Silver Pass?

[trtl6941]

Not sure if this is the right board.....feel free to move it

We are currently booked at the POP for September with the DP. I am (like so many others) really hoping FD is offered soon! Currently our vacation is totaling around $2100 (2 adults - 2 kids, but one is only 2 years old). If FD is offered and we can change our ressie, the price will be around $1600.

My sister was over today and said that she and my BIL might join us and we can get a discount through my BIL. He has a silver pass and says he can get us all into the parks for free and a 50% hotel discount Now...we're still working with dates etc...but if this is true, we might want to change to the Poly. I have always wanted to stay there and the lure of being on the monorail is sooo tempting!! I played around with prices and room only with his discount I am guessing is about $1200 and then I guess we'd add the dining plan so it would be about $1700.

So...my dilemma is, that actually raises the price! But....it might be worth it right?

Thoughts?

 

[love2disney]

Please confirm the silver pass will let you all in. Usually as I remember it is CM+3 people. I also dont know about the room discount being that much.

I am sure a CM will give you more accrate answer. I have done the pass and it was headache to coordinate with the CM [my friend] to let us in.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

1. The "Friends and Family" rate is normally not more than a 40% discount. If the CM is actually staying in the room then the discount may be as high as 60%. It varies by availability.

2. With a Silver Main Gate Pass the CM can normally bring in up to three Guests. But the CM must accompany you through the gate the first time each day. And the Spouse Silver Pass cannot be used on the same day that the CM Silver Pass is used.

 

[trtl6941]

Hmmm...ok, I'll have to have him get more details I guess. He was under the impression that if he got the rooms (2 standard rooms) in his name, he could get 50%, but he definitely had to be there.

He works for ESPN if that makes a difference?

 

[Crystal824]

When I was a CM, you got a 50% discount on rooms as long as you stayed in the room. That was 9 years ago so things can change. I'm not sure about the Silver Pass as I was a CP and didn't have that, but even if it is limited to 3 people it sounds like you might be ok because one child is under 2.

 

[trtl6941]

Yeah-we'd definitely be ok with the silver pass. We'd need tickets for my 3 year old but that's no biggie

I guess I am trying to figure it all out. Like...would he get a discount on the dining plan I wonder

 

[andrews_dad]

We use the CM Silver pass to get in with a CM relative. It is the CM plus 3 guests per day, max. USe the CM entrance. The 3 guests can be all 3 adults, 3 kids, it does not matter. Parking is free for the CM's car and one more, max. The person trailing the CM should stay directly behind the CM and use same pay booth. The CM MUST be at the turnstile with the guests. If you have more than 3 folks, clearly the best route is to have kid's as the ones paying if possible. The 3 folks get one-day park hopper paper tickets. The CM does not HAVE to be with the 3 guests at the other parks that are hopped to. Silver Pass is a Silver pass. No diff if ESPN or ABC of Diz. The same level of benefit. Room discounts vary depending on time of year, availablity, etc. If you are using his discount check the CM discount on the DCL for the same time frame. The cruises are usually so salty that I find the best bang for the buck is CM discounts on DCL.

 

[andrews_dad]

His Silver pass will get him a nice discount at merchandise, as well. If items you want to buy just happen into his cart ... accidents happen.

 

[trtl6941]

Thanks everyone! Turns out he can book up to three rooms in his name as long as he is there to check in 50% off!

We might not need the room discount after all though, but his silver pass will be awesome for the parks!

 

[andrews_dad]

Thanks everyone! Turns out he can book up to three rooms in his name as long as he is there to check in 50% off!

We might not need the room discount after all though, but his silver pass will be awesome for the parks!

I think you need to make sure you get a handle of all of his discount options. In my experience, there is no package available to the public that will beat what a Sliver passer can get you. When you type that you might not need his room discount, that shocks me (unless you are staying off-site).

 

[trtl6941]

I think you need to make sure you get a handle of all of his discount options. In my experience, there is no package available to the public that will beat what a Sliver passer can get you. When you type that you might not need his room discount, that shocks me (unless you are staying off-site).

well....the way I was figuring it out, paying the rate at the POP and getting a one day base ticket to be able to add on FD (I am assuming it will be offered, things do change if it's not) it would only be a couple of hundred more to not use his discount and then have the FD plan? Does that make sense? Maybe not.....

 

[andrews_dad]

If the Silver Pass person is with your group all/most of the time, his discounts on room/food/merchandise/parking (if off-site)/stroller rental/wheel chair rental/activities are very much more likely to save you money versus what they offer to the public. If you plan to just have him meet you at the front gate each AM to let 3 folks in and then you part ways (although nobody would ever do that against the way it is supposed to be), then maybe your schemes might be better. Maybe if Diz pulls out some amazing public PIN or promo with 30/40% PLUS free dining or something you might be in the ballpark, but I can't imagine you'll do better skipping his Silver pass benefits. Maybe I am out to lunch, but I've used Silver Pass stuff for many years and it has always been the way to go to save $$. I really think you need to get his Silver Pass explanation & benefits details and start cruching numbers. And I suppose you are assuming that if the general public gets FD that he could not with his CM discount? I would assume that he could still get you some sort of dining discount with his Silver pass if it was offered to gen public.

 

[trtl6941]

Well....I was thinking he couldn't even get the dining plan because he wouldn't be purchasing a ticket. Maybe I am mistaken.

We plan to stick together 99% of the time......maybe you're right! Let me go ask him a few more things, lol. Thanks SO much!

 

[n2mm]

If the Silver Pass person is with your group all/most of the time, his discounts on room/food/merchandise/parking (if off-site)/stroller rental/wheel chair rental/activities are very much more likely to save you money versus what they offer to the public. If you plan to just have him meet you at the front gate each AM to let 3 folks in and then you part ways (although nobody would ever do that against the way it is supposed to be), then maybe your schemes might be better. Maybe if Diz pulls out some amazing public PIN or promo with 30/40% PLUS free dining or something you might be in the ballpark, but I can't imagine you'll do better skipping his Silver pass benefits. Maybe I am out to lunch, but I've used Silver Pass stuff for many years and it has always been the way to go to save $$. I really think you need to get his Silver Pass explanation & benefits details and start cruching numbers. And I suppose you are assuming that if the general public gets FD that he could not with his CM discount? I would assume that he could still get you some sort of dining discount with his Silver pass if it was offered to gen public.

BEWARE -- in the past CM dining discounts have been blacked out for dinner during the FD promotion. We meet up with our CM friends often and this is always a complaint among them regarding FD. So don't assume that there will be a dining discount unless this year they don't get the dinner CM blackout of their discount. When we catch up with our friends during FD, it's funny that we use our TiW discount to get them a discount on their TS meals.

Sometimes they will offer a reduced price dining package, but it is during off times and it will not happen during FD. Just wanted to to have this piece of information.

Also wanted to mention that discounts on rooms come out about a year in advance, so if you are planning on having him get a discounted room, he needs to check availability very soon as it is a pool of rooms that have the discount, not a discount on every room and every catagory. It's just like the AP room inventory. Once they are gone, they are gone. The room discount use to be, 50% off if the CM is in the room, 40% off for friends and family, and when those rooms are gone the disocunt was 25% off for friends and family. During the holidays (Nov-Feb) they offered a special 60% off discount for the CM if staying in the room. This may have changed since it's been 4 years since we used the discounts.

BTW--my husband is a ex-CM. He was a CM for 8 years, so we do know a little about CM discounts in WDW.

 

[plutolovr]

My DD is a CM and currently there is a spring offer for 60% off room for CM and 50% off for Friends and Family, they are also offering the DDP for $27 per person. I believe you need to check in by June 6 or something like that.

I'm taking advantage. I have an AP so I don't need the tickets. I tell my DD to use her Blue Pass entries for her friends when they come to visit her. I also usually don't do the DDP, not a fan, but at that price it's hard to pass up. I use my TIW card for any additions to our meals.

As far as other discounts, I scope things out at the parks that I want and my DD purchases them for me. If you want to use the CM discount on merchandise, the CM must be the one to pay for it.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

1. The "Friends and Family" rate is normally not more than a 40% discount. If the CM is actually staying in the room then the discount may be as high as 60%. It varies by availability.

2. With a Silver Main Gate Pass the CM can normally bring in up to three Guests. But the CM must accompany you through the gate the first time each day. And the Spouse Silver Pass cannot be used on the same day that the CM Silver Pass is used.

Cheshire Figment do you know when this year's Silver Main Gate Pass expires? The pass says 11/11/09 (the date when I recieved it) We are going to the parks 12/1/10

My question is, does the pass expire at the end of December or November?

Thank you

 

[ametaldiva]

Cheshire Figment do you know when this year's Silver Main Gate Pass expires? The pass says 11/11/09 (the date when I recieved it) We are going to the parks 12/1/10

My question is, does the pass expire at the end of December or November?

Thank you

I'm not Cheshire Figment, but my husband is a CM, and from my understanding the admissions on the Silver/Blue passes expire at the end of every calendar year. One note to add for this year is that we are being told to keep the same pass for next year - I guess they are going to "reload" next years admissions on the same pass instead of sending CMs new ones.

Hope that helps!

 

[PURTYPAT1]

I'm not Cheshire Figment, but my husband is a CM, and from my understanding the admissions on the Silver/Blue passes expire at the end of every calendar year. One note to add for this year is that we are being told to keep the same pass for next year - I guess they are going to "reload" next years admissions on the same pass instead of sending CMs new ones.

Hope that helps!

Thank is just what I needed to know. Many thanks it does help!!!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I'm not Cheshire Figment, but my husband is a CM, and from my understanding the admissions on the Silver/Blue passes expire at the end of every calendar year. One note to add for this year is that we are being told to keep the same pass for next year - I guess they are going to "reload" next years admissions on the same pass instead of sending CMs new ones.

Hope that helps!

I agree completely.