Sold Out AP Discount: Do They Ever Come Back?

[AdnTigger710]

Hey all!

Some friends are visiting Orlando (not the parks) for a bachelorette party next weekend and one of those friends is a HUGE HP fan who has never been to Uni. She just decided to wing it and extend her trip to hit Uni for a couple of days with us. Great excuse for me to book a last-min trip for me and my daughter.

We were gonna do Uni 18 & 19, then I was gonna stay on resort 19-22 and DD and I wld hit the Disney parks (have to head home Thurs evening). Just explaining why I'm crazy enough to book so late

I was checking AP discounts and the value resorts are sold out. In fact, they're all fully sold out (even rack) except standard sports (it's late August, one of the "slowest times", any ideas what that's all about?!) My only guess is ppl who were booked during the hurricane pushed their trips...but so many kids around the country are back in school by these dates (IDK international school dates lol). Do y'all think I should expect it to be busy, then, or no?

To my actual question, lmao: is AP discounts coming available again if someone cancels a thing? Is there any other way to get the AP discount? Would calling Disney, or getting a travel agent help? Coronado Springs is the next cheapest available and it adds quite a bit that throws me way out of budget. I could book full rack rate but it's an extra $150, which is really cutting into our meal budget. Is there any hope?

I was considering staying off resort, but I don't drive and have to use a scooter, so the bus transportation is almost essential to me. The ubers back and forth would cost a lot, we have to literally take apart my scooter every time, and it's gonna cost almost double if we want to take an afternoon break (double the trips there and back). Any ideas?

Thanks everyone!

 

[teawar]

Have you consider staying at one of the Disney Springs Resorts? The Drury Inn and Hilton often have specials making them around the same price if not cheaper than the value hotels and definitely cheaper than the moderates. You still get early entry and they have transportation available. There is one website that I can think of that offers a discount rate through a digital email, but I’m not sure we are allowed to post it on here.

 

[focusondisney]

Have you checked rack rates? I see AS Sports showing up at rack for those dates. Yes, discounts do come back if people cancel. The other issue sometimes is your short length of stay. Sometimes the booking algorithms show rooms for longer lengths of stay that aren’t available for fewer nights. Also, the northeast & many Canadian districts don’t go back to school until after Labor Day. Late August is a popular time for those families to go to WDW.

 

[2vets]

Definitely. I am going that week, as well, and have changed hotel res at least 4 times, including in the last week, and I am still stalking for a particular room type. I didn’t see changes with the last storm. I have no actual knowledge here, but some resorts have had weird availability/discount shifts for months, and I wonder if they plan on less staffing then. Midweek at the end of August should not bring crowds other than at parties, is my guess. I only see family suites for A of A, but I do see CSR standard at AP rate of under $200, which likely would be a push with staying offsite/rideshares. Good luck!!

Eta: agree with @focusondisney on adding length of stay a day or two in either direction to see if you can see any difference, you can get a phone CM to remove the extra days.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I see AS Sports for your dates at rack rate but it’s like $40/nt cheaper than AP discounted CSR so I would at least lock that down and then consider your other options.

Yes sometimes AP rates will pop, I’ve changed as close as a couple days out, I know of people who have changed day of. Keep checking.

No, TAs or anybody else cannot get you an AP discount that Disney hasn’t released. They’ve been very stingy with AP discounts lately. However, once in a while there is a computer glitch that won’t show you all availability so I think you should call. It’s a long shot and they’ll probably say nothing is available but you never know for sure.

 

[Miffy]

Yes, AP rates do disappear and appear. But I have another suggestion: Have you checked Undercover Tourist? Their WDW resort prices are very similar to, if not the same as, the AP discount prices.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[FSU Girl]

I see AS Sports for your dates at rack rate but it’s like $40/nt cheaper than AP discounted CSR so I would at least lock that down and then consider your other options.

Yes sometimes AP rates will pop, I’ve changed as close as a couple days out, I know of people who have changed day of. Keep checking.

No, TAs or anybody else cannot get you an AP discount that Disney hasn’t released. They’ve been very stingy with AP discounts lately. However, once in a while there is a computer glitch that won’t show you all availability so I think you should call. It’s a long shot and they’ll probably say nothing is available but you never know for sure.

How do people change a hotel stay day of? I thought once you’re past 5 days you’re locked in or lose money

 

[Dave006]

How do people change a hotel stay day of? I thought once you’re past 5 days you’re locked in or lose money

That's only for cancellations with a full refund and for reference it changes to 8 days in 2025 due to LLMP / LLSP. Modifications like changing resorts don't result in a fee for the resort change.

Dave

 

[FSU Girl]

That's only for cancellations with a full refund and for reference it changes to 8 days in 2025 due to LLMP / LLSP. Modifications like changing resorts don't result in a fee for the resort change.

Dave

Oh well that’s great to know. I’m always changing up my hotel and thought I had to stop looking once I got past that cut off

 

[run_Disney]

nevermind

 

[gottalovepluto]

How do people change a hotel stay day of? I thought once you’re past 5 days you’re locked in or lose money

Disney is looser than other hotels about the fees so they don’t whack you when changing even past the 5 day mark. Next year could be a different story since the policy is jumping to 8 days, they may change their rules about exceptions as well, tbd.

Also, we don’t have data points yet on what happens to previously booked SP/MPLLs if you change. Disney has said they will cancel SP/MPLLs if the resort reservation they were made under is changed or cancelled but there could be wiggle room if you just switch to another Disney resort and therefore stay eligible for that early booking window.

 

[Dave006]

Also, we don’t have data points yet on what happens to previously booked SP/MPLLs if you change. Disney has said they will cancel SP/MPLLs if the resort reservation they were made under is changed or cancelled but there could be wiggle room if you just switch to another Disney resort and therefore stay eligible for that early booking window.

The way they worded the Answer on their FAQ on the Plan Ahead and Save Time in Line with Lightning Lane Passes appears to me that while they are subject to cancellation it would appear they are focused on the change of your dates (rescheduling) or cancelling and not a change to a different resort.

---

Lightning Lane Multi Pass is nonrefundable. If you cancel or modify your Resort hotel reservation after you’ve already purchased a Lightning Lane Multi Pass, then your selected attractions and arrival windows are subject to cancellation based on eligibility rules.

When you become eligible to make Lightning Lane selections again, then you can use the My Disney Experience app to choose available Lightning Lane Multi Pass experiences and arrival windows for the pass you previously purchased.

Dave

 

[gottalovepluto]

The way they worded the Answer on their FAQ on the Plan Ahead and Save Time in Line with Lightning Lane Passes appears to me that while they are subject to cancellation it would appear they are focused on the change of your dates (rescheduling) or cancelling and not a change to a different resort.

---

Lightning Lane Multi Pass is nonrefundable. If you cancel or modify your Resort hotel reservation after you’ve already purchased a Lightning Lane Multi Pass, then your selected attractions and arrival windows are subject to cancellation based on eligibility rules.

When you become eligible to make Lightning Lane selections again, then you can use the My Disney Experience app to choose available Lightning Lane Multi Pass experiences and arrival windows for the pass you previously purchased.

Dave

That’s my hope too!

 

[Lynne G]

Popular time, last two weeks of August, for us with kids that don’t go back to school until after Labor Day, and summer camps usually end this week.

And free dining was offered for now through next month, so I can see why most discounts are harder to find.

We scored 35 off AP discount on BC three weeks ago for this coming week. We leave tomorrow. And we booked AP discount for our next month’s visit, months ago, staying preferred at Sports a little over two weeks from now, for 7 nights.

Keep checking as get closer, as people cancel all the time.

Though have to say, was very glad to have booked our early September stay, months ago, as higher rates seen, or not available since I booked. But wanted the Boardwalk this coming week, but only saw a better rate at BC, so BC it is. We go cheap at Disney when go in September, as week at Disney, week at Hard Rock hotel after Disney. Glad I scored AP rate at HR too, when shown months ago. Know better, as many come for the HHN and Disney’s Halloween Party beginning of September through end of October. And now, no AP rates for most of the Universal hotels next month during our stay there.

And definitely popular as most of the August Disney Halloween parties are sold out.

 

[2vets]

How do people change a hotel stay day of? I thought once you’re past 5 days you’re locked in or lose money

I have called - last Dec, I even called at the airport during a layover on the way to Orlando .