AP is dead - in memorial (rant)

[Babsy]

The day of the AP discount is dead. Long live the BB or GP offer!

Remember years ago, when Disney offered deep discounts (I have seen 45% off) to the faithful AP holder. We, in turn, filled rooms not selling to desired capacity and felt appreciated for the discretionary $$$ that we almost exclusively spent in the Disney vacation. Lower resort prices meant at we could go to WDW multiple times a year, staying on site in a win win, mutually beneficial relationship.

It was so nice with free parking, lots of merchandise and diining discounts as well. There were 1-800 telephone numbers to call. An APHolder was in a magical place.

Fast forward to today. AP holders get discounts AFTER the general public. Instead of rewarding the loyal AP, Disney now seems to think "They will come back anyway. We have them hooked with an A P, so why give them any incentive? Let's give the discount first to anyone else that might not otherwise come to WDW at all. Once we have guaranteed that there is nobody else that can be brought in, then we will give whatever is left over to the AP holders. A better discount, you ask? Why? They will come anyway. They have to or else they wasted their money on that expensive AP. Who cares? We are a business after all?"

I suppose it is time for us to move on as well. We will still go to WDW for vacations, but not multiple times per year, every year. When friends ask us where should they go on vacation, instead of gushing on endlessly about the superiority of a Disney vacation, we now can offer other alternatives that are equally as good. Disney will still be a suggestion, but as an expensive option along with many other choices.

Each one will grieve in their own way. Some will live in denial, some will be angry, some will be saddened and some will accept the inevitable and move on.

"good bye to my much beloved friend, the AP of yesteryear" You will be missed!

 

[OfTheWind]

The day of the AP discount is dead. Long live the BB or GP offer!

Remember years ago, when Disney offered deep discounts (I have seen 45% off) to the faithful AP holder. We, in turn, filled rooms not selling to desired capacity and felt appreciated for the discretionary $$$ that we almost exclusively spent in the Disney vacation. Lower resort prices meant at we could go to WDW multiple times a year, staying on site in a win win, mutually beneficial relationship.

It was so nice with free parking, lots of merchandise and diining discounts as well. There were 1-800 telephone numbers to call. An APHolder was in a magical place.

Fast forward to today. AP holders get discounts AFTER the general public. Instead of rewarding the loyal AP, Disney now seems to think "They will come back anyway. We have them hooked with an A P, so why give them any incentive? Let's give the discount first to anyone else that might not otherwise come to WDW at all. Once we have guaranteed that there is nobody else that can be brought in, then we will give whatever is left over to the AP holders. A better discount, you ask? Why? They will come anyway. They have to or else they wasted their money on that expensive AP. Who cares? We are a business after all?"

I suppose it is time for us to move on as well. We will still go to WDW for vacations, but not multiple times per year, every year. When friends ask us where should they go on vacation, instead of gushing on endlessly about the superiority of a Disney vacation, we now can offer other alternatives that are equally as good. Disney will still be a suggestion, but as an expensive option along with many other choices.

Each one will grieve in their own way. Some will live in denial, some will be angry, some will be saddened and some will accept the inevitable and move on.

"good bye to my much beloved friend, the AP of yesteryear" You will be missed!

I don't currently have an AP (I was planning on purchasing one if the late fall discount was good) but I understand exactly where you're coming from. I too remember the days of 45% off (those who side with Disney will say those deep discounts only occurred because of the recession...last I checked we're not exactly out of the red). But even if Disney offered 45% we would only be breaking even because the room rates are astronomical and continue to rise.

I was able to get the 30% off GP room discount at GF for the entire week but only because we changed our dates to December. If we'd stayed in November as we'd originally planned it would have been $1200 more.

I was planning a 2015 Spring Break trip to Disney, but I can't stomach the prices (and I wouldn't be able to go again in the summer of 2015 with those same prices). I hate to be "that Disney fan" but Universal has beautiful resorts under $200 per night. Those rooms have higher quality furnishings, better club level offerings and more perks for onsite guests. We will be spending Spring Break there.

I'll always have a soft spot for Disney but I think I may only venture out there once per year or every other year. The resort and ticket prices, construction and the abomination known as My Disney Experience is just too much to take. I do know that eventually I'll be priced out and that makes me upset. I'm trying to wean myself off of the Mouse.

 

[MsThumper]

I understand your disappointment. We don't renew our AP's, we wait until we are sure we are going, then we purchase them.

 

[mickeynut1]

Like the pp, we don't have APs either, but I do understand how you feel. APs had been a consideration for us, but I have decided against getting them. At $675 each ($2,700 for our family of 4), it's just more than I'm willing to spend, especially since AP perks are slowly being taken away year after year. Add the TiW card for dining discounts ($100) to one AP and that AP is costing almost $800 (which I think is crazy, but that's just me). We will continue to go to Disney, but not as often as we have in the past.

 

[MsThumper]

Seems like Disney only wants to do business with those that want free dining. We just don't want to get involved with their dining plan, and we don't want to buy tickets that we may never use. Glad it works for most people, it just doesn't work for us.

 

[OfTheWind]

Seems like Disney only wants to do business with those that want free dining. We just don't want to get involved with their dining plan, and we don't want to buy tickets that we may never use. Glad it works for most people, it just doesn't work for us.

They really are pushing free dining. Before this year I'd never even thought of the dining plan, but it's really gotten to the point where you either join the club or you're left out in the dark. Free dining is excellent for those who live out of state, don't have an AP and stay in values or mods. For everyone else it makes less sense, especially if you have an AP and stay at deluxe resorts.

However, I probably will be joining the club next year and purchase free dining at a less expensive deluxe resort because resort prices will rise and the room discounts will diminish (as I've said before, I remember when BLT was consistently offering 40% off just a few years back and now they offer 0%). There may always be 15-20% off here and there but I don't want to have to check a website daily at 7:00 am for discounts.

 

[chatty]

Just ranting, over the years we have visited on site WDW 35 trips plus from MI...
I am done with buying AP's NO more... The AP was the only discount I looked forward to... We also do not do the Free Dining. I just always loved my Ap just because I felt there were a few perks to them, but over the years the perks became less and less and now this dissapointment of hardley nothing to choose from room wise was shocking, I am done with the AP's Maybe this is what WDW wants? to get rid of them? if so they are doing a good job at it.
sorry to rant but we were just so dissapointed.

 

[MsThumper]

There may always be 15-20% off here and there but I don't want to have to check a website daily at 7:00 am for discounts.

I hear you. I usually check right after midnight. Since I wake up 650 times a night, it seems natural. In fact, I was up after midnight (guess that makes it today) to get on the Disney cruise website to try to get reservations for the adult dining venues for our October cruise because today was the first day we could make reservations.

 

[MegMac]

Totally agree! This was our first year to get them, and so far we have not gotten a single "perk". We will not be renewing.

 

[avery619]

I agree also. We bought an AP for the first time last year because we went to DL and WDW summer 2013 and then WDW before AP expired summer 2014. Because of all three trips so close together which include DL (our first time), it was the most economical to get the Premier Passport and make the most of it. We are fine going to WDW for our normal summer trips without an AP. I think the Public offers are pretty good.

 

[Tiggr924]

I understand what you mean. We bought APs for the first time this summer (not for the perks, but because it made more sense based on our traveling dates). I've been waiting for the new Late Fall AP discount anxiously, as I have read about past years get wonderful discounts. I was extremely disappointed by the lack of availability and lack of discount. Not feeling the magic.

 

[KenDoll]

This was my third AP renewal. For me I go to WDW anywhere from 4-6 times a year so the AP is cheaper for me to be able to attend the parks everytime I go instead of buying separate park tickets each vacation but as for the discounts or perks I have not used one in three years and if I ever slow my vacation rate to one per year I will not be purchasing. I wish there was more perks because it costs so much to buy them each year.

 

[yooperfan]

And don't even get me started on the AP price increases the last few years. Kids passes are a stinkin' crime...

 

[Nicole786]

As a FL resident, the annual pass will always be the way to go for me. However you should see the long email I wrote to guest services citing exactly what you said! It's no longer a perk to have an Annual Pass....and what's worse is booking under a pass holder rate is the only way to add the dining plan.

I had a pool view room booked under the GP for the fall, but because of Disney's greed, we had to drop a night once the Annual Pass rates were out this morning because all they discounted were bunk bed rooms and we want the dining plan. Plus it was nice to "stick it to them" (even though they'll never know lol) by taking that night away Disney just lost a ton of money (close to $1000 just for the extra night and dining plan alone)

The waiting game is frustrating, IMO if Disney offers a perk like FP+ 60 days out to resort guests, it's necessary for them to release promos like this 60 days before the start of the promo. 2014 was a mess, I'm hoping they clean it up for 2015. I know with the yearly price increase the DDP is no longer money saving, so this will be our last year on the plan as well

 

[auntie]

I quite agree. Very disappointed in the AP offerings and limitations. Also not a fan of "free"(?) dining. Which of course is much more of a value if staying in a value or moderate resort. Not so much so when staying in a deluxe resort, which is our preference.
The AP discount when offered, is basically the same as the public discount so there isn't much sense to an AP purchase. The lack of AP availability just reinforces the option to go with the public code, and visit less often.

We visit the gulf coast a few times a year, and usually try to fit in a few days in Disney. Just not going to be on our radar any longer. Oh well, more time at the beach.

 

[TJA]

I agree with your post, Babsy. Disney is sending out a strong message to AP holders by giving us the leftovers each time a deal is released..... I agree that AP deals should be released first, before GP deals. In the end, it might make Disney more money because people might be more inclined to buy AP's and go to Disney more often.

I also feel strongly that Disney should offer AP holders a perk of a discount during holiday weeks. I'm not talking 40% off cause I know holiday weeks are generally busy, but just a small gesture goes a long way with making AP holders want to return and renew. And it might make non-AP holders consider the investment.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I didn't get an AP so I could get room discounts. I got it so I could enter the parks a lot over a year. If I decide not to go to the parks so much I won't get one anymore.

I don't expect them to offer me perks. I'm glad they offer some.

I still get discounts if I want a regular hotel room, but I get them booking through Orbitz. Easy!

I also feel strongly that Disney should offer AP holders a perk of a discount during holiday weeks.

Why? They can get full price for those rooms on holiday weeks. For what possible reason would they want to discount them?

 

[Sue M]

I remember getting Poly at 45% AP rate, then AP went down to 40%, now it really isn't worth the discount we are an after thought, after Visa and GP discounts. No more nice merchandise 20% discounts either.
The only reason I still buy AP is that we have been going 2x a year, and one of the trips are always over 10 days.
Last winter we got the free DDP pin code, and used it. I have to say, I prefer no ddp. I like the flex ability of not being tied to a DDP. We don't need desserts after lunch, & I'm happy with ice water. Also don't need a TS every day. I'd rather a room discount.

I won't go to wdw without a decent discount, and rack rates are getting insane.

We are splitting our trip this Aug (here now) between Universal & WDW. I have to say the discounts at the Universal Deluxe hotels are much better.
We used to alternate vacays between wdw & a Universal/SeaWorld & Busch Gardens vacay. May go back to that.

 

[ThumpersMommy]

This is why my family did not renew our AP this year- noticed the GP deals were coming out before the AP deals, which have not been as good as when we first became AP holders. We still go to WDW just not as often as before.

 

[TJA]

Why? They can get full price for those rooms on holiday weeks. For what possible reason would they want to discount them?

You're right -- it was just wishful thinking on my part.