Planning to apply AP rates? Take note.

[Susiesnowflake]

I read often about booking rooms and applying AP discounts once released. I recently did this myself. We bought AP during our trip last Nov and one of the benefits explained were room discounts. My husb and I decided to return this Nov to take advantage of the days left on our AP and not having to buy park passes. When I made the reservation, I was informed that there were no AP discounts yet available. We were interested in staying at the AKL and Poly but considered even the AAA rates a bit steep. The CRO CM recommended that I book nonetheless to quarantee the room and just apply the AP discount later on. Well, I have since learned that things do not work this way. Even if AP discounts are released, you are not quaranteed an AP rate. Apparently, you can only get that rate if there are other AP rooms available in the resort. AP discounts are NOT just applied to existing reservations.

The lesson here is not to book expecting to apply an AP discount. Even though CRO indicated and recommended I do this, this did not happen. My reservation has now been modified so many times that I'm fearful it is going to be lost within the reservation system and I'll have no room when I show up. I also ended up with 4 different reservations...some AP and some AAA. The reservation I started with is long gone!

Like others have recommended, book a room that you are comfortable paying for when you make your reservation. If you are later able to get an AP rate and up-grade, good for you. If you can't, at least you'll have your second choice at a price you can afford. Those AP discounts are not quaranteed....and they are not easy to come by!!

 

[Lewisc]

You AP pass includes theme park parking. If you can't find a rate your comfortable with take the opportunity to try an offsite property.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you are thinking of staying in the resort anyway, you can:

1. Book a room at regular rate to insure against total sell out.

2. If the AP rate is available, book a second room with it.

3. After you book a second room under the AP rate, cancel the first room whose nights are duplicated.

4. I have sometimes found that the AP rate is available for part of a previously booked stay only. Here I book the AP rate where I can and after that I modify the previous booking to omit the duplicated nights.

If you are thinking of staying in the resort only if you can get a discounted rate, you:

1. Only book when the desired rate comes available.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[jdads2]

I think the real problem here is that you get different information from different CM's.

I understand there is a lot of information for these folks to remember. I don't think any of us would mind if they check their information before we get an answer.

 

[Geoff_M]

It doesn't matter if you're looking for an AP rate or a code rate, it's all the same. The best strategy is to book a room as early as you can with what rate is available to you at the time. Getting your foot in the door is a good idea, particulary at busier times of the year. Then hope to a lower rate to be announced and then try and apply it to your reservation. HOWEVER, realize that it's a crapshoot. Don't initially book a room at a rate that you can't afford. AP rates and code rates aren't a given... as many who were waiting for the latest round of AP discounts found out.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by Geoff_M
It doesn't matter if you're looking for an AP rate or a code rate, it's all the same. The best strategy is to book a room as early as you can with what rate is available to you at the time. Getting your foot in the door is a good idea, particulary at busier times of the year. Then hope to a lower rate to be announced and then try and apply it to your reservation. HOWEVER, realize that it's a crapshoot. Don't initially book a room at a rate that you can't afford. AP rates and code rates aren't a given... as many who were waiting for the latest round of AP discounts found out.

I think I agree with you. Getting a foot in the door only makes sense if you're willing to stay in the resort at the rate you reserved at. IT MAKES NO SENSE MAKING A RESERVATION ON SPEC planning to cancel the reservation if you can't get better rates. If the discounts come out and the resort is empty you'll get a discounted room with or without a prior reservation. If the resort is substantially sold out you won't get a discount rate if you call and you're existing reservation won't be discounted either.

 

[JACKNAG]

I always book with my AAA discount first, Then look to apply an AP discount if one comes up. The foot in the door at a price you can live with is the best approach.


Jack

 

[sandbar]

Being a newbie here, I have learned a lot in the past few weeks. The first time we were at Disney I paid rake rate. Not only that, I booked the 'package' through Disney. Never again. I had no idea you could get a discount on rooms. Now I know better and have saved a lot of money. This time I booked room only and bought my tickets separately from AAA. That alone saved us money. We intended to pay rake rate (before I found the Dis) and stay at POR then WL and so that was the reservation I made. Thankfully I found this board and saw that the $99 Swan rate came out so I jumped on that and cancelled POR. I never thought I would cancel POR to stay at the Swan, but it sounds great from all I've read here and we have a deluxe for less $ than I'd pay for a moderate.

At first I got caught up in the AP hype. I assumed they were guaranteed to come out so I was anxiously waiting with so many of you. Now I know they're not guaranteed......they weren't available at all for when we are going. Lesson learned. I'm just glad I did originally book what we could afford and now there is no disappointment for us.

 

[webray]

That is correct...you are not automatically guaranted lower room rates because you are an ap holder...only if disney offers the rates, and then only if they are available for the time you want.

Just like disney club, aaa, they are only available if space is available...you don't automatically get them.