Just got distrubing info.re BRP and AP...

[A Mickeyfan]

Just want to jump on this thread. I am one of those people that booked without an AP. No, I am not lying. I was calling to see if I could switch my WL reservation to the Poly. I asked her if it would be worth it for me to buy an AP. She told me that the rate was $273 and asked if I wanted to book it. I told her that I did not have an AP, but would love to book it and buy one. She booked it. I then asked her if she wanted to charge me for the AP and she told me I could purchase it later. I was shocked. I went online and typed in the reservation # and there was my Poly reservation as a "best rate passholder". I even called twice to confirm. I already ordered mine online. However, I do know that I am not the only one that has been able to do this.

And when you show up with your pass, you have done exactly what you are suppose to.. One thing I would do prior to check in, activate the pass so you don't have to go back & show it to them later... Prior to check in, go to any guest service window at any of the theme parks or DTD & swap out the voucher for the actual pass then go over to your resort & check in.. From your post, I can see Disney may slowly going back to some of its old ways... like when they did allow you to do this. Now that they are allowing call ins to book I guess they can allow you to book without the pass. Online you do need the numbers from either the pass or the voucher.
Have a great trip!!!

 

[LakeAriel]

Just want to jump on this thread. I am one of those people that booked without an AP. No, I am not lying. I was calling to see if I could switch my WL reservation to the Poly. I asked her if it would be worth it for me to buy an AP. She told me that the rate was $273 and asked if I wanted to book it. I told her that I did not have an AP, but would love to book it and buy one. She booked it. I then asked her if she wanted to charge me for the AP and she told me I could purchase it later. I was shocked. I went online and typed in the reservation # and there was my Poly reservation as a "best rate passholder". I even called twice to confirm. I already ordered mine online. However, I do know that I am not the only one that has been able to do this.

What this means is that they will block out a designated amount of BRP rooms for people without passes and people that actually have them wll be shut out!! Then there will be a free for all when say 10% show up with no AP's and expect the discount and don't get it. I guess it's still a "win win" for Disney!

 

[boomhauer]

I totally agree. The enforcement of having an AP or voucher to book AP discounts needs to be enforced at the time of booking, whether it is online or over the phone. Since the discounts are for Annual Passholders, "holder" being the optimum word here I see no reason to allow anyone to book until they actually hold the pass or the voucher.

That way there is no confrontation at the desk, no need for the person following the rules to have to make sure they have their pass in hand when checking in, etc.

I don't agree. Not everyone has $400 to spend on the spot for an AP. That doesn't mean they won't be buying one for their trip. I spoke with someone at CR who booked the AP rate for me and told me to simply have my AP at check in (which I will.)

I have no quams about having my AP when I check in. I mean, why in the world if I have one, would I not have it on me at check in?

 

[boomhauer]

Just want to jump on this thread. I am one of those people that booked without an AP. No, I am not lying. I was calling to see if I could switch my WL reservation to the Poly. I asked her if it would be worth it for me to buy an AP. She told me that the rate was $273 and asked if I wanted to book it. I told her that I did not have an AP, but would love to book it and buy one. She booked it. I then asked her if she wanted to charge me for the AP and she told me I could purchase it later. I was shocked. I went online and typed in the reservation # and there was my Poly reservation as a "best rate passholder". I even called twice to confirm. I already ordered mine online. However, I do know that I am not the only one that has been able to do this.

And there's nothing wrong with this. I did the same thing.

And, if I went to check in and didn't have an AP, then Disney should and has every right to charge me rack rate for the room.

 

[Laura Bell]

with the system as you have all deliniated it. If I am allowed to make a ressie on line with my voucher (which I did) why do I need to have an activated pass at check-in --- why won't a voucher do?

If I arrive too late to activate my voucher that day, or am not planning to be at a park or DTD until the next day, I should be allowed to check in with the voucher. I may have to come back with the activated pass, but I should be allowed to check in with my voucher, as I was allowed to reserve the room with only the voucher.

I really hope that this is so, as I will not have the voucher activated until the next day. If I have to have an active pass to check in then I should have to have an active pass to make the reservation. It would seem to me to be a hardship on a person who has spent the day in travel (I am an older person with mobility issues traveling with a friend battling breast cancer) to have to go out to a park or DTD to active their pass every time they get at new annual pass.

Sorry, just my two cents --- don't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers.

 

[Doede95]

I would think that they would let you check in with a voucher considering your circumstances. ( I am sorry about your friend, I will say a prayer for her) I really feel that if you have purchased an AP or a voucher, then you are fine. I know people are getting upset, but it is not the fault of the person that booked without an AP. I did not even try to do that, the CM told me to wait to purchase it. So, the ones that book w/out the AP are not being sneaky or breaking any rules. Disney is saying it is o.k. I will show up with my AP in hand. I do understand what you were saying about people w/out an AP booking rooms with no intention of purchasing an AP. It does take away rooms from the AP holders. That is not right. There are always a couple of bad seeds in a group. I however am so excited about my trip and am happy about my AP.

 

[bicker]

Not everyone has $400 to spend on the spot for an AP.

Money is a valid differentiator in commerce. Not everyone has $2500 to spend on hotel rooms. Not everyone has $200 to spend on airline tickets. And so on. If money were not a valid differentiator, the distinction between deluxe, moderate and value resorts wouldn't be valid. The issue here is that Disney has raised the bar for eligibility for discounts, presumably because there was so much demand for so little supply. It is now necessary to actually be in the course of your year for your annual pass to be eligible to book rooms at discount. This reduces the competition for the limited discounts that are available to those who have already activated their passes, and are therefore in the course of reducing the associated liability.

 

[DisneyBill]

They are only allowing those with either an AP or the AP voucher. There are numbers on the back of the voucher that must be given to book. They can tell if that voucher number has been sold (just not to who unless paid for by a credit card I would imagine, even though that doesn't mean that is who it is for) If you have the voucher, they will more than likely ask for the proof at check in. If it is already activated by check in, they will have all your info.

They not only can tell you how many times you have gone, they can also tell you the names of everyone that has ever stayed in your room. When ever I call, they always ask me about 2 or 3 other names.... friends of my daughter's, or my aunt's name. They do and can keep track...they are like the FBI when it comes to your profile

This is an extremely timely thread for me!

Today, November 8, I called CRO seeking prices for 2 nights @ AKL before an extended family DVC vacation. I was really fishing for a PIN/promo that may have been available.

I've never bought an AP before and asked the CM if the AP discount for these two nights (March 31 & April 1) were much less than rack rate. She told me I COULD NOT book an AP rate either thru her or online without an ACTIVATED AP, which she further said had to be activated at WDW, -so no AP discount without having been to WDW with the AP until the "next" trip.

I asked her specifically about the "voucher/exchange certificate" that I understood to come with the card. She said no booking without the activated AP, that they once booked with the voucher, but not anylonger.

Is she correct or mistaken?

 

[Teresa Pitman]

The problem as I see it is that if I have to buy an AP and have it "in my hands and activated" to book my room AND the BRP requires that I book 60 days in advance - then I am effectively wasting two months of my AP.

Teresa

 

[Sammie]

The problem as I see it is that if I have to buy an AP and have it "in my hands and activated" to book my room AND the BRP requires that I book 60 days in advance - then I am effectively wasting two months of my AP.

Teresa

Not if you are the AP holder that always renews their APs year after year when they expire, then you would always have a valid AP to book discounts.

 

[Lives4Disney]

This is an extremely timely thread for me!

Today, November 8, I called CRO seeking prices for 2 nights @ AKL before an extended family DVC vacation. I was really fishing for a PIN/promo that may have been available.

I've never bought an AP before and asked the CM if the AP discount for these two nights (March 31 & April 1) were much less than rack rate. She told me I COULD NOT book an AP rate either thru her or online without an ACTIVATED AP, which she further said had to be activated at WDW, -so no AP discount without having been to WDW with the AP until the "next" trip.

I asked her specifically about the "voucher/exchange certificate" that I understood to come with the card. She said no booking without the activated AP, that they once booked with the voucher, but not anylonger.

Is she correct or mistaken?

I have had an AP in the past and didn't renew this time, but I recently purchased a voucher. It came in the mail in about a week and thru the numbers on the voucher I can access the passholder site. I booked a couple vacations thru this site, using my voucher. I have yet to activate it - I will do so on my Thanksgiving trip.

I would call back and talk to another CM. It seems to depend on who you talk to, but the voucher worked for me!

Lives4Disney

 

[A Mickeyfan]

This is an extremely timely thread for me!

Today, November 8, I called CRO seeking prices for 2 nights @ AKL before an extended family DVC vacation. I was really fishing for a PIN/promo that may have been available.

I've never bought an AP before and asked the CM if the AP discount for these two nights (March 31 & April 1) were much less than rack rate. She told me I COULD NOT book an AP rate either thru her or online without an ACTIVATED AP, which she further said had to be activated at WDW, -so no AP discount without having been to WDW with the AP until the "next" trip.

I asked her specifically about the "voucher/exchange certificate" that I understood to come with the card. She said no booking without the activated AP, that they once booked with the voucher, but not anylonger.

Is she correct or mistaken?

She is mistaken, you can book with the voucher online, or at least when the BRP started up they were letting you. Call back again & try someone else. As you can see from all of our posts, not all of the CM's do the same thing. They may allow you to go ahead & book...call, it is worth a shot...if not, ask again about the voucher numbers & booking online.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Not if you are the AP holder that always renews their APs year after year when they expire, then you would always have a valid AP to book discounts.

And if she is not already an AP holder, she is 100% correct, she would be waisting her months on it. Not everyone is an AP holder yet, but will be by the time they arrive.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

What this means is that they will block out a designated amount of BRP rooms for people without passes and people that actually have them wll be shut out!! Then there will be a free for all when say 10% show up with no AP's and expect the discount and don't get it. I guess it's still a "win win" for Disney!

Yes, it can be a win win for Disney.... but why should there be a free for all. I don't understand why people think that they should be entitled to something that they clearly do not qualify for I see no harm in booking without it, getting it & having it ready for check in. But to book it thinking you are going to get away with it if you put up a fuss at the front desk I know there will be many that disagree with me, but the customer isn't always right...especially when they know what they were doing was deceitfull (sorry for my spelling).....

 

[A Mickeyfan]

We are all here making a fuss of how Disney can allow one without an AP in hand book over the phone. As I stated in another post, Universal does it all the time. You can even book online without having one in your hand. As long as you have it on arrival. I wonder, maybe those that go to Universal don't expect to get something that they don't qualify for, therefor they have their AP in hand It is the same situation. If Universal can do it, why can't Disney. Many people expect to much out of Disney. It is a business and a very profitable one at that. No, I don't like some of the things they do (BRP is one of them). But why should people be booking and expecting an AP rate from them when they have no intentions of getting one??? Do those same people do it at Universal too??? To be honest, I think the actual number of those that do that with Disney is very small in comparison to truthful bookings. I don't think we are not going to get our room because Mary Smith has booked without an AP & will not have it when she arrives.... Universal has way less rooms than Disney.... all you need to do on their site is type in APH and it will come up.. and you can book it. Just have one when you arrive... this entire thing about expecting the discount just blows my mind... don't expect what you aren't entited to.. and if the front desk (police) CM says no AP rate..well then it is no AP rate simple as that.

It is clear that the BRP isn't doing what it was set out to do. It was suppose to stop the calls for the AP bookings. The site is so messed up that people cannot get in & book. Yes, on the site, you need the AP or the voucher & cannot book without one or the other. On the phone, well that is a different story.. they have always allowed you to book without it as long as you had one on arrival so what is the big deal now? Now they they have gone back to allowing calls (during certian times of the day), I guess some CM's are allowing you to book without the AP... big deal. You still have to book 60 days out. Maybe Disney figured they would get more rooms filled by allowing this now. Maybe it wasn't working they way they thought it would. Disney didn't expect the gas shortage, the hurricanes... they are filling their rooms & they don't care if you aren't in possession of your AP yet, just as long as you have it upon arrival (same as before). Now that I have vented... sorry if I have hurt anyone's feelings. This isn't directed to anyone in particular. Just open your eyes... Universal is allowing it & they have not seemed to encounter the problems that some think Disney has.....

 

[Gary M]

Not if you are the AP holder that always renews their APs year after year when they expire, then you would always have a valid AP to book discounts.

This is not correct in my situation. I've had AP's for at least 10 years always renewing without a break in expiration dates. I now have renewed my AP that expired on Nov. 4 and am now holding a vouchure not the activated AP. I will not have the actual AP until our Nov. 29-Dec. 6 trip. I haven't read every word of this thread, so maybe I am misunderstanding the vouchure problem vs. the activated AP.

 

[Sammie]

This is not correct in my situation. I've had AP's for at least 10 years always renewing without a break in expiration dates. I now have renewed my AP that expired on Nov. 4 and am now holding a vouchure not the activated AP. I will not have the actual AP until our Nov. 29-Dec. 6 trip. I haven't read every word of this thread, so maybe I am misunderstanding the vouchure problem vs. the activated AP.

I understand your situation and I also understand that if Disney changes the requirments to current activated AP holders only: then those AP holders will be the ones getting the discounts.

This might be another case of a CM not knowing what the heck is going on because the CMs at DRC seem to be the most confused bunch on property. However the CM might be correct and this is a new requirement. Personally if I had to guess I would say it was more about calling in and trying to get info; rather than using a voucher.

I guess we will wait and see or someone that has a voucher can go to the website and see if they still work.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I guess we will wait and see or someone that has a voucher can go to the website and see if they still work.

Lives4Disney posted a few postes ago saying she recently did that & the voucher numbers worked.....

 

[Lives4Disney]

Lives4Disney posted a few postes ago saying she recently did that & the voucher numbers worked.....

Hi, I just rechecked now, and yes I can still book a room with my voucher. It allowed me into the passholder site and allowed me to book a room (I just didn't follow thru with the cc info etc.)

I did just use this site for booking a March spring break trip with my voucher - I think it was just about a week and a half ago.

There are numbers on the voucher that you use just like an AP to access the site. No problem.

Good luck & happy planning!

Lives4Disney

 

[Matt]

I ordered my APs online about 3 weeks ago. I received my vouchers two days ago. We logged into the passholder system and were able to book a room at POFQ for February. The difference in price was at least 450 from the advertised rate to the public.

So, you can get into the site easily and book a room with your voucher number.

So, when I get to Disney in February, do I have to first go to a park and activate my cards before checking in??