Starting 8/18--Roll Call For Ap Rates To CRO!!

[torismom]

No AP news here when I called. I will continue waiting. I do have other options if the remainder of my stay is not on-site but my girlfriend and her kids have never stayed on site and she will be joining us for the last three nights of our vacation after my family leaves.

We wanted to stay on-site in Dec to but will proably stay in our vacation home if it is not rented.

Hang in there to everyone who is waiting.

 

[shopgirl72]

Let's keep thinking the PIXIE DUST will come our way! I hadn't thought about the AP discounts started and pulled! Hope the next few days will reveal something!

 

[bsears]

OK Disney, you do what you have to do, and I will do likewise.

The S/D are willing to give me an annual pass diccount, so I switched my reservation there.

The ironic thing is that I booked expecting to pay full price. And then there was all this talk of discounts. The more I read, the more I felt jerked around by the powers that be.

It seems to me that Disney felt they already had my business, so they could ignore me and go after new customers. There was something about the way it was done that really annoyed me. I felt I had to take a stand.

 

[Piglette]

I vowed I'd never stay in a non-Disney resort again, and yet, last night, I made Swan reservations as well. I'm keeping the FW ones for a bit longer to see what plays out, but I think we're going to bail on Disney. I know I have no right to an AP discount, but I just can't justify paying so much more when the Swan/Dolphin have similar features (transportation, etc.) at a much cheaper price. Honestly, though, I'd still pay more to stay on Disney property, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for an AP discount!

 

[shopgirl72]

 

[miko]

Any news for 8/20?

 

[Colt]

Called Aug 20 7:20 AM EST : " ZIPPO "

 

[magicmouse2]

Just called CM said "NOT YET" I asked if any would be out she said she wished she knew............ My guess is now for Friday, or not at all...
Why cant they just make a decision ?????? and say yes we will or no we wont...This is lunacy!!!!!!! no wonder so many people turn to Universal on site hotels

I feel like swearing.......I will do it silently though

 

[Tonyspad]

From what I have read, most of you booked a room that you "expected" a discount or could not afford ? Why would anyone do that and cause all this anxiety on themselves??. Disney does not owe us anything, and the arguement I have been reading that they should continue room only discounts(Which they very well may) because the economy stinks or because they have been doing it lately is crazy. Disney is a company that must make money in order to stay in bussiness, they are not around to make the masses happy with discounted room rates. I LOVE discounts like everyone else but give me a break, book what you can afford. Disney offers rooms from under $100 per night and I see no valid reason why anyone, with or without and AP, would not stay in Disney if that is where their family wants to vacation. It is unfortunate for some who have stayed in a Moderate or Deluxe hotel that now must drop down a catagory to afford a stay at a Disney hotel, but would these same people have stayed in a higher catagory if it where not for the deep discounts over the past two years??? ...

 

[magicmouse2]

Personally I do not think that the rack rate for the WDW resort hotels are worth it. I am happy to stay there on a discount as then I get my moneys worth - whichever resort I stay at. I am only paying rack rate this trip at it is a special vacation and I really want to stay at specific resort for the vacation. If Disney have indeed scrapped AP discounts I will not be renewing my AP nor staying onsite. Its not so much as what I can afford, more of what I think is worth it.

 

[C&MK]

No I agree Disney does not owe the AP holders discounts, but when you see Florida resident APs come out and then you see two different package rates come out you feel disappointed that you seem to be the forgotten one. I myself booked a room that I could afford with a AAA discount and hoped to upgrade. But I must confess a couple weeks ago when the Swan/Dolphin AP rates came out I reserved the Swan for 7 of my 10 night stay. I do feel that Disney should have the courtesy to let the AP holders know if there is no chance of a discounted rate, especially with the APs coming out for just a couple hour span and then being pulled back. You can't tell me that they don't know the discontentment that is going on with the AP Holders - they seem to be alienating more people than they are gaining. Truthfully, I wanted to change my whole vacation and head to California, but DH still wants Florida. Oh well, I'll still go and enjoy the Magic but just not from a Disney property for the whole stay.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Originally posted by magicmouse2
I am only paying rack rate this trip at it is a special vacation and I really want to stay at specific resort for the vacation.

Um, doesn't that describe most of Disney's on-site guests? For most of the 'general public' (people who don't have APs, don't scour the internet for codes offered in Belgium, don't go 17 days a year, every year) a Disney vacation IS a special vacation. I know so many friends who have "Disney Jars" for spare change - one good friend has a monthly investment automatically withdrawn to a "Disney Vacation" account. On the other hand, I don't think that I've met anyone who didn't have some sort of preference for a 'specific resort' once they decide to go to WDW; Disney does a good job of making their resorts distinct, even if the differences are superficial. So it might appear that their plan is working - at least so far, and at least with this trip for you.

 

[bru_ellman]

Originally posted by Tonyspad
From what I have read, most of you booked a room that you "expected" a discount or could not afford ? Why would anyone do that and cause all this anxiety on themselves??. ...

Actually this is a practice that was encouraged by the CRO CM's who booked my rooms also saying how easy it was to convert them to AP rates later on.
The anxiety is brought on because we (Yes, me included) have come to expect the discounts and by Disney's not specifying what their policy is going to be during this time.
That said, I've "moved on" somewhat by booking CBR using a AAA discount and keeping an eye out for bargains elsewhere (e.g. We've stayed at the Wyndham Palace which we find equivalent to a Disney "Deluxe" for a fraction of what Disney charges). I've also just purchased our new AP vouchers now figuring that,

1. They're a bargain for the 14-21 days of park use we're planning over the year.
2. When staying off-site the free park parking adds up.
3. The price of APs will probably be going up after Labor Day.
   [/list=1]
   
   However, we love the CBR and probably will keep that reservation for our December trip, but unless there our future AP discounts we'll probably be staying "off campus" after that.
   
   Just my two ¢.

 

[shopgirl72]

8:29 nothing as of now for AP holders! CM says she has no idea when, or if they will be offered, that they have not been told anything as of yet!

 

[Gary M]

Tonyspan, if these "post are crazy", don't look at them anymore. WDW has been offering very discounted room only or packages, that include such things as minature golf, for longer than lately. This is America and WDW tries to make a profit and we as consumers(most of us) try to get our monies worth. In my opinion and others, WDW resorts aren't worth rack rates.

I do not book until the price is right for me. I look at history and the past shows WDW offers good room only resort rates during the value season, maybe history won't repeat itself. My last 25 trips to WDW, I have received excellent room discounts and this was during the good and bad times for WDW. I do expect to be treated like a loyal customer at any business that I am a good customer.

These boards are to help each other and in this case, for some of us to let off our frustrations. My man, Tonyspad, I can afford the high room rack rates at WDW, but I think paying those inflated cost is crazy, when other options are available.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Originally posted by Gary M
My last 25 trips to WDW, I have received excellent room discounts [...] I do expect to be treated like a loyal customer ....

Maybe I just have a different philosophical perspective than you do, Gary, but I wouldn't consider someone a 'loyal customer' if their repeat business is dependent on discounts. Sort of like my saying that I'm loyal to my wife - but only for as long as she keeps her looks.

You want loyal customers? I live in Metro Detroit, and the Tigers - with a 21-623 record - still get at least 15-20K fans for every home game. Now THAT'S loyal!

 

[Tonyspad]

Well Gary, No one is forcing you to stay at a WDW hotel. And who are you to determine what the value of a hotel shouid be?? I will take ANY discount given to me and look for these discounts but I will not allow the discount( or lack of) to prevent me from going to WDW, I will just reserve a hotel that I can afford when I make the reservation.

 

[Gary M]

Well I was loyal to WDW when very few people were showing up. I was there during 9/11 and several times since, while others bailed out. The only time a person should have paid rack rate during the last 8 or 9 years were those who didn't know about discounts or went during very busy times. I would say giving WDW $8,ooo to $10,000 a year for the last 8 years is loyal. We filled rooms that would have been vacant. We go in the winter and I don't remember full hotels during our stays. I have told people about WDW and several have gone because of my suggestion. All went once and had a good, but haven't returned because of the cost factor. These were people that travel and have sufficent funds. A buddy of mine lives in Lincoln Park, MI and has a press pass to the Tigers and Lions games. He said the food is good in the press box. With a few million people in the Detroit area and a poor product like the Tigers, these are loyal fans or they have nothing else to do. A friend of mine played briefly with the Tigers in the early '70's. Dr. Tomorrow we are different.

Tonyspad, what do you mean who am I to determine the the value of a hotel room? I am the customer and the customer determines the value, by either spending the money for the room or not. I as the customer, do not feel that WDW rack rate rooms prices are a good buy, simple as that. You apparently think the rack room rates at WDW are a good value and pay them. That is the value of the room to you and that is your right. I am going elswhere this winter. Two trips to Vegas and one to New Orleans. I determined the cost they charged me for the rooms was a good deal. You may think the prices I got weren't a good value, that is up to you, the customer. The airfare I got was also a good value for me. We have gone to WDW 28 times, staying on property each visit since Dec., 1992 and maybe the the magic is wearing off. I have enjoyed my visits to WDW, more at the beginning than lately, but I have other destinations that I enjoy as much. If I feel as if the room price offered to me is of good value, I will return to WDW, if not ,there will be anywhere between 20 to 30 room nights freed up for others each year, who feel like it is a good value. Life will go on for me(hopefully) and for WDW.

 

[Kelly Nelly]

I agree with Tony I think all of you people are really blowing this whole situation way to far, don't worry the AP rates will most likely come out. I really do not understand that if there is no discount you cannot afford to stay at Disney World.You cannot afford to pay $330 a night at the GF but you can afford to pay $220 lets be real here if you can fork over $200 plus a night with an AP rate if push comes to shove you can definently afford the extra $100 bucks per night.People just love getting a deal of some sort, I bet all of these people that are complaning about no AP rates are the same type of people who cannot afford a $20,000 dollar car but with a $1,000 dollar discount on the vehicle they can just magically afford the car.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Tonyspad,

Good luck to you; I'm outta here. Once you come up against the entitlement mentality, there's no hope of a rational result.

When you start to hear: "I spent $XXX, I was here when others stayed away, I filled an otherwise empty room, I advised others to come here, so Disney owes me a discount" you know that someone's gone to a special place.

Recently I read a thread on rec.arts.disney.parks (a Usenet newsgroup, not nearly as friendly as most of DIS) where someone listed a series of attitudes that AP customers who are regular guests progress through - it was brought up by another CM who lamented how some regular guests didn't think the 'where you can stand during Illuminations' rules applied to them. Hey, I found it on google. Here's the link but here's the part I'm interested in (post 18 in the thread):

This does not just happen at WDW. It happens at other attractions, restaurants, bars, etc.

Here's the evolution:

Guests come for the first time and love it.

They return.

They return more frequently.

They return almost daily.

Employees recognize the familiar faces and become more friendly to the "regulars."

Guests start to feel "special" because they are recognized by the
employees.

After a time (and, in some cases, having had special priviledges
granted by the employees for one reason or another) guests start to feel they are "above and beyond" the "normal" guest.

Soon, they take to the idea that they are always allowed special
priviledges because they are "friends of the business."

The final step is for the guests to get so out of line in their "I'm
special" mentality that they are asked to not return to the business.


So, Tonyspad, IMHO, we're looking at someone who's at the "feels they are above and beyond the normal guest" and thinks "that they are always allowed special priviledges [discounts] because they are friends of the business" stages.

Again, good luck - you'll need it!