New code watch - October/November

[freakylick]

She also commented on the fact that Disney is wanting to do more online and that booking online is the industry standard.

While I don't disagree with that statement…Disney's online systems are not up to industry standards. Until they can get their systems up to par (notice I didn't say they need to be the best in the business), I will never book any part of my vacation via their online system. Others may feel more comfortable with it, but I don't.

 

[Tink10]

While I've never had a problem with it, I do agree that Disney's online booking has occasional issues (as do all travel booking sites....Expedia is the worst)

But Disney has a great IT people who are continually working to improve things. It's great that they do allow people to book Best Rate through travel agents if they're not comfy booking online!!

 

[agnes!]

I understand that certain aspects of Disney's IT department have been outsourced.
IMO the WDW website is one of the worst to work with. (I'd put it right up there with the FF section of United.Com.) It's so full of bugs that someone needs to call Terminix.

agnes!

 

[Poohbear123]

While I don't disagree with that statement…Disney's online systems are not up to industry standards. Until they can get their systems up to par (notice I didn't say they need to be the best in the business), I will never book any part of my vacation via their online system. Others may feel more comfortable with it, but I don't.

Neither will I, its easier for me to call, I only live 3.5 hours away.

 

[Spoisal]

Just bumping this old thread to the top. Is there anyone out there still holding out any hope for October or November? I have heard about someone getting an email that covered November 1-18 & Nov 27-December. But that is it. I think my AAA discount was better than the email anyway....

 

[jrogers345]

Just bumping this old thread to the top. Is there anyone out there still holding out any hope for October or November? I have heard about someone getting an email that covered November 1-18 & Nov 27-December. But that is it. I think my AAA discount was better than the email anyway....

Nope, I gave up. While I did get a AAA discount, I had hoped they would run the free dining again.

At least when I discovered the free dining for Sept. I was able to let my sister know who had not been aware and she was able to get it to her previously made plans. I saved her $700+

 

[Spoisal]

Nope, I gave up. While I did get a AAA discount, I had hoped they would run the free dining again.

At least when I discovered the free dining for Sept. I was able to let my sister know who had not been aware and she was able to get it to her previously made plans. I saved her $700+

Same here. I am using AAA & I have chosen POP over AKL for additional savings. I wanted free dining so bad I could taste it! I did the same as you though - I saved a friend $640 w/ free dining for their Sept trip - they didn't have a clue about codes.....

 

[kimmbagley]

I am still hoping, but not holding my breath. I didn't go the AAA route because I didn't think they would look for discounts for me and if there were any changes made there would be fees. I went with a regular TA for only $70 more though. We will be at POR 11/4-11/12 with dining.

 

[Shastie]

I'm new to all of this, but I still hope that Disney will offer something for November! I don't work most of the summer (I'm a school secretary) so I checked the board daily this summer, but now that I'm back in the swing of things, I don't get here as often. Let's all keep thinking positive! I will just be deflated if we don't get something!

Is everyone SURE that there is no hope???

 

[icebaby]

With WDW, it seems they have been bombarded with unhappy AP-ers, but at the same time Oct/Nov time frame seems to bring in conventions and school/sport teams, so empty rooms aren't a problem for them. . .I gave up also and just booked POP instead of POR/POFQ. Maybe, just maybe we can hope but when it less than 60 days out, IMO I don't think it's going to happen. . .

 

[TiggerPiglet]

I'm still holding out hope for some kind of discount for the beginning of Nov. Anyone else still hoping or should I just give up?

 

[kimmbagley]

It's always possible! I am still keeping my fingers crossed. I do however have only 5 more days to pay my balance. Anything that comes out after that could involve a change fee

 

[missypie]

Well, I've officially cancelled our Thanksgiving week trip. Whah! I've known since we were at WDW in June that DH didn't want to make another trip so soon, but I kept holding out hope. I booked AKL (AAA rates) over a year ago in hopes of making this trip. But even if we had been able to get an even lower resort rate, the plane fares for Thanksgiving week are just a killer. American Airlines has little meaningful competition out of DFW any more, so rates are sky high. Okay. Pity party over.

 

[Buddy Bear]

I have spoken to many cast members and managers at Disney Travel company over the last couple of months and for those in "the know" it appears it would require a lot of negative feedback to Guest Communications before Disney will release passholder rates.

I keep hearing the same thing which is Disney is testing out this new "Best Rate" program to see how well it is accepted. They obviously have received negative feedback on the program for several reasons but the bottom line is the don't feel they have annoyed enough people to warrant releasing the passholder rates

 

[missypie]

I have spoken to many cast members and managers at Disney Travel company over the last couple of months and for those in "the know" it appears it would require a lot of negative feedback to Guest Communications before Disney will release passholder rates.

I keep hearing the same thing which is Disney is testing out this new "Best Rate" program to see how well it is accepted. They obviously have received negative feedback on the program for several reasons but the bottom line is the don't feel they have annoyed enough people to warrant releasing the passholder rates

Had the Best Rates program come out when I was planning my May/June trip, I would have liked it, because my dates were set in stone 9 months in advance.

 

[Buddy Bear]

Had the Best Rates program come out when I was planning my May/June trip, I would have liked it, because my dates were set in stone 9 months in advance.

Unfortunately the Best Rate is a misnomer, it is far from anything I normally get as a passholder. As a matter of fact the best rates I am being quoted are quite frankly insulting.

I normally book a concierge level room at WL which is $395 a night; the passholder rate is around $250. At present I can't get a concierge room at WL through the BR program and the current rates for a regular room regardless of view is $250.

I would love to get 5 minutes with the "Brain Child" of this program. It would quite easy to convince him/her that he/she annoyed the heck out of their biggest client base - The Passholder.

 

[Tink10]

Hi Buddy Bear,

I'm not 100% sure of when the last time you booked a concierge room at the WL was, but it sounds as if it was back when they offered the % off discount and not the flat $$ off discount. The last set of call-in AP discounts (August-October 2005) were $70 off of deluxe resorts. The AP discount immediately prior to that (July-August 2005) were for $75 off of deluxes.

The best rates offer the exact same discounts as the last round of AP rates and the Best Rates offered for the WL for the 2006 value season are:

Std - $135
Woods - $170
Courtyard - $190

For 2005, the best rates can either be $70 or $80 off the seasonal rate. If one is booking December 21 - 25th, then the best rate offered is a whopping $210 off the seasonal rate (for an explanation of that rate, see this thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=912006)

Granted, concierge rooms are not always available, but they weren't always available with the old AP rates.

 

[Buddy Bear]

Granted, concierge rooms are not always available, but they weren't always available with the old AP rates.

Yes, that is true, but as an avid fan I would check every day (as I have done this year) to see when they were released and always got the passholder rate even though they are limited.

 

[Brian Noble]

There are two issues: one is with the new mechanism for discounting, the second is with the amounts of discounts.

As for the latter, the days of $250 concierge rooms, are, I'm afraid, well behind us. Travel has rebounded well enough that the steep discounting of the past is no longer required. In Disney's opinion, for every Buddy Bear that is upset because the deals aren't as good as they used to be, there is another new passholder who is thrilled to get a flat $70 off. Whether Disney is right or not (or even, if right, whether this is a sound business decision or not) is certainly open for debate.

 

[Buddy Bear]

As for the latter, the days of $250 concierge rooms, are, I'm afraid, well behind us.

This issue is so much more than just about money. Let me give you a short list:

1. Not everybody is comfortable gving a credit card number online.

2. There is no "warm & fuzzy" feeling when booking on your computer (cast members are much nicer).

3. The non-refundable one night deposit which no other resort/hotel company has this policy. (late cancellation fees yes, but not a non-refundable policy).

4. My reservation spans a peak and value season so now I have to make two reservations with two non-refundable deposits or I get charged for the peak season rate for my entire stay.

5. Disney hasn't made a firm decision on whether the Best Rate program will replace the regular passholder rate so people like myself are still holding out hope. As a matter of fact, had they made a decision sometime ago I would have booked a standard room and be done with it, but it has dragged out so long there are no standard rooms left.

6. I don't have faith in the online booking system. I feel much more comfortable having a cast member check to see what is available and asking them to search their database for different types of rooms. The computer isn't going to give me helpful suggestions on how I can book my vacation.

This subject is NOT up for debate, it is hands-down a bad idea! I have no problem with this being optional, but not mandatory.