Saving money on a resort

[Aliceacc]

I'm a woman on a mission: I'm starting a campaign to prevent any DIS members from EVER paying rack rate again. Who else is in????

Of course, the quickest way is to simply receive that elusive 40% off PIN code. But since that depends on luck (or Karma, or the Disney Gods or SOMETHING else out of our control) let's just ignore that option, other than to say this: any mail you receive from Disney (particular Disney Destinations) should be READ before being discarded.

OK, now to the nitty gritty:

The most basic way of saving money on your resort is through AAA/CAA. The auto clubs offer between 10 and 20% discounts. If you want room-only, you can book yourself. If you want a package (park tickets &/or DDP) you need to book through an AAA/CAA agent.

Once you've done that, your job is not over Your next assignment is to beat the code offered by the auto club.

Start here: http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyresorts.html#discountmenu

Then take a look at the thread on this board looking for codes for your month (ex: July 2008 code watch) Subscribe and check it often. That way, should a code come up for which you're qualified, you'll know right away.

I know that AP passholders are also elligible for discounts. Does someone want to write that up?

What else is out there??

 

[Shenandoah Minnie]

We are doing our first non-DVC vacation...we have had to sell our vacation club due to job loss. We still hope to go this October and use our annual passes for the last time. I would love to know any available options to us. If our DVC sells we can afford to go...how ironic!! Any discount info would be great...Great thread!!

 

[Aliceacc]

Info on Annual Passes ("AP") taken from www.mousesavers.com:

Annual & Seasonal Passholder Resort Hotel Discounts
Savings for Annual and Seasonal Passholders can be deep (up to 45%). They are more likely to be available during Value and Regular seasons, though there are exceptions to this -- Peak season discounts are not unheard-of. Generally speaking the discounts are released 2-4 months in advance.

Annual Passholder rates are NOT guaranteed and frequently are not offered during peak holiday periods. Be aware that discounted rooms are limited in number and will not be available for all dates at all resorts. You may have to be flexible with your selections. If you can't get your first choice on the first try, call back periodically and check on availability. Frequently discounted rooms will open up as people change and cancel their reservations over time.

When available, the Annual Passholder rates are so good that in some cases it's worth investing in an Annual Pass for relatively short stays! To see a cost comparison chart that shows how a family on a 7-night vacation might save by purchasing one Annual Pass and buying the components of their vacation separately, click here. To learn more about Disney World Annual Passes, click here.



Annual Passholder Room-Only Discounts

Compare these rates with regular "Rack" rates.

Check-in dates: 3/30/08-5/21/08. Use code FJC on weekdays, FJG on weekends. Your stay will be priced on a day-by-day basis, so rates may be higher on weekends.

Please note that if you would like the Dining Plan, it is available in a special Annual Passholders package for the first time!

Sample rates:

Value resort (weekdays): $74 plus tax Standard view
Value resort (weekends): $84 plus tax Standard view
Moderate resorts (weekdays): $129 plus tax Standard view
Moderate resorts (weekends): $154 plus tax Standard view
Wilderness Lodge (weekdays): $184 plus tax Woods view
Other resorts and room types are available
About Booking

For phone bookings, you pay a deposit of one night's room rate plus tax. No change or cancellation fee will be charged if you make your modification more than 5 days before arrival. You can also book online through the Annual Passholder section of DisneyWorld.com, but for online bookings the change/cancellation deadline is 6 days and you have to pay in full if you book less than 45 days in advance. In other words, there's a real incentive to book by phone!

You can book one room per adult Annual Pass. You can book with a valid Annual Pass, an exchange voucher or with the intent to purchase an Annual Pass, as long as you present a valid Annual Pass or exchange voucher upon check-in. Thanks to Small World Vacations for info.

To reserve a room with the Annual Passholder discount, call the Disney Reservations Center at (407) W-DISNEY or contact a travel agent who specializes in Disney travel, and request the specific offer code.

 

[safetymom]

We have lots of great information on codes and discounts here on the DIS. No need to go elsewhere.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts/discounts-resorts.htm#room

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1686236

 

[shendley]

I have a question about "subscribing" to a monthly code watch thread: does that mean something more than just checking in every day or so to watch if something gets announced there (which I already do!) or is subscribing something you can do that can give you, for instance, e-mail alerts about codes for your month? Also, would new codes be announced at the beginning of the thread or at the end in the most recent posts?

Thanks!

I'm a woman on a mission: I'm starting a campaign to prevent any DIS members from EVER paying rack rate again. Who else is in????

Of course, the quickest way is to simply receive that elusive 40% off PIN code. But since that depends on luck (or Karma, or the Disney Gods or SOMETHING else out of our control) let's just ignore that option, other than to say this: any mail you receive from Disney (particular Disney Destinations) should be READ before being discarded.

OK, now to the nitty gritty:

The most basic way of saving money on your resort is through AAA/CAA. The auto clubs offer between 10 and 20% discounts. If you want room-only, you can book yourself. If you want a package (park tickets &/or DDP) you need to book through an AAA/CAA agent.

Once you've done that, your job is not over Your next assignment is to beat the code offered by the auto club.

Start here: http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyresorts.html#discountmenu

Then take a look at the thread on this board looking for codes for your month (ex: July 2008 code watch) Subscribe and check it often. That way, should a code come up for which you're qualified, you'll know right away.

I know that AP passholders are also elligible for discounts. Does someone want to write that up?

What else is out there??

 

[Aliceacc]

You can subscribe one of two ways: either post something or use the "thread tools" to add a subscription.

If you use the "thread tools" link (by the top of the first post of a thread), you'll have a choice of notification methods.

 

[snowmouse]

If you set your user CP for instant emails, you will get notified immediately when the thread is replied to. In theory, when a code comes out someone will allert the thread with the info. News usually spreads pretty fast here.