Just how often is applying the long awaiting discount code successful?

[DisneyGuy]

First, it seems that many people pre-book their room and apply the discount once released. We are going the first week of December, and really it seemed like a lot was already booked - so we jumped on it figuring we better do it now. Knowing that we could apply the discount once it comes out (if it ever does for our dates) it would be no problem.

But, there is a problem. What if the discount is not available for your room type/resort? We are booked for the Yacht Club, Garden view. I've seen people say that if the rooms are all booked up, why should Disney offer a discount? That makes perfect sense, why would they?

So, my question is, how successful are people applying the discount to an already made reservation? If the success rate is fairly low, and you have to change resorts or categories, is it even worth it to book now?

I'm hoping that booking the resort so soon was the right thing to do. I wouldn't pay rack rate at the Yacht Club if the discount would be open for, say, Boardwalk - other than theme, it's the same area and amenities. The reason I make that statement is because I know many say don't bank on a discount and if you have no problem paying the quoted rate, the discount would just be a bonus - I agree with that, but I guess I certainly wouldn't pay rack rate if another deluxe in the same area was discounted.

Any thoughts?

 

[Flamingeaux]

We will never go to WDW without some sort of discount so we will never book at rack rate. What is the point?

 

[DisneyGuy]

We will never go to WDW without some sort of discount so we will never book at rack rate. What is the point?

I guess I was following what I thought was - book now, and apply the discount later so that you can get what you want - but I think that might be wrong.

 

[Aliceacc]

We have Disney Visa, so our discount came out Thursday.

Our travel agent applied it successfully. We did have to change resorts. ( BC to YC) since apparently no discounted Garden View rooms were left at the BC.

The verification email was there when I checked at about 10 am.

 

[quigs3]

I've always waited until a special offer comes out before I book, since I refuse to pay full price for Disney. Plus, I've heard that it's really inconvenient to add a discount after the fact. People have said they've had to sit on hold for hours waiting for assistance with adding the discount to their package, and I've never wanted to mess with all of that. I guess if you have a travel agent, then they'll be the ones who have to sit on hold on your behalf.

 

[aaarcher86]

I guess I was following what I thought was - book now, and apply the discount later so that you can get what you want - but I think that might be wrong.

One doesn't really have anything to do with the other. Having a room already booked doesn't have an effect if the discount can be applied.

 

[DisneyGuy]

I guess I'll leave it for now and wait it out but be prepared to switch resorts.

 

[DisneyGuy]

I've always waited until a special offer comes out before I book, since I refuse to pay full price for Disney. Plus, I've heard that it's really inconvenient to add a discount after the fact. People have said they've had to sit on hold for hours waiting for assistance with adding the discount to their package, and I've never wanted to mess with all of that. I guess if you have a travel agent, then they'll be the ones who have to sit on hold on your behalf.

No travel agent here, just me so I'll be the one on hold.

 

[Bilierka]

I booked at reg, rate for the summer, with the discount I saved 63.00 because I have a package I paid the new higher ticket price and dining price, was it worth it to be on hold for 47 minutes to save 63.00'dollars, I guess,,,,,,

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I think I've done all the scenarios. I've had packages booked that a discount can be applied to, no switching room category or resort. I've had rooms booked, where I've had to upgrade to a different room category to get a discount. Most recent, I waited for the discount to be released and then asked the CM to run the numbers on three different resorts. The CM didn't mind and it was done quickly. The hardest part was me deciding which resort I wanted to go with.

 

[MsThumper]

No travel agent here, just me so I'll be the one on hold.

I used to book early in the year and then wait until the discounts came out. Last time I did that, I spent the entire day calling to get the discount applied. Their reservation system was down, so every time I got connected to a CM, they told me to try back in a little while. I think I ended up being charged for 4 phone calls, luckily, they weren't long ones. The light bulb finally went on in my head and I decided not to do that again. Last time I booked, I just waited until the discount came out, booked it in 5 minutes and I was done. However, the discount we got, which was for the courtyard view at the Wilderness Lodge, was not as large as we have gotten in the past. It really does seem that the discounts are getting harder to get.

For this years trip, we tried renting a DVC through David's website, for the first week of December, but nobody wanted to sell their points. We were on a waiting list for 2 month, I finally asked for a refund.

To answer your original question, I have always been successful at getting the accommodations that we wanted, but I always had a second and third choice ready just in case.

Like others have said, we don't go if we have to pay rack price.

 

[Shagley]

I don't book in advance, because I figure if too many people book in advance, Disney will not have any reason to put out a promotion for that particular date. If they feel the resorts are filling up without a discount or promotion being offered, they will have no incentive to offer anything for those dates.

 

[focusondisney]

I don't book in advance, because I figure if too many people book in advance, Disney will not have any reason to put out a promotion for that particular date. If they feel the resorts are filling up without a discount or promotion being offered, they will have no incentive to offer anything for those dates.

This. Disney offers discounts to fill vacant rooms. If, for example, all the garden view rooms @ YC are filled @ rack rate, there will be no discounts on garden view rooms at the YC. There is no inventory available to sell. Why discount something that is not available to be booked?

Frequent discussion here on the Dis Boards is if everyone booking at rack rate hoping for a discount doesn't actually hurt the chances of a discount being offered.

I have not any problems changing from public offers to AP discounts tho. Always completed in 1 easy call.

 

[mom2aandp]

We will book with hopes a deal will come out. I always have a back up plan too. We booked BC for the summer but were 100 fine staying at POFQ if we needed to. We could afford it without a discount. When it came to light that BC was getting 25% we happily moved to the YC, but when I called to moved the room I had the back up in mind. I wont "tease" myself with a trip that I will ditch if a good deal doesnt come out. This is our 4th time going in July since 2009 and there is always something out there as far as a dicount. Nothing like the buy 4 get 3, but 35% isnt shabby at all!

 

[tyniknate]

I don't book in advance, because I figure if too many people book in advance, Disney will not have any reason to put out a promotion for that particular date. If they feel the resorts are filling up without a discount or promotion being offered, they will have no incentive to offer anything for those dates.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

It used to be a "given" that when a discount was released you could call and easily get the discount applied to your existing reservation.

Disney seems to have gotten smarter about that, and tightend up the number of rooms available at the discount based on projected occupancy/popularity of the resort. Witness the recent difference in discount available at ASMo vs the other All Stars, or at Wilderness Lodge vs other deluxe resorts. I have also read a lot of posts about limited discounts at POR.

So OP I would say yes, all the pre-booking at the very least isn't helping.

Mark my words - soon Disney will become like other companies and limit discounts to new bookings only.