The odd thing is I have had my original account with disneyland.com for many years and I never got a pin code for DLR (got one once for WDW but had no intention of going there). Maybe they are sending pin codes to new accounts versus older established accounts.
I hear you about next year! I'm concerned about the prices of DLR room and what they may charge for PAPs once DCA is up and running 100%.
I remember the year DCA opened and how they were selling APs seperate for DL and you'd have to pay additional for access to DCA. Thankfully that was short lived, however that very well may become a reality in 2012.
I agree DLR is being groomed to be a vacation destination going forward. The off season is pretty much been downgraded to rainy days in Jan and Feb. They are apparently sending out pin codes for free dinning. Hard ticket events have begun (ie: Halloween) I bet we'll see more and more of the way WDW is run infused into DLR as the *one park* mentaltiy takes further hold.
The only saving grace for me is I hit the senior rate age last year, so no matter the rack rates I'll get 30% off. Never thought I'd find a reason to be happy about being 60.
dsny1mom
dsny1mom -
I've had my "My
Disneyland account" for ages, and I have gotten PIN's through the years that had nothing to do with saving offers, as I'm sure you have as well. In fact, I am trying to recall if I ever actually saved an offer in my account. I know I've priced the hotels before and have pulled up the rates on the Disneyland website, but
if I ever saved anything prior to last year, it was probably just once or twice - and it hadn't been recently.
So I am thinking that maybe it was just last year when Disney Destinations began sending out PIN codes when people saved offers. It could be something that they never did prior to 2010, and it might just be temporary and not intended to last indefinitely. Not sure.
All I know is, I never saw anyone post about saving hotel offers in their My Disneyland accounts as a way of definitely getting a PIN code until I mentioned it here, so it seemed like a new trick to me. I have seen all kinds of other suggestions as to how to possibly get a PIN, but this one was new to me.
Also, to be honest, after I got my first Saved Offer PIN code last year (in the Fall), I really didn't think I would get another one this year! I was shocked that I got a second PIN by doing the same trick, even though this time the dates were not exactly what I wanted (but they were okay). I was certain it would be a one-time only thing!
Yep - DLR is definitely trying to turn itself into more of a vacation destination, and with that will come crazier hotel prices and PIN codes of less value, I'm sure. But what works well for WDW is not necessarily going to work well for DLR. DLR may be more of a vacation destination than it was a few years ago, but I'm not sure DLR's hotel prices will ever be acceptable to anyone when there are only 3 hotels to choose from. SImply because of the smaller size and limited space to expand, DLR is never going to be seen as the same kind of vacation destination that WDW is. People can deal with staying onsite at WDW because there are so many Disney hotels to choose from and many are affordable. I'm not sure anyone will ever want to pay rack rates at, say, Paradise Pier. Over $300 per night without a discount for PPH is just crazy. It's a cute hotel and I really enjoy staying there, but it's not worth over $300 per night...plus tax.
....The weird thing is, the PIN code was sent to my e-mail address despite the fact that A) It was addressed to my best friend's (who we travel with almost always) mother (whom we have invited but never actually traveled with), and B) had the snail-mail address of my best friend's brother and his wife (who has a similar first name to her mother-in-law, but not the same name), who do Disney with us but only when we get our 2-bedroom villa at VGC. Btw my best friend lives in NorCal, his mom lives in Nevada, his brother lives in SoCal, and we live in Hawaii ...
so how all this information got strung together into one fictitious person with my e-mail by Disney marketing is anybody's guess but the CM found it very amusing.
And thank you Sherry for posting the tip!
taaren -
You're welcome! I couldn't help but laugh at the bolded coment above!
The way you described it amused me - and you're right. How in the world did Disney put all of that information about other people together and manage to send you the PIN?
That is crazy business!
I have to add my thanks to Sherry! We go to Disneyland every year (starting in 1999) at the same time (early October) because my kids have a week off of school. I have never gotten a pin code before. I tried Sherry's trick last week and saved a vacation package on Friday or Saturday. Yesterday I got a pin code offer in my email!!! AND it was for the dates we are going! By the way, I have had the same disney.com account for many years and did not change it but still got the offer.
Our offer is different than the ones listed previously. Here it is:
Enjoy 2 Extra Nights FREE*
with the purchase of a non-discounted
2-Night Resort/2-Day Park Hopper® Ticket
Package at the Disneyland® Resort
Now's a great time for your family to enjoy a magical Disneyland® Resort stay at a special rate!
Offer valid for arrivals 8/22/11 to 10/8/11.
Book by 9/12/11.
Our dates are 10/1-10/6 so this worked perfectly for us. The savings from the same package that I saved online (5 nights at the GCH and 6-day park hopper for 4 people) was about $900 for the 5 days so this was a great deal for us! We now have our Disney vacation booked! Woo hoo!
Also, I saw some previous discussion in a different thread about the $50 change fee. The person I booked with today said that the change fee would only apply IF the change was made less than 30 days before our arrival AND if the change caused a lower price.
Anyway, I am so thankful I read this message board and saw the tip about saving the package because I never would have known to try it. Thank you!!!
TahoeMom -
You're welcome! I'm glad you got the dates you wanted (something that seems to be happening less frequently with PIN recipients lately!).
I honestly think this "Saved Offer" trick may have just started last year. Too many people have had their My Disneyland accounts for years and have not seen a direct connection between saving offers and getting PIN's - surely someone would have mentioned it before 2010 if they had detected a pattern. I think it's a fairly new thing. It's probably a short-lived trick, one that may end before the DCA makeover is complete next year.
What? I can get 30% off for being a dinosaur?
My dinosaur birthday is in Oct, and I'm looking at Nov. That's great news! What do I do, just call them to book and let them know I'm ancient?
-Bob
Too funny, Bob!
Yep, 60 and *better* gets you 30% off rack rate. Just call WDT give them your dates and then let them know you are 60 and would like the *senior* discount. You'll need to show ID at check in to prove your age.
Just showing your package of Depends won't work.
dsny1mom
dsney1mom -
You guys (you and Bob) are hilarious!
But, seriously, 30% off for seniors is a good deal!
About how far out do they send the pin? I am planning a trip for March. I am not hopeful that I will stay on Disney property an have a different hotel already booked. Since Easter break is later, I am hoping that it will be less busy and perhaps they will send out more pins.
mousefan5-
I'm not sure how far out DLR will send the PIN. I've never tried to get one for the following year. My thinking is that, if you saved an offer for next March on the DLR site right now, they may not want to send you something soon because they will want to give you time to decide if you want to book at the rate you saved, rather than hastily sending you out a better offer. But I could be wrong. Maybe they will send you a PIN in 2 weeks, for all I know. All you can do is try, and hope for the best - but don't be shocked
if you don't get a PIN for a long time.
I think that Disneyland Resort is expecting to see a big surge of guests starting next year - that's why they are scrambling to get the lengthy POTC refurb done this year, that's why they are adding indoor seating to Carnation Cafe, that's why they redecorated the PPH rooms and are getting the DLH all shiny and new by next year, that's why they are thinking about ways to change the Annual Pass set-up or pricing, etc., etc. All of this is being done so that it will be ready to go by early 2012 or by June, at the latest, when Cars Land opens.
So I'm not sure what kinds of discounts you will see for March 2012 once 2012 rolls around, but perhaps you will be able to score a PIN for March before 2012 hits.
I got a PIN via email yesterday. Well, I thought "I" got it...but it turned out to be for my mom?!
Here's the deal:
- We stayed at GCH in March. I booked two rooms, one for me one for my mom. I used my email address for both, as I wanted the confirmations sent to me.
- My email address is also the one I use for my disneyland.com account
- I set up the fake reservation about a week ago.
- Like magic, I got a PIN code yesterday -- good for the dates I want to travel. I'm thinking YIPPEE
- Call Disney Travel, they ask for my name, mailing address, etc. Then they ask for the PIN, and say "Who is so-and-so?" I say that's my mom. They say "Oh, the PIN code is for her, not you...so she'd have to travel with you if you want to use it."
This is a bummer, as I'm not sure my mom can make it on this trip. I don't get it...I did the PIN "trick", the PIN came to my email address, but it's not good for me to use. Argh!
I brought my mom with my family to WDW. She stayed in my room & we paid for everything. My info was used for everything. Her name was only listed on our ressies. Every so often, I get email or mail with pin codes just for her.
That was her first trip & they are obviously trying to get her back.
LisaT91403 & nemofans -
I had a very similar situation with a few PIN codes in the past (not PIN codes generated by the Saved Offer trick). I stayed at the GCH in December 2007. I paid for the room. I made all the calls and arrangements. I only gave the Reservations Cast Member my friend's name so they would know who was in the room with me. They added her to the reservation.
Lo and behold, after that 12/2007 trip, I began receiving PIN codes and other e-mails at
my e-mail address
and snail mail at
my home address, BUT they were in my friend's name! My friend does not read my e-mail and she does not live with me, and yet, to this day I still get pieces of mail or e-mail with her name on them.
So at some point or other I called Reservations and explained the situation. They said they had no way of removing my friend's name from the system. They told me that I could use the PIN and make all the reservations, as
long as I lived at the address they had on file and I showed them proof that I lived there, which was easy,
and as long as my friend was with me when I checked in. Once I checked in, they didn't really care if my friend was with me or not.
I think it's such a waste of PIN codes if people receive these crazy PIN's addressed to other people like friends and relatives - people who may not be able to accompany them on the trip! - and then can't use them, even if they are sent to their own addresses or e-mail accounts! It's madness, I tell you!
Many people we have as guests with us at the hotels are not people who would necessarily be going to DLR repeatedly with us, and we don't want to have to bring them every time just to claim a PIN code!
