The coveted and elusive PIN code

[HPS3]

We've been lucky enough to have received a PIN code offer ONE time, with trips annually ever since 2008. Anyone have any tips, tricks, or thoughts on how these get generated?

 

[mom2rtk]

Be part of a group they happen to be targeting.

I tried all the tips and tricks I've seen listed on the disboards for years and never gotten one. I really think they just Target certain groups geographically and also based on prior trip experience. But if you're not part of the group it's not worth the effort.

 

[mountdew1]

It's black magic. Sacrifice any and all Universal/Dreamworks/Six Flags/Cedar Point merchandise under the next full moon while begging forgiveness from the WDW accountants, and maybe, just maybe your luck will change. Other than that, no one knows and anything people suggest is really guesses. As @mom2rtk said, the PIN code is most likely used to target certain groups. Obviously, WDW needs to know about you, and have your permission to contact you, but beyond that it's luck. Your touring habits/location/demographics may simply not be what they are targeting at a given time.

 

[loves to dive]

I've never, not once, ever,never, ever received one in over 30 years of going at least every other year and recently twice a year. Obviously, I'm not the demographic but not sure what it is.

 

[JennyMP03]

I've used a pin code once in 2013, and I think I may have received them two or three times over the last 8 years (possibly more-- I don't always open my emails). I don't know if I've received any after actually using one. Either way, I was never trying to get one. You can see in my signature that I've been to WDW only three times.

Maybe the fact that we don't go every year is the reason I've been sent a few pin codes. I don't know. As far as demographics go, if it's helpful: we are two married adults, were 28 and 37 when we got the code in 2013, and have no children.

 

[stobaugh6]

I used to get pin codes on a regular basis back between 2008-2012. I've not received one since 2012 though. I keep hoping...lol!

 

[AngelDisney]

I usually receive it once I have booked a vacation package. First time in 2011 for free dining which I already had so no use. Second time in 2014, I actually got two. I remember changing my reservation to take advantage of one. Didn't use the free dining one because I wanted to try a few restaurants not included in the deluxe dining plan. Since you can cancel your booking before a certain date, you can try to book now and see if you will get a pin code later.

I never receive any pin code without booking first. This is my experience.

Have fun planning!

 

[IrishNYC]

I used to regularly receive PIN codes between 2001 and 2012, when I hadn't been to WDW since 1981. Now that we go, I haven't seen one since.

 

[vinotinto]

My DH gets the snail mail ones. It's interesting that I book all the vacations and I haven't received one since 2010.

In the last couple of years, the ones we have received are no good. Most days are blacked out and the discounts are not good - basically the same as the GP offers. I don't know if anyone has received a great pin code recently (in the last year), but that has been our experience. Disney has been cutting down on discounts on all fronts.

 

[HPS3]

We haven't planned a trip thus far this year, and likely won't because of finances. I'll let everyone know if skipping a year makes any magic happen. Lol! Thanks for the replies. Hoping to try to go back in Spring.

 

[Danman]

I used to get pin codes on a regular basis back between 2008-2012. I've not received one since 2012 though. I keep hoping...lol!

This is us exactly as well, same time frame. We used to cash in on the fall free dining. We still do but it just the general public ones we get now.

 

[tony67]

My DH gets the snail mail ones. It's interesting that I book all the vacations and I haven't received one since 2010.

In the last couple of years, the ones we have received are no good. Most days are blacked out and the discounts are not good - basically the same as the GP offers. I don't know if anyone has received a great pin code recently (in the last year), but that has been our experience. Disney has been cutting down on discounts on all fronts.

Sure seems like it - the one I got this year was exactly the same as the public one, unless you booked a deluxe..in the past it has always been about 5% extra off

 

[Canooknic]

I received one in June, about a month after booking our next trip, but the dates were for July and August of this year....and it's cheaper for us to go for 2 weeks next February than it was for 5 days this summer (and we'd never fly that far for 5 days anyway!)
I was so excited to be 'a chosen one' and then sad because I couldn't take advantage of it

 

[thelittlemermaid2]

We have gotten a few sporadically over the last 15 years, but there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why we sometimes do and sometimes don't.

 

[xlsm]

I get them all the time, and the only thing I can think of is...every time a CM stops us in the parks to ask if we'll take a survey, we say yes. All the pin codes and UOCs come to the gmail address I give them at the end of the survey, and rarely to the email address linked to my MDE account. I tend to get similar offers each year, too, around the time that we normally travel.
We didn't go to WDW this summer, we went west to Disneyland instead, so I haven't had a PIN in a few months, but we did get a UOC we were able to use for our December trip that's coming up.
We also get offers from our Disney Visa every few months.

 

[DisFanDad]

My family and I were making regular trips to Disney world, year over year. We decided to take a couple years off due to some of the changes, Fast Pass Plus, increased prices, cuts to services etc. Just took a break with every intention of returning eventually. After 2 years, the PINS started coming, and haven't stopped since.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I get PIN codes about twice a year for both DLR and WDW. We've never used one, but they keep coming. I've always figured the PIN codes were a strategy to keep repeat visitors engaged and coming back, and/or enticements to get visitors with a history of spending at a specific level (even if that spending only happened once!) to keep it up, so to speak. I started receiving them in 2013 when we had Premier passes, and they continued the following year when we had DLR passes. I also had a couple of occasions to write to Guest Services (at DLR) about our experiences (good and bad.) I figure all of that in whatever guest record Disney keeps triggered us as target guests for PIN codes.

I also play around a lot on the DLR and WDW websites checking dates and prices for potential trips, and I'm always signed in when I do that. I have a suspicion that helps, too.

 

[burberryplaid]

I received one within the last 4 months but being a DVC member I have no need for it. I didn't receive one for probably a year or more but am thinking the reported lower attendance may be the reason.

 

[StuckInKS]

I used to get pin codes on a regular basis back between 2008-2012. I've not received one since 2012 though. I keep hoping...lol!

This is us. We used to get them on a pretty regular basis, but nothing in the past 3 years or so. Anything we get in our email is just an advertisement for a public offer. I actually thought they had stopped doing PIN codes.

 

[Kelly Anne]

I receive them at least once a year, by mail and email...