New passholder plan

[bigalpf1]

What do you think about the new passholder plan?

 

[Terry S]

What is this?

 

[msmouse]

If everything I have read is correct, then

 

[SamanthaL]

I read it and it sucks AND I don't really understand it. It sounds like you sign on for a discount that might not happen AND you can't cancel without losing one night's stay? HUH? I would rather take the AAA rate that I KNOW will be lower and have the ability to cancel should I need to.

I guess this means no general public discounts anymore.

 

[poohbear2]

I would think you would want to reward your loyal customers, not prevent them from wanting to come! I don't have an AP, but I would think last minute trips would be one of the perks. Especially if you could find low airfares at last minute. What a shame....

 

[MAKMOM41]

Could someone tell us what the new plan is or where we can get the info. I only have my voucher so I have not gotten a Mickey Moniter yet. Thanks

 

[dollydisney]

Check out the mousesavers web site- It is all spelled out...and it doesn't look promising!

 

[disneyjunkie]

I'm thinking of purchasing PAPs this fall.

We'll use AAA for discounts and just use the PAP for park admission.

 

[bigalpf1]

What is this?

A bad plan!

 

[DisFlan]

It looks like they're edging more and more away from room discounts in general. I'd bet they're looking at the AAA discounts, too. I had a feeling something like this was coming when they offered the "free food" plan with rack rate rooms. Giving away food is cheaper than carrying empty or deeply discounted rooms. They want to fill rooms, but for as close to rack rate as possible.

Since the travel turn-down after about 2000, we've come to "expect" good discounts on rooms. But things are better now. I think Disney is trying to short circuit the "discount" way of thinking, reset the system and go back to the Good Old Days of rack rate or nothing. The problem with this is that Disney overbuilt rooms. And the rooms they overbuilt aren't at the higher-end. (Half of Pop hasn't even been finished.) Hence the Free Food Package and the advertising blitz for the "$1500 vacation for Four" - aimed mainly at (you got it) the Value Resorts. At rack rate. Slick, huh?

AP's are probably being pushed back to what they were originally intended for - the parks. Would Disney mind if they sold fewer APs? Probably not. They'd rather sell tickets for each trip.

DisFlan

 

[bicker]

Seems to me that this change is very much just like what the major airlines do: They offer a discount, but only if you make the commitment to fly their airline, i.e., via a non-refundable fare. With some discounted fares, airline will even refund you the difference if they lower that fare (same flight, etc.).

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I think it all depends on what Disney is defining best public rate as.

It could mean you're going to find the same discounts you always have, but unfortunately, you won't know them before you book.
Or, it could mean you aren't ever going to get squat.

My conjecture is what they're trying to put an end to is people buying AP's merely to get a discount on the hotel and holding out to book a trip they already want in anticipation of them. Hence the 120 day rule.
But also, it's putting an end to the, book the ap rate, wait till the last minute, then activate the pass, then book another trip in 11 months just before the pass runs out trick.

Plus, Disney can more readily permanantly alter behavior with a promotion and get people to spend over budget on food the next time when they're paying full price than they can a hotel room. Just the way it works.
Think of it this way. If I am convinced to stay at Poly for $500 off the first time, my son who's prime Disney age isn't going to give me much trouble when the next time, we stay at AsMO when it's full Price.
Give me meal plan, get me to a few character meals (rather than the counter) then the next time,
I wanna go to Chef Mickeys.
Are we going to Chef Mickeys
Can we have Chef Mickys dad!! Huh huh. Can we have Chef Mickeys. I like Mickey mouse.
Crystal Palace Dad.
I want Pooh.
Then DD chimes in
PRINCESSES!!!!
Can we go to the Princesses!!!
Huh Huh.
Well you get the drift. They have successfully changed my behavior from eating more cheaply all the time at the counter.

Boy Disney knows how to get at your wallet through the kids don't they?

 

[nkjzmom]

"The Passholder can now book only ONE room (formerly it was up to 3)"

As a family that doesn't fit into only ONE room this pretty much seals the deal that we will rarely get to stay on-site. Very disappointing. Wow.

 

[disneyjunkie]

"The Passholder can now book only ONE room (formerly it was up to 3)"

As a family that doesn't fit into only ONE room this pretty much seals the deal that we will rarely get to stay on-site. Very disappointing. Wow.

If each adult in your family has an AP, you can each book one room. I'm sure there's a way to link the two reservations.

 

[familyfirsttimer]

I am most disappointed in the fact that you have to have an ACTIVATED AP. We did our first trip in May 2005 and I told DH that we would probably get an AP for our next trip for 2 reasons: 1 bbecause of the room discounts and 2 because we'd like to be able to go a few times a year for long weekends if possible.
It seems confusing that you would have to activate it to use it (which you can only do at WDW-if I understand correctly). Therefore, I would not be able to even book a trip with th AP until my next trip there....a little confusing It is discouraging because we have just caught this Disney "buzz" and we would have probably become toal nuts trying to get there so much to use our AP's.

Oh well, I hope that when all the details come out it is a little clearer.

 

[scanne]

If this is going to be the case, then Disney should drop their rack rates some. Charging "Ritz Carlton" prices for the deluxe resorts would be fine IF the ammenities were equal to that of a Ritz or Four Seasons. I don't mind spending $229 a night at the Polynesian (AP discount/value season), but I wouldn't pay more than that for ANY time period. And that is what saddens me. If they do away with discounts and stick to their rack rates, we'll have to stay at the mods or values.

I hope they revamp the whole system by doing the following:

1. lowering rack rates to - $65-95 for values; $100-135 mods; $150-250 deluxes. These would be standard room prices and depend on which resort. I still would never be able to justify $500 per night for concierge rooms no matter what the circumstances. But $250 for a garden view at the GF - I could deal with that. These would be the prices ALL the time, expect during the holiday seasons (Christmas and Easter). Call those periods "peak" but leave everything else "regular."
2. Stop building more Disney hotels and concentrate on getting the parks in tip-top shape!
3. Keep the MYW ticketing - I think this is one of the best deals in a long time, especially the 10 day pass with park hopper options. We'll probably do those for our next trip.

It's sad that $$$ drives people, but it's even sadder when Disney treats their most loyal customers so poorly. No deposit should even be non-refundable. That's just bad business.

Shame, shame on this new plan.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

I'm assuming that Disney did their homework and there must have been a high percentage of AP holders booking rooms and then canceling at the last possible minute. That's the only reason I can think of to implement the 120 day non-refundable deposit.

Also, if this were to go into effect, I imagine that they would take into account those APs that aren't yet activated. Perhaps you will be able to log into the website with your non-activated AP number and book the room.

 

[bigalpf1]

I'm assuming that Disney did their homework and there must have been a high percentage of AP holders booking rooms and then canceling at the last possible minute. That's the only reason I can think of to implement the 120 day non-refundable deposit.

Also, if this were to go into effect, I imagine that they would take into account those APs that aren't yet activated. Perhaps you will be able to log into the website with your non-activated AP number and book the room.

Disney travel company said you could use your voucher.I was also told you could book the old way.I don't know who to believe.All I know is it stinx!!!!!!

 

[bigalpf1]

I think you should email Disney and tell them it stinx!!!!! Why bother staying on Disney property?

 

[disneyjunkie]

If this is going to be the case, then Disney should drop their rack rates some. Charging "Ritz Carlton" prices for the deluxe resorts would be fine IF the ammenities were equal to that of a Ritz or Four Seasons. I don't mind spending $229 a night at the Polynesian (AP discount/value season), but I wouldn't pay more than that for ANY time period. And that is what saddens me. If they do away with discounts and stick to their rack rates, we'll have to stay at the mods or values.

I hope they revamp the whole system by doing the following:

1. lowering rack rates to - $65-95 for values; $100-135 mods; $150-250 deluxes. These would be standard room prices and depend on which resort. I still would never be able to justify $500 per night for concierge rooms no matter what the circumstances. But $250 for a garden view at the GF - I could deal with that. These would be the prices ALL the time, expect during the holiday seasons (Christmas and Easter). Call those periods "peak" but leave everything else "regular."
2. Stop building more Disney hotels and concentrate on getting the parks in tip-top shape!
3. Keep the MYW ticketing - I think this is one of the best deals in a long time, especially the 10 day pass with park hopper options. We'll probably do those for our next trip.

It's sad that $$$ drives people, but it's even sadder when Disney treats their most loyal customers so poorly. No deposit should even be non-refundable. That's just bad business.

Shame, shame on this new plan.

Why would they lower the rates when there are plenty of people that are willing to pay rack rate?