Nov/Dec 2010 discounts

[platypus67]

I am planning a trip staying at either ASMO or CBR for 12 nights starting on Nov 28th. I am wondering if traditionally there have been any discounts ie free dining or room discounts for this time frame?
If I book now and pay the deposit is it possible to add codes at a later date if they are released?
Would I be better off waiting until later this year to make my reservation?
If free dining is released later and it is for only part of our stay would we have to make two reservations?
When I booked our 2007 trip I booked in Jan and it wasn't until after we returned home I noticed discounts and such. I would hate to miss out on a special offer, but would hate to miss out on booking the resort we want even more.
Our dates won't be very flexible, maybe a day either way as I am already in the process of booking some of our flights, car rentals etc.
Any info would be appreciated.

 

[HNT2419]

We are going around the same time and have gotten a pin code for 20/30/40% off room discount. 20-value 30-mod 40-deluxe. I just saved a vacation on disneyworld.com and they sent me the pin. Not sure if thats how it works though. Hope that helps!

 

[danceintherain]

I am planning a trip staying at either ASMO or CBR for 12 nights starting on Nov 28th. I am wondering if traditionally there have been any discounts ie free dining or room discounts for this time frame?

Last year they offered Free Dining, usually there's only a package or room discount for the General Public.

If I book now and pay the deposit is it possible to add codes at a later date if they are released?

Yes, but technically your original reservation will be canceled, and you will be rebooked within the availability of the discount. If there's availability with the room type you previously chose, great! If not, you'll have to decide if giving up your room is worth the discount.

Would I be better off waiting until later this year to make my reservation?

No, it doesn't matter. It is better to book the room that you can afford and can live with before the discounts, if any, are released. Then, if there are no discounts you'll at least have the room you can afford. Disney determines discounts based on the rooms they have available at the time they decide to offer the discounts. It can be argued that by booking a room you're effectively reducing the chance of a discount on that room being offered. However, you not booking the room doesn't guarantee that no one else will, so if you want a certain room type, especially a limited one, it's best to book it in advance.

If free dining is released later and it is for only part of our stay would we have to make two reservations?

Yes, but I wouldn't bank on Free Dining being released again, or worry about it unless it is. They made an announcement that said there will be less discounts this year. Traditionally, Free Dining is only offered in August and September to the General Public. Think of last year as a fluke.

When I booked our 2007 trip I booked in Jan and it wasn't until after we returned home I noticed discounts and such. I would hate to miss out on a special offer, but would hate to miss out on booking the resort we want even more.
Our dates won't be very flexible, maybe a day either way as I am already in the process of booking some of our flights, car rentals etc.
Any info would be appreciated.

Sign up for the Mousesavers.com Newsletter. They will notify you of the discounts when they are released. Even then, check for discounts either on these boards or the Mousesavers site before you make any final payment on your trip. Discounts are usually released a few months before the first available dates. Oct-Dec discounts are usually released in the middle of August, so checking for discounts throughout August may be beneficial for you.

You could also consider booking through a Travel Agent if you don't want to watch for codes. They will price out a "new" vacation for you using any discounts available for your dates. They will then notify you of what they were able to get, and you can then decide if you want to rebook using the discount. I used Small World Vacations last year. My TA was very knowledgeable, but I prefer checking the discounts a re-booking myself, because I'm a bit of control freak.

 

[danceintherain]

I thought maybe this site would be helpful to you. It lists the types of discounts for the past few years. They don't list what the discount was (other than general ie. AP, general public, room-only etc), but it can at least help you see the type of discount that has been offered in the past and when they were released.

http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html

 

[platypus67]

Thanks for the info. I will most likely go ahead and book soon and then just keep a watch for discounts. If they come up and can be applied to our reservation, it will be an added bonus.

 

[danceintherain]

No problem. I've seen a lot of people get on here after the fact complaining about how they couldn't apply a discount to their reservation, because they don't understand how it works.