Complaints...AP Codes

Leota said:
My complaint is that the Boards lead people to believe they are entitled to an AP rate, even if they aren't AP holders - That it is perfectly fine to book the AP rate & get a child's AP just for the discount, which possibly shuts an AP holder out of the rate designed for them. Yes I know Disney allows this loophole & yes allows folks to exploit it, but I do find it disappointing.....

I think all our talk of codes here really raises peoples expectations & sends the signal to not go unless you get a code. I think you should go to WDW & stay where you want & can afford & if you get a code, count your blessings instead of expecting it or taking it for granted.


I think you need to remember that anyone who want's to utilize an AP code by buying one AP pass is a valid AP holder and the code was designed for use by him/her also. Disney uses the codes as a marketing tool to get people to buy an AP pass as well as a "perk" for regular AP buyers.

You also need to remember that some families rely on the codes because they have too. Even the value resorts make for an expensive stay if you have little or no discretionary income.

I found your post very condescending, not at all helpful or informative like the posts on these boards are usually full of....
 
I got more or less the same story as Chris this morning. "The system is down. You could call back in two hours or I'll take your information and give you a call back later when the system is up."

I did give the CM my info., but I also called back immediately and got a CM whose computer was working just fine and was able to apply the AP code to my reservation.

(Like I'm going to wait two hours while all the AP rates get booked up?)

EthansMom
 
::yes::

The first time I bought an AP was back in 1998, and it was a seasonal pass. I made my reservation and intended to buy just one seasonal pass to get the discount. But as I investigated further, I found that the seasonal pass worked out better, price wise, than other options, and I ended up buying one for DD as well. We ended up getting another short trip out of the passes later.

Since then, I buy the passes because they are the best admission media for us when it comes to $$, and I view the room discounts as a nice perk, when I can get it.

But I don't consider those that buy the passes just for the discount to be working a loophole or exploiting anything. It isn't a loophole - Disney has set it up so that you don't have to have the pass in hand in order to make the reservation.
 
I'm confused to why people are so upset with both the lack or availability and also the percentage discount Disney is offering AP holders.

Nearly everyone on here has already made a reservation, without a discount, for the time they are planning on going to WDW.

So, that means Disney sees rooms booked at rack rate for every resort category. Why would it then offer discounts for the same time period when it already has the room booked at rack rate? Like a previous poster said, Disney is a business. Its their job to make sure stockholders and corporate higher-ups are satisfied with the bottom line. Allowing rooms to be discounted that are already reserved at the highest possible rate is not going to achieve that goal.

Then, after months of complaining about whether Disney is going to even release AP codes, it does, but that still is not good enough. You want more, more, more discounts. What Disney is offering now becomes not good enough.

Would you like Disney to offer you a complimentary week simply for being AP holders? No where does it state Disney is bound to offer discounts to those who purchase APs. And if Disney does decide to offer discounts, no where does it say it has to be at the same percentage as previous discounts.

People are now contemplating canceling their vacation because they can't afford to go to Disney since the discount was not what they expected. It's this very reason why there are few discounts available. You reserve at rack rate, Disney realizes this, then adjusts availability/discount percentage accordingly.

You've made your bed, now go sleep in it. And stop complaining.
 

I agree--so the new game plan is to not book ANYTHING!!!! That way they will have to give out those great rates!!


I am so forunate I have my DVC :love:
 
HANDYMOM said:
You also need to remember that some families rely on the codes because they have too. Even the value resorts make for an expensive stay if you have little or no discretionary income.

No...people can choose to stay off-site in a room they can afford. No one HAS to rely on a code. No one is entitled to a code. You sure would think so, however over the whining going on!
 
Me. I was bummed, but made rezzies at another resort that had room available. You should do the same.

ChrisNif said:
Who was promised the AP rate, once the system came back up...only to find out they sold it out before they called you back.

I'm probably not going to go now....
 
Leota said:
Goofy4tink - I think it was about '99 when they changed the renewal policy. Previous to that, you had a grace period - you could renew, then not activate until you went, even if it was 6 or 9 months later....
Close! For the record, it was June 5, 2000. ;)
 
Leota said:
My complaint is that the Boards lead people to believe they are entitled to an AP rate, even if they aren't AP holders - That it is perfectly fine to book the AP rate & get a child's AP just for the discount, which possibly shuts an AP holder out of the rate designed for them. Yes I know Disney allows this loophole & yes allows folks to exploit it, but I do find it disappointing.....
I wasn't aware of this "loophole", I thought Disney made their rules, and one of them was you could use a child's AP to get a room, as long as a child was with you, Just like you can have four adults in a room, and just one AP, or ho wyou can have one adult AP and get three rooms. I think the people to complain too, would be Disney, not the people who are following Disney's rules. No "loophole" here.
Keep trying for AP rooms. In the past, I've gotten one night at a time, and "hooked" them all together in the end. I know some have posted they don't go back in the pool, that once someone cancels, that AP room is lost forever and reverts to rack rate, but then there would be no explanation to why I can call back and get an AP, when I didn't first succeed.
As far as high expectations, boards like this help you to get the most for your money, but often it's more for people who can change plans to make the discounts fit. I've often had to change my dates, to get a discount, not something you can easily do for a honeymoon. Just like using any discount, that may only begood on certain days of the week, or certain food..it's just the way it works. Disncounts are usually most prolific when the offering company (such as a rental car) needs to fill cars, or rooms, or restaurants.
It just doesn't work out for all, all the time...just liek when we brought our family over the winter break..the deals were far and few, because everything was already full.
 
One thing I have experienced over and over again with central reservations is that situations change minute to minute. Several times in the past I called with code in hand and was told no rooms were available. Hung up, got another CM and TA-DA, a room at that rate was available. I think it depends upon the CM's experience with the computer system, cancellations by other guests, etc. It doesn't hurt to call again. The worst they can tell you is what the 1st CM did.
 
I can certainly understand being told something only to find out the next day it was not accurate, very disappointing.

As to the other remarks about discounts, everyone would love to have a discount on anything they purchase, be it Disney resort rooms or cars. It just does not always happen.

The parks are open to everyone, regardless of where you stay. I think many on these boards forget that and act like staying offsite if the kiss of death. There are many very nice place with breakfast included near Disney for much less that Disney charges for their value resorts.

Many can not afford Disney resorts with or without a discount, is that fair. Afraid so. Many can not afford a luxury car.

But I do agree many book above thier budget, knowing in advance if they don't get it they will have to cancel. You truely are hurting yourself by doing that. Disney offers Discounts to book rooms. If rooms are being booked at rack rate they are not going to offer them or as many.
 
Brendan I agree with you on alot of what you said. Especially on the subject of people booking a vacation counting on a code. Then if a code is not avail they cancel. I believe too this just works against good codes coming out. All of these rooms are booked so why should Disney offer any discounts? If you cant afford the vacation w/o codes dont book it. I will probably get flamed for that comment but I know the resort I would like to stay at is just out of my range right now so I booked where we stay offsite and have been watching and hoping that a code would come out to make staying at a Deluxe more affordable to us right now, if not maybe next time. The only gripe I'm having is that so far the codes have only been extended to AP holders and Fl. res. Personally I think if codes are released they should be made available to everyone without exclusions. I understand about the whole AP thing for incentive to come back etc....but we all spend our money there....some may spend more on resorts, some on tix, some may spend more on food there are so many variables that need to be taken into consideration.
 
We bought our APs primarily for park access. We will get three trips for a total of 23 park admission days out of our APs, so that is a huge savings right there.

AP room discounts are a fabulous bonus when we get them. I'm happy to save anything, but I only book what I am willing to pay. The rates aren't as good as last year, but we now have the added perk of the Disney Dining Experience card. That is going to save us a lot of money on this trip, and then we can use it and share the discount with family & friends who are going with is in October. Also, Magical Express is saving us the cost of transfers.

I feel that I am getting great value for my AP. Frankly, I always thought I got a lot for my money at WDW long before I found these boards and learned about APs & codes.
 
Dont worry, this last Jan we went through the same thing. First try we only got the AP rate for half our days. A few days later, we got the AP rate for our entire stay, but not at the value resort we wanted. Days later we got the AP rate at our second choice in the value resorts and we settled in for out long arrival date. A couple weeks later, I called again and found out AP rate at the resort we wanted without any problem. SO, if you dont get what you want the first, second, third etc keep calling. People are always changing reservations, resorts, cancelling etc and it has always worked out for us.
 
colleen costello said:
Leota, I agree with your argument except for one thing. Disney changed the way AP's are "renewed" so that if you automatically renew now, the clock starts ticking right away. In years past your new AP didn't "start" until your next visit. Because of this, I expect there are a lot of people like me. I consider my self an AP holder, even though mine expired some months ago and all I currently hold is 4 "vouchers." We will activate these when we arrive at WDW (in 2 days!). I hate this system because I miss getting the Mickey Monitor they mail to AP holders, but it is too expensive to renew automatically when we may not be returning for 6 months... So there are probably a lot of folks like me, who hold vouchers but want the AP rate.

That's us!!!
 
Leota said:
My complaint is that the Boards lead people to believe they are entitled to an AP rate, even if they aren't AP holders - That it is perfectly fine to book the AP rate & get a child's AP just for the discount, which possibly shuts an AP holder out of the rate designed for them. Yes I know Disney allows this loophole & yes allows folks to exploit it, but I do find it disappointing.....

I think all our talk of codes here really raises peoples expectations & sends the signal to not go unless you get a code. I think you should go to WDW & stay where you want & can afford & if you get a code, count your blessings instead of expecting it or taking it for granted.

Would they accept a child's AP for the discount? In the past I've just purchased one for myself.
 
Originally Posted by Leota
My complaint is that the Boards lead people to believe they are entitled to an AP rate, even if they aren't AP holders - That it is perfectly fine to book the AP rate & get a child's AP just for the discount, which possibly shuts an AP holder out of the rate designed for them. Yes I know Disney allows this loophole & yes allows folks to exploit it, but I do find it disappointing.....

I don't know if I agree with this one. What about people who are purchasing AP's for a trip and then want a discount. Why can't a person have just one AP and apply the discount to a room? Only AP holder's like you are entitled to the discount? I don't think people believe they are entitled to an AP rate but if they come available and they can purchase an AP and get the discounted rate what is unfair about that? Are they not paying the same price for the AP you are? Are they not paying the same room rate?
When I read post's like this it makes me feel like you think because you are a current holder of an AP you are therefore better then any of shmucks who are planning our first trip or who don't currently belong to your club. Maybe a good way to even everyone out would be for no discounts to be offered to anyone and Disney could actually price the rooms at the rate they want for them and not treat their customers like they are buying a used car. Maybe then no one be disappointed :)
 
It is the OPs decision to cancel his/her vacation/honeymoon. However, I have also seen posts for the time period in question indicating there weren't as many discounted rooms for late April (some people are even having trouble finding rooms) So... the call back may or may not have been the issue. We will never know.

Did you try other resorts? I realize your dates aren't flexiable but I have seen several people have to move from one resort to another to get the discount

Also, there have been posts indicating the "Childs AP" loophole is going away. I wouldn't continue to risk it.
 


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