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Disney World PIN Codes

April 14, 2016April 14, 2016 dis/dom Leave a comment

We all know about Disney discounts. Well, if you don’t, you need my services more than anyone else. From time to time, Disney feels the need to discount some rooms, but may not have enough rooms to do a full blown discounts with TV and print advertising. Plus, big, general public discounts do have their downsides for Disney. The problem with general discounts like Disney Free Dining or a 30% off your room discount is that anyone can book them, even those that were previously paying full rate, and were happy paying full rate. Disney does limit the number of rooms available at each resort, so it limits the number of discounts that are available. However, that often makes guests angry when they are advertising a discount on national TV but nothing is available. So, rather do do a full blown discount, Disney World uses PIN codes.

A PIN code discount targets individual guests rather than everyone. In order to use a PIN code discount, you actually have to have a PIN code assigned to you. You cannot use a friend of family members PIN code. These PIN codes usually come by postcard or email directly to you. They are not sent to your travel agent, and travel agents like Mouseketrips cannot assign you a PIN code. In fact, you can’t even call Disney and get one assigned, remember, they are targeting you, not the other way around.

The Walt Disney PIN codes are 15 digit codes, and are required in order to even check prices for your dates with the discount. Typically you must also provide other information to Disney just to prove that you are the intended recipient.

If you hear about a PIN code online or from a friend, but don’t get one, don’t worry. Disney will mail out offers to their “top” list, and then to additional people as needed, until they fill up their needed rooms. One other hint, sometimes Disney means to send you a PIN code, but it just doesn’t make it for some reason, either going to an old mailing address, an old email address or possibly your spam folder. If you have heard about a new PIN code, feel free to call Disney and ask if they have one for you. They will look up your name/address and check. Never hurts to ask.

Typically PIN codes are discounts that are similar to other discounts released by Disney World, but are usually for additional dates or possibly dates that are not otherwise discounted.

The problem is that there really isn’t any way to know how to get on Disney’s list. I have been to Disney several times a year for 15+ years. I own Disney Vacation Club, I have a Walt Disney World annual pass, and I NEVER get a PIN code. Apparently, Disney thinks they have me hooked (and they do). I have had clients who have been to Disney once, 5 years ago, and never thought about going again that get several PIN codes a year. Once you are on the list, I don’t think you are ever taken off.

Here are a few hints to get yourself on the Disney World PIN Codes list:

Make sure you have a DisneyWorld account. Most people do, but go check.
Update your profile on your Disney account and make sure your address, email address and everything else is up to date. Check every tab and link to make sure you have input as much information as possible.
Go book a vacation on the Walt Disney World website. Price out a few options, several dates, resorts, etc. If you can hold one of those reservations for a few days, go ahead and do that.
Try this same process again a week or two later. Make sure you are logged into your account the entire time while checking on prices.
If you are unable to hold a reservation, go through the entire process until you get to the payment screen and leave or start over.
Watch the online videos for Walt Disney World or order a free Disney DVD. Again, make sure you are logged in the entire time. There is a link at the bottom of every Disney World page that says “Free Vacation Planning Videos”
Stop by and check dining reservation availability for several dates and restaurants. Again, make sure you are logged in.

Repeat this process every few months until you receive a PIN code. Hopefully these actions will put you on Disney’s radar and get you on the list. Unfortunately, there isn’t any way to know if you are on the list, unless you start getting PIN codes.

Well, there you go. One note, from time to time Disney World sends out emails and postcards that look just like PIN code offers, except, they are just FULL RATE offers. Don’t be fooled into book something at full rate just because you get an email. Contact us at Mouseketrips, we would be happy to tell you if your email is actually a discount. We can also help you get the PIN code discount booked or you, check on prices or anything else.

Walt Disney World Park Hopper Plus Option

April 13, 2016March 3, 2018 dis/dom Leave a comment

In addition to the Park Hopper option available on Walt Disney World park passes, you can also add another option to your tickets, the Water Park Fun & More option. Starting in 2017, this was changed to be called the Park Hopper Plus option. This option is a little different, as it has nothing at all to do with your access to the four Disney theme parks, but does give you access to other areas of the Walt Disney World Resort.

What is the Park Hopper Plus?

This option offers a certain number of visits to Walt Disney World destinations based on the length of your ticket. For example, a 4-day ticket allows 4 visits and a 7-day ticket allows 7 visits. The only exception is a 1 or 2-day ticket allows for 2 visits. For each visit, you can choose from the following destinations:

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park – This thrilling water park features on of the world’s tallest and fastest free-falling waterslides, as well as slides and rides for the entire family.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park – From fast waterslides to a children’s area with pint-sized raft rides, this water park has attractions for everyone. Catch 6-foot waves and snorkel with real sharks!
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex – Plat at the next level of sports excitement with state of the art video monitoring and sporting events year round.
Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course – Enjoy a 2,913 yard, par 36, 9-hole walking course with fun for everyone, from developing golfers to experienced players.
Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course – Play one round of miniatures golf (prior to 4:00 PM) at a fun course inspired by the Disney classic film Fantasia.
Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course – Treat yourself to one round of miniature golf (prior to 4:00 PM) at either of the 2 Santa Clause-themed courses.

Please note, with this option, you get “visits” and not “days”. So, if you visit Blizzard Beach and then later that day go play mini-golf, and then stop by Oak Trail for a round, that would count as three visits.

Also, you do not have to use these visits on a day that you have access to the theme parks. So, if you purchase a three day park pass, you will receive three visits to any of the options. You can technically stretch that out over 6 days, going to a theme park, then a water park and so on, in any order.

How much does the Park Hopper Plus Option cost?

In order to purchase the Park Hopper Plus option, you must already have the Park Hopper option on your Walt Disney World Park passes. It is an additional $25 per person to add the Park Hopper Plus option to your park hoppers.

Who should purchase the Park Hopper Plus Option?

For your planning information, a one-day admission to a Walt Disney World water park is $65 for adults and $59 for children, plus tax.

You can see that if you plan on going to the water parks, even one day, during your vacation, it is much cheaper to add on the $25 Park Hopper Plus option than to pay for one day at the water parks.

Personally, I rarely do the Water Park Fun & More option. While the water parks are fantastic, they are not usually high on my family’s wish list, so we rarely do them. They are usually content with our resort pool. The non-waterpark options don’t really appeal to me either. We decided to purchase the Water Park Fun& More Option our last trip, and we did end up going to the water parks a few times, and our kids loved going for a few hours then heading back to the parks. I didn’t feel like we needed to stay all day, and we had a blast. The decision to purchase it for our next trip will depend on the time of year. If we go in the early Spring like usual, we will probably pass, but if we go again in September, you can bet it will be purchased.

Do you purchase the Park Hoper Plus option at Walt Disney World?

Is the Disney World Deluxe Dining Plan Worth It?

April 12, 2016April 29, 2020 dis/dom 1 Comment

At Walt Disney World, there are three dining plans that are available for purchase for guests staying in a Walt Disney World resort. Last month, we took a close look at the Quick-Service Dining plan, the least expensive option: Is the Disney World Quick-Service Dining Plan Worth It? Today, we are going to look at the Disney Deluxe Dining plan, the most expensive options available of the three dining plans. Now, there are more expensive plans, the Premium and Platinum Plans, but those are much more than dining plans, so we don’t include them when talking about dining plans.

The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan includes three (3) meals and two (2) snacks per person, per night of your stay, plus a resort refillable mug for each person. The three meals can either be quick-service or table service meals, that is completely up to you. Any signature restaurant will cost 2 meals per person. Technically you could do three table service meals each day if you like, but that is a lot of time sitting in the restaurants each day.

Currently, the cost for the Disney Deluxe dining plan is $115.08 for adults and $35.49 for children (3 – 9 years old) per night of your stay. You must purchase a plan for your entire stay, and everyone in your party must purchase the same dining plan, or no plan at all.

Let’s look at an average day for one adult and one child. That would cost $150.57, and include three meals for each person plus 2 snacks. We will leave the refillable mug out of the equation, as that only amounts to a dollar or two per night, depending on how long you stay.

We will look at two different options, since this plan is so flexible. In example one, our family is going to get a quick-service breakfast at their resort and then lunch and dinner at a table service in the parks, plus a few afternoon snacks. Let’s say they are staying at the Contemporary and then are in Epcot and pick these meals:

Breakfast at Contempo Cafe – Contemporary – Adult breakfast of Mickey Waffles ($9.49) and Orange Juice ($3.99). Child breakfast of Mickey Waffles ($5.99). With tax you get a breakfast total of about $19.47.
Lunch at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – Epcot – Lunch buffet is $45 for adults and $27 for children. With tax and tip you get a total of about $90.00.
Afternoon Snack – Two Mickey Ice Cream Bars ($4.25 each). With tax, a total price of about $9.00.
Second Afternoon Snack – A bottle of diet coke ($4.00) and popcorn ($4.00), a total price of about $8.50.
Dinner at Tutto Italia – Epcot – Adult dinner of Bistecca del Macellaio ($34.00) plus Mocha Tiramisu for dessert ($12.00) and a fountain drink ($3.00). Child dinner of Spaghetti ($10.00) and a Gelato Sundae for dessert ($5.00). With tax and tip you get a total price of about $79.61.

So, for the three meals and two snacks, I get a rough total price of about $206.58

Our second option will include three table service meals each day, plus the snacks of course.

Breakfast at Chef Mickey’s – Contemporary – Breakfast buffer for adults is $38 for adults and $20 for children. With tax and tip you get a total of about $71.00
Lunch at Chip ‘N’ Dale Harvest Feast at Garden Grill – Epcot – Lunch buffet is about $40 for adults and $22 for children. Prices at Garden Grill vary throughout the year. With tax and tip you get a total of about $76.00
Afternoon Snack – Two Mickey Ice Cream Bars ($4.25 each). With tax, a total price of about $9.00.
Second Afternoon Snack – A bottle of diet coke ($4.00) and popcorn ($4.00), a total price of about $8.50.
Dinner at Chefs de France – Epcot – Adult dinner of Filet de boeuf grillé ($35.99), Crème Brulee for dessert ($8.99) and a soft drink ($2.99). Child dinner of Ground beef steak on a brioche bun ($9.50) and a dessert of sorbet ($4.00). With tax and tip you get a total price of about $75.50.

So, for the three meals and two snacks, I get a rough total price of about $240.00.

You can see from both of the options, there is quite a savings by purchasing the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan. Of course, if you opted for 3 quick-service meals each day, the math would never work.

Disney Deluxe Dining Plan PROS

With the examples shown above, you do save money
Since you have so many meal credits, you can easily eat at signature restaurants and not “eat up” all of your credits for your entire trip in a few meals. Many people on this plan do a character breakfast or lunch and then a signature restaurant for dinner, using up their three meals for the day.
The biggest benefit I try to explain to my clients is that with all the dining plans, everything is prepaid and budgeted, so you just show up and eat, no need to worry about the cost of meals, how much money to bring or trying to order the cheapest thing on the menu just to save money. Just enjoy, that is the idea of going to Disney World, isn’t it?

Disney Deluxe Dining Plan CONS

The cost! The deluxe plan is expensive. For a family of four, assuming the kids are between 3 – 9, you are looking at an additional $2,108 for a 7 night trip, just for food!
The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan gives you A LOT of food. In order to make the math work for you, you have to do at least two table service meals each day, plus your quick-service meal and 2 more snacks. It feels like you eating more than you are riding rides.

So, is the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan worth it? Normally, my suggestion to my clients is NO, it isn’t worth it. In most cases, it is just too much food, you are better off going with the Disney Dining plan and just paying out of pocket for any other meals you decide to eat. I have only ever had one client come back and tell me he should have done the Disney Deluxe Plan instead, but after doing the math, he would have only saved a few dollars.

However, if you only have adults going, and you want to do nicer, signature restaurants, then YES, it is totally worth it. Take a look at the menus and do the math first, but in most situations, if you plan on doing a table service for breakfast or lunch, and then a signature restaurant for dinner, the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan will save you money.