Looking for advice :)

[wdwfamilyinIL]

We have been to Disney for the last five years, not once have we ever had a pin. We did get a free waterpark code and then we had free dining once, but that was it. My question, and I hope no one is affended or feels like I have crossed a line, but how do people afford to stay in the deluxes? Anyone have any ideas?

 

[flicx]

Send for the free park planning cd.They will give pins then also it wouldn't hurt to be on disney.com and let them send you emails.My wife and I make a very modest income and have been lucky enough to stay at the poly and contemp,a few times.We always go during the value seasons and usually use a pin.If you shop you can generally get in for less than200 a night with taxes.I know it is alot but we generally save on food by bringing things to eat to the room for breakfasts and lunches.This way you can cut corners on the expensive disney food.The ease of return to the deluxe resorts allow for it.It is also nice to go back and get a mid day break at the very nice pools at these hotels.I think you can really maximize time at these resorts especially if you go to the magic kingdom and epcot alot! Be warned however once you stay at one of these deluxe resorts the others loose their luster!

 

[notaclue]

Several people have posted on here saying they just called Disney and asked
if there was a PIN code or discount associated with their name and the answer was 'yes'. Just because you didn't get an email or snail mail postcard doesn't mean you can't get a deal. Call and ask....all they can say is 'no' and
you might find out you got some pixie dust.

 

[hstrickland]

Never received a pin.....EVER....and both my husband and I have separate email addresses...NOTHING. Not sure how it works. Wish I knew the secret. We have done everything the Disboards said to do, but no luck.

As far as the deluxes go, I think it just depends on what you think is expensive and what you are willing to pay for. We have a vacation budget each year...we figure in what it will cost. I will agree that the actual room price is really high!! The way we look at the cost is like this....we are paying for location, convenience, theme, bigger rooms, queen size beds, etc. We always book a package and really don't focus on "room only" price. The last trip we had free dining and our next trip we have 40% off room....very nice!!! Would we pay rack rate??? Most likely....we love Disney....it's just part of our yearly budget.

 

[jackemail]

I've never received a pin code, either. I afford the deluxes by saving and scrimping all year, and making it my only vacation of the year.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

Thanks for the help. I have requested a dvd, so hopefully. What number do you call when you check on codes? My husband and I do ok, I am a rn and he is machinist but with 3 kids, a mortage et vehicles it takes a toll....so anything I can find to help. I know what you mean about once you stay, we stayed at french quarter last year, and now we don't even want to think about a value again.

 

[dansyr2514]

For us it is not easy to afford the deluxes. But that is because we like to add on the deluxe dining plan. A huge part of our vacation ( 2 adults) is enjoying really nice dining. My dbf was not impressed with the moderate resort room we stayed in so I checked into renting pts to see if it would be cheaper. We came across a friend of a friend who own DVC and now rent pts from him for part of a split stay. That allows us to save some money and still stay at a nice place. This year we'll be spending the weekend nights at CSR and weeknights at either Beach Club villas or Animal Kingdom Villas. I received the 40% pin code but it is still less expensive to rent pts.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

We always book a package too, for us the dining plan saves money. We don't have to have the park hopper, but that prolly won't save a lot. I just know when I priced the poly it came back 7000 and I was in awe...couldn't believe.....but I know that Disney is expensive and its something we all look forward to all year. I just don't know, hoping for some pixie dust.

 

[flicx]

Consider going in late september if you can,the crowds are down and you can usually get the best deals then.We were lucky enough to get upgraded at check in to the atrium club concierge at the contemporary last september we paid 189.00 a night with taxes for 4 nights that time.What a treat,I also check travelocity and expedia from time to time,have actually done better once or twice on them.I think the key is off season for the budget conscious.

 

[hstrickland]

What number do you call when you check on codes?

Do you have a Disney Visa? From time to time they will have different offers available for card holders. This is how I received free dining. The 40% off for rooms is a public code that is offered on the Disney website. We actually booked our package last September. I checked almost everyday for new offers from Disney and finally on January 1st, they offered the 40% deluxe rooms. I simply called and gave them the code and they applied it to our reservation. That's one of the great things about Disney....if you pay full price, they will always honor their discounts if they become available. I was literally jumping up and down when they told me I saved $1200!!!

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

With my vacation time right now we are stuck going the 1st week of december.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

no disney visa here. I want to go ahead and get something booked so I can pay on it, I wish I would have booked when we were there and done the bounceback....so much for hindsight. My dilema is do I book the poly or cont and hope for a code, or just book the riverside? My big thing with the riverside is that I don't know how comfy my 7 year old will be on the pull out

 

[mward73]

I saved a couple of vacations on their site. Then I ordered a planning DVD. The same day the DVD came, I got a pin code in my email for 20/30/40 % off. It said something about hoping I could use it for my October vacation I was wanting to take (they either got October from my saved vacation or the DVD questions). So, I emailed my travel agent the code and she applied it to my October vacation that I had booked through her. Took 40% off our room (deluxe). I remember ordering the DVD last year and getting serveral pin codes right afterwards then as well. Hope one comes for you!!

 

[flicx]

The first week of december should be a good week to get discounts, be relentless and you will ferret out a good rate.Remember also disney now charges more for friday and saturday night stays.I'm sure you will get a pin soon!

 

[frtchr]

We stay in Deluxes or Villas every time. We save and budget throughout the year. Plus, as a SAHM, it's my only break, so I insist on having some room! LOL We also book bouncebacks almost every time we go, so we end up with 45% off villa rooms. That helps!

As far as booking, it's hard to know if you'll get a pin or not. If it were me, I would book what I knew I could afford or was willing to spend and hope to get a pin or discount later. Check back often to see if there are discounts.

I grew up near the IN/IL state line on the IN side, OP!

 

[flicx]

You should try to rent a time share at the new baylake towers.If you are worried about getting a room put an ad on the rental portion of this sight and someone who has a time share could book you a room and you would be under 200 a night for a studio the first week of december, if you fly you can still get magical express at the time shares an option worth looking into!

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

I just want to thank all for their advice, its been very helpfull

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I don't know the dates of your trip, but right now there is a good general public code out through August 14, 2010 (meaning anyone can use it if a room is available for your resort/dates). You simply call the reservation number (407-934-7639) and ask the CM for the general public discount code. For a deluxe resort, it is at least a 35% discount.

A good place to read about ways to save money at WDW is mousesavers.com.

We are Annual Passholders and usually get a decent discount, that is one of the ways we afford staying deluxe. We've never paid $7000 for a week at a deluxe resort, even if we figure in food! If there is an AP code out that is better than one for the GP (or there is no GP), you might be surprised at how much getting just one adult AP can save you over full price + regular ticket. And if you travel to WDW every year, you can plan your vacation the following year for one week earlier, and use that same AP.

Good luck! I hope you are able to find a way to stay deluxe, if that is your dream.

 

[ipodluvr287]

I recieved the 20/30/40% off room rate PIN a week ago. We got it by making a new account on Disney.com and ordering the Vacation Planning DVD. When you order the DVD, you will need to specify which month you want to go in, when it asks or they probably won't send you the room rate PIN.

 

[SunBearLewis]

OP - booking at Swan and Dolphin will allow you to get near deluxe quality at a moderate price (or so I've been told )
I'm an RN too and they have discount rates for nurses, teachers, etc. It does not allow you to book packages, however, they do offer EMH, you're within walking distance to the boardwalk, EPCOT and DHS. They also have buses. Maybe you've already looked into it and vetoed it, but it's an idea if you haven't. We booked in late Oct with the nurses rate and I got 149$ a night. Like I said, there are some differences, and you won't be able to purchase a dining plan, but you may save enough money it will make up the difference.
Just throwing it out there