October Lodging - Looking for a discount

[jdkpa]

Seeking advice.

I have a deposit on a mid Oct trip for my party of 5. My dates do not qualify for free dining. Our best bang for the buck on property is consistently the Riverside.

Not sure if Disney will add more Oct dates for the free dining promotion. Assuming they don't, and do not offer a room only discount, I am seeking an outside the box way to get an accomodation discount. David's DVC shows Wilderness Lodge 5 person studio for about $1500 per week for mid October, which is about the same cost of the Riverside booked thru Disney. However, it is not available.

In other words, if I cannot get any further deals thru disney, is there a way to upgrade my accomodations without spending a lot more than the $200 per nite (Riverside cost)? There has to be some other option that I am not considering! Thanks

 

[kmb584]

There are other DVC options. A standard room at BLT, BCV, BWV, OKW, and SSR should run at or under $200/night that time of year. It really all comes down to what inventory is still available.

ETA: Cost via renting points, not rack/discounted rates.

 

[HM]

Even if they did extend Free Dining, I don't think POR was included in the deal for the general public (some people may have gotten it with a PIN code discount).

I don't think there are any room only discounts out for the Fall yet, so it's still possible for you to get a discount when the fall discounts are announced.

And there is always offsite as a way to save money and get plenty of room for five. I'm sure some folks will have options for you if you ask. (Double Tree Suites at DTD or Bonnett Creek come to mind).

 

[KalamityJane]

DVC is probably all booked already for near resorts. Your best bet would be Saratoga Springs, Animal Kingdom Villas or Old Key West.

 

[kamanda]

If offsite is an option, there are lots of possibilities for your size of party well within your budget.

 

[jdkpa]

I know there are sites such as Tripadvisor and Home Away, but is there generally a consensus favorite for offsite lodging? Would have to blow me away though, as it is hard to sacrifice that "feel" of staying at a disney resort.

 

[Marionnette]

Seeking advice.

I have a deposit on a mid Oct trip for my party of 5. My dates do not qualify for free dining. Our best bang for the buck on property is consistently the Riverside.

Not sure if Disney will add more Oct dates for the free dining promotion. Assuming they don't, and do not offer a room only discount, I am seeking an outside the box way to get an accomodation discount. David's DVC shows Wilderness Lodge 5 person studio for about $1500 per week for mid October, which is about the same cost of the Riverside booked thru Disney. However, it is not available.

In other words, if I cannot get any further deals thru disney, is there a way to upgrade my accomodations without spending a lot more than the $200 per nite (Riverside cost)? There has to be some other option that I am not considering! Thanks

There's a travel agent who books blocks of Disney rooms and then offers them up at prices consistent with convention rates. I think they are offering discounts in October that run through 10/19/14. We cannot link to their website here on the disboards. You would have to do a google search for them. It could be worth looking for.

AAA members get around a 10% discount, but just like other discounts, the number of rooms available is limited. The earlier you book, the better your chances of being able to snag one.

DVC 5-person studios are not likely to happen for you at this point. October is a popular time for DVC owners (milder weather, F&W Festival, fewer points required). VWL have a limited number of 5-person studios because not all of the studios have been refurbed to include the Murphy bed. VGF would require a huge number of points, even if a studio is available.

 

[jdkpa]

Thanks. Would you know the name of the Travel Agent who may be offering these October discounts?

 

[disneyfan55]

We have stayed most all our trips on site. The last trip we picked offsite due to the number of people coming and wish for space. We picked Caribe Royale. It was just wonderful for space/kitchen/washer/dryer etc. The previous stay was at ASMu family suite. While nice, the Caribe Royale had just so much more space etc. About same drive. Just a thought.

 

[ellochka]

Sometimes booked DVC vacations pop up on eBay at a significant discount. I would keep on checking. However, it's a bit tough with 5 people - most rooms are for 4. Here are some examples:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DISNEY-VACA...51570233301?pt=US_Lodging&hash=item3a92c11fd5
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Disney-Sara...61318611279?pt=US_Lodging&hash=item258f56a94f

 

[Marionnette]

Thanks. Would you know the name of the Travel Agent who may be offering these October discounts?

I know the name of one, but we're not permitted to mention it here. The disboards has its own travel agent that pays to advertise on the boards. It wouldn't be fair to them to give another agency free advertising. Try doing a google search.

 

[vicki_c]

Sometimes booked DVC vacations pop up on eBay at a significant discount. I would keep on checking. However, it's a bit tough with 5 people - most rooms are for 4. Here are some examples:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DISNEY-VACA...51570233301?pt=US_Lodging&hash=item3a92c11fd5
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Disney-Sara...61318611279?pt=US_Lodging&hash=item258f56a94f

You need to be careful with DVC bookings through some places though. If any of them mention a $99 fee for anything, those are almost certainly RCI trades and selling them is not permitted by RCI. A lot of times that's what those eBay reservations are.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I know the name of one, but we're not permitted to mention it here. The disboards has its own travel agent that pays to advertise on the boards. It wouldn't be fair to them to give another agency free advertising. Try doing a google search.

From the DIS guidelines "The advertisers/sponsors who you see on the DIS are carefully chosen. While we welcome discussion of them as well as other businesses that you have information or questions about, if it's determined that you are using the DIS to promote a commercial venture, you will lose your posting privileges. This includes choosing a username that refers to your business, organization, or website. In addition, links to the company's website will be blocked. Also note that we do not want the boards to be used for solicitations or for requesting referrals."

So as long as the company hasn't violated this or any other rule, it's acceptable to name it here.

 

[Marionnette]

From the DIS guidelines "The advertisers/sponsors who you see on the DIS are carefully chosen. While we welcome discussion of them as well as other businesses that you have information or questions about, if it's determined that you are using the DIS to promote a commercial venture, you will lose your posting privileges. This includes choosing a username that refers to your business, organization, or website. In addition, links to the company's website will be blocked. Also note that we do not want the boards to be used for solicitations or for requesting referrals."

So as long as the company hasn't violated this or any other rule, it's acceptable to name it here.

The company is banned here. Its name and any link to it would be *'d out. Gotta google if you want to find it.