How did people know AP rates were out?

[dpic]

Hi:

I've got my AAA ressies for Oct. 2004. For 10 days Courtyard WL and they are around $2900. I've seen the AP rates for Oct 2003 nearly half that price.

My question is how did everyone find out about the release of the AP rates? I never received an email from Disney or Mousesavers.com about the AP rates for this year (I did get the Mousesavers.com August one where Mary talked about the future of discounts). How did everyone know about them the morning they were released? I followed the thread where people were on hold with CRO for the discounts the morning they were released. It reminded me of getting Cindy's Breakfast PS. It almost seemed like if you didn't get them by that morning, you were out of luck.

I'm looking at this now because I want to be prepared. If I lose out on saving over $1,000 dollars, I'll have heartburn. Planning far ahead is supposed to help eliminate the stress, but in this case...

Added this: I'm not currently an AP holder (waiting for the rates next summer). Do you need to be an AP holder to be notified early?

Thanks.

 

[GoofysPrincess]

I feel your pain... I called in every morning for a month to see if the rates were out yet. The ONE morning I missed (son had car problems...), there they were!! I have been able to book our trip in Nov at AP rates, but I think October went really fast.

I don't know if there's any one way people know. I keep checking the web sites and calling in when I know it's getting close. As far as I know, WDW doesn't do any kind of official notification.

You can always keep trying! Sometimes people cancel. I would try again this weekend as most people who booked right away had to make their deposit by yesterday/today. I'd also try again about a week from when your trip starts -- the time when people have to cancel or lose their deposit.

Good luck!!

 

[Minky]

I found the BEST way to stay on top of all things Disney especially discount rates and codes including AP rates to be MOUSESAVERS.COM she does a wonderful job with that site and updates it ALMOST DAILY, and daily when theres a lotta news brewin....check it out!!

 

[Lisha7]

There is a place on Mary's website that you can sign up for daily emails called "changenotes" (I think). It will let you know in the morning of any changes to her website of the previous day. She always seems to know a few days ahead of time when they will be released, so that will be enough notification.

I was watching these boards like a hawk and called the morning they were released, but still couldn't get the first part of my stay on AP discount. When I called back the second day I got it. So, if you don't get it at first, try try again!

Lisha

 

[KLL]

AP Rates for October 2004 probably won't be out until July or August of 2004.

 

[dpic]

Thanks everyone! Lisha7, thanks especially for the tip about Changenotes. I'm signed up for that now, so I'm one step closer. KLL, I know it will be awhile before AP rates for my trip will be available. However, as AP rates become available for earlier dates, I can monitor to see if I know about them before hand or not. I'm tweeking the system

 

[seashoreCM]

Nowadays, when WDW releases AP rates, lots of people pounce on them almost instantly, causing a very heavy workload for the reservations agents.

If I were running WDW I would wish for some alternative way to release the AP rates so the bookings are more gradual. Meanwhile, since so many people know about the AP rates to cause them to sell out quickly, there is no further need to advertise them.

The same thing happens with the airlines, for certain choice dates, people wait around for the small number of cheap seats to be offered, typically 331 days in advance.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Puffy2]

I think most people knew because they obsessively check the dis boards! Mousesavers.com and www.orlandotripplanner.com have the change notes feature (emailing you about changes)for changes to their sites (Orlando Trip PLanner just has the feature on the ALERTS page which carries major news like the AP rates).

 

[momsmall]

dpic.
I have found that you have to be manic about watching this site and you will then know about the AP rates when they are released as well as the Mousesavers site than has already been mentioned. I was one of those crazy people who waited on the phone the day they were released and got nothing for our stay WL Conceirge. I continued to call daily and was finally, after a week and a half of calling, able to get all our dates 13-18th of Oct. and was able to get 3 rooms, there will be 3 families traveling together, for 1388.00 each, WL Conceirge for our original dates. I learned a lot. To book multiple rooms they all have to be under my name since I am the AP holder and they then list the members of each family staying in each room. In my case it certainly paid to be diligent to continue checking. Yes, they continured to ask, can we check any other resorts or do you want to change your dates? Just don't think that because you didn't get the rooms you want and your dates on the first day don't give up. People cancel and change their dates all the time.

 

[dpic]

momsmall: So what you're saying is that you didn't know about the AP rates until that morning (Aug 28)? But it seemed everyone was already on the phone by 7:00 am. Were the rates posted on this site and Mousesavers before 7:00 or the day or night berfore? Thanks for the info. BTW, $1388 is a great rate--I'm really hoping.... I wonder, too, why you were able to score the discount over the next few days? Do you think people were already cancelling (after killing themselves to get the discount) or did Disney add more?

One thing I also did was make another AAA ressie today for a Woodsview room for the same time as our Courtyard view. Then, if I'm not able to get the AP at least I'll have a somewhat cheaper room to fall back on. There's one nice thing about planning ahead--at least I can get those AAA room rates with no trouble. And I'll post when I drop one or the other so someone here can get it.

Thanks so much for the help everyone.

 

[hulabird]

Because the AP rates were anticipated to be out on the 28th, and that was known several days before, so that is why everyone was on the phone early on the 28th.