Annual Passholders Get The Short End

[Gabrielle]

My God, Rick - are you a glutton for punishment? I'm on your side, friend. I think your expecations and resulting disappointment were well-founded.

Sammie posted a great message with which I agreed up to the last sentence .... the assignment of blame.

I don't believe it's the AP holder's "fault" for rational behavior in responding to rules of the game that WDW itself established. It's rational to base behavior on expectations. It's normal to be disappointed when "gambles" don't pay off. And, WDW deserves some of the ill will that results because IMHO, they are yanking folks around (please, no one read the back of the AP to me - I understand WDW doesn't guarantee discounts).

I'm a CPA/MBA and avid WDW fan - and, while I love WDW, I don't believe all their decisions are good ones - and, I want them to be good ones because I love WDW! I'm not trotting out my credentials to inhibit opposing opinions - but I am stating them as a reason for my beliefs regarding WDW business practices. In my most humble opinion, it's disingenous to think that Disney isn't aware of AP-holder booking practices and that they adjust, accordingly. While WDW may find these customer practices annoying, the challenge they pose is not insurmountable in strategizing occupancy and discounts. IMHO, they're certainly not the cause for the effect of a lack of discounts. Respectfully, .... sympathy for WDW in this area, is misplaced.

This topic, and others like it, touch visceral emotions in folks - all valid because we all love WDW. The "entitlement mentality" is not my own personal hot-button - but I recognize that it is, for others. Myself, I react (negatively) to the "Disney is a business" comments. In the spirit of rational behavior, I say we all choose our sides, line up, and throw spitballs at one another.

...stepping off my soap box. Ok, who's the wise-acre that moved the foot-stool? .... ?!

<thank you Hayley>

 

[faithinkarma]

Plus, you added a chuckle to my day

 

[Lewisc]

Rick--You conned yourself. You admit that AP rates were available in the resort you wanted at a time you were in FL. AP rates just weren't available the exact dates you preferred. You had the option of either paying more, changing your dates or gambling. You gambled and lost.

There are plenty of hotels in FL, if you don't like the rates Disney is charging stay off site. Disney will have to react and discount.

Booking a reservation that you won't keep without a further discount is a waste of time and counter productive. If the resort you want is empty you can book a discounted room without a prior reservation. If the hotel is sold out than it's unlikely they will offer you to reduce your rate (not all rooms, all resorts, all nights are available). Reservations on spec serve to artificially increase bookings reducing the chances of discounts.

 

[DMRick]

Okay....how many people have cancelled their ressies because they did not get the AP discounts?

Actually, I did. I only made the ressie's becasue the CM suggested strongly I do, so that if the AP's came out, I would have a room. Part of my stay had already been booked at DT Marriot, but I really wanted part to be on Dis actual resorts.

However, as time came closer, I grew uncomfortable with my choice, and before they even announced the AP's, I cancelled and finished my booking at Marriot. Once they announced them, my time frame (Septemebr) wasn't included, so I'm glad I changed. I'm not upset with Disney, just disappointed that we aren't staying on site...but not disappointed enough to pay twice as much and that's just for a value...we prefer POR. We'll be back again, if AP discounts show up for January..if not, we'll vacation elsewhere that trip.

 

[steveanddonna]

This is my first post (on any msg. board ever) so be kind! While we don't consider our annual pass a guarantee of room discounts, it certainly seems that Disney is shooting themselves in the foot. We never leave the property between arrival & departure, so every one of our vacation dollars is spent at Disney, & these last two trips they seem to be trying hard to make enemies of their frequent guests. When we made our reservation for Nov., the AP discounts were not out yet, so we were going to wait. The reservationist convinced us to book right away & change later if discounts became available. This was after a circus of errors and missteps on the part of the agent, so I'm not sure why we took her advice. After calling 2x every week to check on discounts, we were finally told they were out, but not available at the Poly. On subsequent calls we were told various things: discounts NOT out yet; discounts out & available at Poly but not concierge level; discounts available but not for our length of stay, etc etc. Does this not seem like a run-around, or, at the very least, really incompetent reservationists?

 

[safetymom]

Welcome to the DIS boards. I think the reservation people were as much in the dark as everyone else. I am sure they are told on a need to know basis but they are trying to be helpful.

 

[susy]

I think A LOT of people did not get discounts for the dates they wanted. The AP rates just came out way too late for that. I am paying rack ( $244) at WL for 4 nights. I was able to get the last night for $138. I called the mornign of the 28th. I was not put on hold at all and was the CM's first caller of the day. Of the three nights I was aiming for , I got one. We booked very far in advance because it was for Thanksgiving. Last year there were great AP rates for Thanksgiving. They came out way early, with no black out dates and plenty of people got them. This year it just didn't work out like that. Also, this year Christmas is not blacked out, but Thanksgiving is.

The result for our family is that I will not book until Ap or Fl Res rates come out. Discounts are never a guarantee, but there are PLENTY of discounts to be had all over FL and Orlando. Discounts are not a "gift". It's called competition.

 

[safetymom]

Bookings must be high at WDW because they don't see the need to offer discounted rooms. So it is up to you to decide whether you want to pay those rates.

They don't have to offer them just because people want the discounts. Time will tell if that is a smart business decision.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by safetymom
Bookings must be high at WDW because they don't see the need to offer discounted rooms. So it is up to you to decide whether you want to pay those rates.

They don't have to offer them just because people want the discounts. Time will tell if that is a smart business decision.

Exactly safetymom - I agree 100%.

 

[steveanddonna]

Exactly, Susy! Offering discounts is a way to stay competitive, so why change the rules mid-game? Does Disney really prefer that park visitors, especially annual passholders, stay off-property? Those guests would likely be spending a lot more dollars off-property as well on dining, entertainment, etc. To us the advantage of an annual pass is being able to take more than one trip per year, often bringing nieces/nephews, a sibling, etc. on one of the shorter trips if we can get a discounted room. That's a few new loyal WDW fans each trip. We don't feel "entitled" to discounts, but I question Disney's business sense in focusing on package discounts. Most retailers will tell you, it's the repeat customer that keeps a business profitable, so why alienate so many of them? We are blessed to be able to keep our plans with or without the discount, but obviously there are numerous passholders who feel betrayed by recent changes.

 

[ILOVEDVC]

The horse is dead, people. We don't need to beat him anymore. This is TRULY pathetic.

 

[safetymom]

I am sure there are many many loyal visitors to WDW that don't have an AP. I am sure there are many people that pay rack rate and don't know any differently.

Disney has never been like other companies when it comes to how to do things. Why should they be like all the rest now?

 

[susy]

Sorry for beating on the dead horse, but I just now got in on this thread.

Rick, When I first made my ressies and when I called back to add nights, I was also told by the CM to call back WHEN the discounts came out. I was also told this by the two other CM's when I called back to get a room for my mom and then for my inlaws.

I just don't think anyone could foresee the success of the FTP and there was no need to offer more discounts. The discounts coming out so late as compared to last year, limited the number of rooms that would be available. I really am glad that things are turning around for Disney.

This Thanskgiving trip is a special one for us. We are also celebrating Ds's b-day and doing MVMCP. So this is our BIG trip on our AP's . The others will just be long weekends and such and it doesn't matter as much what resort we get. In those cases I will try to get the best "deal", even if it means waiting.

 

[seashoreCM]

If everybody who bought AP's did it the way I do, Disney has every right to consider passholders a burden or lost revenue as opposed to valued guests or loyal customers!

I typically make a trip to WDW each year. I will buy an AP every other year to cover two trips. So park admission for the second trip is almost free. (For two trips, a premium AP breaks even after ten Disney days compared with hopper passes or unlimited magic passes.)

Also, trying not to gain too much weight, I don't spend a lot on snacks in the park, nor do I eat two or three big meals each day on site, which are big moneymakers for Disney.

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

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by seashoreCM
If everybody who bought AP's did it the way I do, Disney has every right to consider passholders a burden or lost revenue as opposed to valued guests or loyal customers!

I typically make a trip to WDW each year. I will buy an AP every other year to cover two trips. So park admission for the second trip is almost free. (For two trips, a premium AP breaks even after ten Disney days compared with hopper passes or unlimited magic passes.)

Also, trying not to gain too much weight, I don't spend a lot on snacks in the park, nor do I eat two or three big meals each day on site, which are big moneymakers for Disney.

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

And we are the complete opposite AP holders. Everyone on our trips are also AP holders. We live in MD but drive to WDW 2-3 times a year staying 10 days each trip. We spend all of our time onsite, staying at the Poly, and eat EVERY meal onsite and that includes at least one very nice sit down meal a day. The only food we bring in is Pepsi and Lemonade as that is our drinks of choice. We probably spend $2000 each trip just on souveniers and another $2000 for food. We renew our APs when it comes time. I never bought an AP for anything other then the park entry for which it's purpose. I used to pay rack rate without blinking an eye until finding out on these boards about public codes. I do consider myself a loyal Disney guest.