Our unofficial theme this week seems to be Pins. So continuing that trend, today will start off talking about one pin in particular. It's the pin of all pins. It's the pin every Disney fan wants to get...
It's the Disney "PIN" Code.
That's right. The most sought after Disney Pin of all is not an actual, physical pin. It's a numeric code. What is a pin code? A PIN Code is a special offer that is yours and yours alone. These offers could be anything from a room discount, a room upgrade, free dining, or package discounts. It may arrive in your mailbox in the form of a postcard or flyer with a numeric code on it, or it may be in the form of an email. The bottom line is that sometimes Disney decides to select people to receive these special offers to entice them to book a vacation. The great thing about these Pin Code offers is that they are usually better than the offers Disney makes to the general public. In some cases, the discount is better, in other cases the discount or offer is the same, but applies to a wider range of dates, whereas the general public offer has more blackout dates, or it is available before the offer is made public, allowing you to pounce on the deal first.
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| Check your "Mickey Mail" for PIN code offers |
The most important tip I can give you regarding Pin Codes is simply to be aware of them. When you receive emails or snail mail from Disney, look to see if it includes a numeric code. A lot of the email PIN codes reportedly come from "Disney Destinations", but I'd look carefully at any Disney email before sending it to the virtual trash. I know that I received one in the snail mail long ago and threw it away before I knew what it was. If you think you've done that too, then you can always call Disney and ask the Cast Member if there are any PIN Codes associated with your account. A friend of ours once called and found out she had a free dining offer associated with her account, so it never hurts to call and ask.
So the big question is how exactly does Disney determine who gets these offers? Nobody knows for sure. But one thing we're pretty certain of is that Disney can't send you a code if they don't know who you are and how to contact you. So first things first, make sure you have a user account at Disney.com. Want to increase your chances? Then sign up every adult in your family, and be sure to sign up at other Disney sites as well.
Now, some people think that if you are a regular visitor to Disney parks, then you're not likely to get an offer. This makes sense if you look at it from Disney's point of view. However, there are people who visit frequently who still receive PIN codes, so that is not a hard rule.
Other people theorize that if you've expressed an interest in a Disney vacation, but never book one, then Disney is more likely to sweeten the deal by sending you a PIN code. That makes sense too. But again, there are lots of people who create accounts, request vacation DVDs and park maps, or who make and then cancel bookings that don't receive offers.
In short, there's no sure-fire way to get Disney to send you a PIN code. But we do have some ideas as to what might make you a more likely or less likely candidate to receive one. So, based on that, here are some tips we gathered that could help:
- Create accounts on Disney.com for all the adults in your family, anyone who would be coming with you. Remember, whom ever the PIN is sent to has to be the person to use it (you can book up to 3 rooms per PIN).
- Use multiple email addresses, and multiple residential addresses for snail mail (parents or relatives house), along with variations of your name. Think of it as a raffle, and this method gets you more tickets in the big cage.
- Sign up with Disney-related sites, like Disney Cruise Line or PhotoPass. Again, the theory being that the more your name is in their system, the better the chance of it being "pulled" for an offer.
- Order Disney Vacation planning materials. They're free, and if you're a Disney fan like me, it's always great to have the latest DVDs showing what is new in the parks. Plus, it is another way of telling Disney that you're interested in a Disney Vacation.
- Use your Disney account to browse vacation packages. Some people say to go as far as booking actual reservations and then canceling them, but I think the goal is to just let Disney know you're interested. They may monitor account activity and flag accounts that go "only so far" in booking a vacation. Then they may send you a PIN to take that next step.
- Be vigilant. Make sure your information is up to date, email addresses are valid, that your spam folder is not thwarting your chances by flagging Disney emails, and that you look them over carefully before deleting them yourself. Same goes for any Disney snail mail you get.
There you have it. Disney's most sought after "Pin". In case you thought I was alluding to an actual Pin, all I can say is "oops." Seriously though, when it comes to real pins, value is determined by the individual. I prefer pins that are connected to my favorite characters, rides, movies, and my personal Disney experiences. Those may be unique to me, or I may share them with more people than I know. So I can only look at what Disney pins are out there and tell you which ones I would really want to have.
In the case of Disney PIN codes, the same is true. The offer is unique to the individual. A PIN code in the hands of someone with no plans on vacationing in Disney is worthless, while the PIN code that arrives and saves a family from cancelling or putting off their Disney vacation, or even allows room in the budget for doing something extra magical while on vacation, well those are priceless.
Now, if only PIN codes could be traded... what a market there would be for that!!
So what's the best PIN code you have ever received? Any other tricks or tips that might increase our chances of getting one?
Please comment below, or visit our Facebook Page, or email us at HomeWhereMouseIs@gmail.com
We'd love to hear from you!
Be sure to check out our other "Pin Posts":
Pin Trading
Pinteresting Recipes
Pin Crafts
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