Newbies who miss room/dining discounts

[spoiledraf]

I wonder how many newbies on Disney's web site actually miss the room discounts or free dining available. While there are adds for free dining it certainly doesn't direct you immediately to the room offers available. To get the discount you have to take the right path. With only two of us staying at the GF, that's the better deal. I'm not sure how they handle it if you call for reservations. Do they inform you of discounts available if you don't ask??? I'm always trying to keep first time visitors aware of what's available. But I know there are some naïve folks getting burned!

[The Hitchhiking Ghost]

I hadn't been on WDW website in a while, and it looks like its changes a bit since I last used it. They used to be pretty good about having pop-ups and fairly easy to find advertising on their front page to "hurry up and check out these deals, they won't last long" with the Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland next to the ad. Just looking at the website now, that's still there, but certainly not as obvious.

I would think that if you called to book a room, that you'd have to be proactive about asking for deals, especially if your initial request didn't meet the parameters for the existing program discounts.

It would be interesting to know whether or not they'd tell you, if say I called up and said I wanted to book a 7 night MYW package (at an eligible resort) if they would tell me that free dining is an option, of if I didn't ask that they'd just book it at rack rate.

I think most newbies miss out more on what happens after you get the discount. One year we were down during a free dining period and I saw and heard many families trying to get reservations for dinners at the concierge only to find out everything was booked and that they had no idea they could book 180 days out.

[Ms. Mode]

I always call to make our reservations and in seven trips they have never offered up the information on a discount. If I mention it, OH, sure! But, if not...nothing is given.

Nice of you to put the word out to the unsuspecting.

[Disney 1985]

I was told by a cast member that they will not tell you about a discount, you have to ask. I'm not sure if you have to ask about a specific discount, or just ask if any are available (I knew what options were available when I called).

[Opus X]

I could not comprehend not getting a discount..or worse...miss one that was available. It can only happen if a person has absolutely NO idea what they are doing. All you have to do is call and ask.
VERY elementary.

[VWL Mom]

I think this is pretty much an across the board tactic. No matter where you call or what you're calling for you're never offered the cheapest price without asking. Even simply ordering a piece of clothing online, I always google for a coupon beforehand.

[Opus X]

I think this is pretty much an across the board tactic. No matter where you call or what you're calling for you're never offered the cheapest price without asking. Even simply ordering a piece of clothing online, I always google for a coupon beforehand.

Yep.

[BriarRose0708]

This is why I always use Magical Journeys!

[brownie]

This is why I always use Magical Journeys!

[Kenny1113]

Several years ago (among my last calls to WDW for booking), the CM on the phone would not give me the FL resident discount unless I could specfically reference the discount code. Sounds like this is not the case any longer. As others have said, I just contact MJ now.

[disneynarula]

In my pre-Intercot days I booked a trip with WDW Travel and then noticed a discount on the website. It took me several hours on the phone to finally get the discount applied. It was a real hassle.

I am sure this happens to a lot of first timers that have not heard of Magical Journeys. I can't say enough nice things about Magical Journeys.

I don't always go with the other Icot sponsors but Magical Journeys is the best! Our agent is even helpful in the pre-trip planning. We are working on a trip for Sept 2014 and already running through a bunch of different scenarios with Terrisue.

[spoiledraf]

I must have been very lucky when we found a discount for August a couple years ago. I called, told the CM what discount I found and he happily made the change. Not only that, he changed my brother in laws, who was traveling with us, to the discount just by me giving them his reservation number. But...when I made my reservation for December this year I waited to see what kind of discount there was before I booked. I guess I mostly waited because I couldn't afford it without the discount and I didn't want to cancel if nothing came up. That would have crushed me!

[Aurora]

I wonder how many newbies on Disney's web site actually miss the room discounts or free dining available. While there are adds for free dining it certainly doesn't direct you immediately to the room offers available. To get the discount you have to take the right path. With only two of us staying at the GF, that's the better deal. I'm not sure how they handle it if you call for reservations. Do they inform you of discounts available if you don't ask??? I'm always trying to keep first time visitors aware of what's available. But I know there are some naïve folks getting burned!

I had a friend who I offered to help with her Disney vacation because she was paying way too much for everything from onsite hotel to airfare. She told me she was more comfortable doing it herself. I figured out that she spent about $1800 more than she needed to, getting the same hotel and flights. But whatever!

[Mogie]

It's crazy. Rule of thumb is DO NOT book anything on the Disney website. Research flights yourself, even explore doing one way flights with different airlines for better rates, or combine with miles. Magical Journeys will always find you the best rate. If you are set on calling and making your own reservation, definitely make sure you ask for promotions first, they will push you to book everything right away. Ask for AAA rates at offsite hotels, or tell them you are a veteran, nurse, or teacher and there are discounts, upgrades or breakfast included. For Park passes try undercover tourist, they have deals including a free extra day in the park. Check with your company if you have a corporate discount to sites that sell park passes. There is a limit to the discounts you can get, and you may have to sacrifice the magical express, but you will definitely pay way too much booking everything through disney.

[TheVBs]

It's crazy. Rule of thumb is DO NOT book anything on the Disney website.

I've often booked through the website with no issues. Of course, I'm aware of what offers are available first and make sure I select them while booking.

[mickeyman42]

I remember when I booked our first trip back in 2007.
I was 25 with two small kids (5 and 1) and never had a clue what I was doing, never even knew sites like intercot existed, booked without any discounts as again, never thought something like that existed (I was a very naive traveler at this point).
I think I paid close to $8000 or $9000, seriously (including our airfare which for us would have probably been about $5000, maybe more for the 4 of us considering we booked without thinking about travel seasons, crazy). we stayed at ASMu and I'm pretty sure we had 7 day park hoppers (cause you know with 2 small kids that makes perfect sense ). we booked directly on the disney site and the airlines' site and never knew to look for discounts.
It seemed like a lot to spend at the time but hey, you only go to Disney world once, right?

Ahh the good ol' days!

[MargaretMessler]

I've often booked through the website with no issues. Of course, I'm aware of what offers are available first and make sure I select them while booking.

Same here. And more than once I have called with discounts or freebies (this year's DDP) and made changes with no trouble whatsoever.

One thing I will NEVER do is book airfare through Disney. NEVER DO THAT! I booked airfare independently this year and it was literally half the cost. Different airline, but similar times, HALF!

[Dulcee]

I've never had a problem booking through disney. Last year we booked our honeymoon well before free dining was released. Calling disney directly to update the reservation with the discount the morning it was released was quick, easy and painless.

[Shea&Sky'smom]

No discount luck here! Made our res back in February of this year for an upcoming trip. I've been watching and waiting, checking multiple sites for offers to be released. The day the fall offers came out for FDD and room discount I called and by 9:30 am there were no room discounts available. And of course, the FDD is offered the week before and after our trip.

I did get a great deal from Southwest Airlines! So definitely book your own flight.

[VWL Mom]

No discount luck here! Made our res back in February of this year for an upcoming trip. I've been watching and waiting, checking multiple sites for offers to be released. The day the fall offers came out for FDD and room discount I called and by 9:30 am there were no room discounts available. And of course, the FDD is offered the week before and after our trip.

Have you checked back on the room discount? There were some system issues the first day but they were later resolved. There's always a chance something is still open even if you need to change categories.