New AP system, blame yourselves!!

[MagicKingdom05]

johnnyr,

Both of those issues will be major sticking points for lots of people. It should be interesting to see exactly how strict they are on the $50 fee for making any change.

 

[DisneyDar]

There are really no test cases yet, so can't offer more than what's been said already; but, keep in mind; AP discounts have been around for many years; WAY before 9/11. Like any corporation, Disney doesn't want to send any more dollars scooting out the door than they have to. I don't see anything wrong with that. And if you think about it, why SHOULD one be able to book 3 rooms with just one AP? That's not what an AP is designed for; it's a method of making theme park admission less expensive, and the room discounts are just a perk. Let's not get our knickers in a twist just yet.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

DisneyDar,

Exactly. Until we see this new promotion work before our own eyes, nobody is sure what the result will be.

 

[DebbieB]

johnnyr,

Both of those issues will be major sticking points for lots of people. It should be interesting to see exactly how strict they are on the $50 fee for making any change.

From what UrsulasMyHero said above, the $50 fee is only if you "downgrade" your reservation. They aren't going to penalize you for upgrading your reservation and spending more money.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

DebbieB,

I'm wondering if the $50 fee would get charged if you have to move your reservation to another day. I'm sure it would, but I'm curious what others think.

 

[taximomfor4]

Your exactly right and now they are taking the necessary steps to stop the problem.


As stated in other threads. Disney has been fully aware of the abuse of the AP program and also the fact that those that are full AP families have complained. I mean some are upset they can only book one room. If you only have one AP why would you need more than one room. If you have a need for a larger room, then the rest of your family needs APs too. Then you can book more than one room.

.

OK, since only an adult AP can be used to book a room, what would my friend do? She is a single mom with 4 children + 2 nephews currently in her custody. She must have 2 rooms. Period. With one adult AP.

 

[Gymbomom]

I think everyone would say you would want the mom to be able to save the money and get the discounted rooms.
But, the fact is the discount is for AP holders. If one person out of 7 has a pass, they are not ALL passholders. This seems fair to me and keeps the discounted rooms for the people who are buying the AP to use as an AP admission not just for the discount, but as a perk to their admission.
I think this policy will help enforce this.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Obviously WDW has taken a look at the AP "abuse" situation and decided that they need redo some of the AP rules and regulations. While it was allowed, I always thought that it was a little strange that you have to be 18 to get a room at WDW, but a child's AP could be used to get a room discount. I really don't think that restricting one discounted room per adult AP is that much to ask.

 

[taximomfor4]

I think everyone would say you would want the mom to be able to save the money and get the discounted rooms.
But, the fact is the discount is for AP holders. If one person out of 7 has a pass, they are not ALL passholders. This seems fair to me and keeps the discounted rooms for the people who are buying the AP to use as an AP admission not just for the discount, but as a perk to their admission.
I think this policy will help enforce this.

Should have clarified that this mom DOES have APs for all her kids. Should she get an adult AP for one of her kids, so that they qualify for AP discount? For my own family, I would just pay AAA rate on the second room I guess. Then for connecting door, CRO would just LINK the ressies I think. ??? But I feel bad for my friend! They wanted to get 2 trips out of the APs since they normally can never take vacations. I will suggest AAA to her.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

taximomfor4,

If she wants to get more than 1 discounted room, then she is going to need more than 1 adult AP. Like the others have mentioned, you will need one person who has an adult AP for each discounted room.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

WDW seems to be trying to make the whole AP discount fair where the rules apply to everyone and you really can't fault them for that. As time goes on things need to be changed and altered a bit to make it work better and that is what WDW is trying to do here.

 

[Gymbomom]

WOW!!!
1 adult and 6 children under the age of 9 = one brave lady!!!

 

[Nik's Mom]

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

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 totally agree. 2 rooms seems reasonable. I can think of several fellow Dis'ers who are widows or single parents, so they'd be held to one room in their case. That doesn't seem right. For my family, it wouldn't be an issue because it's me and DH. But not everyone has a 2 parent house hold. Hope WDW understands that and allows for 2 rooms.

 

[bicker]

I think families with less than one parent per three children are exceedingly rare. Personally, I couldn't fathom taking four children with me, alone. Perhaps, in recognition of such a feat of fortitude, they could make exception, on a case-by-case basis. To make that part of the policy would make it much too easy for the unscrupulous to capitalize on it.

 

[C.Ann]

DebbieB,

I'm wondering if the $50 fee would get charged if you have to move your reservation to another day. I'm sure it would, but I'm curious what others think.

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

These are the rules regarding the $50 Modification Penalty:


So here are the facts on the Passholder “Best Rate” Program offer:


A Modification Penalty of $50 will be charged for any changes to the length of stay, party size, room type, resort, arrival/departure dates, or to change child’s age. All modifications must be made by phone, and can be made up to the day prior to arrival.

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

It does state "room type" and "resort", so I assume even upgrading would be subject to penalty..

 

[C.Ann]

Perhaps, in recognition of such a feat of fortitude, they could make exception, on a case-by-case basis. To make that part of the policy would make it much too easy for the unscrupulous to capitalize on it.

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

If not, I can just hear all the grumbling on these boards a few months from now..

"I was in Pop Century last week and the family next to me had 6 people crammed in ONE room!!!"

 

[taximomfor4]

I think families with less than one parent per three children are exceedingly rare. Personally, I couldn't fathom taking four children with me, alone. Perhaps, in recognition of such a feat of fortitude, they could make exception, on a case-by-case basis. To make that part of the policy would make it much too easy for the unscrupulous to capitalize on it.

Lol. She is determined to get their other trip in. She figured on buying APs because they never get vacations. Now that she needs 2 ADULT APs she is going to try to upgrade one of the child ones unless the AAA rate on the second room is better than the upgrade cost. Her oldest is only 9, but she will do the math and see if it is worth changing his AP to another adult one to get the discount on the 2nd room.

Thanks for the help, all

Beth

 

[C.Ann]

Lol. She is determined to get their other trip in. She figured on buying APs because they never get vacations. Now that she needs 2 ADULT APs she is going to try to upgrade one of the child ones unless the AAA rate on the second room is better than the upgrade cost. Her oldest is only 9, but she will do the math and see if it is worth changing his AP to another adult one to get the discount on the 2nd room.

Thanks for the help, all

Beth

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

I'm not sure that will work because I thought I read somewhere that the AP holder must be 18 or older and present at check-in.. Is this a really "big" 9 year old?

 

[taximomfor4]

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

I'm not sure that will work because I thought I read somewhere that the AP holder must be 18 or older and present at check-in.. Is this a really "big" 9 year old?

LOL. No. Maybe the AAA rate will work for her. She might have to actually *gasp* lie and say another adult is with her on the trip, huh? Just thought of that. To get the second room. Geez. what a mess. I think the trip she just took, she added another adult so she could get 2 rooms. I'll have to ask her!

 

[DMRick]

I've never seen this as an "abuse" system. These were the rules as Disney set them up (three rooms, one AP, even a child's AP, only needing voucher). Disney has those "rules" because that's what it took to rent rooms. Now they are finding success in other ways, and can change their rules. Some people will abuse the rules (6 in a room, and even inventing kids to get more meals). That's real abuse. The other was allowed by Disney..you didn't have to lie about it. If this works for Disney, they will stay with it. If not, they'll change it again. In any case, if it works for me, fine, I'll keep renewing. If it doesn't, I'll either take less than the 4-5 trips I take now, because of the Discounts, I'll stay off site, or I'll vacation elsewhere. I don't think it makes much sense to say.."blame yourselves" when people were following what Disney allowed. Disney needed to fill those rooms, those were their rules. Now they think they have found other ways. I'm not a person who has to stay on Disney property to feel the magic..my magic is when I go to the park, not the hotel. I stayed inside for the price..and I'll stay outside for the same reason..and usually I get a nicer and bigger room outside. So either way, it will work for me.