Any word on discounts this morning?

[Ron from Michigan]

I Agree. It is just crazy how they have made people wait. I refuse to pay rack rates, there is no excusse for this. They have had discounts for all seasons this year so what is there problem now. all they are doing is making there AP holders who come more than once a year very mad. We are going to be at WDW from Sept. 6 -20 and still no rates !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[eeyorefanatic]

well in all fairness the AP was never intended to guarantee a discounted room. I too am disappointed but made reservations through a postcard rate instead.

With the popularity of FTP I can see from a business standpoint why they might not want to release any other discounts, Especially since there were some that ended 8/23.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by eeyorefanatic
well in all fairness the AP was never intended to guarantee a discounted room. I too am disappointed but made reservations through a postcard rate instead.

I don't understand how they selected people for postcard & email rates. My family is registered on disney.com on 3 different e-mail addresses and did not get one. They are randomly sending out these postcards & emails but are holding out on their AP holders.

 

[SnowWhite33]

Postcard and email rates are wonderful-for those who get them. Althouth AP rates are not guaranteed and are offered as Disney needs to get rooms filled, they are really shooting themselves in the foot with this. We are booked at the Polynesian for our trip in Nov. I booked this ahead of time after doing research and finding that for at least the past 2 years there have been discounts offered. We are planning return trips in Feb and again next Fall or Christmas, so APs make sense for us and it would definitely benefit us to get the discount. If the discount doesn't come out we are considering staying off-site which I would hate. By staying off-site however I will save more than enough to rent a car and if I rent a car I'm really not going to be at the mercy of Disney as far as eating and entertainment go. Heck I might even choose to take a day at (gasp) Universal or SeaWorld, a thought that would never enter my mind if I were staying onsite. There are certainly cheaper places to eat outside of Disney, so that list of 15 or so PS I have for our 11 day stay will diminish, all but for a few for my ds8 whose bday we will be celebrating.

OK what was my point...Oh yeah-please let there codes so I don't have to miss any of the magic!!

 

[softballguy]

Diane V

On this board you will find many that will emphatically state that you should not buy an AP just for the hotel discounts. So if you bought one just for that reason then you are doing the right thing by not purchasing again for this year.

 

[bru_ellman]

Well, in the AP benefits guide they list WALT DISNEY WORLD (R) RESORT HOTEL DISCOUNTS prominently and pretty close to first, though they do hedge a bit with the wording, "Special Passholder rates may (Italics are mine) be offered at selected WALT DISNEY WORLD (R) Resort hotels and selected Disney Vacation Club Resorts. See your Mickey Monitor newsletter for specific offers." However, given the placement of this benefit in the AP guide I would expect that Resort Hotel Discounts was one of the MAJOR benefits.

Though there doesn't seem to be any viable offers in the current MM, the issuing--albeit breifly--of AP rates last week would seem to indicate that more AP discounts are coming.

Bruce

Originally posted by softballguy
Diane V

On this board you will find many that will emphatically state that you should not buy an AP just for the hotel discounts. So if you bought one just for that reason then you are doing the right thing by not purchasing again for this year.

 

[DianeV]

softballguy:

I have never bought an AP but I had thought about it for the room discounts.

I agree with bruce that it is advertised quite heavily as a benefit for purchasing an AP. Yet they make you jump through hoops once they get your money.

They are only hurting themselves. I do not believe the FTP filled all their rooms. We were there in July when it is usually pretty darn crowded and we hardly had any lines worth mentioning and that is right in the middle of the summer.

People on here are talking about rates in September and October and November, historically slow times.

I dont know..I guess if Disney doesnt monitor these boards or if they do and dont care they are going to lose some money they would be making from sales at the food courts etc. if people get a deal to stay onsite.

 

[horner5]

The one good thing here for those of us going between 8/24 & 10/1 is the fact that they DID offer the AP rate last week for that brief hour, accidentally. Some people got in on it, obviously, so I hold out hope that because it was offered briefly, it HAS to be offered again.

Keep your fingers crossed!

 

[mazzarafe]

I cannot believe that they are as busy as they may want us to think. I had to book a room with AAA for our trip in December because I don't want to miss out on any discount at all. Although I'm hopeful that there will be a discount after FTP package date of November 20th. The waiting is driving me nuts, not as bad as not booking my airfare yet, but almost as bad.

Now I don't think they are that busy because I have not yet paid my deposit for the room yet, plan on doing it sometime today though because I only have until tomorrow or I'll loose my rate. But in the mail yesterday I got the "your coming in December" brochure...I'm not even "officially" booked yet!!! I only called to book my hotel on 7/26.

I just thought that was kinda strange to get it so soon and without a deposit.

 

[randbmom]

"in the mail yesterday I got the "your coming in December" brochure...I'm not even "officially" booked yet!!! I only called to book my hotel on 7/26."



mazzarafe-
You think that's bizarre--I'm going to be at AKL on 8/24 and haven't gotten anything beyond the original confirmation months ago. Then yesterday I got a postcard talking about my upcoming stay at All Stars!! We were never booked for All Stars--but my BIL with the same last name (different town) IS staying at ASSp over THanksgiving. Someone has something crossed. You'd think I"d get a postcard or email out of it!!!

 

[mazzarafe]

randbmom,

When I called to make my ressie they asked for last name like always then continued to read me my old address. We moved over 2 years ago, but we have been to Disney twice since then. They must have us in the system twice, once under my name and once under DH. At least they had his address right.

Every time I call to check on AP rates they ask to verify my email address. Haven't gotten anything from them but if I do I'm sure it won't be for when I'm going. I don't have that kind of luck. I did get a post card last year for during the spring but we were not planning on a trip at all for last year at the time I got it. But ended up doing a quick fix (for me and DD's of course-DH came kicking and screaming) in October.

I did get the "looking forward to you coming" postcard a couple of trips ago, it was for the wrong hotel though. What the heck are they doing in there? They are probably still working out the dates/rates they are gonna release and someone must have had made a mistake releasing them briefly last week.

Here's to codes being released soon....

 

[Tigger1028]

I called at about 8:15 and was told they are still not out yet. Joan

 

[Colt]

Called Sunday AM August 10th, still no AP rates... When I asked WHEN the rates will be released, the CM chuckled and said I should ask IF the rates will come out... Not looking good at all.

Personally, I am leaning towards the opinion that the AP room discounts are being phased out by Disney, and that soon the AP room discount program will be the newest ghost in the Haunted Mansion ....

 

[christianweecare]

I'm beginning to wonder, too! I'm holding out hope! Does anyone have a clue why AP rates have not been released past Aug. 23? It sure does seem that WDW will be alienating alot of the faithful.

 

[chatty]

To be honest, I am getting so tired of them pulling things away or waiting until the day before that, we now will only stay at the S/D because there is never stress.. There are Great deals, always in pleanty of time and a 1-800 #, Which is being taken away from the Disney Club Members at the end of the year. Please Don't get me wrong..I LOVE WDW!!! Just that I wish WDW would be more like the S/D in the up front, in time discounts, and just a pleasure to work with.. Just my 2 cents whatever that's worth??????
Chatty

 

[christianweecare]

chatty--Have you stayed at either the Swan or Dolphin before? Do you feel something is missing as compared to WDW resorts? I haven't had the courage to try either one.

 

[hulabird]

A friend of mine called for ressies yesterday and the CM told her that she could book the room now (for the week of Sept 29) but to be looking for some discounts that should be out by 8/22. She didn't say if it was AP rates or some other type of special....this may be a ray of hope...keep your fingers crossed!

 

[christianweecare]

Fingers crossed!

 

[chatty]

Oh boy have I stayed there..
We have stayed at both.. We always stayed at WDW's moderates or deluxes but when we discovered the S/D were now hooked. Location,Beauty,Boardwalk,Epcot and MGM in walking distance. Service,friendlyness,the POOL!! WOW!! I could go on forever. I feel Nothing is Missing!! Just down the road is the B&Y resort,the BWI resort. It's Disney all over. Mickey is not in the S/D but he's all around with gift shops and the workers. I have been to WDW 8 times in 4 years and we are in Love with the S/D..Oh!! and those Heavenly beds at the Swan are to die for. I am thinking on going back and never leaving our room. So Comfy!!!
Hope this helps..
Chatty

 

[randbmom]

Okay, I finally got mad enough to do something about it! After waiting daily for the AP rates, I just booked the Swan for my August 24 trip. We're leaving for Orlando 8/18 with 3 nights at SeaWorld Renaissance FREE on Marriott points, then onto PBR for three days at the 50% off the room rate. As much as I love AKL I will not be held hostage during the first week of my vacation calling CRO for AP rates. We got the Swan for about $100 less per night than AKL with AAA rates. This was our big "almost free" trip (airfares and hotel all paid by award travel) complete with AP's for the family from last year. Spending an extra $500 for 5 nights at AKL just didn't seem worth it, even with the theming. I'll probably end up spending a good part of that $500 in the restaurants at Swan/Dolphin.
I'm at peace with my decision for my family; but that doesn't mean I am any less disillusioned with Disney the corporation. In all my AP correspondence from WDW, they list hotel discounts as a primary benefit. I will be spending less time and money at WDW onsite hotels and more time at USO (and SwanDolphin), where I feel appreciated as a customer much more.
I am a business person, and have looked at this so many different ways. I can't for the life of me figure out what they are thinking they are gaining by holding out and making it impossible for AP holders to plan extra vacations. Why a corporation would want to alienate it's best customers is just beyond me.
Okay enough venting. It's time to cancel my AKL room for 8/24-8/29. Good luck to those of you who still hold out hope for fall vacations.