Hi kids, LOL I know I know that subject is such a troll! BUT I think it's really telling, that they just don't seem to want AP holders' business, or they just don't need it anymore! My friend and her husband (they don't go online much so I'll post their story here, because it just amazed me) were planning a special trip to the Polynesian for their five year wedding anniversary, over Thanksgiving. She called CRO and made the reservation at full rack rate like last May, she said. Then, because this is about the time AP rates come out every year, she called yesterday to see if there was one she could apply to her ressie, and guess what?? Even though she had a reservation confirmation in hand, and no one ever contacted her any differently, the CM told her that her reservation had been canceled, and they've just been holding her one night's deposit as a "credit" all this time! So when she said, jeez, ok, whatever, rebook me please, they say "we're all sold out". She's waiting for whoever is going to talk to her to respond to a complaining email, but she says her husband is all hepped up to go try the Hard Rock Hotel over at Universal, and they're about ready to tell Disney to stuff it. I know I've been checking dates I'd like to go over and over on the Best Rate online system, and all it ever offers me are resorts I have no interest in staying at. I put in Port Orleans, I get Caribbean Beach. I put in the Poly, I get Saratoga Springs or OKW for choices. What's up with that? It's so annoying. I wish they'd just say "we have availability at" and let me SEE. Going through screen after screen of offers to stay at Saratoga Springs got on my nerves so bad I feel like staying off property, at this point, too. ACK ok that's enough whining!
I would have her call back and find out what the story is with her reservation and deposit. Ask to speak to a supervisor.
It really seems now that the economy is better and 911 is "forgotten" somewhat that Disney does not feel any pressure to make your job easier as an Annual Pass holder. When we were there in November of 2001, we actually were on buses where busdrivers thanked us for coming because business had been so down that they had been out of work. We stopped being AP holders in 2004 for a variety of reasons, one of which being that the discounts just weren't as good, and they were getting few and far between. However I must say they didn't offer those free dining packages and pay 4 noc and stay for 7 deals, that you see now. I guess there must not be statistically enough AP holders to impact the Disney concept. I must say that what they did to your sister was awful! Perhaps there will be some good results for her. I'd definately call and raise a gigantic fuss, be put on a wait list or something.
I hope that everything works out in the long run!!!! Lots of pixie dust headed your way to give to them.
YIKES!!! If she had the reservation # and had made a deposit..... That is nuts that they cancelled it! Did they say why?? I would call back and not hang up until I had a reason for such a mess up and had a new reservation at Poly (or another deluxe) with a discount!!
Something about this story just isn't right. I have cancelled a lot of reservations with Disney and they have never "just held" the deposit!! I suspect if the real story were known there is something we are missing here.... Also they mail cancellation notices for that very reason... I think this may have gotten a little distorted in the telling....
Maybe your friends are leaving something out or misunderstood what happened? I wonder if the actual Nov 2005 rates were out last May 2004 [I think that's when you said they booked]...maybe there wasn't enough of a deposit to actually hold the ressie? But I don't follow the tie in to Disney not wanting AP holder's biz...I understand that the AP disc. was the catalyst for the recent call to CRO...but it was booked at rack rate...it doesn't seem to have anything to do w/them being an AP holder. Perhaps they should call CRO back & see if they could work something out.
