Fall/Winter AP rate news!

[doubletrouble_vb]

I have to wonder what this will mean for AAA discounts next year. There are a lot of people posting here that they will stick with their AAA discounts...but the AAA discount at the gate went away a few years back...who says the discounts for the rooms will remain as low as they have been? If Disney is filling their rooms why would they discount them?

 

[ms.ojo]

I have to wonder what this will mean for AAA discounts next year. There are a lot of people posting here that they will stick with their AAA discounts...but the AAA discount at the gate went away a few years back...who says the discounts for the rooms will remain as low as they have been? If Disney is filling their rooms why would they discount them?

True enough. I'm just saying for my next trip 11/28-12/4 I am already booked w/ AAA. To cancel that, book a non refundable rack rate on the web site (which currently shows it would cost me nearly $300 more for my 6night stay), and HOPE for a better discount is not something I'm willing to do! until they show me a better rate on that site that is comparable to my AAA, I will stick w/ what I have. I know I can afford it...that's why I booked it. But I was hoping to be able to snag an AP rate and perhaps upgrade my hotel, or lengthen my stay. And who knows, MAYBE I will be able to do that still if/when AP rates are announced for that time period. If not, I'm ok where I am. But I would NOT want to be sitting in their on-line booking area at rack rate ($300 higher than my current ressie) and wondering will it match or beat it. If you don't have AAA, then sure, it's worth a shot right now...if you do...no way.

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

I understand your comments trying to imply the passholder is only a park pass but I will have to disagree with that. To my knowledge passholders have been getting discount rooms since at least 2001 even shows these room discounts and the history of them. It isn't a random once in awhile thing. Passholders also have DDE cards for 20% off meals as well as 10% off merchandise. I am sorry, I do not think this is a just a park ticket.

I'm with those who say that the AP is a Theme Park Pass (first and foremost) that offers some discounts (at Disney's discretion) and not a hotel discount card.

If these discounts started in 2001 -- coinciding with the overall drop in tourism due in large part to the 9/11 tragedy -- it would make perfect sense for Disney to try to rein them in now that tourism has rebounded. If the numbers of rooms they can fill at rack rate have increased then it only makes sense that they'd try to fill them at the highest rate possible.

If the AP discounts are tending to encourage people to make multiple reservations without intending to keep them, then it certainly makes sense to try to prevent that. At certain times of the year they may have to turn away customers willing to pay rack rate at some resorts when others are hoarding rooms waiting for a discount. I can see why Disney would need to try to address this.

 

[MAGICX2]

I'd like to know the answer to this as well.

I figured out how to log on with my AP Exchange Certificate!!!
At the top of your AP,EC you will see this:
NB### MM/DD/YYYY WDW:### Tr: ## ###
On the passholders site you will select WDW from the options and then in the first box type in those first three #'s after WDW(WDW:###), then the MM/DD/YY shown on your card and then you put in ONLY the LAST THREE DIGITS of that Tr:## ###.
I called WDW Ticketing office and the nice young lady I spoke with helped me figure it out. Your letters may be different than NB or Tr:. Hope this works for everyone! Bad thing is that when I did check our dates the rate for BC was $371 with tax. I got it for $249+tax with my AAA!

 

[MinnieM21]

I figured out how to log on with my AP Exchange Certificate!!!
At the top of your AP,EC you will see this:
NB### MM/DD/YYYY WDW:### Tr: ## ###
On the passholders site you will select WDW from the options and then in the first box type in those first three #'s after WDW(WDW:###), then the MM/DD/YY shown on your card and then you put in ONLY the LAST THREE DIGITS of that Tr:## ###.
I called WDW Ticketing office and the nice young lady I spoke with helped me figure it out. Your letters may be different than NB or Tr:. Hope this works for everyone! Bad thing is that when I did check our dates the rate for BC was $371 with tax. I got it for $249+tax with my AAA!

Thank you so much!
I've got an activated AP right now (for my Oct. 2005 trip) but for my December 2006 trip I will only have the voucher. This makes me feel so much better knowing I'll be able to log in for my Dec. 2006 trip!

 

[WannabeBelle25]

actually, many CMs have said that you WILL have the option to book less than 120 days with an AP rate, just not on this plan. You can book an AP rate just as you did before, it will just be subject to availability (which I predict will be even more limited than before...but that remains to be seen) and it will not guarantee you the best rate where they will drop it automatically if something else is offered.

They are well aware that many AP holders take last minute trips. That was part of the point of the AP rates, to encourage you to say "we don't have to buy tickets, and we can get a great deal on a room....let's plan a long weekend." They have said that they expect regular AP rates to still be offered. It hasn't been put it writing on the web site yet but it also hasn't been put in writing that this is the only option. More sources have said that the "old way" will still be there than have said it won't.

Hey there Lollipop Mom, I am new here but a long time poster at WDWMagic! Thanks for all your hard work and time on finding out all of the particulars of this plan. This matches what we know as well. One interesting twist that we had heard was that booking via the computer will offer a higher discount that a phone in reservation. So for example if you book a specific resort during a specific set of dates, if you book it online you may get a 35% AP discount, but if you book it via phone it will be 30%!!! for the small percent difference to gamble that a better general public/AP offer will come along and be locked in to a deposit that you will lose if you have to cancel, Ill take the slightly lower rate and be able to do the modifications that I need to!! I usually dont do too many, more often than not just adding a travel buddy into my room is the worst of it. Ah well, just my thoughts!! Have a great day everyone!!! Belle

 

[cobbler]

Just a thought on the DVC, while I would love to do it that way. I just don't have 15G to drop on DVC. And I am NOT going to finance it. I am trying to get out of debt, not create more. Yes it could be equity and blah blah but still, its creating unnecessary debt. If I can't pay for it outright I am not doing it. I would love to do DVC and am currently saving (probably have 200 of that 15G - LOL LOL) for a present to us in 2009.

Feel free to donate to the cobbler DVC fund - HA HA HA HA HA HA

 

[LtlTee]

I tried to get through all 17 pages but didn't quite make it, so I'm not sure if anyone else addressed this.

I understand that the purpose of the AP is to be park admission first, and any other perks, such as room discounts, are just an added bonus. Why is it necessary, however, to limit the discounts to one room per passholder?

Here's our situation: We are a family of 5 and for our yearly family trip I book two rooms. I am the only passholder in the family. (I take a weekend trip here and there with my girlfriend and use my AP, but husband is content to go only once a year, which is the reason why we didn't buy him an AP also.) So under the new system, my husband would have to buy an AP to book the additional room for our family trip. Therefore, he would never get more than one trip's park admission out of his AP. I wish they would have just left it at 3 rooms reservations per AP, or at least drop it to 2 rooms, realizing that a lot of the rooms only sleep 4 and for larger families 2 rooms are necessary.

 

[srfrgrl07]

After browsing through the various threads on this topic, I just wanted to comment on a few things. Please remember this is only my perspective and I am not trying to devalue anyone else's opinions..especially since this is my first post...

1) I think many people are getting upset a little too soon. As with everything WDW does, it's always subject to change. WDW is about guest satisfaction, and if this offer does not satisfy their most loyal visitors, you can bet the feedback will be considered. This seems to be designed to allow an additional method for guests to book...based on many AP holders wanting to book a year's worth of reservations at once instead of having to call every day/week/month to get ressies and being annoyed that the hold time is so long. The reservations line can still book the "old" way, this is just supplemental.

2) Not sure if it was this thread or another one that mentioned that cast members don't realize the expense incurred in a WDW vacation because they get free admission. As a cast member (94-00, left company, back in 04) I can tell you that is not the case. We still purchase food/merchandise and stay in resorts. We still vacation outside of WDW (I know, UNHEARD of here ) and we know it is not cheap. I just went to NYC for a weekend and the money was spent like it was going out of style! WDW is trying to balance the costs associated for our guests and also do so in a profitable manner. They understand that those guests that have APs are more likely to return, and in turn continue to offer the room discounts in appreciation of that.

3) Much of it is subjective...for someone who lives overseas, or west coast US 5 or 6 visits to WDW in their life is alot but for someone in New England or Florida, they visit 5 or 6 times in a year. It's not fair to generalize that those who have been to WDW multiple times deserve so much more than those who have never been to WDW. I believe that loyalty should be repaid, but I also think about families that are less forunate and how magical it would be for them to visit WDW at least once in their lives. Remember your first trip? And be thankful that you have the finances to afford more than one..and you work hard for that. We all deserve a little magic at an affordable price.

That being said, an AP is strictly for park admission and discount programs are never guaranteed. Will WDW discontinue those because tourism is increasing? Probably not...because they know that discount programs factor into a consumer's decision to purchase an AP. WDW is not in the business to "screw" people, and believe me that is not easy to say being a cast member All kidding aside, though...please be patient with the changes and make the best informed decision for yourself and your family. I have enjoyed reading through the topics on this board and I appreciate your acceptance and dedication to WDW...it keeps me employed!

 

[srfrgrl07]

I tried to get through all 17 pages but didn't quite make it, so I'm not sure if anyone else addressed this.

I understand that the purpose of the AP is to be park admission first, and any other perks, such as room discounts, are just an added bonus. Why is it necessary, however, to limit the discounts to one room per passholder?

It's actually still 3 rooms...the website only allows one room at a time to be booked, though. System limitation that hopefully will be solved..it's like this for any res booked online currently.

 

[n2mm]

It's actually still 3 rooms...the website only allows one room at a time to be booked, though. System limitation that hopefully will be solved..it's like this for any res booked online currently.

Thanks for posting. I've digested alot of this information since yesterday and I agree, after reading tons of this stuff, I also see the new program as another tier of the existing passholder room discounts. I don't believe it will replace the old method, but add another avenue for ap holders (the ones that like to gamble) to save more and be guaranteed the lowest discount available. I do believe the nonrefundable deposit is a major issue for most folks, especially when they do not know up front what kind of discounts might appear. As this system moves forward, we will know more. I'm OK with it now, it's the not knowing that makes many of us nuts. I've been an AP holder since 1995, so I have seen alot of changes since then, and most, if not all, have been for the better.

BTW, srfrgrl07, welcome to the disboards!

 

[srfrgrl07]

I'm still confused...in the past AP discounts and all other discounts were limited availability...so if you book online 120 days or more in advance how are they guaranteeing that your particular resort and room level will have enough discounts to go around?
At that point you've paid a non refundable deposit and can't change to a different resort to get the discount.

As I understand it, legally they have to make the rooms available if they post the offer. They will have allocated a certain number of rooms at a discount, like they currently do, and once they are booked they are no longer available online. And in the past, the general codes (last fall, this spring) were slightly lower than the AP and FL res rates. The biggest change is the nonrefundable deposit, and that's a personal choice for everyone to make on a case by case basis. If you ALWAYS visit during Spring Break, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc it shouldn't be an issue. But if your plans tend to change often, you should book the "old" way. As far as last minute emergencies, etc...WDW is pretty flexible with that most of the time (IMO) and I wouldn't stress about that..remember the hurricanes last year?

 

[srfrgrl07]

BTW, srfrgrl07, welcome to the disboards!

Thanks!

 

[WDWBetsy]

I understand your comments trying to imply the passholder is only a park pass but I will have to disagree with that. To my knowledge passholders have been getting discount rooms since at least 2001 http://www.magicalmemoriestravel.com/HistoricalRates.html even shows these room discounts and the history of them. It isn't a random once in awhile thing. Passholders also have DDE cards for 20% off meals as well as 10% off merchandise. I am sorry, I do not think this is a just a park ticket.

I think I made my point earlier, but just to clarify something: yes, Disney has been heavily discounting rooms since 2001. Do you remember why they took such drastic measures? Because no one was wanting to fly and/or travel because of the fear of another 9/11. I stayed at the DD Courtyard for $29 a night back in November 2001. In 2003, there was still a travel slump and we took full advantage of their Fairy Tale buy 4, get 7 nights package.

As more people are traveling, rooms are being filled with the MYW packages (plus the help of the reduced value of our US dollar, which means more people from other countries are coming to WDW for longer stays than most US families). I understand it's not a random thing historically. But again - the AP discount is a perk of the annual pass, and not the other way around. Yes, families count on this to get them to WDW, but it's a perk that can be limited as Disney sees fit - that's why they throw that "periodic" term in the description of the pass, and so they can market a limited amount of discounted rooms to fill up the resorts. As for the new online AP room discount booking, I don't agree with the non-refundable part at all.

 

[triplefigs]

When you buy your AP on line, do you get an exchange certificate immediately? Is the AP then active, or can you wait until your trip?

 

[Lollipop Mom]

I posted this in it's own thread too so that you don't have to dig for it but here is the summary of all of the info I got from Disney on this deal...

OK, I started the thread on AP news and since starting it I've gotten lots of new info. I've tried updating it but it is spread out so here it is in concise form....

I spent many hours on the phone with Disney reservations, guest services and sales yesterday. I even had a lengthy conversation with a sales rep while I was supposed to be having dinner with my family at a restaurant! Her is a summary of the information I was able to get in those conversations:



What we know absolutely for sure:

• this is NOT the release of AP rates, this is a new program but not the rate release
• it is only available online
• online reservations can only be done for one room at a time, the system isn't set up to let you book multiple rooms in one reservation. That is why you can't book 3 rooms with this offer (unless you have 3 APs) [side note...sales says they will be looking at addressing this issue]
• you must use an ADULT AP
• you must have either an activated AP (that does not expire before the trip you are trying to book) or have an ADULT AP voucher in hand. You will need the numbers off of the back of the AP or voucher in order to make the reservation.
• there is a NONREFUNDABLE one night deposit required.
• it must be booked 120 days or more in advance.
• Disney will automatically reduce your rate should any offers be made to the general public that are less expensive than your current rate
• they will not match AAA rates, PIN rates, group rates or "auction rates" (no one could tell me what auction rates were though)
• just like any other offer, it will only be available for a limited # of rooms per resort/room type/view per night
• if you book a split stay, they are 2 independent reservations so yes, you would have to make 2 deposits and yes, they are both nonrefundable.

What both sales and guest services have told me is true but WE haven't seen it in writing just yet (even if they say they have it in writing):
(my sales rep and I had a conversation about the need for an FAQ on this offer to addresss some of these issues in writing. She said she will definitely be bringing that up first thing Monday morning)

• this is NOT the end of the AP rate program as we know it, it's just a way to book and guarantee you don't have to be on the lookout for a discount, it will be applied for you automatically.
• you will still be able to call in and book AP rates as they are released. They will just be subject to availability just as they always have been. Availability will be more limited b/c the rate will be applied to all "best available rate" guests first.
• they will be matching AP rates and general public rates (the wording as it stands currently only guarantees general public rates)
• if you need to reschedule (as in cancel this stay but immediately book another) your reservation will transfer over with a $50 change fee assessed.

what I have(unofficially) been told they believe to be true from all of the info they have been given, but they don't have written confirmation on

• there will definitely be discounts, and discounts better than AAA
• since it is only available to a limited # of resort/type/view rooms per night, there will be no "it's not available for this resort/view" with this offer. If a code is release, everyone on the best rate program will get it.
• since it is limited, there is every possibility that certain resorts/views etc. will be sold out or VEEERRRRY limited (think 2-3 rooms per night) just with best rate guests
• they don't think that ALL AP rate rooms will require a nonrefundable deposit, only rooms booked with this program. The thought is that you take the risk because they guarantee you will get the discounts as they are released. With regular call in rates, that isn't guaranteed
• you will still be able to book 3 rooms by calling in, again, you just won't be guaranteed the best rate.

what I have been led to suspect this may mean for the future
remember, this is all just suspicion...it is not based on anything concrete.

• more than likely you will need an AP or voucher to book AP rates when they are released (remember AP rates and the Passholder Best Rate Program are 2 ENTIRELY different things). Disneyland has had this policy in place and I was told at least a year ago that they expected to see it start happening at WDW soon too.
• one sales CM mentioned that there have been discussions of making ANY discounted room into a package (even if it is just room only) so it would have a 45 day cancellation policy. I wouldn't be surprised if we see this happen. As of now, if you book an AP rate online (again, RATE, not best rate program) the cancellation policy is 45 days. If you made the same reservation by calling in, it is 5 days. Considering that they have been looking for ways to encourage online booking and decrease call volume, I wouldn't be surprised if the call in policy changes.
• one sales rep suspects the possibility of 2 tiers of AP rates, a lower one for best rate guests who have booked well in advance and a higher for guests calling in to book one closer to their travel dates.

my list of questions I am sending to my sales rep Sunday night:
if you have others, let me know! I'll be glad to add them and report back with the answers!

• any info on what this will mean for the future of AP disocunts as we have known them? Is it possible that they are all going to be sold out to best rate guests and nothing available for call in or are rooms going to be held out to make SOME call in for last minute planning available?
• my clients have expressed frustration over that they like the overall idea here, but that they are currently booked with AAA rates while we wait for AP rates to be released. They don't like giving up a discount we've already secured (and that has a 5 day cancellation policy!) to book at rack rates with a nonrefundable deposit when they can't be given any assurance that the rate will end up better than their AAA rate.
• a suggestion that in addition to asking for an activated pass # or voucher # that they allow you to purchase one adult AP in the same transaction as placing your deposit.
• clarification on if a client gets a PIN offer that beats the AP rate (as has happened before) can we call and apply that PIN to the ressie without losing the deposit?
• will the Florida resident rate program have this same offer?
• clarification on how they will match public discounts if the discount is not on the room. For instance, the free dining offer the room is at rack rate, it's one of the added features that are discounted. Will AP holders booked with this plan be given a discount as well? )I have a feeling I'll be told it's apples and oranges since one is room only and one is a package so there would be no discount for the AP holders but it can't hurt to ask, right?!)
• and of course following up on the stuff above that we don't have written confirmation on.

I'll update Monday with the new info as I get it.

 

[Sammie]

I understand your comments trying to imply the passholder is only a park pass but I will have to disagree with that. To my knowledge passholders have been getting discount rooms since at least 2001 http://www.magicalmemoriestravel.com/HistoricalRates.html even shows these room discounts and the history of them. It isn't a random once in awhile thing. Passholders also have DDE cards for 20% off meals as well as 10% off merchandise. I am sorry, I do not think this is a just a park ticket.

Maybe you do not care about the additional benefits of the passholder but I do. You can imply that I want better then everyone else - that I don't, but I want the best deal that I can find for my family since we are not rich but love to go to Disney. If getting a passholder saves me money on hotels, dining and souveniers then it is a bigger perk then say a park ticket alone and that is why I purchased it - sorry if you think I got the wrong idea - when was the last time a hotel discount wasn't offered???? . Also I did purchase the free dining option as opposed to the AP rate since it was a better deal but you do have to buy park tickets (which an APer already has) or at least the min anyone else in your room needs. How did that benefit a passholder - even if the AP is just a "park ticket."


If Disney wants to change their policies, I understand they can do this - but they are isolating people with AP's who like to take quick and last minute trips. It is the people that do not have AP's that book 120 days in advance. APer's like to take lots of small or large trips some planned but lots of quick getaways. This new policy isn't giving them an option. Also - there have been many postings here where people have talked to CM's who said this is the only AP discount option - how do you know that we can get rates before 120 days - it is an assumption, correct??

And like another poster said, who ever books non-refundable hotel only?? There was also another poster who said a CM stated it would cost $50 to switch or transfer your stay. Come on!! It is obvious they are steering away from AP's.

If CRO is too booked up with calls then they should update their online services so people can go on and change or transfer services for free like you can do on say, Southwest. Type in a passholder card # and reservation number and then put your changes in. No more telephone calls. Same with reservations. It can be done - they have just chosen not to. Instead the are decreasing calls with this program because they know many APers will not do it. That was their choice. It isn't very friendly of an option, if you ask me.

Anyways this is my opinion as you have yours. If they want to offer discounts before the 120 days or offer great deals 120 days out, then fine maybe it will mean a little more but to come out with the half a$$ed option with no real answers let alone no real numbers, you are going to get some unhappy APer's. If anything I think CRO will get MORE calls and not friendly ones.

9-11 occurred in 2001 and Disney along with most all travel related industries took a major decline in bookings. So yes they begin to offer more discounts. Prior to this slump though discounts were not that frequent. I am talking all the way back to the 80's and 90's.

So what Disney offered during a travel decline if not necessarily what they offered prior to that. Yes AP rates were available and have been for quite some time. But they were not that frequent, had blackout dates, and were not released to the masses by way of the Internet. Most Passholders had the pass, and the way they found out about the discounts were though the AP newsletter.

I know everyone wants the best discount possible. But it seems to me that some, maybe not you, feel that Disney owes them these discounts. It doesn't. It owes them a park pass good for a year. You will still qualify for some type of discount, it just will not be as good as those using the new program.

They are not steering anyone away from the main benefit of getting an AP, park attendance. They may limit the number of people who can have unlimited park attendance for a year, and a nice room discount, but that is their right.

It is very possible that this is the only AP discount offered for those dates at this time. No one has said, that none will be offered later. Actually if this program is successful they might not offer anymore, and why should they. If the rooms they need to book at discount are full by using this new program they don't need to offer anymore. Remember discounts are offered to fill empty rooms. However if this program does not fill enough rooms, I would think more discounts will be available later on. We will all just have to wait and see.

I like a discount as much as anyone. Getting them has allowed me to book the Grand Floridian. I might not be able to do that anymore. However I am not upset about it. I am glad I was able to experience it at all. In the future I will book what I can afford. I might use the new program and I might not and stay at a moderate or value which I can afford without any discount.

There are many great hotels off property that are always offering special discounts. Some that have stayed with Disney in the past, might not get to every trip now. The parks are still available to everyone though.

I would love to own a BMW, but I can not afford one and they don't ever offer discounts. Why, they don't need to, to sell them.

If Disney can fill rooms without offering discounts, or only offering discounts that have certain requirements then everyone will have to adjust to that.

 

[dcgrumpy]

When you buy your AP on line, do you get an exchange certificate immediately? Is the AP then active, or can you wait until your trip?

They just mail you a voucher that you activate at a theme park or DTD

 

[triplefigs]

I figured out how to log on with my AP Exchange Certificate!!!
At the top of your AP,EC you will see this:
NB### MM/DD/YYYY WDW:### Tr: ## ###
On the passholders site you will select WDW from the options and then in the first box type in those first three #'s after WDW(WDW:###), then the MM/DD/YY shown on your card and then you put in ONLY the LAST THREE DIGITS of that Tr:## ###.
I called WDW Ticketing office and the nice young lady I spoke with helped me figure it out. Your letters may be different than NB or Tr:. Hope this works for everyone! Bad thing is that when I did check our dates the rate for BC was $371 with tax. I got it for $249+tax with my AAA!

What is the AP exchange certificate? Is this the voucher they mail you?

 

[aubriee]

Something Disney hasn't taken into consideration: I've read posts where AP holders have not been able to get into the Passholder's site. I'm one of those. I activated my AP in January and have only been able to get into the site twice and that was as I was talking to the CM. I've called several times and all I ever get is that the site is down alot. Well, I've tried repeatedly since last night to get in and still can't. I've tried putting my name in all Caps, putting just the first letter of my first and last name in caps, putting my entire name in small letters. My final digits are just two numbers so I've tried putting a zero, then two zeros in front of them. I've tried on my computer at work and also on my computer at home. I STILL CAN'T GET IN!!! How can someone like me that has a current activated pass get into the 'Passholder Best Rate Program' if I can't even get into the dad blasted site?