Will people cancel/downgrade their ressies if no codes?

[Sammie]

I was thinking that since the free dining was announced for later this summer, wouldn't that encourage people to cancel their early summer ressies to cash in on the free dining, thus lowering room occupancy for June/July, and prompting codes to fill rooms?
Obviously, some people can only go at certain times, and have to miss out on the free dining (like me ).
Any thoughts?

I think some will change to then, but not that many. Schools in the Southeast start back in early August so that eliminates them. Also that time is peak hurricane and hot weather so many are not going to give up June even for free dining.

 

[n2mm]

I was thinking that since the free dining was announced for later this summer, wouldn't that encourage people to cancel their early summer ressies to cash in on the free dining, thus lowering room occupancy for June/July, and prompting codes to fill rooms?
Obviously, some people can only go at certain times, and have to miss out on the free dining (like me ).
Any thoughts?

It might, or it could do what it did to us, and caused us to add another trip to our plans. We had only planned to visit 3 times this year (down from the 6 times last year) and when the promotion came out, I couldn't resist and now added a long weekend (4 nights/5 days) to our plans to take advantage of the free dining. We would never have canceled our 2 weeks in May and 2 weeks in October--we've been doing those 2 trips for more than 10 years now. So the promotion worked for us by encouraging us to plan another trip this year.

 

[clkelley]

We won't change or cancel. We stay in the Value resorts anyway. So AP rate is just more money off of our trip.

One time in 2004, (the last year we could all four stay in one room without extra adult charges), we did splurge and stay in one room at Port Orleans FQ for the fantastic rate of $79. But now, with the extra adult charges, it is doubtful that as a family we will ever stay in anything but two value rooms. So really, all we're looking for is a way to spend less money on our value rooms!!!

 

[KimberlyC]

Sorry to the OP this is OT ,
I tried to PM 39CINDERELLA] but her mailbox is full.
I am going to use a large font so she read these instructions.
Please excuse me.
Thanks!

Thanks for posting this Linda. I'm not great at this stuff but was going to see if DH could figure it out (in the morning when he woke up) but you beat me to it.

 

[minnie61650]

Thanks for posting this Linda. I'm not great at this stuff but was going to see if DH could figure it out (in the morning when he woke up) but you beat me to it.

It was my pleasure.

I am always happy to help a fellow DIS member out.

Have fun at Disney!

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

I haven't read this entire post but we aren't cancelling because of no codes. I would've needed something other than an AP code too. I've been actually trying to upgrade if I could at least get a AAA discount at a moderate. I may even break down and upgrade to a deluxe with AAA. We haven't travelled to Disney in the summer much and I didn't realize how fast those would go. It isn't that I can't afford to pay rack, I just refuse to. It must be something in my psyche, I haven't paid rack rate since the early 90's and I don't feel the need to stay in a higher category room that badly I guess.

I was surprised to find after checking several times over the last month that at least a AAA rate in a preferred room opened up at POP. We had been holding a AAA std room at ASSp's. So I took that small upgrade as the 60's and 50's sections at POP are worth it to me for an extra about $10/night.

We're only staying a weekend at WDW before doing a week at USF. Going to USF wasn't because I couldn't get a good discount at WDW either. We spent a week at WDW last fall and I felt it was USF's turn. Also wanted to use the FOLP during the summer, more crowded season. Given there aren't many deals to be had during June at Disney, this plan is working out for us.

Didn't chose to do Disney during the "free dining" promotion 'cause for my family the weather at that time of the year does not make a great vacation, hurricane or not, too hot and humid. Also my kids do start back to school at the end of August.

 

[bandb826]

WHOOHOOO...

This might just be the PIXIE DUST that I need to have my DGSs TREASURE HUNT at the BCV that our vacation is WAITLISTED for.

The lack of new codes might just be the ticket we need to be able to finally have a vacation at my home resort when DGs & family are here during summer vacation. Not to mention the EPCOT 2006 Flower & Garden Festival with all the Flower Power music!! Not to mention the STAR WARS WEEKEND also!!

 

[TAKitty]

Okay, so here's my two cents:

It's great to say that you're living within your means, but the tone of that post implied that everyone else on this board who is interested in saving some money is not.

The fact is, the cost of living is quite different across the country. While it might be worth it to me to stay in a deluxe resort (after years of staying value) and while we can afford to do so, it still is helpful to get a discount if it becomes available. That's more money for souvenirs, extra shows or tours that we want to take. Sure we could still make the choice to take those tours without having a discount...or decide that it's not "within our means." But why judge someone for looking for codes or discounts that would enable them to experience the best that WDW has to offer?

Yes, I'm sure there are some people who go over budget and are living above and beyond their means for their WDW vacation. But that's their choice, too! You don't know what their situation is. Maybe it's their one and only time to have a big Disney trip as a family, and they want to make it as magical as possible. Maybe they have a few kids and are flying down, so they need to stay onsite in a moderate or deluxe resort because of the size of their party. Discounts never hurt when you're trying to "do Disney" with a family of five or more!

Or maybe, like me, you're traveling for what will be the last trip in at least 4 or 5 years with your child with Autism. And the most magical moments for him were the days spent at Animal Kingdom Lodge. And you want to do whatever you can to make the stay as special and as a magical as possible. And after dealing with meetings on placement and summer programs and medical concerns and countless doctors and therapists, you had to delay your WDW trip planning until only 3 months before you leave, so all of the standard and water view rooms were booked. So you book the more expensive views, but keep your fingers crossed for codes that will make this trip a little less of a pinch on your wallet.

My point is...It's wonderful that you've almost paid off your house by 30 and have no financial debt. But you never know what other people have been through (or are going through) financially or in their lives. It's sort of presumptuous and condescending to say people should learn to live within their means. Walk a mile in my shoes....

Lastly (finally!) You mentioned that OP were worried about $300-$500. For me it was a potential savings closer to $800, which is the equivalent of 4 months of medications for my son.

Can you really tell a tone of an email message by reading a computer screen. I am only reporting what I have been reading. Usually how an email is interpreted says more about the reader than the sender. . . .

Obviously I hope that everyone has an enjoyable vacation no matter where he or she ends up.

 

[LuvDuke]

This is the first time, if I recall correctly, there are no FL Resident codes for June and I've been to WDW 51 times since 1998.

My DD and I have reservations for the end of June and we're not going to downgrade as far as the resort. What we are going to do is go for 5 days instead of 7. Now, I realize my piddling 2 days of spending doesn't amount to squat to Disney, but it's my way of sticking it to the mouse. Other than Expedition Everest, we've seen it all multiple times before.

 

[LuvDuke]

Can you really tell a tone of an email message by reading a computer screen.

Generally, yes, and the tone comes through loud and clear.

 

[LuvDuke]

I think some will change to then, but not that many. Schools in the Southeast start back in early August so that eliminates them. Also that time is peak hurricane and hot weather so many are not going to give up June even for free dining.

The school calender is going to change in Florida for 2007-2008. The legislature just passed a bill making it Florida law to start school no sooner than 14 days before Labor Day.

This is going to change a lot of people's plans at least here. Something to think about if you're a long term planner.

 

[Buttercup]

We changed our plans. We wanted to stay at AKL in June. But at rack rates, no way. We changed to the Swan at the govt rate. We really wanted to stay at AKL, we love it. Now the more we look into the Swan, we are very excited. It looks really nice....and reasonably priced!
Buttercup

 

[KimberlyC]

The school calender is going to change in Florida for 2007-2008. The legislature just passed a bill making it Florida law to start school no sooner than 14 days before Labor Day.

This is going to change a lot of people's plans at least here. Something to think about if you're a long term planner.

Michigan just passed a law that school must start after Labor Day. It begins this fall 2006 but there are exemptions for disctricts that are locked into contracts for other start dates until those contracts run out. The goal was to promote tourism, Labor Day, being a big tourism weekend (not that Michigan compares to Florida when it comes to tourism but that was the stated intention.)

It will change plans for people here. My sister so excited because it effectively extends her maternity leave. Suprisingly, school won't end significantly later (kids here get out the 2nd week of June) BUT what I'm wondering is, do Floridians expect that the kids in Florida will get out in June once the law takes effect, or will it continue to be May? This could make a difference in May and early June attendance at WDW. We leave in 12 days (less crowded than later in the summer, I'm told) but I would love it if it were less crowded in future years during this time period.

 

[LuvDuke]

Michigan just passed a law that school must start after Labor Day. It begins this fall 2006 but there are exemptions for disctricts that are locked into contracts for other start dates until those contracts run out. The goal was to promote tourism, Labor Day, being a big tourism weekend (not that Michigan compares to Florida when it comes to tourism but that was the stated intention.)

It will change plans for people here. My sister so excited because it effectively extends her maternity leave. Suprisingly, school won't end significantly later (kids here get out the 2nd week of June) BUT what I'm wondering is, do Floridians expect that the kids in Florida will get out in June once the law takes effect, or will it continue to be May? This could make a difference in May and early June attendance at WDW. We leave in 12 days (less crowded than later in the summer, I'm told) but I would love it if it were less crowded in future years during this time period.

Quite honestly, all of this is so new, no one really has a handle on how it will work. I would imagine that if you start later, you'll end later. Other than cutting out Christmas and Spring, and we all know that's not going to happen, I don't see how it could be done differently.

We generally go at the end of June and it is less crowded than July, but not by much. That's just my observations.

 

[KimberlyC]

Quite honestly, all of this is so new, no one really has a handle on how it will work. I would imagine that if you start later, you'll end later. Other than cutting out Christmas and Spring, and we all know that's not going to happen, I don't see how it could be done differently.

We generally go at the end of June and it is less crowded than July, but not by much. That's just my observations.

Here they seem to be adding time to each regular school day. I think its 15 or 20 minutes but I'd have to check with Dsis to be sure. They have to have so many hours of instruction and that's the way they are adding so as to not stretch getting out of school until the end of June.

 

[sharongl]

I would doubt that they would do that to cut days. Federal law mandates 180 days of school, but not the number of hours in the day. Many schools are extending the school day to allow for more instructional time.

 

[cjsmith]

The school calender is going to change in Florida for 2007-2008. The legislature just passed a bill making it Florida law to start school no sooner than 14 days before Labor Day.

This is going to change a lot of people's plans at least here. Something to think about if you're a long term planner.

I didn't realize that, don't know how I missed it. Our calendar is up for 07 and it shows the kids going back August 13th. Guess they'll have to change that date. My kids go back August 14th this year.

 

[LuvDuke]

I didn't realize that, don't know how I missed it. Our calendar is up for 07 and it shows the kids going back August 13th. Guess they'll have to change that date. My kids go back August 14th this year.

It's only been signed within a couple of weeks, but the earliest school can start in Florida for 2007 is August 20th.

The new law says schools cannot start earlier than 14 days before Labor Day.

IMO, Hallelujah and it's about time.

 

[new_mouser]

Went from a discussion about resort availability to "bicker"-ing about font size (pun intended ) to school vacation. But back to the question at hand ...

Maybe several rooms are booked for a convention and will soon become available. One can only hope.