How quick to the AP discounts go?

[Mercy]

Ok, I am waiting anxiously for the AP rates for late summer. I've never booked with an AP before, how quick do the rates/rooms go?

There is a rumor they will come out on 4/30 possibly. This is a Friday and I will be at work all day, will there still be something available if I call after work, or the next day? I'm getting nervous I'll lose out

 

[Disneefun]

They tend to go pretty quickly, esp. for the deluxes and more "popular" or smaller resorts like POFQ and WL -- just less availability at those to begin with, plus they're very popular. You may have to be flexible with your resort choice or dates. Sometimes it comes down to a choice, you can either have your preferred resort at regular rates, or choose something else at AP rates. Then you have to decide which is more important -- the resort or the rate. So call as soon as you can.

I find it helps the process to have several resort and date combinations that you can be happy with ahead of time, that way when you call you can just run through your options in case your first choice is gone. Then you don't have to make multiple phone calls and sit on hold and lose time by going back and thinking things out. The later you call, I think, the more important this plan can be as things may have already started to fill up and other choices have to be considered.

But even if you can't get what you want, keep calling back. After the first rush of calls when the codes are released people may start cancelling, changing dates, etc. as they work through their plans. So something might open up. Also, if you can't get the AP rate for your first choice, ask the CM if any of your dates are available at that rate for the resort. Sometimes one or two days of your reservation are gone, but you can get the rate for others. You have to split into spearate ressies, but then you can keep calling back to try to get the remaining dates at the Ap rate. Just my shoirt course on AP rates... HTH

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

I also have an AP question. Well, more of a confirmation.

In 2001 when AP rates were released I didn't have an AP (yet) but was able to call and apply the discount to my existing room-only reservation. I bought my AP voucher within a week of calling for the discount. I did not renew the AP (but was able to get 2 trips out of it )

Is this still the case? I don't need an AP to call for the discount?

Thanks,
Debbie

 

[Tess]

AP rates for our resort (Polynesian GVC) were gone by 7:20 a.m. after a 7:00 a.m. release. We were one of the first calls at 7:03 a.m. and were told there were no APs yet--checked the boards again while I got in the "call line" and by the time my call was answered *poof* gone--for both GV and LV. We don't feel too badly though because we did already have the Disney Visa Cardholder rate which was just $5 more per night than the AP.

Still, it does have me rethinking my renewal of the AP. With Disney one never knows what the next discount requirements will be. I'm guessing that because of the DVISA rates, there were probably fewer APs to go around. Next year, there may not be DVISA discounts and the primary discounts will be AP-- I guess we'll just have to keep mulling this one. My AP isn't up for renewal until mid-way through our vacation. I could just as easily get a PHP for the remaining days--something to think about anyway.

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

I also have a Disney Visa (Day One) so I'm waiting to see if/when discounts are offered for that.

(We are going in October)

Debbie

 

[daboyzmom]

I just read the posts about waiting on the call lline and call immediately after the codes are released. I already hae a ressie with a AAA dis. can I apply the AP code or anyother code to my existing ressie and avoid the mad phone rush???

 

[Fonzy13]

Originally posted by daboyzmom
I just read the posts about waiting on the call lline and call immediately after the codes are released. I already hae a ressie with a AAA dis. can I apply the AP code or anyother code to my existing ressie and avoid the mad phone rush???

Bump for the same exact question!

 

[puffkin]

I just read the posts about waiting on the call lline and call immediately after the codes are released. I already hae a ressie with a AAA dis. can I apply the AP code or anyother code to my existing ressie and avoid the mad phone rush???

So many rooms are allocated per discount. So, I think the right choice of words is that you can change your ressie, but you cannot apply new discounts to an existing ressie. For example, if AP rates are still available for your resort and dates, you can change from the AAA discount to AP. If the resort is the same, your ressie # will not change. However, if you call and there are no more AP rates available, they are gone. It doen't really matter that you already have a reservation. They only release a set number, and when they are gone, that is it.

A lot of people on this board use the same strategy that I use. When I book my resort, I book a resort at a price I can afford with whatever discounts are available. Then, when AP rates are released, I try to change. However, if rates are not released or I can't get them for my dates, I still have a place to stay at a rate I can afford. Hope this helps!

 

[daboyzmom]

Puffkin

Thanks for the info. So basically I still have to call ASAP to make sure the AP alloted discount aren't all gone.

Have fun and awaiting those codes.

 

[sarha]

I hope this isn't a dumb question, but ... I have booked the Poly with a AAA discount. When the AP discounts come out should I tell them that I already have a reservation that I'd like to apply the AP discount to (assuming I'm lucky enough to get one)?

Or do I just make a new AP reservation and then cancel the old one?

I'm afraid all the AP discounts will disappear while their looking up my old reservation. Would it be faster to just make a new reservation? Or am I just putting WAY too much thought into this?

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

Originally posted by sarha
I hope this isn't a dumb question, but ... I have booked the Poly with a AAA discount. When the AP discounts come out should I tell them that I already have a reservation that I'd like to apply the AP discount to (assuming I'm lucky enough to get one)?

Or do I just make a new AP reservation and then cancel the old one?

I'm afraid all the AP discounts will disappear while their looking up my old reservation. Would it be faster to just make a new reservation? Or am I just putting WAY too much thought into this?

This is my one experience with getting an AP discount .... back in 2001. I already had a room-only reservation and the morning AP discounts were released I called and said I wanted to apply the AP discount to my current reservation. It was pretty quick. Personally, I think making a whole new reservation would take more time? But I don't have enough experience will all of this to know for sure.

Debbie

 

[minnie1928]

I too was eagerly awaiting the latest round of AP discounts. I had already booked a AAA room, then changed it to the Disney Visa discount promotion. I was up at the crack of dawn on the morning the AP discounts were issued, so that I could jump on the phone at 7am. However, my DD (7mos) had other plans. I didn't get to call and speak to someone at CRO until about 9am. I had ABSOLUTELY no problem applying the code to my existing reservation. I don't know if it was so easy because my dates weren't popular, or if it was because I was simply changing the reservation on an already discounted room. I have been a passholder for the past several years and have always been lucky getting the discounts, the passes have more than paid for themselves! Plus we try and time our trips so that we go atleast 2 times before the passes expire

Hope this helps!

 

[PamNC]

call on 4/29 at 7:00 a.m. - I've already booked my room at the regular rate and my deposit is due that day. I'm hoping the discounts will be out OR the CM can tell me if they're coming the next day.

OR, I guess the only thing we can do is check every single morning when we get up starting Wednesday (to be safe) and hit the phones by 7:00 a.m.

That should work - don't ya'll think???????????

PamNC

 

[sarha]

Thanks for telling me your experiences. I'll try to remain calm while waiting for the AP rates to come out.

 

[shelly3girls]

We have never booked an AP rate the day they are released. In late Jan the codes had been out for atleast a week when I called. I was able to book the Poly LV, no concierge was available. Just recently I booked a room at the GF for June and the codes had been out over 2 weeks. I have my choice of several resorts, not necessarily all types of rooms though. I think as long as you are somewhat flexible there is no problem getting an AP rate. I do agree with a previous post about the WL, I had difficulty in the past getting it the first day codes were released, but that was using a general code not AP.

 

[tassie42]

man this is giving me a headache!!!

 

[Mercy]

My only problem now is what will I worry about after I finished worrying about codes/discounts

 

[Focusdude]

Is there a huge difference between AAA and AP discounts? I am going twice next year so I will have an AP, but don't want to go through the code process (it seems like a hassle!) to save only a few dollars. I am planning April and December, 2005 - advice/opinions needed! Thanks!!

 

[Disneefun]

Originally posted by Focusdude
Is there a huge difference between AAA and AP discounts?

Oh, yeah! AAA is usually 10-15% off, depending on season and AP rates are usually 30-45% off, depending on season. So the difference can be huge. IF there are rates for your dates and resort, it can save you big and be worth a small hassle to get them.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Disneefun - Amen!!! The AP rate is definitely worth the hassle, that's why everybody is so anxious for them to be announced!!