Not as many discounts?

[lamarvenoy]

This just kinda hit me. They release discounted room rates and these rates are limited to a certain number of rooms. Well, being a FL resident and a passholder I get alot of options but there limits as to how many rooms they will sell at the discounted rate. Now that the Disney Visa is getting a chunk of those rooms discounted does that leave FL res. and Passholders with less rooms in the discount pool? I would bet it does. Giving discounted rates to lots of people nationwide would almost certainly eat up a large chunk of those discounted rooms. They will not allow all of them to be sold at discounts because they make lots of revenue off of the people who pay rack rates.I don't feel as exclusive

 

[wannabeBelle]

yeah but as we get closer to a given date for a trip I am sure that Marketing would release more rooms into the discounted pool if they havent sold at full rack rate. The only problem with that is that we cant make long range plans ( Princess breakfast etc.) I managed to get around that though by booking a resort thru Kingdom Konsultant, and when the AP rate came out she transferred it over to the better rate!!! Pam is a very rare lady in the travel indistry!! Belle

 

[mkt]

it costs just under $30 to clean a standard room for the night ($50-60 for a suite). That is all that they need to make to break even.

Even at their biggest discount (CM discount, generally 50% off), they make at least $15 profit on each room.


I'm surprised that they haven't just added to the allotment of discounted rooms for Disney Visa/FL Resident/AP/etc...

 

[wannabeBelle]

greed?? Seriously though I have called for a room, gotten told there were none left for AP discount months in advance of a date. All of a sudden a week before that same date there are rooms to be had?? Cancellations??, maybe but I think that they would prefer to sell a room at full rack rate rather than discounted. In my case I can be VERY flexible. I dont have any kids so I dont need to worry about school schedules. I can go pretty much whenever, so I can be flexible to what discounts are available. Not everyone I know can. Most people are locked into the kids schedule with school and other activities. So if the trip to Disney costs a little more, well some people wont or cant change the time they want to go, so they will just pay the extra money. I happen to agree with you though MKT, they should just put in the full amount of rooms, but I guess that would make things WAY too easy??? Belle

 

[Disneyfalcon]

One good thing about Disney:

During Disney's last armed forces salute, Universal was matching many of their deals. We decided to try IOA and stay one night at Universal to get their hotel guest/fastpass deal. When I called to get a military discounted room, they said those rooms were sold out. Mind you this was within a few days after it being announced. When I asked if I should try back to see if there were cancellations, they said no, if any dicounted rooms were cancelled they returned to full rate rooms. I guess the discount just disappeared!

Some military salute huh? We stuck to Disney for the full trip!:sohappy:

 

[wannabeBelle]

Hey Disney Falcon!! That was kinda messed up on Universal's part, no?? I am still glad the Mouse did the right thing by our men and women in the military!! Belle

 

[lamarvenoy]

Sometimes I have to make 10 to 15 calls to book a discount rate, its all about timing if you need a reservation with little notice.

 

[Ergens2]

Bell- we want to book for Oct. and want to try and stay at BWI, but I am hoping for an AP rate. We just want a standard room. I saw you booked w/ Pam. How far in advance did you book? Do i have to email Pam when I see a new rate come out or will she update the rates when she see's them?

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Hi Belle! I was wondering if you knew something. When you book a standard AP rate room with Pam or however, and the big discounts come out, does it help to already have that room booked? In other words does she apply the discount to the room you already have, thus eliminating the possibility they'll run out of AP rate rooms before you call, or does she cancel and make new ressies?

Just trying to figure this out. Thanks!

 

[wannabeBelle]

Hi all, Yes this time ( for the first time) I Had booked with Pam for my May trip. It doesnt help to have a room booked prior to the discounts in terms of just applying the discount to the room. I had originally had a room at the Coronado. When Pam called ( at 7 am on the day the discount came out mind you) She was able to get me the AP discount ( she had thought that only the room rate discounts were coming out, but when she was told that AP discounts were out as well she booked me that way, knowing I have an AP!! Good job Pam!!) She wasnt able to get a discounted room rate at the Coronado so Pam moved me to Riverside. This just goes to show you that they dont apply the discount to an existing reservation so much as choose the room from a discount pool ( I think the Coronado was in the seriously shallow end of things on this one!!!!)
As far as booking with her now or later, you can do either one. Pam is pretty good about me, because she knows which hotels I like and was able to make a decision for me without ever getting off the phone with Disney to consult with me. Id give her a call and discuss your vacation plans. To get this discount are you flexible on the days you are going? The hotel you want etc? She is wonderful though and I just dont have the time to hang on the phone for an hour to make a ressie at work!!!Saves me a lot of worry!! Hope this info helps!! Belle

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Thanks for the info Belle! :sohappy:

 

[wannabeBelle]

Sure anytime!!!! Incidentally Pam also booked two of my friends with the same discount at the same time!! She really is pretty awesome to deal with for this stuff. Belle