Yet another Cm's take on AP rates

[skiwee1]

I just called WDTC to find out the price difference on AAA and DC discounts. BTW, AAA is a little better if anyone cares. Anyway, I asked him about AP rates and he said that the FTP went so well that they really filled up the resorts and he didn't think there would be any other discounts. He said that Disney worked with the airlines to dream up the FTP so that would get more people flying. He said that Disney and the airlines were thrilled that there was such an overwhelming response to the FTP. Don't know how true all that is but thought I'd pass it on along with every other CM story.

 

[MELSMICE]

When have they extended the FTP until? We are going Nov. 7 & staying 2 nights at the BC before heading to OKW. I was hoping to get an AP rate for those 2 nights.

 

[DebbieB]

FTP expires 11/20/03.

I just don't buy it. I played around with the disney.com website last weekend with dates in September and most resorts had availability.

 

[DrTomorrow]

DebbieB,

::wearing politness hat::
I think that there's a bit of difference between having rooms available and having so many rooms available that they issue AP discounts. If the Polynesian (8XX # of rooms) had an average of 10-20 rooms open on any given day, then the Polynesian would show up as available on-line, but I doubt that they would offer AP rates for those rooms. In fact, I've read several different places that each resort needs to keep some rooms available for last-minute rack rate guests.

 

[diznee25]

When have they extended the FTP until? We are going Nov. 7 & staying 2 nights at the BW before heading to OKW. I was hoping to get an AP rate for those 2 nights.

As another poster stated, the FTP was extended thru Nov. 20th, but you had to book by June 28 or 29. So the FTP isn't available anymore.

Diznee25

 

[DisOrBust]

I think that was the CMs personal opinion. I would think that the FTP would have been very popular in the Summer with school out but they still had AP rates. I can't imagine more people using the FTP for Sept,t and Nov. There will be AP rates they just seem to be releasing them "later" Making it hard on those at the "switch". Beside didn't I read that air travel is still down???

 

[magicmouse2]

I think they will still release AP rates because of that day when they were 'accidentally' released or crashed the system or whatever ,then withdrawn an hour later.

 

[dkostel]

And if they don't re-release the rates think of the implications to them. That means you have to call every hour or two to check for discounts, on the off chance that they have the 1 1/2 hour only specials. They'll have to hire many more CMs to answer phones.

 

[horner5]

I agree with that last thought. I still have a feeling that they will at least be offered until 10/1 because of the "accidental" release of the AP rates a couple of weeks ago. Coming from a business standpoint-it would be wrong to not offer them again for the rest of the AP holders who weren't able to get those rates because they were pulled. Had they not released them for that brief blip in time, I might feel differently.


Fingers are still crossed!

 

[currycook]

A couple of days ago I made a one day res for the WL. I asked the cm about AP rates and she said not out yet and didnt know if they would come out. I asked how buisness was and she said buisness must be good because they have them working 2 hours more in overtime. Not sure if that was for the week but sounded like 2 more hours a day.

Hard for me to believe Sept is filling up. Sep is usually a very low month. But then I just read an article on MSNBC which said Americans have not and are not traveling to Europe in large numbers and staying home and vacationing at home.

 

[DMRick]

I asked how business was and she said business must be good because they have them working 2 hours more in overtime.

Actually, they need the overtime, since so many of us with AP's are calling ot see if the rates are out..we're afraid they'll come out for just an hour, and we'll miss them!

 

[mazzarafe]

I've been checking daily on ap rates and release of CP at Epcot and the other day the CM made it sound like not to expect them until after the current codes expire on the 15th.

Hopefully they will be out the 17th or 24th.

I do find it hard to believe, at least for my trip December 18th, that the resorts are that full. The last 2 trips I went on I was not able to get the DC discount PRIOR to ap's being released when I called to book a room. Last 2 years they were out the first week of July in 2001, and around the 20th last year. This time I called the last week of July for DC or AAA and both were available for my stay at the Contemporary. This is has also been a resort I could not get last stay for my entire lenth of my trip.

Got it this time though for December 18-23rd. Just my 2 cents.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Coming from a business standpoint-it would be wrong to not offer them again for the rest of the AP holders

From a business standpoint, what they did a few weeks ago is water under the bridge; due to the system problems, they now have the opportunity to reassess the parameters of any AP discount offering - when or if, how long, how many rooms, what discount rates - and they'd be remiss if they didn't take the latest information into account.

From a 'moral' perspective, it wouldn't be 'fair' to offer it to some but not others, but, hey, this is Disney....

 

[Liv2CdWorld]

Whooaa! AP rates were "accidentally" released? Where was I?

Can someone direct me to the thread that had this info? How do we know it was an accident?

Just curious

 

[SAKPEG99OKW]

It was a few weeks ago. I was one of the lucky ones to get in under the wire. When i called, the CM told me that the rates were not in the system yet, but all the CM's had a code to use. She applied the code to my rese and my AKL standard savanna vew went down to 185.00 a night. I just called yesterday to confirm my rate and it was still in the system. Also, yesterday I got a new confirmation letter in the mail with the new rate on it and my final payment adjusted.

Good luck to everybody.

Scott

 

[mazzarafe]

On my local news last night they did a report on people not taking vacations at all. They said that companys that work directly with clients that "need" to be at their disposal for fear of them taking their business elsewhere was preventing employees from taking time off.

They also said that employees who work for companies that have down-sized and work is too busy feel quilty for taking time for a vacation because they don't want to fall behind.

This makes alot of sense cause I even see it with my Mom. She works for the State and they have cut so many jobs the last year she barely has time for lunch let alone taking time off. And when she does take time off she pays for it greatly when she returns because all her work is waiting for her because everyone is already overloaded with their own work they cannot take on anyone elses.

I'm sure there are alot of people in workplaces that are not as busy who are scared to take time off and come back to a pink slip. That happened to my brother a few years ago. Took time off for his yearly Disney trip when business was getting slow and came back to being laid off.

Another thing while I'm rambling (sorry so long winded this morning) is that I cannot believe that I can still get a seat on a airplane for my trip. There have been times I could not get a non-stop flight out of my local airport and had to go into NY for one. Those same flights are still empty for my trip. And so are the ones in NY! I have never waited so close to my trip to buy airfare before, but I'm not buying on any empty planes.

 

[PatriciaH]

Originally posted by horner5
I still have a feeling that they will at least be offered until 10/1 because of the "accidental" release of the AP rates a couple of weeks ago. Coming from a business standpoint-it would be wrong to not offer them again for the rest of the AP holders who weren't able to get those rates because they were pulled. Had they not released them for that brief blip in time, I might feel differently.
Fingers are still crossed!

I agree and I was also one of the lucky ones to get the AP rate when they offered it for a short time on August 3rd. It brought our WL reservation down from $188.60 AAA to $109 + tax standard. They are taking WAY too long to put the AP rates "back in the system" and I would be mighty annoyed if I were you guys right now. I don't want to jinx my rate or anything but they need to be fair and offer the rates again ASAP!

 

[PatriciaH]

Originally posted by mazzarafe
On my local news last night they did a report on people not taking vacations at all. They said that companys that work directly with clients that "need" to be at their disposal for fear of them taking their business elsewhere was preventing employees from taking time off.

They also said that employees who work for companies that have down-sized and work is too busy feel quilty for taking time for a vacation because they don't want to fall behind.

Can I just say that this is so sad and depressing. EVERYONE needs a vacation to unwind and get their sanity back. This country is SO far behind Europe and Australia as far as vacation time. And at what cost? People are under major stress, no family time, people grow apart. Very sad...

 

[sherry8253]

HI - Just got off the phone with CRO. CM said that he seriously doubts that there will be any AP rates this fall because of how high booking are due to FTP. Hope he is wrong! DH said if we get a good rate, we can go down for a long weekend in early Oct to get a few more days use out of our AP before they expire in DEC. Oh well... guess I can wait til our Thanksgiving to see the mouse. Good luck to all of you who are waiting for AP rates. We don't think we are going to renew ours when they expire in Dec.

 

[hulabird]

Originally posted by mazzarafe

This is indeed very sad and just helps to further destroy families all for the mighty buck. My DH works alot of hours each day as it is, then he comes home and spends hours on the cell phone with business problems. This is why I INSIST we take vacations at least twice a year, just to have that time together. It is so crucial to everything, including health!

On our trip in July, over the July 4th holiday, my husband was told by his boss that he had to at least check his voice mails and emails while he was away, which meant carrying around his cell phone and trying to find internet access. We were in Las Vegas and luckily found business centers in several hotels so he could do so, but that was a pain in the you know what and I think totally unnecessary. Why don't these companies realize that their employees would be happier, less stressed and more productive if given their rightful time off?????