First, welcome vegaspalmtree!
For hard facts, check out
Mousesavers look under WDW -> Resorts -> Discounts.
Here's a little background, others might (hah!) chime in with more.
Up until this year, Disney offered AP room rates for pretty much the entire year - sometimes up to 45% off the rack - regular - rate. They were announced in 2-3 month blocks (say, July-Sept) about 3 months ahead of time. Many folks would book a room at full price and, when the AP rates came out, call up and change their ressie to use the AP rates.
However, this year, due to reasons unknown (but the FairyTale Package, people making AP-assuming ressies and Disney's ignorant and/or soul-less management have all been suggested) the AP rates are for shorter periods and have been announced with little lead time. For example, no AP rates beyond 8/23 have been announced, and today is 8/11 - which makes it tough to plan.
Note, however, that while AP rates have been consistantly provided for years, Disney does
not guarantee that AP rates will be offered for a given resort and/or time period. And whether they should or not is a topic for the Debate Board.
So a group of people has made plans based on past Disney AP Rate offerings and is wearing a hole in the rug - and burning up the phone lines to Orlando - waiting for the next offering of AP rates.
Hope this helps, and again, welcome to DIS!