Poll- Fewer codes because too many holding AAA discount rooms while waiting

[Markstudy]

Is it true, that with more people holding AAA discounted rooms, while waiting for codes to come out...... that it keeps Disney from needing bigger and better codes, because they think the rooms are already sold?

 

[estnh]

AAA discounts have always been around--they are nothing new. People are using AAA more now simply because (other than annual passes) it is the only game left to play.

IMO, the primary factor changing the discounting policies of the resorts is the dining plan. Whenever Disney sees a hole in resort bookings, such as the end of August to mid September of this year, they simply promote the dining plan as free and get full rates for rooms.

They are not stupid--not only are they filling the resorts, but also filling the restaurants, arguably at a profit greater than they used to make by issuing codes for room discounts. And this all ties in with the MYW ticket pricing, which greatly encourages longer resort stays by drastically lowering ticket prices beyond a 5 day stay.

Disney simply switched their marketing program away from "codes" to a more profitable alternative!

 

[msmayor]

I agree with the previous poster in that I think Disney is just tweaking their marketing in a different direction.

The thing is that, based on what I read here its not just AAA rooms that folks are booking...its ANY room. They'll book it to know that they'll have a place, then wait for the code to come out. Well...doing that tells Disney the room is out of inventory. If enough people take rooms out of inventory, what reason is there for Disney to release a 'code' to try and fill empty rooms?

 

[weluvpluto]

I voted yes, but it's not just AAA discounted rooms, you book a room that you will only keep if you get an AP discount, that room is sold in Disney's eyes. They only release codes when they need to fill rooms. Think of it this way - do they release codes for holidays? -no, because enough of the rooms are already sold.

 

[2disneycrazy]

I was just on the WDW website the other night looking at different hotels. I have my trip planned for July for 16 nights at Pop and I was considering changing to All Star Movies. Disney is booking up. A lot of rooms are not available to people are going no matter what the price is, or they are probably just holding rooms with the AAA rate until an AP comes out. I really don't think that an AP will come out until people start cancelling and downgrading their hotel choices because the rates are too high. When the rooms are available again, and Disney isn't as booked as they thought, they will have no choice but put a code out. Right now, Disney sees that rooms are being booked at rack rate, they really don't need to release a code. They are in business to make money, not give people a price break. They think that they are already giving people a price break offering an Annual Pass. You can go to their parks as much as you want, if you can afford to take that many vacations.

Isn't Disney starting the free dining earlier this year, August 13th. Wasn't it August 26th last year. They're smart. They are getting more people at rack rate to go because of free dining.

I tried to get All Star Movies for the 16 nights, room only and wasn't able to. The only one that I could get was All Star Sports. I was still able to get Pop but that's pretty much it for the 16 days straight at the value hotels. If I broke my dates up, then I could get other value hotels.

I went on Expedia and saw that there are a lot of dates at the All Stars and at Pop that are not available, unless you wanted a preferred room. Since I have to spend an extra $10.70 a night for a refrigerator I wouldn't spend an extra $10 on top of that to get a preferred room. I don't see that there's much difference in the preferred, except that I would have to walk a little less.

People are traveling more now, traveling is back to normal even though the price of gas is go skying high. As long as people are going, the less discounts hotels will give.

The only real chance of Disney giving a good discount, AP codes, is if people starting cancelling their reservations and moving over to moderates and value hotels and then they will give a good discount on Deluxes, because they will want to fill them up. Or the other side of the coin is people cancel Disney altogether and stay offsite and at Universal since they are giving a great deal.
Then maybe Disney won't see that much profit and release AP codes or other discounts.

Good luck to everyone waiting for AP codes. I gave up and will stay with my AAA rate. I won't purchase an AP. The money I save not buying an AP, I'll use that on my nephew.

 

[keishashadow]

Think more people are booking a room @ whatever rate is available (AP, AAA, etc.) All the better if you can flip it to an AP/general code later.

I luv WDW but, think they're dangerously close to alienating their core market...plenty of TS/motel deals right outside their gates. I've grown tired of the cat & mouse waiting game & decided to venture off-site for guaranteed, lower-priced offerings.

We're DVC & used to moving around on vacation to save expensive weekend points (as well as enjoying FOTL @ Loews/Universal parks)...as long as we're partially on-site for our trips, I'll be happy. Which, I wouldn't be if I was paying rack rate.

 

[Sammie]

If anyone that frequents this forum is actually still booking a room they know they can't afford without a discount, then I say they are not a savvy traveler. It is not helping your cause.

I booked rack rate. If an AP comes out during the same time frame and I can get it, sure I will be glad of any additional savings. I will not cancel if I don't get the discount.

 

[mrsswat]

I agree - Disney is a company for profit, as are most companies. They don't "owe" anyone anything, and let's face it, for someone NOT going, there will still be someone who IS. I am an AP passholder, disappointed with no summer codes, sure. But, not much we can do. I had a 2 night reservation (AAA Garden) at the Poly Aug. 18th (before we move over to our DVC). After careful thought, I cancelled it. One, I think they may NOT issue a code for then because of the free dining. Two, I was able to get a teacher rate at the Swan (close enough to Epcot, BW, BC for me to "feel" the Disney) - my bill was $150 less - enough to pay my O'Hana's bill. I just couldn't justify staying at the Poly. Of course, as I said, ours was only a 2 night stay before we move on to OKW. So...I won't be renewing my pass either. Sometimes that's life.

 

[Lesley]

I think there is a difference between AAA, AP and public codes. As some have already mentioned AAA has always been there. At least I know I booked our 1999 trip with a AAA discount....it was the best thing I could find at the time. As far as I know there have always been AP rates as well. Public codes were a fairly recent phenomena and seem to be going away. For the general public, Disney would prefer to sell a package like what they have been offering for the past few years. I suppose its more profitable.

I do believe that AP rates will become available for most if not all of the summer mainly because I think the AP rates have been something they've always done rather last minute to tempt AP holders into filling any rooms they have left after the "paying customers" have had their fill. Maybe they find AP holders tend to go for the deluxe resorts...and this is why they've put a lot of All Star rooms on priceline.

Things may be changing post 9/11 as well....perhaps people are tending to not make their plans as far in advance? Or maybe this hesitancy to make plans far into the future has something to do with changes with the airlines and gas prices.

As for codes to the general public...I think they were a post 9/11 panic approach to try to keep things going....they did their job (heck, a couple of times the general public code was better than the AP rate) and now they are moving on to something different.

For us, we have never "renewed" our annual passes. I don't think we will be buying new passes after these expire in January and its possible we'll opt for MYW tickets (or whatever is available by then) when we do return to WDW. Honestly though, this has very little to do with getting AP rates for hotel rooms, though if AP rates are available at that time it will be a consideration. We just need a break from WDW and our family is at a rough stage for this kind of vacation. For various reasons we need vacations that don't offer quite so much stimulation at this point. Next year we're going to the beach!

 

[eliza61]

If anyone that frequents this forum is actually still booking a room they know they can't afford without a discount, then I say they are not a savvy traveler. It is not helping your cause.

I booked rack rate. If an AP comes out during the same time frame and I can get it, sure I will be glad of any additional savings. I will not cancel if I don't get the discount.

Sammie, I totally agree. I purchased my ap to get the discount on repeat visits to wdw. They tell you upfront the perks such as room discounts and the DDE card are extras NOT guarantees. I booked my vacation because I needed a disney fix, if I catch a code that's cool but if I don't I'm still sashaying myself down. I also think that there are enough 1st timers, who tend to spend more anyway to fill up lots of dates that use to be relatively slow periods. October is turning into a very busy time, people are pulling their kids out of school to take vacation when before October use to be very un-crowded. Alot of AP holders are us folks who have been a time or two and know a few tricks to save money. Disney is still a magical place that can be done on a budget. In NJ, Disney has been running a commercial about how a family of 4 can come down for a week for $1500. I know thats cheaper than trying to spend a week at the Jersey shore and alot more fun.

The mouse is one smart rodent.