Resort Discounts

[AEA1127]

Hi everyone!

New to the DL threads! We are WDW veterans and are thinking that we may like to try something different and do a West coast trip this Spring. We are looking to stay on property at either the Grand Californian or the Disneyland Hotel. We've gotten used to being able to get a discount on our rooms at WDW and we are curious if DLR has similar discounts. If so, is there a historical time of year when they are released? Just wondering if we should keep our eyes open at a certain time of year.

Thanks so much!!

ETA: My initial research shows November-January may be the time to watch for announcements. Does that seem right?

 

[smartlabelprint]

Book your room now. Then if there is a discount you can call and get the lower price.

I’d say discounts are rather rare.

 

[gpjacobs]

There are cyclical discounts for Disney Rewards cardholders. (Seems there are AP discounts too, but I can't speak from experience.) I agree that general public discounts are on the rare side but, right now, they're running a promo on rooms through most of the holiday season - so who really knows!

Book your room now. Then if there is a discount you can call and get the lower price.

100% agree with this. I used this tactic and, when a recent Disney Rewards offer came out, called in and got the discounted rate. Saved 25%!

 

[ParkHopper1]

Book your room now. Then if there is a discount you can call and get the lower price.

This.

Disounts are fewer and further between. Resort hotels runs a pretty consistent high occupancy rate year round so little need for promos.

If you book direct room only (NOT a package) you can cancel up to 5 days from your arrival...meaning of you find a better deal elsewhere between now and then you can rebook and cancel exiting reservation for full refund of deposit. If though Disney they will just adjust rate if you call.

That is one advantage of booking direct room only reservation.

 

[Lewdannie]

There are often discounts. Have a look here for the history:
https://www.mousesavers.com/disneyl...sked-questions-about-disneyland/#newdiscounts

 

[AEA1127]

Thanks everyone. We do usually book a room at WDW and change to a better rate if they become available so I would definitely do the same for this! We'd book rack rate and aren't relying on a discount, but I'm always open to saving some money when it's possible. Some of the discounts at WDW go fast on certain rooms so I just wanted to get a feel for whether or not that's the case at DL. Feels weird to have to research these things!

 

[AEA1127]

There are often discounts. Have a look here for the history:
https://www.mousesavers.com/disneyl...sked-questions-about-disneyland/#newdiscounts

This is where I saw some of the historical dates that the discounts have dropped in the past! This is the information and back up that I was looking for, thank you! At WDW there are always discounts but I know things are different at DL so trying to start some research and planning now.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Thanks everyone. We do usually book a room at WDW and change to a better rate if they become available so I would definitely do the same for this! We'd book rack rate and aren't relying on a discount, but I'm always open to saving some money when it's possible. Some of the discounts at WDW go fast on certain rooms so I just wanted to get a feel for whether or not that's the case at DL. Feels weird to have to research these things!

If saving money is a real consideration, think about staying off site. Staying on site isn't the necessity at DLR that it is at WDW. And there really aren't any major perks for on site guests. Staying on site can be really fun, but there can be serious savings found by staying off site. And some of the off site hotels are even closer to the gates than the on site hotels!
These threads have good information for you:
"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862
"Choosing the Right DLR Area Hotel for You" www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/
A DLR Guide for WDW Vets

 

[AEA1127]

Thanks @theluckyrabbit ! Savings isn't a major consideration, I just like to save money when we can if a discount happens to be available. We certainly can find other things to do with our money while on the trip

Thank you for the links! I know there are a lot of off-site options but we're pretty used to the Disney bubble and feel like we'd like to stay on-site. My husband wants to stay at GCH and I'm kind of leaning towards the DL Hotel so we'll likely end up at one or the other. I'm sure most people would say go for the GCH but we stay at Wilderness Lodge a lot at WDW and GCH seems pretty similar lobby-wise etc. We'll see...I'm just having fun looking into everything! I'll spend some time checking out those threads, maybe something else will cathc our eye

 

[twodogs]

Sometimes the discounts are only for Sunday-Thursday nights. So if you go on the weekends, it doesn’t apply. We go to DLR and WDW fairly often, several times per year, and always stay on site. The discounts at DLR are much less frequent and less generous than WDW in my opinion. Doesn’t stop us from going apparently, but....

 

[AEA1127]

@twodogs WDW announced a new room only discount today for dates into April! I feel like there's always a discount there and it just comes down to whether or not it works for us. Tempting to just go with what we know but we just got home from WDW a couple of weeks ago and have the itch to check out the other coast.

Our son is a big Cars fan and we'd like to get out to see Radiator Springs but we didn't want to go until he could ride RSR so we've been holding off. As of our trip in September he was 39.5 inches, so it seems like the time might be right finally!

 

[twodogs]

@twodogs WDW announced a new room only discount today for dates into April! I feel like there's always a discount there and it just comes down to whether or not it works for us. Tempting to just go with what we know but we just got home from WDW a couple of weeks ago and have the itch to check out the other coast.

Our son is a big Cars fan and we'd like to get out to see Radiator Springs but we didn't want to go until he could ride RSR so we've been holding off. As of our trip in September he was 39.5 inches, so it seems like the time might be right finally!

Yes, definitely go to DLR for Carsland!! It is amazing, and he will LOVE it. I literally almost cry when we walk into that area, especially at night, because the theming is so good.. We love WDW but DLR has it own special things that make it so great, especially for little ones. Walking between the parks and walking to the GCH or DLH are such a dream compared to buses/monorail/etc at WDW. It is like one very big park, instead of two parks. Minimal planning compared to WDW, and Max Pass is a game changer for us (our kids are ride junkies). Plus California weather is so much more stable to me (we went in March to WDW one year and froze to death, have been rained on terribly, hot as hades, etc...). We just love DLR, and I hope you do too! I think WDW will always have cheaper rooms onsite, even when both coasts have the resorts on sale. So just dive in and go check out DLR! Have a blast!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

@twodogs ... Our son is a big Cars fan and we'd like to get out to see Radiator Springs but we didn't want to go until he could ride RSR so we've been holding off. As of our trip in September he was 39.5 inches, so it seems like the time might be right finally!

Make sure to ride RSR day and night -- like two different rides, and so beautiful at night! And be on Rte. 66 at sunset (Google for the time on the day, then be on Rte, 66 about 10-15 minutes before that) for the neon lighting. Just like being in the movie! Grab a snack at the Cozy Cones, find a good spot in front of or across from Flo's, then wait for the lights to dim, and the music to start... "Life could be a dream... sh'boom..." Magic!