If you’re anything like us, you want to see the best rates you can get on hotels before deciding where to stay. You can use the off-season rates we list later in this chapter as a starting point, but it’s pretty safe to say that you should be able to find the best rates by checking around. Below are our top six tips to find the best rates on Disney hotels (you can use these tips to find the best rates for Good Neighbor hotels, too).

1. Check the available rates for your vacation dates by calling Disney at 714-956-MICKEY (714-956-6425) or by visiting https://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/. This gives you a baseline at which to begin. Now inquire about discounts or specials—if you have a Disney Visa card or an annual pass, if you are age 60 or older, live in Southern California, and/or are active or retired military, be sure to mention this and ask about special rates. Repeat this process with the Disneyland Resort Travel Sales Center at 800-854-3104 to get available package rates.
2. Visit MouseSavers.com (http://www.mousesavers.com) to get the latest list of deals.
3. Visit Expedia.com (http://www.expedia.com), which often beats other rates. Check MouseSavers.com for great tips and helpful links to Expedia. In general, remember that the best deals are found closest to your vacation dates, but don't wait too long, or they may be sold out! If you select refundable offers, you  can rebook at a lower rate if one becomes available before your stay. Be sure to sign up for an Expedia account for additional savings! You may want to compare the rates at other, similar sites such as Travelocity (http://www.travelocity.com), Orbitz (http://www.orbitz.com/), Kayak (http://www.kayak.com), and tripadvisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com/). Compare several to find your best rate.
4. You may be tempted to use Priceline.com to bid on a Disney hotel, but don’t bother—at the time of writing, the three official Disney hotels didn’t participate in the Priceline system. Some Good Neighbor hotels do participate, however. You’ll find Priceline.com tips at MouseSavers.com and also at http://www.biddingfortravel.com. 
5. Consider an annual pass. Annual passholders are often entitled to Disney hotel discounts of 40% to 50%. You can inquire about annual passholder rates prior to purchasing an annual pass, but you will need to have it (or a voucher from the Disney Store) in hand at check-in time.
6. Use a PIN code. Issued by Disney, these PIN codes are good for variable discounts at the resorts. Only Disney knows just how and why these are sent out, but to increase your chances, be sure you're signed up with http://disneyland.disney.go.com, and opt in for all their e-mails. It might help to "book" a reservation on-line, but exit before checkout, so Disney knows you're interested.