Least expensive way to stay on site?

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

I am a dedicated Hojo's woman, but I have heard so many accolades for staying on site that now I am wondering if can be done in a less-than-bank-breaking way? Or am this one of those "million dreams" I've heard so much about??

 

[bumbershoot]

Do you have an AP? They've pretty much had good rates all this year, even during part of Spring Break, for AP holders. They are currently showing the special AP rates through September, so give them a few more months and they'll probably start with their later specials.

If you don't have APs, you could possibly find that getting just one AP would be useful, just to get a great rate (and food discounts...merchandise discounts, too, if you got the Premium)

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

We don't have APs, since we only get to DL every (gulp! sob!) three years. But the next time we go, I want to stay four days instead of three - maybe I should sit down and do the math. Perhaps an AP would be a good investment......

I'll keep picking your brain for the next three years, Molly...You have that to look forward to!

 

[heatherleigh]

I just sort of depends on the time of year. Sometimes they have pin code offers that make it affordable, or they have specials (like the current one) of buy three nights, get two free. We plan on taking advantage of that offer this year, and staying at the DLH, which we have never done in the past. Also, you can get deals thru other events as well like GayDays, for example. They always offer good rates, but you'd have to go during that specific time during the yr.

 

[Sherry E]

There is also always the hope that a special PIN offer will arrive (see separate thread entitled "Disneyland Hotel Deals," where I just listed the different PINS that have been out in the last year. I have already gotten two of them so far this year and will probably not be able to use the current one I have because AP rates are slightly better). It seems to be a mailing list thing - like make sure you sign up on DLR's website to get a free vacation DVD if you haven't already, or contact the WDTC to send you brochures for WDW and DLR - that sort of thing. Anything you can do to get your name on the DLR mailing lists will help. Have you done that? Have you signed up for anything? Because they enter you somewhere and then people randomly get the PIN offers via snail mail or e-mail, and sometimes the rates are pretty good (as far as DLR hotels prices go).

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

I got their planning DVD for the "Year of a Million Dreams" last year (even though we weren't planning on visiting until March of this year.) I don't know if I signed up to be on mailing lists or email lists though - doubtful as I haven't received anything by mail except one promotion for Disney cruises.... Anyway, maybe it is time to revisit their website and get my name on every little thing?!

Thanks for the tip, Sherry.

 

[Sherry E]

I got their planning DVD for the "Year of a Million Dreams" last year (even though we weren't planning on visiting until March of this year.) I don't know if I signed up to be on mailing lists or email lists though - doubtful as I haven't received anything by mail except one promotion for Disney cruises.... Anyway, maybe it is time to revisit their website and get my name on every little thing?!

Thanks for the tip, Sherry.

Getting on the list for the DVD is good, but yes, sign up to anything you see on the DLR website or order booklets from the Walt Disney Travel Company - anything. Again, it does seem to be very random. Like they will start out sending them to people and a lot of people are skipped over. Plus, not everyone can use their PIN offers so they go to waste. Then, Disney Destinations sends out more in another batch - whether it is email or snail mail or both - and MORE people seem to start getting them. So maybe when they don't get a big response at first, they send out a bunch the next time until someone starts booking! Last year, I know the PIN offers had a LOT to do with the mass bookings at the 3 hotels (especially PPH and DLH) in October. But by December, the hotels had a lot of availability near Christmas, the peak season, and that probably had to do with the fact that there were no PIN offers going around past mid-December and no one wanted to pay full peak price.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'll keep picking your brain for the next three years, Molly...You have that to look forward to!

Yay!

Actually, most of the time I'm answering so urgently that I forget to look at the person I'm replying to, and I've been known to answer the same person's different questions right in a row, without realizing it was the same person! I'm a dingbat I guess.

Also, you can get deals thru other events as well like GayDays, for example. They always offer good rates, but you'd have to go during that specific time during the yr.

Really good point!

Anyway, maybe it is time to revisit their website and get my name on every little thing?!

Absolutely. Make sure you spend time on their site, putting your accurate info everywhere they have spaces for info. Order another DVD (they have a new one for Celebrate). etc etc etc.

 

[DizMe]

Last year I bought an AP to take advantage of the AP7 (or was it 8?) rate in Oct. The plan was for our family to have one member get an ap (me) and save a bunch of money on the hotel, thus making the ap purchase a better idea than getting a hopper. What REALLY happened was the Disneyland Snowball Effect. Costco came out with that deal with the $50 gift card when you got an ap from them and the next thing I knew, the whole family had aps. Well, me having an ap is like me having a wallet full of money. I hear it begging me to be used, and I capitulate. My once-a-year trip to DL turned into 5 trips. I mean, I HAD to go on my birthday and get the $69 gift card, right? And so on and so forth.

Just be forewarned: having an ap, for SOME people, can be a dangerous move if saving money is the goal.

 

[godalejunior]

We have every DVD they make, including DVC, are on every Disney mailing list known to mankind, are AP holders, buy junk from the Disneystore all the time and have never receivd a PIN code once. The PIN code is definitely not something you can count on....just hope for and keep your fingers crossed. I would do the math on the AP. It might be worth one person in your family purchasing to save the money on food, merchandise with the PAP and hotel. Like bumbershoot said, AP rates have ran for a good majority of this year which makes it more affordable to stay on site.

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

Do I remember correctly that if I have one AP card I can actually reserve 2 rooms? (I do not yet have my AP - if we go this route for our Family Reunion we would need much more than 2 rooms....)

 

[DangerMouse]

Just be forewarned: having an ap, for SOME people, can be a dangerous move if saving money is the goal.

I agree with this statement 100%.

 

[amyamya]

I don't think anyone's yet mentioned the good 'ol Senior Discount. 30 % off rack rate if there is at least one person in your party over 60. You can get up to two rooms and the senior must be present at check-in, but not really. They let us check-in early and go to our room hours before my MIL arrived. We used this rate and then used the Gay Days discount for our tickets. Off season you should be able to get a pretty good deal...

 

[Sherry E]

We have every DVD they make, including DVC, are on every Disney mailing list known to mankind, are AP holders, buy junk from the Disneystore all the time and have never receivd a PIN code once. The PIN code is definitely not something you can count on....just hope for and keep your fingers crossed. I would do the math on the AP. It might be worth one person in your family purchasing to save the money on food, merchandise with the PAP and hotel. Like bumbershoot said, AP rates have ran for a good majority of this year which makes it more affordable to stay on site.

Again, it is very random - the mysterious Disney computer 'system' just selects people at random to get the PIN offers, based on no apparent criteria that we know of, and unfortunately, for whatever reason, you haven't received one yet. But, inexplicably, I got two PIN offers in just the last few months of last year and I have had two so far this year (and probably will get another one before the year ends if this one isn't used). I don't know why some people get them and some people don't, but I would still encourage anyone to keep signing up for Disney things and getting on every DLR mailing list because it can't hurt! They obviously get the names of people they send them to from somewhere - and it is not an AP-related thing because I was getting PINS before I had an AP - so that means they are pulling from some sort of database or list. (Actually, the AP rates are better, truth be told.) Receiving the PIN can't be counted on, but that is one way to get a cheaper hotel rate if you happen to get one and if you don't have an alternate means of getting a discount.

I think having an AP is worthwhile if you go to DLR two or more times a year (overnight stays) because it starts paying for itself pretty much right away in food discounts. I was able to get my Premium AP last year for only $191 by applying some unused tickets I had towards the price of it and I put it to use right away for discounts. I came home with an extra $40 - $45 in my wallet at the end of the DLR trip that I would not have had otherwise, so I felt I got a really fantastic deal all around! Now, I will not be lucky enough to get that kind of a discount on a Premium AP again this year, sadly, so I may have to let it expire for a bit and then renew later.

And DizMe is right - having the AP is a dangerous facet of the dreaded DSE - because your wheels start spinning and you try to convince yourself of ways to get back to DLR again and again (with hotel stays included) so you can "make use of the AP."

 

[heatherleigh]

Amy, I didn't know there was a sr. discount! That is great news. I would love to take the in-laws next yr.

 

[KCmike]

Does it get better than the 5 for 3 deal?

 

[lulubelle]

It depends on how flexible you are.

Since I am local, I can pick dates when the deals are best. Right now you can stay in a view room at DLH Sept 18-20 (Fri-Sun) for $159 a night. That's on the AP calendar (DL website). I don't know how you could beat that rate. I also saw PPH for like $129-$149 the end of August. Many dates are a lot higher, but you can find a great deal. I stay at least 4 times a year, usually 2-3 nights at a time.

I also agree with the KCMike that the 5 for 3 deal is great. But a lot of people don't/can't stay 5 nights.

And FWIW, I have never received a PIN code offer.

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

I just love this board! The amount of knowledge here is staggering! I feel like my Disney IQ has grown by 30% just reading this post.......You all are awesome!

So, I am excited because we always travel with my mom (she lives with us and might get perturbed if we visit Mickey without her ) and she is over 60, so if there is indeed a discount we are good to go right there.

I did spend some time on the Disney website last night. I ordered their current DVD (which will be fun to have since we went this year, kind of a "souvenir" of sorts, but not...) and also signed my entire family up to get Birthday emails from various characters....that should be fun.

Does anyone know the merits of having a Disney Visa? I am wondering if there are discounts, etc, if you pay with a Disney credit card over other cards....or if there are points to accumulate toward discounts? Don't know if I can talk the ol' DH into another card, but if there is a savings involved perhaps I could...

Oh, and no worries about the snowball effect....we live far enough away that even the call of an AP in my wallet wouldn't do anything more than depress me, because when we go it is a TRIP, not a jaunt....and my DH is the sensible sort who would point out that "free" admission does not a free vacation make....

Thanks for all the amazing advice, keep it coming!!

 

[VallCopen]

They also offer AAA rates. We use the AP rate so I don't know how the AAA rate compares? It would make sense (depending on when you are going) to just get an AP for one of you ( it will cost you around 169 or so for a 3 day hopper so for just another 100 or so you can get the AP) and then use that one to book rooms, if the rates are much better, and to get the 10% off at the restaurants. I think you will just have to do the math.

The Pier has the best rates but has a bit less of the Disney feel, but it also has a great view of the park (DCA), we booked a standard view and actually got a room with a view on the 7th floor. Good luck!!

 

[Talldewy]

Feel free to correct my math but pay for 3 and get 5 is a 40 percent discount, which beat the 30 percent Gr&pa rate I was excited about. That said the "senior" (cough,cough) may be available more often and normally does not have a block out period ie summertime etc.