September AP Rates

[Sue M]

I'm sure part of it is so they can get their airfare and everything else associated with getting to and from WDW set up. If you wait until the room discounts come out, that may only be three months or less prior to check in - which would make the airfare a lot higher than if you booked without a discount 8-9 months out (or more) hoping that a discount would come along. Aside from the fact that if you want to make ADR's at 180+10, you have to have a reservation, and if you wait until the discounts come out, you are usually well within the 180 days and many selections are booked up. I don't necessarily think people who do this will cancel - but they could conceivably move to a lesser resort level or even off property, if they have booked more hotel than they can pay for without a discount.

I am fortunate that one, I drive to WDW so I don't have to worry about planning the extra stuff, and two, that I can make vacation plans pretty much last minute so I can wait for the discounts before booking. I never book a trip at rack rate and I never book a trip I can't afford to take. But not everyone can do that, and I can understand the frustration.

This is true. I've booked POR for Jan, because my 180 ADR date is coming up on the 22nd. But i did use a 20% AAA discount.
Then I'll wait. If a good discount comes along for WL, I'll upgrade. I book what I'm willing to pay, and so POR at 20% is o.k. WL at 20% not so much.

 

[Madonna3]

I didn't realize why everyone was saying the discount wasn't very good because I was saving $5 off the general public rate per night, plus losing tickets, but when I did the math, the AP discount is about 21% off the normal rack rate. Now I get it.

I was hoping to see PoR around $115 and I expected it to be there, but I wasn't going to cancel my trip over $9 a night. However, I think next year I definitely won't be adding a dining plan and therefore, might see how I like the Swan and Dolphin.

 

[auntie]

I wouldn't cancel a trip over a 5 or 10 dollar a night difference in price either. For us it's more that the AP discounts are pretty much the same as the General Public Discount. Which then has us
re-thinking whether the cost of an AP is worth it in our particular situation. (meaning that we don't live close enough for it's value to be based soley on the savings of admission to the parks alone).
Each visitor has their own circumstances to consider. In the past the AP was worth it for us, simply based on two visits within the same time frame, and the discounts on deluxe rooms was significant enough to make it worth our while to make that second visit and purchase an AP. Recently it would appear that the GP discounts are with in a few dollars of the AP rates. Sooo...we will reconsider the automatic purchase of the AP this year. Not much point in that expense to save 5 or ten dollars over a GP discount.

 

[fla4fun]

I wouldn't cancel a trip over a 5 or 10 dollar a night difference in price either. For us it's more that the AP discounts are pretty much the same as the General Public Discount. Which then has us
re-thinking whether the cost of an AP is worth it in our particular situation. (meaning that we don't live close enough for it's value to be based soley on the savings of admission to the parks alone).
Each visitor has their own circumstances to consider. In the past the AP was worth it for us, simply based on two visits within the same time frame, and the discounts on deluxe rooms was significant enough to make it worth our while to make that second visit and purchase an AP. Recently it would appear that the GP discounts are with in a few dollars of the AP rates. Sooo...we will reconsider the automatic purchase of the AP this year. Not much point in that expense to save 5 or ten dollars over a GP discount.

I've been an AP holder for more years than I care to admit. I don't always book the AP discounts though. If I find something better as a GP or Resident discount, I book it. Twice I've booked packages with minimum ticket purchases, and the package deal was much better than the AP price, even factoring in the minimum ticket purchase. I saved the tickets for friends and family to use on other trips.

I think what you would have to think about is whether you would continue to take multiple trips in during the 12 month period the AP would cover - because it would still save you money on your admission if that were the case. If you are going to space your trips farther apart, then it would not make sense to continue to buy the AP. You will have to buy admission one way or the other if you visit WDW - but the AP is only the best deal if you are doing more than 10 days in the 12 months.

 

[Madonna3]

In my desire to explore more resorts, I haven't been using any discounts other than renting points. The AP still works out for me because I am a Florida resident and spend at least 10 days in the parks. I also get the food and merchandise discounts and usually after my first of two annual trips, the pass pays for itself.

This is the first year in about 2 or 3 years that I've relied on the annual pass discount for my weekly bi-annual trip. Normally, I just use the AP discount for last minute trips when the room rates were unbeatable and worth spending a night in a value. I remember grabbing Pop for $49 or $59 a few times.

However, my costs keep going up and my benefits are shrinking. I'll definitely renew for 2012 due to the new stuff going on at MK, but I think that will be the year I try the Swan and Dolphin.

 

[jgperkin]

Hi Everyone!

We are fist time passholders and I have to say I do not think we will be renewing. I actually had Kidani booked for Aug. 16-20. I was waiting for a passholder discount to rebook but I am keeping my general public discount instead. It is 66 dollars cheaper a night!

Can you believe that?! We just decided we will pay for meals while we are there instead of adding dining.

 

[stitch34]

I don't get it... just looked and saw little to no savings.
was looking to see what the AP deals were, and if any resorts blocked out out of curiosity, in anticipation for what they will offer next round (we need Nov/Dec ap rates).
wow!
am very happy I booked bounceback last week for our next trip - though still hoping for FD to make it even better deal.
a big reason for us is we love doing split stays, and love deluxe dining plan... so like to get a deal on room and be able to add dining to it.

maybe they see this as a way of deterring people from buying APs?... want us to pay for new set of tickets each time instead?