AP discount bookings...how do they work?

[haPevraftr]

I consider myself very knowledgeable in working to find the best possible deals for spring break travels to WDW. I teach so that is the time period we are used to and I think we manage the cost and crowds well. That having been said, next school year my winter break encompasses the first full week of January and we are planning a WDW trip that will hopefully be a smidge less pricey than what we are used to. I have explored renting DVC points and bottom line is DH is just leery about booking so far in advance without being able to recoup the cost if our plans should change. So, I have started exploring other options in hopes that we can still stay deluxe, but I have no experience with AP benefits. For spring break, we are moderate people because that is what we can afford when the discounts are limited, so it will be a huge treat for us if we can stay deluxe and I need to better understand how AP discounts work.

How does AP rate booking work? If I have a room booked and an AP discount rate comes out, can I just call and have that rate applied to my ressie? Is it as simple as just watching to see when discounts are posted and then I purchase an AP and call to request the discount? What is this that I keep reading about people with APs checking rates and availability for others with expired APs? Are there rate differences other than just calculating the percentage off based on the advertised discount?

Ideally, we would like to have a 2 bdrm villa at AKV, BLT, or BWV and I am wondering how easy those are to get with an AP discount, as well.

Sorry for so many questions! TIA!

 

[padawans]

You can if that room is available with a Ap discount. I would wait until the Ap discounts come out and see what is available before booking unless your really set on a villa. I just booked a last minute trip for Dec 10. There was a lot of availabilty. When I tried booking a room in Oct for Dec availibility was limited. I think a lot of people either cancel or disney releases more rooms with a discount if they don't sell. I noticed the same thing booking our room in May and Oct. I was able to get my first choice about 2 weeks before the trip.

 

[haPevraftr]

You can if that room is available with a Ap discount. I would wait until the Ap discounts come out and see what is available before booking unless your really set on a villa. I just booked a last minute trip for Dec 10. There was a lot of availabilty. When I tried booking a room in Oct for Dec availibility was limited. I think a lot of people either cancel or disney releases more rooms with a discount if they don't sell. I noticed the same thing booking our room in May and Oct. I was able to get my first choice about 2 weeks before the trip.

I am not sure what I should do in terms of booking. The situation is this: I am traveling with DH, DD9, DS6, DB, DSIL, & my mom and dad. For all of us to stay together, we would need a 2 bdrm villa. The only way that I can afford that is with an AP discount (or a bounceback offer if I get one when we travel at the end of March). If I don't get a discount, we will all get our own rooms and stay moderate with the dining plan, I think. We will travel 12/31/12-1/7/13. I know that there are no deals for 12/31-1/1 so we will probably book a value for the first two nights and then spend the next 5 in the the mod or deluxe. I am not worried about being able to secure a moderate room as a backup plan. I am just wondering how soon, when to worry about trying to secure a villa...when are these opened up to GP for booking?

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

I am not sure what I should do in terms of booking. The situation is this: I am traveling with DH, DD9, DS6, DB, DSIL, & my mom and dad. For all of us to stay together, we would need a 2 bdrm villa. The only way that I can afford that is with an AP discount (or a bounceback offer if I get one when we travel at the end of March). If I don't get a discount, we will all get our own rooms and stay moderate with the dining plan, I think. We will travel 12/31/12-1/7/13. I know that there are no deals for 12/31-1/1 so we will probably book a value for the first two nights and then spend the next 5 in the the mod or deluxe. I am not worried about being able to secure a moderate room as a backup plan. I am just wondering how soon, when to worry about trying to secure a villa...when are these opened up to GP for booking?

I'm a recent AP holder (the last 15 months) and my experience is these discounts are the last to be released. For example the AP discount that is available right now runs through the first of March. A GP discount was just released through June. My assumption is that Disney sees what rooms need to be filled and releases these as discounts to AP holders.

For your situation I would probably book the moderate rooms with a room only reservation so that you can cancel it easily if the villa that you want becomes available with the AP discount. You wouldn't be able to add the dining plan unless you book a package, but you would need to be able to make your decision within 45 days of your trip if you book a package to avoid being penalized.

Hope this is helpful.

 

[padawans]

I am not sure what I should do in terms of booking. The situation is this: I am traveling with DH, DD9, DS6, DB, DSIL, & my mom and dad. For all of us to stay together, we would need a 2 bdrm villa. The only way that I can afford that is with an AP discount (or a bounceback offer if I get one when we travel at the end of March). If I don't get a discount, we will all get our own rooms and stay moderate with the dining plan, I think. We will travel 12/31/12-1/7/13. I know that there are no deals for 12/31-1/1 so we will probably book a value for the first two nights and then spend the next 5 in the the mod or deluxe. I am not worried about being able to secure a moderate room as a backup plan. I am just wondering how soon, when to worry about trying to secure a villa...when are these opened up to GP for booking?

Have you looked into renting points. Ap discounts for that time probably won't be released until October.