Advice on getting resort deals?

Hi everyone, I have been out of the Disney game for a few years. I moved to Vermont 2.5years ago and of course that has put a dent in my Disney trips. So we are taking the kids back in February of 2010 and I am thinking of springing for a Deluxe, but I need to get the best deal possible to work that out. Can anyone suggest my best option to locate deals over the next year? Are there list I should get on to get some of the promotions I read about on the boards? Finally what are my chances of getting in a Deluxe in the 200 a night range? Am I nuts?

Thanks,
Anthony

I think contact Magical Journeys will be your best bet. They'll help you find the best rate, then when/if a discount is released for your timeframe they'll add it to your reservation immediately without any worry on your part.

I have filled out Magical Journeys web quote form twice in the last year and no one has ever contacted me.

Hi Anthony,

We always respond promptly to quote forms, however, AOL and Hotmail addresses seem to really dislike us and we end up in spam folders.
Odds are good that the quote ended up in spam.

You may wish to include an alternate email address if you have one.

Wendy

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Originally Posted by Anthony

I have filled out Magical Journeys web quote form twice in the last year and no one has ever contacted me.

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That's highly unusual for Magical Journeys. They're very fast and efficient. Perhaps their quote went into your junk mail? Try them again because they are the best and will get the deals for you.

Low 200's or high 200's? Used to be able to get AKL and WL at the very low end of the scale. I remember getting AKL at like $120 a night with an AP rate, but those days appear to be long gone.

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Originally Posted by Anthony

Hi everyone, I have been out of the Disney game for a few years. I moved to Vermont 2.5years ago and of course that has put a dent in my Disney trips. So we are taking the kids back in February of 2010 and I am thinking of springing for a Deluxe, but I need to get the best deal possible to work that out. Can anyone suggest my best option to locate deals over the next year? Are there list I should get on to get some of the promotions I read about on the boards? Finally what are my chances of getting in a Deluxe in the 200 a night range? Am I nuts?

Thanks,
Anthony

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Try a travel agent. They can rebook you
when better deals come by, if rooms are
available. Even with this years myriad deals
My agent rebooked us for a better deal recently.

Use a AAA discount and KEEP Calling WDW!!! We used to do this every year for the Poly and it never failed EVENTUALLY we'd have a CM give us a great deal. Good Luck!! :thumbsup:

You should try to get on Disney's mailing list. This way you might be able to get a PIN if one comes out for your trip. PINS are specifically tied to a person and not a general discount code. Disney has put out quite a few PIN codes out there this year (40% off room, kids free, etc).

To get on Disney's mailing list order the planing dvd and make sure you are registered on Disney.com. Then after that it is up to the PIN code fairies. No one has been able to figure out how they get them or how they are assigned.

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Originally Posted by Strmchsr

I think contact Magical Journeys will be your best bet. They'll help you find the best rate, then when/if a discount is released for your timeframe they'll add it to your reservation immediately without any worry on your part.

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Another Magical Journeys vote. We used them for the first time last year and they were fabulous! They always get back to me within a matter of hours with a quote or any changes that I may be looking for or just to answer a question I may have. I too think that their reply message may have ended up in a Spam folder just because they are super efficient. We use Debbie and she is great as we typically drive her crazy and she always patiently replies.

MJ constantly monitors your reservation and gets you the best deal possible. Last year Debbie saved me somewhere in the ballpark of $700! That way you do not risk missing out on any specials as they apply any first thing. Good luck.

P.S.- IMHO deluxe is only worth it if you are pending a significant amount of time at your resort. We are park commandos, rising early and spending all day in the parks so to spend a ton of $$$ on a resort we are very rarely going to be at seems foolish to us. Maybe you would be better off at a moderate with more money to spend on special things. Good luck whatever you decide just thought I'd put in my :twocents:

Book through Magical Journeys! They will get the deals for you and you don't have to do a thing. They are the best!!!

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Originally Posted by wdwnomad

You should try to get on Disney's mailing list. This way you might be able to get a PIN if one comes out for your trip. PINS are specifically tied to a person and not a general discount code. Disney has put out quite a few PIN codes out there this year (40% off room, kids free, etc).

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Be cautious about PIN codes. WDW recently sent me an email PIN offer showing (in big font) a supposedly great rate just for me! I guess WDW didn't realize I'd check that rate on INTERCOT; their special rate is actually the rack rate for that time period.

The offer also says 30% off some other time periods (with many limitations, etc). I think we'll do better waiting until the last minute and using MJ!

In previous years, DH has always booked directly thru WDW and has always gotten a great deal. This year, however, the quoe seemed a little high, so we tried Magical Journeys, and they gave us a much better price!. But then, DH talked to a friend who had just recently booked thru a local Ambassador Travel Agency and...WOW! :eyes: They quoted us such an incredible price, that we booked right then and there! She got us everything we wanted. Our fave resort, park-hopper passes, and the free dining plan. Even air fare from our local airport. So, don't overlook your local travel agencies! :thumbsup:

For me part of the fun before the actual trip is the planning and researching, with that in mind I would prefer not to use agencies or MJ. Any advice there??? :help: Some great places or web sites for tickets and discounts on rooms? I have a special site I use for airlines so I'm covered there.... Thanks!:thanks:

First of all, keep your dates in the BEGINNING of February. Prior to the 12th or so. That is always VALUE season, the cheapest time to go to WDW. Usually around the 12th of February, it turns into PEAK season, which is the second most expensive time to visit (second only to Holiday season). Rates can go up a couple hundred dollars per night from one day to the next, so plan your trip VERY carefully. I'd stick to the first or second week in February, and don't go beyond the 11th at this point, if you can help it. Certainly don't include President's weekend in your plans. *If* Disney chooses to offer any discounts/special offers next year, you can be sure they'll blockout that weekend.

If you stick to Value season, you can certainly get a Deluxe in the $200/night range. WL, AKL, and Contemporary all have Standard view rooms available in the $200-300 price points. Depending on how many in your party and where on property you want to be, you can pick any of those.

Also, I'm sure Disney will offer "room only" discounts. They seem to do so every year, or they offer package specials. I went in 2007 and again this year, and got discounts both times. In 2007, we went in February and this year, we just took advantage of the "Buy 4, get 3 free" deal in April. We stayed in a Magic Kingdom View Tower room at the Contemporary in PEAK season for the equivalent of $325/night, which is a great deal, in my opinion.