I posted this on another thread...
There are two kinds of codes, some are public and some are pin codes. The codes offered to the public are found in Disney newsletters, on their website or you can find them on sites such as this or
www.mousesavers.com.
Pin codes, on the other hand, are given out randomly by Disney. People who get a code are generally e-mailed the code or snail-mailed the code. These codes require a pin number to use, and are "attached" to your name in the Disney system. If you call Disney reservations, you can ask them to check and see if they have a code for you. If you do not have a pin, you cannot use the code. There are various codes out there right now, and only certain dates that you can use the code for, and only a certain number of rooms available at certain resorts to use the codes on. Some people never seem to get a code, others, quite frequently. A few theories out there are that people get more pin codes if they sign up for every Disney-related e-newsletter, offer, contest, etc.. Another is based on frequency of visits; seems to be that people who go either frequently in a year, or only every other year get more codes. Another theory is the zip code theory (if you live in a targeted zip code, you may get a code). And then there is the "if you are not in the system, you won't get a code" theory. So if the first time you contacted Disney was to book this trip, they've got your money, so why give you a discount? Now, if you don't visit Disney in a while after your first trip, you may get a pin code...but then again, maybe not.
I got my first not too long ago. My online profile mentions my next trip is planned for Jan. 08. My offer was "With this great offer, you could be on a WDW vacation sooner than you think", and was for a discount if I went in
Feb or March. It didn't work for them, but I'll bet some people went earlier to take advantage of the great rate. And then those people will probably their next trip earlier, or so Disney hopes.
One more thing: you may never know if you have a code attached to your name if you don't call. Many codes seem to get "lost" in the mail, or are "sent" via e-mail and yet never recieved, or go to your spam box and never get looked at. Some codes get attached to the wrong member of your party, or to a non-existant member of your family. I recently spent 4 phone calls to Disney changing my e-mail address, finally the fourth time I called, it had been changed in the system. They also have a unknown to me fifth member of my family named "B", apparently, whom when quoting me for a package, they always ask the age of and whether or not they will be joining us this trip.
If Disney has a system of who gets a code and when, it's random enough for those of us who frequent these boards often to be kept wondering. So we hang out here and hope for some good news that brings us closer to our
Disney vacations.
Hope that helps!
