Useless Discount in the Mail?

[jkl2000]

I found a card from Disney that had come in the mail at some point fairly recently, though maybe after I booked our October package. It was some kind of special rate for October packages, but then when I called Disney, they checked the offer code on the card and said it was the same rate I got when I booked online.

So is there actually ANY discount for October (this has nothing to do with FD by the way)? If I got the lowest rate by booking online, why send that offer card?

 

[dreamfinder]

Was this a 16 (or so) digit long number on the card, or a shorter 3-5 digit number?

But also, did you ask if the discount was better on another type of room? You may have booked a room type/resort that wasn't participating in this promotion.
And yet another but, if you hadn't already booked your trip, would you have possibly pulled up the website to see what the costs are for that promotion upon receipt of the card? Just like how they run TV spots promoting the current discount, they hope to get a few additional families to book a trip. You may already check prices regularly, but a normal family might not, and being told of a discount (even if it's a small one) might be enough to convince Ma and Pa Jones to book that Disney trip their kids always wanted.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

You should probably see October discounts later this week or early next week. Most likely Disney is waiting for the Sept offer to expire

 

[Master Yoda]

You resort is most likely not included in the promotion, which would cause it to come up as rack rate.

 

[bethymouse]

I'd still like a "useless" pin code or something in the mail!

 

[SMS55]

Those offers are like any promotional material you'd get from any other company. They don't check to see if you are already doing business with them. Disney probably just sent that to you because you were a previous guest. They have multiple promotions for different things, but on is no bigger than the other. As a Florida resident I can get the Florida resident discount or Annual Pass holder (when we are passholders) discount on rooms. There isn't a huge difference in the two. We let our passes expire after our last trip so I can't get that one. For my up coming trip I had to book two reservations. I booked a Florida resident room for Wednesday and Thursday night and then the late summer promotion discount for Friday and Saturday because there are no Florida resident discounts on weekends. I don't have to change rooms but it's annoying.

 

[onesandzeros]

I’ve received a similar card with the message “mention package code SX6”.
Been told this is a marketing tracking code and not any kind of discount.

 

[Master Yoda]

I’ve received a similar card with the message “mention package code SX6”.
Been told this is a marketing tracking code and not any kind of discount.

Nope. Something like that would be a Disney discount code. It could be everything from a general public offer, Florida resident, etc. They release dozens of different 3 digit codes every time a promotion comes out.

 

[onesandzeros]

Nope. Something like that would be a Disney discount code. It could be everything from a general public offer, Florida resident, etc. They release dozens of different 3 digit codes every time a promotion comes out.

Could be, but the dates were for October ‘13 and was quoted a price equal to what I got pricing the trip on-line. Double checked with a Disney exclusive travel agent, who called and was told it’s a marketing tracking tool.

 

[Master Yoda]

Could be, but the dates were for October ‘13 and was quoted a price equal to what I got pricing the trip on-line. Double checked with a Disney exclusive travel agent, who called and was told it’s a marketing tracking tool.

I am a recently retired Disney exclusive travel agent. I have never heard of their 3 digit promotion codes being used as or refereed to as a tracking code.
As I said earlier, if the resort you were looking at was not included in the offer you and anyone else who checked world get rack rate using that code. The system dose not come back with a "resort not included" or anything else remotely helpful. It simply gives you full price and moves on. The only discrepancy the computer will kick out is if you enter in dates that are not during the promotion. If you started looking at other resorts in the same category you might have found an included one that would have been less.

 

[allgiggles]

Over the last year or so I've gotten several snail mail postcards and e-mail messages with the 3 or 4 digit code that were nothing more than the current general public discount...or even rack rate in one instance! They are simply a marketing tool (not a tracking tool) to get people to *think* they're getting a special discount. There will always be those people who are thinking about a trip but haven't booked the trip who will see one of these postcards that implies they're getting a special deal and will book at that "special rate" without ever bothering to check if it's even a discount at all. (I suspect that almost everyone who prices a trip online at the Disney website will get these useless postcards -- along with some other lists of people)

 

[onesandzeros]

I am a recently retired Disney exclusive travel agent. I have never heard of their 3 digit promotion codes being used as or refereed to as a tracking code.
As I said earlier, if the resort you were looking at was not included in the offer you and anyone else who checked world get rack rate using that code. The system dose not come back with a "resort not included" or anything else remotely helpful. It simply gives you full price and moves on. The only discrepancy the computer will kick out is if you enter in dates that are not during the promotion. If you started looking at other resorts in the same category you might have found an included one that would have been less.

What I have found is – I go on-line to price a trip at one of the resorts. A few days later, I’ll receive an email or postcard for the dates and resort I looked at encouraging me to book and
mention package code SX6.

 

[graphite1326]

Over the last year or so I've gotten several snail mail postcards and e-mail messages with the 3 or 4 digit code that were nothing more than the current general public discount...or even rack rate in one instance! They are simply a marketing tool (not a tracking tool) to get people to *think* they're getting a special discount. There will always be those people who are thinking about a trip but haven't booked the trip who will see one of these postcards that implies they're getting a special deal and will book at that "special rate" without ever bothering to check if it's even a discount at all. (I suspect that almost everyone who prices a trip online at the Disney website will get these useless postcards -- along with some other lists of people)

Well I ot one with the free dining plan offer. I have been watching to see if they offered free dining on line when I can go (mid December). But as far as I can tell it isn't offered on their general public offers. And the the offer I have been seeing you have to book before the end of July. However, the one I received allows me to book by mid August and the offer extends to December when I can go.

Another thing. I called the Disney number to get a quote and after a series of questions on how may times I had been there and when was my last visit, it was almost like the offer was there and I didn't give them my pin number.

 

[allgiggles]

Well I ot one with the free dining plan offer. I have been watching to see if they offered free dining on line when I can go (mid December). But as far as I can tell it isn't offered on their general public offers. And the the offer I have been seeing you have to book before the end of July. However, the one I received allows me to book by mid August and the offer extends to December when I can go.

Another thing. I called the Disney number to get a quote and after a series of questions on how may times I had been there and when was my last visit, it was almost like the offer was there and I didn't give them my pin number.

Yes, I've gotten legitimate PIN codes (lengthy code labeled "PIN Code" as opposed to the 3 or 4 digit "special offer" code) as well that don't exactly line up date wise or offer wise with what is being offered to the general public (most recently free dining -- just not for a time that we were traveling). But I've received far more of the "fake" codes

I've heard of other people who have called without receiving any kind of postcard or e-mail and have just had a discount attached to their name in the magical "Disney File". It happened to my sister a few years ago. I'm not clear on whether there is literally a code/discount attached to their name or if the CM just gets an allotment of discounts they can give out to anyone who asks (or fits some predetermined demographic).