Usual minimum stay requirements for discounts?

[Lirael]

I'm thinking of doing split stay on my next trip, and my current plan is to book the rooms and then add a discount if it comes out for my dates.

However, I know discounts (room or dining) may come out with a requirement of a minimum of nights in the resort for you to use them (example: "discount is valid for stays of 2 nights or more"), so I wanted to know what those requirements usually are (4 nights? 5? etc). Last time I got a discount (2018) I wasn't doing split stay so I never really worried about it.

I understand that it's all up to the mouse and such, so I'm not expecting a iron cast rule, just what's usually required when they add a minimum stay rule. If it makes any difference in the answer, the dates would be in the second half of September.

Thank you!

 

[larryz]

In my experience, room discounts tied to a package can require minimums, but straight room-only discounts don't usually do so.

Discounted packages, yes, and they seem to be doubling down on add-ons to plus up the revenue, like requiring multiple-day park hoppers for a minimum length of stay to get a "free" dining package. Makes you really crunch the numbers to see if the final cost is lower between discounted room only and a discounted package.

 

[dreamfinder]

As @larryz said, room only discounts don't usually have a minimal stay as far as I'm aware. It's the package deals that usually have minimums, either room nights or tickets. And those seem to be creeping upwards each year, and I think even varying from promo to promo, so it's really hard to say.

 

[Lirael]

In my experience, room discounts tied to a package can require minimums, but straight room-only discounts don't usually do so.

Discounted packages, yes, and they seem to be doubling down on add-ons to plus up the revenue, like requiring multiple-day park hoppers for a minimum length of stay to get a "free" dining package. Makes you really crunch the numbers to see if the final cost is lower between discounted room only and a discounted package.

As @larryz said, room only discounts don't usually have a minimal stay as far as I'm aware. It's the package deals that usually have minimums, either room nights or tickets. And those seem to be creeping upwards each year, and I think even varying from promo to promo, so it's really hard to say.

Thank you! Do you know what the last minimum was? Even if they're going upwards, if I know that last year was, say 4 nights, I know disney isn't going to lower that requirement so I need to consider 4 or more at least if I choose to go for a package deal.

 

[ELG13]

I'll also add something that someone mentioned to me when I had a similar post. If you book prior to the discount being released, you will still have to call and have the discount applied (if there are rooms left for that specific discount) and the more rooms that are already sold, the less likely there is to be a discount offered. It's a small consideration in the grand scheme of things but when I realized I'd still have to call and apply the discount, I decided to wait until it was released to make my decision.

 

[Lirael]

I'll also add something that someone mentioned to me when I had a similar post. If you book prior to the discount being released, you will still have to call and have the discount applied (if there are rooms left for that specific discount) and the more rooms that are already sold, the less likely there is to be a discount offered. It's a small consideration in the grand scheme of things but when I realized I'd still have to call and apply the discount, I decided to wait until it was released to make my decision.

Yeah, it's complicated. On one hand if I book now they might decide there's no need for a discount, but on the other hand if I don't the prices might go up + possibility of no discount. It's a risk either way.

 

[ELG13]

Yeah, it's complicated. On one hand if I book now they might decide there's no need for a discount, but on the other hand if I don't they prices might go up + possibility of no discount. It's a risk either way.

Yup! Do you know when your next stay is? I'd look up the history of discounts and go off of that. I went off of one of our most recent trip in May to see what kind of discount and when it's be released and it was accurate.

 

[Lirael]

Yup! Do you know when your next stay is? I'd look up the history of discounts and go off of that. I went off of one of our most recent trip in May to see what kind of discount and when it's be released and it was accurate.

I'm planning for second half of September. Generally there are discounts for that month, and they've released some up to the 12th so far, so I'm hopeful the trend will continue. But the discounts they just released which cover up to the 12th seems to be an exception to the usual dates so I have less of a clue of when more may drop and am checking constantly. That said, I do know from now until April discounts may drop, and that's a few months where room prices might increase if I wait too much, I think.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Room rate discounts don't have a minimum night stay but many times its only valid for Sunday-Thursday.
The discount is also a per night rate meaning that if you go from a Tuesday to Sunday you'd get the discount Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and Thursday night and would pay rack rate for Friday night and Saturday night.

If its a package discount... I'dll used Free Dining as an example becaise I know the requirements for it this year was 4 night minimum stay, and 4 day park hopper minimum for the ticket.
For package discounts as long as you check in by the last day of the discount you'd get the discount for the length of stay.

If doing a split stay you may find that a room rate discount as the best you're gonna get unless you stay for the required time at both resorts and get the required tickets for both resorts.

 

[Lirael]

Room rate discounts don't have a minimum night stay but many times its only valid for Sunday-Thursday.
The discount is also a per night rate meaning that if you go from a Tuesday to Sunday you'd get the discount Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and Thursday night and would pay rack rate for Friday night and Saturday night.

If its a package discount... I'dll used Free Dining as an example becaise I know the requirements for it this year was 4 night minimum stay, and 4 day park hopper minimum for the ticket.
For package discounts as long as you check in by the last day of the discount you'd get the discount for the length of stay.

If doing a split stay you may find that a room rate discount as the best you're gonna get unless you stay for the required time at both resorts and get the required tickets for both resorts.

I wasn't aware of the per night rate, good to know. Thank you!