new annual pass program BLUES

[loriandmatt]

AAAKKKK!!!! - AP holder here who has no idea what the heck you all are talking about. can someone direct me to a thread or site that details the changes they just put in place????

- lori

 

[kmkja1]

AAAKKKK!!!! - AP holder here who has no idea what the heck you all are talking about. can someone direct me to a thread or site that details the changes they just put in place????

- lori

Same here!

 

[Mickeyistheman]

After reading over this entire thread I am still confused about the original problem of the OP?

My question is will you still get a discount from the hotels?

If you still do, then you really didn't lose your "perk"

You also can't compare travel 3 or 4 years ago to today.

After Sept. 11 NO ONE was going ANYWHERE!!! So of course they had to drop all of their rates and do this and that to get people going. Now everyone is complaining that the parks are crowded well you can't have your cake and eat it too!

You really need to compare Apples to Apples here.

if you didn't lose the discount then you didn't lose the perk.

 

[sanfordx5]

Boomhauer put it perfect I guess the real problem is that they are making somthing that is simple for us now much more difficult and it shouldn't be. I feel that they think maybe if it is to much work we won't bother with the discount and on the contrary I just won't go unless it works for us. So on behalf of most AP holders put the system back you only have more of our business to gain what might be two or three trips with money spent at your resorts, parks, restaurants, and shopping may be cut down to one trip.

 

[bicker]

Yet, at the the same time, they've made something that used to be much more difficult, much simpler. Before, if you wanted an AP discount, you had to watch the boards religiously, and play fastest fingers whenever someone got wind of discounts being announced. Now, you can just reserve in advance and be sure you'll get the discount if it is offered. Much simpler.

 

[PamNC]

but I kind of enjoyed watching the boards for the discounts and playing the "game." It was part of the fun and excitement for me. I never had a problem getting a discount and I didn't get up at 6:00 in the morning and start dialing at 5 minutes prior to CRO opening. I often waited weeks, even a month afterwards and still got a discount. Case in point...this summer. Before the dreaded BRP started. I called 6 weeks prior to my arrival date and got an AP discount of $100 off per night at the Beach Club. Which was my first choice by the way. I long for the good old days. I loved watching the boards for discounts and playing the game. I'm sure I'm in the minority here. I didn't know that some folks were still calling and getting discounts the old way, that's good to know. I called and they told me that the only way to get an AP discount was through BRP on-line. I suppose it depends on what CM you get. I'll try that next time.

Disney folks...if you're reading this KILL THE BR PROGRAM!!!!!!!! Please.

PamNC

 

[sweet maxine]

I absolutely agree, PamNC! I wish the booking process could go back to the way it was. I think it's a disservice to the current AP owners. I tried recently around the third week in Oct. to book something for the first week in Dec. (by phone) for an AP rate as I was at WDW and did not have access to a computer. I was told I was not within the 60 day time frame, and therefore, could not book a room at the AP rate. So that means there will be no more last minute trips, as I will book elsewhere to get a better rate.

I have on two previous trips booked rooms at the AP rate as close as the day before I needed them without any problem. I think the problem Disney is trying to address is the people who have booked rooms in the past who do not own an AP. All that needs to be done is to require proof at check-in, or surely there should be a record in their system for those that do. That seems much simpler to me. I'm terribly disappointed about not being able to book a discounted room for early December at this point.

 

[boomhauer]

Yet, at the the same time, they've made something that used to be much more difficult, much simpler. Before, if you wanted an AP discount, you had to watch the boards religiously, and play fastest fingers whenever someone got wind of discounts being announced. Now, you can just reserve in advance and be sure you'll get the discount if it is offered. Much simpler.

I don't know - I had my AP last year, and tried for discounts 3 times for 3 trips - I got the discount I wanted at the resort I wanted every time.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Coke at WDW is $2.00 per 20 oz. bottle.

Did they go up?

 

[boomhauer]

I think the problem Disney is trying to address is the people who have booked rooms in the past who do not own an AP. All that needs to be done is to require proof at check-in, or surely there should be a record in their system for those that do. That seems much simpler to me. I'm terribly disappointed about not being able to book a discounted room for early December at this point.

This is it. All that needs to be said. I think it's absolute laziness on Disney's part. Seriously, how difficult is it to say upon check-in, "Could I see your AP please?"

And for anyone who says that people come with excuse after excuse why they don't have iot on them - Very simple - Check the computer. Disney has records of all AP holders.

There is no excuse. It's sheer laziness on Disney's part.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Disney is gatting very stingy on their discounts....period. I don't even have an AP and I tune into the threads about the BRP and think its ridiculous. There are many people who must choose their vacation MONTHS in advance, and many can't go at a drop of a hat. I think even the general public codes are stupid. Just give a discount and be done with it, why does everything have to be a production case.

For many years my DH received the airline employee discount, then lo and behold, one day , they tell him he needs to work for a MAJOR airline. HUH? He works for stat, the medical airteam, . This is ridiculous! Flame me if you want but FL residents get enough with their resident passes and such, plus alot have the perk of living so close they can drive to the parks. Take some of their discounts away and give them back to us.

 

[jmclester]

Same here!

It's now a "perk" with conditions. To take advantage of the Best Rate program (the only way to get an AP room discount now) you must book online, at least 60 days in advance and secure the first night's stay with a non-refundable deposit. The online booking agency is seperate from Disney so you can't call the 407-WDISNEY ressie line to book the room like we are all accustomed to. I'm thinking it's a strategic move to encourage online booking to reduce the need for CS reps and not to close "loopholes".

The AP room discount is very much worth it (if it is offerered).

I have an AP (primarily for room discounts) but I would prefer a "room only" discount (but we can't count on that now can we?) with a 10 day MYW ticket that never expires. We can't visit more than once per year so I would say that I just about broke even.

 

[boomhauer]

Disney is gatting very stingy on their discounts....period. I don't even have an AP and I tune into the threads about the BRP and think its ridiculous. There are many people who must choose their vacation MONTHS in advance, and many can't go at a drop of a hat. I think even the general public codes are stupid. Just give a discount and be done with it, why does everything have to be a production case.

This is a great statement, and I especially love that last sentence. Exactly. I know there are those that say "don't look a gift horse in the mouth". I think that's a ridiculous statement to make. We're spending thousands of dollars to take a vacation here - Obviously, we have EVERY right to look for a discount.

When you go to buy a car, don't you always look for the best price possible? Why should a vacation be any different?

 

[tlbwriter]

Yet, at the the same time, they've made something that used to be much more difficult, much simpler. Before, if you wanted an AP discount, you had to watch the boards religiously, and play fastest fingers whenever someone got wind of discounts being announced. Now, you can just reserve in advance and be sure you'll get the discount if it is offered. Much simpler.

From what I can tell, they are now asking you to buy a pig in a poke, aren't they? I'm not an AP holder, so I'm not well versed in the details, but it looks like you used to be able to watch for discounts and then make reservations knowing what kind of discount you'd get, and now you are supposed to make reservations assuming/hoping some kind of discount will come out. So it looks like your options are (a) reserve a room for what you'd be willing to pay if you had to pay rack rate, which means that if a discount does come through, you might be disappointed that you hadn't chosen a more expensive resort, since it would meet your budget with the discount, or (b) make a reservation hoping for a discount, and risk overtextending yourself if a discount doesn't meet your expectations. It may be simpler, but as a customer I would not find it more satisfying.

 

[Paisleyjane]

Have any of you written to Disney about this. I haven't, but reading all of these posts, I am thinking that I will do that. I have been told by cast members that on a number of issues, they do listen to letters they receive. Perhaps if we all band together and do this, change will happen.

 

[boomhauer]

Have any of you written to Disney about this. I haven't, but reading all of these posts, I am thinking that I will do that. I have been told by cast members that on a number of issues, they do listen to letters they receive. Perhaps if we all band together and do this, change will happen.

Sure I have. As usual with Disney, I got no response.

 

[Paisleyjane]

I am not saying things will change immediately. I have written many times and not gotten any response, but in August I wrote a letter and got a phone call back from Walt disney World Executive offices. She asked me some more questions, and clarified everything I had said. So who knows?

 

[goofy4tink]

There was a thread quite awhile ago about Disney's trying to cut down on the number of APs out there. It seems that there were too many people (for Disney's tastes) that had the APs and were using them for the perks. Sure, they were the ones to give out the perks, we just used what was given to us. But now, it would seem, that those early threads were correct. There will be a real cut in AP numbers. I don't think Disney is overly concerned about losing the business. They are currently filling those resort rooms. We got used to some great deals after 9/11.....we had to know that they weren't going to last. I mean, come on....how many people out there really do use codes? If you surveyed every single person checking into a resort or entering a park, I really think you would get a majority of "What the heck are you talking about...codes?" type answers. Most people still book their trips using rack rates....I know, I know..it hurts to just think about it. But, if the rooms are filled and the parks are busy, then Disney is not going to be giving us great discounts. Why would they. If you have 1,000 people who are willing to pay for those 'packages', why would you hand out codes so that people could book room only, and spend 15% less?? Nope, it's a business and Disney isn't all that concerned with people not making the trek to WDW because they couldn't get 15% off their resort room. (or whatever the percentage would be).
Do we have 'the right' to expect discounts? Maybe....but Disney reserves the right to not offer them if they don't need to. It is hard to give up perks after you have gotten used to them. But as someone has already said.....most people that plan way out, tend to get better deals. I know if I fly and book at the 331 day, I get some terrific fares. So, why shouldn't the AP rate be the same. I was one of those people that used the AP rate for a last minute trip in August. I booked on a Friday and went down the following Friday. My AP saved me about $12 a night...so a total of about $50. Not a huge deal in the big picture.
But, I am sorry that so many of you will feel that you can no longer take those frequent trips to WDW. That is a bummer. Hopefully there will be some way for you to do it another way.

 

[loriandmatt]

ok - asking again.....where the heck can i find a link to a thread or a webpage detailing the changes that y'all are taking about? As an activated AP holder i have no idea what you are talking about and want/need to know.

any help would be appreciated

- lori

 

[jmclester]

ok - asking again.....where the heck can i find a link to a thread or a webpage detailing the changes that y'all are taking about? As an activated AP holder i have no idea what you are talking about and want/need to know.

any help would be appreciated

- lori

Go to the home page of this website and click on "Annual Passholder Discount" and it will explain it in detail.