What is the AP savings at a deluxe typically?

[Mary L]

How much is the typical savings on room rates with an AP? When do you decide? If I get rooms 11 months out....can I decide and apply an AP discount that comes up 3-6 months out? Obviously, If I can save $100./night it makes the deluxe room more palatable. Please advise.

 

[bicker]

Unfortunately, there isn't anything really 'typical' about AP discounts. They've varied so much over the years. I remember 40% discounts; I remember 10% discounts.

It doesn't make much sense to book a reservation that you aren't prepared to use, at the rate you book it at. That's because if a discount rate becomes available, it is attached to specific inventory. So 'applying a discount' really means swapping some inventory around -- the point being that if there isn't already a comparable room available within the discount inventory, you wouldn't be able to apply the discount to your reservation anyway. So you have just as much of a chance applying the discount to your existing reservation as you have getting the discount without having an existing reservation. You're basically just letting Disney hold your deposit interest-free in the interim. So if you'd stay even if you don't get the AP discount, then go ahead and book, but otherwise, wait for the discount to be announced, and then book.

 

[AKLRULZ]

Well, I've booked rooms in advance of AP rates being released and convert the room to the discount quite easily. If you believe you're going to be going I would book the room so you've got the discount and then wait, pray and hope the discount comes out - once/if it does your agent (if he/she is on top of things) should automatically get the discount applied or if you're booking on your own you'll want to call first thing the day the discounts are released. It's actually quite easy, but often time consuming.

Good luck!

 

[DisneyGirl]

There's really know way to tell for sure whether there even will be a discount, and if there is, how much it will actually be for. That said, the recent discounts that have been coming out seem to be around the range of $75-$100/ night off of a deluxe. Remember, though, that even if there is a discount, there are a limited number of rooms offered for that discount, so you still may not be able to get it.

 

[mlill]

I was lucky and got AP rates for a 5 night stay at the Contemporary Tower Magic Kingdom view in October, and a 3 night stay at the Grand Floridian Lagoon view room in December. With the AP rates, I saved about $100 night for both trips, for a grand total of $800 off of rack rates! It's still not as good as the 40-45% off AP rates I've gotten in the past, but I'll take it!

-Michelle