Funny how all the "hub bub" about the best rate program has seem to die down.....

[lillygator]

We were all in posting frenzies when this started!!

I am wondering how many - if any - using the program have actually had their rate lowered?

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

That is usually the case when a discount or code comes out. It's gangbusters for a week or so then it dies down.

 

[bcpage]

That's a great question! I have checked out the Best Rate program and have found discounts at different resorts, but it would be nice to know how many people have booked at a discount and then had their rate lowered even further.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

The only people who have had their rate lowered are the ones who booked the first couple of days when all it was showing was rack rate. Other than that the rate has remained the same, or possibly in a few cases (none I've seen personally, just from reading things on boards) gone up a little bit as things filled up. There have been no other discounts announced so there has been no need to lower it to match anything else. They aren't going to just drop it for the fun of it, if the rates drop, it will be to match something else that was offered.

That said, I don't expect to see them drop. Everything anyone in sales or guest services has said to me is that they will drop the rate IF they release something lower but that as of right now they have no intention of releasing anything lower. Any call in AP rates will be equal to or 7-10% higher (in cost, not in % of discount) than the best rate offers and if any general public discounts were ever offered they would be higher too. They are making the offer of reducing because you never know when something may happen to cause tourism to drop again. Of course we all hope to avoid anything like that...a disaster somewhere or the economy totally tanking again.

 

[Tiffany]

We were all in posting frenzies when this started!!

I am wondering how many - if any - using the program have actually had their rate lowered?

MouseEarVactions was able to book two rooms at POR for our traveling party for this coming Nov 19th through the 26th with the new AP Best Rate Program. The rate is $109 a night plus tax for a standard view room. This is a discount of 26.85%. This is a good discount and if they do not issue a lower rate that is fine with me. We will have to wait and see but right now $109 a night for a standard view at a moderate is the best rate avaiable.

 

[wanna-b-Tink]

We got $80 per night off by going with the best rate plan. We originally had rack, so this is great! Of course, it will be MUCH better if I can get additional AP discounts on top of this!!!

 

[JenLoy]

I was also wondering if anyone (other than folks that were previously quoted the rack rate) had their rate lowered?

We're booked at the GF Dec 3-10th. I made the ressie in late June and received a rate of $279 for a garden view. It hasn't dropped any more since the booking.

 

[Tiffany]

I was also wondering if anyone (other than folks that were previously quoted the rack rate) had their rate lowered?

We're booked at the GF Dec 3-10th. I made the ressie in late June and received a rate of $279 for a garden view. It hasn't dropped any more since the booking.

Is the $279 a night quote with or without tax? The rack rate of this time frame is $304 a night plus 11.5% tax so you are getting a discount.

 

[freakylick]

We were all in posting frenzies when this started!!

I am wondering how many - if any - using the program have actually had their rate lowered?

How much "hub bub" do you want?! I stated my displeasure when the program came out and as it was "tweaked" during implementation.

I also complained to guest services and never received a response. Though it would not have done any good as I surely would have received the same bs line that everyone else who complained received- "We're sorry, but this won't be the only discount available." - Well guess what...it's over a month later and no further discounts have been given during my travel time and I have had to book w/o discount just to insure that I get the resort that I wanted. Their "sorry's" are useless to me as their ineptness cost me. No pixie dust for me I suppose.

Was that enough "hub bub" for now, or should I continue?!

I hope this didn't come across as snide b/c that wasn't what I was intending. I just figured that I would explain that my feelings toward the situation haven't died down...they just got put in the back of my mind so as to not let it consume me..but it will never to be forgotten.

 

[Mainestreetpixie]

How much "hub bub" do you want?! I stated my displeasure when the program came out and as it was "tweaked" during implementation.

I also complained to guest services and never received a response. Though it would not have done any good as I surely would have received the same bs line that everyone else who complained received- "We're sorry, but this won't be the only discount available." - Well guess what...it's over a month later and no further discounts have been given during my travel time and I have had to book w/o discount just to insure that I get the resort that I wanted. Their "sorry's" are useless to me as their ineptness cost me. No pixie dust for me I suppose.

Was that enough "hub bub" for now, or should I continue?!

I hope this didn't come across as snide b/c that wasn't what I was intending. I just figured that I would explain that my feelings toward the situation haven't died down...they just got put in the back of my mind so as to not let it consume me..but it will never to be forgotten.

I totally agree with you. To make a deposit non refundable is an insult. When room deposits can be in the hundreds of dollars, I understand they want to cut down on double bookings, getting false readings of resort bookings, etc., but this is totally assinine. If you want an 11 day stay, you have to have TWO separate NON REFUNDABLE deposits, as they cant book any more than 10 days at a time. So now if something happens, legitimately, you could potentially be out alot of money. @@ Once again, it is the masses paying the price.

 

[CharlesTD]

That is why I have said all along if you are shelling out that kind of money for an 11 day stay why not shell it out to DVC then you know where you are staying no non refundable deposits etc best decision we ever made.

 

[lillygator]

How much "hub bub" do you want?! I stated my displeasure when the program came out and as it was "tweaked" during implementation.


Was that enough "hub bub" for now, or should I continue?!

I hope this didn't come across as snide b/c that wasn't what I was intending. I just figured that I would explain that my feelings toward the situation haven't died down...they just got put in the back of my mind so as to not let it consume me..but it will never to be forgotten.

sorry - I just meant, myself included, that every post on the rates section was trying to figure this whole thing out. (as with anything new I guess)

I guess I should have kept my thoughts to myself.

 

[freakylick]

sorry -
I guess I should have kept my thoughts to myself.

No need to apologize (and no need to keep thoughts to yourself)...It's no big deal as you did nothing wrong. I am still a little bitter about it (if you couldn't tell ) and I am afraid that bitterness appeared to be directed at you, but it wasn't.

Keep on postin'

 

[cobbler]

I also complained to guest services and never received a response. Though it would not have done any good as I surely would have received the same bs line that everyone else who complained received- "We're sorry, but this won't be the only discount available." - Well guess what...it's over a month later and no further discounts have been given during my travel time and I have had to book w/o discount just to insure that I get the resort that I wanted. Their "sorry's" are useless to me as their ineptness cost me. No pixie dust for me I suppose.

Well there is still time. Last year the call in rates for Oct- December weren't released until August 25th. So if they do and it follows the same patterns, we have another month wait yet.

 

[Mainestreetpixie]

Well there is still time. Last year the call in rates for Oct- December weren't released until August 25th. So if they do and it follows the same patterns, we have another month wait yet.

Not sure how accurate this is, but I called Disney to find out what was up, and a very nice cm told me that the best rate program is in a trial phase, till the 21st, and the responses were not good. Hopefully they will banish it

 

[RickinNYC]

Not sure how accurate this is, but I called Disney to find out what was up, and a very nice cm told me that the best rate program is in a trial phase, till the 21st, and the responses were not good. Hopefully they will banish it

Hi Mainestreetpixie. Did that CM mean the 21st of July?

 

[mom_rules]

And what will they do with the folks that have booked using the best rate program?

 

[Ronda93]

Those waiting for codes for an October trip were completely whammed. The 120 day requirement left a one or two day period (if that) to book reservations. Now it's too late to get Best Rate. I understand Disney wanting AP holders to book earlier, but the new requirements are a huge disincentive to renew.

Our AP's expire 12/4. We are not renewing and most likely won't be back to DisneyWorld for several years. I dunno, maybe that's their goal.

 

[magsmom]

In addition, those of us waiting for the weekend of October 7th were totally out of luck. When the program was rolled out those dates were within the 120 day window. With everything showing rack rates and non-refundable deposits, many did not know if this was the best way to go.

 

[keys2kingdom]

I'm still on the fence about this program. Some of the initial glitches have been worked out (booking at rack rate) but I still have some serious concerns, namely the non refundable deposit and the $50 change fee. I wrote an extremely nasty email to Al Weiss' office and received a phone call from someone there trying to sell me on the program. I told the person I would have to wait and see and that I would reserve judgment until I started reading some feedback from the first users of the program. Time will tell, but so far me no likey.