Why no love for passholders on rates?

[New England Eeyore]

I'm very disappointed. I was debating buying an AP because I have two trips planned that would require a 3 day ticket and a 4 or 5 day ticket - buying them separately would be very close to the cost of an AP. An 8 day non-expiration would have been cheaper but I figured the AP would give me some room discounts plus I could buy the DDE and maybe I'd squeeze another trip in at some point. When I read the price of the AP was going up I bought it at the old price, hoping it'd be the right thing to do. Now I'm fairly certain it was a mistake. The AP discount was no better than my AAA discount for value resorts in December and I have to assume it'll be a similar situation next April. I'll appreciate having the DDE but the resort discounts were kind of the big selling point. I guess it's a bigger discount off deluxes, but I can't afford those. For values and moderates its really no better or not much better than AAA. Disney has definitely let me down on this one.

 

[notnothin]

I know people won't like this, but APs are for *park admission*. The perks are subject to change at any time, and you shouldn't rely on them as many tend to do. Sure, we saved a little more than I would have my AAA rate, but it is a minimal savings. Sure, the DDE helps a little here and there as well. But here's the deal: I bought the AP so that I could visit a few times in a single year and not have to worry about purchasing tickets each time .... plain and simple.

Disney has *TONS* of annual passholders. There will be plenty to fill in the gaps as some choose not to renew. As stated before, they are a business, and they are out to make money. Unfortunately for us all, they know how to do that all too well.

 

[suzywindy]

To me my annual pass that I have carried over the years meant more than park admission. At this point with the Magic Your Way costing less the longer you buy - AP are no longer worth it to me except for my DDE card. At least with that I save 20% on sit down meals and alcohol and that is for my whole party. Plus the discount at DD. However - they stop the DDE card - I stop the AP. AP folks are repeat customers and should be wanted by a company - any company. Businesses should care about repeat customers. It costs them nothing to let you in the park - however if you go in and buy food or merchandise - then they are making more money. I have never said this before and I am 51 years old and love Disney - however, when another park can figure it out for loyal customers I think the folks at Disney are being pretty short sighted. You would have thought they would have learned from their best rates flop. AP holders did not like it and it did not last. So now they are trying something new - I think they are trying to talk you out of an AP. When AAA rate beats the AP rate - you have to be kidding....and we have 3 different rooms and one is at a different hotel. We purposely kept the dates loose to be able to bend in whatever direction. But today was just sad to me because 2 of the rooms - the aaa discount was a few hundred less and on the third room booked with MYW W/dining plan charged to the Visa - they could not apply that package discount. Even the folks on the phone were telling my DH that all day people have been complaining that the ap rate means nothing and they agree - seems odd that other discounts beats their own.

So while I will never give up Disney - I will have to tone it down one notch and maybe go visit that other park for a few days to let them get to know me and my extra bag that I pack to bring back stuff that I spend alot of $$$ on.

 

[cdpa4d]

I have a theory about the recent resort price increases and reduced AP Rates.

There is a thing called Disney Vacation Club. Disney is making truck-loads of money off of selling these timeshares. More and more people are buying into it as well. Even Robert Iger stated that DVC will be growning quite a bit in the next 5 or 10 years.

Resort price increases are a key driver in pushing people to join DVC. One of the greatest perks of joining DVC is the $100 discount you get for purchasing an AP. This is another motivator for joining DVC. I hope they never take this perk away, but as we know, perks are subject to change anytime.

I agree with everyone on this thread. Disney has a strategy for everything and this is just one angle for them to increase their revenue. Push frequent visitors to DVC. It's great for Disney. They get a lot of your money up front plus you pay dues every year to maintain the resort. That takes the financial burden away from Disney and puts it on the DVC member. It's win-win for Disney all around!

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

The real reason we sprung for the AP this year, though, was that we had our hearts set on a pre-Christmas stay at the Poly with kids and grandkids, and now with the meagre discounts it's obvious we can't swing it financially. There are a lot of people in our family whose bubbles were burst yesterday

I'm sorry to say, but this was your own fault. There are a lot of people in this thread who seem a bit confused as to why Disney offers an AP, or the expectations that come with one. You need to read the benefits guide very carefully.

The AP is meant as admission media to the parks for a year, not an automatic discount card. If you actually read the literature, it says discounts MAY be offered in LIMITED QUANITIES for SOME dates, not "go ahead and schedule a vacation you cannot afford and we'll reward you by giving it to you cheap" card.

The truth of the matter is that you should book the vacation you can afford, and Disney is under no obligation to give any discounts. They really don't need to because attendance is so good. Businesses give discounts to lure in customers, not to reward. Even "rewards" programs are geared this way, even if you are earning something, like on a Disney visa, to make you use your card when you wouldn't necessarily just for the lure of a reward.

When it comes to discounts, buying an AP hoping for them (especially for such a choice resort and dates) is gambling, plain and simple. You might as well play the stock market. Just because business last year dictated they gave one, does not mean it will happen again, and Disney is under absolutely no obligation to do so.

I'm not saying this to be mean, but I just was struck with the emoti-cons you used and your statement about a lot of burst bubbles in your family. You gambled, and lost. If you'd gone to Vegas and lost it on blackjack it's the same thing - not some tradgedy that has befallen your family. Next time, don't gamble with your families vacation.

All that said, I am an AP holder, and yes, I go more when there are more discounts. But, unlike it seems a lot of people in this thread, I realize that an AP is ADMISSION MEDIA, not a discount card. If you won't get the value out of admission, or on an already released code (i.e. you buy an AP today so you can use the code that is already out for this fall), do not buy it unless you can afford to not get a discount. When they come, it's a nice surprise, not something you have to explain to the kids why you promised you could stay somewhere you can't really pay for.

It's a hard lesson you have learned, and again, I'm sorry for being so blunt, but hopefully your experience can help another family avoid the same mistake.

In spite of everything, I'm sure you will still have a wonderful time at the World even if you have to get a resort that is more within your budget.

NED

 

[Anc96]

I'm sorry to say, but this was your own fault. There are a lot of people in this thread who seem a bit confused as to why Disney offers an AP, or the expectations that come with one. You need to read the benefits guide very carefully.

The AP is meant as admission media to the parks for a year, not an automatic discount card. If you actually read the literature, it says discounts MAY be offered in LIMITED QUANITIES for SOME dates, not "go ahead and schedule a vacation you cannot afford and we'll reward you by giving it to you cheap" card.

The truth of the matter is that you should book the vacation you can afford, and Disney is under no obligation to give any discounts. They really don't need to because attendance is so good. Businesses give discounts to lure in customers, not to reward. Even "rewards" programs are geared this way, even if you are earning something, like on a Disney visa, to make you use your card when you wouldn't necessarily just for the lure of a reward.

When it comes to discounts, buying an AP hoping for them (especially for such a choice resort and dates) is gambling, plain and simple. You might as well play the stock market. Just because business last year dictated they gave one, does not mean it will happen again, and Disney is under absolutely no obligation to do so.

I'm not saying this to be mean, but I just was struck with the emoti-cons you used and your statement about a lot of burst bubbles in your family. You gambled, and lost. If you'd gone to Vegas and lost it on blackjack it's the same thing - not some tradgedy that has befallen your family. Next time, don't gamble with your families vacation.

All that said, I am an AP holder, and yes, I go more when there are more discounts. But, unlike it seems a lot of people in this thread, I realize that an AP is ADMISSION MEDIA, not a discount card. If you won't get the value out of admission, or on an already released code (i.e. you buy an AP today so you can use the code that is already out for this fall), do not buy it unless you can afford to not get a discount. When they come, it's a nice surprise, not something you have to explain to the kids why you promised you could stay somewhere you can't really pay for.

It's a hard lesson you have learned, and again, I'm sorry for being so blunt, but hopefully your experience can help another family avoid the same mistake.

In spite of everything, I'm sure you will still have a wonderful time at the World even if you have to get a resort that is more within your budget.

NED

I have to disagree with you.
I think most of us know that it's "admission media"... that's not really the point. The point is that as AP holders we had gotten those discounts and perks in the past, and we were made to feel special.
We've always understood these extras were extras. And we were happy that Disney thought enough about their Passholder to offer them to us. I don't see anyone saying "they can't do that - we're passholders!"... we are saying "why are we not so important anymore?".

They are certainly a business, no one disputes their right to make money... but I think with all the recent increases... and then increases again, and then what feels like the neglect of it's Passholders, we're thinking, Disney is greedy. And greedy is not a nice quality. It makes me sad that Disney should act in this way.

Unless things change back to us feeling 'special' again.. I will not be purchasing APs next year. But I'd have no regrets because as others' have noted, there are many beautiful places in this country we can explore.
That doesn't mean we will never return to Disney... of course we will. But APs wouldn't be necessary as it wouldn't be our "vacation place" as it is now... it will just be another one of many.

 

[notnothin]

I'm sorry to say, but this was your own fault. There are a lot of people in this thread who seem a bit confused as to why Disney offers an AP, or the expectations that come with one. You need to read the benefits guide very carefully.

The AP is meant as admission media to the parks for a year, not an automatic discount card. If you actually read the literature, it says discounts MAY be offered in LIMITED QUANITIES for SOME dates, not "go ahead and schedule a vacation you cannot afford and we'll reward you by giving it to you cheap" card.

The truth of the matter is that you should book the vacation you can afford, and Disney is under no obligation to give any discounts. They really don't need to because attendance is so good. Businesses give discounts to lure in customers, not to reward. Even "rewards" programs are geared this way, even if you are earning something, like on a Disney visa, to make you use your card when you wouldn't necessarily just for the lure of a reward.

When it comes to discounts, buying an AP hoping for them (especially for such a choice resort and dates) is gambling, plain and simple. You might as well play the stock market. Just because business last year dictated they gave one, does not mean it will happen again, and Disney is under absolutely no obligation to do so.

I'm not saying this to be mean, but I just was struck with the emoti-cons you used and your statement about a lot of burst bubbles in your family. You gambled, and lost. If you'd gone to Vegas and lost it on blackjack it's the same thing - not some tradgedy that has befallen your family. Next time, don't gamble with your families vacation.

All that said, I am an AP holder, and yes, I go more when there are more discounts. But, unlike it seems a lot of people in this thread, I realize that an AP is ADMISSION MEDIA, not a discount card. If you won't get the value out of admission, or on an already released code (i.e. you buy an AP today so you can use the code that is already out for this fall), do not buy it unless you can afford to not get a discount. When they come, it's a nice surprise, not something you have to explain to the kids why you promised you could stay somewhere you can't really pay for.

It's a hard lesson you have learned, and again, I'm sorry for being so blunt, but hopefully your experience can help another family avoid the same mistake.

In spite of everything, I'm sure you will still have a wonderful time at the World even if you have to get a resort that is more within your budget.

NED

Well stated, NED. AP = Admission media for one year. Some will never recognize that simple fact.

 

[TDC Nala]

This new system is just trying to milk every last dime from passholders. After seeing the $59 a night passholder rate listing I (on dis near the dates for October) I called to book. I guess I was just overly excited and didn't see the next half of the line that said from 11/26 to 12-4. What really supprised me though was that with this "Passholder" "SPECIAL CODE" they quoted me $79 a night at a value plus $10 for an extra adult.

It used to be that being a passholder meant something, now it's not worth squat. You can get the same rate with a AAA card. I mean $79 a night as a "special rate" is just insulting. Considering the price for the PAP and as much time/money as I spend there they would cut PH's a break like they used to.

Now I know you're supposed to just "reserve" your room at price and "hope" they knock the price down if they just "decide" to drop rates; yea right. With gas prices the way they are and their blood sucking new pass holder "benefits" I'm afraid I'm going to have to break our tradition of going to WDW for vacations.

I know this is a bit of a rant and that some people actually like the new system but I'm not one of them. I'm going to miss you Mickey but you can only suck so much money out of me

I just went through this too and I bet I know what the reason is. I booked Pop Century in December and they only had preferred location rooms available.

Because I could only book a preferred room, I had to pay an extra $40 for 3 nights. Couldn't find any availability at all at the All-Stars.

I think right now they really don't need to make as many discounts available to help fill rooms, but I also know they've greatly expanded the inventory of "preferred" rooms at the values. It costs $12 more per night to book a "preferred" room, and if that's all they have available, that's what you'll book if you really want to go.

My "preferred" room is still $10 a night less than it would have been if I booked a standard without the discount I think.

But I bought the AP because I am there a lot, not primarily because I want a room discount.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Well stated, NED. AP = Admission media for one year. Some will never recognize that simple fact.

It's true. And even though I may have been a bit harsh, I do sympathize. Or at least understand the lure.

I have always spoken up about this in discussions, and it's threads like this that make me even more confident in warning people not to buy an AP if it's just for unannounced discounts. If one is out and an AP will save you money, hey, no harm - go right ahead! But gambling one is released is just bad news.

Disney only gives discounts when it has extra rooms. Take for example Free Dining. The most shocking thing I've ever read on these boards was this woman who posted the most scathing things about Disney because they "hate people who have kids in school" by offering the free dining only in September. They actually said, "It's not fair to those of us who can't go then!"

She was totally ignoring the reason why free dining was given to begin with - because that's prime hurricane season, and with the deadly storms of the past few years a lot of people don't want to travel south to that area. Disney doesn't hate people who can't come in September, it just needs a bigger incentive for more people to come during that period.

Again, as I said above, though, I hope this thread does serve as a warning in the future as to what can happen when you gamble on AP rates. I'm going to keep it bookmarked and post it when people ask, "Should I get an AP for the rates next July?" in October, not to make the people who posted here feel bad but because their bad experiences are the best lesson anyone could have without it happening to themselves.

NED, who truly, truly hopes everyone who is disapointed now still has a magical trip

 

[Sammie]

We buy the AP for unlimited access 365 days to the parks, you can not beat that value.

For rooms it was never a guarantee and while they were nice for several years. I understand the economics of it and there is no disappointment over it for us and I would never recommend buying the pass for room savings.

 

[New England Eeyore]

I think we all know the discounts are not guaranteed. I think a great many of us, however, are disappointed and I think it's perfectly normal to feel that way.

A lot of websites (including this one) outline the benefits of an AP, the number one of which always seems to be resort discounts. I quote Mousesavers "Savings for Annual and Seasonal Passholders can be deep (up to 45%)" and again "When available, the Annual Passholder rates are so good that in some cases it's worth investing in an Annual Pass for relatively short stays!" In the past, that was a wonderful feature that probably helped many people. It's too bad it's not the case right now.

Personally, I always knew it was a gamble to count on resort discounts. My currently planned vacations don't depend on them - we'll go regardless. My gamble probably won't pay off and in the end Disney will win, because I'll probably feel that I 'need' to go an extra time or too to justify having bought the pass. They know what they're doing, that's for sure.

 

[CarolA]

I know people won't like this, but APs are for *park admission*. The perks are subject to change at any time, and you shouldn't rely on them as many tend to do. Sure, we saved a little more than I would have my AAA rate, but it is a minimal savings. Sure, the DDE helps a little here and there as well. But here's the deal: I bought the AP so that I could visit a few times in a single year and not have to worry about purchasing tickets each time .... plain and simple.

Disney has *TONS* of annual passholders. There will be plenty to fill in the gaps as some choose not to renew. As stated before, they are a business, and they are out to make money. Unfortunately for us all, they know how to do that all too well.

I agree. Every so often we get one of these threads where folks carry on about how Disney doesn't love them.

Disney is a business, it's the JOB of business to make money. Don't fool yourself if Universal and Sea World didn't feel like they had to offer those discounts they wouldn't. They aren't doing it because they "love" thier AP holders, it's all about the CASH. They offer those discounts because otherwise people don't come visit!!!!

If Disney can sell the rooms at rack rate, good for them. It's not like there are not TONS of less costly alternatives in Orlando.

And to be honest if Disney can sell the room at rack rate and a ticket at full price then that's more profitable then AP holders like me.

I looked at the AP rates for the night I needed in Oct. and then I booked at the Hotel Royal Plaza (King Tower Room $79!!!) I am not upset with Disney, I just felt like that was a good choice for me for that trip.

 

[Sammie]

I have to disagree with you.
I think most of us know that it's "admission media"... that's not really the point. The point is that as AP holders we had gotten those discounts and perks in the past, and we were made to feel special.
We've always understood these extras were extras. And we were happy that Disney thought enough about their Passholder to offer them to us. I don't see anyone saying "they can't do that - we're passholders!"... we are saying "why are we not so important anymore?".

They are certainly a business, no one disputes their right to make money... but I think with all the recent increases... and then increases again, and then what feels like the neglect of it's Passholders, we're thinking, Disney is greedy. And greedy is not a nice quality. It makes me sad that Disney should act in this way.

Unless things change back to us feeling 'special' again.. I will not be purchasing APs next year. But I'd have no regrets because as others' have noted, there are many beautiful places in this country we can explore.
That doesn't mean we will never return to Disney... of course we will. But APs wouldn't be necessary as it wouldn't be our "vacation place" as it is now... it will just be another one of many.

How were you made to feel special, because business was down for Disney and they needed to discount rooms in order to fill them?

I am sorry but I see no connection with the economy of travel for a few years versus this "I am special situation."

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I agree with those of you that have stated an AP is just admission media and not a way to get a room discount.

The discount was never guaranteed. Sure, it was offered in the past, but that doesn't mean it will always be offered. Just because mousesavers (or any other site) says that you 'may' get a discount, doesn't mean you will.

I looked at getting an AP; not for the room discounts, but because I hope to go several times in a year. I decided against it because I want the DDP (and I don't want to keep buying one day tickets).

Universal (and the rest) aren't giving discounts because they treasure AP holders. They do it because they need to drum up business.

If you can't afford to pay rack rate, then don't book that resort/level. There is nothing wrong with staying at a value or mod. There is also nothing wrong with staying in a standard room without concierge.

If the room is that important, then spend less elsewhere. Life is about choices. I would love to stay at the Poly, but the money can be spent elsewhere. I am choosing to stay at a value.

You should be happy that you can afford an AP; some people never get to go to WDW.

This is not meant to be mean, but people need to get over themselves. Disney is a business and they owe it to themselves and their stockholders to do what is best for the company. Disney has bills to pay too.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

How were you made to feel special, because business was down for Disney and they needed to discount rooms in order to fill them?

I am sorry but I see no connection with the economy of travel for a few years versus this "I am special situation."

I do understand where he's coming from, but reality just doesn't follow up.

Disney isn't your family. That doesn't make it less magical, it's just a line that definately does exist. Disney is a vacation with magical properties that costs money. It's tough to think about, but there really isn't anything altruistic about it. They aren't "magical" for the sake of it (and by "magical" of course I mean that extra level of service we expect and generally get at WDW), but because it helps us keep coming back. Disney doesn't give away free vacations to anyone; even Make-A-Wish trips are generally independently financed.

The thing is, AP holders are already obviously hooked on the Disney-crack. People that are frequent visitors don't generally get directed e-mail codes, they send those to people they want to hook on the experience.

Wanting discounts and being disapointed is one thing, but we have some people talking about family dreams being crushed and getting angry that Disney doesn't love us because they didn't offer some discount they did a year ago. This year has nothing to do with last year. People forget that last year we were still recovering from Katrina, and many, many people did not travel last fall because of the super-severe hurricane season. It's not as bad this year, therefore Disney didn't have extra rooms to get rid of.

It's also VERY VERY nice of Disney to allow us to book and apply codes later. Disney is ABSOLUTELY unique in their very, very liberal reservation policies (especially for room-only rates). People are talking about other travel destinations and absolutely no one has the cancellation and change policies of Disney. A new discount comes out, sorry, you're stuck. Usually the cancellation fees for the first ressie are so much it's not worth it. Not with Disney - even if you don't show up AT ALL for a room-only ressie, you only loose your 1 night deposit.

The problem is that this has created some false expectations among people. The kicker is that reserving a room now to apply a code later does NOT help you use that code at all. I was just discussing this in another thread when someone said they wanted to double book for a chance at a later discount (which is subject to cancellation anyway for double booking). When you call to "apply" the code, there either is a room at those dates for that code or there isn't. Your prior reservation does not affect availability AT ALL for that code rate. If there aren't code rooms left for those dates, your existing reservation does not help; it's a finite number and when they are out they are out.

I understand some people see this as a larger issue with "losing" magic with Disney, and that's an entirely other topic. Disney offers discount codes when it has extra rooms available. When it doesn't have them to discount, they don't. There is no lack of "love", or anything else. I'm not a Disney apologist, but I read the terms and conditions when I buy something like an AP, and I have enough experience to know how it works.

As this thread spells out with crystal clarity, your opinions on Disney magic or not, and regardless of if one continues to vacation at Disney or elsewhere (completely irrelevant), the cold hard fact is this is what happens when people count their chickens before they hatch. This is how it works. I just really hope that it prevents others from making the same mistakes in the future.

NED

 

[Anc96]

I am sorry but I see no connection with the economy of travel for a few years versus this "I am special situation."

I don't see a connection of this comment to anything I stated.

How were you made to feel special, because business was down for Disney and they needed to discount rooms in order to fill them?

I don't think that for years... "business was down for Disney" lol.

But anyway, some businesses have the ability of having repeat customers feel special. And yes.. that way is by giving perks. I felt as an AP holder I was treated with extra perks because Disney CARED about their AP holders. I don't think I'm alone in that feeling considering all the negative feelings revealed in this thread.
This is not to say that Disney ever actually cared about the AP holders themselves rather than the money they could make off of them. But, if FELT like they cared. That's what mattered. At least that's what mattered to me.

Disney has been very successful over the years, all the while AP holders weren't saying "what's happening". Now it seems many of us are. That has to say something. Disney is seriously losing the ability of making their AP holders feel special.

How this effects me personally?
Purchasing APs had me visit more than I normally would considering we have to fly down. But, already having the tickets and getting nice rates at nice resorts.. we did it. We do love Disney.. but it's not an incentive to go as often anymore when the nicer perks and discounted rooms that we were accustomed to aren't there anymore. It's a substantial difference when last year I had $100 off per night for our deluxe resort room, and we stay for 2 weeks. No, I don't have to stay in a deluxe resort.. and no we don't have to stay for 2 weeks. But it's our preference. That's what we enjoy. Disney is very pricey... always have been. To me, paying full price isn't worth it. JMTC

Remember... I am not asking you to feel as I do. This is just how I feel. I am relaying to you that this is also how others feel too (now there are others that feel like discounts are their 'right'. We won't talk about those people).
I don't feel like I am being scewed by Disney... I just don't feel like I am being coddled anymore.... and I liked that feeling.

 

[Sammie]

The point is that as AP holders we had gotten those discounts and perks in the past, and we were made to feel special

This is the comment I was questioning. Disney did not offer these past discounts to make you feel special, they gave them to book empty rooms.

It was simply economics, nothing more.

My confusion is how can receiving a discount (that was given to book empty rooms) make one feel special.

I can understand being disappointed that discounts are not as steep as the past few years. But those great discounts only happened due to a weak travel economy. The travel business (especially Disney) has recovered and they don't need to offer large AP discounts to fill rooms.

Disney discounted rooms because they were going to sit empty unless they did. They did not discount them out of any love for anyone or to make us feel good.

If you felt good when you got a discount it was not intentional on Disney's part.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Disney makes me feel plenty special, when I'm on an AP or a 1-day ticket (and I've used those and everything in between). CM's don't treat me any differently, nor should they. We are all guests.

I think what Anc96 is talking about is that when discounts come more frequently it makes him/her feel "special" and choose Disney as their destination. I can understand that, as I live a dozen states away yet am an AP holder more than I'm not. I've been able to take a week's vacation to WDW for as little as $500 before for airfare and value resort; it's sure nice.

The odd thing is we are having this discussion when Disney just announced AP rates. It's not like they aren't available, it's just that they aren't a much better deal than the AAA rates.

However, the HUGE irony here is that the other people complaining about not being able to apply the code to their existing reservations do not see how they shot themselves in the foot.

Disney offers discounts when it has extra rooms to sell. If people book a room, Disney doesn't know you are waiting for a code; the more rooms people "pre-book" in this manner, the LESS CHANCE of discounts coming out. It's in a way ruining it for the people that the discounts are actually meant for, i.e. those making short-term travel plans that may not have gone otherwise.

Unfortunately, eventually this behavior will end to the lenient policies we know now. Eventually we won't have the great 5-day full refund policy on room-only rates, or the 1-night deposit if you forfeit, or even the ability to be able to not pay the balance until check-in. It's the same thing that many fear will happen to dining reservations : so many people don't show up, eventually they will require a credit card hold. Sure, Disney figures some people won't show up, just like they figure some people will apply a code to an existing reservation; however, when it because the norm to do so, we will see policy changes.

NED

 

[NeverlandClub23]

It's just disappointment when you have expectations of getting something.

To me it would be the same as going to Magic Kingdom and expecting Wishes to be that night and Disney cancelling it that day. Wishes isn't guaranteed but it doesn't stop me from being disappointed. Or my favorite ride being broken down for the length of my trip (not refurbished; that would be my own fault as they list rides under refurbishment). It's disappointing but none of these things are guaranteed.

I understand why Disney doesn't offer a discount. I know they aren't just being charitable in giving discounts. But that doesn't make me any less disappointed with the lack of discounts and price increases.

It hasn't ruined my trip or made me alter my plans for my upcoming trip. I just have to save more.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I don't think that for years... "business was down for Disney" lol.

Actually, it was. Discounts like this didn't really happen ten years ago.

Like the rest of the travel industry, Disney saw a huge downturn after 9/11 (and things weren't so great before then).

The last two years, some AMAZING discounts have happened in the fall. This is because of Katrina, and the other severe storms the year before. People were not coming to Disney during hurricane season because they were scared. Hence all the discounts available from Sept-Nov both years.

For instance, Disney very uncharacteristically released some codes for the fall (the Oct/Nov/Dec rates everyone seemed to expect this year) as late as Septeber 29 last year. Usually discounts for that period are released long before that, but Disney had to go the extra mile because people were cancelling after watching Katrina on TV.

This year, things are looking up. No major storms yet (at least national-major). Disney's doing better than it has in many, many years. And it's not like we're talking about NO discount, just one no better than AAA. It's still the best deal on a room for that time frame.

NED