Best Rate Program is the pitts!

[A Mickeyfan]

I have finally decided where I was going to stay for my 12/1 trip. I am going to stay at PO-R. I few weeks ago I thought about booking thru the Best Rate but wasn't sure where I wanted to stay. I was not comfortable with the $50 change fee. I called spoke to a CM about the fee, she said it could be waived etc... but I didn't book. I went to book today for 12/1 & cannot! The system says I am to late for the 120 window time frame. It says to call for my ressies. I called & the CM was very nice & he couldn't get me an AP rate either. System was giving him the rack rate. He tried everything he could to help me. He agreed that the Best Rate Program may not be the best thing. He said he wasn't sure when AP or FL rates will be out for that time frame now. This program is the pitts! Not everyone is 100% sure of their travel that far in advanced, especially us Floridians who are passholders & frequently like to go for long weekends! I did get my MVMCP tickets so I knew my dates, just wasn't sure of hotel. If the rates do not come out, I will not pay rack rate. I will stay offsite before paying that. Disney needs to come up with a better Best Rate Program!

 

[bicker]

The program is specifically intended to reward folks who are willing to make the commitment that long in advance. It is a fine program for the folks who can make that commitment -- for the folks who are happy to use the program as it is intended. There is no requirement to use the program, so if the program doesn't meet your needs it is best to focus your attentions on other programs Disney offers.

 

[tekmom]

Is it possible to make your best rate ressies further than 120 days out. Can i make them for say, AKL for next July, now? Or must it be exactly 120 days away?

 

[TDC Nala]

From the way this thing works, apparently you can make reservations at rack rate through the service and if a better rate becomes available they will drop your price to match it.

Actual "best rates" are only out right now through 2/15.

I am not comfortable with the nonrefundable deposits or change fees, so if I decide to use the service I will have to be absolutely certain I want to stay in that resort at that time.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

what is the Best rate program? thanks!!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

The program is specifically intended to reward folks who are willing to make the commitment that long in advance. It is a fine program for the folks who can make that commitment -- for the folks who are happy to use the program as it is intended. There is no requirement to use the program, so if the program doesn't meet your needs it is best to focus your attentions on other programs Disney offers.

I hate to point it out to you, but there is a requirement to use the Best Rate Program, you must be an AP holder. They may be "rewarding" those that can make a commitment that far in advance, but they are punishing those that are paying the taxes for all roads leading to Disney in the state of FL! I would love to "focus" my attention on other programs Disney offers but they aren't offering any at this time. I don't mean to sound harsh to you & I can see your point, however; I don't think that you saw mine judging from your response. As far as it being a "fine program", I have to disagree. What "fine" program takes your 1 day deposit 120 days out & will not give a refund! What happens to those that find 60 days out that they cannot go, they lost their job, they have an illness etc... they aren't going to get a refund. I don't have a problem booking 120 days out, as long as I know there is a window to cancel & with this program there isn't. I just booked with Universal for the RPR (at a lower rate than what Disney can give me PO-R for) for my stay the week prior to Christmas. I gave them my credit card. I have all intentions of going, but in the event I must cancel, I will get a refund as long as it is done 5 days prior to arrival. The only places that I can think of that do not give refunds are like Priceline & Hotwire. They deeply discount rooms & that is there reason. Disney's Best Rate Program isn't a deep discount. I know we are entitled to our own opinions & yours is that it is a fine program & my isn't. Like I said, I understand your point, but you didn't understand mine.... there are no other current offers (besides rack rate) for me to turn to, AP & FL rates aren't released & I am not a member of AAA. I just don't think this is fair for Disney to do. I live less than 3 hours away & don't always plan that far in advance. I can't speak for all of us Floridians, but I would think that most of us this close to Disney that are passholders do as I do. Also just to let you know, I couldn't make my mind up not knowing if I would be a party of 4 or 5. My husband wasn't sure if he could go with us. He found out yesterday that he could. I wasn't going to book a room & pay extra if he wasn't going. Should we put the blame on his job since they are the ones that just told him he could have off those days? If he wasn't going, I was going to book one of the values to save the money. We go about every 6 weeks, so staying at a value saves us money. In this year alone (since Jan), I have gone: Jan, Feb, March, April/May, June & just came home last week from an off property stay because there was no availability for me. I am also going Labor Day & the begining of Oct for sure (have my ressies & made them less than 120 days out). May also be going for Veterans day in Nov (not sure if there or Universal so I haven't booked anything yet) Please don't tell me that program is a "fine" program, it may be for you, but not for me and many others like me. Maybe they should start rewarding their "frequent guests" instead of punishing us?

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Is it possible to make your best rate ressies further than 120 days out. Can i make them for say, AKL for next July, now? Or must it be exactly 120 days away?

As of now, they are only out for stays thru Feb.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

what is the Best rate program? thanks!!

The program is suppose to be designed for AP holders to get the AP discount on their room. You must book at least 120 days in advance to get the lower rate, you must give them one nights deposit which is non-refundable. The web site states any changes are subjected to a $50 fee. I have gotten different versions on this from CM's. Some are saying that the fee can be waived depending on the circumstances for a change. As of now, they are only showing the AP rates up to the middle of Feb. Hope this helps you. If you are a current passholder, you can log onto the offical Disney web site & go into the the passholder section. It will explain it all to you. As you can see from my posts, I personnaly don't like it.

 

[alohaguy]

I am not a big fan of the best rate program either ...

First off, when the program was introduced -roughly June 17th - it was a complete mess. CRO had no idea what the program was, yet they were happy to take your money online. Since then, the program details have been released to those that answer the phones so information is more readily available.

I booked reservations for December, but had a lot of difficulty with the system, and virtually no help from Disney.

I feel the program does hurt AP'ers that go multiple times a year ... like myself. I live in MA but still come down 3 to 4 times per year. At least half of these trips are planned within 4 to 6 weeks prior to arrival at passholder rates. This program will virtually eliminate that possibility. Seems to me that they are putting the screws to those that are most loyal ... AP'ers that visit disney multiple time per year.

All that being said, if there are still traditional phone rates availalbe (which I highly doubt) then there would be no problem. We'll have to wait and see.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

From the way this thing works, apparently you can make reservations at rack rate through the service and if a better rate becomes available they will drop your price to match it.

Actual "best rates" are only out right now through 2/15.

I am not comfortable with the nonrefundable deposits or change fees, so if I decide to use the service I will have to be absolutely certain I want to stay in that resort at that time.

Yes, that is exactly what the CM suggested I do, make it at rack rate & then wait for the discount. I didn't do it. I am going to wait a little longer before doing that. They will not automatically drop your rate, you have to call to have it changed. I agree with you 100% about not being comfortable with it which was why I didn't do it last week. I couldn't see making it for the value resort & chance paying the $50 to upgrade to a moderate, or making it for the moderate & my husband not going then having to pay to down grade. I got different responses from CM's about that $50 fee & if it isn't in writing that it will be waived, I am not going for it. I truly cannot see this program working out in the long run. Not many people can chance the non-refundable deposit.

 

[tekmom]

so i can't even book now for next july with Best rate? I understand i would have to book at rack, but does it allow you to at least book and they'll apply the discount if one comes out later? Someone said that Disney was trying to thin the herd on AP holders, maybe they were right.

 

[alohaguy]

From what I was told - by a Guest Services manager - whatever rate you book at with Best Rate is the rate you will get. In other words, if you book at rack rate you will NOT get a passholder rate when they are released. To get a passholder rate through this program it has to be availalbe for the dates and hotel you select when you are booking. It is confusing, but this was the answer I was given from several managers at CRO.



Good Luck

 

[TDC Nala]

there is a blurb on Mousesavers.com that says do not book "standard rates" through the Best Rate website - your rate will not be readjusted if you do that.

More confusion.

 

[tekmom]

Wow..I am very close to just booking with CRO at AAA discount. If you factor the AAA discount at akl, for 7 days, with the $420.00 on an AP, that I won't have to lay out for, on this next trip, I can still do this next trip cheaper than 2 weeks ago at akl with the AP rate I had. Thanks.

 

[bicker]

I hate to point it out to you, but there is a requirement to use the Best Rate Program, you must be an AP holder.

What I meant was that it is not a requirement to use the program.

I would love to "focus" my attention on other programs Disney offers but they aren't offering any at this time.

A very clear reflection of the fact that travel and tourism is booming -- demand is at a high point, and so there is no need to discount offerings.

What "fine" program takes your 1 day deposit 120 days out & will not give a refund!

As you pointed out, the availability of discounts in a year when travel and tourism is booming is very small, so anything that guarantees that you're not going to end up paying more than the best public rate is worth something to many people.

The only places that I can think of that do not give refunds are like Priceline & Hotwire.

US Airways didn't give me a discount when my wife got sick keeping us from flying to see my mother last month. Non-refundable deposits are a very very common aspect of many travel and tourism offerings.

Like I said, I understand your point, but you didn't understand mine.... there are no other current offers (besides rack rate) for me to turn to

You're highlighting just how valuable the program is.

I just don't think this is fair for Disney to do.

How is it not "fair"??? Again, there is no requirement to use this program. It is not compulsory. You, as the customer, have full veto power over the offering: You can just decide to not purchase it.

 

[bicker]

Seems to me that they are putting the screws to those that are most loyal ... AP'ers that visit disney multiple time per year.

Well, to a business, the most loyal customer is the one willing to pay a premium for their products or services -- not the one willing to purchase their products and services at a discount. Discounting optimizes asset utilization; folks paying the premium represent the riches source of a business' success.

All that being said, if there are still traditional phone rates availalbe (which I highly doubt) then there would be no problem. We'll have to wait and see.

The only reason why there wouldn't be traditional AP discounts available would be if there were enough AP holders happy to commit to the non-refundable discount.

In other words, if you book at rack rate you will NOT get a passholder rate when they are released.

The guarantee is that the Best Rate will be better than any publicly available rate offered. The guarantee doesn't include restricted rates, such as AAA or AP rates.

 

[swilphil]

The problem is I bought an AP in March just so I could take another trip within a year and get a room at the AP rate. Due to many circumstances beyond my control, I can not book a non-refundable room 6 months in advance.

I haven't been following all the AP rate news since our trip is up in the air, but do they still release regular AP rates? Do they still have public codes?

 

[bicker]

The problem is I bought an AP in March just so I could take another trip within a year and get a room at the AP rate.

I made this mistake, several years running. I also bought an AP expecting to get an AP room discount. I learned the hard way that AP room discounts were very hard to get. I never landed one. It was very frustrating.

I haven't been following all the AP rate news since our trip is up in the air, but do they still release regular AP rates? Do they still have public codes?

There have been a few, from what I've read, but as mentioned earlier, there really is very little need for discounting this year.

 

[TDC Nala]

Let's see if I have this right.

Currently, if you do not wish to commit to a nonrefundable deposit and book up to 120 days out through the best rate program, there are no AP rates available for any stay that begins after October 4.

120 days from today, August 7, is December 5. If your stay begins before December 5, you cannot use Best Rate to book. You might still get an AP rate from CRO by phone, but only if your stay begins on October 4 or before.

If you don't mind using Best Rate to book, you might be able to book an AP rate through that system for stays beginning between December 5 and February 15 (blackout dates are excluded, 12/20 through 1/1). You are subject to the rules and restrictions required by the Best Rate program.

Otherwise, call CRO, book at rack rate, and if an AP rate is released for stays after October 4 you can call and change the reservation like you would have before all this Best Rate stuff got started. If you don't want to book rack rate at all, wait to see if an AP rate is released, then book when one is.

If you want to book a stay beginning after February 15, you can do it through the best rate website, but you will be booking rack rate, you are NOT booking through the Best Rate program, and your rate will not be readjusted if a discount is later released through Best Rate.

How did I do?

 

[tekmom]

I think you did good...but I'm still confused...does anyone believe they will ever release regular AP codes ever again? I'm new at this and I don't see it happening. Why should they bother, in their opinion, they've offered AP rates through Best rate and if the train leaves the station without you...too bad. Hope I'm wrong.