Why All the Discounts???

[loopner67]

where are you finding these codes,

I read about a lot of stuff on the codes & rates board right here at the Dis.

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=30&f=93

Specifically, in the Sept or October '08 threads.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

I think Disney has realized that in these hard times, which seem to get worst, they can offer an escape from the world. Also they aren't being greedy they realize that it's hard for people, especially families. What better way to make money and give people an escape from their worries.

I think it's smart of them to collect as much money as possible from the general public. Deep discounts attract a lot of cash. They have shareholders to keep happy and let's face it, the bottom line isn't going to look so great without a hit movie or two, like Pirates, and a booming economy. These discounts are not a warm and fuzzy, tactic to give us all a break, they are simply methods of attempting to put butts in the seats. Once the butts are in the seats, they know that the wallets are opened and that a guest having a good time, even in a bad economy, is more likely to spend more.

Either way, I am saving some big bucks and I am one happy DIS'er!

 

[nbodyhome]

I have never heard or read that bookings were on pace with last year - I have only heard the opposite.

Disney discounts more when rooms are available. I just booked an All Star Music room in early October for less than the passholder price (on Expedia) as a special last-minute rate.

 

[Redbudlover]

I just got back 9/8 from WL and flew Southwest - most of the middle seats were empty! I can't remember the last time I saw that happen - and that was after they cancelled a flight that day....

 

[bavaria]

Just wanted everyone's opinion on all the discounts being offered by Disney resorts. Seems like a new one comes out every day. Are the bookings down that much? Or is this a new strategy to keep the resorts packed all the time? Any opinions???

• recent economic news
• failure of XL travel in the UK means that thousands of UK guests have had to cancel or rebook for a later date, and the total impact has not yet been felt in Orlando
• lack of foreign visitors - I have long said here that WDW cannot rely on the foreign market to replace US visitors as we have our own problems and have often been told that I was wrong; sadly now my predictions are coming true. The UK economy is forecast to be even worse off than the US economy, and the rest of Europe is not faring well either

 

[blondietink]

We went in August (during FAY) and the crowds were really down compared to other years when we have gone during the same week of August. We thought it must have been because of the tropical storm. Maybe we were wrong.

We are going in October again, but as DVC members, our room is already "paid" for. We purchased our airline tickets in March, and purchased our MNNSHP tickets as soon as they were released. Since we are staying at BWV we are seriously considering not renting a car this time. We might rent one for a day or two to go to the outlets and Old Town, but that is it. Groceries are being delivered, which is cheaper than renting a car. From other threads, people in DVC are not getting any movement on their waitlists for October, so it appears those rooms will be mostly full.

I will say that if all of our things were not paid for in advance, then we would probably cancel our upcoming trip. Due to elderly parents, this is the 1st time we have purchased trip insurance due to the high cost of rebooking airline tickets. $100.00 now is a lot cheaper than the $800.00 it would cost to cancel and rebook our tickets if necessary. Of course, it is AIG insurance, so maybe it's no good anyway right now!

Good luck to everybody in this economic turmoil!

 

[mbanks21]

Things are not as bad as people think. I think its horrible marketing. People are calling every day and not finding availability with the 2 differant free dining pins plus the visa free dining pin plus the "Drive" pin for GA and SC and AL residents and all the other pins. There is hardly ANY availability and disney keeps releasing differant codes. The Earmark Conference in Disneyland was fun with all the travel agents yelling at the disney reps.

 

[boettj]

Disney may or may not be feeling the crunch of the economy now, but they will be shortly. The outlook for the economy does not look good. Even with the government putting together a special agency to take care of this. We still have an overall mortgage/credit issue. The US government cannot possibly save every bank that is going to fail.


In turn, I just see Disney taking steps to keep the flow of people at a constant. If things do get truly bad, then they are going to face so hard times ahead.

 

[corinascot]

I agree that it's the economy.

I just hope Disney knows what they're doing. Their is an assumption in this country that our business leaders know what they're doing. We've all seen that's not the case. My husband works for a manufacturing company that's redecorating the executive offices and hiring all kinds of new vps of this or that. But dh says there is NO work. They are so, so slow. This has been going on for almost 2 years.

Corporate America continues to look at everything short term. They want the quick buck to show to the stockholders. Hope Disney isn't doing the same.

 

[dawgsgirl]

Things are not as bad as people think. I think its horrible marketing. People are calling every day and not finding availability with the 2 differant free dining pins plus the visa free dining pin plus the "Drive" pin for GA and SC and AL residents and all the other pins. There is hardly ANY availability and disney keeps releasing differant codes. The Earmark Conference in Disneyland was fun with all the travel agents yelling at the disney reps.

I have noticed that with most of these codes there is not much availibilty. That is why I posted my original question. Why in the world do they keep doing this??? It's like someone let the code fairy out and she has gone wild.

 

[disneyfan55]

Are there discounted tickets for Georgia Residents. My dd is living in Georgia and she is going to spend a few days with us. (yes I put her name on my room ressie). I just need a 3 day ticket for her.

Yes, GA has the same discount as FL now. I don't know the code but it is on Mousesavers.com. Do you have the Disney Visa, maybe the free dining might be better. Just a thought.

 

[dawgsgirl]

Are there discounted tickets for Georgia Residents. My dd is living in Georgia and she is going to spend a few days with us. (yes I put her name on my room ressie). I just need a 3 day ticket for her.

I don't think the tickets are discounted, just the rooms.

 

[disneyfan55]

Yes, GA has the same discount as FL now. I don't know the code but it is on Mousesavers.com. Do you have the Disney Visa, maybe the free dining might be better. Just a thought.

Sorry, misread. I don't know about tickets. I was referring to the room discount. Sorry.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I am just back from spending two weeks at DW. I was fearful of the Atlanta traffic because I was going through on Labor Day weekend, Friday night, lots of construction reported and I had no problem at all. The traffic was pretty light everywhere, going down and back. I am guessing the gas prices are keeping people off the roads more.

The parks did not seem very busy although POP seemed pretty full of people. It was free dining so maybe folks were hanging out at the resorts instead of the parks or I just got lucky in picking what park to go to each day?

I did not do the bounce back because I had a feeling that there would be some very good offers next year without all the heat etc. I did not expect it during the holiday season though. We had been planning to go down around Thanksgiving time so this is good news.

Slightly Goofy

 

[happymommy]

I also think it's the economy - just spent $70 to fill up my minivan! And that is with gas prices down slightly!

I am seriously thinking about Disney for this December, but the airfare is over $300 per person (I got less than half that for August, when we, ugh, did Universal, not as good as Disney at all, wish we had done Disney, but I digress).

Our plane also had lots of empty seats. I hadn't seen that in a long long time.

I just decided tonight that we probably will not spend the money to take the trip - the airfare is what is killing me. I could swallow the tickets and rooms and meals, but the extra $1000 for just me and the kids (DH would probably stay home and work, God bless him, he travels for work sometimes and doesn't love the Disney thing like I do) I can't swallow...

 

[gavvy]

A Very large UK tour operater went into Liquidation this month, it owned a company called Travelcity Direct. They were a Florida and Orlando Specialist.

I am assuming that Disney took a big hit on this, and have been left with more rooms now vacent than they originally thought. It has caused a massive nightmare for us in the UK.

This could be a reason for the sudden free dining promos etc.

 

[sherry8253]

There might be codes but I sure didn't get a discount for our stay at AKL checking in on 12/4 for 6 nights. When I called for AP rates, I was willing to change to another deluxe. There was a $1,200 a night suite but that was it. This is the first time in at least 10 years that we have ever paid rack rate. We have AAA rate for our last 5 nights at CR but couldn't do anything better.

 

[bzzelady]

Disney discounts more when rooms are available. I just booked an All Star Music room in early October for less than the passholder price (on Expedia) as a special last-minute rate.

Thanks for that tip...I just did the same thing! $134.56 total for 2 nights October 3-5th
Decided that the Beach Club reservation wasn't all that important since we won't be arriving until around 6 pm on Friday night and checking in to VWL early on Sunday morning.