Dear Disney re: AP Rates, Or Lack Thereof

[Sammie]

I agree with Miko and I don't think Disney's prices are out of line with their industry. You can not compare prices at Disney to other deluxe hotels at other locations. It is just not the same. In fact it would be very hard to find anything to compare it to. Universal would be close, but even that is not quite the same.

Disney is very unique or millions of people would not go back year after year. Disney does offer a wide variety of prices and some very affordable ones. It does not offer low end deluxe resorts and I really do not see where they should.

Deluxe resorts offer deluxe amenties and even more so deluxe locations. Why do you think so many people want to watch fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian, Location. There is a cost for the location and monorail transportation.

It would be nice if everyone could afford that, but that is not realistic anymore than saying everyone can afford to drive a BMW.

Disney offered on site accomidations in the value range and I do not see where they should be expected to do anymore than that.

As a company Disney will sell their rooms at the highest account the market can support. As a stockholder I completely agree with that. And that market is unique to them and not determined by other vacation destinations. It is determined by Disney.

 

[DMRick]

As a stockholder I completely agree with that.

As a stockholder, I want to see every room filled..even if it means they must discount them. More people mean more overall revenue. Maybe I can start to make enough money from the Disney stock to pay rack rates, if they fill the rooms.
I personally think, if the rooms are already filled, then it's time to pull the Florida rates and the AAA rates. I don't believe, based on my several trips this year, and the choices given when I call they are anywhere near filled...especially in the off times. This is the first time I have been offered movies at a discount (AAA)..that has not happened to me before. I had to take a Music or Sports if I wanted a discount. Makes me wonder what marketing is thinking of.

 

[Lisa3]

Miko - I couldn't have said it better myself!

RescueRanger - I will make sure we take at least two plates and more food than we could possibly eat in a week! LOL - I really got a good laugh out of this. By the way for all of you who might be nervous that I am serious - I'm the one who is always reminding my kids that you can always go back for seconds, you don't have to make the plate so full that you can't find anything!

Tonyspad- You still don't get what I'm saying. While we may want a Mercedes (very good car no matter what the price) some of us can only have the Kias - that is just a fact of life. I am not saying that the deluxe should be discounted so much that it is within reach of everyone (in a perfect world that would be nice though). You cannot compare a deluxe item to a value item - it's like saying an apple is the same as an orange. However, just as Mercedes needs to be in line with BMW, Jaguar or other luxury cars, so Disney's resorts need to be in line with other resorts of the same level. I really do not think even Disney's deluxe resorts can compare to some of the world's best resorts which comand very high rack rates (or so I've been told).

In any case, it is magic just to be able to take a vacation at Disney. There are some that are not so fortunate to even worry about where to sleep on a vacation.

 

[dznyntnh]

I don't think that most people who are saying to book what you can afford are hoping that there are no discount or that the 'riff raff' are kept out of 'their' hotels.

I think they are just tired of seeing people get so stressed out about planning a vacation which should be fun.

There are always going to be hotels that some people can afford and some people can't afford, the owners of the hotels do not have any obligation to make it affordable.

I can remember when, if you wanted to stay onsite, your choices were CR, Poly, Disney Inn and/or FW. Disney saw a market for making more affordable hotels and added the moderates, and then the All-Stars. They were recognizing that while everyone cannot afford to spend the same on their vacation, everyone should have a chance to enjoy staying onsite, if they choose.

Its all about how you want to spend your vacation and your money. I know some people that save like crazy so they can go to wdw once every five or so years and stay Deluxe all the way, and I know others who have to go every year and will stay at the least expensive place to be able to do it.

Some people are willing to go all out on their vacation and charge up a storm, others like to save and save and only spend what they have so there are no bills afterwards. Neither is wrong as long as they can live with what they are doing.

It's the same where ever you go. I love to go to Vegas. Bellagio is my favorite hotel there, but since I can't and won't pay $600.00/nite, I stay at the MGM Grand, which is a great hotel, and go gamble at Bellagio .

Same with Disney, I love GF, but since its way too expensive for me, I stay at POR (or this year WL) and visit GF.

 

[polkadotminnie]

For me it's not whether or not I can afford it, the fun is getting a great deal. It's more the "thrill of the chase" of a bargain. I wouldn't have near as much fun if I was paying rack rate, even if I had a movie star income. We have stayed in a deluxe at Disney, but never would I pay rack. That is why Universal now has my business. There are current bargains to be had and not attached to some email pin number for a select few. Disney is telling me that they don't need my business by not offering any discounts now.

 

[TDC Nala]

Disney should change it's AP discount policy, if they ever come out with a discount again, to require ALL members of an AP's discounted room have an AP.

This would wind up as problematic for those of us who are not a family. It would mean that I could book a discounted room for myself, but if I brought a friend who does not have an AP (who, by the way, would have to buy a ticket to the parks) I would not be able to use the AP discount unless the friend (who probably would not return to WDW anytime soon) bought an AP also.

Maybe it's a good thing that they will be opening Pop Century soon... the repeat visitors need a cheaper place to stay now. I'd go offsite but I dislike renting cars.

 

[DebbieB]

They don't even bother to check most of the time if anyone has an AP. I definitely think they should not allow a child's AP, that is really taking advantage.

I agree with polkadotminnie that we have become conditioned not to pay full price for anything, to hunt for the bargains. At the department store, very few items are not marked down at least 25%. Even at 25% I don't buy, I wait for 40%-50% off. Heck, today I got tops originally $12 for $2.55 each! The part that gripes me about WDW is they say the rooms are full so no discounts, but most rooms are filled by people who got at least 40% off (FTP, FL Res, Postcards/E-mails). Probably very few are paying rack rate.

 

[DMRick]

They don't even bother to check most of the time if anyone has an AP.

You just don't know they are checking. If you bought an AP, you are in the computer..therefore they don't have to ask. If they ask, somehow you didn't make it to the computer..hence, some people are asked, most are not.

 

[mousehut101]

I for one have never spent anywhere near $150 to stay at a hotel with exterior cooradoors. And to say hotels like POR and CBR have a good location is rediculous! Why should they charge -$154 a night... because they have BUS service?? Come on!

And maybe if Disney didnt make their "moderates" look like "values" (I am not making fun of either here - this is just my opinion)...we would'nt want to stay at a deluxe. But seriously...ever see Universal's Royal Pacific? Thats MY IDEA of a moderate - and it is the same RACK rate as Disney's Mods and they have Boat transportation - no stupid diesel buses.

See -- the problem here is much greater than just discounts, its discounts incorporated with $20-$30 increases a night each year for as long as I can remember---can anyone else remember the last time Disney did'nt raise their rates in a year? Paying $2.50 for soads, $10 for a quick service lunch....And don't tell me its inflation because the percentage of inflation is no where near Disney's perspective.

I realize I'm whining here a little, and some of you might tell me to go to other places, but I won't...I'll still go to Disney, pay an arm and leg -- But not without a fight . It just really bothers me that they do charge so much because some people who are less fortunate are not able to go as often as we have here on this board...just something to think about.

 

[franw]

Sorry, Mousehut, but I disagree with you wholeheartedly. While I love to get a discount as much as the next person, I still feel I am getting my money's worth at the CBR at $150/nite. I don't think it looks or feels like a value and I like the location. We also love its location. I am sure there are a lot of folks who stay in the values that do so even at rack rate because they want to stay there. In fact, I was oblivious to discounts until a couple years ago and always paid rack rate and never felt "taken". In fact, while I love some of the other resorts, I have found the outdoor corridor aspect of the CBR creates a much quieter room. We've been disturbed at 2 am more than a few times in the deluxe resorts by obnoxious guests in the hallway. The free enterprise system allows Disney to raise its prices or reduce its discounts because it can. I can't count how many times I have been at the CBR and it has been completely sold out.

 

[Sammie]

Actually people who can not afford Disney's rates for rooms can stay off site and enjoy the parks just as much as someone staying at the Grand Floridian. That is the wonderful thing about Disney, once you pass through the gates everyone is equal as to enjoyment of the parks.

I think many make much too much out staying with Disney. It is not the end all to a great vacation.

However if you really, really want to stay there then Disney determines the prices, like them or not, and you have two choices, pay them or stay elsewhere.

 

[Purrrrfecta]

Originally quoted by Lisa3

Again, just my thoughts. Sometimes the best ideas come from those of us who do not have a degree in marketing but in psychology instead!

Absolutely, Lisa

Mousehut said,

I for one have never spent anywhere near $150 to stay at a hotel with exterior cooradoors. And to say hotels like POR and CBR have a good location is rediculous! Why should they charge -$154 a night... because they have BUS service?? Come on!

You know Mousehut, I was thinking the same thing. Is the $154 a night for the landscaping? There is limited room service, the rooms are tiny, and you may have to walk a long way just to have a meal? I don't get it.

On the other hand, there are some who are willing to pay that amount. Give me the Hilton or the Swan for the same amount or even cheaper for that matter, and I can even have room service in the morning if I wish!

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by DMRick
You just don't know they are checking. If you bought an AP, you are in the computer..therefore they don't have to ask. If they ask, somehow you didn't make it to the computer..hence, some people are asked, most are not.

You are only in their computer if you have activated your AP. The first time we used our AP for the discount we hadn't activated them so we were not in the computer. They still never asked to see them.

 

[DMRick]

You are only in their computer if you have activated your AP.

We had only bought a voucher..and she found us immediately in the computer upon check-in. First words out of her mouth were..oh, I see you have an AP. We had to give our names and addy when we bought the voucher (everyone doesn't?)...but we had used our DC, so maybe that's why. We then went to the park and got our actual ticket.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by DMRick
We had only bought a voucher..and she found us immediately in the computer upon check-in. First words out of her mouth were..oh, I see you have an AP. We had to give our names and addy when we bought the voucher (everyone doesn't?)...but we had used our DC, so maybe that's why. We then went to the park and got our actual ticket.

Not everyone apparently. I bought 3 AP vouchers at the Disney Store and they never asked for anything. Since you are allowed to buy, I think, up to 5 APs at a time, they had no idea who I was buying them for. I too used my DC card. The reason most if not all do not receive their Mickey Monitor until they get the pass activated is because they have no info or addy of who to send it to. Ask a CM about the MM and they will tell you that you can't get it until your voucher is activated for that reason. I could have bought AP vouchers for 3 friends and since they wouldn't know them from Adam they wouldn't have the info in their system until activation. Possibly the CM knew you had an AP because you told them when making the reservation? I think when you make a reservation using the AP discount you tell them at the beginning so that is what is in the computer. At check in they are supposed to see the actual activated AP. Most CMs do not ask for it.