What room rates can CM's get for family/friends??

[TBuss]

Hi all!

Just curious ..... does anyone know what kind of rates can a CM get for rooms for family/friends? Does anyone know what resorts the CM's have deals for 10/14-10/21/06?? Does the room get booked in the CM name or the names of the people actually staying there?

I just realized that an old friend of mine works for WDW and I am planning a trip in October ... so I was wondering if it was worth my while to ask her if she can get us a deal. My hesitation is that she "disappeared" after borrowing a large chunk of money from me (to fund an elaborate vacation that we took together) and my husband would not feel comfortable not having the reservation in our name. Our first preference is the Fort Wilderness cabins - but we could be flexible (WL, perhaps!!). So, I would like to find out how this works before contacting her.

Thanks!

 

[MermaidsMom]

The reservation would be in your name, the problem would be that she would need to show up at the resort in person on the day you check in (or a few days prior) and show her employee ID. She could also FAX it in, but since she has already proven herself to be unreliable I wouldn't want to base an entire vacation on the hope that should would show up or FAX it when you needed her to, or that she would even still be employed there at that time! The discount is usually 40-50% depending on certain factors.

 

[Stitch1404]

Yep, it is 40-50% off depending on if the CM is staying in the room with you or not. I think this is a great discount! I can't wait until my sister starts her job at Disney on August 2nd so I can start abusing her discount!

 

[TBuss]

You have made some very good points MermaidsMom. I think that I have gotten myself so worked up waiting for a code or deal for October that I have gotten desparate!!

Thanks for the reality check!!

 

[loriandmatt]

i have booked several WDW vacations using a close friends CM discount. they are not in unlimited supply, much like rooms available at a certain rate because of a code or AP discount, there may not be any CM rate rooms availavle at the time/resort that you want to stay. that being said, i have never ran into an instance where i was not able to book a CM rate room.

there are some stipulations. yes as stated above the CM either has to be onsite when you check in or they have to fax over their ID and Priner number to the resort 24 or 48 hours before you arrive. Also, what i have found is at times there are two different discount levels. sometimes there is an @ 25% discount and there are also @45% discounts. you don't know what you will get until the reservation is made.

the entire process used to be far more flexable, you could call a CM reservation line and talk to CM who would go thru different dates/resorts with you to help you find the deepest discount room available. Now however the entire process has to be done by the CM online from the disney cast portal. (this means the CM you know has to make the ressie for you - you can not make the ressie using their ID and Priner number and then just have them show up or fax their info over before checking in.)

also a good point to note - although the CM discount can be well worth it, you can't partisipate in the promos with it. free dining for example, is not available if you book your room using any discount, including the CM discount.

like i said, for the last 3 or 4 years we have been booking our vaca using my friends CM discount. this year, with the implementation of the new reservation system and wanting to get in on the free dining option - we opted to book a regular ressie.

 

[n2mm]

Last year the friends and family discounts changed. They are now 40% and 25% off. Of course, the 40% rooms go first. If the CM is staying in the room with you (or one of the rooms) the rooms can be 50% off--if available. Keep in mind that CM availability is released early in the year, so the resorts go quickly. When my hubby was a CM, I would have to book the entire years' worth of ressies to get what I wanted (we took 5 to 6 trips a year). The CM has to show their ID when you check in, but can do it prior to you arriving. CMs are limited to only FIVE family and friends reservations per year and each reservation can not be longer than 7 days (yes we did this many, many times). They can have "continuing" reservations if longer than 7 days and will only count as 1 reservation. They can book up to 3 rooms on one reservation. They now book online (but I believe they can still call). They have to list the people's names on the reservation and pay with a cc. There are instructions on the CM website how to do this with someone elses' cc, but looked complicated, so we always called when we needed an "other" guest room or multiple rooms.

 

[Tink]

My aunt works at MGM and was able to get me a discount for our November trip, it saved us A LOT of money at POFQ. I have a question (i hate to bother her, she has worked there over 8 years and this is the first time I asked her for a discount, plus she just had some minor surgery). Can I get the dining plan or not? I know I can buy the tickets at the Disney Store (this is our first MYW trip, when we were there last year, we were on the cruise package that had been booked before MYW was introduced).

Thanks to anyone that has info.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Last year the friends and family discounts changed. They are now 40% and 25% off. Of course, the 40% rooms go first. If the CM is staying in the room with you (or one of the rooms) the rooms can be 50% off--if available. Keep in mind that CM availability is released early in the year, so the resorts go quickly. When my hubby was a CM, I would have to book the entire years' worth of ressies to get what I wanted (we took 5 to 6 trips a year). The CM has to show their ID when you check in, but can do it prior to you arriving. CMs are limited to only FIVE family and friends reservations per year and each reservation can not be longer than 7 days (yes we did this many, many times). They can have "continuing" reservations if longer than 7 days and will only count as 1 reservation. They can book up to 3 rooms on one reservation. They now book online (but I believe they can still call). They have to list the people's names on the reservation and pay with a cc. There are instructions on the CM website how to do this with someone elses' cc, but looked complicated, so we always called when we needed an "other" guest room or multiple rooms.

Do the same rules apply for DCL?

If you book a room with the CM discount, can you add on dining if you're willing purchase park passes?

 

[n2mm]

Currently dining can not be added to a discounted room which includes CM discounts or AP discounts. The only folks who can get the DDP is the ones buying a package (rack rate, tickets) or DVC members and their renters (they do not have the ticket requirement).

The DCL has a whole set of discounts, but does require that the CM travel too. I believe the CM gets a great discount on their cabin, and can get friends and family a discount (not as deep as the CMs). I believe the CM can get up to 3 cabins. There is a DCL CM on these boards, so maybe she'll see this post.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Currently dining can not be added to a discounted room which includes CM discounts or AP discounts. The only folks who can get the DDP is the ones buying a package (rack rate, tickets) or DVC members and their renters (they do not have the ticket requirement).

The DCL has a whole set of discounts, but does require that the CM travel too. I believe the CM gets a great discount on their cabin, and can get friends and family a discount (not as deep as the CMs). I believe the CM can get up to 3 cabins. There is a DCL CM on these boards, so maybe she'll see this post.

Thanks

I think it would be great if CRO would allow AP holders and CMs to book the dining plan with their room discounts.

If AAA members and those who recieve email and genral code discounts can book the dining plan, why not the other two?

 

[Luv2Roam]

Deep discounted room -- that's why you won't see dining added to a Cast discounted room.
Recently I had a friend who asked I book him an OGB (Other Guest Bedroom) at 40% off. I suggested he look into a AAA MYW/Dining package, or going with a WDTC dining package.
He did opt for a MYW Dining package over the discounted room rate.
I think he will really enjoy the dining plan.