Have the room only codes (AP/FL) ever been so BLAH?

[tofubeast]

Just looking at regular season for AP and Fl Resident that came up this week...

AP:
* Value resorts: $79 plus tax Standard view
* Moderate resorts: $124 plus tax Standard view
* Animal Kingdom Lodge: $185 plus tax Standard view
* Saratoga Springs Resort: $194 plus tax Studio
* Other resorts and room types are available

FL resident:
* Value resorts: $84 plus tax Standard view
* Moderate resorts: $129 plus tax Standard view
* Saratoga Springs Resort: $199 plus tax Studio
* Other resorts and room types are available
----
When I was on the phone with CRO...they were even commenting how shocked they were that the AAA rate was the same as the FL code rate for the value resorts. Looking at the codes in the last plus year, it just seems like these aren't that generous. I know it must mean that bookings are up, so that is the way it is...but I wonder if it has to do with the soon switch over to nightly rates etc..

I was quite bummed to not get any FL resi discount, though of course, I am happy enough to be going to WDW. Just curious about what others think.

 

[planplan]

Just looking at regular season for AP and Fl Resident that came up this week...

AP:
* Value resorts: $79 plus tax Standard view
* Moderate resorts: $124 plus tax Standard view
* Animal Kingdom Lodge: $185 plus tax Standard view
* Saratoga Springs Resort: $194 plus tax Studio
* Other resorts and room types are available

FL resident:
* Value resorts: $84 plus tax Standard view
* Moderate resorts: $129 plus tax Standard view
* Saratoga Springs Resort: $199 plus tax Studio
* Other resorts and room types are available
----
When I was on the phone with CRO...they were even commenting how shocked they were that the AAA rate was the same as the FL code rate for the value resorts. Looking at the codes in the last plus year, it just seems like these aren't that generous. I know it must mean that bookings are up, so that is the way it is...but I wonder if it has to do with the soon switch over to nightly rates etc..

I was very bummed to not get any discount, though of course, I am happy enough to be going to WDW. Just curious about what others think.

ap owners should be upset. they shell out the cash up front and have to pay a premium for the rooms. doesn't sound fair to me.

 

[Dicecatt]

I'm not upset, only because I like the dining plan so I got packages with the Disney Visa code. However, I would have been if I had been counting on a decent AP rate. I think that Disney just threw a bone out there to release something, but the AP rates are pretty pitiful compared to the past rates released. We saved I think $125 on our Deluxe in July, but this one is for $80 per night. As an AP holder, I am not very thrilled, especially as I am about to shell out over $400 for a renewal.

I do think part of it has to do with the fact that at certain times a whole lot of the resorts are sold out at full price! My dates in October are packed. There were only a few resorts available, and not many more at rack rate either.

I also think this dining card that is being given out...as happy as it makes some people because it is an extra bonus, Disney is counting on many of them not being used, sort of like gift cards. Instead of giving a discount, Disney throws these out there, and I bet they are right and some people forget to even use their cards. So Disney made them happy in the first place by giving a bonus, and it didn't cost anything.

I haven't read many other threads on this subject, but these were my thoughts when I saw how little was offered as an AP discount.

 

[tofubeast]

Here I am bummed as a FL resi, but if I had an AP, I would be even more bummed.

I wonder if there is a chance another code might be released later? I guess it depends if rooms free up etc.. but I doubt it.

 

[BroadwayGirl]

ap owners should be upset. they shell out the cash up front and have to pay a premium for the rooms. doesn't sound fair to me.

Passholders have no reason to be upset. The pass they purchased still provides the intended benefit - park admission. Although Disney often offers them discounts on rooms, dining and merchandise, Annual Passholders are truly only entitled to park admission for one year from the date of first use. Purchase of an annual pass never has and probably never will guarantee any room discounts.

 

[planplan]

Passholders have no reason to be upset. The pass they purchased still provides the intended benefit - park admission. Although Disney often offers them discounts on rooms, dining and merchandise, Annual Passholders are truly only entitled to park admission for one year from the date of first use. Purchase of an annual pass never has and probably never will guarantee any room discounts.

but the key here is they should be punished from great room rates cause they are willing to shell out alot of upfront monies for season passes. just cause they are getting admission to the park for a year doesn't mean they need to spend more on the room than the general public does. makes no sense to me.

 

[fla4fun]

but the key here is they should be punished from great room rates cause they are willing to shell out alot of upfront monies for season passes. just cause they are getting admission to the park for a year doesn't mean they need to spend more on the room than the general public does. makes no sense to me.

I'm sorry, but this post confuses me. How are we AP holders paying more than the general public? Last time I checked, we are considered part of the general public so if we can't get a room cheaper with an AP discount, we can at least get a room at equal price. If I hadn't been able to get an AP discount yesterday, I would have been up this morning trying the GP codes. If I couldn't have gotten a GP discount, then I'd end up with rack rate, which is the ultimate general public rate. I buy my AP for the admission anyway. The discounts are just icing on the cake.

I still think the whole code availability thing boils down to people booking way ahead to lock in their resort choice and hoping for a discount to make it affordable. Disney sees the occupancy hit a certain level at a specific resort, and decides they don't need to discount to fill the rooms. So in essence, by trying to get the discount, the guest has prevented the very discount they wanted. So then they have to either pay up, downgrade their resort choice, or cancel, and they blame Disney. It's not Disney's fault. Disney is a business, and as a business, they aren't going to discount a room if they can sell it at full price.

I also think the key to affordable Disney trips is to qualify for as many discounts as possible. I have an AP, I'm a Florida resident, I have AAA, so I have three chances. If I had a Disney Visa, I'd have four (but I have enough credit cards, so I'm not applying). I don't have the AP and AAA membership solely to get discounts, but in addition to their intended purpose, they do give me the chance at a discount. In the past year, I've used the AP discount twice, AAA discount twice, and paid rack rate once. My discount savings have more than covered the cost of both the AP and AAA. So I really can't complain.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

ap owners should be upset. they shell out the cash up front and have to pay a premium for the rooms. doesn't sound fair to me.

AP holders should not be upset. When they purchase an AP, they are purchasing admission to the parks, not perks. Perks are just that, perks. They can change at any given time. Perks are not a guarantee of any sort. It is just a thank you for purchasing the AP, it is not a right that comes with it all the time. Too many guests do not realize that.

An AP holder is not purchasing discounts, but a theme park pass. I think some need to be reminded of that...
I do not want to be flamed for saying this, nor do I want to be told I am being nasty... I am only stating a fact. ..... When purchasing an AP, how is anyone shelling out cash upfront? You can purchase your pass when you get there too?????

 

[tofubeast]

I don't want this to become all about AP rates. I was solely trying to see if the discounts have ever been so BLAH for this time of year for AP AND FL Resident. Even the CRO was commenting to me yesterday. That's all!

 

[fla4fun]

Well, typically the Florida Res and AP availability have been almost exactly the same, with the FR rates being just a few dollars higher than the AP rates. So I wouldn't have expected the AP rates and availability to be bad and the FR to be good.

Since I got the resort I wanted at an acceptable discount, I have no complaints. I have noticed that a lot of complaints are from people who already booked a room and then are disappointed when they can't get a discount on their reservation. So they are either having to pay up or change their resort. I still believe booking in advance hoping for a discount is causing discounts to be reduced, because it gives a false occupancy rating. I know it's really difficult to wait until two or three months out to make a reservation if you have to buy airline tickets. But it's getting to the point that if you want a good discount, you may have to wait until the discounts are released to make your initial booking OR be prepared when you make your reservation months ahead of time to pay the rate you book.

So long as the rooms are already reserved up to a certain occupancy level, Disney has no reason to discount rooms. It will be interesting to see what happens next year when everyone books up the cheapest availablility (days and resorts) and the only thing left are the overpriced weekend and holiday periods. It may be like a game of chicken, with guests waiting to see if Disney comes down in price, and Disney waiting to see if people will be desperate enough to pay rack rate for Thanksgiving or Christmas. We've already had examples of very restricted discounts for AP and FR - last summer's Epcot resorts only discounts for example. We may see more targeted and restricted discounts like this in the future.

 

[WDWVillian]

Passholders have no reason to be upset. The pass they purchased still provides the intended benefit - park admission. Although Disney often offers them discounts on rooms, dining and merchandise, Annual Passholders are truly only entitled to park admission for one year from the date of first use. Purchase of an annual pass never has and probably never will guarantee any room discounts.
__________________
* BroadwayGirl *

Why don't you 'fess up to being a shareholder or an employee of Disney.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I don't want this to become all about AP rates. I was solely trying to see if the discounts have ever been so BLAH for this time of year for AP AND FL Resident. Even the CRO was commenting to me yesterday. That's all!

when you say "this time of year" what time exactly do you mean? I just booked AS=Music for Dec with the AP rate for $59 which is about what it usually is. The FL rate is usually within $5 of it. It all depends on the "season".. some seasons give a better rate. Value will be cheaper so you feel as if you are getting a better deal but you really aren't.. it amounts to the same...

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I'm not upset, only because I like the dining plan so I got packages with the Disney Visa code. However, I would have been if I had been counting on a decent AP rate. I think that Disney just threw a bone out there to release something, but the AP rates are pretty pitiful compared to the past rates released. We saved I think $125 on our Deluxe in July, but this one is for $80 per night. As an AP holder, I am not very thrilled, especially as I am about to shell out over $400 for a renewal.

I do think part of it has to do with the fact that at certain times a whole lot of the resorts are sold out at full price! My dates in October are packed. There were only a few resorts available, and not many more at rack rate either.

I also think this dining card that is being given out...as happy as it makes some people because it is an extra bonus, Disney is counting on many of them not being used, sort of like gift cards. Instead of giving a discount, Disney throws these out there, and I bet they are right and some people forget to even use their cards. So Disney made them happy in the first place by giving a bonus, and it didn't cost anything.

I haven't read many other threads on this subject, but these were my thoughts when I saw how little was offered as an AP discount.

October use to be a dead month.. years and years ago but not anymore, in fact, it is not a value season anymore either! That shows you it is a busier time of year. The more crowds, the less the discount will be (if at all). They only discount to fill up the rooms, not to make up happy It would be nice if they did July is a value season for Delux resorts (after July 5th).. that is why you saved more...

 

[G8r4evr]

Lets just say I was on the fence about a visit in October (trying to decide if our last trip as just the 2 of us would be to Disney, the beach or US). Well the codes are out and I was so unimpressed, we chose the beach. LOL

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Lets just say I was on the fence about a visit in October (trying to decide if our last trip as just the 2 of us would be to Disney, the beach or US). Well the codes are out and I was so unimpressed, we chose the beach. LOL

Don't want any flames.. but.. wise choice The beach is great that time of year!!! Not crowded either

 

[Quinn222]

The AP discount was quite a bit more last year. On a room only I saved $400 at WL for three nights. This year I saved $113 at YC for four nights. Oh well, they don't guarantee any discount so it's better than nothing and we can use the $75 dining card.

 

[jarrdisney]

With the dining card (which everyone will use), we come out about $50 cheaper than last year. AP worked fine for me.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Question - we just purchased Florida Resident's Season Passes - will those work for discount on rooms? Just wondering - we have AAA & normally use it. Thanks for any info!

 

[Quinn222]

Question - we just purchased Florida Resident's Season Passes - will those work for discount on rooms? Just wondering - we have AAA & normally use it. Thanks for any info!

Yes, your seasonal resident pass counts as an annual pass.

 

[kcminnie]

This round of AP discounts states there is a minimum stay required for Fri & Sat nights. Does anyone know if this is always been the case? I never noticed this before but this time it won't let me book a Fri & Sat unless I book 6 nights.