Uncle Scrooge complex

[toxa]

Wife and me booked BCR for Nov 6-12. Already paid ~70%, but can cancel with full refund, and I'm seriously considering doing it:

1) Missed FD by 1 day (we cannot change dates)
2) There are people getting 35% room discount PINs for November, but no public offer

I can pay full price, but it's not easy for me, so a discount/promo would have a big impact.

However, what I am really concerned about is how I'll feel when there. I'm not a bitter person, but even so I'm afraid it will ruin my vacation mood every time a waitress ask me if I'm on FD, or every time I cross the lobby and see people checking in the hotel.

FD I accept, it's a clear rule. But the randomized / whatever system Disney uses for PINs make the ones who don't get them feeling used / dirty / cheated. Or it's just me?

Please don't confuse with sense of "entitlement". When I'm flying on a last minute tkt, I don't spend the flight cursing other passengers for being more organized than me, by planning ahead and hence getting their seats cheaper. Nor I get pissed if the guy checking in front of me gets a complimentary upgrade. I'm happy for that guy actually! The airline/hotel oversold and he was the lucky one today, but that was an exception.

But this PIN system seems unfair... For those with similar thoughts, how do you feel during vacation? Do you erase the bad thoughts when you arrive and first see the Castle? Or it's something that keeps coming back every time you see a Disney villain in the parks? How do you cope with that?

Finally, if I cancel the resort and decide to stay off-site, do I keep my ADRs?

 

[babyrich]

Wife and me booked BCR for Nov 6-12. Already paid ~70%, but can cancel with full refund, and I'm seriously considering doing it:

1) Missed FD by 1 day (we cannot change dates)
2) There are people getting 35% room discount PINs for November, but no public offer

I can pay full price, but it's not easy for me, so a discount/promo would have a big impact.

However, what I am really concerned about is how I'll feel when there. I'm not a bitter person, but even so I'm afraid it will ruin my vacation mood every time a waitress ask me if I'm on FD, or every time I cross the lobby and see people checking in the hotel.

FD I accept, it's a clear rule. But the randomized / whatever system Disney uses for PINs make the ones who don't get them feeling used / dirty / cheated. Or it's just me?

Please don't confuse with sense of "entitlement". When I'm flying on a last minute tkt, I don't spend the flight cursing other passengers for being more organized than me, by planning ahead and hence getting their seats cheaper. Nor I get pissed if the guy checking in front of me gets a complimentary upgrade. I'm happy for that guy actually! The airline/hotel oversold and he was the lucky one today, but that was an exception.

But this PIN system seems unfair... For those with similar thoughts, how do you feel during vacation? Do you erase the bad thoughts when you arrive and first see the Castle? Or it's something that keeps coming back every time you see a Disney villain in the parks? How do you cope with that?

Finally, if I cancel the resort and decide to stay off-site, do I keep my ADRs?

Can you cancel with a full refund and book to leave one day earlier so you get the free dining?

If you can't. I would still go... try not to let it bother you. It is still a great vacation!

 

[ID10T37]

What about doing the first night as room only, then checking in on free dining the next day? Yes, you would have two different reservation numbers, but you would get free dining for all but your first night.

Just a thought!

 

[pigletto]

I can understand your frustration. In fact, I got our flights for our upcoming trip super super cheap (800 for four of us). That seemed to only be offered for a few days.. and any other time I have checked those same flights have been 2400!!
I did plan and watch the flight prices for a long time to get that price, but it was way higher just a few days earlier. I actually feel badly that people sitting around us will have potentially paid 3 times more for the same flight! We're getting the same thing for so much cheaper!

I don't hear an issue of entitlement in your post, but I do hear someone who's trip may be ruined by feeling you are surrounded by people that paid so much less for the same trip. That would be frustrating.
Is it possible to change your plans? Not your dates, but maybe take advantage of another offer (AAA, renting points at a DVC, downgrading resorts?). I don't think it's impossible that a room only discount might still come out at this point for November as well.

I like the Deluxe resorts.. but the way Disney has done their pricing for them, the only way I will consider them is with a discount. I've stayed in some beautiful places. No Disney deluxe is worth what they are charging at rack rate.

I hope you are able to find an alternative and save your vacation and enjoy it. I love Disney.. but I do see your concerns.

 

[snykymom]

I agree with you - I hate the random PIN system they have. But to make you feel better (I hope):

First, please recognize that no one will ask you if you're on "free dining." They will simply ask you if you have the dining plan. The servers don't care if you paid for it or not.

Second, when you see people checking into the resort, please remember that the vast majority of them will be just like you - full payers without PINs, and all of them will be without free dining.

Are you AAA members? I had a room booked deluxe in October (blackout dates for free dining) with a AAA discount of 20%. You can see if there is availability at BCR with a AAA discount - it may be worth it to join AAA if there is.

Do you do a lot of signature dining? If so, even if there are only 2 of you, it might be worth it to purchase an AP and the Tables in Wonderland card, and get the current 40% AP room discount (I checked - there's a standard view club level available at BC for your dates for $306/night). I found last year that, since we went to V&A, the savings with the TiW card paid for both the AP upgrade from a 7 day hopper and the cost of the TiW card. Since we don't like the dining plan, and won't do it even if "free", the TiW saved us a lot of money.

 

[ancestry]

I understand how you feel. We personally don't book without a discount of some type ever especially at the deluxe resorts.

I would suggest exploring some of the options the other posters gave you. Do a room only for the first night and then free dining after that -- i.e. two separate reservations.

 

[corndog59]

If even one of your days at WDW falls during the free dining offer you are eligable to recieve the fre dining for the entire stay.

All you have to do is call the res line and ask to be upgraded.

#8 days til our next trip

 

[ancestry]

If even one of your days at WDW falls during the free dining offer you are eligable to recieve the fre dining for the entire stay.

All you have to do is call the res line and ask to be upgraded.

#8 days til our next trip

Not completely correct. Your check-in date HAS to be within the free dining dates in order to get it for your entire stay.

 

[mlbeaver]

I am in the same boat (booked Oct. 16th-21st) already have my tickets to the MNSSHP so I really can't change my dates! I can only afford a vacation like every 3-4 years so that would be awesome to get a deal! If I waited one week to book I would have booked the next week but I booked the trip and ordered the tickets the same day thinking I was doing good by booking a little early but I should have waited one more week to see the FD dates!
I won't let it get me down, we will still have a great vaction but the saving would have been nice (maybe we would have been able to fly instead we are driving)!

You are not alone!

 

[FigmentChick]

If even one of your days at WDW falls during the free dining offer you are eligable to recieve the fre dining for the entire stay.

All you have to do is call the res line and ask to be upgraded.

#8 days til our next trip

Sorry, but you are incorrect. Your check-in date has to fall within the free dining days offer. For example, I cannot get free dining because my check-in date is within the black out period. Even though for the majority of my stay, free dining will be offered, I am unable to get the offer.

 

[TJA]

PIN's seem unfair to me as well. We have AP's so have been lucky to get good deals with those. In any event, I plugged your dates in the AP site and the BC standard CL room appeared as available for 306 + tax per night -- I'm guessing/assuming that's 40% off. Your last night was higher -- 520 -- I'm assuming that is not discounted. Usually when general public discounts are released, they mirror the AP discounts except a little lower. So you could wait the rumored week or so for a GP room-only deal, or you could do as others have suggested and start your trip one day earlier to get the FD for your whole trip. Personally, I would not stay in disney without a discount, but that's just me.....

 

[Mom loves Disney]

I am in the same boat (booked Oct. 16th-21st) already have my tickets to the MNSSHP so I really can't change my dates! I can only afford a vacation like every 3-4 years so that would be awesome to get a deal! If I waited one week to book I would have booked the next week but I booked the trip and ordered the tickets the same day thinking I was doing good by booking a little early but I should have waited one more week to see the FD dates!
I won't let it get me down, we will still have a great vaction but the saving would have been nice (maybe we would have been able to fly instead we are driving)!

You are not alone!

I don't know if this would make a difference for you, but I have been able to change the dates on my MNSSHP before. If you can switch your dates without it causing a problem I would call the number and see about changing my ticket dates.

 

[heimlichfan]

What about doing the first night as room only, then checking in on free dining the next day? Yes, you would have two different reservation numbers, but you would get free dining for all but your first night.

Just a thought!

This seems like a good plan - why not try it?

 

[Gr8t Fan]

I am in the same boat (booked Oct. 16th-21st) already have my tickets to the MNSSHP so I really can't change my dates! I can only afford a vacation like every 3-4 years so that would be awesome to get a deal! If I waited one week to book I would have booked the next week but I booked the trip and ordered the tickets the same day thinking I was doing good by booking a little early but I should have waited one more week to see the FD dates!
I won't let it get me down, we will still have a great vaction but the saving would have been nice (maybe we would have been able to fly instead we are driving)!

You are not alone!

A few years ago, we'd already bought our MNSSHP tickets and had to change our days due to school schedules. We were able to exchange the tickets for a later MNSSHP. I'm not sure what the policy is now, but it may be worth a phone call to find out. Good luck!

 

[mlbeaver]

I wish I could but we are meeting out In-laws and they already have plane tickets so too much to change for me, I'll just suck it up!!!

 

[saskdw]

I agree with what you are saying about the discounts. I don't believe in booking in advance and hoping for a discount though. We know that Disney rack rates are way overpriced and would never pay full price. We waited until after the Dec. FD promo was announced and then booked our trip. I don't believe in securing a room that I have no intention of paying for unless a promo comes out. If I'm reading your post right, this isn't what you did, you are just upset that other people that will be there got a better deal. That would bother me too. If it's dooable I would re-book with FD. I don't think I would cancel a trip that I'm looking forward to because of it though.

 

[Minder]

I have to say that the rest of you are being far nicer than I intend to be.

My answer to you is ... Yes ..... you are being a real scrooge here, and an insensitive, elitist to boot.

You are staying at a resort that costs $305 - $520 per night, and you are upset that they aren’t giving you your food for free ?

If it means that much to you , stay at the POP century for $95 -$105 a night and use $1390 you save on the trip to buy the meal plan.

There are many of us here who simply cannot afford to go to Disney unless we stay at a Value resort, AND get the free Dining. We don’t always get free dining when we want to go, so we either adjust our plans, or simply don’t go. Complaining that Disney did not give you free dining when you wanted to go simply shows that you don’t understand business and economics at all.

Disney is in one business and one business only, Making money! That is the only reason they exist. Disney is not a charity set up so that you can have a nice vacation.

The ONLY reason they give discounts and Free dining is to entice you to come and spend your money, and I will absolutely guarantee you that they will NOT lose money on you, and they will NOT offer you a discount if their occupancy rates don’t force them to.

PINs are given out (on some basis that appears random, but likely isn’t) as a trial marketing plan. If enough of the people who receive the PINs actually use them, then that PIN will become a general discount. If too many people take advantage of the PIN, then they meet their quotas and don’t need to offer the discount.

Honestly, if you get bothered because someone got a discount and you didn’t, then the best way to show your displeasure is to cancel your trip and don’t give Disney any money.

But coming here and telling us that you are spending $2045.00 for a room for 5 days and then complaining that I got free food in my $655 room simply because I checked in 1 day later than you, burns my cookies.

Wife and me booked BCR for Nov 6-12. Already paid ~70%, but can cancel with full refund, and I'm seriously considering doing it:

1) Missed FD by 1 day (we cannot change dates)
2) There are people getting 35% room discount PINs for November, but no public offer

I can pay full price, but it's not easy for me, so a discount/promo would have a big impact.

However, what I am really concerned about is how I'll feel when there. I'm not a bitter person, but even so I'm afraid it will ruin my vacation mood every time a waitress ask me if I'm on FD, or every time I cross the lobby and see people checking in the hotel.

FD I accept, it's a clear rule. But the randomized / whatever system Disney uses for PINs make the ones who don't get them feeling used / dirty / cheated. Or it's just me?

Please don't confuse with sense of "entitlement". When I'm flying on a last minute tkt, I don't spend the flight cursing other passengers for being more organized than me, by planning ahead and hence getting their seats cheaper. Nor I get pissed if the guy checking in front of me gets a complimentary upgrade. I'm happy for that guy actually! The airline/hotel oversold and he was the lucky one today, but that was an exception.

But this PIN system seems unfair... For those with similar thoughts, how do you feel during vacation? Do you erase the bad thoughts when you arrive and first see the Castle? Or it's something that keeps coming back every time you see a Disney villain in the parks? How do you cope with that?

Finally, if I cancel the resort and decide to stay off-site, do I keep my ADRs?

 

[TJA]

If you can't change your arrival date, then it's a great idea by someone above to use your first night as room-only rate, and then do the rest of your trip on the FD deal. We have divided up our deals before and it has been no biggie. The money saved was worth it to us.

 

[toxa]

Minder,

I disagree with some of your statements, but in light of your reply, I realize my comment was a bit insensitive. For I'm booked at a deluxe resort and, albeit not easily, can afford it even without discount/FD, while others must make big sacrifices to afford a value, and simply cannot afford it without discount/FD. I now see how could it pass as elitist, no matter it was of course not the intention. I'm sorry and thank you for bringing another perspective.

However, in no way I'm complaining that you got free food. I am very happy that you did. I don't want Disney to scrap privileges of the others.

 

[Minder]

I may have been a bit harsh in my reply also