I feel sad for people who don't know about codes

[WantToGoNow]

I started visiting this board just before our trip 3 years ago. I started reading up on discount codes - never knew they existed before. When I got a discount and told my dh that our package had just been reduced by $1K, he thought I was lying. We assumed you booked your room at a certain rate and that's what you paid. This trip however, he was expecting me find something and would have thoroughly been disappointed had I not. I was on the phone at 7:00 am Monday and saved $1,138.

 

[marie1981]

Marie, you were right! I mistakenly booked a package! That's why it was $700/n. I checked again this morning on the website and realized I wasn't clicking on Room Only!

Ok, new figures:
I went from a total of $686 to $480, for a savings of $206, using code KHP for Room Only, for two nights.


!

I am very happy for you Aisling ! Even if it is not as much as you thought, $206 is a GREAT discount for 2 nights !!! And you know what..... you are still saving $940... because if you would not have changed your reservations, you would have end up paying $1420 !! It is a great day, isn't it !!!

 

[clanmcculloch]

I'm also always amazed that people don't seem to even know to look for deals. Just yesterday I got a call from a friend thanking me profusely for not only saving her $1200 for her upcoming Thanksgiving trip, but included with that was an upgrade from an AS Resort to POR in one of the trundle rooms to make more room for her family (her family fits SO much better in those rooms as the family consists of 2 parents, 11yo boy, 9yo girl and 2yo girl; the kids can now each have their own beds and the adults can actually share a bed). They were prepared to pay rack rate for their package.

 

[momma2kiddos]

I'm glad you got the situation corrected with your AKL visit. When you said $700/n I almost peed my pants because I'm planning a surprise trip Dec 2010! LOL I was like "oh well, no AKL for us" LOl so glad you got that straightened out.

And I'm forever lovin Disboards too because we took our first trip this year and because we applied a code, we saved about $200! So I love this board and plan to use codes for our 3/10 and 12/10 vacations!

 

[wdwfan16]

Total $686
Date Rate per Night
Sun, Nov 29 $ 305.00
Mon, Nov 30 $ 305.00
Plus tax


Marie, you were right! I mistakenly booked a package! That's why it was $700/n. I checked again this morning on the website and realized I wasn't clicking on Room Only!

Ok, new figures:
I went from a total of $686 to $480, for a savings of $206, using code KHP for Room Only, for two nights.




You know what happened, I was so excited about going, I didn't even care about the price. I wouldn't let myself think about it. Of course now I'm thrilled it was only $355/n and then $240/n with the code.

Ok, so I didn't save almost $900, but I'm still happy. What I'm even happier about is thar if it weren't for the code coming out, I would have unknowingly paid for a package that included tickets that I didn't need. Waste of a lot of money. With the code, it made me call back and get it straightened out. Now I'm good to go!

AND yesterday I found out my son's friend's family booked a 3 room package and didn't know about free dining or the codes, so I had my son send them an email right away. I would have felt bad for them if they paid full price when they didn't have to, especially with 3 rooms!

I am happy the room only was not $700/n. I went when I read your numbers.

 

[Portugal1000]

I just called CRO and applied code KHP to my AKL Savannah room.

I was originally paying a total of $1420 for two nights ($710/n) and now with the code I'm paying $480 total ($240/n).

That's a savings of $940!

I feel sad for the people who don't know about codes and are booking rack rates, which are outrageous. They could be saving so much money.

I hope this doesn't sound rude as I don't mean it to but could I ask why you would have considered paying $710 a night for just a room in the first place?

I am going to SSR on 11th for 17 nights on a great deal for UK residents, free dining and 44% off. Still consider that to be a little extravagant but total price with 14 day tickets $3600. There are 3 of us so works out $70 per person per night for food, accomodation and tickets.

Do people really pay $710 a night anywhere? Seems to me that there are discounts for everyone now. Lots of great deals in the UK which we haven't seen before which is great.

 

[myjourney]

We rent DVC points, yes there is a slight risk but we have not had any problems for the last 3 years and you need to plan ahead to get into AK. That is what we pay for Sunday -Thursday Fri and Sat nights are higher. I usually pay $180 to $200 a night for weekends

I just called CRO and applied code KHP to my AKL Savannah room.

I was originally paying a total of $1420 for two nights ($710/n) and now with the code I'm paying $480 total ($240/n).

That's a savings of $940!

I feel sad for the people who don't know about codes and are booking rack rates, which are outrageous. They could be saving so much money.

 

[Aisling]

I hope this doesn't sound rude as I don't mean it to but could I ask why you would have considered paying $710 a night for just a room in the first place?



Do people really pay $710 a night anywhere? Seems to me that there are discounts for everyone now. Lots of great deals in the UK which we haven't seen before which is great.

I don't feel you're being rude for asking.

This is a special, quick birthday trip, and I was feeling so excited about going that I ignored the price. I knew I'd be able to pay for it, so I decided not to sweat it or even think about it, just to do it. Of course I'm THRILLED that it wasn't $700/n afterall.

And yes, people really do pay that much. My family stayed in the Contemporary Tower Magic Kingdom View, and it was that much per night. I also spent 2 nights at WL Club Level (never again but that's a different thread) pre-DCL cruise and it was almost $700/n being Christmastime.

I'm not rich. I count my pennies and look for discounts. But I also save my money in a Vacation Club account so that I can take these Disney vacations that I love so much. Trust me that I'm thrilled to pieces that I'm saving $200 on this quick birthday trip!

 

[minnie_michelle]

I actually do not feel bad for people that do not get discounts. The internet is full of free information. All anyone has to do is type in "Disney Discounts" in google, yahoo etc and they will finds TONS of websites (including DIS!) with information about saving money at Disney. Yes, you have to sift through it, but that is worth it to most people.

I saved tons of money on my own wedding by finding items that I wanted online and then typing in the name of the item in a search engine to find other websites that sold the same item for less. I literally saved $100's of dollars this way on bridal party gifts, decor, my veil, shoes etc.

The only people I feel bad for are the older generations whom have no interest in the internet because they don't have anyone to show them how wonderful it is.

 

[annagirl]

I found this place doing just that - I ended up saving $150.00 + tax per night doing my research. And now that I'm looking around, I'll do better next time for sure.

 

[brandiramirez]

I was one of those people, we went on our first trip last year and paid rack rate for everything one week at POR with deluxe dining. What can I say I loved going to Disney so much I found this board, and thank goodness I did. We are going back August 2010 and I have learned plenty of things thanks to the boards.

 

[NancyIL]

There are only so many discounted rooms. If everyone knew about the codes and discounts, there would be that many more people fighting over the few discounted rooms! I tell my friends and relatives about discounts, but I won't feel bad if the general public doesn't know about them. With information so readily available on the internet, there's no excuse for someone to not know about them - unless they are too lazy to do a little research.

 

[phyllis1966]

I don't know what kinds of discounts were available back in 1997, but that's when DH and I took our first WDW trip with friends who were self-proclaimed "experts." We used their TA and paid rack rate (from a brochure we were given) for the YC. We were young and inexperienced with vacations, discounts, etc.

In 2002, when we decided to take our 3 1/2 year old DD on her first WDW trip, a co-worker of my DH advised him to use DU - said he had a personal TA that was a WDW expert and got his family a great rate...the rest is history! She took great care of us, told me about the DIS and it's been smooth sailing ever since. Now I tell anyone who will listen (many don't want to bother) about the DIS so they can learn as we did.

 

[Disney-Kim]

Our first trip was in 1992 and I still didnt' pay rack rates because we asked about discounts.
Our next trip was 1995...again asked about discounted rates, then in 1998 we went again but by then I had discovered the DIS and earlier AOL boards. I still always asked Disney about discounts...being the savy traveler I am

I have always looked for deals when ever we have traveled anywhere. Why would anyone pay rack unless absolutely necessary

almost all the discounts are advertised on Disney's website currently, so its not some big secret.

Its like others have said, it just takes a little effort.

 

[kimberh]

We rent DVC points, yes there is a slight risk but we have not had any problems for the last 3 years and you need to plan ahead to get into AK. That is what we pay for Sunday -Thursday Fri and Sat nights are higher. I usually pay $180 to $200 a night for weekends

This is the Cheapest way to stay at Disney and the best room and bed!!

 

[MCourtney]

Um ... I'm currently in the "on the hunt for bargains" category.

Me too... on the hunt for New Year's Eve bargain......

 

[Echo queen]

Since I have been going to wdw every year for the past 5 years coworkers and friends tell other folks to talk to me if they are planning a trip. The last person they reffered decided to go some where else because she didn't want to take the time to plan and research Some folks really don't want help.

 

[Happy99]

yes there are many people that just book and are unaware of discounts but between tv commercials ads in newspapers they should be aware something may be avaialble.

I started going to WDW before the message boards came around and was luck enough to find a TA that was very versed in Disney prices and offers and I have been booking with her ever since she has never let me down.

So even if the person doesn't know about codes if they book with a TA that is knowledgable they never have to search or be on the look out for it. The TA does the work for them.

No if the person books directly and can't bother to check Disney's site, newspapers or tv commercials for offers then, as another poster stated, they either don't care or can afford to just pay whatever they are paying