Mistake in New AP Discount Rates?

[DougK]

I saw there was a new AP discount beginning yesterday. The Disney web page said "Now, a Passholder saves at least 34% on rooms at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels". I know they always say "select resorts" because there is no guarantee of availability at the resort and/or room type you may want, but in the past I have found you either get the discount or it is not available at all.

I looked at the rates for the Poly and saw Garden View for $294, Lagoon View for $399 and Theme Park View for $444. This was for the late October/early November time period (regular season). The rack rates are $415, $520 and $565 respectively. This amounts to a savings of somewhere around 20 something percent for the Lagoon and Theme Park views which is way less than the usual AP discount. This really surprised me especially in this economy.

Does anybody know if this is possibly an error or are the discounts not as good as they used to be? I'm not complaining because I understand these discounts are a bonus and are not guaranteed, but I am curious if someone can enlighten me. Maybe one of you experts can help!

Thanks!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

In the example you gave, the discount seems to be $121, no matter what room category. Disney has done this in the past, offered a straight dollar figure off each resort level - one amount for deluxe, another for mods, a third for values. This means that the percentage off for each resort (and each category) is going to differ. Often, it is the lower priced rooms that seem to get the best percentage - for instance, check AKL and WL in the deluxe category.

Hope this helps! Disney has many ways of offering discounts, it's always difficult to predict what the next offer will be.

 

[DougK]

In the example you gave, the discount seems to be $121, no matter what room category. Disney has done this in the past, offered a straight dollar figure off each resort level - one amount for deluxe, another for mods, a third for values. This means that the percentage off for each resort (and each category) is going to differ. Often, it is the lower priced rooms that seem to get the best percentage - for instance, check AKL and WL in the deluxe category.

Hope this helps! Disney has many ways of offering discounts, it's always difficult to predict what the next offer will be.

Wow, I hadn't even noticed the discount was the same dollar amount for each category, thanks for pointing that out. However that being the case I think Disney should not use the words "saves at least 34%" if it is not true!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I agree, the wording should be "save up to 34%".

 

[onelilspark]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but usually the Poly isn't even included. The only Deluxes typically included in the AP rates are the AKL, WL, SSR, and OKW.

 

[HelenParr]

Actually, most deluxe resorts are available for at least some AP dates (although often in short supply). The advertisement WDW puts out is misleading. If you play around on the passholder reservation area it is immediately apparent that the resorts listed in the release info are not the only ones. I suspect the resorts they list are the ones they want to steer you toward and the ones that support the "34% off at select resorts" text.

I often am able to get an AP rate at YC/BC, BCV, and when I do it (usually online) I can see Poly, GF, Bdwlk are also available, even though the WDW blurb might lead you to believe that only SSR, AKL etc. are discounted.

 

[snykymom]

I agree, the wording should be "save up to 34%".

That won't work, because at the mods, you save 40%; at AKL and WL, you save 42%.

The "at least 34% is for the select resorts that they listed in the blurb. You save less at the more expensive, "non-select" resorts.

It's not a mistake; it's a standard marketing technique.

 

[DougK]

That won't work, because at the mods, you save 40%; at AKL and WL, you save 42%.

The "at least 34% is for the select resorts that they listed in the blurb. You save less at the more expensive, "non-select" resorts.

It's not a mistake; it's a standard marketing technique.

It may be standard but it seems misleading to me.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

That won't work, because at the mods, you save 40%; at AKL and WL, you save 42%.

The "at least 34% is for the select resorts that they listed in the blurb. You save less at the more expensive, "non-select" resorts.

It's not a mistake; it's a standard marketing technique.

OK - whatever the amount is, that is what the wording should be. "Up to 34%" - "up to 40%" - "up to 42%" - it doesn't really matter what the actual percentage is, as long as the wording is accurate. I don't agree that they should be able to get away with saying "at least 34%" if some of the resorts offered are less than that amount. That is incredibly deceptive, and not worthy of Disney.

I didn't go to the website, btw, so I do not have any idea what the add states.

 

[snykymom]

Yes, it may be deceptive; my only point was that the wording was no "mistake."

 

[k&a&c'smom]

snykymom - sorry, yes, I should have acknowledged that in my response! I read my post over again, and realize it came off a bit stiff - that wasn't my intent at all.

 

[chirogrrl]

When I called to change our ressie to an AP rate, I was offered BC, YC and BWI for the discount. I switched from WL deluxe to 2 rooms at the BC and saved almost $800. We were looking specifically at Epcot area hotels, so I don't know what else was available? I was told that there was no availability at the WL.

 

[Lynne M]

Moving to Codes and Rates board.