My "Zero" Offer from Disney

[GovieMom]

So I'd been playing around on WDW's site, putting in dates for accommodations onsite, hoping to get a room-only discount for our trip in the fall (Oct. 27 - Nov. 3). I know we can get free dining then, but was hoping for a room-only as it'll be just my DH and I, staying at the BC. Got a WDW brochure in today's mail which looked promising, stating they're "thrilled" to hear we're interested in coming back to see them again.

It listed the specifics: The cost was per night plus tax, in a standard room, for stays Sun-Thurs nights, 10/1/12 - 10/4/12 and 10/8/12 - 10/31/12 at the values, moderates, and either WL or AKL.

The prices are what killed me ... they are the same as rack rate! Not only that, they're $5 higher per night at the values and mods! And it says that on booking, be sure to mention a code (like we'd be getting some deal). I mean really, geesh!

 

[gwynne]

So I'd been playing around on WDW's site, putting in dates for accommodations onsite, hoping to get a room-only discount for our trip in the fall (Oct. 27 - Nov. 3). I know we can get free dining then, but was hoping for a room-only as it'll be just my DH and I, staying at the BC. Got a WDW brochure in today's mail which looked promising, stating they're "thrilled" to hear we're interested in coming back to see them again.

It listed the specifics: The cost was per night plus tax, in a standard room, for stays Sun-Thurs nights, 10/1/12 - 10/4/12 and 10/8/12 - 10/31/12 at the values, moderates, and either WL or AKL.

The prices are what killed me ... they are the same as rack rate! Not only that, they're $5 higher per night at the values and mods! And it says that on booking, be sure to mention a code (like we'd be getting some deal). I mean really, geesh!

Were the prices listed on the flyer, or are you trying to get the deal online?
Just a possibility, but the online link for pin codes often is tricky. It might be worth a call the WDW to ask, give them them some dates and see what they come up with for a price. FWIW, sometimes in the past I've been able to book different months/dates/resorts than what was specifically listed. It can't hurt to ask.
(And if it turns out that they did give you a no-deal, deal, what's up with that? Certainly doesn't make you a happy customer. Bad business tactics, I think.)

 

[GovieMom]

Were the prices listed on the flyer, or are you trying to get the deal online? (And if it turns out that they did give you a no-deal, deal, what's up with that? Certainly doesn't make you a happy customer. Bad business tactics, I think.)

The prices were listed in the brochure. I had been pricing rooms and packages online weeks before, hoping to obtain a Pin Code for some kind of discount. The brochure does say to mention the code number when calling to book, but it doesn't say the prices will be discounted if I do. All in all, a somewhat deceiving marketing ploy, IMO.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I got this too. When I go to the website listed which is just the normal www.disneyworld.com/vacation, there is no place to put the three digit code which would give me a discount.

I think its just something to reel me in thinking I have some great deal.

Which I already do in the form of the general public free dining offer.

I have looked all over the brochure and to the best I can tell, there is absolutely no discount being offered.

What a waste of my time and their postage.

 

[Tltorrez]

Disney does this all the time, so I presume it works often enough to make it worthwhile. They're aimed, of course, at people that aren't in the know and presumably people that don't book online. The code isn't supposed to be a discount code; it's a marketing code, so that Disney knows which flyer was effective. Lots of companies use codes like that to track marketing effectiveness. So it's not inherently dishonest, but definitely confusing to the few people that know Disney does give discounts.

 

[GovieMom]

The code isn't supposed to be a discount code; it's a marketing code, so that Disney knows which flyer was effective. Lots of companies use codes like that to track marketing effectiveness.

Thanks for the insight about that worthless code; good to know.

 

[GovieMom]

What a waste of my time and their postage.

You're telling me!

 

[VeeHam]

I got one today too. Had my hopes up for a PIN.

 

[patty57]

I had one yesterday as well. I even called to make sure that I was understanding it correctly. It had a PIN code, but there was no discount. I had saved a couple of trips on the WDW site hoping for a PIN, and I got one...it just wasn't a discount. The CM said that sometimes PIN mailings are just "informational" in nature. Isn't that special.

 

[Tltorrez]

I had one yesterday as well. I even called to make sure that I was understanding it correctly. It had a PIN code, but there was no discount. I had saved a couple of trips on the WDW site hoping for a PIN, and I got one...it just wasn't a discount. The CM said that sometimes PIN mailings are just "informational" in nature. Isn't that special.

Was it formatted like a PIN code? Usually the marketing codes are a different format altogether.

It's interesting. I haven't seen any posts recently of people getting Pins. But a lot of people are getting these mailers. I wouldn't think these mailers would be particularly effective for repeat visitors like most DISers.

 

[patty57]

It was formatted like a PIN code. It had a phone number to call, and it asked for the PIN number. It wasn't a bait and switch, but it was misleading.

 

[klwdisney]

I got that email this morning. What a tease!!

 

[patty57]

I got that email this morning. What a tease!!

I know...pretty deflating. I was so excited when I got it out of the mailbox, but the excitement didn't last long.

 

[cjsm&d]

The prices were listed in the brochure. I had been pricing rooms and packages online weeks before, hoping to obtain a Pin Code for some kind of discount. The brochure does say to mention the code number when calling to book, but it doesn't say the prices will be discounted if I do. All in all, a somewhat deceiving marketing ploy, IMO.

I would call and relay the code to a CM, maybe there will be a discount there. It couldn't hurt.

Edit: I guess it isn' a great deal.

 

[patty57]

A little added info I forgot to mention was it said "Game On" xxxx family. Then talked about how they saw I was looking to book a trip in December, which also made me think the saved trip had triggered a discount PIN. In the past, I think the "Game On" code did come with a discount, but I might be wrong about that.

 

[Tltorrez]

A little added info I forgot to mention was it said "Game On" xxxx family. Then talked about how they saw I was looking to book a trip in December, which also made me think the saved trip had triggered a discount PIN. In the past, I think the "Game On" code did come with a discount, but I might be wrong about that.

I know there was a big flurry of Game On mailers last year at this time. But I think they were non-discount ones too. Could be wrong about that though.

 

[larryz]

A little added info I forgot to mention was it said "Game On" xxxx family. Then talked about how they saw I was looking to book a trip in December, which also made me think the saved trip had triggered a discount PIN. In the past, I think the "Game On" code did come with a discount, but I might be wrong about that.

Don't lose heart. Same thing happened to me Spring 2011, and within a month I had another "Game On" snail mail pin, this time with 15 digits, good for 30%.

I know there was a big flurry of Game On mailers last year at this time. But I think they were non-discount ones too. Could be wrong about that though.

My last 3 snail mail offers (two in the last three months) were all "Game On" and were tied specifically to dates I had saved in the vacation planning/booking pages on the official Disney World website. Discounts ranged from a flat 30% to quoted daily rates that represented about a 25% discount over high season.

 

[patty57]

Don't lose heart. Same thing happened to me Spring 2011, and within a month I had another "Game On" snail mail pin, this time with 15 digits, good for 30%.


My last 3 snail mail offers (two in the last three months) were all "Game On" and were tied specifically to dates I had saved in the vacation planning/booking pages on the official Disney World website. Discounts ranged from a flat 30% to quoted daily rates that represented about a 25% discount over high season.

larryz, Good to know. Thank you. I'll keep hoping.

 

[tinkermommyof3]

A little added info I forgot to mention was it said "Game On" xxxx family. Then talked about how they saw I was looking to book a trip in December, which also made me think the saved trip had triggered a discount PIN. In the past, I think the "Game On" code did come with a discount, but I might be wrong about that.

OMG. I just got this one today! I was so excited when I saw the "Game On" xxx family because last Fall I received the same thing with a 30% all resort levels for 2012. This, however, was exactly what you described. An ad with rack rates. On the bright side, I know I am in their thoughts!