ed, ocm and deena, i think you three are our only ap holders right now.
i just talked to somebody with disney and was told that you can still book with your AP for a discount. that has not changed.
what has changed is the new program is designed for the ap holders that know 4 months in advance when their trip will be and where they want to stay.
with the ap passholder best rates program, they (ap holders) are mailed a postcard or get an email with codes for a better rate than what is published for all others, including ap and general codes.
once you book under that program, you can not change as you lose your one night cost + tax for the deposit.
you have to decide 120 days prior if that is the way you want to book.
details are still hazy but i have not heard if you are aware of the ap program rate when you book or find out later what the rates are.
this now stops people from booking an ap rate discount without the actual acitvation of that pass. on the mouse for less site, (10,000+members) they have always in the past tell us to buy the ap voucher and activate it once you get to disney as your start date begins when you activate it.
i remember the days that the start date began when you first used it in the parks, then about 4 years ago that changed . the change was the ap started on the day of activation and the renewal was the last day of the ap with a $40 discount.
many and i do mean many people book the ap rate and then get the ap pass.
because of this, the regular, long time buyers of the ap lost the opportunity of getting a room discount. only so many rooms are allowed on the ap discount per hotel.
now to book the great rate program, you have to do it at disney on line at the passholder section. you have to give your number in order to reserve.
or go to a
disney travel agent but still give the number. the vouchers people buy do not have numbers. no numbers until it is activated.
ed, i am thinking that this new great rate program might be a deeper discount than the regular discount. the program ends early december 2005. maybe it is a trial run. maybe ap holders will write letters, send emails or protest. who knows........but it is strange that it stops at the end of mid dec.
one site says it stops around thanksgving time the all others say mid december.
i had an ap for two years. i bought mine after i secured a room rate at disney. then i modified my ressie from a general code to the ap code.
i was not asked for my ap when i checked in. i activated it at mgm on the day i arrived at disney. i renewed it once and was pissed about that.
what i wanted to do was use it for 2002 twice and again twice in 2003.
my dates were more spread out though, 2002, first trip was mid may and second was mid sept.
for 2003 first trip was early june and second for mid october. i had to work around high school graduations. then 2004 didin't go until oct 1. and only one trip that year. if the dates would have worked out better, i could have done three trips on the one pass.
on the second trip of 2003, i booked the dream maker package for one son and myself. didn't need tickets for me though.
now, i would not buy the ap as the packages for me can be very good if there is a special going on, at least for this year.
using the AAA i get the room for $61 a night at the values. ap rate at values at the lowest has been $49 + tax in the past years.
there are three ticket brokers where i have bought disney passes on line which beats the disney advance price by $20+
