AP Rates / BR confusion ?? About This Page:

[figmentintime]

Hi, all.
I JUST got off the phone with a manager at CR, and I was told that the AP rates would be out any day now. He also said that even with the BR program, you can STILL call and see if there are AP rates available, and there will be some. Now I am TOTALLY confused! He also told me that while the BR rates allow you to book online, they WILL NOT be as reduced as the AP rates you can get over the phone with CR?!?! This was a manager! What's the scoop?

[RobDVC]

Hmmmm... my guess is he hasn't read the memo yet, as CR seems to be telling people there are no AP rates anymore.

[Jennifer2003]

I spoke with a CM for over a half hour yesterday. She was extremely knowledgeable.

Sadly, there are no AP rates anymore. If you have an AP, and you want a discount on the hotel, you will have to use the Best Rate Program online.

Jennifer

[ladyt]

I think time will tell here. There seems to be a lot of confusion among CM's. Current AP code that was released prior to Best Rate expires 10/4 right? So, it is POSSIBLE that they still could release a code sometime in September. It is also POSSIBLE that the CM's did get a memo telling them there were no more AP codes being released. It is also POSSIBLE that with the amount of complaints I am sure Disney has received over the past few days, they could change their mind if they did decide not to release a code previously.

I am still hoping that those of you in the "black hole" get a code! It's so confusing and I don't think non-Disneyfied people understand how frustrating it can be...the people at work think I am crazy when I tell them about this stuff.

[WillCAD]

The scoop is actually pretty simple: Half the CMs are telling people that AP codes will remain along with teh BRP, and half are telling people that AP codes are gone and the only AP room discount you will get from now on is the BRP.

Disney is obviously not training or informing their call center CMs properly.

[SHEANA1226]

There is a lot of confusion going on with this, is an AP worth it any more?

[WillCAD]

[ QUOTE ]
There is a lot of confusion going on with this, is an AP worth it any more?

[/ QUOTE ]

As mad as I am with this situation, and as much as I resent being lied to by WDW, I have to say that yes, an AP is worth it for the admission alone.

Under the new MYW ticket structure, the break-even point on an AP is 10.5 days - meaning that if you plan on entering the Disney theme parks for 10.5 days or more in a 365-day period, the cost of an AP is even with the cost of MYW tickets. Add in the merchandise and restaurant discounts, and especially the low $50 cost of a DDE card to Passholders, and you wind up with a reasonable deal.

Room discounts have always been an icing on the cake deal with me, because without them I must stay off-site.

My anger comes mostly from the fact that that Disney lied to me about AP call-in rates being replaced by the BRP.

[LisaJ]

Look at all of our posts here - none of us can even get a straight answer from the call centers/CM's/managers. As I have said before, Disney is making this so much more difficult than it really has to be.

I'm still confused over this "best rate" deal. Plus, I don't think there should be 'non-refundable' deposits. Why not make them non-refundable up to 5 days before your stay (just like the room only deals).

I'm not too thrilled with any of this to be honest.

[Joy J]

It will be interesting to see if anyone gets a definitive official stance on this discrepancy once some of the katrillions of protest e-mails get answers. All I can say about Disney if they renege on their original statement that there would be both the best rate program and AP discount codes is SHAME ON YOU!!!!! Dishonesty of this sort is inexcusable in a reputable business.

Joy

[WillCAD]

Well, I got a reply to my nasty-gram today. Funny, the first one took 10 days to get a replay, this one only took 3.

[ QUOTE ]
Hello, this message is for William. This is Joseph again calling from Walt Disney World. I do want to thank you very much for the email message that you sent and I do appologize if there was any confusion with the initial message that I had left for you back in June, and uh, certainly do appreciate your comments and I am sorry that you were dissapointed.

At the time that the message was left the information was accurate, and we had no intention of modifying the usual program which was still currently running, and is still currently running until October 4. So again I do appologize again for that confusion. You are welcome to give me a call 407-828-4980 - obviously, I know you've got my number. If you'd like to give me a call I certainly would be happy to uh, discuss that with you. Otherwise, your comments are noted, and again, I do appreciate them very much, though, here at Walt Disney World, and thank you for your time. Have a great day.


[/ QUOTE ]

[lauren-roxy]

[ QUOTE ]
Well, I got a reply to my nasty-gram today. Funny, the first one took 10 days to get a replay, this one only took 3.

[ QUOTE ]
Hello, this message is for William. This is Joseph again calling from Walt Disney World. I do want to thank you very much for the email message that you sent and I do appologize if there was any confusion with the initial message that I had left for you back in June, and uh, certainly do appreciate your comments and I am sorry that you were dissapointed.

At the time that the message was left the information was accurate, and we had no intention of modifying the usual program which was still currently running, and is still currently running until October 4. So again I do appologize again for that confusion. You are welcome to give me a call 407-828-4980 - obviously, I know you've got my number. If you'd like to give me a call I certainly would be happy to uh, discuss that with you. Otherwise, your comments are noted, and again, I do appreciate them very much, though, here at Walt Disney World, and thank you for your time. Have a great day.


[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]
Seems pretty lame to me. What kind of response is that?

[Nicole0128]

"confusion with the initial message" makes it sound like you misunderstood

They expect us to accept "we changed our mind" why didn't they initially say that the current AP discount program was being assessed and more info. would follow. Why say one thing if they weren't sure that was the path they were going to follow. I'm sorry you couldn't get more satisfaction Will.

[Joy J]

If I were a Disney CM who had to phone a disgruntled WDW guest and hand them this line of drivel, I'd be embarrassed to do so. Saying a sort of "Oops, we changed our mind so that means we didn't lie originally" just doesn't cut it as far as I'm concerned. My guess is that Disney was waiting to see how many people went for the Best Rate program before making the business decision to no longer offer AP codes. After all, they probably figure why should they if they can get enough people to go with the best rates program which (with its only online booking and non-refundable deposit) is a much better proposition from Disney's point of view. Unfortunately it is all of us annual passholders who then suffer because of it. Personally, I don't care what excuse Disney tries to make now, their original statement that they would not be cancelling the AP codes was very dishonest and misleading to the public.

Joy

[Nala]

Well fellow Disney fans and AP holders, I hate to say this, but I fear the "call in AP" rates as we once knew them are gone. And have been replaced with the BR program.

I had concerns about booking online, but when I saw the rates were being offered through 2/16/06, I contacted my TA. She advised me to book throught the BRP now and told me not to expect a deeper discount to be announced. Even though I could have done it myself, I did have her book it so I could continue to support the TA who has helped me for years. And even though I had hoped she was wrong, I knew from past experience, she knew the real inside scoop.

What I have learned in my travels to WDW is that I know more than most CM's do about many things. I have gained this knowelege through the vast wealth of information from my fellow Passporters and my TA.

While I hate this new program, I think it is the best we as AP holders can expect. What is even sadder is I think this too shall pass and there will be nothing offered for AP holders (as far as room discounts) in the near future. But then again I have to remind myself that the room discounts were only a perk, and a possible perk at that. But I still don't like it!

Sorry, off my soap box. Now I have to get to bed for a few hours of sleep before I head off to WDW to enjoy my last true AP discount at WL.

[Caldercup]

Like Nala said, the AP discounts were a perk... but a perk that sure did make me go to WDW a lot more often to spend my tourism dollars.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Disney sees their revenues from AP holders (who *used* to take spur-of-the-moment trips) drop. They'll realize that the cost of AP holders calling in to make reservations is far outweighed by the revenue of said AP-holders coming for "another" trip on those APs.

If it comes down to dollars, Disney will respond with *some* program to bring in the people.

I did buy my AP so I could do the BRP for Mousefest. I will also buy one for Calder since we'll be back for my 40th in 2006 and it will be cost-effective as far as admission goes. But.... I will probably not buy another AP for the room discounts unless Disney "changes their minds" again.

Standing by Nala... near the soapbox!
Eileen