AP rate thoughts

[rt2dz]

OK, here is the new AP rate overview, in my opinion. It sucks! At least compared to years past, even at the same time.

We were booked 10/25-11/2 Poly GV. Rack rate $399/night. With the AP discount on 10/26-10/30, the rate was knocked down to $324/night. In other words, no discount on Friday and Saturday nights. So much for no blackouts; that’s only a technicality on Disney’s new night by night pricing. This is only about 18.8%

We are now booked GF GV, same dates. The rate is every day, but again only $75 off, or around 17.25%.

I’m spoiled. I want my 45-50% discounts of years past. I know, I know, I know… Discounts are not a given, just a sometimes perk and I should be happy with whatever I get. But this is almost a slap in the face. Values and moderates from what I hear (haven’t checked personally) are deeply discounted. And isn’t the AAA rate 20%? Maybe I should buy AAA; we’ve been talking about it anyhow.

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

I agree. We are actually going in September and it seems as if they have marketed themselves to death trying to get everyone in but the passholders. I have always been open to pretty much whatever is available. I don't expect to be able to get into WL etc. But it seems like this year they just want to push SSR and OKW down passholders throat. No moderates during my time frame. I did get very lucky and after days of trying I got BCV, but not for last nights of my stay. I am having a problem finding a rack room for those days. I know alot of people have talked about AAA rates which I understand have always been popular for booking Disney but the AP rate was always a better deal. I was recently insulted when I saw that Expedia had the same room available at the Beach Club for only $5.00 more than the AP rate online was $244, Expedia was $245.00(this was for a standard not the villa). While I know that many have said a code is not guaranteed, I have to disagree a little. Look at how they market the Annual Pass. It specificaly promotes the discount benefits. Of course I don't expect a discount 4th of July, but if I am flexible with my dates in Value season I should be able to get something decent that overlaps the weekend. Additionally, if not for the DIS boards I would probably not find out about the AP rate until after the next wave of codes is released(allegedly tommorrow maybe for Disney Visa). My e-mails are inconsistent from Disney and I usually don't get MIckey Monitor until after codes are released. Meanwhile rooms will be filling up with whatever code they release tommorrow. I have spent 50 nights onsite at a deluxe property over the last five years. I would at least like the same options on room selection as all the people who got 30% or 40% off codes, or bounceback,or free dining. NOt sure I will renew my pass.

 

[dburg30]

Maybe they are doing fine on bookings at this point, and they dont warrant any larger of a discount. Perhaps as time goes on if people start cancelling or they dont keep up with bookings, more 'last minute' discounts will pop up.. who knows..

My CSR for november dropped about $400 today for 9 days, so I'm happy with that..

 

[dawgsgirl]

Days like today make me wish for the old days of AP discounts. The availability and price were disgusting. I do think WDW would love to get rid of us AP folks. The fall discounts will probably help. They want guests on package deals. They also want first time guests, who don't know about discounts and spend more money. I do think all the PIN codes sent out the first of the year had a very negative effect on the AP codes. Of course, I never get one of those. Here's hoping they don't get rid of AP discounts all together.

 

[sherry8253]

Nothing at all available at a deluxe from 12/4 to 12/15. I even tried splitting between 2 resorts.

 

[SnowWitch]

I think bounceback may be hurting us. I booked CR with themepark view for <$299 a night on bounceback for Dec 5th-8th, then we check into BWV's. The AP discounts are just poop to put it nicely. But even the postcards with pins aren't that great my BFF got one so we called it was $139 before for CBR , the AP rate I was quoted was about $20 < per night than the pin. I may try for a DVC resort with points, if I can get it great, if I can't, I will wait for our Dec trip.

 

[WDW08]

We couldn't get anything in a value in October (19-24), so no...there isn't much deep discounting at the value's either. I switched our December dates so that we could get a better deal and we did really well at AKL from 11/30-12/3, but it's just not what I was expecting.

 

[PortieOwner]

The economy is no where near as soft as many in the "main stream" media are claiming. This WDW bookings are as high as ever this Fall so the discounts are not terribly good. I'd expect better discounts in 2009 and especially 2010.

 

[rt2dz]

I stay out of the economy debate because there are two ways to evaluate it, but the fact is I have NEVER seen AP rates this bad before. I don’t buy the APs for the discounts; I buy them because we take a 10 day trip every year and an AP is by far the most economical choice. I do, however, take full advantage of AP discounts, or whatever discount is best. I do appreciate the discount, but

I’m just thinking this AP discount is reflective of how everything else is going at Disney. I’m starting not to see the value at eating at Disney or staying onsite anymore. We may be staying offsite next year, and therefore encouraged to eat offsite. Our overall Disney travel style will probably change to onsite one year, offsite the next year, and then skip a year.

I don’t know. Treating your most loyal customers badly just doesn’t seem like a good idea to me. If they can send out tons of 40% off codes, they could give their AP holders a little more than 17.25%.

 

[Maine-iac]

I punched in my current reservation info (Dec 11-16 POR Riverside) on the AP website and the total came out to be the same as it is with the 30% pin code I am using.

So I guess the amount of the discount depends on the time you are going?

 

[Charleyann]

I punched in my current reservation info (Dec 11-16 POR Riverside) on the AP website and the total came out to be the same as it is with the 30% pin code I am using.

So I guess the amount of the discount depends on the time you are going?

I didn't think $54 a night for a value was too bad? I am only there a cuple of nights before switching over to 40%...

Charleyann

 

[cheerbop]

This is my first trip with an AP and I was excited to use the room discount...until yesterday. Very unimpressed!!
Our stay is at a Deluxe and we only saved an additional $23 over 3 nights than with AAA.

 

[Disney1976]

I don’t know. Treating your most loyal customers badly just doesn’t seem like a good idea to me. If they can send out tons of 40% off codes, they could give their AP holders a little more than 17.25%.

I totally agree. Right now, I'm booked for 2009, and saved a lot of money with AAA at AKL (room only reservation). In fact, it was way over 20%. I doubt when AP rates for 2009 come out for when I'm looking, I'll save much more based on what's been said here, and that's disappointing -I would expect Disney's AP discount to be better than anything AAA could give me. But I've been a passholder for years, and sadly, this is something I've noticed with Disney. Little by little, they are cutting or eliminating benefits given to AP holders. First time visitors are great, but Disney should realize that AP holders usally go at least 2 times on that yearly pass, sometimes more, which translates into $$$. For locals like me, I'm there once a week on average, and every time I go, I spend money.

At this rate, you have to wonder if Disney will just keep cutting AP benefits to the point where there's no real benefits to being an AP at all!

 

[dawgsgirl]

Looks like the new MYW package is the same discount on the rooms that AP holders were offered. Not postive, my math skills leave a lot to be desired. If this is true, it is really a slap in the face.

 

[helenk]

This is my first trip with an AP and I was excited to use the room discount...until yesterday. Very unimpressed!!
Our stay is at a Deluxe and we only saved an additional $23 over 3 nights than with AAA.

Typically the AP rates have not been much less than the AAA rate. For the past few years I've booked with the AAA rate first and then changed to the AP rate. I've found that I only save $10-$11 per night, but I still change over because with 4 or 5 nights that gives me a meal or 2.

 

[disneyJMD]

I have to agree that the AP rate is not really any better than the offer that just came out.
I priced a 4 night trip Dec 11-15 at all star music with standard room, and dining plan. The price as an AP was $431.09. I then tried it under the current December offer which is the same resort and the same four nights, with dining, plus a single day base ticket, and the total price was $450.21.
In other words, you could get a single day ticket for down the road for only $19! In a way, the offer that just came out is actually lower than the passholder discount--I could pass that single day ticket along towards next years AP and get credit for a full single day at $75.

 

[Disneynut322]

I called yesterday for the AP rate: CBR -- 10 nights (room only) $1596.33

Called today and switched to DGL code:

Same dates, same resort, added 1 day base tickets:

New cost: $1344.11

Bottom Line: New package code saved me a bundle!!!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I was actually very impressed with the savings I have with the AP code. I saved $542.22 on all 8 nights at POFQ Dec 13-21, with AAA I would have only saved $197 on 6 nights, plus I didn't have to buy the extra 1 day base ticket which saved me an additional $300.

On our 1st December trip, my AAA rate was better than the AP rate and it was better on my CR ressie last year, so I was impressed. We won't be renewing our passes when they expire, but might at the time of our next trip whenever we decide to make that.

Suzanne

 

[Amor4Pooh]

Deluxes specifically. I have been reading through the discount threads, and there does seem to be a pattern, the Bounceback offers we recieve in our deluxe/villa rooms are for 40% for specific time periods, and in reading the threads, as well as calling for myself throughout the year for the released discounts and my sister's pincode card (she has not been to Disney World since 2003, and has previously had a Disney VISA but doesn't have one now) no one is getting anything even close to that with the new discounts being offered. I also am interested in hearing about others Deluxe/villas discount experiences and what their research has shown as well. I know I will definitely rebook if they offer it again in our room, and hopefully they will. We were lucky enough to be returning during the bounceback dates at got our Beach Club Villa at 40% off rack rate for this upcoming trip. for 7 nights in September, but we booked it last November during our stay at the same resort.
Amor4Pooh

 

[vicki_c]

I get confused by all the different reports -- my experience is totally different!

We had to switch from a bunk bed woods view room at WL to a 2 queen woods view, but our rate went from $435 to $224 (12/20).

Normally, a bunk bed room costs $20 more than a non-bunk bed room. So, doing some calculations:

$415 would have been my normal rate for a non bunk bed room. With the AP discount we got it for $224, that's a discount of more than 45%.

I'm very happy with the AP code!