Resort Discount Questions

[disneyjr77]

How do you guys figure out the Stay More, Save more vs AP discount this far ahead? We usually get the package and call it a day, but since we're getting APs next year i'm trying to figure out what to budget for our hotel. I was told that sometimes the Stay more discount is better than AP.

Also, we're looking at Royal Pacific...does that make a difference as far as discounts go? I know at Disney each tier gets pretty much the same discount, is it the same with Universal?

What is your best advice for getting the best discount at Uni?

 

[macraven]

The smsm info is usually released by late September each year for the next year

I booked my fall 2019 room with smsm rate October 12 this year

Using the uo website you can see the dates for the smsm discount
The dates my future trip has a 35% discount for a 7 night or more stay

The smsm chart will list the % discount amount for the minimum number of days stayed and the maximum % discount amount of days needed

The ap discount rate is not released all at once for an entire year
Usually they release ap rates and dates some months out in advance

Not easy to predict what it will be 6 months out

 

[macraven]

Suggest you also read the aph sticky in our uo hotel forum

There have been comments on time release for ap room rates

 

[bobbie68]

Hi I agree with Macraven 100 %

 

[disneyjr77]

The smsm info is usually released by late September each year for the next year

I booked my fall 2019 room with smsm rate October 12 this year

Using the uo website you can see the dates for the smsm discount
The dates my future trip has a 35% discount for a 7 night or more stay

The smsm chart will list the % discount amount for the minimum number of days stayed and the maximum % discount amount of days needed

The ap discount rate is not released all at once for an entire year
Usually they release ap rates and dates some months out in advance

Not easy to predict what it will be 6 months out

Suggest you also read the aph sticky in our uo hotel forum

There have been comments on time release for ap room rates

Gotcha...so if all that is showing for smsm rate for Royal Pacific is the king suite, then I guess that's all they have left for our dates (Aug 9-17)? The king suite would be great, but i don't know that DD12 will want to sleep on a pullout all week. From what i'm seeing, it looks like the only one left that's reasonable is Portofino Bay. In your experience should we just book Portofino now, to at least get the smsm discount, then wait to see what AP rates get released?

I'm actually following that sticky It has a lot of great info!! I think it was May-June for August rates

 

[Squirlz]

Book ASAP as you can always get the lesser rate later if one becomes available. I always get SMSM and whenever I have checked again when AP rates become available it seems like only the pricier rooms are available.

 

[macraven]

Conventions usually book up a block of rooms sometimes 3 years out

Usually it will be standard rooms they have a hold on

If a convention is cancelled, the hotel will release those held rooms to the regular booking site

This is when you can find standard rooms available for booking

Some conventions cancel out 6 months in advance, some at 90 days out

All I know is the company will cancel prior of what has been contracted so they are not held responsible for the cost of the held rooms

I know the 3 deluxe hotels onsite have many conventions held
I would assume Sfalls also hosts conventions....

I see AP rates released at times so rooms will be filled
But, I have no info on how many convention contracts are in place each month

Keep checking the sticky about APH rates in the hotel forum

When someone is aware of ap rates being released for specific time periods, they share that info

If you don’t want to read the last pages of that thread, use the booking link listed on page one, first post

Over the last years, I was able to snag an ap rate one month out from my arrival date
I changed from smsm to ap rate booking

Some times I have not been successful

I go in the fall season for a long stay and use the smsm rate since it is at the 35% discount rate for 7 nights + stay

That rate has always been greater than the ap rate for me

Other times in the year, the ap rate worked better for me

 

[macraven]

I do what squirtz does
Book now, adjust later

My main thing are dates

I book the best rate and then watch and adjust later

I go during the hhn time which sells out early
I stay at Rpr standard water view

Fortunately, I book the last date in September for the two week stay with smsm at a higher discount than what the ap would give

Other times in the year, ap rate is better for me

 

[disneyjr77]

We booked Portofino last night! Now I'll just keep an eye out to see if RPR opens up or if the AP is better. Thanks everyone