January 2014 discount watch!!

[luvallprincesses]

According to release dates on Mousesavers site , they were released in early October.

http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/#2013

Does anyone remember more specifics about the discounts for Jan 2013? Which resort or even resort categories had what % off for room only? We're their blackout dates for MLK weekend or week?

 

[DisMama3]

Does anyone remember more specifics about the discounts for Jan 2013? Which resort or even resort categories had what % off for room only? We're their blackout dates for MLK weekend or week?

We used the visa discount and I'm pretty sure it was 30% off on a mod (we stayed at CBR). But then we got a free dining code and applied that instead. We went over MLK weekend and that following week and were not blacked out.

 

[luvallprincesses]

We used the visa discount and I'm pretty sure it was 30% off on a mod (we stayed at CBR). But then we got a free dining code and applied that instead. We went over MLK weekend and that following week and were not blacked out.

Now that would be grand! Thank you! Now to decide where to stay before the 180 day mark sneaks up on me in a week.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

We booked in December for mid January this past year!

Wow! I'd be scared to wait that long! Unless it was a last minute decision i suppose. I'd like to book as soon as possible, i just want to save up the money before i book

 

[Wood Nymph]

Does anyone remember more specifics about the discounts for Jan 2013? Which resort or even resort categories had what % off for room only? We're their blackout dates for MLK weekend or week?

There were two different discounts offered to the general public for January through Feb 12th, 2013. There was a room only discount up to 35% for select resorts. Most deluxe resorts, except Wilderness Lodge, had a 30% discount. WL had a 20% discount (that was the one we had). I think most moderates had 25% off or maybe 30% off, except Port Orleans French Quarter, which had 5% off. My sisters stayed there. I'm not sure about the values, but I do know that LM rooms were excluded.

The other discount that was offered to the general public was the stay, play and dine plan. That plan was that you paid rack rate for rooms but children's prices for food. It was a big savings for families with Disney adult members who were staying at the values and mods.

These discounts were first released to Disney Visa card holders around Oct 9th and then to the general public a few days later. Disney then extended the discounts for select dates in the remainder of Feb and March, but I don't remember those dates, since they occurred after our trip. The extension was announced later in the year.

There wasn't and free dining offered to the general public at any time this year except for the Sept free dining offer coming up. Everyone who tells you they had free dining had a pin code or some other limited offer. We were disappointed not to get free dining but at least there was some sort of discount.

We booked our rooms in July and when the discount came up in October, we called and they applied the discount to our existing reservation. We took the room only discount because we saved more money with it. Then I added tickets and the dining plan about ten days before our check in date. I didn't want to pay any extra money ahead of time. And the cancellation policy with the room only reservation is a lot more flexible than the package.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Wow! I'd be scared to wait that long! Unless it was a last minute decision i suppose. I'd like to book as soon as possible, i just want to save up the money before i book

I book as far ahead as I can, and then the Disney vacation becomes just another bill. We pay for our Disney trips using Disney gift cards that we buy through our kids' former school...I pay face value for the gift cards, they're worth face value, but the school gets a 2% donation. Free money for the school, and I can have my room paid off before we leave.

 

[DisMama3]

Wow! I'd be scared to wait that long! Unless it was a last minute decision i suppose. I'd like to book as soon as possible, i just want to save up the money before i book

It was a last minute decision, but that aside, it isn't a busy time. We still got all the ADRs we wanted as well.

 

[Ladcassidy]

We booked in December for mid January this past year!

Booked November 29 for the first week of February last year. Got our preferred resort, ADRs, and knew our discount when we booked. Already booked for the same week 2014. Hoping for similar discounts.

 

[DisMama3]

Booked November 29 for the first week of February last year. Got our preferred resort, ADRs, and knew our discount when we booked. Already booked for the same week 2014. Hoping for similar discounts.

We are in the same boat! Fingers crossed for a good discount haha.

 

[ditsypixie]

Hi! We haven't booked yet either. Just waiting on some vacation time to be approved and some budgeting...

But when we book, we were thinking of not telling kids and surprising them for Christmas? Any one else doing this? Ideas?

 

[DisMama3]

Hi! We haven't booked yet either. Just waiting on some vacation time to be approved and some budgeting...

But when we book, we were thinking of not telling kids and surprising them for Christmas? Any one else doing this? Ideas?

We did this last Christmas. We ordered the free maps with our family name on them and the DVD. Ironically I had this HUGE box from Disney store online shopping for the holidays that we turned inside out so the shipping labels were gone and the characters were on the outside. We put the maps and DVD in the box, and then we got balloons from the dollar store (Mickey, tinker bell and princesses). We also got some star balloons and wrote "we are going to disney world!!" with the dates on those balloons. The kids were pumped to unwrap this huge box and when they opened the box the balloons flew out.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Hi! We haven't booked yet either. Just waiting on some vacation time to be approved and some budgeting...

But when we book, we were thinking of not telling kids and surprising them for Christmas? Any one else doing this? Ideas?

My daughter surprised her kids, age 5 and 3, on Christmas. They were so overwhelmed with the excitement of Christmas that they were underwhelmed by the announcement. If it was me then I would tell them a week before Christmas. They are always ready for any kid of "present" then.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[luvallprincesses]

My daughter surprised her kids, age 5 and 3, on Christmas. They were so overwhelmed with the excitement of Christmas that they were underwhelmed by the announcement. If it was me then I would tell them a week before Christmas. They are always ready for any kid of "present" then.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I was considering doing the Christmas surprise, but hadn't considered that. Thanks for head's up! My kids are older at 12 and 6, so they may be able to appreciate it somewhat better...maybe Christmas Eve might be fun (since they are already unable to sleep...)

 

[cutigress]

Jumping to watch this thread. Heading down in January for the WDW Marathon with the family.

 

[pens4821]

Heading MLK week. Plans changed and we couldn't go end of August as planned. Decided to spend the extra money and stay on site (most likely in an AOA suite). Hoping for a good room only discount for contemporary as we're thinking of really blowing the budget and staying in a tower TPV room for 2 or 3 nights if we can get a decent discount on it.

As much as I hate the thought of paying so much to stay on site (will be about 4X more if we do the TPV room too, 3X more w/o), it will be nice for my 6 year old nephew and it's not something that we do that often (probably not for another 8-10 years).

 

[Hoosier Mom]

Just got a free dining pin for January. Yay! It's odd dates though. Jan 12-16 and Jan 20-Feb 12. I let a travel agent book our trip for us this time and wouldn't you know she's out of town on a trip. Dang it. I probably won't do that again. I love having control of my own trip.

 

[mrsdrake625]

Just got a free dining pin for January. Yay! It's odd dates though. Jan 12-16 and Jan 20-Feb 12. I let a travel agent book our trip for us this time and wouldn't you know she's out of town on a trip. Dang it. I probably won't do that again. I love having control of my own trip.

Woo hoo! So there might be free dining in January next year

 

[Piglet]

Just got a free dining pin for January. Yay! It's odd dates though. Jan 12-16 and Jan 20-Feb 12. I let a travel agent book our trip for us this time and wouldn't you know she's out of town on a trip. Dang it. I probably won't do that again. I love having control of my own trip.

Did you get it through email or postcard in the mail?? Been crossing my fingers for a free dining pin and those are my dates.

 

[DisMama3]

Just got a free dining pin for January. Yay! It's odd dates though. Jan 12-16 and Jan 20-Feb 12. I let a travel agent book our trip for us this time and wouldn't you know she's out of town on a trip. Dang it. I probably won't do that again. I love having control of my own trip.

It is trying to skip over MLK weekend. At least there is something out there

 

[vacation_junkie]

Just got a free dining pin for January. Yay! It's odd dates though. Jan 12-16 and Jan 20-Feb 12. I let a travel agent book our trip for us this time and wouldn't you know she's out of town on a trip. Dang it. I probably won't do that again. I love having control of my own trip.

Right in my date range too!
Come on Pin fairy... for once deliver mamma a pin!!