New AP system, blame yourselves!!

[GOOFYFREEK]

I think several are misunderstanding the new program. To me if you know when you are going its a no brainer. Most hotels you stay at require a deposit so why wouldn't Disney. There have been several times I have called and they dont have AP rooms left and I have chosen not to go. Now with this I can make a reservation and when the rate comes out I automatically get it. And I hope they do come out with a reward (CHEAPER) rate for those that book online with this new plan. Its not like they are not going to get it anyways.

Disney has been offering discount room rates for years. Not just since 2001. And they know if they stop it will also stop allot of us that make 3-4 trips in 2-3 months time. I know I am the minority on this, but I see where they are coming from.

 

[Tinkbell]

I think this is great. I don't see all the fuss some folks are making.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

agnes,

Any changes at all, party size, resort, number of rooms, dates, names, etc will result in a $50 fee. This AP promotion is for people who already have AP's, know when there going and aren't going to make changes at all.

 

[GOOFYFREEK]

I noticed that you are from the Mid-Atlantic area & was wondering what the qualifications are for the SOG/Florida Resident APs. Is that something that military & dependents can buy regardless of where they are stationed?

*****

SOG is open to any active duty or retired military member and there dependants.

www.shadesofgreen.org

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Tinkbell,

Straight from the WDW website under passholders:

"Planning a vacation in a few months? Then it's time to try our Passholder Best Rate Program! Now Passholders booking a Disney Resort room online under the Passholder Best Rate Program at disneyworld.com/passholders can rest easy knowing they have received our best room rate offered to the general public* at that time for the room and nights booked. And, if we subsequently reduce our room rate to the general public for the same room and nights you booked online under this Program, we will automatically reduce your room rate to match that lower rate."

The more I read on this the more I like it. It will take some getting use to with the non-refundable deposit and the $50 charge for any changes, but it should be interesting especially if those who book this way get a larger discount than those who call.

 

[Sammie]

I think this is great. I don't see all the fuss some folks are making.

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.

The problem is after 9-11 Disney had to offer these discounts and truely did not care who used them, even people who pretended to have an AP, because they were going to sit empty. That is not the case now.

So some who have become dependent on them, might have to make adjustments. It's kinda like if you work for a company that offers over time, you best not buy your house dependent on that over time pay. For when it is cut back you might be out on the street.

 

[GOOFYFREEK]

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.

The problem is after 9-11 Disney had to offer these discounts and truely did not care who used them, even people who pretended to have an AP, because they were going to sit empty. That is not the case now.

So some who have become dependent on them, might have to make adjustments. It's kinda like if you work for a company that offers over time, you best not buy your house dependent on that over time pay. For when it is cut back you might be out on the street.

Its not about change. There is nothing changing. You can still wait till the rate comes out and then decide to make your reservation.

Say example I make my reservation today for Nov 1-5. And you decide to wait till the rate is realeased. I am automatically guranteed that rate where you have to call in and hope its still available. Its and added benifit, not one that is taking away.

And once again Disney has been offering Discounts way before 9/11 and doubt it will change now. So once again this is a added benifit and not taking anything away.

 

[C.Ann]

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.

The problem is after 9-11 Disney had to offer these discounts and truely did not care who used them, even people who pretended to have an AP, because they were going to sit empty. That is not the case now.

So some who have become dependent on them, might have to make adjustments. It's kinda like if you work for a company that offers over time, you best not buy your house dependent on that over time pay. For when it is cut back you might be out on the street.

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


I see this from an entirely different angle..

It's about buying an adult AP to get a discount and not having to purchase additional AP's for other people in your party who will not be returning within a year..

It's about not being able to book a room at a price that the room is worth.. I personally don't feel there is one single room on Disney property that is worth the rack rate.. Has nothing to do with "affording" it..

It's about giving a non-refundable rack rate deposit based on a bunch of "maybes.."

It's about paying a $50 modification penalty if suddenly Dad finds he can go along on the family vacation, but his name wasn't originally listed at the time of booking..

It's about planning your entire vacation 120 days ahead of time when many employers don't allow people to sign up for vacations that far ahead..

 

[BuckNaked]

I noticed that you are from the Mid-Atlantic area & was wondering what the qualifications are for the SOG/Florida Resident APs. Is that something that military & dependents can buy regardless of where they are stationed?

Anyone that is military/dependent can buy their tickets at SoG. As for the Florida residency part, you have to show proof of legal Florida residency in order to get the Florida part of the discount. I've been a legal Florida resident ever since entering the military - still have a Florida DL, voter ID, car tags, etc. Civilian dependents of Florida residents can also obtain Florida DL, so they can use the discount as well.

 

[Sammie]

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


I see this from an entirely different angle..

It's about buying an adult AP to get a discount and not having to purchase additional AP's for other people in your party who will not be returning within a year..

It's about not being able to book a room at a price that the room is worth.. I personally don't feel there is one single room on Disney property that is worth the rack rate.. Has nothing to do with "affording" it..

It's about giving a non-refundable rack rate deposit based on a bunch of "maybes.."

It's about paying a $50 modification penalty if suddenly Dad finds he can go along on the family vacation, but his name wasn't originally listed at the time of booking..

It's about planning your entire vacation 120 days ahead of time when many employers don't allow people to sign up for vacations that far ahead..

Definitely there are some that this program will not appeal to, and obviously you are one. But that does not make it a bad program, or Disney bad for offering it. It might appeal to many others. Only time will tell. If it does not appeal to many, then it won't last long.

I can understand why someone might not be able to use it, I just do not understand why so many are upset it is being offered.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Sammie,

It's because while people will still beable to call and get there AP discounts as always, since those who booking the promotion online will get the first crack at the codes, it will limit the amount that everyone is use to.

 

[Cinderella37]

I honestly think that this is a response to volumes of calls CRO was receiving about AP discounts. We always purchased APs because they were a cheaper alternative to 11 day passes. The room discounts were a nice perk, but our purpose was to get the best admission for our stay. I think the problems started when people began to buy APs solely for the discounts - that's also when the AP rates began to be for less money. In 2000 (prior to the downturn after 9/11), we saved 40% on our room at the GF. This is a period of time where less people knew about the AP benefits. After so many people started to buy APs for discounts, we've seen the 40% discount fade to $75 off deluxes.

Now with my job (I'm a first grade teacher), I can't go during the school year, so for now our trips are limited to once a year during the summer. With the new MYW passes offering a 10 day ticket with Park Hopping for $237, this seems to be our best option now. This will probably be our last year for a while with APs. I think WDW is trying to give value to the true AP holders. The new program seems good to me - anything that result in less legwork for the guest sounds great. WDW does need to work the bugs out of their web site if they trying to point guests to it for ressies, though.

If we do decide to renew our APs after this trip, I like the new system. We book a year in advance and we book what we can afford even without a discount, so coupled with using DU, this program works for us. I do think the new system is in response to WDW tiring of multiple calls, countless modified reservations and people trying to beat the system by not purchasing APs or using a child's pass for a discount, while offering AP holders the perk of a rate that doesn't have to be continually chased down.

 

[C.Ann]

It was only a matter of time. AP holders, specifically those on this very message board, have cheated the system for years (booking many rooms to leave their options open, booking without a AP (or with a childs AP), booking at rack rate with no intension of keeping the room unless a AP rate comes out, calling 5 times a day everyday looking for discounts). Its been borderline insanity and now it may have completely ruined it for everyone who werent so *clever* and just wanted a discount, if its available. Well smart companies like Disney figure this out and implement changes to prevent customers from cheating their systems (one that allowed many of us to visit the resort several times a year). Well that could be over now and theres noone to blame but yourselves. This new system is a direct responce to the actions of those on this board, face it.

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

And speaking of abusing the Disney systems.. With this new "1 room only" feature I wonder how many people will take it upon themselves to cram as many people as possible into that 1 room?

It will definitely be interesting to see how it all pans out..

 

[MagicKingdom05]

C.Ann

True. I can see some trying to get 6 or 7 in a room for 4.

 

[C.Ann]

C.Ann

True. I can see some trying to get 6 or 7 in a room for 4.

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

Well it won't be me - LOL.. I've already started looking for accommodations off-site in the event that the old AP system won't work for me.. I have a figure in mind that I'm willing to pay for each of the resorts (based on what I think they're worth) and if I can't get those rates, then it's off-site I go!

 

[bicker]

It's because while people will still beable to call and get there AP discounts as always, since those who booking the promotion online will get the first crack at the codes, it will limit the amount that everyone is use to.

Well, that would only be a concern if the program was a good enough deal that a significant number of people would be willing to participate in it. I'm not sure I see how one can be concerned about them running out of available regular AP discounts because of the new online program while saying that the new online program isn't worth participating in because of its conditions.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

bicker,

At this time, nobody is sure how this is going to work. All we know is what is on WDW website and what a few people have heard from CM's. From what I have gathered the CM's mentioned that those people who booking online with this promotion will get there reservations updated with the discounted rate before those people who made a reservation by phone do. Even if only a small group of people take advantage of this promotion, this might still mean to a point that fewer discounted rooms will be available at the discounted rate for those who have normal online reservations and phone reservations.

Just like with the MYW packages and tickets, I guess we will all have to wait and see how this all unfolds.

 

[Nik's Mom]

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

And speaking of abusing the Disney systems.. With this new "1 room only" feature I wonder how many people will take it upon themselves to cram as many people as possible into that 1 room?

It will definitely be interesting to see how it all pans out..

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.

 

[bicker]

Even if only a small group of people take advantage of this promotion, this will still possible change to a point the amount of rooms available at the discounted rate.

True, but that would of course be a good thing for those customers who benefit from those discounts.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Nik's Mom,

This doesn't prevent anyone from getting an AP discount like they have always been able to. Everyone will still beable to get AP discounts when they are released by calling reservations. With the new online AP promotion, this basically means that aslong as you are 120+ days out, and don't plan on changing your reservation, when a discount is released, it will be automatically added to your reservation meaning no more calling to get it applied. From my understanding, it is possible that those people who book online through this promotion will get first dibs at the discounted rates since they will be added to the reservation automatically.