Am I the only one not booking yet? (DH wants to move our trip up to this year) I hate the thought of making a ressie and then changing it if a code becomes avaliable.
Dh is bugging me to book and I just can't do it, yet. Without a decent code/discount (we can get AAAs) I am seriously thinking of jus saving $$$ and going offsite. I have registered for maps, a DVD and even Dh registered for some things. (I am quite shocked since he has never done anything to book a vacation besides say yes.)
I was told the same thing today! Still waiting and hoping for a better, guaranteed deal.i'd like to chime in on this one. during my recent pin code call-in, the cm was unable to provide me with a worthwhile discount. yet she said something to me that a different cm said to my wife on a previous call, and that i've seen numerous people post was stated to them as well. "why don't you just book now, and later, when a deal comes out your rate will be adjusted". "this way, you're all locked in". i agree, "locked in" is the way i would describe this rationale. if these cast members can convince a large enough amount of people to "play it safe" and book, will they need to release a deal? if i'm reading these boards correctly, most people seem of the opinion that deals are released based on substandard occupancy. sure, if you are of high principles, you can probably cancel in time with no penalty, but i think by early booking, you are hedging their bets, not yours. if this really is the "october discount" group i think everyone should stick together and follow the historically based suggestions of waiting until mid-august, or the final booking date of the current offer (end of august?) before seriously considering jumping ship.
Have you called to see if a PIN is attached to your or your DH's name? I have had one and not known until I called, so it is possible.
i'd like to chime in on this one. during my recent pin code call-in, the cm was unable to provide me with a worthwhile discount. yet she said something to me that a different cm said to my wife on a previous call, and that i've seen numerous people post was stated to them as well. "why don't you just book now, and later, when a deal comes out your rate will be adjusted". "this way, you're all locked in". i agree, "locked in" is the way i would describe this rationale. if these cast members can convince a large enough amount of people to "play it safe" and book, will they need to release a deal? if i'm reading these boards correctly, most people seem of the opinion that deals are released based on substandard occupancy. sure, if you are of high principles, you can probably cancel in time with no penalty, but i think by early booking, you are hedging their bets, not yours. if this really is the "october discount" group i think everyone should stick together and follow the historically based suggestions of waiting until mid-august, or the final booking date of the current offer (end of august?) before seriously considering jumping ship.
Can packages with discounts "run-out"?
What about room-only discounts?
What is the purpose of "locking in"? To only just offset the threat of a resort completely filling up?
I'm "locked in", waiting for a discount, but now think I want to cancel, and take my chances... maybe I just don't understand how the discounts actually work. So basically you are suggesting canceling now and waiting until mid-August to make the final decision, with or without a discount. I understand your reasoning but am trying to understand mine. Why do I feel like I have to be "locked in"?![]()
"why don't you just book now, and later, when a deal comes out your rate will be adjusted". "this way, you're all locked in".
Crazy....that is EXACTLY what the CM said to me when I booked a 2 night stay a few nights ago for October 2011 without a pin code or Disney discount (we did get AAA 15% off).
this is a choice everyone must make based on their own needs or fears. i notice you like POFQ (as do we). i'd say a plus of "locking in" here is that if and when a general deal is released you should still be able to get lodging here, and not be forced to use riverside. not that there's anything wrong with the place, but i've noticed them try to force this choice with past general offers. this statement of waiting i made is for those who can. i simply fear the idea that the cm's have seemingly been told to say this. are they being told to say this because there is a deal coming out? or because they are aware of how many people are banking on and waiting for the deal, and want to take advantage of your current nervous state with the possibility of not having to offer a deal at all if enough people succumb to "trust me". i don't know if "trust me" is possible with disney. the only thing i know about disney is you never know with disney. i can say for myself that this "weening" is not a game for me. i need this discount. i'm not the Don and concerned with "the art of the deal". it's been a rough year, and we need a substantial discount to make this vacation happen. with no deal will we go? we'll try, but if disney really wants to lock the deal, they know how to get us. we're all ready and waiting.
It seems to me this new "speel" the CM's are using about "locking in" your choice of hotel etc is just that a speel or marketing ploy to get people to book now rather than later. Disney is a buisness first and formost and has monthly, quarterly and yearly fiscal end dates. If they can boost their bottom line to show more of a profit the shareholders are happy and getting people to book now rather than hold out for that discounts next month or the month after makes them look better financially when these fiscal periods end.
Finding ways to inflate the bottom line to put a company in a better light is a common business practice.
All that being said there is some logic to "locking in" the resort or room type you want to book for specific dates although at this late stage in the game I do not think in many cases it makes sense.
I know for my dates mid-October there is no availability at CR, BLT, very very limited at GF and the Poly, mostly CL , the same is true of the Epcot resorts and AKL, WL still seems to have most catagories other than standard available. Not sure about the Mods or Values but I would suspect POP might be full as it seems to sell out early.
If you have your heart set on CR MK view your too late you would have had to "lock" that in before now for October.
Another thing to remember is if and when the discounts do come out only a certain number of room are allotted for each promo and if a resort is booked or certain catagories already booked they will not be included in the promotional offer.
What this means is if you have a room booked at CR MK view and Disney offers 35% off Deluxe Resorts when you call to see about having the "discount offer" applied to your reservation, you may find the CM telling you there is NO AVAILABILITY under the promo but she has XXXXXX available.
If your willing to change your resort or room catagory you can get that coveted discount if not then you will keep your current reservation that you "locked in" at rack rate.
So in the end it is all a matter of personal choice
Yes, you must be a member to get their rates, but you can ask what the rates are before you join. The AAA discount is a room discount, either for a room-only or on the room portion of a package. To book room-only, you can call Disney or go through AAA. To book a package with the discount, you must go through AAA directly; Disney cannot do it.Exactly how does the AAA rates work? I mean, do you have to be a member to get their rates? And is there some sort of discount to book with AAA? Sorry, I'm just not at all familiar with booking with them.![]()
It seems to me this new "speel" the CM's are using about "locking in" your choice of hotel etc is just that a speel or marketing ploy to get people to book now rather than later. Disney is a buisness first and formost and has monthly, quarterly and yearly fiscal end dates. If they can boost their bottom line to show more of a profit the shareholders are happy and getting people to book now rather than hold out for that discounts next month or the month after makes them look better financially when these fiscal periods end.
Finding ways to inflate the bottom line to put a company in a better light is a common business practice.
All that being said there is some logic to "locking in" the resort or room type you want to book for specific dates although at this late stage in the game I do not think in many cases it makes sense.
I know for my dates mid-October there is no availability at CR, BLT, very very limited at GF and the Poly, mostly CL , the same is true of the Epcot resorts and AKL, WL still seems to have most catagories other than standard available. Not sure about the Mods or Values but I would suspect POP might be full as it seems to sell out early.
If you have your heart set on CR MK view your too late you would have had to "lock" that in before now for October.
Another thing to remember is if and when the discounts do come out only a certain number of room are allotted for each promo and if a resort is booked or certain catagories already booked they will not be included in the promotional offer.
What this means is if you have a room booked at CR MK view and Disney offers 35% off Deluxe Resorts when you call to see about having the "discount offer" applied to your reservation, you may find the CM telling you there is NO AVAILABILITY under the promo but she has XXXXXX available.
If your willing to change your resort or room catagory you can get that coveted discount if not then you will keep your current reservation that you "locked in" at rack rate.
So in the end it is all a matter of personal choice
From what I have read on these boards the cms get credit for sales. If you modify or change the original cm still gets the credit. That could be why they try to get you to book then. I believe they are required to meet a certain quota. I doubt its some devious ploy. They are probably just trying to meet thier quota and keep there jobs.