I feel cheated.

[IheartMickey]

There's so many discounts for August/September that end only a few days before our travel dates that I feel sort of cheated. I haven't seen any codes for October yet, and I was sort of hoping the free dinning would be extended. We're going 10/12 - 10/17, and the reason why I haven't been flexible with the dates is because I was dead set on going over my birthday. I was really hoping for a really good deal so that we could upgrade to a deluxe.

I have no use for AAA, or for an AP so those are out. Are they ANY other discount options? Oh, I have a Disney Visa is that helps any.

 

[disneyag]

The codes for September were JUST released. It is still possible that codes for October are coming. Don't give up yet.

 

[njchris]

Cheated would be if they raised your rates and nobody else's.

Like the above post, they just came out with Sept. codes/rates.

It's always a waiting game and in the end, only pick what you can afford and hope for codes. I did get AAA to use it's discounts (not just in WDW). I end up saving much more than it costs.

I also have an AP - I plan to start going twice a year so it will save me moola, plus if there are any AP rates, then bonus for me.

Otherwise, I will not schedule my time there based on what codes come out. I just hope they will.

Here's some for good luck.

 

[CarolA]

October is more popular the September.... I cant' imagine them opening Free Dining into the Food & Wine Festival period.

As for room only, I think you will just have to wait and see, but I wouldn't count on it. That way if you get a discount it's a bonus.

 

[IheartMickey]

It's just that 'so close, yet so far' feeling. And I didn't book above our means, that's why we're booked at a moderate even though I would have definitely prefered deluxe.

 

[Natalya]

I know what you're saying. We are booked from Oct. 15 - 20th. To see a discount being extended until Sept. 30th is so disappointing. We missed out on free dining AND a discount code.

I can't change dates because my cousin is getting married Oct. 14th...she lives in Kissimmee, so we decided to do the wedding and the Disney trip all in the same time. Otherwise we have to pay for airfare twice within a month...not to mention requesting vacation twice, etc. So it has to be this way for us

But, it will be nice to see the family and the wedding will be fun and of course....We're going to DISNEY!!!!!! So I can't complain too much...there are other people in the world who have it worse off than us. But I understand where you are coming from.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I know the feeling of being excluded from discounts! This happened to AP holders last October - there was a period of about two weeks where no discount applied, and of course that was when my trip was! So I ended up paying rack rate (which I rarely do - I usually plan my trips when the discounts are), and then got hit by hurricane Wilma. The hurricane wasn't too horrible, but it was on/off rainy for days before the hurricane, and many things weren't running in the parks like entertainment and characters. And 2 parks were closed for a day, too. So I wasn't too pleased to pay top dollar when I could have had a discount if I changed my dates (but couldn't since I had to plan my trip around a coworker's schedule, who was always absent for some reason or another! )

Oh well! This November, I booked the Swan at a nice AAA rate so I don't have to play the AP game, as I doubt "Jersey Week" would have any discounts anyways!

 

[Dimap]

I was just wondering why you wouldn't sign up for AAA for the year? Wouldn't it save you more money in resort prices then what the fee for the year is? It may be worth looking into.

Pam

 

[NancyIL]

Lots going on in October, like the Food and Wine Festival, Halloween Party, and some schools have a fall break then.

We've been AAA members for many years, and it's useful for lots of things besides possible WDW resort discounts.

 

[Linda 441]

Just a few years ago Disney offered very few discounts....ever. We've been spoiled by the slow tourism industry. In fact, Disney rake rates are very good when you compare to other resorts and other comparable hotels around the country/world. Try traveling to any major city lately? You can't get a room without bugs for much under $200 without a HUGE amount of work, or priceline or a special deal or corporate discount....

So, not to sound lie a grump, but no one is "cheated" if we don't get a discount. Disney doesn't owe us discounts. It's like when people feel they "deserve" the upgrade at check in. Disney doens't owe us that either. Yes, those are nice, but they are not owed to us.

That said, I'm traveling in late November (after Thanksgiving) and have made my plans and budget without a code but am certainly hoping (half planning) for one. Yes, I'll be a bit disappointed if I don't get one (I've gotten an email pin code for the last 2 years and couldn't use it so it would figure this year when I can use it I won't get one). But I won't be "cheated."

 

[ElizabethB]

Disney rack rates are good???!!! I guess that depends on what city your are traveling to. When I go to visit relatives in Salt Lake City, I can stay at the Grand Hotel there in a drop dead gorgeous two room suite for under $200. I agree it's hard to get anything nice here in New York City for less than $200 but I don't put Orlando in the world class city category. Disney rack rates are, IMO, astonishing -- and I live in NYC. But, they charge what the market will bear. Frankly, much like clothing prices these days, I think the first price is the merchant's "wish" price. I think the discounted rates are the rate they really expect to sell the product at -- be that hotel rooms or clothes.

 

[Linda 441]

Disney rack rates are good???!!! I guess that depends on what city your are traveling to. When I go to visit relatives in Salt Lake City, I can stay at the Grand Hotel there in a drop dead gorgeous two room suite for under $200. I agree it's hard to get anything nice here in New York City for less than $200 but I don't put Orlando in the world class city category. Disney rack rates are, IMO, astonishing -- and I live in NYC. But, they charge what the market will bear. Frankly, much like clothing prices these days, I think the first price is the merchant's "wish" price. I think the discounted rates are the rate they really expect to sell the product at -- be that hotel rooms or clothes.

Orlando itslef may not be in "World Class" city catagory, but WDW is when you compare hotels and ammenities. And not just the deluxes

Chicago rack rates for a nice hotel are over $200
NYC of course are
Washington DC are over $150-$200
Even in the New England resort areas you are talking in the $150+ range. Try staying in a ski condo in Vermont for under $150/night in the winter.
Arizona in the winter - $200+ for a comparable hotel
Colorado in the winter $200+ for rack rates.
Yes, in the "off season" in Colorado and Arizona you can get them cheaper, but if you compare rack rate, WDW is not out of the ball park for comparable hotels. Yup, I stayed at an unbelievable hotel in Tuscon on year - amazing. Huge room, beautiful bed, great spa, robe, etc. $130/night. It was July and 120 degrees. in February the room is $300/night.

We have a Red Roof Inn here that charges more than the Value resorts do.

I've paid about the same at a Hampton Inn near a college than rack rates a Disney moderate. Can't say that the atmosphere at a Hampton Inn are the same (it was nice enough, but waking up next to an interstate isn't exactly exciting). Same thing with a Sheraton near an airport.

I was saying overall, if you compare apples to apples, Disney rack rates to other rake rates for in season or off season, Disney is not bad.

 

[DaisyD]

I agree about WDW being a good deal. I pay $365 a night for a room at at Holiday Inn in Ocean City MD! That is far from world class accomodations! We are paying a lot less to stay at the Poly. I love a good discount but don't feel bad if we have to pay rackrate at WDW.

 

[lillygator]

So, not to sound lie a grump, but no one is "cheated" if we don't get a discount. Disney doesn't owe us discounts. It's like when people feel they "deserve" the upgrade at check in. Disney doens't owe us that either. Yes, those are nice, but they are not owed to us.

Exactly...there are plently of people out there willing to pay full price...we are fortunate that Disney offers what they do.

If you feel cheated - how about changing your dates to fit in when Disney offered the deals?

 

[madge]

October is more popular the September.... I cant' imagine them opening Free Dining into the Food & Wine Festival period.

As for room only, I think you will just have to wait and see, but I wouldn't count on it. That way if you get a discount it's a bonus.

Absolutely. I don't see any room only discounts for October. Conventions, MNSSHP, Food & Wine festival, the golf tournaments.... people love October!

I had hoped that the discount window for the Fall discounts would be through October 4, which is the end of value season. Our son's break from school starts on October 5, and we could have worked out our travel plans to get there the night of the 4th to take advantage of the discounts.

I am blessed to have several other discount opportunities available (AAA, Shades of Green, government discount), and I've been known to stay offsite to get a deal

 

[Brier Rose]

I'm pretty sure in the past that codes for Oct., Nov., and Dec. have all been released together sometime around 1st week of AUGUST!

If that's the case again, maybe there is still some hope left!

I agree that in the past few years we may have all been spoiled by the great AP rates, but to say that Disney hasn't always offered some sort of a discount is not exactly true.

Remember the MK Club? I REALLY miss that!

We've been to WDW 43 times in the last 14 years, and I think we've only paid rack rate about 5/6 times.

 

[Linda 441]

Remember the MK Club? I REALLY miss that!

True, but we had to pay to be a memeber of that. And, I'm sure there were always AP rates and AAA rates. I was just talking about the discount codes I thought were realtively recent additions to the discount mix.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Last year there was a public code for the end of October (started the 23rd I believe ), though November and part of December that was released at the end of September.

There may be some hope, but cheer up- you're still going to WDW!!!

 

[eblack0409]

We booked our trip with free dining back in April....I am wanting to book a trip for next May....waiting for packages to be released!!!