Fall/Winter AP rate news!

[Joan1]

None of us charge for our services and I am not aware of a single specialist agency that imposes any restrictions like their own cancellation fees etc.

One of the specialty agencies does charge its own cancellation fees and that is MouseEarsVacations.com the ones that are recommended by deb wills site. They have a $25 cancellation fee

 

[freakylick]

as much as I love Disney, I don't expect them to be looking out for my best interest when it comes to my money!

That's probably the best (and most concise) summary of my disdain for this new program.

Hopefully Disney IS reading...because I would hate for them to lose some of my money because I was pretty much forced to stay offsite.

 

[CharlesTD]

Honestly why should Disney care what a small % of people think on a web site when they have the population of 100's of millions to pool from. It is a business decision and if their decision erks some and makes them stay off site that just means more open rooms for the people that will pay higher rates so it truly is a win win for them as they don't have to offer lower room rates and they still fill the rooms with higher prices. It really makes me laugh how it seems people take this decision personally it isn't done to make any one person mad or make them stop coming to WDW it is done to make money for the company and for me as a shareholder. If it really that hard to pay for disneyaccomodations maybe one should look elsewhere for vacations or for accomodations when visiting Disney.

 

[WannabeBelle25]

BTW welcome to the Dis WannabeBell25

Well thank you so much!!! I have met a few really awesome people from these boards in my day so I thought Id come on over and see what everyone had to say over here!!!!!!!! Thank you for the warm welcome!!! Belle

 

[colleen costello]

As AAA discounts are suddenly seeming more attractive, can someone tell me how they work? My parents always have AAA and I could certainly get it... In the past I have always booked us 2 rooms at the AP discount. If I wanted to do an AAA discount, do I call Mickey or AAA? Aren't they released at the beginning of the year and then offered until they are all gone?

Thank goodness I have DVC and only book a few cash nights a year! This is stressful!

 

[WannabeBelle25]

Once again, you are right in that a lot of people pay rack. But I'm not going to agree that necessarily a lot of passholders pay rack, unless they are inflexible with their dates or something. Most every passholder that I know, again, knows to call to at least try to get a passholder rate before they consider paying the rack rate. But I agree, if you're talking about just all the calls that come into CRO, then yes, the majority of callers probably are not passholders or florida residents or anyone who might be eligible for a discount, and end up paying rack rate. But I think most passholders are a little more educated now about looking for a possible discount, and would not consider doing all those restrictions just for a small chance at a discount, it would have to be a large chance. Otherwise, why not just wait and get the best discount by phone? hehe

I agree with ya Free Diver!!! I am just going to continue booking my rooms the old fashioned way for now unless this new program gets some serious makeovers!!! Belle

 

[WannabeBelle25]

One of the specialty agencies does charge its own cancellation fees and that is MouseEarsVacations. the ones that are recommended by deb wills site. They have a $25 cancellation fee

I have seen this before as well!!! My own travel agent does not impose any kind of fees like this, but one of my friends booked with a travel agency and I had found out about a discount offer. In order for her to cancel her trip for any reason, she would lost 10% of the cost of the trip!!! As this was over a $3000.00 trip that kinda negated any savings she would have gotten!!!
As Lollipop Mom said, travel agents are paid by commision. I know my own agent is as well. Do some agents charge for the right to book your trip and then get paid by the venue they book for you? most likely!!! Just be careful and ask all the questions you need to to feel comfortable with your agent!!!! Belle

 

[freakylick]

Honestly why should Disney care what a small % of people think on a web site when they have the population of 100's of millions to pool from. It is a business decision and if their decision erks some and makes them stay off site that just means more open rooms for the people that will pay higher rates so it truly is a win win for them as they don't have to offer lower room rates and they still fill the rooms with higher prices. It really makes me laugh how it seems people take this decision personally it isn't done to make any one person mad or make them stop coming to WDW it is done to make money for the company and for me as a shareholder. If it really that hard to pay for disneyaccomodations maybe one should look elsewhere for vacations or for accomodations when visiting Disney.

I would think that, as a shareholder, you want the company to encourage people to vacation at WDW and stay in their hotels. Unless they fill up the every room on-site during the time frame that I planned on vacationing there, losing my business directly impacts their bottom line. Do I take this decision personally?!...ABSOLUTELY!!! It is my money and my vacation that is involved, so it is personal. They are a business and they make their decisions from a business perspective. I understand that and I accept that...but my decision to visit or not visit has a direct correlation to the decisions that they make...Thus it is personal. Does it make me mad?! Well I feel less confident that I will be able to afford a Disney vacation than I did 3 days ago...so I wouldn't say that I am mad...more of a frustration.

 

[tigertam]

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

Fanofgoofy,

I am new to all this and just started reading this thread tonight, but I think you did a very interesting thing, it says alot about your personality! I am interested to see what happens. I think good things will come of it!! I think Disney will reward those who dare to take the plunge.

I am already booked at WL for 10 nights in Sept. We are happy. These are our origional dates and I am learning alot off these boards. This newest one I am watching to see what happens. I wish I could fast forward and just find out the ending!! Good Luck!!

 

[Sammie]

I would think that, as a shareholder, you want the company to encourage people to vacation at WDW and stay in their hotels. Unless they fill up the every room on-site during the time frame that I planned on vacationing there, losing my business directly impacts their bottom line. Do I take this decision personally?!...ABSOLUTELY!!! It is my money and my vacation that is involved, so it is personal. They are a business and they make their decisions from a business perspective. I understand that and I accept that...but my decision to visit or not visit has a direct correlation to the decisions that they make...Thus it is personal. Does it make me mad?! Well I feel less confident that I will be able to afford a Disney vacation than I did 3 days ago...so I wouldn't say that I am mad...more of a frustration.

I think everyone understands the frustration of trying to get the most for your money. We also understand the frustration that some have more expendable money than others. Disney understands that too, that some are willing to pay rack rate. Certainly if this new program, or lack of sufficient discounts leaves rooms empty then Disney did not make a good business decision. However if now that business in the travel industry is on up swing from the days of 9-11, then should Disney offer their rooms at any less than the highest rate they can sell them. Only time will tell if this change impacts their bottom line, I don't think it will.

Prior to the travel industry slump when the only discounts Disney offered were Annual Pass and Florida resident they were asked in an interview why they did not offer across the board general discounts like other hotel chains. Their reply was, "at this time we don't need to discount our rooms to fill them, except for a very few times during the year, during those times we offer Florida resident and Annual Pass discounts. Also if we offer discounts to fill rooms year round and there comes a time we don't need to discount the rooms the public will get upset we took them away."

I am not sure how long many you have been going to Disney but those of us that have gone for years, I mean 10, 20 etc. AP and Fl resident were it. There were no AAA, or email codes, or PIN codes, or postcard codes. Annual pass discounts were also not released until Disney knew for sure they were not going to book them at full rate. You did not even know about the rates until you got your Mickey Monitor. They were limited and had blackout dates, just as Florida resident discounts did.

If Disney can again sell most of it rooms at rack rate, then discounts will be fewer and fewer.

 

[FanofG00fy]

tigertam,

Thanks so much!!

I hope you are right about Disney stepping up for those of us who are trying it out.

Like I said, I'll keep everyone posted!!!

Pixie Dust to everyone right now!

Chris

 

[MagicKingdom05]

FanofG00fy,

I'm probably going to try it for my first trip of 2006 (4th of July), once those dates are released online later this year.

 

[DisOrBust]

I am for one am relieved!! We have been passholders for 6 yrs our family of 5 and now I have come to the conclusion we are done with loong vacations at WDW!! Since we were passholders we stayed at Deluxes never went offsite this for us this is done. I refuse to play the pay rack rate and wait and see. Sorry I have enough stress at work I don't need it when planning a vacation!!

Universal has beautiful resorts with AAA and passholder rates. I miss not seeing SeaWorld the past couple of years...since we has AP's...and now Cypress Gardens is reopened...and we haven't been to St Petes in 4yrs....since we had APs....


Now I will buy our 10 day non expire passes since they will make more sense then buying Aps and stetch them out over the next few years vacations....Disney will be seeing about 10 grand less from our vacations to WDW with my parents. I'am sure my 10 grand won't matter but how many others like myself are out there!

oh and we just got the DVC info in the mail, HaHa kiss my ***!!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Disney Club offered discounts well before 9/11. We used it often! It was available to most anyone willing to do some research. They also (a long time ago) offered discounts to share holders.

 

[crazyj4488]

I just started digging into all of this info so forgive me for my ignorance. I'm just trying to clarify some things. First, for the life of me, I can't seem to figure out what PAP is? Something..Annual Pass. Help.

Second, and most importantly, from what I read here, it sounds like the way we usually do things may still be around (refundable deposit - 5 day cancel - can book 20 to 30 days in advance versus 120) but this new program should offer better discounts...basically, booking under the large restrictions is rewarded with the best discount rate.

Am I getting all of this right? Any further help would be appreciated. This is overwhelming.

Thanks so much for the person that started and updated this thread.

 

[WannabeBelle25]

Hy Crazy J, A PAP is a Premium Annual Pass and it includes admission to EVERYTHING water parks, Pleasure Island, Wide World of Sports etc. as well as to the Big Four. No difference in terms of the discount stuff though.
And yes you are absolutely correct in terms of how you are looking at the program. I for one will probably continue to use the old AP method. I am uncomfortable booking a room at a rack rate and essentially HOPING that an AP rate comes along for the time frame I am going!!! And if no discounts come out, I cant cancel my trip without loss of the one night's deposit!! If I Am letting Disney know 120 days out & dealing with all these restrictions, they should be giving me the AP rate of a certain percentage off immediately, not this wait and see game!!!!!! Also I know others here have said that the $50.00 change fee will only be applied if your changes cause your ressie to be for less than you had booked for or that the system adjusted you to based on discounts. Id like to get that in writing as I dont trust it as it stands now!!!!! Belle

 

[crazyj4488]

Ahhh...okay, I'm solid on the PAP now. I'm familar with the option to the AP. It just didn't cross my mind while trying to figure out what that meant. Thanks for clearing that up and thanks for the further clarification of what is going on with the room rates. I am on the exact same page as you as far as the concerns and preferences go with this.

Thank goodness for DIS'ers!!

 

[CharlesTD]

DisORBust what is the big deal if you were looking at DVC then why the need for the AP discounts you have your vacation accomodations paid for without any hassle or worry wondering if a code or rate is coming out. Your statement really contradicts itself. Not that is matters but I think that is funny we love DVC and never worried about finding discounts from codes etc we booked what we knew we could afford without a discount and just went to Disney.

 

[lllovell]

Holy mother of long threads Batman!

I think that as with all Disney annoucements, this one has been overanalized and picked apart by people here because lets face it - we are obsessed.

My thoughts are as follows:

Take a deep breath and relax. You will get the best rates available by booking under the new system. They WILL match any AP discount codes that might be released to the general public, but the chances are great that the only real way you will get these discounts is to go ahead and book now. Disney is trying to fill their hotels. If they can get more and more people booking at 120 days or sooner, if they can keep people from making multiple reservations and clogging up the system with rooms they won't truly use, if they can make sure that the people planning the longest get the best deals (which is becoming the standard in the travel industry) then its going to be all for the better for all of us. YES, people traveling last minute might not get the best deals because there won't be any of the "reduced" rates left. YES, there is a non-refundable charge (which there already technically is on airline tickets and many online reservation services for hotels) and as long as I can TRANSFER my deposit to a new ressie, I don't have a problem with this either. The people that call and move reservations and change their minds and keep 10 hotel room combinations are costing the rest of us money. It takes more CMs to deal with those people. As someone here pointed out, it takes away the "discount" on those rooms, etc.

Basically, what I see here is a "if you want the AP discount rate, book now". I suspect they will change the system to actually reflect some 10-15% off the rack rates when you first make your reservation, but that they will be able to better judge discounts and availability if people are making plans at 120 days or earlier rather than overwhelming them when the AP discounts are opsted. I am certainly not saying there aren't kinks in the system, but the howl I am hearing hear makes no sense to me. This is the same as the "Magic Your Way" screaming (which works well for almost everyone) and other gripes and moaning I hear often here.

Disney wants our money. They want us to come as often as possible. They are NOT going to do things to run off current customers. They might shift things and some people won't like it, but those people will be replaced with others who LOVE the new system.

That brings me to the final thing I suspect this is for. They KNOW that many people let their annual passes expire. We don't do that anymore (at least as long as the DVC discount is available to us) but I can see how it makes good financial sense to do it if you are a family that can squeeze 20 days into one pass and then not renew for 6 months and then squeeze an additional 15 days out of the next "year" etc. They WANT us coming back as often as possible so keeping an active AP will encourage this for many. Magical Express and the DDE discounts, etc are all proof that Disney wants us on property and spending only at WDW (makes perfect business sense). If they can get more people simply renewing, then the cash flow is more balanced and even throughout the year. This is one more program to attempt to get vacationers to maintain a year round APs using the renewal program and not letting them lapse and simply buying new ones. Will it work for everyone? No, of course not. Will it work for the overwhelming majority of AP holders, I bet it will work just fine because they NEED the AP people.

(I laughed at the comment about Disney wanting to sell DVC more than APs...no way - they want every dime they can get and while they dug into my pocket more this year when we bought in, they wont be getting more from me AT the parks without a good annual pass program that gives me incentives like DDE to stay onsite and over my 50 years of ownership at SSR, the annual expense of eating, shopping and playing at Disney will far outweigh the money I put in for the actual BUILDING of the DVC resorts I call home.)

Relax people. They need us. They want us there. They want people like us to keep telling the world what a wonderful place Disney is. They do make the same money of 10 first timers as they might of me going 10 times in 2 years (I wish!), but I am the one that will bring 10 other couples into the "WDW Fanatics Club" with me, thus upping my "value" to WDW in general.

 

[Lewisc]

YES, there is a non-refundable charge (which there already technically is on airline tickets and many online reservation services for hotels) and as long as I can TRANSFER my deposit to a new ressie, I don't have a problem with this either.

Non-refundable charges are not common on rack rates, or even lightly discounted rates. They're certainly common with 50% off web-rates but normally not with AAA, AARP and even Entertainment rates. It's already been posted that Disney will be charging you a $50 change fee.

I wouldn't even have a problem having to pre-pay for my entire stay at time of booking if that was necessary to secure a deep discount.

If this is the trip I was planning to buy/activate my AP than my decision includes comparing a possible AP discount on a room with package discounts that may include meals and tickets. Really no way to make that comparison without know the amount of the discount.