Changes in AP discounts and Death to BRP

[Sammie]

I think most if not all that post here regularly are glad BRP is gone. That being said I would like to share some thoughts on preventing BRP and any similar program from returning.

These thoughts are my opinion; but they are also based in some part on conversations I have shared with friends that work for Disney.

If you want the AP program to remain the way it is now:

Don't book rooms, hoping for a discount if you truly know you can't afford the room without the discount. This only messes up the system for everyone.

Don't book multiple rooms while trying to make up your mind which room you want. Make up your mind, then book.

Don't call the DRC every hour, every day asking about upcoming Discounts. The DIS and Mousesavers will have the discounts posted literally before they hit the computers at Reservations. This constant calling ties up phone lines and generally frustrates everyone that works there.

Don't try to scam the system by not having your AP or voucher when you arrive at the front desk. By doing this you cause the rest of us to pay the price of your messing with a system we all appreciate.

Email Disney and let them know you are glad the old way is back. After all many of you emailed to tell them you hated BRP, so let them know you appreciate the change.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

You are sooooo correct in saying to email Disney & let them know. We all email to complain, but very few email to thank...

 

[Sammie]

You are sooooo correct in saying to email Disney & let them know. We all email to complain, but very few email to thank...

 

[MAKmom]

What is the email address?

 

[safetymom]

Boy this thread is strangely silent.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

What is the email address?

I use this one
https://secure.disney.go.com/wdw/contact/contactUs?id=ContactUsPage
after getting into it, I went to Annual Passholder questions as my heading, that was they only way I was able to do it...

 

[maxiesmom]

It is sad how many people were writing on these boards of how they hated the BPR system and how horrible it was, and now that it has changed back they have nothing to say. Disney does not owe us this discount, and I for one am glad it is back! Hopefuly most people will follow your advice about how to not abuse the AP system. If everyone goes back to their old tricks, what is to keep Disney from changing back to the BPR system, or maybe one that is even more limiting? Please post where to send out e-mails thanking them for getting rid of BPR!!!!

 

[Susiesnowflake]

Well, I am only one person, but because of the change, I am going back to WDW next month! I was not a fan of the BRP and refused to book under its terms. Terminating the BRP allowed this AP holder to book an unplanned trip under the 60 day mark, so Disney World here I come! I am very, very pleased and happy!!!

 

[rcraw45425]

I, for one, am very pleased to see BRP go. I feel better about our April trip knowing that if I desire, I can also book another trip between now and then at AP rates. The 60 day thing was my biggest issue. THere are a lot of times when we'll decide, semi-last minute to make a trip due to coldweather here. Knowing that we can book within the 60 day window is a blessing. THANK YOU DISNEY!

 

[Sammie]

Boy this thread is strangely silent.

I have to admit I wondered that myself. I remember pages upon pages of threads about how horrible the BRP was, so hopefully those that disliked the BRP or at least parts of it, will let Disney know you appreciate the changes. You can email them by going to Disneyworld.com then click on Contact Us.

As to no comments to the other suggestions about misusing the system, I certainly hope that does not mean I hit to close to home for some and they were actually guilty of the misuse. (Just Kidding)

 

[DMRick]

Just because we aren't posting on this thread, doesn't mean we haven't written or called to let Disney know how we feel. I've never abused the AP system (I don't happen to consider booking POR, and changing to POP if an AP rate doesn't come out..especially when the CN is encouraging me too, abuse..feel free to jump all over me for that..lately, that is done a lot on these boards). I bought my AP for two reasons, the perks and the admission...more the perks. Disney often tries different ways to make things work. Whichever works to their benefit is the way they will go. They found out this new way didn't work for their benefit. Obviously, as abused as some think the old AP system was, Disney thought the new system was worse..or at least not making as much money for them. If there is a part of the old system Disney didn't like, they'll take care of it. I certainly don't need anyone other than Disney, to tell me how I should use my AP. I don't need to be told that if I want the AP program to remain the way it is now, I need to follow certain rules. Disney is a big business..I'm sure if there is something they object to, they'll fix it. There are many many people who have never even heard of the Disboard, and have no idea there are only certain ways that other diser's want them to use their AP.
As far as telling me to not book a room I'm not going to get unless I get an AP rate...well, I guess those CM's who encourage it, should be told to stop. I assume that Disney has many more people booking rooms they don't plan on keeping without an AP rate, actually keeping them in spite of not getting a "good" AP rate. Sort of like the time shares giving deals (cheap rooms) to get people there. They have the stats on how many buy in. If it didn't work for Disney, they are smart managers, and I'm sure they would again make a deposit non refundable. It's just so easy to fix this, if in fact Disney (the owners) have a problem with it.

It is sad how many people were writing on these boards of how they hated the BPR system and how horrible it was, and now that it has changed back they have nothing to say. Disney does not owe us this discount, and I for one am glad it is back! Hopefuly most people will follow your advice about how to not abuse the AP system. If everyone goes back to their old tricks, what is to keep Disney from changing back to the BPR system, or maybe one that is even more limiting? Please post where to send out e-mails thanking them for getting rid of BPR!!!!

IMO, this is not a very nice thing to say (below). Your idea of abuse may not be someone else's or even Disneys. I personally think most people didn't post here, because they were surprised by the content:

As to no comments to the other suggestions about misusing the system, I certainly hope that does not mean I hit to close to home for some and they were actually guilty of the misuse.

 

[Sammie]

Rick, I certainly did not post my opinions to make anyone feel guilty. The comment about no one commenting was tongue in cheek, hence the laughing icon and hair raising one, guess that did not come across.

As to my comments about abusing the system. I know that changes to the AP program were a result of some the very circumstances I listed. This is based on conversations with management at the DRC.

As to the CM's encouraging you to book a room you have no intention of keeping unless you get a discount, personally I have never had that happen and if it does happen it simply is a case of a CM trying to make quota and could care less about the big picture and how that affects others.

Discounts are released to book rooms, if bookings are up, discounts are down.

I have no intentions of "jumping all over you" for your opinions, you are entitled to state them as I am mine.

Sorry if my opinions rubbed you the wrong way, that was not the intention.

As your said your idea of abuse of a system and mine possibly are different. I guess only time will tell if the current system stays.

 

[tinkinthehouse]

What is BRP and what has changed?

 

[Sammie]

What is BRP and what has changed?

Best Rate Plan was a very short lived Annual Pass discount program that had very strict guidelines for booking and cancelling a reservations. You had to book weeks in advance to get the discount, which prevented many from taking last minute trips with a discount and the refund policy was very restrictive.

This plan has been changed back to the old way of booking discounts.

 

[DMRick]

I too have talked with people who work at Disney. Most said they were told the reason they went to on line bookings, was so Disney could employ less people. Most major hotels have done that, even giving a discount if you book on line. I just saved $15 a night today booking a trip on line. So with so many people hearing/giving different reasons, we'll prob never know the enitre truth.

You would not have it happen to you (a CM telling you to book anyway), because you only book what you intend to keep. I have, when I have called to see if there was an AP for my time frame, more than once, and several have posted on these boards that they too have been told that. I love POR, and it's been suggested to me that I go ahead and book it, that chances are an AP would come out. I can't say what I would have done, because in the last couple of dozen trips, it's happened..an AP has come out, and I've added it to my reservation. I also have booked a trip, once SouthWest has come out with a great rate at a value, and if the AP hadn't come, I would have cancelled and stayed offsite. This has been on the recomendation of the CM answering the phone (the booking in anticipation, not the booking offsite). I buy my AP more for the room rates and perks (and some on these boards thinks thats wrong, but Disney just keeps selling it to me ), and while I go to the parks, that isn't my main reason to go to Florida. I like the sunshine in the winter, and with the previous, and now these AP perks, I'm able to do it.
As far as the big picture, I can only state again, that Disney is good at what they do. If something is going to upset the big picture (as this best rate has done), they know what to do to fix it. So, I'll go by what they allow. If they think something is abuse, or not working as they want it to work, I'm pretty sure they'll put a plan in effect to stop it.

Yep, we all have different ideas and opinions.

As to my comments about abusing the system. I know that changes to the AP program were a result of the very abuses I listed. This is based on conversations with management at the DRC.

As to the CM's encouraging you to book a room you have no intention of keeping unless you get a discount, personally I have never had that happen and if it does happen it simply is a case of a CM trying to make quota and could care less about the big picture.:

 

[ciera321]

I totally agree with OP and my thank you e-mail is on it's way!!!

 

[tinkinthehouse]

So are there any AP codes out?

 

[Carnotaurus]

All this thanking Disney ... I don't know ...

Disney is a business that makes decisions based on profits. The folks at Disney didn't change the AP discounts to punish us for being ingrates. They changed it because they thought they could make more money with BRP. Now, it seems like they couldn't -- so they changed it again.

It isn't our job to act a certain way to stay in Disney's favor (beyond obeying the rules as dictated by Disney).

The old AP system wasn't bad because we were such bad, conniving customers. It was bad because it was confusing and capricious. AP holders went to crazy lengths to get discounts because the system made you go to crazy lengths just to take advantage of the discounts offered to you when you bought the pass.

 

[DMRick]

Bingo! Making money, that is what it is all about for Disney.
Yes Tink there is an AP code out.

All this thanking Disney ... I don't know ...

Disney is a business that makes decisions based on profits. The folks at Disney didn't change the AP discounts to punish us for being ingrates. They changed it because they thought they could make more money with BRP. Now, it seems like they couldn't -- so they changed it again.

It isn't our job to act a certain way to stay in Disney's favor (beyond obeying the rules as dictated by Disney).

The old AP system wasn't bad because we were such bad, conniving customers. It was bad because it was confusing and capricious. AP holders went to crazy lengths to get discounts because the system made you go to crazy lengths just to take advantage of the discounts offered to you when you bought the pass.

 

[Sammie]

All this thanking Disney ... I don't know ...

Disney is a business that makes decisions based on profits. The folks at Disney didn't change the AP discounts to punish us for being ingrates. They changed it because they thought they could make more money with BRP. Now, it seems like they couldn't -- so they changed it again.

It isn't our job to act a certain way to stay in Disney's favor (beyond obeying the rules as dictated by Disney).

The old AP system wasn't bad because we were such bad, conniving customers. It was bad because it was confusing and capricious. AP holders went to crazy lengths to get discounts because the system made you go to crazy lengths just to take advantage of the discounts offered to you when you bought the pass.

Definitely Disney is the business to make money. However when productivity or the effectiveness of making money is reduced by the response the guests have to a certain program then Yes changes are made.

Example if thousands of people call every day, checking on upcoming discounts, then they tie up the phones, which prevents guests wanting to book rooms to get through, which in turns cost them money. So Yes Disney wants to stop this constant calling just to ask, Are the codes out yet for 2010?

Also providing good service and gracious service is good business for Disney. If guests continually show up at the Front Desk after booking an AP rate without the voucher or pass, then Disney is forced to do one of two things. One take a hard edge at checkin with this guest and cause a scence (something they would rather avoid) or stop the program all together or go back to something like BRP with online booking.

Disney likes to keep thier resorts filled, this is good business. They would prefer to book all rooms at rack rate. However if that is not possible then discounts are offered to fill these rooms. If guests book rooms they are going to cancel if they don't get a discounts, then it gives Disney a false sense of bookings. Then fewer discounts are offered, which affects all of us wanting a discount.

So I will agree that Disney wants to make money, but I also know they have a vision on how their programs should work and if the guest manipulates that to the point it is not effective for Disney, changes will be made. BRP was just that, and let's hope it does not come to that again.