Disney World’s New Widely-Targeted PIN Code
After dropping the awful ‘Magic is Here’ promo and the awesome ‘Southerner Savings’ room-only discount earlier this week, Walt Disney World has quietly released another deal. This time, it’s a PIN or Unique Offer Code, targeted to select guests. In this post, we’ll cover details, offer commentary, and explain just what the heck a “PIN code” is and how to get one.
By way of quick recap, the discounts released earlier this week were a tale of two extremes. The awesome side of this was room-only savings of up to 40% off now through Christmas 2020. This included both off-season and peak season holiday travel dates, and is a more aggressive discount than the historic norm for these timeframes. Unfortunately, this discount is targeted and many guests are not eligible.
The ‘Magic is Here’ discount is the general public offer, which sounded decent on its face, with savings of up to $500 off. Unfortunately, that’s not a whole lot over the course of an entire trip when you’re paying $500+ per night for a hotel room plus tickets. Not only that, but the discount was only $100 for Value Resorts and $250 for Moderates. Again, these savings are for the entire package. This new PIN code is essentially a “gap-filler,” offering the great savings of the first deal to those previously only eligible for the second…
Before we get ahead of ourselves, we should probably explain what, exactly, PIN or Unique Offer Codes are for those who are new to the wonderful world of Disney discounts. PIN codes are the most exclusive of Walt Disney World discounts—they are targeted, non-transferrable discount offers sent to a limited number of recipients that offer deep-discounts for select travel dates or early booking of a special offer.
Not only are PIN codes exclusive, but they are elusive. Receiving a PIN code email or mailer can feel like the Golden Ticket landing in your hands. Honestly, part of the allure of PIN codes is the mystery and intrigue. We’ve tried to “demystify” the process with our Hacks & Tips for Receiving PIN Codes for Walt Disney World, which offers our battle-tested strategy for increasing your odds of receiving one.
None of that helped us here. While we normally receive several PIN code offers per year, neither of us received this one. Which is ironic, because this appears to be the widest PIN code release in recent history–if reports we’re hearing are any indication. Assuming Walt Disney World’s targeting system is reasonably sophisticated, the reason we didn’t receive one is simple: we are Annual Passholders and Florida residents who qualified for equal or superior alternatives.
Fortunately, our reputation in the PIN code community as deal-hounds precedes us. (Oh yes, there’s a community–but we prefer to think of ourselves as a ‘money-saving society!’) Six different readers emailed us details of this PIN code, and another two left comments on the blog. For a normal PIN code release, we’ll receive maybe one or two ‘heads up’ messages. (Big thanks to readers John C., Donna D., Charles J., Jane M., Emily W., and Seed S!)
Above is a look at the PIN code email that was sent out. While Disney’s Pop Century Resort is advertised, this offer is virtually identical to the ‘Rediscover the Magic’ offer sent to Florida residents.
Savings range from 25% to 35% off, depending upon the resort tier. That puts it squarely between the Southerner Savings and Annual Passholder deals that were just released. (For the same resort and room categories, this PIN code is 5% better than the Southerner Savings and 5% worse than the AP discounts.)
To reiterate, this is a targeted discount, so if you didn’t receive the email above, you’re not eligible. Probably.
It’s not uncommon for PIN codes to be caught by spam filters, sent to old email addresses, or just not received for one reason or another. So basically, just like all correspondence from Walt Disney World! That’s a big part of why we’re posting this–as a heads up so you can scour through all of your accounts to see if you received this but somehow missed it.
In the last few weeks, we’ve been critical about Walt Disney World’s reticence to release discounts and lack of aggressive offers. Accordingly, we have to give kudos on this one. It’s a really savvy move.
Between the Southerner Savings for guests within driving distance and this targeted PIN code for guests from other states who have previously visited Walt Disney World, exactly the right approach is being taken here. These are strong discounts, and they’re being strategically offered to those who are least likely to be first-time visitors.
We expect that plenty of Walt Disney World fans who do not live in Florida or other Southern states, are not Annual Passholders, and did not receive this PIN code will vehemently disagree with us. To be sure, it is unfortunate that some fans will still “slip through the cracks,” so to speak.
However, this targeted approach is infinitely superior to widespread general public discounts. This is for a multitude of reasons, including capacity and staffing. Most significantly, general public special offers would attract tons of first-time visitors who, in our view, really should be waiting until 2021 for the full Walt Disney World experience. (Clearly, Disney agrees with that perspective.)
Ultimately, we’d anticipate that Walt Disney World will continue fine-tuning its targeted approach. It’s like Disney will roll out more of this kind of discount as long as the parks are operating at lower capacity, with temporary safety measures in place, and without certain entertainment.
If anything, our expectation is that Disney will accelerate discounting and get more competitive with pricing as it becomes increasingly clear that travel is going to take a while to rebound. While 35-40% off hotel rooms is fairly unprecedented for this time of year, the underlying rack rates are still very pricey and Walt Disney World is coming nowhere near its occupancy targets for weeknights (or even non-holiday weekends) right now.
If you did not receive this PIN code and aren’t eligible for the other good room-only rates, consider the following alternatives for saving money:
- Priceline Express Deals for Walt Disney World Hotels
- Renting DVC Points (only do this if absolutely certain you will not be cancelling)
- Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels (walking distance of Disney Springs)
- Swan & Dolphin Resorts (walking distance of EPCOT and DHS)
- Other Best Third Party Hotels Near WDW
- Vacation Home or Airbnb Rentals Near WDW
We understand the allure of being in the Walt Disney World “bubble” and the top 2 options above definitely offer that. The next 2 arguably do, as well. The last one doesn’t, but is probably the very best option in terms of bang for buck.
As we discuss in our “Temporary Abnormal” 2020 Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide, we strongly recommend renting a car right now, so driving to the parks not really an issue. Additionally, the more on-site perks are all temporarily suspended—there’s no Disney Dining Plan, Extra Magic Hours, or FastPass+, so no disadvantage in staying off-site.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Did you receive this PIN/Unique Offer Code discount? If so, do you reside outside the South? Do you “normally” receive PIN codes, or is it rare/unprecedented? If you booked this, what did your savings end up being? Happy with the available rates, or hoping for better deals to come? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
I have never received a pin code. What am I doing wrong? Going too often?
Thank you Tom for posting about this! I had received the PIN code email and didn’t realize it was about this new deal. I just assumed it was for the southern states discount and didn’t even open it until reading your post today. I was able to upgrade to a better room type that had been unavailable with the first offer. Thanks again!
So after some more playing around with the PIN code, I can see it definitely does really vary in what is available depending on when you search. Looking at our school’s fall break days in mid-october, only a few resorts are available and it tends to be higher priced rooms (e.g., pirate rooms at CBR, tower rooms at CR, and 1-bedroom suites at a few DVC resorts). Switching to the weekend after veteran’s day in November, pretty much every resort opens up and considerably more room types.
In other words, this much more like a “normal” discount drop that Disney is using to fill more expensive rooms at less popular times, than the “special” discount they offered us for free dining substitute/recovery deal, which was 35% off any room type at any resort.
I live in Ohio and received a code – first time I have received this type of offer. The prices really are 30 – 35% lower and include all open resorts. Lowest prices I have ever seen on deluxe resorts. While not Disney veterans, we do visit about once a year and missing certain experiences is fine for us…might have a different opinion if I was a first time guest or had very young children. We are lucky to not have pre-existing conditions and are happy to wear masks/social distance…and will probably take the offer and do a long weekend in October and hope we can see the new Star Wars stuff.
No, we didn’t get one! It’s been at least a few years since we have. Congrats to all y’all who did!
Don’t feel too left out. We rarely receive one since we are AP and DVC but think we only received it this time because we cancelled a recently booked cash trip for a week in August!
Same error message for me. I even called Disney this morning to have them apply the discount and she couldn’t do it either. She said my name was not listed with the code given. This has happened to me several times in the past, too.
Except for a very brief newlywed period that included our honeymoon to WDW when I considered taking my hubby’s last name, every trip I’ve taken there as an adult has been under my maiden name. My offer code is under my husband’s last name. That trip was 10 1/2 years ago.
Which is my long way of asking, did you try any other last names you’ve used?
I am in California and got the code! Yay! My offer stated the Pop Century discount but when I put in our dates, it did not come up as an option. Caribbean Beach did though and that is where we’d rather stay. Seriously considering a post-Thanksgiving trip….if we can get comfortable with getting on a plane. Still not sure about that but excited to have the code anyway!
I’m in CA and received the up to 35% off offer but I’m already receiving 40% off w the AP discount! So it isn’t all that targeted!
After reading forever about this unique promo, offered only to those who seemed to have better luck than me, i finally got a glimpse of this unicorn. I live in the Chicago area and was thrilled I was finally privileged enough to receive such an offer. Of course I would receive this now when I wouldn’t be able to use it. The temptation is great since I was planning a trip this year before Christmas post pandemic. I say all this with jest. Personally, my daughters health out weighs visiting our favorite parks. (Prexisting conditions) it just figures receiving this elusive great deal when we can’t visit. Who knows, maybe we’ll see this again;) one can hope
We live in Chicago also but didn’t get a code. However, we already have a trip booked that we have held onto just in case. It’s for mid November.
I live in North Carolina and received the PIN code e-mail this morning. In trying out various dates in October, November, and December, the savings did appear to be better than the current ‘southern states’ offer. The Contemporary/Yacht Club were in the low to mid $300 range and moderate resorts in the $180s. However, at this point, there are still better deals to be found going the route of confirmed DVC reservations through DVC Rental Store or David’s (with the added advantage of not paying for parking).
We already had a trip booked through a TA that was previously a Disneyland trip that we changed to Disney World. I don’t normally use a TA for Disney World but do for Disneyland to get better ticket prices. I got the pin code email, gave it to my TA. We upgraded to a moderate preferred room from a value & saved close to $350. I’d say it was a good deal.
I got mine! It does not have any references to Pop in the email, just says save up to 35% at “Select Disney Resort hotels.” We’ve never stayed at a value before, just moderate and deluxe, so I wonder if that is why we did not receive the Pop-specific one. When I click in to see it is not only “select” resorts but actually every resort that will be open between now and Christmas (ones that will open later have revised dates for the officer reflecting when it opens), with 35% off all deluxes, 30% off moderates and campsites, and 25% off all values.
As background, I had a cancelled trip in May during the closure, was a recent guest in August after reopening, am not an AP, and not DVC, so not sure which if any of those factored into why I got my PIN code.
Replying to add: I am a Missouri resident, so not eligible for the “Southern States” offer, which may be another reason I got this.
My offer looked like yours as well. No mention of Pop though we have stayed at all level of properties in the past.
Also got an error message
I live in Maryland and received this offer as well. While I think a hotel discount is a start, for us the bigger problem is that we simply won’t pay the full price for park tickets with so many attractions and experiences not available. For those without annual passes it is an entirely different ballgame and I think they need to offer ticket discounts as well. Universal and Busch Gardens have already come to that realization so I don’t think it is that far fetched that Disney could do the same.
I live in Utah and I got a code. I’d seriously consider using it but the lack of on-site benefits dissuade me from doing it when I can get an off-site hotel room for free with loyalty points.
I did not know about these exclusive PIN code offerings before now, though, so I’ll definitely keep an eye out for them in the future.
I received this offer around 3am this morning. I feel this was a better offer than the other ones; I’m from the Midwest. I played with some dates and I found out you could get a moderate resort almost for the cost of a value; because, the discount percentages are different.
I think Disney is moving in the right direction, here.
I received the pin today. When I tried to apply it to my package I already have booked for this month the price is the same as the new package offer that came out this week. I think if I only had a room booked it would have been a good deal.
This is the first time I’ve ever gotten a PIN code, which would be really exciting except there’s no way we will be using this (our family includes an almost-two-year-old and a one-month-old and we are not doing much other than keeping the baby fed and his big brother from sitting on him as a means of expressing excitement and love). We want the boys’ first trip to be more normal than things are now (my husband and I both grew up going to WDW, and we went to Tokyo Disney in 2017 in part as a result of the rave reviews on this blog and the Japan help from Travel Caffeine, and yes, we’ll also take the boys to Japan when they’re older). We live in North Carolina now, but the PIN activated with my maiden name and my parents’ ZIP code (they still live there).
I got the unique offer PIN code this morning- and I live in Alabama. I have not compared it to the Southern States offer also available to see how they differ, since we just got back from a week-long trip a month ago. The no-deals-money-draining costs of that trip means we need more time to save up!
We got the PIN code email the day after I booked the “Southern states” discount. I compared the 2 and while they were both called the same deal, the PIN provided a slightly better discount, saving me another $130. Hooray! We planned to stay offsite this time, but the kids have been cooped up for many months and asked for as close to the “full experience” that we can get, so I caved once the discounts came out!
I just received a unique offer code, after dreaming about receiving one for years. My offer states most nights through Dec 25 at Pop, standard room, $119/night. When I got to the validation page, I got an error message stating that my info doesn’t match. My name has not changed and I’ve had the same address for 5 years, with many Disney trips planned with this same information.
Liz, the same thing happened to me. I even tried my wife’s maiden name. Still got the error message.
Same error message here.
I had this happen too and realized that the unique code got converted to lower case letters. I re-entered it by hand and it worked. Hope this helps!