Fall/Winter AP rate news!

[Princess Mommy]

I agree, unless you are already a AP holder, I wouldn't advise on going this route until the dust has settled and we all get more information. This is going to make all of the guests where are thrilled with the free dining annoyed because this does more then complicate things for a possible return trip!

Info has been trickling in all day and I don't thik the CM's all have a full awareness of the new plan, so I think it is advisable we all sit tight.

 

[BrianD]

I may be in the minority here, but I'm starting to think that Disney is trying to re-arrange the passholder program to cater to guests who go at least a couple of times a year and they are wanting them to become renewing passholders, rather than let their passes expire.

We are in a pattern where we are going about every 6 months, and our plans were to get 3 trips on one set of passes, let the passes expire and then buy new passes 6 months after that, for the next trip. Our current passes expire Dec. 17, so we were planning on going on our December trip just before then, let the passes expire, then buy our new passes in May '06 for our next trip. With this new program that Disney is introducing, it means that this plan I have would no longer work.

So what's my other option? Scrap being a passholder and start buying 10 day passes with the "no expire" option and try to strech those over 2 trips. Well, to renew my annual pass would only cost about $20 or so more, so if I renew I can get the room discounts and other discounts offered.

Speaking of the other discounts, it seems like they are on the increase. Making this DDE available to passholders is a big deal IMO, getting 20% off of most meals. Plus the 25% discount for special ticketed events.

I think with this new Best Rate program, as seems to usually be the case with Disney, they just throw a new program out there and then fix it as they go. I think that once this thing settles out, it will turn out to be a program to reward dedicated (& CURRENT) passholders.

So I think Disney is working on getting passholders to become renewing passholders, and force the passholders just looking for a room discount to look elsewhere (i.e. MYW packages).

JMHO!

 

[lillygator]

The situation is especially confusing for someone who already has the AAA room-only discount, since if they book the "Best Rate Program" right now they'll lose the AAA discount, but maybe they'll get a deeper Annual Pass discount later. Or maybe not.


exactly my prediciment!

 

[DVCconvert]

but I certainly hope they will go back to giving regular AP rates - I'd be fine with them requiring an active AP to book those rates if they needed to to make sure they're getting the business and people aren't just trying to beat the system.

To Quote....EthansMom:

This sucks!

 

[lillygator]

I think with this new Best Rate program, as seems to usually be the case with Disney, they just throw a new program out there and then fix it as they go. I think that once this thing settles out, it will turn out to be a program to reward dedicated (& CURRENT) passholders.

So I think Disney is working on getting passholders to become renewing passholders, and force the passholders just looking for a room discount to look elsewhere (i.e. MYW packages).

JMHO!

I sure hope so...we renewed our passes in February and have made 3 trips so far this year...with two more to come....

 

[cobbler]

Brian-
You kind of do what I do. We buy passes in December, go on the December trip, again in October and then another small trip right after Thanksgiving again before they expire. Then we let them lapse because we won't go until December again and start the cycle over. In my case, however, it would NOT be beneficial to renew them and pay for a year that I am not even going to be there. So where does that leave me?? I have been a passholder for a while, just let them lapse every other year. So this is going to hurt me as well as others who do similar things with their passes or those who have to let them lapse for various other reasons.

 

[lillygator]

OT - Brian are you in Gville? is the we bare all Cafe Risque?

 

[mamalle]

I still cannot access the site- all I get is system error...

I do not feel comfortable giving them money that is nonrefundable and having to do it 120 days out.

 

[jenjersnap]

I may be in the minority here, but I'm starting to think that Disney is trying to re-arrange the passholder program to cater to guests who go at least a couple of times a year and they are wanting them to become renewing passholders, rather than let their passes expire.

We are in a pattern where we are going about every 6 months, and our plans were to get 3 trips on one set of passes, let the passes expire and then buy new passes 6 months after that, for the next trip. Our current passes expire Dec. 17, so we were planning on going on our December trip just before then, let the passes expire, then buy our new passes in May '06 for our next trip. With this new program that Disney is introducing, it means that this plan I have would no longer work.

So what's my other option? Scrap being a passholder and start buying 10 day passes with the "no expire" option and try to strech those over 2 trips. Well, to renew my annual pass would only cost about $20 or so more, so if I renew I can get the room discounts and other discounts offered.

Speaking of the other discounts, it seems like they are on the increase. Making this DDE available to passholders is a big deal IMO, getting 20% off of most meals. Plus the 25% discount for special ticketed events.

I think with this new Best Rate program, as seems to usually be the case with Disney, they just throw a new program out there and then fix it as they go. I think that once this thing settles out, it will turn out to be a program to reward dedicated (& CURRENT) passholders.

So I think Disney is working on getting passholders to become renewing passholders, and force the passholders just looking for a room discount to look elsewhere (i.e. MYW packages).

JMHO!

You know, that is really interesting and I hope it turns out to be true because your situation is similar to mine. My main issue in terms of alienating passholders is the nonrefundable aspect of it (though no last minute bookings is annoying too). Most of the other changes I think are okay.

Our trip last May was canceled - literally - the morning we were to leave because I had to have emergency surgery. We had the AP rate at two deluxes so two deposits and Guest Services was amazing about it. Because it was not technically refundable, they moved our ressie to a later date so that we could simply then call and cancel for a full refund. I have my doubts that, if God forbid that situation ever happened to anyone else and they were signed up for the AP Best Rate program, whether they'd get the same consideration (though in my case, the AP rate was not a huge factor to the situation!). I hope so, but it just seems a lot more hardline. *shrug*

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

For those who want a rate that will be within the 120 day timeframe by the time Disney straightens things out I don't think your scenario will be any different than it would have been under the old system. After all how many people would be willing to book rack rate on the off chance Disney MIGHT lower their rate during their timeframe?

But...this won't get me to renew my AP ... I use the AP to get a discounted room for the weekend before checking into a DVC resort. The DDE card requires a purchase of $250 of food before breaking even and it is primarily available for table service. I'm one person and I don't eat table service daily. Unless Disney is switching over to nonrefundable deposits in general I can't see why I would do this. Further I think this would make Disney a bit more vulnerable to the competition. They didn't add all THAT much for the Happiest Celebration... I'm very likely to go back to my old pattern of buying the longest hoppers I can get and mixing them up with Universal/Sea World passes.

 

[zulaya]

I think what is most frustrating is ALL the inconsistent information. Refunds, no refunds, best rate, keep AAA, whatever. No one seems to be able to get consistent information and the CMs don't even seem to have it yet. I hate to get up in arms over something that is not fully explained, but the red flags are EVERYWHERE all over this program.

I think Mary Waring summed it up nice...while it sucks to wait and see, I think we have to do that. Sucks for those of us who just want a straight answer, but it seems that Disney can't give a straight - and CONSISTENT - one to anybody yet.

It just galls me that they seem to think we would all be gullible to sign up for something that MAYBE will get you something better than rack rate IF they feel like offering one, but they want a NON REFUNDABLE deposit. Tell me where this doesn't sound fishy? Do they really think we are all stupid?

 

[Tinkaroo]

Didn't I read somewhere towards the top, that at the very least on the TA website, they would allow a booking with just an AP voucher #? In that instance, the AP would at least not have to be activated to book the room. Now, you'd have to use a TA if that doesn't become available on the passholder website, but since I typically like working with a TA, I have no problem with that. (Since you don't pay usually anything out of pocket for their services, it might also be a nice perk for their business.)

But, I agree with others. Let's all sit back, take a deep breath, and see how more information comes down the pike. I can't believe Disney would want to alienate their passholders, and by eliminating even the potentiality for discounts on last-minute trips, etc., it doesn't seem in their best interest.

Don't you just love though, how this was rolled out on a Friday afternoon? We'll all probably have to wait until Monday when more of the senior people get back to work at guest services, etc. to get a good idea of what is going on!

 

[dawgsgirl]

If nobody uses it, it won't work. Disney needs the APer's to stay at Disney!

 

[zulaya]

If nobody uses it, it won't work.

Exactly!

 

[TDC Nala]

Three things bother me here..."120 days" "nonrefundable deposit" and "to the general public"

Maybe it's time to buy more DVC points. At least they let me cancel more than 30 days out.

 

[CPer'sMom]

post removed

 

[MinnieM21]

Ok, I will admit that I haven't read through every post on this thread, so I will apologize if I'm posting something already brought up.

I was just wondering why CRO would give this info to the OP ~~ if this info isn't available to everyone and all the CMs at CRO don't know about it, why is everyone so sure that it IS the 'new policy' for APs?

Just a thought, or maybe wishful thinking?

It's on the AP website.

 

[CPer'sMom]

It's on the AP website.

Thanks....I just saw that and was deleting my previous post

 

[MinnieM21]

Thanks....I just saw that and was deleting my previous post

Your welcome.

 

[BrianD]

OT - Brian are you in Gville? is the we bare all Cafe Risque?

No, I live in the Atlanta area, but I see them all coming down I-75. The funny thing is there is a place similar to it (with similar signs) just south of Macon, GA, so I get to see a lot of 'em!