AP question - do available rooms usually sell out quickly?

[aroundtheriverbend]

Hi, I'm seriously considering purchasing APs for my family, as it appears we've caught the bug and have gone to WDW 3 times in the last 18 months already. Hoping to go again in October. I know AP rates haven't been released for then yet, but was wondering if you can share some experiences on when you've booked AP rates in the past:

1) Are you always able to add a dining plan, or only sometimes?
2) Have you experienced rooms not being available at certain resorts during certain AP releases (not booked already, but never offered)?
3) Are villas ever included?
4) For non-holiday times, have you ever been out of luck with getting a booking within the first few days of the offer being out (we're probably going Oct 18-23rd).
5) Do the public or Visa room discounts ever end up being better?

THANKS!!!!

 

[mousefan1972]

Hi, I'm seriously considering purchasing APs for my family, as it appears we've caught the bug and have gone to WDW 3 times in the last 18 months already. Hoping to go again in October. I know AP rates haven't been released for then yet, but was wondering if you can share some experiences on when you've booked AP rates in the past:

1) Are you always able to add a dining plan, or only sometimes? Always, as long as you are using an AP rate or rack rate. Keep in mind that you will need to book a package, albeit a ticketless one.2) Have you experienced rooms not being available at certain resorts during certain AP releases (not booked already, but never offered)? Yes, I haven't seen a standard room at WL available w/an AP rate in several years.3) Are villas ever included? Yes, always. I always see availability at SSR, OWK, BWV and BLT.
4) For non-holiday times, have you ever been out of luck with getting a booking within the first few days of the offer being out (we're probably going Oct 18-23rd). No, I have always been able to book when/where I want, even for the week prior to Christmas.
5) Do the public or Visa room discounts ever end up being better? Never better, but occaisonally just as good.

THANKS!!!!

...

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

Thanks Mousefan1972, that helps a ton!

 

[Inurdrems9]

I have not had a problem even a couple of weeks before travel ( we live in South Florida) but that may be because people cancel. Also, it helps to be flexible with your hotel choice.

 

[n2mm]

I agree with the others, if you are flexible in your resort choice, you'll not have a problem. If you are determined to be at a certain resort in a certain catagory, you'll be disappointed. Normally the only villa accommodations we see are studios. The family suites are harder to get too. Remember, sometimes it's only one day that is not available that keeps you from booking a room. Once you get an AP you can get on their website and searching there is much easier than calling.

 

[collcass]

i called yesterday for AP rates for 4th of July. I was able to get rates at all levels - Pop, CBR, WL & BLT

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

Agree with mousefan 1972. If you are extremely particular about room choice, you sometimes have to keep checking. It has sometimes taken a month of checking to get a 1 bedroom at WL and at Beach club and occasionally a different category at WL for us, but I ultimately always get what I want. Same with Contemporary had to try a few weeks to find a garden view room. You can go ahead and order 1 AP voucher( it is not activated until the first day of use but you can use it to access the online passholder site to check availability when released. General public codes have recently come close to AP rates and currently bounceback rates are the same as AP rates. Was there past monday and could book future stays for 45% off. If you see something online you want book it don;t wait, I have seen WL disappear right before my eyes while I debated booking it.

 

[WhitGB]

Can I ask where this is? We got our tickets a couple of weeks ago during a quick trip and the person behind the counter gave us nothing but the 4 tickets. No brochure, no packet.

Is this on the disney site?

Thanks for any help.

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

Log on to Disney site and go to passholders link. They have changed how you log in. Now you register your ap number or voucher number with your profile and it automatically recognizes it when you log in.

 

[WhitGB]

Thanks, I'll try it this evening.

 

[ginnymack]

Be sure to weigh the benefits for an AP for the whole fam vs an AP for 1 adult. You can get the substantial room discounts for AP holders (when offered) if only 1 adult has a pass!

 

[NorweJenNY]

Those AP rates generally are the best rates... and availability at the AP rates is generally better than for just the public rates, but not always. When I called to get our last reservation at POFQ, I asked about AP rates there. They said there were none left for the time we were looking (Memorial Day weekend). I then asked if they had public room-only discounts available. The CM said that she doubted it, but she checked anyway. Behold... there was a room available for us with the public room-only rate! Now, sure, AP rate would've been less, but we were still happy. We really wanted POFQ.

Also, someone commented that they've never seen, or it's rare to see AP rates for WL standard rooms. That may be true, but ask about other rooms! Once we got a woods view room at an AP rate which made it cheaper than a standard! Within the last couple of years, I've seen rooms (don't recall which type) at WL and AKL in the $130s per night (before taxes) with AP rates! Not too shabby...