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

[fla4fun]

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.

Hmmm . . that's odd, because I booked four nights, checking in on Tuesday and out on Saturday, with no trouble. Maybe Saturday night is the issue.

 

[goofy4tink]

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.

Since Disney changed their room pricing policy, Fri/Sat nights have become more expensive anyway. I think that because there is a large number of DVC owners that like to save expensive points on Fri/Sat nights, they stay elsewhere for those two nights and then move to a DVC resort on Sunday.
I have to say that I'm pretty happy with the $59 a night at POP in Dec that I just got with my AP. But, that is for a Monday and a Tuesday night. I've never paid less than that in the past.

 

[pixie08]

I think the issue is the deluxe resorts. We were watching for a good Ap rate for a Deluxe in early Dec. Now don't get me wrong I do not expect it. If I am not happy with a rate I use another one or stay at a cheaper resort if I can not afford the deluxe.

I think the point is in the past more Deluxe resorts have had discounts. Last year on 2 seperate trips in 2 different seasons we used an AP code which gave us a certain discount on any deluxe (ie- $100 off deluxe resorts, $40 off mods, $20 off value) It had been the same before that as well. Now they are targeting specific resorts. you can only book certain resorts at a discount rate and some like CT, GF, Poly not at all.

Like I said- not complaining. We got a great AP rate for CSR at $110 a night in dec but watching how historically Disney has operated as a resort one can see it is changing it's pricing structure; with that it is limiting thier deluxe discounts. It could be due to the fact that there recent placement on worlds top deluxe resorts list? Who knows It could be they are getting busier? I have been going to Disney for over 20 years and it has always fluctuated like this. I am a big disney fan and just hang in there. I book my vacation according to my financial means- and hope for a great AP rate

 

[snclopez]

I booked Animal Kingdom Lodge standard room today for 12/14-12/6 with AP season pass rate for $145/ per night. This is for a Friday/Saturday night and I used the code for a $75 dining card as well.

Thought this was a great deal on a deluxe resort. If you take off the $75 free dining which we would have spent on dining anyways, the room is really $107.50 a night. You can't beat that for a deluxe...

 

[kcminnie]

I booked Animal Kingdom Lodge standard room today for 12/14-12/6 with AP season pass rate for $145/ per night. This is for a Friday/Saturday night and I used the code for a $75 dining card as well.

Thought this was a great deal on a deluxe resort. If you take off the $75 free dining which we would have spent on dining anyways, the room is really $107.50 a night. You can't beat that for a deluxe...

That is a very good deal. However if you go during regular season in Nov the discount is only $80 off the deluxe resorts. In the past is has been $100 discount on deluxe during regular season. The current MYW package discount is giving $100 off rack rate on deluxe hotels. I can't remember when I have ever seen the general public discount better than the AP discount. I know Disney does not have to give AP discounts but when they are offering discounts they should consider AP holders who are their most frequent customers.

 

[disphoto]

That is a very good deal. However if you go during regular season in Nov the discount is only $80 off the deluxe resorts. In the past is has been $100 discount on deluxe during regular season. The current MYW package discount is giving $100 off rack rate on deluxe hotels. I can't remember when I have ever seen the general public discount better than the AP discount. I know Disney does not have to give AP discounts but when they are offering discounts they should consider AP holders who are their most frequent customers.

That is right. AP holders typically go more often, thus spending more money in the long run. But now I am being punished, told if I would pay for tickets each visit I could get a 'better' room rate. Things change and always for the bigger bottom line.

I did a survey about my summer visit. I choose the discounted room rate as the main reason for staying on property every time it was an option.

 

[LindyN]

My AP gets me park admission, free parking, and eligibility for the DDE card. Anything else is just gravy. Room discounts are great but if Disney can sell something at full price they won't put a discount on it. That's why we aren't seeing a lot of discounts--they don't need to do it to fill up the rooms.

We'll see what happens in 2008 though. Those prices are quite a bit higher than 2007, and if occupancy slips off then we might see more incentives for us regulars just to fill up rooms.

 

[kcminnie]

My AP gets me park admission, free parking, and eligibility for the DDE card. Anything else is just gravy. Room discounts are great but if Disney can sell something at full price they won't put a discount on it. That's why we aren't seeing a lot of discounts--they don't need to do it to fill up the rooms.

We'll see what happens in 2008 though. Those prices are quite a bit higher than 2007, and if occupancy slips off then we might see more incentives for us regulars just to fill up rooms.

I agree Disney does not have to offer room discounts for AP holders. What upset me this time is that the package discount offered to the general public was a higher discount off the room than the discount offered to AP holders. I just feel Disney when offering discounts should give their AP holders at least equal discounts to the general public if not a better one as they have in the past.

 

[senecabeach]

I have a split stays at the CR & Poly for Oct.

Initially when the fall AP discounts came out...I was told by a CM that CR was not included in the room only promo and if I wanted to move to AK I could get a discount. I declined.

2 weeks ago, when verifying my ME...just for kicks..I asked about any discounts and was told YES, for the CR...so I saved $430. for that 4 night stay.
Nothing for the Poly, but was told to try again in a week or so.

What I don't understand is....
Why, with ALL the people calling & calling & calling, wouldn't they just announce ALL the discounts at the SAME TIME and not have Disney's phone ringing off the wall DAILY ????

 

[LindyN]

I have a split stays at the CR & Poly for Oct.

What I don't understand is....
Why, with ALL the people calling & calling & calling, wouldn't they just announce ALL the discounts at the SAME TIME and not have Disney's phone ringing off the wall DAILY ????

Room availability at Disney changes constantly. You are just seeing the results of things coming in and out of inventory. Being persistent about phoning will sometimes get you what you want, as you discovered.

 

[n2mm]

I'm an AP holder for 10+ years and don't see any issue with the current AP rates. $79 a night for a value during regular season seems to be the standard for the past couple of years. While $59 for a value room during value season seems to be norm too. I, like others, don't get my AP for a room discount. We go to WDW more than 40 days a year (over 4 trips a year to WDW) and certainly get a real value out of our APs. Since we are also DVC members, we get the best discount available on our APs. We still do a room only occassionally, so do watch the AP rates. We do like that during value season, the weekend rates will remain the same as the week day rates. We don't like that the weekend rates will be higher during regular season, so will avoid staying extra days during our May and October trips, but will be booking extra days during our January and August trips.

 

[Amyv]

WDWVillian said:

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

Totally agree! Every time I read a thread on this board about AP discounts there's always the obligatory 'you are buying park admission, not guaranteed discounts with an A/P' post.

That's true, but why can't those of us who have seen A/P discounts consistently for the past, oh I don't know, 7 years talk about them ? The fact is these discounts do exist!

(and I did get a fairly good discount at Beach Club for Dec 2007 so I'm not upset with them this year)

 

[pooh6890]

You really have to be paying attention too! We are going (again) for SSW and F&W in November and I first booked a Fla Res Rate with SSR studio for $199/night.......then got scared about staying at such a spread out resort and booked AKL Standard room for $195/night with Fla Res Rate.... then forgot about passholder rates and went to the passholder site and got AKL for $185/night so cancelled the other and booked that one.......WHEW! I am tired!! But, at least I am happy with what I got

 

[marlynnp]

WDWVillian said:

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

Totally agree! Every time I read a thread on this board about AP discounts there's always the obligatory 'you are buying park admission, not guaranteed discounts with an A/P' post.

That's true, but why can't those of us who have seen A/P discounts consistently for the past, oh I don't know, 7 years talk about them ? The fact is these discounts do exist!

(and I did get a fairly good discount at Beach Club for Dec 2007 so I'm not upset with them this year)

Why can't you talk about them without the 'I'm entitled/Disney is screwing me over' rant??? Not to mention the old 'you must work for Disney' reply when you're called out on it.

 

[fla4fun]

WDWVillian said:

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

Totally agree! Every time I read a thread on this board about AP discounts there's always the obligatory 'you are buying park admission, not guaranteed discounts with an A/P' post.

That's true, but why can't those of us who have seen A/P discounts consistently for the past, oh I don't know, 7 years talk about them ? The fact is these discounts do exist!

(and I did get a fairly good discount at Beach Club for Dec 2007 so I'm not upset with them this year)

I think there's a big difference in a person saying they are disappointed that the discount either wasn't as much or wasn't available at their favorite resort, and the posts where people are saying they are never going to Disney again because their AP didn't get them a cheap room. You have to admit, we've seen a lot of both here. It's the people who say they're never going again, or never buying an AP again, that bring out the posts regarding AP's being good for admission only. I think maybe people just want them to put it all in perspective.

I always book only what I can afford at the time of booking. IF a discount (AAA, AP, Fla Res) is or becomes available, it's icing on the cake. But I don't go into it requiring a discount to make the trip affordable. It can be a big disappointment to have to downgrade your resort or even cancel your trip, because a discount you thought might happen didn't happen this time. Also, with more people booking ahead to get their first resort choice, it's bringing the occupancy levels to the point that Disney sees no reason to discount rooms at some resorts, or during some periods. So the very act of pre-booking may be reducing the dollar value and availability of discounted rooms.

There's nothing wrong with discussing how happy or disappointed we are with the current discounts. But it is a fact, no matter how you look at it, that the AP, AAA, Fla Res, or any other discount is up to the discretion of Disney. Just because they offered it last year, doesn't mean they will this year. Most of all, they are never required to do so. There are times when it makes good business sense to do it, and if their bookings are down at any particular time, I'm sure they will. For a good example, look at how they are using a free dining card to entice AP holders to book specific weeks within the fall 2007 discount period. I think with the new pricing plans, we may see a lot more week specific, or even day specific, discounts, and less of them that encompass an entire season. We'll just have to work around it to get the best vacation value.

I, for one, will continue to buy an AP, because I love going to the parks. If they give me other perks with it, great. If not, I'll still have a great time in the parks at a good per-day ticket price.

 

[Amyshubby]

WDWVillian said:

Every time I read a thread on this board about AP discounts there's always the obligatory 'you are buying park admission, not guaranteed discounts with an A/P' post.

That's true, but why can't those of us who have seen A/P discounts consistently for the past, oh I don't know, 7 years talk about them ? The fact is these discounts do exist!

Actually, I am trying to decide whether to buy an AP. We will be going about 10-14 days (depending on what else we do) over a one year period. Our decision of whether or not to buy the AP might come down to whether there is a room discount offered to AP holders in the second week of April. I am not buying it and then hoping for a discount. I am going to buy it IF there is a room discount offered that's better then Visa/AAA.

 

[Amyv]

Marlynnp said:

Why can't you talk about them without the 'I'm entitled/Disney is screwing me over' rant??? Not to mention the old 'you must work for Disney' reply when you're called out on it.

Marylynnp...I'm pretty sure I didn't include any rant about Disney screwing me over in my post. I'm simply suggesting that we're all savy enough to realize that the A/P is a park ticket; and can discuss discounts without anyone reminding us (in for the most part condescending tones) of this fact.

 

[marianas00]

I am very happy about the AP discount. I called today and got Pop for $59 per night in October. I had been considering buying an annual pass because we will have another weeklong trip in April and it just makes good financial sense. I am saving some dollars (of course my DH says we are really spending money dear) both on tickets and on our room. If I add DDE we could really make out, but my kids are looking forward to using the DDP, will not bbok AP rate in April, and having everything on our room key. We also are privileged to purchase our tickets through the military with no tax and at a lower cost.
I finally can plan our trips knowing that the ticket part is a good deal and most importantly is paid!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Actually, I am trying to decide whether to buy an AP. We will be going about 10-14 days (depending on what else we do) over a one year period. Our decision of whether or not to buy the AP might come down to whether there is a room discount offered to AP holders in the second week of April. I am not buying it and then hoping for a discount. I am going to buy it IF there is a room discount offered that's better then Visa/AAA.

then you will just have to wait and see... and then hope that you can get the rate once you get the pass Just because you have the pass, that is not a guarantee that you will get the rate .. chances are you will, but you cannot be 100% sure

 

[Luvchefmic]

I am very happy about the AP discount. I called today and got Pop for $59 per night in October.

Can you tell me the code you used and the dates you are going please?

I am booked 10/11 through 10/28 and my original price was $99. a night, using an AP code I got $79. a night rate hey every $ counts right?
Thanks, Ruthie