I'm just saying NO to onsite!

[TDC Nala]

for those who have APs and still want postcards - what's wrong with the AP discounts?

 

[disneyjunkie]

The postcards I've gotten in the past have always been the same rate as AP and general codes.

I don't worry about the postcards any more. They NEVER come when I can use them.

I book the resort I'm willing to pay full price for. If a code comes out that I can use fine, if not, fine.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Actually, I've been to WDW many times, we're DVC owners, and have had Annual Passes for the last four years, and I got a postcard last month. Since I wanted to go during the Flower and Garden Festival, and I didn't want to use my DVC points on this trip, we already have our AP's, and I found great airfare on AirTran for $116 round trip, we will be using our postcard to stay at POR for $83/night tax included. I thought this was a great rate. Why we got a postcard I'll never know, it was a first for us, but couldn't have come at a better time.

 

[justhat]

We booked a 2 bedroom suite last May for our trip this month and listed my 8 year old cousin as a guest in the room. Well, I've never gotten a postcard but wouldn't you know that the 8 year old did. It doesn't have any dates on it, just a rate of $59/night at Pop Century, which is the AP rate I already have for our one night there anyway.

 

[faithfull]

When making my reservations for Hoop Dee Doo I found out that whoever input my info at WDW had put the wrong zip code. Since they fixed that I have started to get post cards. Maybe the brain who input your info made a severe typo too. You might just call dining and see what they show as your info on file. Just a thought.

 

[QueenOfCelts]

My Mother rec'd one of those postcards this past spring. She hasn't been in over two years and that trip was with us. We didn't get a post card (but we have gone many times since then), just like you. The rate she got on her post card was a nice rate of $74 for a moderate. That rate is the same rate as I can get being a Florida Resident or a Passholder and I am both. My point is that maybe you should consider buying atleast one Annual Pass in order to get the room discount. It will be atleast as good as a post card rate.

I don't know if that would work for you, but it is just a suggestion.

 

[WhenUwishUponAstar]

We go every year and I get cards about every 3-4 months, usually promoting animal Kingdom, I've never stayed there.

 

[Mercy]

We have NEVER stayed at a Disney resort and I have received several post cards. I have never been able to use any of them though. I am registered at Disney.com and have ordered their planning video in the past.

 

[pjlla]

Honestly.... there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why some people get cards and some don't. Some frequenty onsite guests seem to be getting them and some don't. Some AP holders seem to be getting them and some don't. Can you just call WDW and ask to be put on the mailing list for these cards?.................................P

 

[goofy4tink]

This thread has gotten me thinking. There seem to be a ton of people out there who feel that they should be getting discounted room rates just because they go to WDW often. I paid rack rate the first time I went to WDW. Why? I simply didn't know any better. The majority of people that go really don't know that there are ways to save money. Now, that being said...why is it that if I rent the same cottage from the same people every single year on Cape Cod they don't give me a discount for being such a good customer? I know that would never happen. So why do we expect Disney to give those of us who go often huge room discounts? They have given us different rates for different times of year. They have, usually, given AP holders special rates. If I know I'm going to keep going to WDW then I can buy a timeshare at DVC. Most of the time there are special code rates out there or packages. Just because we can't always have a 'terrific' discount to fit our very own travel plans doesn't mean that Disney isn't giving us something special. They really don't need to 'get' us to come during the summer or holiday seasons.

So, my suggestion to those of you that can't seem to get a 'great discount' for your travel dates....book a resort you can afford without a 'code'. If one comes out, terrific. Maybe you can even upgrade. If not, you're not worrying about going bankrupt. Otherwise, stay off-site. Yes, it's cheaper off-site. But, for my family (and my dh can be a 'frugal' type), staying on-site is part of the magic and we will gladly pay more for it. If it's a budget trip, we stay at the AllStars.

Didn't mean to insult anyone. Just needed to vent. I'm off the soap box now and will shut up.

 

[HAH]

While stepping down from your soap box.....

I believe this thread has offered good conversation and a great opportunity to express opinions. However, I think that maybe you do step over the line and you do insult when you assume that because someone expresses concern over the seemingly indiscriminate way in which Disney mails these cards (yes, I know that they have a marketing plan and it is not truly indiscriminate) that they cannot 'afford' to stay onsite and 'experience the magic'.

Are you familiar with the book The Millionairre Next Door ? Most people of sustainable means know the value of a dollar and actually like to save money............

 

[HAH]

Sorry, one more thing.

I was considering the analogy of the cottage at Cape Cod and realized that our family actually is offered a perk as return customers in Seaside, Fl.


We have rented the same house in Seaside for the past 6 years. In return, after the 2nd year, we were offered the house for a second week (different time of year) at an additional savings over and above the low season rate! We take advantage every year!

 

[justhat]

That I think is rare. My fiancé's family stays at the same hotel everytime they come to visit us in DC (which is several times a year) and they never receive a discount of any kind. Additionally, we have frequented the same resorts in many different states and have never once been offered a discount as a repeat customer. We have, however, seen various coupons for hotels, rental cars, transportation services, etc. that are valid for a new customer only, which I think is part of Disney's strategy with the postcards. The do often reward the loyal visitors (AP rates, FL resident rates) but also need something (like postcards) to get new people into their resorts. When we vacation anywhere else, we look for the lowest rate, but never expect to get 40% off of the rack rate, yet with Disney people seem that it's their 'right' to get a discount like that and want to boycott the resorts when they don't. The problem with that is, however, that there will never be enough people doing that to hurt Disney's income, as there will always be the people who don't look at boards like these and just call up and book their Disney vacations at full price.

 

[goofy4tink]

justthat, thank-you. That's really what I was trying to say. I think it is the sense of 'entitlement' that so many have. I'm all for saving money. I really am. And yes, I do know how millionaire's make their money. Wish I could be so disciplined. It's just that we know what the cost of a WDW vacation is. It is expensive. My ds, 30, and I just had this conversation today. He couldn't understand why Disney has to make everything sooo expensive since they have so many people coming there. Why? Because they can!! I really do apologize for insulting/offending anyone. Sometimes I can't seem to make my point without getting offensive. Yes, this has been a very informative thread. And yes, I am also entitled (there's that nasty entitlement again!) to my opinion. So...I would love to visit Hawaii, but it is too expensive for me at the moment. Should I be offered a special rate so that I can vacation there also? Should the airlines offer me a lower rate? Maybe we should just start pro-rating everything so that everyone can experience everything. Everyone getting a discount, whenever they want one is just unrealistic.

 

[PatriciaH]

Originally posted by ScottOKW2K

One last note - usually it is noted that the ones to get postcards are often those who have not gone often, if not at all. They are the ones that after that postcard trip would probably be paying rack rate the next time they would choose to come. As the old business addage goes - sell 'em the razor cheap, so they'll buy the blades. Disney KNOWS we will find the discounts out there - that's why we all have the Disboards and Mousesavers bookmarked. C'mon - admit it - you know it's true .

We go to WDW every year sometimes twice a year and DH and I both get postcards several times a year. They even send them to our current address and to me at my old address! I know they have our past trips in their system too because they comment on it sometimes. I think there is no rhyme or reason to getting a postcard!

 

[DMRick]

Those cards are sent by the "marketing" department to people who are not current customers.

We go at least four times a year, and I get a postcard yearly. We do have AP's, but sometimes the Post cards are good on dates they aren't, or when the AP rooms are all filled.

 

[PamNC]

We go an average of 2x a year (going thrice this year!). I've received a postcard twice, but the dates weren't good for us.

PamNC

 

[Gabrielle]

I've gotten postcards but they were for dates I couldn't use. I MUCH prefer the codes that come out - they allow for more flexibility in planning trips.

I think WDW is pretty generous with the frequency of the codes.

 

[3MouseMom]

I can understand being upset when others around you get something promotional and you don't. I think its part of how we all like to get great deals, and plan, plan, plan!! That's part of the fun of it. I don't feel entitled to get a discount, I just like to play the game and get the best rate possible!!

From the marketing side, I do think (I hope!) there is a plan even though it seems postcards are sent randomly to both non-users and users of disney properties. I am guessing that Disney Marketing has segmented consumers into different groups based on demographics (age, marital status, # of kids, zip code, etc.), and usage. Some people who fit a certain profile (maybe they have little kids, have never stayed on site and requested a planning DVD) are grouped together as prospects and receive a certain promo at a certain time. The goal is to get "trial" from these folks--get them into the Disney system.

Someone who has come every year might be classified as a repeat user...they might get an incentive to return more frequently, or at a different time. AP holders getting a discount card when AP rates aren't valid makes sense--they are heavy users who might be enticed for a quick trip at the right rate. Even DVC members makes sense if it encourages (as one poster said earlier), INCREMENTAL trips above what a heavy user might already "buy". Each mailing should have a strategy--trial, repeat usage, increased frequency, retention, etc. It's not a perfect science, and ideally, Disney tries to add things to each consumer profile about attitudes to better understand who would come for the first time and/or more often. There are some interesting marketing tools out there that let marketers know what magazines you subscribe to, other lifestyle/attitudinal things about you--it helps them decide which segment to put you in.

I was, however, concerned (as a shareholder) to read the post about someone who got a discount card while they were holding a future reservation. They should be able to screen for that and pull that name of the mailing list. Maybe the timing was such that it overlapped. But from a buisness perspective, you don't want your consumers to "trade down" to a less profitable option if they are going to buy from you anyway! That is the risk with giving promos to heavy users, even though you have the most chance of converting the promo into a sale with them--you just hope it's incremental.

BTW, I got a card this fall and it worked perfectly for Disney. Our last trip was 2/03. We weren't plannig a return trip for at least another year. I got a card w/ $49 rate, there was a fall break with a couple of days off school, and boom--instant, incremental trip for 5 days in October.

So sorry to be long-winded!!!! (p.s.--I'd go again if I got another great discount card, but less likely to go for another couple of years without it--hint-hint Disney!!)

 

[CheshireVal]

The postcard rates really aren't any better than AP rates or codes available to the general public.

Sometimes I get cards, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I use them, sometimes I don't.

I guess I'm just not understanding the outrage expressed here. You can get really good discounts through AAA, too.