CBR $75 Gift Card deal ending

[marcyleecorgan]

How are guests "gaming the system"? They are going to a resort that should probably be closed since it doesn't offer the ammentities that most other resorts offer. Believe me, even with the $75/day, Disney will still make a ton of money on the people staying there. $75/day of a Disney card probably costs Disney around $25 day if you are buying their overpriced souvenirs and such.

Maybe not the best words to describe... but this Guest Relations Stopgap Measure wasn't meant as a sales tactic to bring in newly acquired, fresh blood customers to WDW. They want to grab those people with a different kind of promotion - AND keep them ignorant of other types of promotions as well. Now they know that a substantial number of potential customers know that GC are occasionally used to seal the deal and people will be looking for those kinds of opportunities to use on vacation instead of blindly throwing Disney their money.

 

[agassizsmile]

I've said it before, I'll say it again... FD offers are for NEW reservations. Having an existing reservation NEVER guarantees you of any offer that comes out after you book. If you have scored an offer on an existing reservation in the past you were lucky (I too have been lucky) to be able to make a switch, because you were technically cancelling and rebooking, EVEN IF you kept the same confirmation number. I'm not picking on you, @agassizsmile just pointing out the general consensus I see here over and over again. I don't understand why people book a vacation they aren't prepared to pay for unless a discount comes out. I know I booked during a time that is historically FD, but I am in no way counting on it, especially now that this fiasco has happened.

I guarantee that complaining is bound to follow when and if FD does get announced, and it's not for CBR. I can see it being the end of FD.

I plan on getting the dining plan and ready to pay for it with or without the FD promo.My only hope like any other consumer was that I got a discount.Id be naive to book a trip I could not afford !

 

[BattyKoda]

I guarantee that complaining is bound to follow when and if FD does get announced, and it's not for CBR.

At the very least it will make for some interesting reading.

 

[IrishNYC]

I plan on getting the dining plan and ready to pay for it with or without the FD promo.My only hope like any other consumer was that I got a discount.Id be naive to book a trip I could not afford !

Like I said above, I wasn't picking on you. But, you will see many here, and probably even right here in this thread (I didn't read it all, just portions here and there) that will absolutely cancel if they don't get the FD they counted on switching to before they booked.

 

[AngiTN]

Can you use the gift cards towards the cost of the room though? I thought you got them at check-in after you've already paid in full.

We'll be there 14 nights so I would actually prefer $1050 off the room cost vs. $1050 in gift cards that I'll have to spend while there.

You won't be able to use it towards the cost of the room as that is due before you get there while the cards are given out once you get there... but I would assume (OUCH) that you will have other bills, such as food and whatnot? Use the gift card towards that.

It's possible you can pay towards your room with the gift card.
If you don't do online check in you can pay off the room charge when you arrive.
The problem is, if you do a package, you can not do that. Room only can.
Also, I guess it depends on when you get the gift card, upon arrival or later. If it's later you wouldn't be able to apply it to the room charge upon arrival.
Otherwise, yes, you can apply the card to any charges made during the trip. If we were there 14 nights $1050 in gift cards would still not cover all the room charges. So it's six of one and half a dozen of the other

 

[agassizsmile]

It's Exactpossible you can pay towards your room with the gift card.
If you don't do online check in you can pay off the room charge when you arrive.
The problem is, if you do a package, you can not do that. Room only can.
Also, I guess it depends on when you get the gift card, upon arrival or later. If it's later you wouldn't be able to apply it to the room charge upon arrival.
Otherwise, yes, you can apply the card to any charges made during the trip. If we were there 14 nights $1050 in gift cards would still not cover all the room charges. So it's six of one and half a dozen of the other

Exactly.Im already paying a small fortune for our trip of five people incl ddp out of pocket.I dont plan on buying souvenirs etc as the kids have enough.Since im paying out of pocket for the dp the gift card doesn't help me much.What am I gonna use it on that doesnt just go back to Disney's pot of gold? Give me the gift card as a visa or MasterCard then that would help.Disney knows what they are doing.Buyer beware.

 

[AngiTN]

Exactly.Im already paying a small fortune for our trip of five people incl ddp out of pocket.I dont plan on buying souvenirs etc as the kids have enough.Since im paying out of pocket for the dp the gift card doesn't help me much.What am I gonna use it on that doesnt just go back to Disney's pot of gold? Give me the gift card as a visa or MasterCard then that would help.Disney knows what they are doing.Buyer beware.

Super easy solution, stay some where else.

 

[BattyKoda]

It's possible you can pay towards your room with the gift card.
If you don't do online check in you can pay off the room charge when you arrive.
The problem is, if you do a package, you can not do that. Room only can.
Also, I guess it depends on when you get the gift card, upon arrival or later. If it's later you wouldn't be able to apply it to the room charge upon arrival.
Otherwise, yes, you can apply the card to any charges made during the trip. If we were there 14 nights $1050 in gift cards would still not cover all the room charges. So it's six of one and half a dozen of the other

Yup, I forgot about Room Only as it seemed most were talking Free Dining which means having to book a package of some sort.

 

[focusondisney]

I'm very surprised it was so chaotic after the announcement- the 25/75 GC was not all, some people also got their balance owed reduced per night (by $75) in addition to the GC compensation, others switched to resorts, that some people were told they couldn't switch to...and others yet were told (and did) pay the difference for the switch. Disney is such a highly experienced company, so it's even more mind boggling that they did not foresee this.

What they should have done:
Clear Announcement earlier, with email to already booked guests, and clearly spelled out on resort website, offer a free switch to another moderate resort, or a $75 per day gift card for all guests already booked.
New bookings after annnouncement: Depends - but make it the same for all guests that will be affected by this.

Just my opinion.

I totally agree with you. I am one of the "lucky" ones. We booked 2 rooms with a bounceback free dining last September for this coming December, so 15 months ahead. When word first came out about the construction, I called & asked to be moved to either PO resort. I was refused flat out, but the CM did offer the $75 per night discount. My only options were to take that discount, move to CSR which is also undergoing construction (the CM even advised against that), move to a more expensive resort at my own cost or cancel. We really wanted to move but again, unless I wanted to move to a value or deluxe resort, I was told absolutely no. So I accepted the nightly discount. The next day, the gift card compensation was instituted. I got the email about this so now we are getting free dining, the $75 nightly discount & the gift card.

If Disney would have had a plan for this, I wouldn't be getting all these discounts. If they would have moved us to either PO resort, we would still be paying rack rate & not getting gift cards. I didn't book there specifically to get the gift card or the nightly discount. I'm still not happy to be staying at a resort with this much construction going on, but I am not stupid. I'll take it if they are going to give it to me. But I would not have booked there just to get a $75 night gift card knowing about the construction.

Personally, I am only doing what Disney laid out for me. If they had a different plan, where guests got to move or got a rate discount, they wouldn't have this mess on their hands. I do find it interesting how many people who booked there to get the gift card after that was announced are now complaining it's not enough & want other discounts added. And blaming Disney for not offering more.

 

[AngiTN]

I do find it interesting how many people who booked there to get the gift card after that was announced are now complaining it's not enough & want other discounts added. And blaming Disney for not offering more.

I know, right? I find it amazing.
There is no question Disney handled this at the beginning very badly. I even questioned the wisdom of extending the gift card offer to those who booked after construction was announced. They did, which was great but wow, it takes some big ones to book becasue the gift card was offered and then complain when it's not good enough, to want more.

 

[kandb]

If Disney offers free dining and excludes CBR, the $75/night gift card will be a terrible deal. The ddp for an adult at a moderate is over $60/night, let alone covering a whole family. What a mess Disney has themselves in.

 

[AngiTN]

If Disney offers free dining and excludes CBR, the $75/night gift card will be a terrible deal. The ddp for an adult at a moderate is over $60/night, let alone covering a whole family. What a mess Disney has themselves in.

Not everyone who goes to Disney thinks the dining plan is a deal, free or otherwise. So for them, $75 on top of the discounted room, is a good deal.

 

[agassizsmile]

If Disney offers free dining and excludes CBR, the $75/night gift card will be a terrible deal. The ddp for an adult at a moderate is over $60/night, let alone covering a whole family. What a mess Disney has themselves in.

Totally agree.And im not one of the complainers asking disney for gift cards.... I booked there six months prior to refurbishment announcement.I feel the gift card is like a Trojan horse.By being eligible for it im disqualified for other deals not fair when I never asked for gift cards.Besides its nice to have this forum to vent, ; )

 

[Marthasor]

Totally agree.And im not one of the complainers asking disney for gift cards.... I booked there six months prior to refurbishment announcement.I feel the gift card is like a Trojan horse.By being eligible for it im disqualified for other deals not fair when I never asked for gift cards.Besides its nice to have this forum to vent, ; )

But you aren't disqualified from anything. If they release a promo, you can calculate the costs of taking the $75 gift cards vs. the new promo and pick the one that saves you the most money. If CBR is excluded from FD, you have the option of switching resorts.

 

[Marthasor]

It's possible you can pay towards your room with the gift card.
If you don't do online check in you can pay off the room charge when you arrive.
The problem is, if you do a package, you can not do that. Room only can.
Also, I guess it depends on when you get the gift card, upon arrival or later. If it's later you wouldn't be able to apply it to the room charge upon arrival.
Otherwise, yes, you can apply the card to any charges made during the trip. If we were there 14 nights $1050 in gift cards would still not cover all the room charges. So it's six of one and half a dozen of the other

I highly doubt Disney will be handing over gift cards before balances are paid in full. Why would they give out gift cards for something that isn't paid for yet?

 

[SpaceMonkey35]

Can you use the gift cards towards the cost of the room though? I thought you got them at check-in after you've already paid in full.

We'll be there 14 nights so I would actually prefer $1050 off the room cost vs. $1050 in gift cards that I'll have to spend while there.

On Disney's website it says the gift card can only be used towards "food & beverages or Disney merchandise"
Doesn't mention paying off a room balance

 

[kandb]

Not everyone who goes to Disney thinks the dining plan is a deal, free or otherwise. So for them, $75 on top of the discounted room, is a good deal.

I know not everyone wants the dining plan BUT if you stay on property the chances of you buying food on property is probably around 90%. It is extremely easy to spend $75 a day on food in Disney, even for just 2 people, let alone a family of 3, 4, or 5. Sorry, I don't agree. Anyone staying at a moderate resort, has no efficiency unit to cook and the vast majority is not traveling off property to eat and most don't even have a car to do so. Food and snacks and drinks are super expensive inside the parks and at the resorts.

 

[kandb]

Not everyone who goes to Disney thinks the dining plan is a deal, free or otherwise. So for them, $75 on top of the discounted room, is a good deal.

Are you sure the rooms are really discounted? I just checked dates for room only from 8/27 thru 8/31 and the rate was $191/night for a standard room. Is that discounted? Doesn't seem like it.

 

[AngiTN]

I know not everyone wants the dining plan BUT if you stay on property the chances of you buying food on property is probably around 90%. It is extremely easy to spend $75 a day on food in Disney, even for just 2 people, let alone a family of 3, 4, or 5. Sorry, I don't agree. Anyone staying at a moderate resort, has no efficiency unit to cook and the vast majority is not traveling off property to eat and most don't even have a car to do so. Food and snacks and drinks are super expensive inside the parks and at the resorts.

Very familiar with costs for food at Disney. And with the dining plan. And I know which is a better deal for my family. That does not mean what is a better deal for us is better for all families but you can be sure, it is possible to have a better deal at a Mod with a room only discount than free dining. That is all I meant. Not everyone saves money with free dining, even at a Mod.

 

[AngiTN]

Are you sure the rooms are really discounted? I just checked dates for room only from 8/27 thru 8/31 and the rate was $191/night for a standard room. Is that discounted? Doesn't seem like it.

Yes, positive rooms are discounted. For all dates for the year? No. But they are discounted for some dates.