One AP holder's response to disappointing lodging discounts (long)

[DeeGee]

All the chat about the 40% off PINs and postcards has reinforced a sneaking suspicion on my part for the past several years: Disney takes repeat business for granted, and is pushing us all toward packages and the unattractive cancellation policy associated with them.

Once upon a time, the best way to secure a great room rate was to buy an AP. Now, it appears, the best way to a significant lodging discount is to either stay away from WDW for years or never visit in the first place. When most resorts are offering repeat visitors incentives to return again and again, Disney seems to think we will continue our old patterns regardless of how the incentive to visit keeps shrinking. Has Disney forgotten that repeat customers are far less expensive to keep than new ones are to woo?

Well, I have a PIN for them and it's the kind that pricks! Our family's APs and DDE are up for renewal and I do not plan to renew. In response to Disney's new marketing trends, I am staying off-site next week when usually my family and I stay at either the GF or BC club level. I will buy those MYW non-expiration tickets from one of the ticket discounters. I would not even visit Mickey except my children are promised this trip which always coincides with one of my DH's conferences. The annual Spring Break trip to WDW with another family (for which we already have room reservations at BC) is about to be cancelled. The other family and we are considering two other Florida beach destinations for the same price or less. Both of the alternative resorts will give us a more exclusive vacation. My children love those islands so much that we may not visit WDW for years.

My discontent stems from several reasons but perhaps the strongest is that I feel my business is not appreciated. Good will is an important business asset and I feel that Disney has forgotten that.

Any other AP holders thinking about changing how and where they vacation?

 

[Mikelly1221]

Well, I have been thinking the same thing, as far as them neglecting repeat guests, but I guess it's working for them-it never used to be so difficult to get a discounted room, but it's getting harder and harder (at least for me-I don't book until discounts come out, so maybe I have to start planning out further). And their resorts are something like 90% full all the time.

Having said that, we are discovering the just-off-site hotels and are quite pleased. It's getting harder for me to justify the value of the Disney hotels, when for the same money we can stay just off-site, have a bigger room, and breakfast. So, that's our plan for now until Disney's marketing plan begins to include us again. Thankfully, at Spring Break we are able to use DVC-otherwise, off-site we'd go!

Suggestion: copy your post and mail it to Disney. Let them know that repeat business is going away. Maybe if enough people let them know, they will see things differently.

 

[Frankiesmom]

Wow! Take a deep breath! We also had Ap's and decided not to renew-but we're going back-and yes booked a package-and yes CL @ rack rate. It does burn me up that other people get 40% off here and there;but am I going to let it ruin my vacation to the place where my family and I are the happiest in the whole world? No way!
Maybe the reason I love disney so much is that my autistic DS age 6 is always treated like a king and with his special guest pass he rarely has to wait to ride a ride. The amazement and wonder my kids get in their eyes as soon as they board the plane to MCO is to me....priceless!
I hope you're day gets better!

 

[livie1205]

i am never to be the one to jump to disneys defense alot but i go on a pretty reg basis and i dont think people get discounts based on how often they go...i go alot and i get discounts sent to me all the time...just got the 40% off for the 2nd time in two years but i do not buy aps to get good discounts...the discounts just are not that good with ap (IMP) but you can find them by looking ....alot lol good luck

 

[TxTiggergal]

Any other AP holders thinking about changing how and where they vacation?

We have decided not to renew our APs this time around, but we will continue to vacation at Disney. For us, the deciding factor about skipping the APs was that those room discounts seem harder and harder to come by in the past few years. Plus, instead of being a straight across the board discount at all resorts, it seems the recent trend has been to discount only select resorts.

However, we will continue to stay onsite. We were able to snag a good discount on a package deal last year, so we will hope for something similar this time.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We are AP holders for the last 4 years and go on average 4 to 7 times a year and always stay on site so I guess that make us repeat customers. I did not renew my APs in Oct and had no vacation plans scheduled and boom I get a post card. Maybe they are trying to woo me back?

We were going to go in Oct anyways but not purchase the AP's. The postcard allowed me to book an April trip and Oct trip and since I am going for 2 full weeks I decided to purchase the APs and DDE

If I never receive another 40% mailing again that will not sway my mind about going back to WDW and staying onsite.

 

[VickiVM]

Although we don't have AP's, unless we get a pretty significant discount on a room, we will choose off-site. Mary Waring has recommended several hotels that look pretty awesome to me and since we're a family of 5, space and price are top factors.

I just got off the phone with WDW asking if I had a discount code attached to my name. I don't. He told me I could still book a package and apply a discount later if it becomes available. I told him I would just hold out and wait for a discount. I'm sure they have to track responses when they are not able to book a vacation on the phone, so I suggest that if you want a discount - call to see if one is available and if not, then let them know you won't be booking anything until one is.

Hey, we're close to (if not already in one) a recession and although I love a nice luxury vacation and feel my family deserves one, I have no problem giving another lovely hotel my business and eating my meals off-site. Seriously, this would cut our vacation expense down by at least $800 or so.

 

[DVCLiz]

No, I'm not going to change my WDW vacation plans. An AP guarantees me admission to the park, not a major discount on a room every time I happen to think about visiting. I think it's whiny and immature to stop going to WDW because the room discounts aren't always available. I'll continue to visit other vacation destinations as my family and I choose, but I won't stop renewing my AP because some other visitor got a good deal.

 

[VickiVM]

We are AP holders for the last 4 years and go on average 4 to 7 times a year and always stay on site so I guess that make us repeat customers. I did not renew my APs in Oct and had no vacation plans scheduled and boom I get a post card. Maybe they are trying to woo me back?

We were going to go in Oct anyways but not purchase the AP's. The postcard allowed me to book an April trip and Oct trip and since I am going for 2 full weeks I decided to purchase the APs and DDE

If I never receive another 40% mailing again that will not sway my mind about going back to WDW and staying onsite.

I would probably feel differently if I also lived in FL. There is a significant expense for those of us who have to drive or fly a great distance which can be about a 1/3 of our total vacation expense.

I love WDW and have stayed at BC, YC, BWI, POR (and when it was DL), ASM, CB and Dolphin. Nothing compares with the experience of staying on property. But our kids are getting older - only one left under 10 - and rooms for 5 are limited and expensive. It's just not a wise way to spend money (for us) when we can stay off-site for a lot less.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I am not an AP holder but we do go each year for about 8-10 days. I was one of the lucky ones to get 40% off last year and have been unlucky thus far this year.

It does appear from what I read here on the boards that the AP rates are getting worse (more limited, not much lead time etc) but Disney has not completely forgotten their repeat customers- what about all the bounceback specials they have run in the last year?

WDW is our happy place and will continue to be for years to come. I have not given up hope on a code for our trip in the future- sure it might not be 40%, but a discount is a discount. In the mean time, I will wait as patiently as I can...

 

[MickeyNicki]

I would probably feel differently if I also lived in FL. There is a significant expense for those of us who have to drive or fly a great distance which can be about a 1/3 of our total vacation expense.

I love WDW and have stayed at BC, YC, BWI, POR (and when it was DL), ASM, CB and Dolphin. Nothing compares with the experience of staying on property. But our kids are getting older - only one left under 10 - and rooms for 5 are limited and expensive. It's just not a wise way to spend money (for us) when we can stay off-site for a lot less.

I understand the difference between a local and someone that has to fly or drive a long distance, alot more $ and time to get to WDW! I would hope that long distance travelers get a better rate on rooms and I have stayed off site many times and eaten meals off site too

...since we do live local it was great for a quick trip but we always look for a cheaper rate and if that means value or Swan/Dolphin then that is fine with us. If I get a good deal on mod or deluxe I feel lucky.

Since times are tough and we are tightening our belts and spending less I was thrilled to see the postcard come my way (never got one before). The rates that I got on deluxe resorts were a great deal so I couldnt pass it up. I was only planning on 1 week trip in 08 but can now do 2 for the price of one....but we will not go anymore than that..unless I hit the lotto!

 

[cdrn1]

No, I'm not going to change my WDW vacation plans. An AP guarantees me admission to the park, not a major discount on a room every time I happen to think about visiting. I think it's whiny and immature to stop going to WDW because the room discounts aren't always available. I'll continue to visit other vacation destinations as my family and I choose, but I won't stop renewing my AP because some other visitor got a good deal.

I think it's a bit judgmental to decide someone is "whiny and immature" because the way she decides where to go on vacation differs from yours...
I can certainly understand what the OP is saying. My decision whether or not to buy an AP is influenced by the discounts available. That is not the only reason, but it does figure in. For example, last fall I was going to get a 10 day no exp but an AP discount on my room made it more cost-effective to buy an AP. I will now take two trips I hadn't planned on just because I have the AP; if I didn't have it, I would probably go somewhere else for those two trips.
I think that she is right in that WDW is marketing more to non-AP customers and that is certainly their right, as it is the OP's right not to go there because of it, without being called names.

 

[DVCLiz]

I think it's a bit judgmental to decide someone is "whiny and immature" because the way she decides where to go on vacation differs from yours...
I can certainly understand what the OP is saying. My decision whether or not to buy an AP is influenced by the discounts available. That is not the only reason, but it does figure in. For example, last fall I was going to get a 10 day no exp but an AP discount on my room made it more cost-effective to buy an AP. I will now take two trips I hadn't planned on just because I have the AP; if I didn't have it, I would probably go somewhere else for those two trips.
I think that she is right in that WDW is marketing more to non-AP customers and that is certainly their right, as it is the OP's right not to go there because of it, without being called names.

I understand what the OP was saying, but in my opinion she was having a big fat tantrum about it, and I do think that's whiny and immature. Anyone is allowed to buy or not buy whatever ticket they desire, but to get so bent out of shape about a perk that isn't guaranteed strikes me as silly. To each their own, though...

If the purchase of an AP came with a guarantee of a particular discount at a certain time, and it was guaranteed for the length of my AP, then I could see being upset. But that's not what they sell me. They sell me a ticket that is good for admission as often as I want to use it, for 366 days. It says nothing about room discounts, so I don't expect them and I don't whine when I think they aren't being offered frequently enough.

 

[Dawn16]

I'll have to second that I don't think the OP was 'whining'. The point was that Disney doesn't seem to reward their most loyal customers. Most of us are fully aware that AP's are for admission and not for guaranteed lodging discounts. But for those who have owned them for years its hard not to notice the dwindling discounts. For AP holders that is. There appears to be more availability for the general public who don't visit as often. Obviously Disney's marketing strategy is to lure infrequent or first time visitors and its certainly a common business practice. But so are loyalty reward programs and I think that's what some people here are suggesting they lack. Just my two cents but I believe that's what the orignal post was getting at.

 

[DVCLiz]

I'll have to second that I don't think the OP was 'whining'. The point was that Disney doesn't seem to reward their most loyal customers. Most of us are fully aware that AP's are for admission and not for guaranteed lodging discounts. But for those who have owned them for years its hard not to notice the dwindling discounts. For AP holders that is. There appears to be more availability for the general public who don't visit as often. Obviously Disney's marketing strategy is to lure infrequent or first time visitors and its certainly a common business practice. But so are loyalty reward programs and I think that's what some people here are suggesting they lack. Just my two cents but I believe that's what the orignal post was getting at.

Fair enough, but the AP discount has never been a "reward" for loyal customers. If room discounts were given, it was to make it seem a little more palatable to make that second or third trip to use those new APs, but it was never structured to be a reward for frequent customers. It was designed to get those unsold rooms sold - period.

Maybe I'm just cranky today, but we see a lot of posts about perks on the DVC boards, rtoo - people are always complaining that the perks aren't what they used to be, that it was better when xyz perk was offered and now it's being "taken away", etc.

The fact is, none of these discounts or perks are designed to be permanent and they aren't something to be expected. If a WDW vacation isn't in your budget at full price, then you shouldn't be upset or feel that something has been taken away from you because you can't get it 40% off. If you got a perk and it helped you have a nicer vacation experience, that's great. But to decide you just won't come back anymore because you aren't getting something special you had come to count on still feels, to me, like stamping your foot and taking your baseball home so nobody can play because you didn't get the team you wanted.

Just my opinion, of course!!

 

[lilstint]

I'll have to second that I don't think the OP was 'whining'. The point was that Disney doesn't seem to reward their most loyal customers. Most of us are fully aware that AP's are for admission and not for guaranteed lodging discounts. But for those who have owned them for years its hard not to notice the dwindling discounts. For AP holders that is. There appears to be more availability for the general public who don't visit as often. Obviously Disney's marketing strategy is to lure infrequent or first time visitors and its certainly a common business practice. But so are loyalty reward programs and I think that's what some people here are suggesting they lack. Just my two cents but I believe that's what the orignal post was getting at.

I agree and I think the OP's point was valid. In this day of "loyalty" programs for everything from credit card companies to airlines to retail stores it is hard not to notice that Disney seems to use a different stategy.

I don't think it is "whiny and immature" to point this out and also state one's disatisfaction with these practices.

I've been to WDW just about every year since it opened and I've NEVER gotten a code of any sort. Last year we took a friend of my daughters and her name was, therefore ,on our reservation. Guess what? I GOT A CODE... Her name, my address!! New name...bam...code.

And here's a question up for debate. Everytime anyone calls CRO almost the very first thing you hear is.... If this is your first visit to the WDW resort press 1, if you have visited more than 5 times press 2, if you have visited since 2002 press 3.. etc etc etc. Who do you think waits longer to be connected. Those who say it is their first visit????? What do you think?

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I also do not feel the OP is "whiny and immature." I feel she has a valid point.

In our case, the AP room discounts are not what they used to be and that is disappointing, but my main beef is that the AP room codes now come out way too late in the game. Releasing codes 45 days in advance, or whatever the lead time is, is not enough notice for me to plan a trip. They make it far too difficult to plan a Disney Vacation if you're hoping to use AP rates.
tink

 

[lilstint]

I also do not feel the OP is "whiny and immature." I feel she has a valid point.

In our case, the AP room discounts are not what they used to be and that is disappointing, but my main beef is that the AP room codes now come out way too late in the game. Releasing codes 45 days in advance, or whatever the lead time is, is not enough notice for me to plan a trip. They make it far too difficult to plan a Disney Vacation if you're hoping to use AP rates.
tink

The reason for this, again, is that Disney does not release AP rates to "reward" their most loyal customers. I'm sure they have a very accurate formula in place to determine precisely when the greater percentage of unbooked rooms will remain empty. They use them to fill up rooms that they KNOW they will be stuck with.

 

[DeeGee]

Thank you for the gracious and well-considered responses.