Question for APholders-Marathon Weekend?

[haPevraftr]

I am planning a big family trip for the first week of January 2013. So that I know approximately what to expect in terms of AP discounts...

Could someone who is an APholder check and tell me whether Marathon weekend (Friday-Sunday) is blacked out for the current AP discount? I know that some dates are blacked out during any discount period and all is subject to availability, but I just need to know if the whole weekend is blacked out and not part of the discount. This will help me have a plan A and plan B for next year

Thanks!

 

[fla4fun]

I am currently booked from 1/3 through 1/13 with the AP discount. I got the discount for all nights except Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, which are higher. But I look at the overall vacation cost to see if it fits in my budget, and the discount is good enough on the other days to make up for the higher rate on those three days.

However, I had to book it online. When I called to book it, the CM said it wasn't available for my dates - and I'm sure that was at least in part due to those three days. But I was able to book it with no problem online, it just charged me the higher rate for those days.

 

[haPevraftr]

I am currently booked from 1/3 through 1/13 with the AP discount. I got the discount for all nights except Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, which are higher. But I look at the overall vacation cost to see if it fits in my budget, and the discount is good enough on the other days to make up for the higher rate on those three days.

However, I had to book it online. When I called to book it, the CM said it wasn't available for my dates - and I'm sure that was at least in part due to those three days. But I was able to book it with no problem online, it just charged me the higher rate for those days.

So there was no discount at all for Th-Sat? I know that the Marathon weekend rates are higher anyway. Was there a discount on the higher rate or did you have to pay rack rate for Th-Sat?

Right now, we are planning to book a 3 bdrm presidential at Wyndham Bonnet Creek for 9 nights (12/28/12-1/6/13) with my extended family next year. DH and I were hoping for an AP discount for the end of the week so that we could stay at the Poly a few nights (everyone else would stay at WBC), but if Marathon weekend itsn't available then we won't be able to afford it.

 

[fla4fun]

There's no availability for my resort type/dates to double check against, but I believe those three are rack rate. They are significantly higher than the remaining days. But it could have just been my resort choice. I had a discounted room booked at WL (all nights discounted), but my sister wants to come over and catch the last night of the Osborne Lights and walk back to the resort, so I switched to BWV. With the end of the marathon at Epcot, it's likely the discounted rooms sold out fast, if they were offered. Resorts in other areas may not have that issue.

 

[WhitGB]

I have POR booked for marathon weekend, thurs-tues and got discounts for each night. I had to move from POFQ but the discounts were there. I did go on the AP site to see if any of th Epcot resorts had discounts and they were either booked full or did not give the discount for the weekend. I kept what I had. BTW - we booked right when the AP discounts came out for this time.

 

[figment82]

We booked at Polynesian the day the AP discounts came out, and we have a discount rate our entire trip (1/3 - 1/9).
The rate is higher the weekend of the marathon, but it is still the discounted rate (30%? I forget what it was)

 

[haPevraftr]

We booked at Polynesian the day the AP discounts came out, and we have a discount rate our entire trip (1/3 - 1/9).
The rate is higher the weekend of the marathon, but it is still the discounted rate (30%? I forget what it was)

Thank you so much for letting me know! My husband has fond memories of Poly as a kid, but we have never been able to afford to go because we always travel to WDW during the first week of April and there are not many GP discounts at that time of year. Next year, we are making more than one trip so we will be getting APs. We are booked for Wyndham Bonnet Creek for 9 nights in a 3 bdrm (with extended family) starting 12/28/12 and we are thinking about bailing on the fam for the last couple nights and staying at the Poly if we can get an AP rate. I appreciate you checking so now I know to be on the lookout as soon as the rates are released next fall.

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

We are going to be at the Beach Club this year from 1/2 to 1/8. I booked it a day or two after the AP discount came out this fall. I got the discounts for all nights, however a few weeks later I was rechecking, I was considering changing resorts. Found out there was still AP availability at the BC but they were no longer giving the discounted price for Thursday thru Saturday the "marathon weekend". They didn't revoke our discount, so I was thrilled, but I am guessing it was an oversight/mistake the weekend isn't usually discounted.