FROM: Disney Travel Tips from Mouseketrips Published Saturdays
Disney World Discounts
Nothing hurts worse than missing out on a discount that would have saved you hundreds on a Disney vacation. The discounts are out there! Easily found, too. Before you start looking, Keith Anderson helpfully explains what you should be looking for.
Occasionally, Disney releases discounts to entice more people to book Disney World vacations during slow, off-peak travel times. Recently, however, I've seen discounts that cover most dates in the year.
Still, discounts are not a given, and you can't count on Disney releasing the same discounts this year just because they released them last year. As the economy improves and theme park traffic increases, expect to see fewer discounts, and the discounts that are available won't be as good as the ones we've been seeing.
Unless you plan to travel during Christmas week, there are several ways to get a discount for a Disney World trip:
General Public Discounts
Over the years, Disney has released most of its discounts as general public discounts, available to anyone who books a trip during a certain travel period.
These discounts are released several months in advance and may be for free Disney dining, 'kids stay and play free', or simple room-only discounts. If you're able to make your travel plans ahead of time, general public discounts usually are the best available.
Bounce Back Offers
From time to time, Disney makes bounce back offers. If you're staying in a Disney resort, you'll be given a discount to book a return vacation. These are often great deals, though you have to be at Disney World to receive them, and you have to hope that your 'MouseKeeper' remembers to leave the offer in your room.
Make sure to ask the front desk if there is a bounce back offer available. These offers are rare, so don't be surprised if one isn't available during your stay.
PIN Code Offers
PIN code offers are the newest Disney discount. They've only been around for a few years, and Disney usually releases them after general public discounts have expired, or to cover dates where they don't want to release general public discounts.
Disney targets PIN code offers not to the general public but rather to individual families that, in Disney's estimation, would like to make a trip to Disney World but require some prodding first. PIN code discounts aren't as generous as general public deals, though if you happened to miss the discount for your travel dates, then a PIN code might be the best deal you'll get.
The problem with PIN codes is that you have to get one personally from Disney; you can't use someone else's code. The best way to get a PIN code from Disney is to ensure that you're in their database, and that they know you're interested in traveling soon.
How to do that?
Visit the DisneyWorld website and order a free vacation planning video, then spend some time on the site pricing different vacations. There's no guarantee you'll then get a PIN code - but it sure helps.
Don't Let The Discount Get Away
To get the best deal, plan early and work with a travel agent who specializes in Disney Travel. At Mouseketrips, we monitor discounts on a daily basis, and we apply any discounts that come along to your reservation, ensuring that you get the best deal possible.
Plus, you won't have to worry about watching for discounts and wondering whether they apply to your vacation.
While you're waiting for Keith's next Disney tip, why not ask him to plan your next Disney trip? Mouseketrips does nothing but Disney - and they're really good at it! Hook up with them at their website, through Twitter, or on Facebook.
More: DISNEY TRAVEL TIPS FROM MOUSEKETRIPS