Questions about Room Discounts

[lala88]

Alright so I am sorry if these have been asked before. So my family is planning on coming down in early November and I am planning on getting them a discount on a hotel. With the discount can they stay at any level of resort or does it have to be a cheap one? Also does the amount of discount depend on the level of hotel? I have heard it is 40% if you don't check in with them, and 50% if you do. My question is, is it always 40 or 50 or is it UP TO 40 or 50? Also can I book more then one hotel for the same week or only one? There are going to be 5 of them and me so 6 people and if they stay in a single room they will need more, but if I can get them a suite or villa they will only need one. And one more, If I check in and stay with them, can I use the guest buses while I am there to get to work? Sorry it is a lot of questions!
Thanks

 

[kmg148]

With the discount can they stay at any level of resort or does it have to be a cheap one? Also does the amount of discount depend on the level of hotel? My question is, is it always 40 or 50 or is it UP TO 40 or 50? Also can I book more then one hotel for the same week or only one? And one more, If I check in and stay with them, can I use the guest buses while I am there to get to work? Sorry it is a lot of questions!
Thanks

1. It can be any level, depending on what is available when you try and book.

2. No, the discount doesn't vary. It's the standard 40% or 50%.

3. I've never seen a discount less than 40%. When you go to book a reservation, you are given the 50% option (for yourself) or the 40% option (for others.)

4. I have never tried to book multiple rooms but I don't see the problem.

5. Yes, you can use the guest buses and the EMH. Not a problem.

 

[Berlioz70]

Discount values can vary... during slow seasons sometime they'll raise the discount. I've seen it up to 60% in the past, but that's not likely in November.

Also, they sometimes run the dining plan at 50% off, so you may want to keep you eyes open for that one too!!

 

[lala88]

Okay so when they run the dining at 50% off, can you get that for your party even though you don't buy tickets? Also What are my chances of doing this:
Week one
Saturday: Request off
Week two
Sunday: Request off
Monday: Request off
Tuesday: Request late start
Wednesday: Work
Thursday: Give shift away or Request late start
Friday: Request off
Saturday: Work
This is what I am hoping I can do the week my family is coming down. Does anyone know what my chances are that this could happen. I know that this is probably hard to get and it depends on your manager and people you work with. Also my family would be there from Saturday November 6 thru Saturday November 13. Thanks guys!

 

[ZeroToHero]

I heard that the more expensive resorts don't give as good discounts - like the Grand Floridian was only 25% off. But I haven't actually seen this, this is second-hand info. I think that's why they say "up to 40% off" in their literature.

 

[Berlioz70]

Your work schedule depends on your location. I have never been in a location where I can request to come in late, I would have to trade shifts to get that. Based on your week, I would think you can get those requested days off, but it really depends on your Line of Business...

Entertainment is easy as their schedules do not typically change during holidays, but merch, attractions and food would be more difficult since their schedules reflect park hours.

As for the dining discount... my family had to purchase only one ticket per person for their entire stay to get the dining plan for each day. In other words, they came for a week, had 7 days of the dining plan, put only a one day park ticket (I got them in the rest of the week). The exception is DVC, I do not think you need to purchase any tickets if you're a DVC.

 

[SandrA9810]

The discount can be up to 50%. But November is during the Cast Holiday Celebration (excluding thanksgiving week), Which gives you 60% off rooms and the option to add the dining plan. 15$ for the quick service, and 25$ for the regular dining plan.

You have to check in with them. Although I had my mom come on ME, and she checked in with no problems. It took me like an hour after she got in to finally get my er for the day.

The quick service dining plan is 2 counter service credits, and 2 snack credits per day, plus each person get a refillable mug. The regular dining plan is 1 table service, 1 counter service, and 1 snack credit per day. And at the rate they give you, it's way better than even buying food with your 20% discount (which you can't use in the park).


For 6 people, you can book a 2 bedroom villa or a cabin at Ft Wilderness. But getting two value rooms would still be cheaper than the deluxe options.


You can use your maingate for 3 people, but the other 2 will need seperate tickets, unless you can find some one to help you get them in the parks each day. You can purchase tickets at Company D for 10% off.

 

[ZeroToHero]

The discount can be up to 50%. But November is during the Cast Holiday Celebration (excluding thanksgiving week), Which gives you 60% off rooms and the option to add the dining plan. 15$ for the quick service, and 25$ for the regular dining plan.

You have to check in with them. Although I had my mom come on ME, and she checked in with no problems. It took me like an hour after she got in to finally get my er for the day.

The quick service dining plan is 2 counter service credits, and 2 snack credits per day, plus each person get a refillable mug. The regular dining plan is 1 table service, 1 counter service, and 1 snack credit per day. And at the rate they give you, it's way better than even buying food with your 20% discount (which you can't use in the park).


For 6 people, you can book a 2 bedroom villa or a cabin at Ft Wilderness. But getting two value rooms would still be cheaper than the deluxe options.


You can use your maingate for 3 people, but the other 2 will need seperate tickets, unless you can find some one to help you get them in the parks each day. You can purchase tickets at Company D for 10% off.

How far in advance do they advertise this 60% off? Do they start it in, say, October? Or do they advertise it in November? Am I better to book as soon as I get down there in August, and then change it (can I even do that?) if a better rate comes out? Or do I have to wait?

Also - I just noticed you got a photo with Cobie! My boyfriend's family got one with him, if it's the same Cobie - did you get to go behind the scenes in SeaWorld at the penguin exhibit?

 

[SandrA9810]

2 o clock pengiun talk. Every day at the end of the talks, they ask the audience a question and the first person to answer gets to meet a penguin (no cost). And it's probably the same cobie, he's about 6yrs old now. Extremely sweet. Took me 3yrs to finally get called on to answer the question.

It's the same every year... you should get the holiday package in September and usually starts in October. And goes through till Feb. This year, they started something different with the dining coupons. It used to be 2 coupons, 1 50% coupon to use inside the park, and 1 50% coupon to use outside the parks. This past year, they changed it to one 50%, one 40%, and one 30% coupon to use anywhere, and there's much fewer blocked locations. The thing about these, is they're good till oct 31 of the following year.

You'll also get 6 coupons for free popcorn or soda in the parks, an extra 10% off at cast connection, and your merchandise discount is 40% (the last two years has been upped to 50%). A free photopass photo (photos are considered merchandise, so you'll recieve your discount on any other photo purchase).

There's some other stuff to the holiday package as well, but that's what usually gets used up.

 

[kmg148]

How far in advance do they advertise this 60% off? Do they start it in, say, October? Or do they advertise it in November? Am I better to book as soon as I get down there in August, and then change it (can I even do that?) if a better rate comes out? Or do I have to wait?

Also - I just noticed you got a photo with Cobie! My boyfriend's family got one with him, if it's the same Cobie - did you get to go behind the scenes in SeaWorld at the penguin exhibit?

As Sandra said, you get an envelope in the mail with a booklet saying the discounts. I think I got mine in October and it started after Halloween (I think.)

You won't be able to book for the 60% until the offer is valid and put into the system, which I haven't seen until the offer actually begins (so even though you would be booking a reservation for the discounted timeframe, it isn't in the computer yet.)

You could change it, but that involves rebooking your entire reservation and it may end up not being cheaper, but you could always check. I know you have until the 5th day before you check-in to cancel, but I'm not sure if you can rebook past that.

I would say book it in August and try and book another reservation when the deal comes out if the deal is infact better. You can get the full refund up untnil the 5th day before you check-in, as I said. Hopefully that makes sense.

 

[kmg148]

Okay so when they run the dining at 50% off, can you get that for your party even though you don't buy tickets? Also What are my chances of doing this:
Week one
Saturday: Request off
Week two
Sunday: Request off
Monday: Request off
Tuesday: Request late start
Wednesday: Work
Thursday: Give shift away or Request late start
Friday: Request off
Saturday: Work
This is what I am hoping I can do the week my family is coming down. Does anyone know what my chances are that this could happen. I know that this is probably hard to get and it depends on your manager and people you work with. Also my family would be there from Saturday November 6 thru Saturday November 13. Thanks guys!

When I booked a 60% off room in January, I could only get the discounted quick service dining plan if I rebooked my room. It ended up being the same price, but they told me I could only get the dining plan if I booked them both at the same time, hence the rebooking. I was also told the regular dining plan was unavailable, so quick service was my only option.

Just have a backup plan if it doesn't work out, that's all I can recommend. The discounts aren't guaranteed.

That schedule also depends on your location. I could see maybe having to trade away shifts. Also, depending on your location, you may only have morning or evening ones (where I worked I only had night shifts since we were only open at night.) Just keep all of that in mind and you'll be prepared. Have options (like waking up for a morning EMH so that you can get them into the park before you work) or before you leave for work, go with them to a park nearby and use your maingate to get them in. When my family came to visit, I would either wake up early and we would go to an EMH or I would just go with them to Epcot (since that's the closest to Old Key West where we were staying) and get them their tickets. Once you go through the turnstile, the people who used your maingate get their own paper ticket for the day, so you only need to be with them the one time.

 

[lala88]

The discount can be up to 50%. But November is during the Cast Holiday Celebration (excluding thanksgiving week), Which gives you 60% off rooms and the option to add the dining plan. 15$ for the quick service, and 25$ for the regular dining plan.

You have to check in with them. Although I had my mom come on ME, and she checked in with no problems. It took me like an hour after she got in to finally get my er for the day.

The quick service dining plan is 2 counter service credits, and 2 snack credits per day, plus each person get a refillable mug. The regular dining plan is 1 table service, 1 counter service, and 1 snack credit per day. And at the rate they give you, it's way better than even buying food with your 20% discount (which you can't use in the park).


For 6 people, you can book a 2 bedroom villa or a cabin at Ft Wilderness. But getting two value rooms would still be cheaper than the deluxe options.


You can use your maingate for 3 people, but the other 2 will need seperate tickets, unless you can find some one to help you get them in the parks each day. You can purchase tickets at Company D for 10% off.

We know we will need a few back up plans because I will not be able to even start to book our trip until I get down there in August. I am a little confused about the discounts still. You are saying that during November it is normally 60% off but I can't book it at the rate until almost November. So the chances of me getting what I want are slim. My family knows they want to try and stay at a Deluxe Villa because this is going to be the only time in our lives that this will be possible. We know we would need to buy some tickets for 2 people so we have that worked in but I didn't know we got 10% off which is very nice. I know that Zero already basically asked this but I can book when I get there at maybe 50% off and no dining then when the promotion gets announced I can rebook at maybe 60% off and get the dining plan at $25. Also is that $25 per day per person?
Also I want to say thank you because you guys have been so much help!

 

[kmg148]

I know that Zero already basically asked this but I can book when I get there at maybe 50% off and no dining then when the promotion gets announced I can rebook at maybe 60% off and get the dining plan at $25. Also is that $25 per day per person?

I said this in the above post and mentioned about the dining. I didn't see it in the system to book until the discounted timeframe began.

It's $25 per person per day.

 

[swissfamilyrobinson]

Discount values can vary... during slow seasons sometime they'll raise the discount. I've seen it up to 60% in the past, but that's not likely in November.

Also, they sometimes run the dining plan at 50% off, so you may want to keep you eyes open for that one too!!

We just returned home last night from a visit with DD. We were able to get the 60% discounted room and 50% discount on the dining plan. My daughter had already booked the room, when later we decided to add the QS Plan, so she just called and added it on. We didn't have to purchase any tickets at all to get the dining plan.

 

[Berlioz70]

I know booking is hard to explain without Hub access...

When you log in it will tell you the current rates and if there are any additional dining discounts. Unfortunately, there is no warning that they are coming, or the dates they'll be, they just pop up for awhile and then disappear.

For example, right now it's 60% off rooms you stay in and 50% off rooms for friends and family. DDP is $26 and QSDP is $16. Rooms must be booked for dates before March 27th.

As mentioned, the holiday coupon book comes every year in mid October. This will come with a code that you can use.

You've got the right idea though... book as soon as you get here and then as new deals and promotions come out try to book again for something cheaper. If you can't get it cheaper, then just stay with that original reservation.