Got A Phone Call Re:Email Re: FTP, Ap rates....

[welovedis]

Back well before the fall AP rates were released I sent an email to WDW regarding their strange way of releasing discounts, discount codes, postcards, etc... I tried to see if I saved the email but I didn't. I know that I remarked on the fact that although I have visited WDW a number of times in recent years, other friends and relatives have received code email and postcard codes for discounted rates while I have received nothing in that line.

Yesterday I returned from dinner and we had received a message on our answering machine from Katie in the Executive Office at WDW. She addressed my email concerns and left some interesting details as well. Here is the message she left, minus some info that is not pertinent:

"I want to apologize for your disappointment over the lack of summer discounts and email codes. When bookings are down we periodically send out random emails and postcards to encourage people to come down. The FTP was created, as well, to entice people to come down..............As far as the AP discounts, some discounts were just released for the fall.....but we are looking into a program to let AP holders know discount rates ahead of time....so you would know when they are coming out and what they are going to be so that you could book.......it is something we have heard about before (complaints about AP rates) and while I don't know when the program will be rolled out it is something that we are looking into to see if we can get that worked out.........."

She also left a number for me to call, I got her voice mail and did leave a message. I wanted to ask her a few more details about the AP program she mentioned.

So it appears that they are at least reading and responding to the emails we are sending. Hopefully they will implement this program and it seems that would at least alleviate the waiting and waiting for most people.

HTH!

 

[ead79]

Hmmm, interesting. My only concern about the AP program she mentioned would be that if they release the discounts early in advance, the discounts might not be as good. For instance, I would much rather wait a while for my discount than get 15% off instead of 40% off. I do like the idea of not having to bite my nails in anticipation of discounts though.

 

[Luv2Roam]

While I understand the marketing and waiting to see how ful the resorts are, I would think it would save a lot of time and trouble for Disney to release the AP discount rates months in advance.
Look at how many of us book, and then rebook later with a discount rate. Not to mention all the communication they respond to inbetween.

 

[dznyntnh]

I would assume that if Disney is going to introduce a program to make AP rates more constant or announced more in advance and not based solely on availability then they are also going to address the issues with only one person in the party having an AP or someone purchasing a child's AP to get the rate.

I would think that if they are going to use the AP rates as more of a guarantee than they are going to make sure people are actually buying an AP for everyone in the party or they are going to reduce the discounts to DC levels.

 

[DebbieB]

That was my guess too - they will reduce them to Disney Club levels since Disney Club will be gone. Those discounts are much less. At one point when it was Magic Kingdom Club, deluxes were 30% off. Then 20% off. Now 10%-15% for deluxe. Moderates were originally less, 10%-15%, now they are 20% some times of the year.

 

[Janet2k]

I sent an e-mail to Disney the other day, asking them why they didn’t have a Walt Disney World Annual Passholders’ members only website. One of the things I suggested they could do with that website was put information on it regarding discount rates that Disney was offering for any Walt Disney World resort stay. I told them that I was a Disney Club member and I had called the Walt Disney Travel Company that day via their toll-free telephone line. I stated that I was on hold for almost thirty minutes ($ x 30 minutes). Then, when I finally spoke to a Cast Member, I had to be transferred to another Cast Member ($ x 2 salaries) in order to find out whether or not an Annual Passholder rate was available for my vacation. I also stated that while I was on the telephone, I was on-line searching for Disney vacation information (I’m just your average multitasking consumer). In my e-mail I mentioned that handling business in their present manner did not seem too cost-effective. First, the phone call cost them money. Second, the phone call wound up costing them even more money because I had to work with two Cast Members. I stated that if this information could have been available on-line, it would have been a much better use of their money and my time.

I am sure other folks have e-mailed Disney similar suggestions over the years. That was just my suggestion after being frustrated with the Walt Disney Travel Company. I would have preferred to have found the information I was seeking in an easier and less time-consuming manner, e.g., on-line.

This is all my humble opinion and others’ opinions may vary, as it should be.

 

[Lewisc]

Great idea. Allow for on-line booking. A way to encourage AP holders to make an extra trip.

Originally posted by Janet2k
I sent an e-mail to Disney the other day, asking them why they didn’t have a Walt Disney World Annual Passholders’ members only website. One of the things I suggested they could do with that website was put information on it regarding discount rates that Disney was offering for any Walt Disney World resort stay. I told them that I was a Disney Club member and I had called the Walt Disney Travel Company that day via their toll-free telephone line. I stated that I was on hold for almost thirty minutes ($ x 30 minutes). Then, when I finally spoke to a Cast Member, I had to be transferred to another Cast Member ($ x 2 salaries) in order to find out whether or not an Annual Passholder rate was available for my vacation. I also stated that while I was on the telephone, I was on-line searching for Disney vacation information (I’m just your average multitasking consumer). In my e-mail I mentioned that handling business in their present manner did not seem too cost-effective. First, the phone call cost them money. Second, the phone call wound up costing them even more money because I had to work with two Cast Members. I stated that if this information could have been available on-line, it would have been a much better use of their money and my time.

I am sure other folks have e-mailed Disney similar suggestions over the years. That was just my suggestion after being frustrated with the Walt Disney Travel Company. I would have preferred to have found the information I was seeking in an easier and less time-consuming manner, e.g., on-line.

This is all my humble opinion and others’ opinions may vary, as it should be.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Janet2k
I sent an e-mail to Disney the other day, asking them why they didn’t have a Walt Disney World Annual Passholders’ members only website. One of the things I suggested they could do with that website was put information on it regarding discount rates that Disney was offering for any Walt Disney World resort stay. I told them that I was a Disney Club member and I had called the Walt Disney Travel Company that day via their toll-free telephone line. I stated that I was on hold for almost thirty minutes ($ x 30 minutes). Then, when I finally spoke to a Cast Member, I had to be transferred to another Cast Member ($ x 2 salaries) in order to find out whether or not an Annual Passholder rate was available for my vacation. I also stated that while I was on the telephone, I was on-line searching for Disney vacation information (I’m just your average multitasking consumer). In my e-mail I mentioned that handling business in their present manner did not seem too cost-effective. First, the phone call cost them money. Second, the phone call wound up costing them even more money because I had to work with two Cast Members. I stated that if this information could have been available on-line, it would have been a much better use of their money and my time.

I am sure other folks have e-mailed Disney similar suggestions over the years. That was just my suggestion after being frustrated with the Walt Disney Travel Company. I would have preferred to have found the information I was seeking in an easier and less time-consuming manner, e.g., on-line.

This is all my humble opinion and others’ opinions may vary, as it should be.

How would they make the site only accessible to Passholders?

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by DebbieB
That was my guess too - they will reduce them to Disney Club levels since Disney Club will be gone. Those discounts are much less. At one point when it was Magic Kingdom Club, deluxes were 30% off. Then 20% off. Now 10%-15% for deluxe. Moderates were originally less, 10%-15%, now they are 20% some times of the year.

The really good discounts to any travel destination are always the last minute deals. Why should Disney be any different? Seems everyone wants Disney to give the great 40% discounts, but they also want them to give them plenty of advance notice on when they are going to be available.

I have to believe as Debbie, that if they start releasing the AP discounts in advance and for a longer time period the discounts will not be as great as those that are last minute and for a shorter time period.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by Sammie
How would they make the site only accessible to Passholders?

They could mail all AP holder a logon, any reservations you made would be in your name and address.

 

[pamlet]

quote:
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Originally posted by Sammie
How would they make the site only accessible to Passholders?
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[jiminyfan]

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quote:
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Originally posted by Sammie
How would they make the site only accessible to Passholders?
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They could mail all AP holder a logon, any reservations you made would be in your name and address."


It is actually easier than that. Each AP has a id number of it that is stored in the Disney computer system already using this number and associtating it with the name would be an easy way to set up security. I am a programmer and we use similiar methods of security in our systems.

 

[Janet2k]

Originally posted by pamlet
quote:
Require a fingerscan.... hahahaha

Oh, yes, I definitely like that idea. You are too funny!