December 2008 Code Watch

[su_A_ve]

PopWarner fills up the values. And during the day, all of them are at the Sports complex. So there are low crowds at the parks. At night, they get higher attendance (as someone else mentioned) specially in MGM as the older kids preferr those rides over MK.

Now, if you have a Disney Visa, why not compare your pricing with the QXZ package (free dining and maybe discount on the rooms), provided you start your trip 12/14? You would have to call to get numbers though (not bookable online).

 

[tlbwriter]

I asked the CM about park crowds if all the resorts are booked. He said the parks won't necessarily be crowded just b/c the resorts are. He said that the marketing dept. does a good job of filling up the resorts that typically have lower attendance (by offering lots of promos, etc), so the resorts being full just means that more people are staying on-site than off-site. Does that make sense?

It makes sense to me. People who might normally stay off-site to save money are staying on-site because they got a good deal. But it's the same number of people actually in the parks.

 

[weschmom]

PopWarner fills up the values. And during the day, all of them are at the Sports complex. So there are low crowds at the parks. At night, they get higher attendance (as someone else mentioned) specially in MGM as the older kids preferr those rides over MK.

Now, if you have a Disney Visa, why not compare your pricing with the QXZ package (free dining and maybe discount on the rooms), provided you start your trip 12/14? You would have to call to get numbers though (not bookable online).

This is good to know. We pretty much operate on the opposite schedule from Pop Warner -- we are mostly in MK, and retire to the resort early. Really shouldn't see them much at all.

Unfortunately, I do not have a Disney Visa. I will certainly be looking into getting one, though! Sounds like they offer a great discount. Wish I had done that earlier. Live and learn!

 

[hkeller27]

OK...just got off the phone with Disney.

Here's what I found out:

I could get a standard room at YC for 12/5-12/9, 2-day hoppers for all 4 of us (we have 2-day complimentary hoppers for inconveniences last trip, so total would be 4 days), and dining plan for $2474.36. This was pretty much the only thing he had available (other than super-expensive rooms like suites at AKL for $1200/night that only Bill Gates can afford) for those dates. This was using code UWI. DH had told me to keep it at $2K, but since this is the dates that we wanted, and it's a deluxe and we get to ride the boat , he is OK with it. What do y'all think?

I asked the CM about park crowds if all the resorts are booked. He said the parks won't necessarily be crowded just b/c the resorts are. He said that the marketing dept. does a good job of filling up the resorts that typically have lower attendance (by offering lots of promos, etc), so the resorts being full just means that more people are staying on-site than off-site. Does that make sense? He also didn't think we'd be impacted too much by Pop Warner kids since we'd be at YC. Agree??

I had him also look at 12/19-23 for comparison sake -- the deluxes were more ($2654 was the lowest one he quoted), but he said I could easily get a mod for $1800-1900. DH likes the earlier dates better, though, so that's what we'll go with.

So glad you found a room! I checked for you and saw that the Yacht club opened up - glad DH agreed to it! You will definitley not be impacted by the Pop kids. They'll be at the values, so no worries there. Let your countdown begin!!!!!!

 

[joelp]

OK...just got off the phone with Disney.

Here's what I found out:

I could get a standard room at YC for 12/5-12/9, 2-day hoppers for all 4 of us (we have 2-day complimentary hoppers for inconveniences last trip, so total would be 4 days), and dining plan for $2474.36. This was pretty much the only thing he had available (other than super-expensive rooms like suites at AKL for $1200/night that only Bill Gates can afford) for those dates. This was using code UWI. DH had told me to keep it at $2K, but since this is the dates that we wanted, and it's a deluxe and we get to ride the boat , he is OK with it. What do y'all think?

Since you already have 2-day hoppers - why not bag the "hopper" for the other 2 days - just get regular tix - and save some $$?

I asked the CM about park crowds if all the resorts are booked. He said the parks won't necessarily be crowded just b/c the resorts are. He said that the marketing dept. does a good job of filling up the resorts that typically have lower attendance (by offering lots of promos, etc), so the resorts being full just means that more people are staying on-site than off-site. Does that make sense? He also didn't think we'd be impacted too much by Pop Warner kids since we'd be at YC. Agree??

I hope it makes sense!! There's one less week between Stuff Your Face With Turkey Day and Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney Again Day ... ... so that may a contributing factor ...

I had him also look at 12/19-23 for comparison sake -- the deluxes were more ($2654 was the lowest one he quoted), but he said I could easily get a mod for $1800-1900. DH likes the earlier dates better, though, so that's what we'll go with.

If you're not planning on going to WDW at Christmas for a while ... go for it?!?

 

[danielle916]

got AKL 12/14-12/20 with VISA FD!!!

awesome!
i am going the same exact week we got the contemp. w/visa FD!!!

 

[pooh2007]

What is Visa FD?

 

[pooh2007]

Never mind I had a brain freeze. I know that it is disney visa Free Dining

 

[su_A_ve]

I had him also look at 12/19-23 for comparison sake -- the deluxes were more ($2654 was the lowest one he quoted), but he said I could easily get a mod for $1800-1900. DH likes the earlier dates better, though, so that's what we'll go with.

Go for the QXZ code (Visa free dining) for that time frame. We are doing that and for 6 nights a mod is $2300 (tix are w/hopper - this is 2A, 1J, 1C)

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

WooHoo! Called and got the $59.00 rate for 12/14-19.

 

[JanineandMike]

awesome!
i am going the same exact week we got the contemp. w/visa FD!!!

congrats

 

[DisneyNDecember]

OK, so I just convinced DH into a December trip. We are looking at 12/5-12/9, 2 adults, 2 kids. Either a mod or deluxe, don't know yet. I read that this is "low crowd" time, so thought that would be a good time to go...? Am I right? Are there any codes out for this time yet? I'm a "general public" person, but I do have AAA (no Visa, etc).

Any advice is very much appreciated.

Thanks!

If you notice on the DIS Discounts area, this $59 rate is only for value resorts during this time. The deluxe or moderate resorts do not have any discounts that I noticed. I called yesterday to payoff my Wilderness Lodge (first time to stay at a deluxe resort- YEA!) & the Disney Rep also confirmed that information. We always stay at the POP Century during this time of year & it soooooo affordable with the discount. But I have always dreamed of staying at the WL--- so no discounts there, but that is okay, I am still excited !!!!

 

[weschmom]

If you notice on the DIS Discounts area, this $59 rate is only for value resorts during this time. The deluxe or moderate resorts do not have any discounts that I noticed. I called yesterday to payoff my Wilderness Lodge (first time to stay at a deluxe resort- YEA!) & the Disney Rep also confirmed that information. We always stay at the POP Century during this time of year & it soooooo affordable with the discount. But I have always dreamed of staying at the WL--- so no discounts there, but that is okay, I am still excited !!!!

I ended up getting Yacht Club for 12/5-12/9 with discount code UWI. Total for 4, including DP, 2-day hoppers (had 2 already) = $2340. My TA didn't think there'd be any codes either, but the Disney guy found that one.

 

[MelanieRI]

I heard that Christmas at Disney was busy - but I thought that would be more around school vacation 12-20 something to begining of Jan. I'm going 12-14 for 5 days and when I made dinning reservations - it was so hard to get times I wanted. I couldn't even get into CRT for B,L, or D at all the whole week! lol I usually go to Disney for spring break in March or April, and right around Easter. So, it's not like I'm not used to crowds, but I was so hoping for the crowds to be a little bit less. Anyone else thinking December is going to be a busy month at Disney?

 

[disneyin2008]

I heard that Christmas at Disney was busy - but I thought that would be more around school vacation 12-20 something to begining of Jan. I'm going 12-14 for 5 days and when I made dinning reservations - it was so hard to get times I wanted. I couldn't even get into CRT for B,L, or D at all the whole week! lol I usually go to Disney for spring break in March or April, and right around Easter. So, it's not like I'm not used to crowds, but I was so hoping for the crowds to be a little bit less. Anyone else thinking December is going to be a busy month at Disney?

No matter what time of the year, including "slow" times, CRT is very difficult to get very far after 180 days....you're at about 75 days, so that's not really surprising.

There are several codes out for the week of December 14 so I'm sure that will help fill the resorts with people taking their kids out a little early, lol.

We leave on the 14th, but during our last week all the value/mod resorts are sold out and what's left at deluxes are the high end rooms, so it appears that Disney has done a fine job of marketing this "slow" season to the masses.

All that scares me, but I keep being told by CMs and DISers that just because the resorts are full does not mean that the parks will be. That almost didn't make sense until people who have been there this past month, during free dining, are posting photos showing nearly empty parks time after time, and yet rooms were very difficult to come by after the free dining promotion started. So hopefully the issue is that Disney is pulling people away from the offsite resorts and into their resorts with offers of discounts, free dining, etc.....so the resorts are full but the overall crowd level will be the same......of course that means that the offsite places must be hurting, lol.

I guess we won't know for sure until we get there. But, hey I'm gonna go with the attitude that even if it's crowded, it's still Disney World....and better than sitting around at home!

 

[MelanieRI]

"No matter what time of the year, including "slow" times, CRT is very difficult to get very far after 180 days....you're at about 75 days, so that's not really surprising. "

I was not booking these ressies yesterday. I was just saying that when I had booked my ressies, all the restraunts I was trying to get into were hard, including CRT which I wasn't able to get into at all.

"There are several codes out for the week of December 14 so I'm sure that will help fill the resorts with people taking their kids out a little early, lol. "

This includes me! lol That's why I'm wondering if December will be so busy! Like wrote, I'm usually a spring/Easter vacationer so I'm totally used to a jammed packed Disney.

I just want wait to see all those wonderful Disney Christmas decorations. I don't care how many people I have to share it with! This is my first December Disney trip and I totally can't wait!

 

[mikmouse]

"No matter what time of the year, including "slow" times, CRT is very difficult to get very far after 180 days....you're at about 75 days, so that's not really surprising. "

I was not booking these ressies yesterday. I was just saying that when I had booked my ressies, all the restraunts I was trying to get into were hard, including CRT which I wasn't able to get into at all.

"There are several codes out for the week of December 14 so I'm sure that will help fill the resorts with people taking their kids out a little early, lol. "

This includes me! lol That's why I'm wondering if December will be so busy! Like wrote, I'm usually a spring/Easter vacationer so I'm totally used to a jammed packed Disney.

I just want wait to see all those wonderful Disney Christmas decorations. I don't care how many people I have to share it with! This is my first December Disney trip and I totally can't wait!

I promise you that when you during the Christmas season (the two weeks before Christmas are the best for crowds, even though it's starting to get more popular) you will always want to come back at this time. Even though we go at other times of year as well (DVC members) we ALWAYS have a December reservation at Fort Wilderness. It is so much more magical than at any other time. You will not be disappointed.

As we always say, even when we go over Thanksgiving as we are doing this year because of a Family Grand Gatherings, and it WILL be crowded, but it will not be HOT AND CROWDED. So you don't mind it as much. We just don't go to parks on Friday after Thanksgivng as that is the worst day. After that, it's a piece of cake.

You will not be disappointed. Don't miss the holiday decorations and special events at WDW.

 

[young_princess]

where can u get these codes??? I'm new here and have no idea what they are. I already booked rooms at Dolphin Hotel for 12/22-25 but would gladly cancel them if I can get discount on a nicer hotel.

 

[freya]

I had better luck with the UWI code than the VisaFD one.
Staying at AKL 12/13 - 12/21 and the rate came down $82 (woo hoo) from the previous Oct - Dec rate code. When I called back to try the QXZ code the rate went up a pretty good amount. She told me that the room discount far outweighed the free food deal and you can't get both free food and a discounted room. She said it depends on the resort you stay at to see what works best.

You can get the UWI code by go to the DisneyWorld web site and after clicking tickets and reservations, clicking on Special Offers.

Hope this helps!

 

[vtwep]

OK, i need help! Every week or two I pick up a few codes from this thread and call and never have any luck. Then I'll see others who have had luck. It's so confusing.

So, December 2-9, Grand Floridian with normal Dining Plan. What code(s) should i call and try to have applied and what does each code get me *if* they apply them? (I've paid for the trip already - is that part of my problem?)

Thanks!