 1 1/2 years now..so they MUST be getting worried I got my first 40% code in the mail this week....that is my thoughts on that one!