Need to vent about these codes

[chyam]

Well it seems like an eternity that we have all been waiting for some code to come out for this Fall. And finally this morning it appears in my email box, I was not fortunate enough to have recieved any of the previous emails with codes.
Every morning checking these boards and others, checking my emails and it comes this morning.
So there I am on my cell phone at 7am, first all the circuits are busy then I get through.........only to be put on hold for 90 minutes and then have the call dropped by someone! So back to dialing again this time a 45 minute wait, no answer just more yo ho yo ho a pirates life for me..............who's the pirate, I'm beginning to think Disney is! They just HAVE to be getting kick backs from ATT to keep us on hold for so long! So now my cell phone battery is just about exhausted. So I hang up and recharge and recall..........another long wait only to find that there is nothing available for my dates at the WL. Well I do have a room but it is rack rate, and I will probably end up cancelling if I can't get a code somewhere somehow! But really what I think I am getting at is a company as large as Disney should have a call center where no one waits longer than 10 minutes............an hour that is obsurd! And then add to it that there must have only been 5 rooms per resort available.............needless to say I am totally disgusted, but happy for the few that were able to get something!

 

[zurgswife]

See you are from FL ....they haven't released the FL rates yet and they are usually identical to the AP rates....

Also, you should call the 800-828-0228 number then at least you are using Disney's dime not yours....

 

[samnbilly]

Vent away. Then when you feel better, get a good night's rest and start calling tomorrow at 6:58am, NO LATER. Keep dialing. Something is coming out tomorrow. The CM I spoke to nearly spilled the beans. She said, Be Like Cinderella sweetie and get up REAL EARLY TOMORROW! LOL

 

[WDWPARADISE]

It should be interesting to see what type of code comes out. I hope it runs through Christmas and then again Jan 1, 05 to Jan 31, 05.

 

[BambiTamby]

There! There! it'll be alright!

I couldn't get a WL room with AP discount earlier this year and lo and behold....2 weeks after the rates came out, I called and was able to get what I wanted with a super discount!

remember....they will open up more discounted rooms
PLUS....there will be many who do not send in their deposits!

just keep calling, calling, calling......

<marquee>

</marquee>

 

[samnbilly]

Oh Bambi. Your little "addition" to your signature is so cute. I'm such a computer idiot! I love it

 

[catherines_mama]

Originally posted by zurgswife
See you are from FL ....they haven't released the FL rates yet and they are usually identical to the AP rates....

Also, you should call the 800-828-0228 number then at least you are using Disney's dime not yours....

I just called and got FL rate for 10/4 - 10/6 at POP. $77.97/night with tax. Not bad. I'm still going to see if any public codes are better. Gee.. I'm glad my bestfriend who lives in Sarasota is joining us. YAY!!!!

The trip is a TOTAL surprise to my DD (3) and my Sister (30).. Andrea (friend in FL) is my DDs godmother and in the 3 yrs she's lived in FL has not yet been to WDW... together now.. GASP!!! LOL

So I'm really excited!

 

[wanna-b-Tink]

If there was a way to reserve a room with the AP rate online, I'd be all over that -- and it would save Disney money as I always use the 800 number.

And Disney needn't say they can't put an AP rate code online and make it work through their reservations. I shop Gymboree online and use all sorts of codes all the time. Disney store has online codes...The list goes on and on.

Disney...give us online ability to book with codes and SAVE OUR SANITY!!!



Hey, that gives me a great idea. Everyone knows about savedisney.com...What we need is disneysaveoursanity.com!

 

[anne930]

This is rediculous !! To sit on hold for an hour on the morning of a code release and be told "NOTHING AVAILABLE FOR YOUR DATES". (Of course, I'm sitting on hold again this morning - and it will be worth it if we gets better rates).

But come on Disney - THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY !! WE LOVE YOU OR CAN'T YOU TELL????

 

[Abracadabra]

Wow, I'm beginning to feel very lucky now. I called this morning to apply the public code (not AP) to our November trip. It looked like some of our days were during the "blackout" period around Super Soap weekend. But my wait was really short -- didn't even get to hear 1 complete Disney song while on hold! And the CM applied the code for our entire trip! We saved over $500.

Thanks Disney for the great service!!

 

[nuthut]

Originally posted by anne930
This is rediculous !! To sit on hold for an hour on the morning of a code release and be told "NOTHING AVAILABLE FOR YOUR DATES". (Of course, I'm sitting on hold again this morning - and it will be worth it if we gets better rates).

But come on Disney - THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY !! WE LOVE YOU OR CAN'T YOU TELL????

There is a better way, join DVC and you will never have to wait again. You get the best room at the lowest cost. And can not join DVC? Then rent points, you can get a studio at the BWV for less than $100 a night for some nights. No Disney discount will ever beat that!!

 

[JudyS]

Originally posted by nuthut
There is a better way, join DVC and you will never have to wait again. You get the best room at the lowest cost. And can not join DVC? Then rent points, you can get a studio at the BWV for less than $100 a night for some nights. No Disney discount will ever beat that!!

I joined the DVC this summer, but my dates for October were already booked up by the time my account was active! But you can bet that I'm going to book a trip for next October as soon as DVC reservations open for my dates!

Abracadabra, what number did you call? I've been on hold over an hour now.

I'm wondering if I should give up. Is anyone getting BAT discounts for the 2nd week in October?

 

[anne930]

Thanks for the suggestion!! I think I will check into DVC this year!! Where is the best place to learn the ropes and get the best deals?

 

[Abracadabra]

Originally posted by JudyS
Abracadabra, what number did you call? I've been on hold over an hour now.

I'm wondering if I should give up. Is anyone getting BAT discounts for the 2nd week in October?

I used the toll-free number. I am in the Central Time Zone so I called around 6:30-ish Chicago time. Had the shortest wait on hold ever in calling Disney. (I was calling yesterday to book PS for our trip and waited on hold for over an hour!) Today zipped right on with a CM.

We also booked our stay several months ago and just paid the deposit. We are using the Dreammaker pkg for a stay at the Contemporary. I was surprised that despite what Mousesavers said, the code was applied to our entire trip. We are saving about $600.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I called yessterday at 8:10 on the (877) number and was only on hold for 5 minutes..Booked AKL pool view at AP rate for 135/night) nothing at WL, which is what I wanted. Called today to check again on availability and BAT rates, called same number, and was on hold for about 15 minutes (I actually took a quick shower while on hold while DH lay in bed listening to "Bear Necessities" on speaker phone. Got out, dressed and CM came on line.. BAT rates only $17 more per night, so since I would only be buying the AP to get big room discounts, changed ressie from AP to BAT code. From start to finish, about 30 minutes.. Funny, the CM seemed perplexed as to why I would go UP in price....

I don't know why I have been having such good luck with the 877 number, but I will always try that one first!! (877)-939-3732.

 

[Mandalou]

Well, I was gone all day yesterday and didn't know about the AP rates until I got home at 9pm. Of course, when I tried to call I'm warned that I've got a long wait. . . I'm thinking 15-20 minutes, so I hold on. I finally hang up the phone after 45 minutes, wondering if the additional savings would even be made up with the cost of the phone call! LOL

Of course, being raised to be the "budget-gal" that I am, I still tried an hour later and then again three times this morning -- on the chance I could save some $. I think I've been on hold over two hours total already. The good thing is I, I did just change our reservations to AAA discounts last week, and we're getting POP for $61 a night at that rate (one ressie for Oct and two for Nov/Dec), so I feel pretty good about that rate. It would be nice to save even more though. . .

I agree, I think that in a week or two (or even a little longer) more rooms will open up because of people not sending in deposits, people changing their minds and canceling or Disney opening up more discounted rooms. Hey, I've been doing the AP discount dance for so long. . . I guess a little more dancing won't hurt.

 

[PlutosFriend]

Originally posted by Abracadabra
Wow, I'm beginning to feel very lucky now. I called this morning to apply the public code (not AP) to our November trip. It looked like some of our days were during the "blackout" period around Super Soap weekend. But my wait was really short -- didn't even get to hear 1 complete Disney song while on hold! And the CM applied the code for our entire trip! We saved over $500.

Thanks Disney for the great service!!

What resort are you staying at? I am going around the same time frame and could not get my POP reservations adjusted at all.

 

[chyam]

Originally posted by anne930
This is rediculous !! To sit on hold for an hour on the morning of a code release and be told "NOTHING AVAILABLE FOR YOUR DATES". (Of course, I'm sitting on hold again this morning - and it will be worth it if we gets better rates).

But come on Disney - THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY !! WE LOVE YOU OR CAN'T YOU TELL????

Well yesterday when I started this thread I was still fuming from a day of waiting and waiting, it's not like we haven't been waiting for the last 2 months for these codes as it is, only to find that there is no code rates for my stays. Then it started all over this morning...........taking the advice of someone on here I started dialing at 6:58, wouldn't you know I get through! only to be disconnected, and that happened several more times. For me to be on hold for hours and hours on work time is a huge no no.......I am hiding with a cell phone stuck in my ear waiting for someone to answer and for no one to hear the good old disney music coming out of my phone! But alas it is to no avail again........I feel so like eeyore! I have a good notion to cancel the days I have in Oct. and in Dec at the WL and then rebook hoping to get a code, but with my luck someone will book them before the cm can rebook them for me! especially if I get one as slow as the Disney phone lines are. I even sent an email to Disney I was so mad yesterday, I just cannot believe that a company as large as Disney does not have a little faster customer service..............I do not believe anyone should have to wait longer than 15 minutes, at my job we guarantee 95% on time delivery.........I wonder what Disney's times are. I know even when there are not codes released it is usually a long wait. It also amazes me that they cannot accept codes on their online reservation system.........perhaps they need to hire someone from Travelocity or Expedia! Ok I am done venting for the night and of course I have the next 3 days off and of course there are no codes for me to hang on the phones for while I am allowed to do so....................so I guess I will go and have a drink!

 

[sweetp0618]

I called CRO tonight and was able to change my POP rate for December from an AAA rate to an AP rate in less than 5 minutes. The CM told me that when he arrived at work today there were over 400 people in the phone queue and that it had finally died down to less than 50 when I called.

That still no excuse for extended waits and the inability to book online using codes.

sweetp0618
Patti

 

[Debbart]

I may be wrong, but I can't help but feel that a big part of the problem is that they are releasing fewer rooms to discount...and the reason they are releasing fewer rooms is that people are booking rooms at rack rate, sometimes multiple ressies to "cover all the bases" that they have no intention of keeping if they can't change to a discount...but Disney doesn't see that...they see full inventory and release fewer rooms...again I may be wrong but just look at all the people on these boards alone who say I have a ressie at... but I better get a discount or I will have to cancel ??