New AP system, blame yourselves!!

[MagicKingdom05]

bicker,

What I'm saying is if everything we are hearing is correct and those who book online through this AP promotion get the the code added to there reservations, before the discount is available to everyone else, then this could mean that less rooms will be available for everyone else.

 

[bicker]

Yes, yes, I understood that. I'm sorry I wasn't clear: What I was trying to say is that that would be good for those customers... the ones who got the discounts.

 

[Mickey_Fanatic]

As far as cheating on the AP's, I have been an AP holder since 1991 and have never been asked for my AP at checkin. In fact I have asked several times if they wanted to see it and they always said no.

 

[fitzgra]

Have any of you noticed that ddank, the original poster, has not posted since?
Seems to me might just have wanted to stir up a few juices!!!!!

 

[bicker]

To be fair, there are well over a dozen different threads on this subject. I would assume that the OP got all the information one could possibly desire, without the need to post a follow-up message.

 

[fitzgra]

Definitely was not being negative...you might be right about not needing more info, bicker.
Just seemed curious to me.
Would love to hear what OP thinks of the discussion going on.

 

[fitzgra]

You could be right Bicker.
Did not intend to be negative...just curious. Za
Wonder what OP would think of this discussion

 

[leighe]

Yup. There are lots of families of 5 who like to stay at Value resorts, but need to reserve 2 rooms. So are they eliminated from ap discounts? They should at least allow people to book 2 rooms with the discount.

I agree with this. You would think with the amount of information Disney has about it's guests there would be some way to know if you are booking two rooms for your own family or one room for your family and one room for another family (friends, relatives, etc.)

Right now it's only DH and I and I'm the only one with an AP. That's because I usually take another Disney trip with my sister or my best friend and DH doesn't. I don't feel like I've "cheated" the system when I've booked a room with an AP rate for DH and myself.

I really think this new system is going to work out fine once everyone gets used to it. But the holier-than-thou attitudes on this thread are hilarious!

 

[MagicKingdom05]

leighe,

If I remember correctly, when MYW was first introduced back in Dec 04 for 2005, people complained about this just like people are now with the online AP promotion. As everyone saw, once MYW got going people started understanding it, many of those worries went away. In time, I feel that once this promotion gets going, alot of these issues will go away.

 

[DebbieB]

Yup. There are lots of families of 5 who like to stay at Value resorts, but need to reserve 2 rooms. So are they eliminated from ap discounts? They should at least allow people to book 2 rooms with the discount.

If both parents have AP's, then 2 rooms could be booked, one with each AP #.

Seems more fair than only 1 person buys an AP and books 3 rooms for their extended family of 12 people at a discount. At least 1 AP per room seems fair.

 

[C.Ann]

If both parents have AP's, then 2 rooms could be booked, one with each AP #..

-----------------

Well considering my DH is deceased, that wouldn't quite work for me - and it doesn't make sense for my traveling companions to buy an AP when they won't be returning to Florida within a year to use it.. The same could be said for the "parent" situation - if it's only one parent that has the option to visit WDW on a more regular basis..

I never gave much thought to "3" rooms, but I don't think 2 rooms are unreasonable at all - especially when you consider the number of occupants that are allowed per room..

 

[johnnyr]

The fuss is about change.

It is about not being able to buy a child's AP and get the same discount that a family of 5 who all bought adult AP's for each family member gets.

It is about not being able to book a room that one can not afford without a hefty discount.

It is about not being able to book a room that one can not afford, hold onto it until discounts are released and then decide whether one can really afford it.

I don't agree with your first two statements.


Everyone in my family has an AP. I never booked a room with a child's AP. I'm sure others do it, but that is because they can.

I am fortunate enough that I can afford a room in any Disney resort, even at rack rate. Their rack rates are outragous, though. I would never pay them. I've stayed in many nicer resorts around the world for a lot less money and much larger rooms, but that can be a topic for a different thread.

I DO agree that you should NOT book over your head. That's just common sense.


John

 

[searlproudbottom]

Sorry All
I have to agree with Ddank you have no one to blame but yourselves.
I saw the handwriting on the wall two years ago. AP discounts were coming out late or not at all. Wasn't it last year that there were no discounts for Sept? And don’t forget all of the posts from all you frantic folks out there stressing out over the discounts. And how about the recent emails from Disney giving us 24 hours notice. Did that stop you all from calling in asking if the discounts were out? I don't thank so! Like most Americans you can't accept that you have done something wrong. (I have the Right) (O it's must be Disney's way of making more money!) I am sure you all can find a thousand answers to justify your innocents. Remember you can justify anything if you put your mind to it. You have made your Bed, now lose some sleep In It.

Searl Proudbottom

 

[Gymbomom]

Sorry All
I have to agree with Ddank you have no one to blame but yourselves.
I saw the handwriting on the wall two years ago. AP discounts were coming out late or not at all. Wasn't it last year that there were no discounts for Sept? And don’t forget all of the posts from all you frantic folks out there stressing out over the discounts. And how about the recent emails from Disney giving us 24 hours notice. Did that stop you all from calling in asking if the discounts were out? I don't thank so! Like most Americans you can't accept that you have done something wrong. (I have the Right) (O it's must be Disney's way of making more money!) I am sure you all can find a thousand answers to justify your innocents. Remember you can justify anything if you put your mind to it. You have made your Bed, now lose some sleep In It.

Searl Proudbottom

Wow,,,,, don't you love the negative......

I really hope this ends up being a good program instead of bad as it seems at first.
Not always has Disney given 24 hour notice for AP discount release. And who considers that enough time. Also, how many times has it been put into the computer BEFORE the official release date. There are so few discounts sometimes people are worried about them not receiving one. Hence CRO being flooded with calls. LOL... you are saying it was wrong for people to book a room when like you said in Sept. they were never even released??
I think you are being a little harsh.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

I don't understand something, WDW isn't taking anything away from AP holders, but adding a new promotion for those who want to use it, so what is there to blame someone for.

Everybody can still call CRO and make there reservations and then call back when a discount is out like everyone was able to do before. This new online AP promotion, allows those people who don't want to worry about missing a discounted rate to make a reservation 120+ days out and when a code comes out, it will automatically be added. WDW is just giving us another way to make reservations easier. I was just on the site today and maybe I'm wrong, but I think for the first time, you can now book normal AP reservations (not the new online AP promotion, but normal AP discounts)through the website.

Just because this promotion came out doesn't mean that anything is going to change AP wise as many people who have talked to WDW reservations have said. If this promotion doesn't work for you, then make a phone reservation like normal.

 

[DebbieB]

-----------------

Well considering my DH is deceased, that wouldn't quite work for me - and it doesn't make sense for my traveling companions to buy an AP when they won't be returning to Florida within a year to use it.. The same could be said for the "parent" situation - if it's only one parent that has the option to visit WDW on a more regular basis..

I never gave much thought to "3" rooms, but I don't think 2 rooms are unreasonable at all - especially when you consider the number of occupants that are allowed per room..

I disagree. If you want 2 discounted rooms, there should be 2 AP Holders to get them. If the maximum number of people for 2 rooms is 8, having just 1 AP holder benefiting 7 other people doesn't seem fair considering the number of AP discounted rooms is limited. That extra room could be shutting out another AP holder from a discount.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

With change comes resistance. This is a common thing with people. It doesn't mattter that this is an ALTERNATIVE option to booking with CRO... Disney isn't taking away from you, they're giving you another way to make plans.

If you want the GURANTEED best rate, and you're an AP holder, AND you have the flexibility to book 120 days in advance, then it'll work for you. Yes there is the NonRefundable deposit. Personally i think it's a good Idea. In other situations it's called EARNEST money. The $50 change fee will most likely be enforced if the changes you make cost Disney Money.

An example: You shorten your dates, or change your party from 3 to 2 people. In this way, yes Disney is going to charge you the $50 change fee. If you extend your vacation or add persons, I doubt Highly that they'll charge you the money. This comes from my friends in CRO.

I do have to agree, it's the abuse of the of the offerings that has prompted this TEST. Folks, depending on response, Disney will either keep this or do away with this. They are known for doing tests on products.

To the person who said that they think this is a way to cut costs at the CRO, I would agree with you. Disney has a high turnover at their call centers, if they can get more people to book on line, the less folks they have to train for 6 weeks and try to keep with them.

If folks take a deep breath, and consider this, it's actually a positive move. If you don't want to book 120 days in advance, you can still book with CRO, you just may end up kicking yourself in the pants when you find out that someone who participated in the plan and saved 35%

 

[MagicKingdom05]

UrsulasMyHero,

Exactly. From all the rumblings from people who have talked with CM's, those who make a reservation using the Passholder Best Rate Program might get a little bit better of a discounted rate than those who make a reservation by phone, or a normal AP reservation online. I mean it does make sense that they would want to give people some sort of extra to use this promotion.

I guess just like the MYW system when that was first rolled out in January, we will just have to wait and see how this all works out.

 

[johnnyr]

I'm all for the convienence of booking online. Since we usually make our resort arrangements anywhere from 9 to 11 months in advance, I wouldn't have a problem with the new system if it weren't for two things - The change fee and nonrefundable deposit.

Given the fact that we make our reservations that far in advance, something is bound to change. Maybe intentionally...maybe due to an emergency, loss of employment, etc. That is where I have a problem with the nonrefundable deposit and change fee.

 

[Gymbomom]

I told the three families in our party if this in effect for January....why not use it. We KNOW we will need a room for those dates, we might as well book it.
But, for us the AP discount lets us get a nicer room than we would normally spend, so it is hard spending that rack rate...then crossing your fingers.