People - please listen to this

[Joan1]

Thanks for the insight, Pam. That was what I expected to hear, but let me ask you another question. Some have theorized that making ADR's in advance will make the restaurants appear full, and that WDW will be looking at those to help decide whether or not to offer free DDP. Like, maybe they'll offer a different promotion (say, free hoppers/water parks and more) instead of free DDP if they think the restaurants will be too busy. Do you think there's any validity to that theory?

I am not Pam but I don't think this is a valid point because locals go to Disney for the day and book restaurant reservations without staying at a hotel

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Does anyone recall that song from Styx....."Too much time on my hands"???.

 

[PamNC]

Thanks for the insight, Pam. That was what I expected to hear, but let me ask you another question. Some have theorized that making ADR's in advance will make the restaurants appear full, and that WDW will be looking at those to help decide whether or not to offer free DDP. Like, maybe they'll offer a different promotion (say, free hoppers/water parks and more) instead of free DDP if they think the restaurants will be too busy. Do you think there's any validity to that theory?

I really can't answer that because when I worked there DDP didn't exist. It was a while ago. So, I'm not sure about this.

HOWEVER, I can speak with 100% knowledge on the resorts. But, I can't say for sure if they have changed the way they do things since I was there which was in 2000. My area actually designed those postcard offers and I was completely in the "know" about how and when they decided to offer up resort discounts. It's TOTALLY based on bookings. A little "guessing" on their part as well. But, please know this...this is not a theory. Joan is right. The bookings were checked at certain intervals and if a certain percentage wasn't met at a certain time, discounts!! Bookings determine how many rooms will be offered at a discount as well as IF they are offered.

One other thing you guys might find interesting: There is no rhyme or reason as to who gets the postcards or email offers. RANDOM. It was totally random. I even asked that question while I was there.

The advertising department is now called Yellow Shoes Creative, it was just Walt Disney Advertising when I was there. We did the vacation planning videos, the postcard mailers, theme park brochures, local outdoor advertising, local tv advertising, etc, etc. It was called destination advertising. It was a great job. Long story why I left. Had nothing to do with my job, which I loved, and everything to do with the timing being totally wrong for us to make a move. Anyway, I can't say that things are done differently now. I can only say how we did it then.

One day, I got to ride Big Thunder Mountain over and over because on the planning video they decided they couldn't show people with their hands up. So, they asked some of us to go to the MK and they filmed us riding it with our hands down, but we were still acting like it was a good time and a thrill. I was in the very back seat and you can't see me. shoot! Anyway, we rode it over and over and over......

Lots of fun stories I could share sometime. I hadn't thought about any of this in a long, long time.

PamNC

 

[DisneyBride'03]

On behalf of fellow dis'ers...thank you!!! That was the most interesting, and informative post I have read, thank you so much for sharing! While I have not been employed in the travel and /or advertising industry, it makes total sense with my few marketing classes Thats how they got me, so I know it works. Was not planning on a Disney trip til 08...get a postcard with a Pin#...and we booked 2 rooms in March! My DH wished he got the mail that day..lol!

 

[jnorth1007]

Your insite is very interesting but again while it is 100% accurate if they were wondering how it was done in 2000 (pre 9/11) it is not 100% accurate now as we have all seen Disney changes things more often than I care to imagine. I think the biggest thing to remember is what Canadian Guy refered to in his post about how small of a percentage of Disney rooms we are. I can pretty much assure you that your fellow Dis members are not going to keep you from getting a discount because they booked a room and waited for a promotion. It is just not mathematically sound to assume that the people of Dis have that big of an impact on the bookings of Disney when compared to the number of people who are non-Dis who book on a daily basis. Especially since we are not all going the same week. Maybe then we would be a bleep on their radar. Other than that I think that everyone is worrying over a non-issue. Keep your rooms, wait for a discount, and enjoy life!

 

[CanadianGuy]

It is just not mathematically sound to assume that the people of Dis have that big of an impact on the bookings of Disney when compared to the number of people who are non-Dis who book on a daily basis. Especially since we are not all going the same week. Maybe then we would be a bleep on their radar. Other than that I think that everyone is worrying over a non-issue. Keep your rooms, wait for a discount, and enjoy life!

Here here. Of course I agree because you quoted me. But in the grand scheme of things.. Everyone on the DIS planning an August/September trip could follow this advice .. or ignore it.. and in the grand scheme of things.. our collective booking or not booking wouldn't be enough to move the needle in a considerable way.

Each night.. WDW Resorts have at least 25,000 plus rooms/locations to fill. For August and September that's one point five million room-nights. There are only 120,000 members on the DIS only a fraction of whom will be going in August or September ... the math speaks for itself.

Knox

 

[PamNC]

I prefer not to book until I know exactly what I will be paying. But that's just me. I've never had a problem waiting until 2-3 months out before booking my trips. Once in a great while, I've had to take my 2nd choice, but usually I get something I'm very happy with. For my next trip, which is in August by the way, I booked way in advance, especially for me. I grabbed the $125 a night discount at the Swan. I'd rather pay $125 a night and KNOW what I'm getting than wait on a possible Disney resort discount. Not to mention the fact that getting a deluxe resort for anywhere NEAR $125 is next to impossible. Do ya'll remember the days when you could snag $199 at the Poly and $179 at the YC/BC? I do. Those days are long gone I'm afraid.

We are a small percentage of Disney guests, that's a fact. And, I thought about it and it IS totally possible that things have changed at Disney in the marketing and advertising area since 2000 when I was there.

That is why I called someone I know at Disney and they confirmed that discounts are still based on bookings. Obviously, not just on DISers because we don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Bookings in general I mean.

It's all a crap-shoot. A big fat code and discount game. That's why the S/D are becoming more and more attractive to me. No games. No muss. No fuss. Great rates. And, a spectacular resort as well.

PamNC

 

[CanadianGuy]

No games. No muss. No fuss. Great rates. And, a spectacular resort as well.

PamNC

If I had one wish in this world.. it would be world peace.

If I had two wishes, I'd wish for that peace thing and I would wish for what Pam said for everyone booking a vacation regardless of where they stay.




Knox

 

[Trekker]

I suspect that much like bellybuttons..
Knox

YEAH! And some are much FUZZIER than others -

 

[HayGan]

Do ya'll remember the days when you could snag $199 at the Poly and $179 at the YC/BC? I do. Those days are long gone I'm afraid.

Well, that's not entirely true as the recent 40% promo had rates for those right around there

 

[ToyStory]

Today I was at the McDonald's play area and over heard these mothers talking about their trip. No talk about discounts, DP or anything. Just that they were going to Disney for a day and how much they are dreading it.

Personally I am amazed when I hear people talking they are going to Disney and totally lack knowledge and the lack of planning. I have never have heard someone say they went online found some great information and saved money.

What I hear is I spent 2 hours online, complaining about Fastpass and Disney is so expensive. A playmate of my son's mother and I were talking. They are going to Disney in July. I was oh did you make your ADR's and what hotel are you staying at. She looked at me like I had three heads. She said they have not made reservations yet and plan on staying off site since staying on Disney property is too expensive since a family memeber of hers just dropped 12K for their Disney trip. I told her of our plans (7 nights, 8 day base ticket, DP, staying at POR and the price difference between POR and WL) and she was how did you do that for that much. We just have the AAA package and hoping for better discount, but we are going no matter what.

A neighbor of mine told me she was going to Disney, I gave her my guides, books, this website and they came home saying never again they will go to Disney again. Too expensive (food), long lines, Fast Pass is useless, etc. The biggest complaint was that you only went around the track at TT once and they waited well over an hour to ride it.

These are just two examples, I have heard many other stories at karate, baseball, football and work in how people go to Disney with no knowledge other then they booked a room and got park tickets.

 

[CanadianGuy]

(Fortunately) Disney can't be for everyone.

Knox

 

[CarolA]

Am I the only person reading this who thinks that some of us need to wake up and realize that the DIS is NOT represenative of the general population visiting Disney???

 

[klinlin]

Personally I am amazed when I hear people talking they are going to Disney and totally lack knowledge and the lack of planning. I have never have heard someone say they went online found some great information and saved money.

What I hear is I spent 2 hours online, complaining about Fastpass and Disney is so expensive. A playmate of my son's mother and I were talking. They are going to Disney in July. I was oh did you make your ADR's and what hotel are you staying at. She looked at me like I had three heads. She said they have not made reservations yet and plan on staying off site since staying on Disney property is too expensive since a family memeber of hers just dropped 12K for their Disney trip. I told her of our plans (7 nights, 8 day base ticket, DP, staying at POR and the price difference between POR and WL) and she was how did you do that for that much. We just have the AAA package and hoping for better discount, but we are going no matter what.

A neighbor of mine told me she was going to Disney, I gave her my guides, books, this website and they came home saying never again they will go to Disney again. Too expensive (food), long lines, Fast Pass is useless, etc. The biggest complaint was that you only went around the track at TT once and they waited well over an hour to ride it.

These are just two examples, I have heard many other stories at karate, baseball, football and work in how people go to Disney with no knowledge other then they booked a room and got park tickets.

My neighbor was planning a trip to Florida, and I offered all my "stuff." Thanks, but no thanks. Ended up driving to the MK on Good Friday, 90+ degrees, in giant RV with 5 kids in tow. Paid mega $$ to get sunburned, wait in line, and where were the roller coasters?? "I mean there were no rides for the older kids. Never again. Sea World was so much better." I used to work for the Marriott and got hotel discounts. When DH and I would make a weekend trip to Boston, I would get a guide book and I was only paying $29 per night! It amazes me people would spend so much money with no research!

 

[Chrissie-riel]

Am I the only person reading this who thinks that some of us need to wake up and realize that the DIS is NOT represenative of the general population visiting Disney???

What?? Are you implying that I am not normal here? You mean the rest of the world doesn't act like us here on the DIS? Nope - we sure don't! Yay - that's OK, I like being the resident "Disney Dork" in the neighborhood.

One of the neighbors finally convinced her hubby to take the big trip to the World. I showed her my much viewed vacation planning guide and talked her through the initial planning stages. She booked at CBR for a week in early August with the DDP and was told to make sure that she called on a certain day to get her reservations in for CRT! She did, so I asked her "what other restaurants did you make ressies at?" Huh? I have to make reservations at ALL the table service restaurants? Um, yeah! So, we had another 2 hour explanation session where I helped her iron out basically which park she wanted to hit each day and the restaurants that would correspond, etc. She thinks I am her Disney !

 

[ToyStory]

What?? Are you implying that I am not normal here? You mean the rest of the world doesn't act like us here on the DIS? Nope - we sure don't! Yay - that's OK, I like being the resident "Disney Dork" in the neighborhood.

My DH just walks away. I was working on my spread sheet on the computer and he just shooked his head and walked away. The plan A and plan B were just too much for him.

Unfortunatley he has the habit of throwing a wrench in the plans when at Disney he decides he want to do this instead of that. He was laughing at me when the dates were posted for P&PP, how I got out my spreadsheet saying okay this day we can go and then change this park to this day so we can then go to Spectro this night.

He drew the line when I had him call to see if there was a pin number attached to his name. Of course there was but it was for room only and I have no idea for what dates. He just said thank you and hung up. I said call back and find out exactly what the dates were and what was the discount. He said I want the DP so it is useless to us. So then I had an idea to call to see if I had a pin associated with my name, but I did not. He is at the point that all he wants to know is when we land at MCO what hotel he needs to go too... That is another story.

 

[traci]

My DH thought I was crazy planning our first trip over 2 years ago. Now he appreciates the *hard* work I put into our vacation. If he only knew that planning is part of the fun for me! I'm like a Disney World junkie that needs a fix, and our next trip is still 6 months away!!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Am I the only person reading this who thinks that some of us need to wake up and realize that the DIS is NOT represenative of the general population visiting Disney???

No kidding....

 

[G&J's Mom]

My DH thought I was crazy planning our first trip over 2 years ago. Now he appreciates the *hard* work I put into our vacation. If he only knew that planning is part of the fun for me! I'm like a Disney World junkie that needs a fix, and our next trip is still 6 months away!!

That is my DH as well. He just wants to show up!

Denise

 

[Cmbar]

I would say you are correct. For those of us you have gone for over 25 years, prior to 9/11 and even before that, discounts at Disney were few and far between. They did not need to discount to fill rooms and it seems that trend is back.

I think part of the reasons they didn't discount over the past 25 years is because they didn't have that many resorts. I mean they keep building resorts and trying to fill those rooms every night. Not saying they are hurting, certainly during Spring Break or Christmas their resorts are full, but when kids are in school, they just can't fill in all those rooms. So I think they will continue to offer discounts in times when kids are in school. Even though us DISer's all love to go during different times of the year, many people simply can't pull their kids out of school and therefore have to work around vacations and holidays. Often they don't allow Holidays to be in the discount periods. Just my observation.

And also I agree with Joan that if all the rooms are booked for August I can't imagine why Disney would offer free dining during this time. I haven't read through the whole post here, but didn't Disney have free dining last year and the offer expired and then they went ahead and offered it again because they didn't get enough of the resorts full? Seems to me they do look at resort fullness when deciding a discount period.