I'm just saying NO to onsite!

[HAH]

After spending literally $1000's and $1000's at Disney Resorts I am putting my foot down. NEVER have I gotten a promotional card - never. My sister-in-law received one last week and the only time that she has ever been is when I planned the trip AND picked up the tab! Since we live in the same area, I called Disney to see what were the chances of one being sent to me and was told that if I had not gotten one when my SIL got one - I probably would not get one. Oh, I almost forgot, the operator also threw in that in case I was considering it, I could not use my SIL card because it was non transferable! As if I needed that extra kick in the pants!

Guess that we will stay somewhere neutral so we can spread a little wealth with Universal this time!

Thanks for letting me vent!!!

 

[disneygirl21]

Wow! Sorry you had such a hard time with them. What is a SIL card again? You should have received one. It is actually not fair. If you decide to never stay at an onsite resort again, stay at the Portofino Bay Hotel in Universal or the Celebration Hotel in Celebration, FL (20 minutes from Disney, 10 from Universal)

 

[HAH]

SIL = Sister In Law
Card = Her discount postcard

Sorry I wasn't more clear! LOL!

 

[CEDmom]

I think the theory most people have is that Disney doesn't send promo rate cards to people who visit often. I guess their thinking is you don't need to be enticed to visit. I wonder how many people have gotten a card and actually used it. Most times I've read people getting cards and the dates weren't good.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

I have stayed onsite many times and I have never received a postcard either. I have heard the offers really aren't that great. I wouldn't let that stop me from staying onsite.

 

[HAH]

I guess it's a 'principle' thing. Why doesn't Disney reward those who visit often? Kinda like a frequent flyer program!!!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I have noticed that they only send a card when you don't visit often. I haven't visited since Oct 2003 (for me that is a long time) ..I also didn't renew my pass in Oct like I usually do. They sent me a post card for the first time about a month ago... I normally go Oct/Dec/Jan/Feb/March/May/Sept & have been renewing my pass since 98....this year I didn't... and they sent the post card...not only did I get that, I have also gotten letters saying that they "miss us" ...I am sure they do miss us..me & my money So moral of this story... do not go and they will send

 

[CMBoy99344]

Originally posted by disneygirl21
Wow! Sorry you had such a hard time with them. What is a SIL card again? You should have received one. It is actually not fair. If you decide to never stay at an onsite resort again, stay at the Portofino Bay Hotel in Universal or the Celebration Hotel in Celebration, FL (20 minutes from Disney, 10 from Universal)

Just So You Know, Celebration Is A Subsidiary Company Of Disney. Try Portifino Bay. I Know Celebration Is a City, But Guess What, the entire city, Started and Owned by Disney, just operated by other management companies selected by Disney.

 

[Geoff_M]

Actually, Disney recently completed their "spin-off" of Celebration.

 

[johnsonet]

I've stayed at Disney a lot and have received 3 or 4 promotional postcards - never have used one, however...

 

[mikesmom]

It's simple marketing, people! Those cards are sent by the "marketing" department to people who are not current customers. (Or for some reason marketing THINKS they are not customers.)

We are DVC owners, we don't get cards, don't need cards. However my teenage son has gotten cards a couple of times. Why? Because he has an AP. Disney's computer sees someone who is a frequent park-goer (the AP), who has never (according to their computer) stayed onsite. His last name is different from ours (plus the ressie is always in our name) , so his name is not popping up as someone who has stayed onsite.

Try not to take this personally. It's not marketing's job to attract someone who already is a customer. It would be really silly (strictly from a marketing view) to offer a room at lower cost to someone who already stays there. Disney is a business. Lots of businesses offer incentives to first time buyers to get them to try the product or experience. The theory is that the product or experience is great enough that the prospect will keep coming back - they will like it and want to continue it.

Sometimes we forget Disney is a business and think of it as family or friends and get our feelings hurt because they have not given us some little gift or goodie. As customers, we are one of thousands (maybe millions). They are not our friends, they are not enemies. They are simply a business that provides a quality experience. The marketing department tries to introduce that experience to new prospects.

On the flip side, if you stay somewhere else, eventually it will be someone's job to lure you back.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

I personally don't think postcard rates are that big a deal. I think I've gotten a postcard once some years ago. I do remember that we were not able to use it - I think the time-frame for the rate didn't work out for us.

With that in mind, we are still bumping close to 10 trips to WDW or the WDW area. For the trips where we have stayed onsite in a non-dvc room we have always managed to find discounts (Magic Kingdom Club / Disney Club / Annual Pass ) that met or exceeded the postcard discounts. Will not having a postcard keep me from coming back ? Not to darn likely !

My family and I have found that we are the type that truly enjoys staying on-site. The Disney feeling 24-7, the ability to truly "vacate" from the stressful job while on vacation, the whole hakuna matata thing. I learned long ago that cost does not always equate to value, and spend a little less on something that may have much less value (personal opinion here) doesn't work out. For example, as a Wyndham by Request member I am eligable for the very good discounts they are offering this weekend. After all taxes and fees I calculated that I could be staying at the Wyndham Palace in October for about $90/night. But I also know that with an AP or code rate I could also get a moderate for that rate, and possibly a deluxe (WL, AKL) for just a few dollars more. Even though the Wyndham is nice - I've stayed there - I would pick those others in a second.

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 .

 

[GoingtoWDWagain]

I can understand yur fustration as I too have never received a discount post card. Yet, my family and I have traveled to WDW and stayed on site about 100 times. Yet, my SIL has received several of them and thrown them away . It's very unfair that they don't offer some sort of discount for those that visit often, I mean I'm up to two trips to WDW on site a year. It would be nice to get some other (I have AP passes) sort of discount.

However, I can't say we won't return as we love and look forward to our trips to WDW. But, I do understand what your saying and can understand your fustration.

 

[pjlla]

We haven't stayed onsite since our honeymoon in 1992.... and we have never gotten a postcard !! How come?..............P

 

[ballroombelle]

How much do you save with these postcards?

I always thought with the codes that I've seen on occasion at mousesavers.com, the rates were quite good! Are the postcards even better than 40 - 50% off?

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by HAH
I guess it's a 'principle' thing. Why doesn't Disney reward those who visit often? Kinda like a frequent flyer program!!!

Because regardless of whether we like it or not Disney is in the business to make money. As long as they can book rooms without offering incentives why should they.

 

[jobanana]

I got one for end of aug. til the middle of Nov. for $49 a night at value. Of course this was not the time frame I needed this year. I paid $109 a night. I'm going next year during this time. I've been hoping I'd get one for then. But now w/ you guys saying if ya stay there ya don't get one, I'm worried. I can afford it either way. Just like to save more if I can. Up til this year I hadn't been since '97. Oh well. what can ya do?

 

[PamOKW]

Just FYI -- The Celebration Hotel is in Celebration (developed by Disney) but the hotel itself is not owned or affiliated with Disney. It is part of the Kessler Collection of hotels.

Celebration Hotel

It is a very nice hotel.

The promotional cards aren't a rewards program -- they are a marketing tool. They are trying to entice new people not reward frequent customers. (I know it seems unfair but that's marketing.)

 

[cobbler]

My mom got one last year. It was for moderates for 79/night. Which apparantly is the same as the AP discount. I didn't have AP last year but I did have Disney club, and that postcard was a better deal then Dis club.

I wrote to WDW and asked how come I didn't get one and was upset. I got a personal phone call from a wonderful cast member and she looked it up by my phone number and they sent it to my previous address. We had just moved like 6 months prior to this. So she gave me the code and I could use it.

And she even called back a couple of times to make sure I got the dates and rooms I wanted. She was great.

The time frame last year was for around the holiday season which was when I was going.

 

[snyderla]

I think it is...I have been there 9 times, 5 of them in the last 3 years. Seems frequent to me. (although I would like it to be MORE often!) I have also received 4 postcards. Postcards started coming after our first AP was purchased. That was in August 2001. I agree it is a marketing tool. And usually the rate listed on the postcard is the same as the AP rate. Also, I have stayed onsite all trips except one in 1998-99 NYE. We have been stopped several times at different parks to answer surveys. I think the postcards are related to the AP's and maybe to the surveys? Anyway, I DON"T think they send them to AP holders that aren't going often enough. But it did encourage us to upgrade once. From POR to AKL. Have still never stayed in POR.

The most recent postcard we got was while we already had ressies for PC, which we had booked 7 months before the card came.
Lori