I'm afraid we're calling CRO too much !!!!!

[PamNC]

I hope that nobody here HATES me after I post this. Flame suit is on.

Okay - I want codes to come out like everyone else..AP codes I mean. But, if we DISers keep calling and calling every day I'm afraid they may do something stupid again like institute the BRP. Disney listened to us when we complained about the BRP - I know lots of us hated having to book in advance and not having the luxury of last minute bookings. Not to mention the non-refundable deposit. I for one, and I know there are others, am THRILLED that Best Rate has gone bye-bye.

Codes - okay. I know we want them badly. But, it's so easy to check Mousesavers to see if codes are out. Or, call once a week...not every morning. I'm just afraid that this is going to backfire and we'll be our own worst enemies.

don't hate me - I'm just throwing out the topic for discussion. A nice, friendly discussion that won't cause the thread to be closed.

I welcome all thoughts....and I'll recap my thought. If we keep calling and calling every single day Disney may end up making another change like BRP. I firmly believe they came up with that hairbrained idea due to the number of calls they were getting.

I dunno. I'm just thinking outloud...

PamNC

 

[Sleepy]

JUst a thought.....How is calling numerous times daily any different than it was long before internet came along? What about people who do not have internet, or those who do, but don't really know that there ARE such websites as Mousesavers???

I don't see how they will know WHO is calling, much less how often each individual calls.

 

[CarolA]

I don't think it matters how often you call.
What I think is funny is that I have now seen some posts going "I wish they still had BRP, then I would know if I had the AP discount"......

 

[TiggerInLBV]

I don't think it matters how often you call.
What I think is funny is that I have now seen some posts going "I wish they still had BRP, then I would know if I had the AP discount"......

Maybe PH rates won't come out at all...it seems the hotels are filling up quite well on their own.

 

[Minnie]

Maybe PH rates won't come out at all...it seems the hotels are filling up quite well on their own.

Bite your tongue (or fingers in this case)

 

[cindyfan]

IMHO.... the squeaky wheel gets the grease!
Keep calling.

I totally see your point.... but I honestly don't think the amount of calls they are getting is out of control
It just seems like it to us.... because we are the ones sitting on pins and needles.... IM-patiently waiting!

No flames.... just feel we should keep calling.

 

[CarolA]

Maybe PH rates won't come out at all...it seems the hotels are filling up quite well on their own.

I think there will be some AP rates. However, I agree that they could skip weeks, months etc.. and if hotels are filling up (I seem to recall someone posting some mods were showing sold out in June) then I wouldn't expect many AP rooms. If the hotel is already full it would be silly of Disney to release a discount for a sold room!

 

[Gary M]

If the resorts are filling-up or sold out why did they do the free dining promotion or are they filling up because of the free dining.

 

[CarolA]

If the resorts are filling-up or sold out why did they do the free dining promotion or are they filling up because of the free dining.

Different time periods. The posts I saw on mods were for June. Free dining is for late Aug and Sept....

My theory is that Free Dining is to get you to come during hurricane season... LOL!

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Personally, I don't call if someone has gotten through and posted already saying "no yet" etc... . Sometimes thou I am sure a few of us are on the phone at the same time. I also change my phone # I put in. So doesn't look like I am the same one all the time. (I'm so sneaky = I am sure they have a great caller ID). Since alot (including me) have free long distance with my cell it is not the problem to call it used to be. So calling is easier this year than the past. So I would guess there calls are up about alot of things.

I have to say, this season I personally have not run into one cm at cro that has not been extrememly pleasant. I admit other season I was not so lucky. Got the loud no's, or they would not check without all your info etc... . Usually now if I get through, I say good morning, wondering if the ap rates for the summer are out today; they usually answer; well your my 1st client asking so lets check so I know! They don't ask specific dates, or useless info (except on the machine), so they may help you. I say thank you so much, have a great day etc... . Takes just a few seconds. Some offer extra info; "be sure to check tommorrow, or next week". "Your getting close".

As for BRP, I was not in any time frame to use it. I think it had some good points. being able to book online, get ap rates out early, etc.. . But it sounded like it did need to be revised. I agree to not liking the no refund policy. But I could of lived with that. And why not keep them open for dates at last minute. Just like now if its "sold out" you can't get it. But if something was still open why not offer it?

Interesting topic. Mky

 

[Tiger926]

I totally see the OP's point - I've never been one who believes in the phrase "The squeaky wheel gets the grease," as I believe it's just a way for people to justify their impatience or pestiness - sorry! I would not appreciate it if I were a CM - it doesn't matter if it's their job or not - and every other call is "When are AP rates coming out for the summer?" All this does is set them up to not want to deal with these calls and then they are going to feel grumpy when and if the actual codes come out.

I do realize everyone is stressing about this, but I think having a little more patience and not calling several times a day is only going to make the situation better for everyone involved!

Tiger

 

[CarolA]

As for BRP, I was not in any time frame to use it. I think it had some good points. being able to book online, get ap rates out early, etc.. . But it sounded like it did need to be revised. I agree to not liking the no refund policy. But I could of lived with that. And why not keep them open for dates at last minute. Just like now if its "sold out" you can't get it. But if something was still open why not offer it?

Interesting topic. Mky

I agree with you on the BRP. I think that at is originally came out, you could book last minute and then they changed it.

I am a queen of late bookings so I rarely am in a position to book in advance (which means I am not normally competeting with those of you booking on day 1 when the AP rates come out)

I actually have a conference in Orlando in June. I have a pretty good rate at the Swan, but would really like the BC/YC. I have to pay the difference between the conference rate and my room rate if I stay someplace else and right now that is over $100..... So IF I could get an AP rate the difference would probably be just a few dollars....I am not paying $110, but I would pay the $10 difference.... If it doesnt' happen, I will just stay at the Swan.

(And I haven't called yet. I figure I can just check here periodically!)

 

[PamNC]

Thanks to everyoone for the opinions and for withholding the flames.
BRP didn't work for us at all because we are self-employed and work sort of comes and goes and we never know when we're going to be busy.

Calls or no calls - I hope the darn AP rates come out for June. I wonder - have they ever skipped the month of June? I remember in the past weeks or maybe even a month was skipped, but I can't remember the time frame.

I'm so SHOCKED that travel is up and the hotels are booking. My God - gas is nearing $3.00 a gallon here. Anyone else shocked??

Thanks again for the thoughts.

PamNC

 

[justhat]

I liked BRP and booked 2 trips with it and loved knowing that I got the AP rate without having to check the boards or call all the time. Right now I'd love to see AP rates for June, but if they don't come out then we'll just go last week of September and use the free dining promotion instead. Since June is fast approaching though it's becoming sort of time sensitive and leading me to want to go ahead and books September instead.

 

[DaisyD]

And I wish they would bring BRP back! It was so nice to book at your leisure and not have to check boards or call all the time. BRP was the best thing they ever did.

 

[CarolA]

I think the thing to do is bring BRP back and still allow the late phone bookings. I don't see why they have to exclusive. That might mean they release really late for phone bookings, but that would allow them to attempt to sell rooms at the last minute.

Yes, in the past they have skipped months. Prior to 9/11 there were months skipped and the industry is saying travel is back to pre 9/11 levels.

 

[hapandpam]

Maybe I'm too cynical, but I think the reason Disney did away with their BRP is because they saw that their program wasn't as profitable for them as the old system. A couple of years ago, we were able to get a good rate with an AP, so we bought them and made 2 trips that year. If we didn't have the AP, we would never have made that second trip. Yes, we got the discounted room, but they had us hooked for 2 trips. I am hoping for an AP rate this year as well. If I am able to get one, I'll certainly be more likely to make another trip down before it expires. In the long run, Disney will get more of my money if an AP discount is available. I would not have booked under the BPR system because I'm one of those people who need to know up front exactly how much I'm going to pay.

I have called CRO several mornings in the past couple of weeks. The CMs have been great, and don't seem bothered by my call. If I see someone has posted that they already called, I don't call that morning. An interesting thread.....

 

[C.Darwin]

I also called this AM & spoke with Caldwell ..... He said "you know you don't have to call every day. If we don't hear from you until Friday or Monday, it will be okay." HAHAHA .... maybe ...... Does that mean I should call back Friday???

this is from another thread. it sounds like the cm's at least have a sense of humor about it.

i expect ap discounts will become less and less frequent in the future. so many people have started looking at ap's as a room rate "discount card". lots of posts with "i'll buy one ap after rates come out". however, since disney reads these boards, they see most people waiting for the discounts already have rooms booked at rack rate and don't plan on changing their reservations.

we've been ap holders for years. we go usually 3-4 times/ year and it saves a lot on park admission and we get free parking. if there's a good discount, we stay onsite. if not, we stay offsite or at swan/dolphin.

 

[simpsonps121]

Hi Guys,
Once again, another great post. Just a newbie question:

What does all the acronyms mean?

BRP
AP
CRO

My assumption is that BRP is an advanced booking plan, AP is a price schedule, and CRO is customer relations.

Thanks for the help,
Matthew

 

[Tinkerbelle32]

Hi! BRP stood for Best Rate Plan, but that has been done away with. CRO is customer relations/booking, and AP is an Annual Pass(basically unlimited admission to parks). Hope this helps! Tink