Mousesavers.com Newsletter

[DisOrBust]

As Mary has pointed out this is IHHO only. Disney is getting smart about keeping guests on site with the Fairytale package however they still have been offering AP rates during the busy summer season. I just can't imagine them not continuing to do so during Value season and espeically when PC opens. I am done purchasing an AP. Its not worth the nail biting if the discount will be there or not. We go every 10 months b/c of the AP rate if its gone so are we......Hello USF!!

 

[Gary M]

I just received my Mousesavers.com newsletter about 10 minutes ago. About 1:00 pm central time.

 

[Disneefun]

I think this is the end of Disney for us. We've been AP holders for years, and always gotten the discount. We never counted on it, or "expected" it, but it was always there for us when we wanted to go. We've gone so much that packages just don't appeal anymore and UPH's appeal even less. We, like other posters here, like to hang out at the resorts, shop, visit other places and hang out with some friends who live in Orlando. We don't spend every day in the parks and aren't about to spend money on a UPH pass that we'll never get the value out of. Neither am I thrilled about the 45 day cancellation policy -- we almost never know until three weks or so beforehand that we can go for sure. Work just ain't that flexible. We plan, we try, and then we just have to hope a bit.

2001-2002 almost marked the end for us as we booked French Quarter and they closed it after 9/11, moving us to Riverside (we had no choices for our dates). Then later that year, we were booked for Pop Century and then relocated to ASM when it didn't open (again, no other choices were open for our dates). THEN, as if it weren't enough, last Sept. we were booked in the Carribean and they closed that, offering only to move use to CSR, which held no appeal. We finally got our dates at the Poly, but let me tell you it was a fight that I had to take all the way to Al Weiss' office because NO WAY was I going for the third time in a year to stay in a resort that I didn't choose or want. The point of that story is that I was left feeling tired, frustrated and angry at Disney -- I know they "had' to close those resorts (or, if you take the Mousesavers newsletter to heart, they closed them to keep occupancy up and prices stable), but the lack of customer service we received THREE TIMES IN A ROW was appalling. (I know others had different experiences with those closings and got great deals, etc. -- consider yourselves lucky)

And just when I thought the back luck was ending, this year has come along. We got AP rates for our trip in May, and that was good. But all I've seen since are policy changes that do nothing to help me and nothing to return my warm, fuzzy, Disney feeling.

We have a trip scheduled for Jan. '04 for our 10th ann. trip -- doing the cruise and the BC, but NOT the land/sea package. We're still going, even if we have to pay rack, because we've always agreed that this is what we'd do for our big anniversary and we've budgeted accordingly, assuming worst case of rack rates. But our AP's will not be renewed next year. There are too many other places I want to see and too many other things I want to do to waste time being frustrated by policies that aren't even close to industry standard and seem designed to make things as difficult and as frustrating as possible for the most loyal of their guests. So next year we'll do our long put-off "Theme Park Palooza" trip where we go around the country visiting Six Flags, Cedar Point, Hershey, etc and seeing some great coasters. We kept putting it off because there was always a "Disney Deal" on the horizon, but I'll be voting with my feet next year and putting my feet (and money) in someone else's park.

 

[zulaya]

Well I still haven't received my MouseSavers newsletter and this is the one and only time I haven't received it early in the day.

Going by what you all said, if they are going ot packages only - even if it's with the mini golf - I see a lot of people getting angry and staying off-Disney property.

This is not meant to insult, belittle or otherwise hurt anyone's feelings, but in this case, it's another reason I am glad I bought into DVC. None of this mucking around with rates and packages to deal with.

 

[Gary M]

Remember before the Disney VISA card came out, there were all kinds of rumors that Disney was going to do something for their frequent customers. We all assumed it was something good. Well they are doing something and it isn't good.

 

[missypie]

I just hate the idea of being coerced into buying a package that includes things I won't use or don't need.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Well, in her newsletter she doesn't say that she thinks that AP discounts will be no longer just that they will be offered at the last minute. So, I booked with DU again and this way I don't have to worry about it. I know that if/when the AP rates come out my agent, Sue Ellen, will have the rate applied for me. No worries for me!

Also whenever I book I make sure that I can afford the rack rate this way if a discount doesn't come I don't have to cancel. Do I want to pay rack rate? Heck no. But will I cancel or stay offsite if there isn't a discount- not a chance, I love being on-site way too much.

JMHO-lol.

 

[missypie]

Palmtreegirl, Disney must be counting on a lot of people feeling like you. Interesting move in this economy. I'd like to see their numbers ... they must think that a family visiting the world every other year with a Disney package will generate more $$$ than a family visiting twice a year with APs and AP rates.

I'm a contrarian myself ... France is experiencing a big drop in tourism (extreme heat, plus unpopular politial views?), so we're going to DLP!

 

[Josephine]

Mary, has it on her site now

http://www.mousesavers.com/faq.html#future

 

[DisneyFan79]

Thanks for the link. Since I am at work I don't have access to my home email, so I haven't had a chance to read the newsletter. This whole package thing really doesn't make sense to me. I know that most of the Disney's guests are going to be frequent travelers (i.e. ones with AP's like myself) and first timers. I can understand the package thing that would be great for people going for the first time and not knowing a lot about Disney. You get the whole package. It's easy and simple. On the downside, those of use who do have an AP and would not be interested in a package, this is not an option. I hope Disney does realize that a lot of "non-disney" resorts are out there agressively offering rooms at amazing prices and will wake up and see that if they want to keep people on their property they have to give a little. I personally don't think that Disney resort rack rates are up to par. I can go to Atlanta GA and stay in a 5 star hotel for half the cost of the YC, BC, or BWI. I understand you get the service and the closeness and all of these underlying privaledges, but I don't think the rack rates equal the amenities. Just a thought. I am still booked at the WL using my DC discount. We will see. The S/D looks better everyday.

 

[johnsonet]

I just do not believe Disney will be able to convince all their guests to pay for daily admission to parks that they aren't going to visit every day!! People won't stand for it. Some people, sure, just want to buy a package. But there's no way in hay I'm going to buy a Disney package - ever! I've never had an AP and I've always paid rack rates on rooms (although mostly in Value Season) but I buy Park Hoppers; even that system is a pain b/c the whole point of "they never expire" is that you often end up with un-used days (this is the beauty part for Disney) and twice I've had to buy PHs with more days than I needed to make up for what's left on old PHs!!!
Sounds like they're phasing out AP - it's not profitable enough and they are, after all, a business. But the package thing and the WDW Travel Co. situation is not going to work for my family. I don't know what we'll do. We've stayed at GF our last 6 visits and in Nov. I'm planning to go to AKL (booked thru CRO!) but we are fairly last-minute types and the 45-day policy will just have us staying at the Hard Rock, I guess.

 

[johnsonet]

I should not have said "never" re. Disney packages b/c of course I would buy a package like FTP if it worked with my dates... I just wouldn't buy a traditional package if it weren't cost effective!

 

[momoftwins]

I have never had any problems getting the newsletter. I am not an AOL subscriber. I remember she had some problem with them.

Mary, are you out there?

 

[palmtreegirl]

I'm a contrarian myself ... France is experiencing a big drop in tourism (extreme heat, plus unpopular politial views?), so we're going to DLP!

Oh too cool! I'm hoping to get there myself one day. Have a great time!!

 

[BHFAN]

When we have used a room code or had our APs, we seem to spend just as much money as we would have anyway -- we are just spending it on better meals, more gifts and things like that. Disney can't be losing money with codes and discounts. W/o either, I'll stay home or go someplace else. I can't understand their thoughts

I know a lot of people who go to WDW with no discounts. They go to a travel agent and buy a package. They seem to go once or once every 5-10 years and that is all. Then they bad mouth it because it is so expensive yadda,yadda, yadda. Then there were people like me who got discounts and sang Disney praises, going every chance I got spreading the word of what a great vacation it is. Something isn't right.

 

[Gary M]

BHFAN, I did like you, praising WDW to friends. I helped them with their planning, 4 families took WDW trips because of me. This has been in the last year or so. All of them liked WDW, but have no plans to go back, in the near future. They got nice room discounts, but though it was expensive. As you said something isn't right.

 

[sanilacjack]

Eastern time, no news letter either.....
I wonder it the power outage in the north east would have anything to do with it???

 

[katrina1122]

Here's my thoughts...I don't have AP's. I haven't been to wdw since 97, DH has never been. I was fully prepared to buy a AAA reduced package again when I stumbled across ways to pay less. I of course knew you could stay off resort and pay much less, but since its his first visit I was trying to avoid this. We are currently booked at the Dolphin under the gov't rate, but I have learned that codes often come out for rooms at WDW resorts so I too have been hoping that I might get something better than the AAA rate....but here's my problem with everyone being so upset (and I know I'm on the 'wrong' side here). There's talk of industry standards, and people used to having deals, why alienate the repeat customers?, etc etc. First off, has anyone taken a cruise recently? You have to give a sizeable downpayment fairly early and you have to pay it off two months out, that's worse that 45 days, sure that room booking thing is a pain, but if you have airfare you are usually stuck anyway unless you are purchasing practically the day you leave. Sure wdtc should lessen their booking policy over all, but no one has officially said that CRO has gone away have they? no. Secondly, no has said that codes are officially gone. Why get so worked up? Speculation and rumor are not the truth. Sure there haven't been the codes that there have been in recent history, but when has ftp existed before? WDW is obviously experimenting with how its booking rooms, does this mean AP's are being phased out? no. Does this mean room only reservations are no longer going to exist? not necessarily. Sure you may not want to run out and renew that ap this year until things have leveled out, but don't just assume the worst. Look at the the travel industry as a whole. Its in turmoil right now. You can travel for practically nothing to many places, they are begging you to come. WDW may be trying to do this by revamping its system and we just haven't seen it yet other than ftp, it may yet come. Many have mentioned they have other places in the world they want to see, go see them! WDW will be there next year and their codes will probably have worked themselves out by then, probably sooner. But rather than stressing out over it, if its something you 'refuse to pay rack rate for', well don't, just this one time. There's a whole world out there beyond the world. Personally, we are sticking to our WDW trip come Jan regardless of whether those infamous codes come or not. DH has never been, and its been far too long for me. Come Jan 05 we'll take another cruise and the next year we are off to Mexico. It's all about priority and how you want to spend your money (though I'm hoping that he'll catch the wdw bug and we'll fit a few smaller trips in between), but it just seems to me that if wdtc decides that packages are the wave of the future, well then we'll all have to adjust. How do we know they aren't in the process of creating packages that we've never even heard of? One's that include park hoppers and not uph's? That let you pick days? etc. WDTC is not stupid, they are the travel industry trend setter, they know what they are doing. Just be patient.

 

[hulabird]

Katrina you make some good points. I am sure that if Disney decided that the only discounts they were ever going to have from now on, were packages only, then people would stop buying AP's since their tickets would be included in the package, and then their sale of AP's would go down. I think they know this. I really, in my heart, do not think they are going stop giving out room only codes or AP rates. Let's think positive. Maybe something really did happen in their system and that screwed things up. or maybe the success of FTP DID have something to do with it, but maybe rates will be released by the 22nd like I heard from several people who actually called CRO. I called and was told around the 17th. (a small prayer at bed tonight by everyone would also be a help)

 

[Pig Pen]

It appears that I bought into DVC in the nick of time!