Pin trick worked!!! Now stay with PP or move up to DLH?

[rentayenta]

My offer was:

PP - $163
DLH - $186
DGC - $247

Nice rates!

 

[sandgrace]

Sherry E thanks for explaing the pin trick so thoroughly I really appreciate it! I haven't been on the board in a while, but we just decided to go back to DL in October so now the planning begins!

 

[jacs1234]

Thanks for explaining it again Sherry. Do you think it matters that I live in Australia? Can I still get a pin?

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry E thanks for explaing the pin trick so thoroughly I really appreciate it! I haven't been on the board in a while, but we just decided to go back to DL in October so now the planning begins!

sandgrace -

You're very welcome! I hope it works for you and you can score an October PIN. There is a reason why I explain it so thoroughly. I've seen others try to give the abbreviated version of it or even suggest a different variation of the Saved Offer trick, which could leave room for interpretation. But this exact method I described is what has worked for me twice. So I figure that if any kind of variation to the steps is thrown in, or any kind of information is not relayed exactly as it has been known to work...this might result in a different PIN code (like suddenly you get a WDW PIN) or a different type of offer (like instead of getting an offer that is $163 for the PPH, you might end up with something higher, or it might be a package deal and not a one-night stay, etc.), or no PIN at all. Why tempt fate? Might as well stick to the exact steps - since we know this method has worked in many cases.

Thanks for explaining it again Sherry. Do you think it matters that I live in Australia? Can I still get a pin?

jacs1234 -

You're welcome!

Very good question. I wonder about that as well.

Just as a guess, I would think that if DLR were going to send out PIN's on their own to try to attract onsite guests, without being prompted by the Saved Offer trick, they might not automatically send you one because you live so far away. They do send out waves of PIN codes periodically and those have nothing to do with Saved Offers.

But this specific method of pricing the hotel you want and plugging in your specific trip dates, then saving the offer in your My Disneyland account, suggests to DLR that you are taking a proactive approach to looking into staying onsite during your trip - no matter how far away you live. If you plug in your dates for, say, late November (that's when you're going, as I recall??), then DLR doesn't have to take a gamble that you may or may not fly across the world and go to DLR because of a PIN offer they send. You are already telling them that these are your dates and that you're going to be at DLR.

So in that case, I would think that the Saved Offer trick would work for you. I could be wrong, but it would make sense if it worked.

 

[DangerMouse]

I got the same PIN as the OP, and made the mistake of sitting on it while I worked out all the other details (flights, hoppers, etc.). I just booked this morning, but instead of the $186 rate for the DLH, the best they could give me was $205. They said it was due to bookings. The PPH was still $163, but I REALLY REALLY want to stay at the DLH.

So lesson learned, do NOT sit on those PINS! Book right away.

 

[Sherry E]

I got the same PIN as the OP, and made the mistake of sitting on it while I worked out all the other details (flights, hoppers, etc.). I just booked this morning, but instead of the $186 rate for the DLH, the best they could give me was $205. They said it was due to bookings. The PPH was still $163, but I REALLY REALLY want to stay at the DLH.

So lesson learned, do NOT sit on those PINS! Book right away.

Callie, is this your late November trip that you just booked? $205 is not that great of a deal, that's for sure, but I guess it's better than rack rates!

It seems like the $163 for the PPH is pretty consistent in the e-mailed Saved Offer PIN codes. I got that same rate last year and this year. It's the snail mail PIN codes that seem to offer slightly lower rates for all 3 hotels than what's shown in the e-mails. I have no clue why that is? And I have no clue why some people are getting snail mail offers instead of e-mails.

Anyway, Callie - you make a good point. Not only do you run the risk of losing out on the offer because soooo many people are booking with these codes, but also, I would bet that a lot of other folks just glance at the PIN code when they get it and don't pay attention to the "make your reservation by" date or whatever it's called. My PIN for 10/16 - 10/31 had a book by/reserve by date of July 20. If any happened to get a PIN with the same July 20 expiration date, I wonder how many people actually noticed that date and how many people overlooked it..

I think there are only a certain number of rooms allotted for PIN code offers. And every time DLR sends out a PIN, they have to look at that room as being booked until the offer expires. But there are still people getting the PIN code with the $163 PPH rate, the $186 DLH rate, etc. (like the OP). So I think that PIN codes are being freed up on a daily or weekly basis when other ones expire.

You could always create a second account with a different e-mail address and see if you get an all new PIN code. Supposedly that has worked for a few people when the first attempt was a bust!

 

[rentayenta]

I got the same PIN as the OP, and made the mistake of sitting on it while I worked out all the other details (flights, hoppers, etc.). I just booked this morning, but instead of the $186 rate for the DLH, the best they could give me was $205. They said it was due to bookings. The PPH was still $163, but I REALLY REALLY want to stay at the DLH.

So lesson learned, do NOT sit on those PINS! Book right away.

That stinks. That's poor business practice IMHO. It's like getting up to the cash register and being told: well we've sold more at 50% than anticipated so your discount is only 30%. No bueno!!!

 

[tinytinkmom]

Just a head's up with PIN codes... If your dates aren't listed in the e-mail, call and ask if the PIN can be applied to your trip dates! My PIN code (PP $163/DH $186/GC $247) only listed November dates, and we are going in October. I called just to see what they would say (all they can say is "no!")... I got a GREAT CM who did a little digging. The October arrival date I gave him didn't come up with anything, so he put me on hold to ask his supervisor. When he came back, he told me if I could arrive one day later, we could get the $163 rate at PP for our entire 6 night stay!!!

I'm still hoping for a carryover of the current package discount, but I'm THRILLED with a 35% discount if that doesn't end up happening!

 

[mydisneymoney]

If in doubt, book it (unless you are less then 30 days out). You can always cancel or change the reservation without a penalty if you are more then 30 days out. Saving search has worked for me too in getting a Pin code for both at DL and WDW.

 

[Sherry E]

If in doubt, book it (unless you are less then 30 days out). You can always cancel or change the reservation without a penalty if you are more then 30 days out. Saving search has worked for me too in getting a Pin code for both at DL and WDW.

Just wanted to clarify -

The "30 day" thing is only applicable to packages, and those usually require a minimum 2-night stay (although some packages may be for one night only). Plus, the packages don't even have to include Hoppers in the deal - there can be ticketless packages too!

The majority (though not all) of the PIN codes that have been going out - the ones directly connected to the Saved Offer/"My Disneyland" account trick - are for 1-night stays and above. In other words, those are 'room-only' stays through Central Reservations, not packages, and they do not have the 30-day thing. With a room-only reservation, you have all the way up until 5 days prior to arrival to cancel or make changes to your reservation (and you can do this countless times) without penalty. There's much more flexibility for changes with room-only bookings.

 

[kmedina]

Sherry,
You seem to be pretty knowledgeable on this subject, so I am hoping you can answer this. How far out are pins offered for Disneyland. I received a pin good for my December 2011 WDW vacation in January 2011 and booked promptly (by saving my vacation offers). I have already saved them twice for Disneyland for our antcipated June 2012 trip but have not received anything. I just did it again but am wondering if it is too soon for a Disneyland pin (10 months away).

My dates are not flexible (son's 1st birthday and hopefully Carsland will be open), so I want to book as soon as possible. I know promotions can be added to existing reservations but have never received a pin offer for either DLR or WDW once a vacation is already booked. Could my December 2011 trip be preventing me from receiving a June 2012 pin?

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry,
You seem to be pretty knowledgeable on this subject, so I am hoping you can answer this. How far out are pins offered for Disneyland. I received a pin good for my December 2011 WDW vacation in January 2011 and booked promptly (by saving my vacation offers). I have already saved them twice for Disneyland for our antcipated June 2012 trip but have not received anything. I just did it again but am wondering if it is too soon for a Disneyland pin (10 months away).

My dates are not flexible (son's 1st birthday and hopefully Carsland will be open), so I want to book as soon as possible. I know promotions can be added to existing reservations but have never received a pin offer for either DLR or WDW once a vacation is already booked. Could my December 2011 trip be preventing me from receiving a June 2012 pin?

Hmmm...interesting question. You may be on to something about the WDW PIN interfering with getting one for DLR. That is entirely possible. The Disney Destinations system/database would be able to tell which PIN codes are attached to your name and if one of them is being used. They may not want to give you a new one until you use the existing one in 12/11. They may not want you to have more than one active PIN code at a time, which would make sense.

Did you specifically create a "My Disneyland" account on the Disneyland website to save your hotel offer? I am thinking that even if your WDW 12/11 PIN were not interfering with getting a DLR PIN code, it's probably way too early. WDW visitors probably get PIN codes very far in advance because WDW trips are generally planned very far in advance.

However, DLR trips are typically not planned quite so far ahead of time as WDW trips are. I've never seen or heard of PIN codes issued for trips way, way down the road. They usually come out with an expiration or 'use by' date of just 2 or 3 months from the time you get them, if that long.

Also, keep in mind that June 2012 is when Cars Land opens and almost all of the DCA changes will be complete. That is probably going to be a 'big money' time for DLR, and they will expect tons of guests to visit. Generally, DLR will not offer really good PIN codes for times when they expect lots of people. So there may not be any for 6/2012.

Yes - if you book a room at DLR (especially a room-only reservation), you can apply a PIN code to it if you should get one down the road. The packages may be a bit trickier, as you may be able to apply a PIN, but they may charge you $50 to do it.

Right now, though, I think that the best thing to do would be to wait until after your WDW 12/11 trip is out of the way, and then try for a DLR PIN again. That will still give you a good 6 months until your DLR trip to get a PIN code!

 

[I❤MICKEY]

Pin trick didn't work for me. I did get an email but there wasn't any promotional pricing. Maybe it's because the dates are January 3-7 which is still holiday time. The message I got is as follows:

We’re excited you’re thinking about another stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa! Bring your little ones back for more Storytime at Great Hearth, treat ’em to a Disney Character Breakfast, splash back into the kiddie pool area and more!

Click above to check out the Resort photos we picked just for you.

Book now to complete your vacation plans or to view other dates and accommodations.​

 

[Sherry E]

Pin trick didn't work for me. I did get an email but there wasn't any promotional pricing. Maybe it's because the dates are January 3-7 which is still holiday time. The message I got is as follows:

We’re excited you’re thinking about another stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa! Bring your little ones back for more Storytime at Great Hearth, treat ’em to a Disney Character Breakfast, splash back into the kiddie pool area and more!

Click above to check out the Resort photos we picked just for you.

Book now to complete your vacation plans or to view other dates and accommodations.​

You might not have gotten a PIN anyway - some people don't. Plus, too many people are trying to get the PIN's all at one time (whether they use them or not), so that uses up PIN codes and the hotel rooms attached to the PIN codes in the system until some of their 'book by' dates expire.

BUT, my guess is that you probably didn't get any kind of PIN because the dates are 2012. I don't think any PIN's are going out for 2012 yet.

Also, between Christmas and New Year's Eve/Day, there won't be any PIN's at all. Any PIN's that we hear have popped up for the next couple of months (for DLR) will probably only extend as far as the weekend before Christmas, if even that long. Some will have dates before December, but none of them will go any later than mid-December-ish.

 

[been2marceline]

To answer one of the PP;

As of Saturday,at the DLH 2 of the three towers have been renovated, I believe they are the Adventure and Frontier towers, the Fantasy tower is not completed.

One side of the pool complex is done, the other is not much more than a empty lot.

The DLH renovated rooms are just as nice as the PPH, they have all of the same bedding, including the fold down couch that has the mattress in the back, my daughter slept on one at the PPH last week, very comfortable.

Tangeroa Terrace - open, not much activity, food ok.

Trader Sams, the size of a postage stamp inside, but an awesome place, tables hard to get, drinks and decor is awesome. Would love to stay there( Trader Sams) that is!

 

[Stormin'theCastle]

I am sorry to hijack the OP's thread, but need to vent about a problem I'm having. Yesterday I saved several package offers in the hopes of triggering a PIN. Started reading this thread today and noticed the suggested trick is to save hotel-only offers.

So, I logged in, deleted all the packages I have saved, and now no matter what I do ~ I've even started fresh, logging in from a computer that had never visited the DL site before ~ it will give me quotes (for all 3 hotels, even though I specified DLH) but I don't get a "Save This Offer" button. I'm not going in under "Special Offers", either.

I get "Continue" or "See Details", which then takes me to a page where I have to "Book Now" "Print" or "Be Contacted by Phone". Very frustrated and wishing I had left my saved packages intact. I tried pricing packages as well once more, but still no "Save This Offer" button. My dates are in October, BTW. Tried using some December dates just to see what would happen and still no "Save This Offer."

I did order the DVD yesterday as well, maybe that will help? I really want a PIN!

Thanks for letting me vent. Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong?

 

[Sherry E]

I am sorry to hijack the OP's thread, but need to vent about a problem I'm having. Yesterday I saved several package offers in the hopes of triggering a PIN. Started reading this thread today and noticed the suggested trick is to save hotel-only offers.

So, I logged in, deleted all the packages I have saved, and now no matter what I do ~ I've even started fresh, logging in from a computer that had never visited the DL site before ~ it will give me quotes (for all 3 hotels, even though I specified DLH) but I don't get a "Save This Offer" button. I'm not going in under "Special Offers", either.

I get "Continue" or "See Details", which then takes me to a page where I have to "Book Now" "Print" or "Be Contacted by Phone". Very frustrated and wishing I had left my saved packages intact. I tried pricing packages as well once more, but still no "Save This Offer" button. My dates are in October, BTW. Tried using some December dates just to see what would happen and still no "Save This Offer."

I did order the DVD yesterday as well, maybe that will help? I really want a PIN!

Thanks for letting me vent. Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong?

Guys, guys, guys - everyone is clamoring to get these PIN codes! As I said in another thread, I almost kind of wish I could put the genie back in the bottle for a while (I am the one who first relayed the Saved Offer trick to everyone on this forum, and now it has caught on like wildfire), because I have a feeling that even though we now know of a way that has been directly tied to getting a PIN code (unlike other suggested methods, which are just guesses), it is still going to be 'luck of the draw' to a certain degree.

There are only so many PIN's to go around at one time, because there are only so many hotel rooms attached to each PIN code offer. Once a certain number of them have gone out, we will probably have to wait for some of them to expire so that new ones will be freed up in the Disney Destinations system. PIN codes will expire if they are not used by their 'book by' or 'reserve by' dates.

Also, it's kind of like the lottery - trying with one e-mail address may not work. Trying with 4 different e-mail addresses may not work. Trying with 3 e-mail addresses may not work. Nothing may work at all. Or it may work on the first try - as I said, there's a certain 'luck of the draw' element involved, as well as timing.

Stormin'theCastle - If you are signing in under your My Disneyland account (which is what my suggestion has been), no matter what computer it is from, the Disney Destinations system may still recognize that you had initially been pricing out packages. I once tried to delete offers that I saved and they were still there in the account later. You may have sabotaged your chances of getting a PIN for a room only by entering in package info. But you may still get a PIN code for a package. Give it some time.

I'm not sure why you are not seeing a 'Saved' tab anywhere under the offer, but don't worry about it. It's just a PIN code. Why not give it another week and then try again? Or create an account with a different e-mail address, then follow my instructions that I outlined on the previous page, step by step.


Yes, ordering the DVD may be a good way to get one - again, if the Disney Destinations system already shows that you saved offers for packages, then ordering the DVD may not help this time. But it's worth a try.

 

[Sherry E]

Another thing I would suggest is to not try to get a PIN 'just to see' if you get one, if it's not actually for dates you plan to go.

Even though the PIN code you receive (if you receive one) may not have your desired dates on it (this has happened to many people), if you try to get a PIN code for a time other than your planned trip, just to test the system and see if you get one, that may be counter-intuitive. You could be cancelling out your chances of getting a PIN for the time you actually want if you tell the system that you want one for another date/month...OR you could be preventing someone else from getting a PIN code (because, as I said above, there are only so many PIN codes and rooms attached to those PIN codes to go around, and many people won't get one until some of the existing ones have expired).

Trying from different e-mails addresses is a different story. That should be okay. But trying several different saved offers for different times and dates in one My Disneyland account may end up working against you.

 

[Stormin'theCastle]

Guys, guys, guys - everyone is clamoring to get these PIN codes! As I said in another thread, I almost kind of wish I could put the genie back in the bottle for a while (I am the one who first relayed the Saved Offer trick to everyone on this forum, and now it has caught on like wildfire), because I have a feeling that even though we now know of a way that has been directly tied to getting a PIN code (unlike other suggested methods, which are just guesses), it is still going to be 'luck of the draw' to a certain degree.

There are only so many PIN's to go around at one time, because there are only so many hotel rooms attached to each PIN code offer. Once a certain number of them have gone out, we will probably have to wait for some of them to expire so that new ones will be freed up in the Disney Destinations system. PIN codes will expire if they are not used by their 'book by' or 'reserve by' dates.

Also, it's kind of like the lottery - trying with one e-mail address may not work. Trying with 4 different e-mail addresses may not work. Trying with 3 e-mail addresses may not work. Nothing may work at all. Or it may work on the first try - as I said, there's a certain 'luck of the draw' element involved, as well as timing.

Stormin'theCastle - If you are signing in under your My Disneyland account (which is what my suggestion has been), no matter what computer it is from, the Disney Destinations system may still recognize that you had initially been pricing out packages. I once tried to delete offers that I saved and they were still there in the account later. You may have sabotaged your chances of getting a PIN for a room only by entering in package info. But you may still get a PIN code for a package. Give it some time.

I'm not sure why you are not seeing a 'Saved' tab anywhere under the offer, but don't worry about it. It's just a PIN code. Why not give it another week and then try again? Or create an account with a different e-mail address, then follow my instructions that I outlined on the previous page, step by step.


Yes, ordering the DVD may be a good way to get one - again, if the Disney Destinations system already shows that you saved offers for packages, then ordering the DVD may not help this time. But it's worth a try.

Thank you Sherry! I breathed into a brown paper bag for a few minutes and I've calmed myself down. You're right, I think we all need to chill a bit on this PIN code stuff. I stopped worrying/watching/waiting long ago with regard to WDW and just leave things up to pixie dust. Since this is my first DLR trip I got a little excited! I will wait a week and then maybe try creating an account for DH. See? I'm over it!

 

[kmedina]

Hmmm...interesting question. You may be on to something about the WDW PIN interfering with getting one for DLR. That is entirely possible. The Disney Destinations system/database would be able to tell which PIN codes are attached to your name and if one of them is being used. They may not want to give you a new one until you use the existing one in 12/11. They may not want you to have more than one active PIN code at a time, which would make sense.

Yes - if you book a room at DLR (especially a room-only reservation), you can apply a PIN code to it if you should get one down the road. The packages may be a bit trickier, as you may be able to apply a PIN, but they may charge you $50 to do it.

Right now, though, I think that the best thing to do would be to wait until after your WDW 12/11 trip is out of the way, and then try for a DLR PIN again. That will still give you a good 6 months until your DLR trip to get a PIN code!

That is what I was thinking.

I was not aware that they charged an additional fee unless it was more than 30 days out. Thanks for the heads up.

You're right. I think I will wait until I get back anyway. Saves me from paying anything until I get back from the first trip. We are going with or without a pin. Cross your fingers that Carsland will be open by then. DS5 (in June 2012) really wants to see it, but we need to be there on June 21, 2012 for my younger DS first birthday.

Thank you for the thoughtful response.