Easter Blackout Dated Lifted!

[H20Babie]

Easter Blackout Dates Lifted!

So, just for fun, I went on to the WDW website to reprice our Easter vacation April 3-6.

Lo-and-behold, it accepted our dates for the room only offer (30% off our moderate). I went through the booking procedure until I had to enter my credit card, called CRO and gave them the code and -- sure enough -- it was applied!

I just saved $150!

:sohappy:

 

[Dwarful]

Good to know ... maybe the EMH's will be worth going to Easter weekend (since we're only there four days).

That's what I was thinking. We always go to the early EMH's. We arrive March 27 -April 3. Even on Christmas Day using the early EMH's we got quite a bit done, so we are hopeful to get our must do's done this trip as well.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

What makes you think the majority are there on discounts? Bad assumption.

Perhaps that was a bit of zealous exaggeration in my statement but you certainly don't have to be an internet junkie or fan forum member to realize there are discounts out there for everyone. It's all over tv, print, promotions, advertising emails, etc. etc. Every time I open my email or weather.com there's an ad for Disney's discounts. It's harder not to see it than it is to see it. Heck, you can see current discounts on disneyworld.com's home page. They aren't hidden or anything. Think about it. When in the parks there are oodles of people there even during the 'slow seasons' (which we know don't really even exist so much anymore). With this economy and the numbers of people there, considering the attendance numbers while profit is down in spite of last year's layoffs & budget cuts, I'd say a great many of WDW's guests are there on some sort of discount. Maybe the majority of your clients, the folks who'd rather book thru an agent, don't book with discounts but it's obvious there's a big population that does. And if Disney didn't need to offer the discounts so heavily & pay to advertise their specials all over the place (which is a huge investment in itself) because not so many people were using them anyway they wouldn't. Discounting is working for them because lots of people are buying into it. If it wasn't, why would they continue to do it? And discounting during what are normally black-out periods when they weren't previously needed to fill rooms speaks volumes. I think a great many people are taking advantage of the specials. That's just my opinion, tho.

Personally, I've paid rack rate for a WDW trip only once that I can think of. Seeking discounts and saving as much as possible is fun for me. What can I say? :hammer:

 

[DisneyJoe]

I agree that many people who wait until discounts are released to book will book and have the discounts for their trip - but you are not considering all of those who book months and months before discounts are released; i.e. when 2011 prices are released in August 2010, families will start booking then for 2010 and will book at rack rates (with and without travel agents).

 

[ClemsonTigger]

hmmm....we can hope this will mean lighter crowds. I stress the word 'hope'. Although I told the kids to expect the crowds like we had on Christmas Day in the Magic Kingdom, that way if it is lighter they will be surprised.

Good to know ... maybe the EMH's will be worth going to Easter weekend (since we're only there four days).

Wishful thinking...I wouldn't plan on that. Based on years past, the parks will be plenty "cozy" over the weekend. The only EMH's I find worthwhile at this time are the mornings. You have a few hour window where parks are not bad, and toward the end of that time, you can use FP's to do what you want. By noonish onward however..... evening EMH stay crowded for the first couple of hours (and luckily they then sleep in! :lookaroun)

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I agree that many people who wait until discounts are released to book will book and have the discounts for their trip - but you are not considering all of those who book months and months before discounts are released; i.e. when 2011 prices are released in August 2010, families will start booking then for 2010 and will book at rack rates (with and without travel agents).

I booked our January trip as soon as 2010 rates were released in 2009. Had I not been able to apply a discount to at least the majority of the trip when the discounts were released I would've canceled or moved to a discounted room. Just because one books early before discounts doesn't necessarily mean they're all set to go with no discounts. I've done this almost every trip I've taken: book first & apply discounts when available. Just sayin....:wave:

 

[Dwarful]

Wishful thinking...I wouldn't plan on that. Based on years past, the parks will be plenty "cozy" over the weekend. The only EMH's I find worthwhile at this time are the mornings. You have a few hour window where parks are not bad, and toward the end of that time, you can use FP's to do what you want. By noonish onward however..... evening EMH stay crowded for the first couple of hours (and luckily they then sleep in! :lookaroun)

No matter what time of year we go we always do the morning EMH's. It seems we can get so much done...usually we are at the gate 1/2 hour before the emh's start, this is so important during the busy seasons. But like you said, many late nighters sleep in. Can't wait for March 27th...first full day in the parks!

 

[keithj4]

Thanks!

Thanks for posting this info. I called and saved $487. Awesome!!!!

 

[H20Babie]

Thanks for posting this info. I called and saved $487. Awesome!!!!

:sohappy:

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I was able to use this too. I had booked with the AAA discount for April 1-8. When I booked everything was blacked out. When I saw this Wednesday I called AAA. Unfortunately the 35% off of moderate deal was gone--no rooms left at POR--but if I pay $182 more, I get a $500 gift card, for a $318 savings. That will buy our typhoon lagoon tickets and dinner at Chef Mickey's.
Robin M.

 

[Dwarful]

Congrats! Rockn'Robin and welcome to the boards! Nothing better than a 'free meal and free day at the water park' to rock your vacation!

 

[wendysue]

So, just for fun, I went on to the WDW website to reprice our Easter vacation April 3-6.

Lo-and-behold, it accepted our dates for the room only offer (30% off our moderate). I went through the booking procedure until I had to enter my credit card, called CRO and gave them the code and -- sure enough -- it was applied!

I just saved $150!

:sohappy:

Thanks. H20Babie for the tip. Because of your tip, we are packing up and driving down from Illinois. We will be there Apr. 3-8. That is when my school is closed and I had thought we wouldnt be able to afford it until your post about being able to book then. The 500 gift card is awesome!!! :wave:

 

[wendysue]

We have never gone at Easter. Is it really the most crowded time of the year?

 

[H20Babie]

No, Christmas is ... this is our spring break and we've always gone the end of March/just happens to be Easter this year too. If you plan (ie. morning EMH), it's definitely doable.

 

[sc123tx]

what is an ap discount and a gp discount?

 

[H20Babie]

AP (Annual Pass) and GP (General Public)

 

[Dwarful]

what is an ap discount and a gp discount?

ap discount is for those who have an annual pass.
gp discount is an offer released to the general public. Currently the gp discount is being offered for free quick service dining, which I believe is a $31.99 value per person per day for adult and $9.99 per child 3-9. Plus you get the resort mug.

 

[sc123tx]

so if i am going in november and i book early, i can use apply a special that comes out this midsummer. can i also get the free quick dining discount in additon?

 

[Dwarful]

so if i am going in november and i book early, i can use apply a special that comes out this midsummer. can i also get the free quick dining discount in additon?

You can book now and check often to see if any discounts are available for your travel dates. If discounts become available, and you qualify, then they will switch you over and you save $$$. You can only have one discount on your room though. So if they offer a % off deal and you take that, then they offer a free dining offer you have to decide which plan saves you the most money. For our upcoming trip it was the % off deal and not the free dining that saved us the most money.

 

[LeafsFanNL]

We had booked our trip to thw WL over Easter, and paid a fair bit for it. We just found out about this and were able to lower the room rate from $278 a night to $234 a night. Thats $307!!

HB

 

[Dwarful]

Congratulations!