*OFFICIAL* AP Watch thread for Jan/Feb UPDATE: THERE OUT 1/1 THRU 2/11

[cigar95]

Originally posted by ColetteN
OK, now I think I may need to call back. I'm going to WL Jan 9-14. Got an AP rate of $781 total for 5 nights, courtyard view. That works to $156.2 a night with tax, $140.09 a night before tax(which sounds weird - I think the CM may have just rounded the total).

Colette, the total price is always rounded to the nearest dollar - my guess is that your base rate is $140, which becomes $156.10 with tax, which becomes $780.50 for five nights, which rounds up to $781 (just barely!).

I believe you were right on the other rates - the $139.38 is a tax-included rate. It's 111.5% of $125. (Math problem - to get the base rate, divide the tax-included rate by 1.115 - it will probably be pretty close to an even-dollar amount, and that even dollar amount is probably your base rate. This doesn't work for Auto Club rates, which appear to always be a specific percent.)

The tone of this thread is certainly more light-hearted today than it was yesterday! I think the companies making blood pressure medicine may have seen a spike in their sales yesterday. (Well, maybe not - no one was willing to leave their computes or their phones to go to the store!)

 

[nhed]

How many remember the "wait list". Disney used to have one for reservations back a good number of years.

This group experience points out some problems in their reservation methodology. It would appeart that they they employ lower skilled workers in order to save money. Or so it would seem.

My total wait time on their 800 number probably exceeded 1 hour a day. easy for me as I have a good speaker phone at work and can do my work while waiting.

Then the time the CM takes to look up the resservations. Today, I'd guess I spent over 1/2 hour with the last CM working out the details and helping them through their system.

During the last few months, I've met a lot of CMs, some good, some bad, some .... Lots did not speak or understand my native language.

Of course, the person that ultimately pays for this lack of organization is us.

With the advant of the internet, Disney consumers are smarter and realize that bargans can be had, no matter how hard they try to say not to listen to the internet [how many heard that line from a CM?]

Disney needs to give us a fair method for gaining prices for rooms instead of the old way secretcy.

We ended up with Jan 1-3 at CS, 3-6 at WL and 6-10 at Dolphin.

Still trying to get a room for Dec 31st. Nothing better than new years at Disney, sitting on the beach at the Polly!

 

[nhed]

Originally posted by cigar95
30-some years ago, I remember watching "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color", when they had a special on the opening of WDW. I saw the monorail driving right through the lobby of the Contemporary, and ever since I wanted to stay there. Lots of visits, lots of meals, but never inside a room.

You'll love it! We did, but at the time paid $500/night for the room.
We had a balcony outside overlooking TMK

cigar95: don't forget to call or fax CT 3 days before your stay requesting a room overlooking TMK. That's when the rooms are assigned.

 

[mark smith]

Took about 6 phone calls(probably 2-3 hrs time commitment0,but ginally got Gf garden view 4 nights(3 actually in peak season) for 233/night. A saving of almost $600 from my previous rack rate reservation. I have my final 3 nights(2/15/04-2/18/04) at AKL currently standard view w/AAA discount $261/night. Not to be greedy but does anyone think I might get lucky and see add'l. Ap or some other room discount for that period?

 

[PINHEAD]

Booked AKL concierge rooms at AP rate $275 tac inc. does anyone have insight on how AKL concierge level compares to Poly concierge hawaii bldg? food, snacks, lounge space, wine assortment... thanks for any info.

 

[deba]

I'm kinda addicted to checking this thread. I'll miss you all when it dies it's natural death.

 

[Tiffany]

Was able to upgrade to AKL Concierge

I also booked the sunrise safari for the morning of the 27th. I cannot wait for this trip.

 

[ironz]

First...thanks to everyone who kept checking with WDW about the AP rates. I know we all appreciate your diligence, your patience, your phone minutes! And maybe it was a bit of a blessing the the CMs, too...to have "some" of us call each day, instead of "ALL" of us every day!



And...with one phone call and less than 30 minutes wait on the phone (15-20 min. maybe?), I was able to change my existing Poly GV ressie for the marathon to Poly LV and saved just under $400 for the 5 night stay! That just paid for my AP! I didn't have the CM break it down for me, but I am guessing this is coming out to about $229-239/night plus tax, whereas the rack rate for GV was $299/night.

The CM was very nice, patient, didn't act as if she had been doing this all day. And she updated my home address and info which apparently didn't lock into the system when I made the ressie a couple of months ago (so any confirmation letters, postcards, etc. would have gone to my old address).

I wasn't counting on the APs to make a difference...would have wanted one anyway 'cause I plan to visit the World again in May...but it sure was nice, and I thank you lovely people on the Dis Boards for teaching so many of us!

Remember the magic....(and heaven knows there should be more of it out there in this crazy world today)...

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Thank you all for your posts on this thread. I was able to reduce my 1 night PC ressie to the AP rate, and all told have saved $35. Not much compared to many of you, but that's still enough to cover 2 character breakfasts, so it's good for me!

Thank goodness this had a happy ending for most all of us!

 

[rngclick]

You just relive the memories when those of going in Feb/March start a watch thread of our own !!!!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I called 12/4 around 9am and with NO wait (never heard any music) I got a CM who was sure they weren't out but cheerfully checked and then said "Oh they weren't out yesterday when I left". She applied an AP rate to my reservation for 5 nights Jan 6 to 11th at the Poly LV Concierge for a total of $1611. Then I asked her if I could make that 2 rooms and she said no problem. Then I called back about 2 hours later and again very short wait and changed the 2 rooms to GV for $2665 for both.

Well after all is said and done I think I'm going to call and cancel the reservation and keep the Winter Dream Package I already have for 3 adults, a 4 year old, and 2 under 3. For 1 room at the Poly LV Concierge. The total on the package is $2888. I don't have an AP and don't plan on returning in the next year so the package is a really good for us. I'm glad I got the quotes on the AP rates. It would cost me an additional $750 for 2 rooms and I'd loose my LV. I don't think we'll go to Pleasure Island, a water park or Disney Quest but maybe the extra adult with us will and we can go the parks on arrival day if we want. I'm feeling so much better about my package now. I was really hoping another friend would join us but that doesn't look likely. She can get a room at PC or AS for less than $750. It was so easy for me to get those rooms I'm hoping it will be a nice quiet week to be there.

Thanks again to all! Now I can get on with my Christmas shopping/decorating/baking and start thinking about packing for our January trip. Can't wait to see my DH at the Poly with our children.

 

[cmcvean]

Wow, LovesDumbo. I called about 12:30 on the 4th and they had absolutely no conciege rooms at the Polynesian with an AP rate! We are both sorta in the same boat, except we are going 1/9 - 16th. I'm happy with our Winter Dream Maker Package, but we have two rooms LV Conciege and I can actually save about $600 if we go with the AP rate. I called today and there still aren't any rooms. I can't believe you were able to get 2!!!

Counting down the days!! Maybe we will see you there!!

Christine

 

[Castillo Mom]

I was about to add UPH passes to my room-only reservation because I had accepted the fact that I'll probably have to settle for the AAA that I have for my upcoming vacation. But the recent events have renewed my hopes, so I guess I'll hold out a few more months.

 

[jann1033]

some thing must have been drastically wrong with the computers or something cause someone else posted they were told no availability for Fw (like I was) not just not AP rates, and when they looked on disney.com no problem, same with me so
edited same situation still..tried one last time!

 

[kbkids]

We were at Disney on Thursday morning getting ready to go to Epcot. I thought - let me check while we're getting dressed - I had already given up hope of getting a discount. Sat on hold for about 15 minutes when a very nice CM answered and told me that the rates were out. I was so excited. Got my PC reservation the first week in February changed from $77 to $49 a night. He told me when I was on the phone (about 7:30 a.m.) that there were only 2 rooms left at the discounted rate. If I had been just a few minutes later. . . YIKES!

 

[thekendalls]

I made reservations at the Boardwalk Villas last week with the help from you folks and mousesavers. Got a great AP rate of 1500 for 7 nights. We are so excited. Makes purchasing the AP well worth it. I had reservations at the BW with another code for 2100 - but this is alot better. Thanks for all of your postings! Hope to see you all there. Feb 7th to 15 for us. Counting down! Don't know who wants to go more - me or the kid! lol