A P Rates

[GKunkle]

Arial We are Annual Passholders who live 2 hours away from Disney. We look forward to the discounted Disney Resorts, but were very upset when all the discounted room for Florida residents were gone in one day for October. Are any other Florida passholders as upset as we are? We called Disney and got absolutely NO RESULTS or information as to HOW this could happen. It makes us start rethinking whether we should keep our Annual passes and use hotels outside of Disney. Or not renew our passes and go with their package deals...but not come up to Disney as often. Disney is going to be losing a lot of faithful Florida residents with this latest move...don't you think? We wrote Emails to Disney and still haven't received a response. This is VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE on Disney's part. Guess business is booming again and they don't need Florida residents like they did right after 9/11 when vacationers were sparse. We always enjoyed the convenience of staying at a Disney resort with the Discount...as we could go there more times. But it looks like Disney doesn't care about the passholders that just need an affordable room to stay in. Can anything be done about this situation? Does anyone have any advice? We moved to Florida from Pennsylvania just to be able to go to Disney more. This latest development is very upsetting to us. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jiminyfan]

This poll only presents one side of answers all basically say the same thing - AP holders are not getting a fair shake.

I can understand the frustration, but a pool should give people a wide variety of choices. Personally, Disney is trying to make a buck on EVERYONE. That is what busineses do. From a marketing standpiont catering to non-AP holders make a lot more sense. If they convince people who usually do not go to WDW to go, they will increase their revenue. Also, they make new Disneyatics in the process.

Being an AP holder you can visite WDW as many times with a price tag under or around $400 a year. I know being PA resident I will still have 40 days on my pass. With the price I paid my admission rates for the parks comes to under $9.40 a day. I feel this is a great rate for the Disney parks. The lower room costs are just a bonus. Remember, you can stay at a downtown Disney hotel and save money if no AP rates suit your needs.

Stating that Disney does not care about AP holders seems very untrue. They did release AP rates for Florida and non-Florida residents. I got 14 nights worth of them. The also offer discounts on food and activities to AP holders across the WDW resort.

I feel as an AP holder I am being treated tuite nicely by WDW.

 

[skiwee1]

Where is the question whether Disney is being fair at? All I see are answers in which all state in one form or another that passholders are getting a raw deal. I am a passholder and my vote would go for: Disney may offer AP rates if they need to fill rooms. I am happy with being able to get in the parks as much as I want with my AP. We live in Maryland but will have 35 days on this AP!

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by GKunkle
Can anything be done about this situation? Does anyone have any advice? We moved to Florida from Pennsylvania just to be able to go to Disney more. This latest development is very upsetting to us. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

I suppose you could hire a lawyer and sue Disney for breach of contract. Oh wait... the AP only guarantees admission to the parks for 365 days from purchase, not room discounts. It says room discounts MAY be offered. Kinda puts a kink in the lawsuit approach.

You could write Disney and complain... but looks like you've already done that.

You could just refuse to go to WDW, but that's sort of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

You could go to Universal, but there's those AP's just lying on a table gathering dust and they are still active.

You could go to Orlando, book an inexpensive room off-site and still enjoy WDW. There's nothing that says you MUST stay on site to have a great time. Some of my best trips were ones where I stayed off-site. Left me lots of extra $$ to splurge on meals, shows, etc.

I suppose next time before you purchase something you could read all the fine print and make sure you understand what is offered, what is guaranteed and what is not.

 

[AirForceRocks]

We moved to Florida from Pennsylvania just to be able to go to Disney more. This latest development is very upsetting to us.

Why is it upsetting? And what is keeping you from going to WDW more?

 

[softballguy]

This link states that rates are available from 11/2-12/26

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wa...offerrootindex?id=FLResidentSpecialOffersRoot


This link states that rates are available from 11/2-12/26 with the black outs, then it states "other rates available 10/2-11/1" but they are not being outwardly promoted on either page, just mentioned once.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/waltdisneyworld/home/floridaresidents/offerindex?id=FLResFallOffer2

Also, there are a lot of conventions taking place in WDW in October which may mean less rooms available for an offer for the rest of us.

 

[Liv2CdWorld]

This is unbelievable. First, quite a few complain that Disney isn't releasing AP's. But, now that the're released, people are STILL complaining.

I, too am an AP holder from PA. We purchased the AP becuase we knew we would be in the World for 2 trips within a year. It had NOTHING to do with room discounts. Now, don't get me wrong, I like a discount like everyone else - but if that's the only reason you baught the pass - then shame on you.

 

[softballguy]

One more thing... see the attached link for historical information about discounts and you will see that historically Florida residents have always been offered a discount. Also, Florida residents can book their discount up until day of arrival, which means if you book something at full price you have the opportunity to reduce the price up until you check-in. The only other people that can do that are the annual passholders. What many posters do is book a full price or AAA priced room they can afford without a disocunt and then keep calling back to see if they can apply the Florida resident discount up until check-in. Then if they do get the discount its gravy.

http://www.mousesavers.com/faq.html#historical

 

[softballguy]

One more thing... see the attached link for historical information about discounts and you will see that historically Florida residents have always been offered a discount. Also, Florida residents can book their discount up until day of arrival, which means if you book something at full price you have the opportunity to reduce the price up until you check-in. The only other people that can do that are the annual passholders. What many posters do is book a full price or AAA priced room they can afford without a disocunt and then keep calling back to see if they can apply the Florida resident discount up until check-in. Then if they do get the discount its gravy.

http://www.mousesavers.com/faq.html#historical

 

[seashoreCM]

How many AP holders are there?

Maybe Disney feels that so many people are alternate year passholders and getting free admission to the parks after the breakeven point that there is no need to offer them any more discounts.

In recent years I would buy an premium AP, make two or three trips, let it expire, several months later buy another on my next trip and so on. This is what I mean by an alternate year passholder. When I do succeed in getting an AP rate on a resort room I feel greedy. Now on my third PAP to be used next in November.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

I estimate the breakeven point for a PAP to be ten days and four visits to water parks, etc. taken as two or more trips, compared with any other non-discounted admission media. For a single trip the breakeven is about 14 days.

 

[CarolA]

So the IP poster is saying that all the discount codes were gone for the WHOLE month in one day. Well... I called well after the first day and got a quote for an AP rate for a day in October so... maybe you should just try again.

As to your poll all the options sound like whining so I did not vote. Your options are all agree with me or leave me alone. That is not really a poll.

I always find it pretty amazing when someone's first post is a whine about how unloved they are. Remember DISNEY is a CORPORATION. They are not a charity. If they don't make money, they close and then your AP will be really useless.

By the way, Disney has already cut you a break. A Florida AP cost considerably less then what I paid.

 

[safaulk]

I believe everyone should have the right to post without fear of criticism from others. Has everyone forgotten the old saying..."If you can't say something nice......"? I feel bad for the original poster with being put down for the way he/she chose to conduct the survey. A poll is a poll. Thanks for letting me vent. I just wish for peace and harmony for all.

 

[Liv2CdWorld]

Originally posted by safaulk
I believe everyone should have the right to post without fear of criticism from others. Has everyone forgotten the old saying..."If you can't say something nice......"? I feel bad for the original poster with being put down for the way he/she chose to conduct the survey. A poll is a poll. Thanks for letting me vent. I just wish for peace and harmony for all.

safaulk,
You are totally right. I'm an offender (posted above). But you are right, I shouldn't have said anything at all. I must say, though, that it's hard NOT to say anything when all you really see are people complaining about AP rates and how they feel they are entitled to room discounts. Starts to drive you crazy when that's all you see.

So, I'll be the first to apologize to the OP .

 

[DrTomorrow]

Originally posted by safaulk
I believe everyone should have the right to post without fear of criticism from others.

Um, this is a Forum - a place for discussion and debate.

Has everyone forgotten the old saying..."If you can't say something nice......"?

Are you going to hold the OP to this rule too? He wasn't very nice to Disney.

I feel bad for the original poster with being put down for the way he/she chose to conduct the survey. A poll is a poll.

I think a poll has to offer more than one viewpoint. POLL: What's the better color, Red or Black? A) Red B) Not Black C) Red D) Red. It that a poll?

Moving to Florida for more Disney??? DW and I are probably going to buy into DVC and I think that is a big step!

 

[Lewisc]

I was ready to answer the poll but I couldn't find the answer I wanted, yes I think Disney is basically being fair.

We can certainly debate whether or not Disney is being fair to AP holder BUT there can really be no debatethe "poll" is completely unfair.

 

[Gary M]

GTKunkle, welcome to the resorts board with your first post. I'm sure you'll be back often.

 

[safaulk]

Originally posted by DrTomorrow
Um, this is a Forum - a place for discussion and debate.
Are you going to hold the OP to this rule too? He wasn't very nice to Disney.
I think a poll has to offer more than one viewpoint. POLL: What's the better color, Red or Black? A) Red B) Not Black C) Red D) Red. It that a poll?

Moving to Florida for more Disney??? DW and I are probably going to buy into DVC and I think that is a big step!

My feeling is that you can debate and state your opinion but do it in a nice manner. People will never agree with one another 100% or probably not even 50% of the time. The challenge is to debate while still keeping the peace.