October 2012 Code Watch!!!

[Paendrag]

i would not think twice about calling and asking again even if my check in date did not correspond with fd. no harm in asking and there could be a nice surprise waiting.....who knows?

I agree. Even though I have been told repeatedly that I won't qualify for FD, I am still going to give them a call.

 

[SaberJ]

You could always do a split stay, and at least qualify for FD on the 19th-20th. It would be 5 and 2 at that point. 5 days room only, and then a 2 day package with the FD and tickets. I've heard of people doing that. Not sure how simple that is when you are actually there.

 

[Maggie Lizer]

For FD you have to do a package, right? As in, you have to buy a ticket and book a room (at rack rate)?

 

[wdwmaw]

For FD you have to do a package, right? As in, you have to buy a ticket and book a room (at rack rate)?

yes

 

[wdwmaw]

You could always do a split stay, and at least qualify for FD on the 19th-20th. It would be 5 and 2 at that point. 5 days room only, and then a 2 day package with the FD and tickets. I've heard of people doing that. Not sure how simple that is when you are actually there.

I would not consider this option. The ticket prices on a 5 day and then another ticket purchase for the free dining would just not make sense. You would be better off hoping for a room only discount and add that to the last 2 nights of your package when released. Room only discounts aren't tied to whold package so if some of your days are discounted you could add that.

 

[smitch425]

For FD you have to do a package, right? As in, you have to buy a ticket and book a room (at rack rate)?

Yes. FD requirements are paying rack rate room for a minimum stay of 3 nights and a minimum of a 2 day base ticket for each person in the room ages 3 and up.

 

[homeschoolmomof4]

Disney VISA Rewards Card has announced free dining.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2954840

 

[nemofans]

Our dates aren't included, but I am hoping for room discount anyway. We already have 20% off from a PIN, so 30-40% off would be great!

 

[3littlecuties]

Does anyone know if there is data on the room discounts that have been offered in previous years for various dates? I'm wondering if we should consider switching our dates. We can't get FD but if there isn't going to be a room discount that week either, maybe we should switch.

We are going Oct 13-20.

 

[daizieduck]

DH and I just booked Coronado Springs for 10/19-10/27. We wanted two double beds and standard view. First choice was Riverside but only the new royal princess (not exactly what they are called I don't think) rooms had vacancy. Nothing available for us at French Quarter either. Only king bed option at Coronado, no doubles. Very surprised at the limited availability. We usually have no problem getting whatever we request. The CM did say we can try calling at a later date and see if anything opens up at Riverside and then switch it. Anyway, glad to have our trip booked and free dining!

 

[smitch425]

Does anyone know if there is data on the room discounts that have been offered in previous years for various dates? I'm wondering if we should consider switching our dates. We can't get FD but if there isn't going to be a room discount that week either, maybe we should switch.

We are going Oct 13-20.

I can tell you with all certainty that there were no room discounts offered to the public during that time frame last year. We were there Oct. 15-23 and paid rack rate for everything (room, tix, QSDP). There is a chart for discount releases, but it won't do you much good since they don't show the actual blackout dates...

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

 

[3littlecuties]

Sorry...one more question. Is BLT available for FD is we aren't DVC and are paying rack room rates? If we switch to Oct 27-Nov 3, we can actually get a one bedroom at BLT for $400 more than we are paying for a Contemporary Theme Park view (not what we wanted to pay for but cheapest that was available) for Oct 13-20. But then if we could get FD, it would be cheaper in the end. Should we switch? I just worry about the weather getting cooler. I know it is a gamble either way. I would like to be able to go to the pool. We went late October 2008 and it was record cold temps and we had to wear jeans and sweaters every day. Pool was definitely out.

 

[smitch425]

Sorry...one more question. Is BLT available for FD is we aren't DVC and are paying rack room rates? If we switch to Oct 27-Nov 3, we can actually get a one bedroom at BLT for $400 more than we are paying for a Contemporary Theme Park view (not what we wanted to pay for but cheapest that was available) for Oct 13-20. But then if we could get FD, it would be cheaper in the end. Should we switch? I just worry about the weather getting cooler. I know it is a gamble either way. I would like to be able to go to the pool. We went late October 2008 and it was record cold temps and we had to wear jeans and sweaters every day. Pool was definitely out.

Not sure about the BLT thing, but I can tell you that October is a total crap shoot when it comes to the weather. When we were there last year We had a few daytime highs in the low 90s and a few daytime highs in the low 70s/upper 60s and the nights ranged from hot to down right chilly. It will be totally unpredictable, so I would go with whatever you can afford money wise and don't let the weather be a factor.

 

[3littlecuties]

I can tell you with all certainty that there were no room discounts offered to the public during that time frame last year. We were there Oct. 15-23 and paid rack rate for everything (room, tix, QSDP). There is a chart for discount releases, but it won't do you much good since they don't show the actual blackout dates...

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

So if I am reading this chart correctly, there were no room only discounts for pretty much the entire month of Oct last year (only Oct 1 and Oct 30/31 were included in dates). Am I reading that correctly? If that is the case, then FD is probably the better option.

 

[smitch425]

So if I am reading this chart correctly, there were no room only discounts for pretty much the entire month of Oct last year (only Oct 1 and Oct 30/31 were included in dates). Am I reading that correctly? If that is the case, then FD is probably the better option.

Yes. That is what it looks like to me also. I didn't realize it was nearly the whole month, but that is what it says, so I would say that is accurate.

 

[3littlecuties]

OK...one more question and then I'll stop (for now at least!). Sorry if these have already been asked...

Are all full price packages of at least 3 nights (i.e. all resorts/rooms) available for the FD? Are any particular rooms/resorts blacked out (besides DVC members)?

Thanks for all of the help!

 

[smitch425]

OK...one more question and then I'll stop (for now at least!). Sorry if these have already been asked...

Are all full price packages of at least 3 nights (i.e. all resorts/rooms) available for the FD? Are any particular rooms/resorts blacked out (besides DVC members)?

Thanks for all of the help!

I think there are certain resorts that are blacked out for certain types of rooms, but aside from the Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation which are definitely not included, the other resorts, room types and date availability seem to be hit and miss. It is one of those things where you will just have to give them your dates and ask what is available at that moment. Sorry I can't give you a better answer. If I had one, I would give it to you.

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

I thought I read on the chart that there were room only discounts at the beginning of October?

 

[maryj11]

DH and I just booked Coronado Springs for 10/19-10/27. We wanted two double beds and standard view. First choice was Riverside but only the new royal princess (not exactly what they are called I don't think) rooms had vacancy. Nothing available for us at French Quarter either. Only king bed option at Coronado, no doubles. Very surprised at the limited availability. We usually have no problem getting whatever we request. The CM did say we can try calling at a later date and see if anything opens up at Riverside and then switch it. Anyway, glad to have our trip booked and free dining!

We are staying the week of the 14th and there is everything available but no FD or discounts so far for that week. I know that the Garnter group will be there during your stay and they say that brings in a lot of people. It doesnt cause the parks to be crowded but some resorts.

 

[maryj11]

I agree. Even though I have been told repeatedly that I won't qualify for FD, I am still going to give them a call.

I figured my dates would be blacked out from free dining with the Disney Visa but I called anyway. As she was looking it up and putting in the FD code I kept saying to myself please let this go through please ! She kept saying something is wrong, what in the world, it wont go through. I kept saying to myself please go through, please go through Well then finally she said oh I see those dates are blacked out