Fall/Winter AP rate news!

[dcgrumpy]

I have another question. Say you book a room through the passholder site from 10/22-10/30 and a code comes out beginning on 10/23. Are you going to get stuck paying rack rate for whole trip or will they discount the 23-30th.?

 

[ms.ojo]

LollipopMom:

Thanks again for all your diligence on this subject. What a mess. I am in the boat of owning an AP, already booked w/ AAA and not willing to go into the system on the "chance" it might be better than my AAA and I agree w/ your advice on that subject. I do like the idea of online booking...but am just not a gambling person.

That being said, I do think when the dust settles, only the people who sign up for this will get the "best" discounts. Part of me thinks if Disney didn't at least match the AAA rate, there would be a HUGE hue and cry from AP holders. My feeling is, w/out knowing the #s.....that more rooms at AAA rate would still be better for them than some rooms at AAA and some rooms at deeper AP. But if they offered >AAA rate to these AP guests who sign up online.... they'd probably be offering a LOT more rooms at the deeper AP discounted rate then they do currently and that would hurt their bottom line and we KNOW they don't want to do that. Follow me?

I think more of us would be willing to do this if by the online system you're booking at a rate that is at LEAST equal to the AAA rate if you have one. Of course there are still many others issues relative to this program that are upsetting to Passholders too. hard to wait and see....but hey, maybe that IS why they did it over the weekend, to see some of these issues surface, make some corrections, and get on w/ it.

 

[cobbler]

TLinden-
It won't let you book online if you are less than 120 days out.

From what I have been reading there is a solution to keep both sides happy.

1 - Make the deposit refundable someway. Either by the current system now with prior to 5 days arrival or just like the packages with prior to 45 days arrival. This would eliminate a TON of upset people and allow for some tweaking of reservations if necessary.

2 - Allow only those with an Adult AP to book AND an adult voucher already purchased and in hand. This allows those first time AP holders wanting to make the swtich from MYW to AP's to be able to get some benefits too without having to waste 3-4 months of their AP needlessly. Also for those of us who let their AP's lapse every other year because we vacation December, October and small trip in Nov before they expire and then start the cycle all over again in December. No need for me to renew for a year I won't be there.

3 - Allow the purchase of an adult AP at the same time as you book reservations without having to go through a TA. Some of us like to do it ourselves, that's half the fun of it. And some of us actually do know more than the TA's that we may end up with. Some of us don't like having to rely on someone else to get things done for them.

4 - Allow discounts at less than 120 days out. There are those that make unexpected trips at the last minute or can't book until the last minute due to scheduling. Think work, stepfamilies and such. I have a stepson who thankfully lives with us but planning visitations can be a headache.

All of the above would keep Disney happy in that it would eliminate a lot of the loopholes for the child AP thing, those not getting the AP at all.

It would also keep AP holders happy in that they could get a refund if some other package deal came out or something happened where dates had to be changed or couldn't go at all. It also allows those who have vouchers to get the rates and those with current APs get the rates. Meaning it has to be bought ahead of time to prevent abuse.

This way seems like a win/win for both sides. The way it is set up now, doesn't.

 

[TLinden16]

Cobbler, I guess I wasn't clear with what I was saying in my post. Sorry. Here's what I mean:

The website is designed for people who can and do book 120 days out. How many of us book a room at rack rate and wait for those discounts to be released? Now we book the room at rack rate 120 days out through the passholder site, and when and if those discounts come available, we will be first in line for those discounts.

If I want to book a spur of the minute trip a week in advance or a month in advance, I'm assuming that I will still be able to call and see if there are any discounts available for the dates of my trip just like we have always been able to do.

I do not see anywhere on the passholder website where it says this is the only way to book an AP rate. This is a way of booking in advance, and not having to worry about calling when the rates are released, or being shut out of an AP rate by people who aren't really qualified to get them.

Karen

 

[chimera]

I apologize if this has been brought up before (I only read the first 6 pages ), but how can you book August or September if you have to book more than 120 days out? So the first dates you can actually book on this program are Octoberish?

 

[cobbler]

T-
Yep, ok, I understand what you mean now. Thanks!

 

[EthansMom]

Anyone else get the feeling that there's a few folks over at Disney "listening in" and letting us debug their program for them so they can release all of the fixes next week and we will have done most of their leg work?

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

Anyone else get the feeling that there's a few folks over at Disney "listening in" and letting us debug their program for them so they can release all of the fixes next week and we will have done most of their leg work?

I was thinking that a few pages back It wouldnt surprise me a bit. In fact, Hi you guys!

 

[n2mm]

I am glued to this thread like most of you. But has anyone else thought that maybe the nonrefundable deposit might also become the new "standard" for all reservations, whether it's online or call-ins? It was great knowing that you could cancel 5 days out, but with this nonrefundable deposit issue, all the rules may be changing. I guess time will tell. Also, has anyone tried the code listed on the AP site for these new discount rates yet: EXH. (It's at the bottom of the page describing this new function.)

 

[ms.ojo]

YES YES...I think they are DEF. looking for some initial reactions to tweek it over the weekend!!!! No matter how many things you try to think of before you release a new "product", there are always more that you never felt would be a big deal.

To me.....letting me book w/ my AAA rate in the system would be something I'd like to see. Then yes, I'd book 120days out, and be willing to sit and see if something better came along. But I'm not going to gamble at rack rate...hoping for better than AAA. Esp. since the wording on the web site still says GEN'L PUBLIC rates...not special AP rates for this group. That part seems to have been forgotten in this morning's postings. I'd even go along w/ non-refundable, as long as my trip dates could be changed and the deposit reapplied if I had to change my dates.

 

[karebear1]

www.disneyworld.com/passholder

Thanks for the website Lisa!S

 

[scoutsmom99]

Anyone else get the feeling that there's a few folks over at Disney "listening in" and letting us debug their program for them so they can release all of the fixes next week and we will have done most of their leg work?

I was thinking the same thing yesterday! They get a whole weekend of market research out of us ! I hope we see some answers on Monday...I know I would like to know/hear a few things:

1. AP holders can still book at less than 120 days out if AP rates do become available (otherwise I will look into offiste accomodations)...either on-line or via the phone
2. That the first nights deposit is refundable like it is in the packages more than 45 days out

 

[FanofG00fy]

Howdy,

Okay, I've been watching this thread since last night. Even thought this was horrible and a tragedy. I even went as far as cancelling my ressie for POR and had decided to stay off site.

Well, this morning, I get up and call Disney. Ask if the EWH code at the bottom of the passholder page had any discounts available....of course...no. Sighed, got back on the boards and did some research, with all the info weighing in my head I went and actually BOOKED a ressie on line. Well, I had booked for POFQ...and when my confirmation number came back, I was booked for CBR! OH NO!!!!! I imediately call the number listed on the site. Spoke to a wonderful CM. She modified my ressie to POR, and I questioned her about somethings I was worried about. Like...

would you do this if you were in the same situation I am in (I'm a 132 days out) answer: Yes.

Do you think a code will be coming out? answer: I don't see us doing this without giving out discounts!

Do you honestly believe in what you just said? answer: (laughing) Yes, I do not see us rolling something out like this without giving a discount since you saw a code.

So you think I didn't the right thing, or did I just loose $166.14? answer: I believe you did the right thing!

Can I have your name and address incase I do loose this money so I can bill you ? answer: (laughing) I wished I made that much!

Throughout the conversation I had with this CM I had no doubt in my mind that I was doing the right thing. I will get a discount when it comes out, no questions asked. I won't have to call, change my resort because it is booked already, change my dates incase I can't have the first or last day. But also, I had already made up my mind to pay rack rate for POR, I already have an AP and I couldn't change my dates. So........long of the short is.....I'm a tester. I'll let y'all know what happens. I Hope I don't get burned, but then again, maybe I'll be getting something good. Let you know what happens!!

Pixie dust to me!!!

Chris

 

[BrianD]

Chris,


Thanks for being a guiney pig and taking one for the team! I hope it works out and that you are rewarded for your loyalty, because as soon as Disney makes things more clear about this and everyone starts jumping on the bandwagon, you will be able to say, "I was one of the very first!"

 

[JenLoy]

Although the website says the rates are good though 12/19, I am unable to select "Dec" for my arrival date. I'm only allowed to select Oct or Nov for arrival dates. Anyone else having this problem?

 

[mmuskie]

I already had a reservation booked at rack rate hoping to apply a code later on. So this morning I cancelled my reservation and booked on-line using the Passholder Best Rate Program. ASMo 10/28 -11/6. No problems, but no discount either..... YET!!!!!!. Soon I hope. Also, when I called to cancel my existing reservation I asked about the non-refundable policy. The CM confirmed it is non-refundable. When I questioned further she said the program was through the Walt Disney Travel Company and that you could transfer the deposit if you needed to change your reservation for a fee. She thought is was $50. With that being said, I took the gamble. I am a guinea pig for the Annual Passholder Best Rate Program.

 

[cobbler]

Kudos to both of you for being the guinea pigs. Let us all know how it turns out.

I still have high hopes this will be just like when they rolled out the new MYW tickets and no one liked them at first either.

 

[FanofG00fy]

BrianD-

No problem! Let's just hope it works out for EVERYONE!!! I promise to keep everyone posted!

Chris

 

[TwoOldPoohs]

I am planning to arrive on October 15th ... that's 119 days from today. I have already booked my flights and car rental, and changing my dates is out of the question. I tried booking a room, but received the following message: Sorry, our packages must be booked at least 120 days from today. Please select a new arrival date or call (407) 939-7734* for reservations. If and when passholder discounts are announced, I hope I'll be able to take advantage of them by phone.

 

[barbeml]

Like most of you, I have been vacationing at hotels for years, and staying at hotels for business as well. I am also a professional event planner who deals with hotel room blocks all the time. NEVER would I book a room-only reservation ANYWHERE with a non-refundable deposit.

If AP rate abuse is the motivation behind this, Disney could have easily solved the problem by requiring a valid AP number for booking and training CMs to check the AP at check-in. If they can verify my AAA membership before giving me that discount, they can do it with APs.