WDW will NOT accept "codes" if you do not have the postcard.

[goofydad621]

Ok
First the qualification
I booked the first day the code was mentioned, I did not have a pin and I never misrepresented that fact. I already had a couple of reservations in the system and I told the cm that I heard that there may be a code I can use for a discount, the cm said that he would check for me, put me on hold for about 5 minutes then came back and said he code apply the 40% discount code if I changed the dates of my Dec. trip by a week and made it a package so that's what I did. I cancelled my 2 other reservations and just kept that one.

Since then I have cancelled my December trip as well because of work/life stuff and we will go after the first of the year.

Been following this like a train wreck just can't let if go all the way

WE need to remember that the DIS'ers are a great network and word spreads like fire here about all sorts of subjects, rides, dinning codes etc. But in all reality we are just a tiny bit of Disney business. Tiny but dedicated, just because a bunch of folks jumped all over this from these boards it does not mean the general public would feel the same way, some would but allot would not unless they were already planning disney trip, for some once is enough(go figure) by us and other fanatics jumping on this may just being Disney a favor, maybe they won't have free dinning this year this may offset that but if you look at Disney history they don't always offer the same promo more then twice in a row anyways example buy 4 nights get 3 free the next year buy 5 nights get 2 free the next year free dinning no free nights this would have been the 3rd year maybe this deep code WAS the new offer?

Good bad or indifferent Disney will play this out as they see fit! IF it meets their needs financially they will use it to their advantage. Promotions cost cash- cash comes from the bottom line- hurts profits, stock holders corporate bonuses.

OK rant off and sorry for the length

 

[DISNEY FIX]

They have created an INCREDIBLE flurry of activity during the slowest times of the year for them!!!!!!!!!!! And they are filling their rooms...and we are BEGGING to fill those rooms that can go empty that time of year....AND we will be there spending $ that we wouldn't have spent IF we hadn't gotten a great deal that made this vacation ESSENTIAL for us to take!!!

THAT is some GOOD marketing!

They have a victim here Sept. 12-16th. Couldn't wait till Dec.

 

[warriorboy648]

Packages have to be paid ahead of time. Room only can wait and pay balance at check in.

Can you pay ahead of time on a room only reservation?

 

[rhiannonwales]

yes you can but you dont have to.

 

[hlane]

It was a No-go....I just had DH call and try to add "the code". The CM told him if we didn't have a pin # we couldn't the code but told DH that the package we have booked now ends up being the better deal Right now we have booked...

4/28-5/6, 8 day ticket with free hopper with water parks and more and dining plan at ASMo, 2A, 2C (5 &6) for $2,523.64

Oh well, we tried, I'm happy with the free ticket upgrade so I'll leave it at that.

 

[DaisyD]

Can you pay ahead of time on a room only reservation?

If you want.

 

[SamIAm21]

Hi, I'm happy for all those out there who got the postcard and are reaping the rewards, but I guess what I want to ask is how did you get the card to begin with? I have been to Disney about four times in the past year, not to mention one trip to DLR. I have made reservations through CRO at WDW and a couple through a TA. I have a Disney Visa and I know they have my address!!

So, is there some special way to sign up for things like this, so that maybe I can participate in the good fortune in the future?

Who ya gotta know??

 

[LoveMyBoys]

It was a No-go....I just had DH call and try to add "the code". The CM told him if we didn't have a pin # we couldn't the code but told DH that the package we have booked now ends up being the better deal Right now we have booked...

4/28-5/6, 8 day ticket with free hopper with water parks and more and dining plan at ASMo, 2A, 2C (5 &6) for $2,523.64

Oh well, we tried, I'm happy with the free ticket upgrade so I'll leave it at that.

Your dates are not in the time frame that the 40% promo is for.

 

[hlane]

Your dates are not in the time frame that the 40% promo is for.

Thank you!!! Now I can quit reading all these posts and feeling like I'm missing out on something others are getting!!

 

[Dusted]

Lovemyboys - you probably are better off with the package with free upgrades because the 40% off on all stars is about $350 on a 7 night stay for instance, I just ran some numbers on room only rates.

Obviously when it's a % discount, the more you spend, the more you save, at least that's what I'm trying to convince my hubby!

We were lucky enough to have a PIN, so I am frantically trying to plan a trip.

Good luck!

 

[Trekker]

Trekker - you must be aware that some errors are EBCAK type (Error Between Chair And Keyboard) and are not within the software or the network. EBCAKs are much harder to track down and fix and very well can take weeks to resolve. This sounds like what Disney is dealing with now ... well, that and the run on codes from the DISboards folk who are on top of everything Disney

I agree this can sometimes be the case - but Disney has been doing these codes for enough years that they can and should have handled this.

I firmly believe that this code fiasco happened because these codes were released right around the same time Disney was trying to release the new re-vamped www.disneyparks.com web site and they overlooked adding the business rule that a pin was required when they put the codes in the system.

If Disney cared that much about this, they would have either put that rule in as soon as they found it was missing - or shut the codes down until the rule could be entered.

But hey - we really know nothing about what is going on at the House of Mouse!!!!

 

[princess-rn]

I just spoke with my TA and she said that the 40% off code was for selected families only (those who had been notified by postcard, email, etc) and that Disney was going to go back to review everyone reservations who used the code and those who do not have the proper PIN with their name and code they will take the 40% off away from the reservation. So..if you don't have the PIN..looks like you don't get the discount even if you have already made reservations.

Stinks..I know!!! I'm keeping my eyes peeled for codes though. Good luck to everyone!!

 

[rhiannonwales]

This has already been proven false by the reports of at least 2 people who have returned from trips using the code without having a pin and not being questioned even once.

TA's get a commission on the $ value of what they sell, therefore its only natural that some TA's are discouraging use of the code.

 

[DaisyD]

I just spoke with my TA and she said that the 40% off code was for selected families only (those who had been notified by postcard, email, etc) and that Disney was going to go back to review everyone reservations who used the code and those who do not have the proper PIN with their name and code they will take the 40% off away from the reservation. So..if you don't have the PIN..looks like you don't get the discount even if you have already made reservations.

Stinks..I know!!! I'm keeping my eyes peeled for codes though. Good luck to everyone!!

Wrong! Your TA doesn't know what she is talking about.That stinks. They aren't taking back the discounts.

 

[kribit]

Yikes...I thought this was long over.

Disney is not revoking reservations.

 

[countingthedays]

Princess-rn, I wasn't one of the lucky one who got the code or was able to book with it. Disney has always had the right to adjust rates, so this is not something new, but I have never heard of them doing it. However, I think it would be a public relations nightmare if they were to rescind the discount that people, who were not in the targeted audience received. Those that recieved the discount (not those targeted) had to have had a CM push it thru the system with, what I can only imagine as an override and a reservation confirmation was sent based on the discounted rate information. From my perspective, when that happened, it was an authorized discount, 'approved' by an 'authorized' representative of the company.

I have gone thru the 'why didn't I get a discount when others did' phase and have moved beyond it (ok, for the most part), believing, optimist that I am, that something else will open up for me. That said, should Disney really enforce their right to rate adjust, then I, and I am sure many, many others, will be more than steamed for the reasons I mentioned above. Only Disney knows how much potential revenue they lost by giving discounts to those not targeted, but I think it could cost them much more than that in intangible good will and trust should they decide to remove those discounts that the CM's 'approved'. My personal perspective: should they move forward with this, would I ever trust that a quote or confirmation I received from them would be honored in the future? I honestly don't know how to answer that, but I think I would always have the scenario of Disney changing my rate in my head until the moment I checked-out.

The whole code thing has been a PR fiasco for them - you read the boards and know how many negative feelings were generated. I can't imagine that they would exacerbate it further by changing rates on a confirmed reservation (that a properly authorized agent of the company approved).

I remember many years ago, United Airlines was running a special to London. What should have been listed as a $250 special promo fare on their webpage, got programmed in as $2.50. It was several hours before the powers that be at United figured out why the bookings increased as they did and changed the fare to $250. Within hours, United issued a public announcement admitting their error and honoring the $2.50 fare for those who booked it that way. Did they take it on the chin and lose thousands in bookings? Absolutely, and I think they did the stand up thing by doing right by their customer and that's what Disney should do. All of this of course is just my 2cents. I'm off my soap box now. Thanks for listening.

 

[kribit]

I remember many years ago, United Airlines was running a special to London. What should have been listed as a $250 special promo fare on their webpage, got programmed in as $2.50. It was several hours before the powers that be at United figured out why the bookings increased as they did and changed the fare to $250. Within hours, United issued a public announcement admitting their error and honoring the $2.50 fare for those who booked it that way. Did they take it on the chin and lose thousands in bookings? Absolutely, and I think they did the stand up thing by doing right by their customer and that's what Disney should do. All of this of course is just my 2cents. I'm off my soap box now. Thanks for listening.

You know what is funny about this. If I had booked an airline ticket for $2.50 I probably would have called the airline to tell them of the error or at least inquire as to why it was so inexpensive. I'm super honest when it comes to this type of stuff, not to mention that I wouldn't want some other unsuspecting soul to book a ticket after me and get charged far more than they should to recoup the error. I like to believe that most people in the world are like me (trying to do the right thing ) .

As far as the code thing, I'm not sure it's the same as the airline mix up. After speaking with a CM a couple days ago who seemed pretty seasoned, she made if perfectly clear that the codes were attached to specific households and calling countless times to get a code wasn't going to be fruitful for anyone. I firmly believe that most of the folks on these boards received the offer legitimately. It's a bummer for people such as yourself who did not receive this offer, but I think you are right, something better is going to come along for you and I'll be wishing I received that offer.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I just got back from my trip.. and while I had my printout of the email and a printout of my online confirmation.. they asked to see NEITHER.

Nobody has reported back yet that they have been contacted about changing the rate.. nor has anyone reported back they were asked to pay a higher rate at check-in.

Until that happens.. any comments from well meaning TA's, CRO employees or anyone else.. are just grist for the rumor mill. It angries up the blood and serves no purpose to speculate.

So far.. all is quiet on Lake Buena Vista.

J

 

[countingthedays]

Kribit, I agree that there are more people (just like you ) in the world trying to do the right thing than not.

I also agree that United and Disney are not apples to apples comparisons, but my reference to United in this case is an example of a company that erred and honored the price the customer was given. Much like you, if I were booking that United fare, it would most definitely fall under the ‘too good to be true’ umbrella and I would have questioned it. I was trying to convey that if someone received a discount and they weren’t in the targeted group for that particular discount, that means a CM had to manually override the system to get it to apply, thereby authorizing said discount - that’s the reason I think Disney should honor them. At this point tho, it seems like the whole issue of them not being honored is a moot point based on reports of those who have just returned from their visit using the code.

As I said, I’m an optimist. Although I didn’t get this code, there will be others – Disney offers discounts all the time, and I believe there will be one for each of us!

 

[kribit]

Kribit, I agree that there are more people (just like you ) in the world trying to do the right thing than not.

I also agree that United and Disney are not apples to apples comparisons, but my reference to United in this case is an example of a company that erred and honored the price the customer was given. Much like you, if I were booking that United fare, it would most definitely fall under the ‘too good to be true’ umbrella and I would have questioned it. I was trying to convey that if someone received a discount and they weren’t in the targeted group for that particular discount, that means a CM had to manually override the system to get it to apply, thereby authorizing said discount - that’s the reason I think Disney should honor them. At this point tho, it seems like the whole issue of them not being honored is a moot point based on reports of those who have just returned from their visit using the code.

As I said, I’m an optimist. Although I didn’t get this code, there will be others – Disney offers discounts all the time, and I believe there will be one for each of us!

Something will definately come along... We've really had luck on our side this year..not sure why (we never get any kind of discount EVER). Maybe this is payback of years paying full price?