Will they bother to offer codes if....

[MermaidsMom]

Will they bother to offer any codes if they have alot of rooms already booked by people like us who are waiting for codes? Maybe they are looking at all of the reserved rooms and are thinking why bother with discounts? If everyone waited longer to reserve their rooms, I wonder if they would offer codes sooner because they would need to fill more rooms?

 

[msteddom]

It is a valid theory, but I went ahead and booked my room at the WL for Dec. using a AAA rate because that is where I want to stay, and if I wait the resort will sell out. I am hoping for a code to knock the price down even more, but if it does not happen I have a rate that I am satisfied with at a resort that I can't wait to experience!


Melissa

 

[F1Julie]

I tend to agree with the OP. I do think that the more rooms that are booked, the less likely WDW will release a code because if the rooms are filling up without codes, then there is no reason to offer a code. I tend to book impromptu trips because of a good deal (free dining last year and this year as examples). Otherwise, I wait to book until less than 60 days out. I figure that gives enough time for a code to come out. If not, I'm not resort picky and I've always gotten the resort and category I wanted.

 

[mickeysaver]

Codes are put out there to make people want to take advantage of the chance to go for a little cheaper that might not have gone otherwise. We had absolutely no plans to go this year, but the room only code was made available at the same time as a really good sale on airfare through AirTran. The combo was just irresistable, because 3 days of discounted WDW pixie dust as an anniversary present ROCKS!

If more people waited to the final 90/60/30 day marks to book their travel, there would be more codes made available....some might even say better offers attached to those codes too. I miss the days of the $49 room only codes at the Values....it was only 4 years ago, but I imagine that it's forever faded away into oblivion.

We tend to plan at least 9 months in advance and book about 60 days out. Maggie

 

[n2mm]

Will they bother to offer any codes if they have alot of rooms already booked by people like us who are waiting for codes? Maybe they are looking at all of the reserved rooms and are thinking why bother with discounts? If everyone waited longer to reserve their rooms, I wonder if they would offer codes sooner because they would need to fill more rooms?

I've always said this, but yet folks still book "mock" rooms that most do not intend to keep. (Though there are some folks who truly do it correctly by booking a room that they can afford to keep even if no discounts are released and upgrade if a discount is released). So many folks "hold" a room, therefore Disney thinks...."heck we don't have to release any discounts, because the rooms are full..." This is why there are rarely any discounts released for the standard rooms, because they are booked by folks not intending to keep them...what can you do?

 

[MermaidsMom]

If more people waited to the final 90/60/30 day marks to book their travel, there would be more codes made available....some might even say better offers attached to those codes too. I miss the days of the $49 room only codes at the Values....it was only 4 years ago, but I imagine that it's forever faded away into oblivion.

We tend to plan at least 9 months in advance and book about 60 days out. Maggie

I think a lot of people have enjoyed those deals over the last 3-4 years and are now panicking and reserving rooms in advance of the "deals" they HOPE will be coming later so they can convert. Just a few years ago on this very board the big discussion was how to stay AWAY from the package deals with the mini golf because of the cancellation fees and the prepay rules. Now everyone is getting these reservations not knowing if there will even be a better deal to change over to later. I believe the more reservations Disney Travel already has for basic packages the fewer "enhancements" they will offer as package add-ons later. The only reason Disney offered those great deals in the past was because their rooms weren't being reserved as quickly as they wanted. But with the rooms being reserved a year in advance, why put out any discounts or at least any meaningful deals?

 

[Gary M]

It always puzzled me why people book rooms at rates they will not pay, hoping that discounts will come out for that room.

Just book what your willing to pay, then upgrade if the codes become available.

I'm also confused when a person is asked what they paid or reserved a room for and they give the before tax price. Room tax is a good portion of the room cost and that is what you reserved or paid for the room. I believe the room tax has or is going up to 12 1/2 % or 13%. On a basic room rate of $200 that is about $25. Why not say the actual room cost of $225 not $200 which is before taxes. I guess I'm easily confused.

 

[MermaidsMom]

It always puzzled me why people book rooms at rates they will not pay, hoping that discounts will come out for that room.

Just book what your willing to pay, then upgrade if the codes become available.

Good point! If the deluxes appear to be all booked up with people waiting to convert to lower rates, then the package deals will probably focus more on the values and moderates that don't have as many bookings. I'm waiting to make my reservations until the actual packages are announced but I have to admit it's really hard to do when everyday I read the posts about everyone booking in advance.

 

[FantasmicDreams]

I have never seen them not offer AP/Resident codes. At least not the last few years. Don't recall before that.

I'm not sure about general public discounts. But they usually do.

I agree with the others who say just book what you're willing to pay. You can always try to upgrade when codes come out.

 

[travellady]

From Wikipedia:
"The theory of supply and demand describes how prices vary as a result of a balance between product availability at each price (supply) and the desires of those with purchasing power at each price (demand)."

I believe supply and demand absolutely factors into Disney's decision as to what codes they'll offer and when those codes will be available.

Why the free dining plan during late August and September this year? It's hurricane season, and last year was a whopper of a hurricane season. I highly suspect Disney was seeing far fewer bookings for these months than they had in previous years at a given point in time therefore the decision to offer a deal during those months this year.

 

[n2mm]

I have never seen them not offer AP/Resident codes. At least not the last few years. Don't recall before that.

I'm not sure about general public discounts. But they usually do.

I agree with the others who say just book what you're willing to pay. You can always try to upgrade when codes come out.

Just a reminder:

No AP discount in October 2005 (most of the month was blackedout)
No AP discount in September 2004
Just recently, no AP discounts for value and moderates for June/July 2006.

In 2006 we are seeing less and less discounts and more blacked out dates. I had great luck with the Best Rate Program that ended earlier this year. I liked being able to book my room many months in advance. Folks didn't seem to like that program, so now we seem to only get the discounts last minute. I wonder where this is all going to go. As an AP holder for more than 10 years now, I can say the discounts were nothing back then like they are now. The discounts back in 1995 were rare and low (usually 10% or 20% off and never at the value level). I guess we'll know something by the end of August for October if history stays true. But since October was blacked out except the last week, it's hard to know when and if there will be discounts for October this year, especially if attendance is up.

 

[Luv2Roam]

There are MANY promotions. Some may even be geared towards guests who book room only. So booking RO COULD work in their favor. But it is just a gamble.
If it makes you feel more better, book RO to what you feel comfortable with and change to a promo code later, if it becomes available.
I think we all know there are no guarantees for a discount code. Everyone is just hopeful!
I can't imagine Disney does not have a % built in to consider rebooks and cancellations.

 

[Gary M]

I am and have been a holder of an AP for at least 10 years. I think many of us AP people forget that MYW tickets offer a large discount for those that go to WDW for more than 4 days per stay. Each day of park entry is $2 to $4 after the 4th day and the 4th day is something like $14. Before MYW tickets it was pretty much the park entry cost per day times the # of days on your your park ticket. For a family of 4 who goes to WDW no more than once a year the MYW discounts for longer stays amounts to a discount that would probably equal the AP room only discount. Also figure the extra cost of the AP for the AP discount room cost.

What I tried to explain above might be the reason WDW offers very few general public room discounts now. The discount is built in.

 

[Amyrlin]

Simple economics says the more rooms that are booked the less discount, if any, will be offered, as they will have less poeple to attract.

If you are flexable and are waiting for a disount wait to book, if you want something specific and will book it anyway book the room, but remembe,r if that categy of room is sold out when discounts are released it wil not be able to have the discount applied.

Think of it as a game of bluff, or poker, if Disney do not have the bookings they do not know if you will book so may offer more to get you to visit, if they know you want to go, even with miock bkkings, then they know they can offer less.

Also, the nore people they can offer the dicount to lthe less deepo it will be, for example, I would guess the only reaosn that there is a slightly bettwe disocunt for AP holders compared to the general code is so that the AP holders are not totally alinananted, after al the $5 a nigherr is such a small marginal cost, and these are more likey to be adidiotnal vists creating a much higher marginal income.


So, in short, if you want good discounts, as a gorup, those waiting for them should wait to book the rooms and not make the bookings in advance. Travel agents may not like this, afterall, they may not get the booking, but this is the way that the system can be played, if enough people hold oiut.

 

[FantasmicDreams]

Just a reminder:

No AP discount in October 2005 (most of the month was blackedout)
No AP discount in September 2004
Just recently, no AP discounts for value and moderates for June/July 2006.

In 2006 we are seeing less and less discounts and more blacked out dates. I had great luck with the Best Rate Program that ended earlier this year. I liked being able to book my room many months in advance. Folks didn't seem to like that program, so now we seem to only get the discounts last minute. I wonder where this is all going to go. As an AP holder for more than 10 years now, I can say the discounts were nothing back then like they are now. The discounts back in 1995 were rare and low (usually 10% or 20% off and never at the value level). I guess we'll know something by the end of August for October if history stays true. But since October was blacked out except the last week, it's hard to know when and if there will be discounts for October this year, especially if attendance is up.

I loved the Best Rate Program. Being able to book months in advance was awesome and I still can't wrap my mind around why people hated it so much??

 

[dizfans]

Sorry to ask such a silly question, but I came across this thread and was just curious as to what codes you were talking about. We go to wdw quite often and are going again on thanksgiving and staying through the following week. We've been tossing around hotels and I've never heard of a discount code. Would someone mind explaining what it is and how you find out it is being offered? I sure would appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[Gary M]

Dizfans, you might check www.mousesavers.com for code explanations.

Only one member(adult) of your group needs an annual pass for room discounts.

 

[FantasmicDreams]

I just checked Mousesavers again and it seems like AP rates did come out for most places this year most dates. I'm staying at Delixes so I don't care if they don't come out for the values or whatever. Though I have one night at a mod, I'd much prefer to have the discount on the deluxes!