What about us poor schmucks who are not AP holders/FLA residents???

[busy mom]

We need codes too...does any one out there know if general codes typically follow???

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

We wait and see unfortunately. I looked at mousesavers and it seems it has varied, sometimes general deals came out close to AP and FL rates, and sometimes it could be up to a month later

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'd rather not buy an AP. Have Disney Visa though so I could use an offer from them even.

 

[MinnieM21]

AP rates aren't even out yet.

 

[mrFDNY]

hi all,
when are you planning to go?in feb 2005 we had nothing,no aa,no annual passes,and were not resdients of florida.we were considered "general public".we got a card in the mail and were able to book any value for $55 dollars a night.so you will have to wait and see.i was told it all depends on how busy it will be.the more reservations the least likely to get codes the least reservations and they will try to release codes for the general public in order to get more people to fill the resorts.good luck!

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

AP rates aren't even out yet.

That's true! I was thinking about the best rate program . . .

I think there will be reg AP rates though. On mousesavers there was often a day or so between when different discounts were offered. I was wondering if they do that to control the number of calls coming in on the day a discount comes out - you know, they might not be able to handle everyone in the same day?

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Thanks mrFDNY. I know my week is not looking busy as far as being booked up on the website - so I'm hoping!

 

[tigerlilly]

I am thinking this year we poor schmucks get to pay more then everyone else unless we are willing to buy AP's. I sooooo hope I am wrong. It irritates me so much that I get to pay over $1300 to fly to florida and pay $100 more per night on a Hotel room then someone who lives in Florida. I DO NOT in any way begrudge the Floridians there deal ...good for them I say...but I think it stinks on Disney's part. I do not understand why they cannot offer all of their rooms at a reasonable rate and be done with it! I have not been to WDW in 6 years and this trip this year may well be the only one we get to do for another 5 or 6 years so a deal would be great but I guess that is up to Disney since they run the WDW show. Sometimes knowledge is a bad thing

 

[spiceycat]

have you looked into renting a DVC reservations?

tell me your dates and I will see what OKW would be.

 

[snowmouse]

Ya know, Tigerlilly, an AP might benefit you. Do the Math. We live at a distance and don't go that often, either. But if I spend around $400 for an AP, then deduct the $200 or so I would have had to spend on a hopper....well I have made up the cost in just a couple of nights at a deluxe . If youre there longer you've made a profit.

Of course, it all sounded just great when I bought my AP in Feb for our 3 days pre and post cruise and planned for my 10 days in October. Now that it's almost October, I find myself in the "october black hole" of no codes!! If they don't release them soon, I may explode

 

[cobbler]

Since there haven't been any general codes released all year I think its safe to say that those who aren't FL residents or AP holders will either have to settle with an AAA discount or pay rack rates.

Ebs and flows in the tourism industry and this is one of those times where offering discounts isn't necessary.

 

[WDWBetsy]

I am thinking this year we poor schmucks get to pay more then everyone else unless we are willing to buy AP's. I sooooo hope I am wrong. It irritates me so much that I get to pay over $1300 to fly to florida and pay $100 more per night on a Hotel room then someone who lives in Florida. I DO NOT in any way begrudge the Floridians there deal ...good for them I say...but I think it stinks on Disney's part. I do not understand why they cannot offer all of their rooms at a reasonable rate and be done with it! I have not been to WDW in 6 years and this trip this year may well be the only one we get to do for another 5 or 6 years so a deal would be great but I guess that is up to Disney since they run the WDW show. Sometimes knowledge is a bad thing

You could always buy a AAA membership. Here in Indiana, the basic one-year membership is $65, and $55 to renew. Ours not only helps us here at home (with towing, keys locked in car, flat tires, etc.) and on driving trips for emergencies, but the hotel discounts are always helpful. It's better than paying rack.

 

[Sammie]

I am thinking this year we poor schmucks get to pay more then everyone else unless we are willing to buy AP's. I sooooo hope I am wrong. It irritates me so much that I get to pay over $1300 to fly to florida and pay $100 more per night on a Hotel room then someone who lives in Florida. I DO NOT in any way begrudge the Floridians there deal ...good for them I say...but I think it stinks on Disney's part. I do not understand why they cannot offer all of their rooms at a reasonable rate and be done with it! I have not been to WDW in 6 years and this trip this year may well be the only one we get to do for another 5 or 6 years so a deal would be great but I guess that is up to Disney since they run the WDW show. Sometimes knowledge is a bad thing

If they can sell them at a higher rate why should they sell them for less?

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Well, that is the theory of supply and demand . . .

However, I don't agree that bookings are high for the entire rest of the year. I don't have the time to check week by week (man that would be way too much time on a person's hands!) but I know that my week is pretty wide open as far as availablity on disneyworld.com. We're going Oct 28th-Nov 4th and the only places that are pretty well booked are CSR, BC and BCV (and that could be a convention?). I checked the 2nd and 3rd weekends in Oct and that seems to be fairly full - but there's still lots of rooms looking available at other times.

I think higher gas prices are going to hit bookings at Disney World too along with it would seem from these boards that a lot of people that could moved their dates up to take advantage of free dining, leaving rooms open later in the year.

There were discounts offered to the general public for 1/2 - 4/16 of this year. They just had to be booked by the end of last year - heck, ending the offer date in advance of the check in date is pretty usual for Disney. I've also gotten email discount offers earlier this year so there's always that possibility. Don't give up hope.

 

[chyam]

Hey...........I'm a poor schmuch too. I have an AP and I am a Florida resident, guess what? I wasn't able to get anything with a FL resident code for either of my 2 dates! So I am not very hopeful much will be available for an AP rate either. And I was on the phone at 7am yesterday morning! And has anyone noticed that the coded rates are still a little high especailly on the deluxes.........I read somewhere where someone got a code at the WL for 189.00 last year it was 139.00.

 

[JudimouseNC]

The major codes were never offered until after 9/11. When tourism hit an all time low in Florida. I realize that codes are not always going to be available, I guess it was nice while it lasted. At least they still offer AAA discounts.

I agree that the price of gas and airline fuel surcharges are going to make an impact, but it won't be felt for a few more months.

Disney is a business.....we all know that, but as an AP holder for the past several years, I have watched Disney whittle down the benefits consistently.

Does anyone remember the Magic Kingdom Club? We saved hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars with that card. It was a great incentive to do all our gift buying and clothes shopping at the Disney Store, and then ~poof~, that was gone.

I realize there are advantages to the Disney Visa card, but what about people who can't get a credit card or those like Hubby and I who don't believe in using them?

Disney needs to bring back the Magic Kingdom Club....it was a nice way of saying thank you to the most loyal guests.

~Getting off soapbox now~

 

[disneymom2one]

It's all a matter of supply and demand. Disney (like any large company) doesn't make emotional decisions. When my dh switched jobs a few years ago we made a very conscious decision to move to Florida. We live several hundred miles away (although in Florida) and spent 33 days at the parks over our last year of PAP usage. There's NO WAY we could have afforded that without AP/FL res discounts. The discounts are not rewards. They're incentives to come back and spend money - which we did. If you really want a discount, buy the AP. Use best rate. Or go during lower seasons.

Best yet, buy into DVC. That (to me) is the best bargain of all. Yes we have a monthly dues payment. But we're staying in December for 11 nights and paying a grand total of $550 in lodging - and that's only because we paid cash for two nights at OKW. Seven of the eleven nights are already taken care of through DVC.

MB

 

[riu girl]

For me, the best thing to do is to go during value season and use a CAA discount. And then I can hope for a code or free dining to add to my ressie later. I doubt either will transpire but at least I feel comfortable about the price I am paying (with the CAA discount).

 

[Pluto4Me]

Hey...........I'm a poor schmuch too. I have an AP and I am a Florida resident, guess what? I wasn't able to get anything with a FL resident code for either of my 2 dates! So I am not very hopeful much will be available for an AP rate either. And I was on the phone at 7am yesterday morning! And has anyone noticed that the coded rates are still a little high especailly on the deluxes.........I read somewhere where someone got a code at the WL for 189.00 last year it was 139.00.

Hey Chyam - Count me in the "Poor Schmuck Club" too!

I have an AP, waiting without too much faith for a discount. My parents, who are travelling with me 10/19 to 10/23, are FL Resident AP holders. Called to try and modify my existing rack rate reservation yesterday morning at POFQ and couldn't get anything. I'm not too hopeful about being able to modify the reservation if an AP rate comes out for that time frame because of how quickly the FL rates went.

I understand that any discount is not guaranteed, but I could not utilize the earlier offer of FL BRP because I was not within the 120 day window, and then to add insult to injury, while waiting to see if a FL rate would come out, they then lower the FL BRP window to 60 days. Again which I couldn't utilize because I was not in the time frame.

I can't change my dates because it's Mom's 70th B'day on 10/20 and I can't change her B'day date and the other family members have already made their plans to be down. Oh well, Mom is worth rack rate - and much more!

 

[tekmom]

How about a AAA card? I think having one more than pays for itself...between discounts on rooms and tickets..if you go that route. We have had a AAA card for years and I use it for discounts all over the place. Did you know you can buy a dozen get a dozen free at Krispy Creme? We never use it much for the auto help part, but we drive down south alot and always use it for hotel discounts, restaurants, waterparks etc.. Although I have an AP, the savings off of AKL in July with a AAA card would have been about $250.00 for 7 nights. What is AAA now...like $55.00? Definately worth it IMO. It's better than waiting for a general code that may never come.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Just a for you schmucks; a schmuck club.