Jan 2009 Code Watch

[jockey]

Just got an Email from dreams unlimited, they applied the AP rate to my GF stay today

 

[dvalerieb]

Thanks for the info about the AP rates! I was at CBR waterview for $2700 and now I am at WL woods view for $1565! I thought the kids would be bummed about not having the pool at CBR but they were really happy when I showed them the pics of WL lobby. They probably think that fireplace is going to be in their room!

Denise

 

[jockey]

Thanks for the info about the AP rates! I was at CBR waterview for $2700 and now I am at WL woods view for $1565! I thought the kids would be bummed about not having the pool at CBR but they were really happy when I showed them the pics of WL lobby. They probably think that fireplace is going to be in their room!

Denise

Great news, I am sure you will love WL

 

[MomtoGKC]

Thanks for the info about the AP rates! I was at CBR waterview for $2700 and now I am at WL woods view for $1565! I thought the kids would be bummed about not having the pool at CBR but they were really happy when I showed them the pics of WL lobby. They probably think that fireplace is going to be in their room!

Denise

My kids LOVED WL more than any of the other hotels they've stayed at. That includes fancy hotels not in Disney. My 7 year old had tears in her eyes and told me she never wanted to stay anywhere else again. I kind of did, too. The only problem is now that our little one is over 3 we can't fit at the WL anymore.

 

[MomtoGKC]

I just switched my ressies for the 2nd time in one day. I went from having an All Star Family suite for two nights at $354 to Contemporary for 2 nights at $414 (I was willing to pay a little more for the location convenience) to one last switch to POR for THREE nights for $339. So, I saved $15 off my first ressie but I added an extra night.

I really wanted to do CR, but when hubby said he'd be willing to leave work early on Friday so we could add an extra night I decided I could live with POR. As a family of 5 we don't have that many choices!

 

[fla4fun]

Well, I got WL woodsview for $169 for our stay. A bit bummed because I planned a split stay between WL and an Epcot resort (YC/BC/BW - we weren't picky) but there was NO standard room availability at any of the those and I couldn't justify the waterview price when it'll just be my DS and myself. I am scratching my head at the lack of availability there - the BC/YC pool will be closed for rehab so I thought they'd be wide open.

I have to re-do my dining now.

But, I am pleased with the price! I paid $205 for same room same time last year!

I was also surprised at the lack of availability at the Epcot resorts mid-January. I think MLK has a lot to do with it. I was there last year during MLK, and the Epcot resorts were busy. I was able to get in BWV at 35% off with the AP discount, but I did have to bump my vacation down two weeks, checking in the 26th instead of the 12th. Fortunately, I have a very understanding boss! Thanks Boss!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I have a question for all you APers planning on booking the DDP. I have always understood that APers are entitled to discounts on dining that are much better than what the DDP offers. Could someone enlighten me?

do you mean the next time you go to Disney it will be a free pass if it is within a year? How is that? Free tix?

Yes. That's how an Annual Pass (AP) works. You pay one sum and you can use your pass as much as you want for an entire year. So, if you go on a trip next year during the second week of January and purchase an AP, you can use the same pass to get into the parks for your vacation the following year during the first week of January.

My second question is if I already have a room only reservation how do I go about applying the AAA code if I can get it????

You call up Disney and say, "I would like to apply my AAA discount to my existing reservation."

I'm so sorry but what is CRO??

This is the central reservations number.

I also asked him about the dining plan. He said I could add it to my room ressies w/ NO problem for the normal Dining Plan cost but I would need to do it no less than 6 days before check-in. I would also have to pay the entire trip off at that point (my remaining balance and the cost of the dining plan) when I call to add the DP.

I'm not sure if I'm reading you correctly but you have to pay off the entire balance of your package 45 days before your trip, not 6. However, if you don't book your DDP until the last minute, then yes, you have to pay it off in full at that time. If you are going to wait that late to decide on the DDP, please make ADRs now just to be safe or you might not be able to get them later.

So let me understand this - there are limited rooms available with the AP discount and now that you have 3 rooms booked, someone else may not be able to get one- isn't that right.

Or - maybe someone out there really wants to stay where you are staying and can't because you have 2 extra rooms booked that you know you are not going to use.

I agree. Why not wait until you know what you want to book before calling? Or at the very least, make one reservation and then alter/cancel it later if you change your mind. I know this poster said that the CM made this recommendation and that it was not hurting any one. However, some CMs say some pretty misinformed things sometimes. (Some have even suggested making multiple ADRs for the same meal time, which is technically against Disney's own rules.) And unless you call every hour to see if the resort you booked (x3) has run out of discounted rooms, you don't really know if you're keeping someone else from booking. These discounted rooms are filling up fast!

I just called Disney to check on a room only rate with a AAA discount for a Value resort and was told that the only Value open is POP...Music sold out so I am assuming Movies and sports is also. I have a res at the Music already without a AAA discount. OPINION NEEDED PLEASE..........keep Music or change to POP...can save about $235.

To me that's a no-brainer. POP is the same kind of resort as the All-Stars and some even like it better. Why not switch to save mucho mola?

Okay you guys are freaking me out!!! So basically if I'm not up (and if I wake up, so do my girls) at 5 a.m. my time to call on the day the general public code comes out...then by the time I DO call there might be nothing left????

That is a distinct possibility. To be safe, call as soon as CRO opens.

Where will the disney visa code be posted for me to have it when I call? Or can I just call at 7am and say I want the visa discount?

You can call and ask if there is a Disney Visa code. There's no guarentee that there will be one or that it will be released tomorrow.

 

[Cinder-Belle]

OK, so I think I am out of luck!!

Why???

2 things:
1) My dates are 14-18

2) I have Visa, but I already have a package with air! I know, stupid, but I booked it before I got wise to disboards, mousesavers, etc. So, if a code did work on my dates, could I use it? If I mess with my dates, I have to pay another change air fee of $200. (already did that once, but still saved $100 going from New Years to mid-Jan)

Please offer answers, if you can. If I need to stop code watching, I will. Less stess/fun, but I will move on....

Thanks

 

[DISNEYRIFFIC]

OK, so I think I am out of luck!!

Why???

2 things:
1) My dates are 14-18

2) I have Visa, but I already have a package with air! I know, stupid, but I booked it before I got wise to disboards, mousesavers, etc. So, if a code did work on my dates, could I use it? If I mess with my dates, I have to pay another change air fee of $200. (already did that once, but still saved $100 going from New Years to mid-Jan)

Please offer answers, if you can. If I need to stop code watching, I will. Less stess/fun, but I will move on....

Thanks

You should be able to call in once the codes come out, they'll apply that code, and credit you back the difference. Don't give up yet !!

 

[tinkbyday]

I didn't call I just checked availability on the website and I don't have an AP. Maybe they are holding rooms...not sure but I can't believe its sold out at least right now and YC has been for a month since I've been checking YC/BC too

Not sure of your dates, but YC has WV rooms left 1/19- 1/24.

 

[tinkbyday]

Originally Posted by jenjolt
My second question is if I already have a room only reservation how do I go about applying the AAA code if I can get it????

Just wanted to clarify - you are not guaranteed a AAA rate. Only a set number of rooms or % of rooms qualify. When I called first thing in the am the day 09 rates were released, the AAA discount was already not available on a Standard View room at YC - but they had WV left (so that's what we took). I even went to AAA directly to see if I could get it through them and could not. This was several months ago.

If you are going in January, there is a good chance the AAA rated rooms are gone, but certainly worth a try.

 

[Beauty & the Best]

I have a question for all you APers planning on booking the DDP. I have always understood that APers are entitled to discounts on dining that are much better than what the DDP offers. Could someone enlighten me?

You get dining discounts (usually 10%) at a select group of table service restaurants and you can purchase a discounted membership to "Tables in Wonderland" (read about "Tables" on the dining boards.)

Other than that, I don't know of any huge dining discounts. But, I believe that when I booked earlier this year that the AP dining plan was only $30 per person where (correct me if I'm wrong please) I think the public rate is $40 per person.

But really the best part of being an AP is just waking up on a Saturday and saying "hey, let's go to Disney today!"

 

[tinkbyday]

You get dining discounts (usually 10%) at a select group of table service restaurants and you can purchase a discounted membership to "Tables in Wonderland" (read about "Tables" on the dining boards.)

Other than that, I don't know of any huge dining discounts. But, I believe that when I booked earlier this year that the AP dining plan was only $30 per person where (correct me if I'm wrong please) I think the public rate is $40 per person.

But really the best part of being an AP is just waking up on a Saturday and saying "hey, let's go to Disney today!"

You are so very fortunate to have that option - I can't do that from NY

 

[annhjk]

Okay, I'm totally new to this a little confused. Here's my story...

I have a grand gathering (11 people) booked for Jan. 18-25 at the WL and DDP through AAA - paid on a Disney Visa (my mom's account, my name - but she gets all the info).

Are there codes available yet for me? Where do I need to look/call?

Thanks for helping!

 

[staticgirl50]

You can check The Disney Visa site for a code- when it comes out

 

[annhjk]

You can check The Disney Visa site for a code- when it comes out

any idea when that will be?

 

[Cdash]

You can check The Disney Visa site for a code- when it comes out

Can you, or someone else post a link to the Disney Visa Site? The one I find doesn't look like the type that would have a code, which makes me think I am looking in the wrong place!

 

[lovesdumbo]

You get dining discounts (usually 10%) at a select group of table service resta But, I believe that when I booked earlier this year that the AP dining plan was only $30 per person where (correct me if I'm wrong please) I think the public rate is $40 per person.

That is wrong. AP holders pay full price for DDP when they add it to an AP package with dining.

 

[seetheworld]

They are out. Just changed my POR to WL $144 per night standard view!

Can I ask your dates? Are you there over a weekend?

 

[SarahD]

Can you, or someone else post a link to the Disney Visa Site? The one I find doesn't look like the type that would have a code, which makes me think I am looking in the wrong place!

My best guess is tomorrow for VISA codes, Friday at the latest. Go to www.chase.com. You need to be able to log in with a username & password to access your account. Then click on "Disney Offers" and it will pop up a window with their current offers.

The CM I talked to today said they have no advance notice of the VISA codes because they don't come from Disney, they come from Chase. She said most of the time they find out when people start calling to use the code.