Why no specials for really low season?

[Rhonna]

I was following the thread such as the one of people hoping for special October rates. I also didn't realize that SoCal AP holders were filling the parks so much.

My question (for disney) is why don't they take into account the off or shoulder time frames and offer package (or room only) discounts to bring in more people and those who spend more money on property?

For example, we would like to travel after the popular Halloween season and before the popular X-mas season. The beginning of November. Since we are from out of state, we would be spending 5 or 6 nights at a disney resort, in their parks, eating at their restaurants and purchasing souvenirs. But the rack rates for the Grand CA during that "value season" is $370 a night! We just can't do that. If there is no special, we simply won't be going. And we personally prefer to stay on site since we don't go often and really want it to feel like an all-inclusive vacation.

Of course, I was thinking there are other times of year too like Jan and Feb that special offers could draw more guests to the resort.

Two years ago there was an AP discount offered when we went in Sept. So I bought a PAP and we got a decent amount discounted off the room (DL hotel).

Now it sounds like they just aren't doing anything (in off season) to draw in the on-site paying customer's like us who are from out of state (as opposed to what I read about socal ap holders who mostly aren't spending on disney hotels, food and gifts to the same degree).

I really wish we could have taken advantage of this summer's offer but bottom line is that is their high season anyhow and people are going to go to disney. Why not offer specials in off season to fill the hotels?

Just thinking.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I would think after the current 5 for 3 or more special ends you might see the rates you are looking for but also you are looking at the most expensive place to stay. From what I have heard there really isn't anymore off season. You could also look at something less expensive if you wanted to go and save.
With 800,000 plus AP holders and growing(Al Lutz's article today) Disney has a big captive audience and those folks do spend $$$ at the parks, maybe not to the same degree, but they do spend. Does not look like the economy has slowed anyone down.

Best of luck in getting your rates.

Jack

 

[disheadz]

I think large scale fall promotions are lacking because with year-round schools, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Xmas, and New Years only a few weeks of fall are lower attendance times.

 

[pixiewings71]

The really good AP rates have not yet been released, the current good AP deal runs thru the end of August so we are anticipating another round of really good rates soon. Of course we have no way of knowing if that will happen but I know I'm holding out for it. I wouldn't give up just yet.

 

[MAH4546]

Are you going around Veterans Day? That's not off-peak. It actually gets quite crowded.

 

[Sherry E]

There actually ARE good AP rates for September, all the way until the end of that month, for all 3 DLR hotels (GCH - $219 is an excellent rate for the GCH; $129 is excellent for the PPH, etc.) - Kerri, I don't know if you knew about those since you only mentioned August. So September was not ignored. October is the month in question.

As I was saying in other threads, the CM in Reservations I spoke to the other day was saying that usually by this time of year, they [in Reservations] already know if there are going to be any AP rates or other special offers coming down the turnpike for October. So far, they have not been told anything about October. The CM said she knows as much as we do right now. She thought that it was because there are so many other deals circulating currently (not just AP rates but the 5 for 3 deal and also several different PIN offers), and they ALL end the last week of September, and so DLR probably does not want to immediately pop out the new October AP rates or any other special offers when they anticipate October to be a very busy time this year and they probably want to get some hotel bookings at the regular rack rates (non-discounted) so they can make a chunk of money before they start offering super-low rates.

The CM I spoke to said that this is not to say that they won't offer AP rates for October at some point, but no one in Reservations knows of any that are coming YET, and IF they are released, it may be impromptu - like they may just pop up one week and then be gone the next week, or they may appear much closer to October than we anticipate (or want), and the rates MAY not be as low as they normally have been in previous years, because October is really not the off-peak season anymore.

Any AP rates for November - in between Halloween and Thanksgiving - would probably appear on the AP hotel calendar in August, or possibly as late as September. It is hard to tell what the off-peak seasons are now because the surge in the number of AP holders has changed the balance of busy times vs. slow times.

 

[Canyon girl]

Also, you have to remember the decrease of room numbers due to the refurb on DLH. This will affect room prices as well. Last Oct was bonkers with people and the decrease in the numbers of rooms available with the increase of people at Halloween may eliminate the REALLY GOOD values that we have in Sept; especially with the addition of SM overlay and the rumored Captain EO return. I hope that you find a good rate, but I think that Disney is waiting until closer hoping that the hotels will fill up by themselves with the Halloween offerings.

 

[TheZue]

The only thing I can see working in our favor is last year people would have bought before they realized the economy was about to tank. You gotta think the stock market didn't crash until October. Last summer everything looked wonderful while I think this summer people are being a little more careful on what they plan. Hopefully the tourist numbers are off enough that they still drop the rates even with the new Halloween stuff. I have a feeling the new stuff is to keep things where they were more than raise attendance. I also think the economy is part of the reason that the off season seems so skewed right now, if the tourists were still showing up in strong numbers the summer should be busy regardless of the AP's not being there.

 

[Sherry E]

Also, you have to remember the decrease of room numbers due to the refurb on DLH. This will affect room prices as well. Last Oct was bonkers with people and the decrease in the numbers of rooms available with the increase of people at Halloween may eliminate the REALLY GOOD values that we have in Sept; especially with the addition of SM overlay and the rumored Captain EO return. I hope that you find a good rate, but I think that Disney is waiting until closer hoping that the hotels will fill up by themselves with the Halloween offerings.

The only thing I can see working in our favor is last year people would have bought before they realized the economy was about to tank. You gotta think the stock market didn't crash until October. Last summer everything looked wonderful while I think this summer people are being a little more careful on what they plan. Hopefully the tourist numbers are off enough that they still drop the rates even with the new Halloween stuff. I have a feeling the new stuff is to keep things where they were more than raise attendance. I also think the economy is part of the reason that the off season seems so skewed right now, if the tourists were still showing up in strong numbers the summer should be busy regardless of the AP's not being there.

Those are very good points by both of you - Canyon girl and TheZue!

 

[pixiewings71]

Sherry, you're right. I forgot they extended the good deals into September. LOL Thanks for correcting me.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Since I can not go during the "off" season it does not impact me. What gets me is there are no senior discounts for anything unless you qualify for a drop in room rates which is usually 10%. The baby boomers are supposed to have a lot of $$$.

Jack

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm not worrying about October and beyond until we're into August. Just the fact that the AP hotel availability calendar shows the exact same price every day tells me that they are in a holding pattern, waiting to see what might happen.

And of course they don't even go beyond October at all, not even to show the normal 10% off AP rate.

I'm just waiting. I'm not totally sure that I remember us knowing, in July, what the holidaytime prices would be...

 

[TheZue]

I'm not worrying about October and beyond until we're into August. Just the fact that the AP hotel availability calendar shows the exact same price every day tells me that they are in a holding pattern, waiting to see what might happen.

And of course they don't even go beyond October at all, not even to show the normal 10% off AP rate.

I'm just waiting. I'm not totally sure that I remember us knowing, in July, what the holidaytime prices would be...

Last year they hit on July 23rd, so we aren't that far behind from last year. And they didn't have a summer AP rate least year either. They haven't even updated the special offer page to remove the first half of AP8 that expired on July 25th. So I just think this year is generally wonky.

 

[Canyon girl]

I spoke to someone at one of the hotels, and they said that the CRO was having problems with availability of rooms. So, I think that the site is really wacked as well.

 

[Albort]

yes, from a sales point of view, we are actually busier during the off season...

 

[Rhonna]

yes, from a sales point of view, we are actually busier during the off season...

Hi Albort,

I remember you from two years ago when we last went to Disneyland (well, not meeting you in person but your posts on this board).

So, were you serious or are you being sarcastic/funny? I thought one of the other threads talked about how a lot of the SoCal AP holders come in for a few rides on a regular basis but don't eat in the restaurants, stay in the disney hotels, purchase much merchandise.

I am curious what you meant?

Rhonna

 

[Rhonna]

Are you going around Veterans Day? That's not off-peak. It actually gets quite crowded.

No, we are trying to avoid as much crowds as possible. We were thinking Nov. 2-8.

 

[Rhonna]

Any AP rates for November - in between Halloween and Thanksgiving - would probably appear on the AP hotel calendar in August, or possibly as late as September. It is hard to tell what the off-peak seasons are now because the surge in the number of AP holders has changed the balance of busy times vs. slow times.

Hi,

Since I wouldn't purchase an AP unless I had already booked a room at the AP discount rate (not the normal 10% but if there was a better special) I am guessing I wouldn't be able to look at the AP hotel calendar. I was just going to check the disboards and the disneyland website every day to see if something popped up.

Is there a better way to find out as soon as they are released?

The other thing I will watch for from disney (which I highly doubt will happen) is a package deal for our dates. Or I may go on Expedia or Travelocity last minute and see if there are any all inclusive (disney resort and airfare - maybe park tickets) deals for last minute travelers. Although I've never used those travel sites, I understand they sometimes have greatly discounted deals.

Thanks!

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

Just wanted to respond to the person askig about senior rates. We DO offer 30% off rates for ages 60+ on all regular rooms (not suites or concierge).

 

[fairykin]

Senior rates are great, we use those when my parents travel with us.

Last night i booked the 18th thru 21st at the Grand Califorian Concerige with the AP rate.. i had a pin for 35% off but it turned out the AP rate was nearly 40 better.