So sad:(

[lcarter0922]

I am so sad that a package deal never came out for spring, I was so hoping for kids stay and play like has been offered the past couple years. I did do the room only spring discount but because we chose French Quarter the discount was only 5%(save me $79). Before I planned this trip we received pins like crazy but as soon as I nailed down my dates...nothing. I have to pay my remaining balance next week, and I think we may change to offsite. I have budgeted enough to stay where we are booked, but just aggravated about paying almost rack rate when I read person on top of person on these boards getting pins for free dining during the exact time we are going.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

I agree. It is so frustrating, but I wouldn't stay offsite. It changes the whole experience.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I am so sad that a package deal never came out for spring, I was so hoping for kids stay and play like has been offered the past couple years. I did do the room only spring discount but because we chose French Quarter the discount was only 5%(save me $79). Before I planned this trip we received pins like crazy but as soon as I nailed down my dates...nothing. I have to pay my remaining balance next week, and I think we may change to offsite. I have budgeted enough to stay where we are booked, but just aggravated about paying almost rack rate when I read person on top of person on these boards getting pins for free dining during the exact time we are going.

Did you call and see if you had a pin? I've never done that but I see people doing it all the time, and then if there isn't one, call again in a few days...do you have AAA? They always offer Disney discounts, probably about 20%. And what about values? I'd rather stay at a value than stay offsite, for many reasons.

 

[lcarter0922]

I have called Disney everyday trying to see if I have a pin code. Whether I stay at POFQ or at POP, it isn't the money that bothers me as much as the principal that I am there paying almost rack rate, while there are other people are there w/free dining. I know crazy. There is a part of me that thinks that is may be great that they didn't offer a public package deal, maybe less crowds, but if Disney didn't offer it, it just means they are filling the rooms w/o it.

 

[justjoannj]

I think in the future you need to jump on deals when you see them. You can always change or cancel the reservation if you find you cannot go. They were offering free dinning a while ago for 2012 but you had to book by Dec. I also agree that staing at a value is much better than staying off site.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I have called Disney everyday trying to see if I have a pin code. Whether I stay at POFQ or at POP, it isn't the money that bothers me as much as the principal that I am there paying almost rack rate, while there are other people are there w/free dining. I know crazy. There is a part of me that thinks that is may be great that they didn't offer a public package deal, maybe less crowds, but if Disney didn't offer it, it just means they are filling the rooms w/o it.

I am guessing you booked your trip with a budget that works for you. That's what we do and then if discounts become available it's just icing on the cake...but we book what were willing to pay. Discount or not. Someone will always have a "one up" on you, it's life. Someone staying at the resort could have won a trip, or had their parents pay for a trip, or yes, gotten a better discount. I wouldn't deprive myself of an experience simply because I felt that someone was getting a better deal than me...because plenty probably are, but I'm not going to let it stop me.

 

[lcarter0922]

I will probably just stay where we are at, we can afford it and it is where the kids really want to stay. It was between POFQ and CSR. Kinda wished I would have taken the spring offer for CSR when there were standard rooms available, it would have saved $336. But I just kept hoping for a package deal. My fault. But this will be my first year w/o a stroller and I like the idea of POFQ being so compact. I am mainly just venting. I would have been really mad if I hadn't budgeted for the trip including the discount.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I will probably just stay where we are at, we can afford it and it is where the kids really want to stay. It was between POFQ and CSR. Kinda wished I would have taken the spring offer for CSR when there were standard rooms available, it would have saved $336. But I just kept hoping for a package deal. My fault. But this will be my first year w/o a stroller and I like the idea of POFQ being so compact. I am mainly just venting. I would have been really mad if I hadn't budgeted for the trip including the discount.

Hasn't the spring offer been extended??

 

[lcarter0922]

It has, but there are no more rooms available at CSR.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

Venting is good and I know how you feel. I know it stinks when you don't get the discount you are waiting & hoping for. Look at the bright side, at least you budgeted for your trip and you are going to Disney. Try not to look back and just look forward to your awesome vacation. You and your family will have a great time and you learned that next time you will book a great discount right when you see it. Have a great vacation!

 

[Megsie1000]

I am with you. I think the whole pin system sucks and it makes me angry. We spend a fortune just getting down there and the only way I feel like I can vent my frustration is to speak with my wallet. We definitely prefer staying on-property, but I feel like if we all just accept the insane price increases, increases in room categories to try and squeeze more out of what is essentially the same exact room, and lack of discounts, Disney will feel they are justified in charging such outrageous amounts. I for one and not going to play along.

I know this response will not be popular here, but that is how I feel. I know I am not alone.

We are still staying on-site for the very last couple of days of our trip b/c a friend of ours already booked the Boardwalk Villas through dvcrequest and obviously that cannot be cancelled.

 

[Love Tink]

I'm another who understands. And I know that even when you get a PIN, the decision isn't always easy.

We are going the last week of April and I kept waiting and hoping for a good package deal, like the last few years at this time. When that didn't materialize, I was hoping for a PIN and I kept hearing about PINs for that time period for free dining and ticket upgrades. I called and I had a PIN for 10% any resort. Woohoo - less than the public offer.

We started considering staying offsite for the first time ever, just because I was so annoyed that I knew discounts were out there, lots of them, but not for us. But it's a hard decision because the kids love staying onsite and we consider it part of the "experience."

I was waiting for March 1, hoping maybe that the rumored discount would be a spring deal. When it wasn't, we decided to stay at a value and take our giant $25 a day savings. I called to book and - lo and behold - we had a free dining PIN. She said it was for free QS with any value or moderate, but that it had been open for a while (I never got an e-mail to let me know, darn it) and there were no value rooms left.

So then you get the new quandary - do I spend literally twice as much to stay at a moderate, to get free dining? I had to think about it for most of the day. The trip is actually more expensive for us with the free dining! But we get to stay at a nicer hotel and have the dining, which makes life easier.

So even when you get the PIN they don't make the decisions easy for you.