Will double promotions mean double the crowds?

[Spikekc1]

I know from the Boards here that Disney is starting the buy 4 / get 3 - or buy 5 / get 2 promotion soon and it INCLUDES parts of November and December that were already under the free dining promotion. Is it common for Disney to offer this promotion for the same travel period that free dining was offered? I thought it was usually one or the other. I know that customers cannot combine the offers. But I am curious what this will do to the crowd levels. Obviously free dining appeals to some people while the 4/3 would appeal to others. Thoughts on this?

 

[mckinley]

I was just thinking the same thing when i read the other post about new promotion. We will be there Dec 23-29 i am expecting heavy crowds, but im thinking even more people will come when getting free days.

 

[LindyN]

You can't have double the crowds because there are only a fixed number of rooms available, and not all will be booked at a discount.

Disney has 26000 rooms to fill and this is how they do it. Don't forget the day guests either, as not everyone stays in a Disney hotel. They add to the crowds.

From Dec 22-Jan 3 it will be incredibly busy. Like crazy, shoulder-to-shoulder for fireworks busy. Dining will be packed too.

I've gone the last couple of years for both July 4th weekend and NYE; its packed both times. But at least in December/January its not 100 degrees and humid!

 

[mdinme]

You'll be okay third week of Nov. We've done that week pretty light crowds. Christmas to New Years is packed each year regardless of promotion. It lightens up a lot once we get past both holidays.

 

[n2mm]

There are more than double promotions going on. I booked my Dec. 4-6 stay with a 40% code. So add the 40% pin codes, plus the AP and Fl. resident room only discounts to the two other promotions. Just the other night I went to the AP website to see what was available for Dec. 3-6 for a friend and NOTHING comes up as available. That weekend will be a mad house, esp once you mix pop warner into it. We leave for the cruise on Dec. 6 and return on Dec. 10, then staying in our DVC resort for 2 more nights.

 

[mygr8kdz]

If they were expecting big crowds, they wouldn't have to roll out so many promotions. I'd be more concerned about dates when there are no promotions available.

 

[GCM]

I tend to agree with mygr8kdz. I am sure there will be a lot of people there, but if the resorts were booking up the way Disney would like they would not have extended the free dining once (I believe it was supposed to originally expire in August and was extended to the end of September) and offer another promotion to include some of the same dates that were offered in free dining . I believe they are just trying to fill up the rooms and keep from having to lay off employees--at least that is what I am hoping.

 

[goofy4tink]

If they were expecting big crowds, they wouldn't have to roll out so many promotions. I'd be more concerned about dates when there are no promotions available.

Absolutely....if Disney had gotten enough bookings from the free dining offer, they wouldn't have put out the 4/3 offers. They don't put those out there just for our benefit...it's pure business. Not enough people booked? Offer another type of discount.
The way I figure it this...obviously not enough people (in Disney's opinion) booked with free dining. So, they've made this new offer. I doubt that all that many people are going to take them up on this offer if they weren't enticed by the free dining offer.

 

[keishashadow]

The 1st full week in Dec. (not to be confused with the week immediately after Thanksgiving) has been getting more crowded each time we've visited, still no comparison to summer crowds.

I checked the new promo yesterday, out of all the resorts only YC had a room available for our vacation dates (7 nights beginning 12/5).

CM indicated large blocks of rooms still allocated from values & mods for pop warner. Typically, if they aren't booked, disney will release them a month or so out to general public.

 

[DisneyWisher]

They have a heck of a deal for FL residents right now that if they played with the numbers, well its a deal not worth missing. Makes me wish I needed tickets or had the money to buy tickets I don't need. For a family of 3 (2 adults and 16 yr old) a FL resident can get a value for $450 for a 3 day 2 night trip and that includes a 3 day pass for everyone. Just the passes alone cost 428.13. So you are basically getting the room for $10 a night. You can get AKL standard for 632.09 so basically a little of $100 a night. That might get FL residents to Disney, not to mention upgrading the 3 day pass to an AP or SP and get 3 extra months.

 

[mindy5648]

My husband and I have already booked for january without any promotions. Will disney let us have that promotion once it is advertised? If not does anyone know if there is a penalty to cancel a package?

Thanks so much for your help

 

[mygr8kdz]

My husband and I have already booked for january without any promotions. Will disney let us have that promotion once it is advertised? If not does anyone know if there is a penalty to cancel a package?

Thanks so much for your help

You can get it applied to your current reservation now - just call and ask for the buy 4, get 3 free promotion. No need to wait.

The penalty should be on your confirmation - if you have purchased insurance, that is non-refundable. Otherwise, packages may be cancelled before the final payment date without penalty.

 

[AllegrasStudio]

There are more than double promotions going on. I booked my Dec. 4-6 stay with a 40% code. So add the 40% pin codes, plus the AP and Fl. resident room only discounts to the two other promotions.

Where could I find a PIN code for 40% off for December? We're going to the Poly from Nov 30 through December 7th and I sure would like to pay 40% less! We got a package with tickets and free meal plan...

 

[goofy4tink]

Where could I find a PIN code for 40% off for December? We're going to the Poly from Nov 30 through December 7th and I sure would like to pay 40% less! We got a package with tickets and free meal plan...

You won't. Those pin codes are usually sent to some people in emails or snail mail. Sometimes Disney makes a discount offer to everyone that gives a good percentage off. For you though, it won't work. If you get free dining, you can't apply another discount to your reservation.
It's pretty much an 'either or' situation. Disney does not allow you to use more than one discount per reservation.