Changes in AP discounts and Death to BRP

[DMRick]

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?

It's an asumption on our part that it's thousands calling. Believe it or not, the Disboard is just a drop in a bucket. Most people don't know they even can call, or find the info on Mousesavers. Which actually, most people who read the Disboard do. Then we don't need to call and ask.

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

This, IMO should be a no brainer. Don't have a voucher/pass? You don't get the discount. It wouldn't take long for the word to spread, and then everyone would know they have to have it.

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.

I'd bet that based on past booking, Disney knows just how many of those rooms will stay booked..just like the airline pretty much can figure out their own overbooking. As far as discounts..just look how far in advance we get AP discounts. If Disney rooms are going begging, that's when they will come out with general discounts. Just like I can figure out the church pews are filled at Easter and Christmas, Disney (and on a more accurate scale using computer generated software) know when to assume they don't need to offer discounts and when they do.

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.

I'm betting they are pretty good at figuring out the manipulations. What they didn't figure out, is that some of us won't be manipulated, and that's where the Best Rate failed.
Just my opinions.

 

[black562]

Sorry to seem ignorant here but can someone please explain to me what the Best Rate Program was? I keep hearing about it but have no clue what it is.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Just thought I share my experiences with AP discounts. I purchased our entire family AP's (3 adults, 2 kids over 3) for use for 2 trips-Oct 04 and Oct 05. I knew that I wanted to stay Poly concierge. On both trips I booked Poly concierge with AAA discount as soon as I purchased air tickets in July prior to the trip. In 2004 I was able to convert my AAA room discount to a AP discount but in 05 I was in that time frame that was just less than the original 120 days out and again just under 60 days when they made that change. If I had waited to Disney to announce those discounts I certainly would have lost out on the AAA discount that I got.

I wasn't able to use BRP but I can tell I didn't like what I heard about it. I didn't like the idea of a nonrefundable deposit.

I was by the way able to book a trip in Aug 05 on less than 1 month notice with an AP discount on 2 rooms at ASMo.

I don't have a problem booking an AP without AP in hand but I think Disney should charge those that show up at the resort without a voucher rack rates. I was never asked for my AP on either of the 2 trips that I had an AP discount for.

I am also another one who believes Disney has a very good feel for the number of cancelations if rates don't come out.

If Disney wants to stop the "are discounts available for May" calls then they could release discount earlier. Disney must feel it is worth the phone calls to hold back on discounts. May just doesn't seem like that far away to me.

 

[weluvpluto]

Thanks Sammie! My email thanking them for changing BRP is on the way!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I think Sammie's intentions were, if you emailed complaining, then email & thank them. She isn't telling everyone to email to say thank you. If you took the time out to complain to Disney about the BRP, then take the time to tell them that they now have your business back since you can book your last minute trips... I thought she had an excellent point. Most people are fast to complain but not fast to thank... that is society today.. we are in a fast paced me me me society.

 

[Sammie]

I think Sammie's intentions were, if you emailed complaining, then email & thank them. She isn't telling everyone to email to say thank you. If you took the time out to complain to Disney about the BRP, then take the time to tell them that they now have your business back since you can book your last minute trips... I thought she had an excellent point. Most people are fast to complain but not fast to thank... that is society today.. we are in a fast paced me me me society.

Thanks, and it's he not she,

Nickname my grandmother stuck with me as a joke for Samuel

 

[TDC Nala]

I'll be booking weekends now whenever a flight price comes out that I can live with, just like last year.

As for whether I wrote or will write to anyone about anything Disney does, I don't consider that to be the business of a message board.