[delmarjohn]

I have been going to wdw now for 14 years ,and I am looking forward to my next trip,but I also am getting tired of the unbalanced promotions ....whether it is the release of passholder discounts for the late fall or the last I checked after aug 28..or reading about the new promtions for Alabama residents or booking a reservation in to seasons and having to check in and out and back in again because the rate is different during your stay,I don't know who makes these decisions but the fairness of these decisions are seriously in doubt......the last several years it has taken for me to call customer service and speak with a contact I have to square away what the reservation dept CAN't or not is empowered to do....I love disneyt but the fact that the passholder rates are not out yet but all other promos are ,is down right frustrating ...why not make a reservation and wait for the passholder rates simple each is a different entity of disney CRO vs the TRavel company and deposists are not transferable and in recent cases the availability is not available even though you already have a reservation,which then prompts a call to my contact to sguare it away.....I am still going but if this doesn't change in thefuture the trips will get less until it is not a job to plan your trip....

[jodilt]

Sorry, you've had so much trouble. I have always booked my room early, and then called later and they have always changed my rate to the AP discounted rate without any problem.

[delmarjohn]

what happens is if you stay in one part of your trip in peak and in another regular it is considered 2 different reservations and also what has happened to your deposit ...I have always been told that AP is CRO and others are Travel Co. and one doesn't count for another .....but the point is the doling out of promos in what is and seems to be a more complicted serios of events ,they just I have just found out released the AP through sep 29, but in coming from Ca I have to commit to airline tickets when the fares are low and with them waiting so long trips that I might have planned go by the board ...you have to plan trips from this far not do them spur of the moment....

[trilliumB]

I wonder if they're trying to keep the AP from being too attractive, if they find they often lose money on it, vs. guests buying length of stay/park hoppers. Or perhaps they wait until they have a real clear idea of reservations, then release an AP discount that is ratcheted up just high enough to draw in enough peeps to reach whatever room quota they're shooting for. I would imagine they have a pretty good idea of how much of a discount equates to what number of reservations made for the time period in question.

Why the AP folks seem to be viewed as a last-minute filler population is interesting. I'm guessing many people buy APs who live within driving distance, and so are more able to make short-notice vacation plans at WDW, and so would reliably respond to a short-notice discount offering. This last makes real sense to me, since as you say delmarjohn, if you need to book flights, short-notice vacation discounts are largely unusable.

[mickey]

The one thing I have to say is that at least we are getting discounts. I have heard that we will start seeing fewer and fewer discounts over the next couple of years. Don't be surprised if you see long periods of the year when no discounts are released at all.

I guess I don't understand what your complaint is. It seems that you are complaining it is difficult to get the best deal possible. Disney wants people to pay full price if possible. No question about that. They offer discounts currently to boost traffic in the parks. That is the only reason why they release discounts. Disney is not ever going to make it simple for people to get a huge discount. They limit the number of rooms available, they released discounts at strange times, etc.

One other thing to note is that according to Disney's studies, most people plan their trips less than 30 days in advance. So, you see a lot of discounts released months ahead of time, etc. I know many people feel the way you do. Hence, the need for travel agents.

[delmarjohn]

with regard to the discounts ,they will always be there WHY it is a function of business....they have too much competition both off site and just around the corner,also if do any other travel you will notice that almost anywhere you go the rooms are cheaper,and bargains are avaailable ,but Disney's biggest cash cow is not in the room it is money spent while ON the property and the parks are also used to to promote the rest of the media's properties ,like movies and clothes etc.....in response to AP not being as profitable ,it is self fulfilling if you have a pass you will go more often in order to get the best value which is the reason for getting the passes and while you are there you are spending money...also the promtions also cost money whether it 7 for 4 that is less revenue ,why do they do this they want you on property the cost of advertising etc. why not appeal to the ones that are already sold and build your base through your other properties like TV shows and movies like a guy named WALT used to do

[delmarjohn]

Oh I also forgot ,Disney now gives a USA today WHY competition....troubling for disney is hotel chains now offering free buffet breakfasts and other perks such as FREE high speed internet....disney might have to respond to this as well.....there is old saying in retail .."recognize the change and adapt or you will be yesterdays memory" just ask K-Mart or for that matter SEARS how many reinventions can this once powerful retailer do ...

[Dana]

Originally Posted by mickey

The one thing I have to say is that at least we are getting discounts. I have heard that we will start seeing fewer and fewer discounts over the next couple of years. Don't be surprised if you see long periods of the year when no discounts are released at all.

I guess I don't understand what your complaint is. It seems that you are complaining it is difficult to get the best deal possible. Disney wants people to pay full price if possible. No question about that. They offer discounts currently to boost traffic in the parks. That is the only reason why they release discounts. Disney is not ever going to make it simple for people to get a huge discount. They limit the number of rooms available, they released discounts at strange times, etc.

One other thing to note is that according to Disney's studies, most people plan their trips less than 30 days in advance. So, you see a lot of discounts released months ahead of time, etc. I know many people feel the way you do. Hence, the need for travel agents.

Hence the reason I got you and Scott to do my trip...lol I'm just happy to get any discount at all. Who cares how long you have to wait for it as long as you get something. It's a gamble I guess. I look at it as a nice surprise.

[delmarjohn]

I don't use travel agents not in the era of the internet,butwhen you go as often as I do from the west coast ...over the years it has become more difficult to plan the trips and when was the last time you stayed at any hotel and were asked to check out and check back in because the room rate is different from one day to next ....listen the complaint isn't that I don't like going but times change and disney has to adapt to the changes ...oh yes and maybe spend some money on the reservation system and update their computers to accurately record how many times you have been etc......also promos that are random as I have read some tell of are strange in themselve ...someday when I have more time I will tell you of some of the in workings of the promos and the reservation and marketing deptartment but I will leave that for a later time...till then don't get frustrated with me I love disney and will be back many times more and I just want them to see that the times are changing and so must they....

[Dana]

Originally Posted by delmarjohn

I don't use travel agents not in the era of the internet,butwhen you go as often as I do from the west coast ...over the years it has become more difficult to plan the trips and when was the last time you stayed at any hotel and were asked to check out and check back in because the room rate is different from one day to next ....listen the complaint isn't that I don't like going but times change and disney has to adapt to the changes ...oh yes and maybe spend some money on the reservation system and update their computers to accurately record how many times you have been etc......also promos that are random as I have read some tell of are strange in themselve ...someday when I have more time I will tell you of some of the in workings of the promos and the reservation and marketing deptartment but I will leave that for a later time...till then don't get frustrated with me I love disney and will be back many times more and I just want them to see that the times are changing and so must they....

I have to agree with you on that. They should have you tracked by the amount of times you ahve stayed etc and maybe give us a little bit of a discount for it. That would be pretty cool. I won't hopld my breath for it to happen, but it would be cool to see something like that in place. In reality they are liable to send the promos to people who go less often to draw them back. Not to us regular travelers to WDW who will go regardless.

[llama]

I will never understand the ins and outs of big business - but looking at this from a DVC member's point-of-view, I've got to say that Disney certainly doesn't extend itself where discounts to us are concerned. Yes, when you purchase, you usually get some sort of incentive, but that's about it. Every DVC newsletter advertises "great discounts for members", but quite frankly, they're usually the same kind of discounts that AP members, or Florida members are getting. I don't like to gripe. Buying DVC was our decision and we've never regretted it. My husband has calculated how much we've saved over the years, and it's quite impressive, but I just think that when we have made the commitment to invest in Disney, Disney could perhaps see their way clear to giving us more than 10% off lunch at certain restaurants (yes, everyone is going to traipse down to Fulton's in the middle of the day) and more than 7% discount on tickets.

[MerlinMatt]

delmarjohn:

For the most part, I agree with you. While Mickey has a point that it's not in Disney's best interest to make discounts easy to find/get, I also believe that Disney should do a better job at rewarding frequent guests. Because of our recent obsession with Disney, I'll be bringing in some more business by scheduling a "gathering" next fall. Somehow, I doubt that Disney will go out their way to thank me for that.

As far as "when" the discounts are posted, I'm not sure that I'd complain as vocally. I'm scheduled to take a trip in December, but I haven't reserved rooms yet, nor the flight back. I'm waiting for the rates and as soon as they come out, I'm making my reservations. Since I'm travelling in the Value season anyway, I'm not taking that much of a gamble.

In the end, it all depends on what you want.

[mickaholic4077]

I think everyone has brought up valid points. As an annual passholder,though,I tell you,I have bought fewer and fewer souvenirs in the parks themselves. In fact,the only things I DO buy in the parks are disney license plates and some pins. I go to the outlet stores for my Disney merchandise.

[mickaholic4077]

Another thing I just thought of is I understand what you're saying,Mickey,but it is equally true that a room unsold each night is a room gone forever,so to speak,and wouldn't Disney want some money for that room rather than no money at all? That's why I wish they could have a program for AP'ers that would give them a really good discount if they decide to on the spur of the moment stay the night. I always travel with a change of clothes and a bathing suit in my car's trunk when i go to Disney. How I wish sometimes that I could just stay the night rather than have to make the long(not too bad,really,but still)drive home in the same day,but the cost to stay overnight on a moment's notice is prohibitive. I mean,they still have to employ mousekeeping to clean the room,still have to pay for electricity to air-condition the room,even if no one is occupying the room,so why can't they offer spur-of-the-moment deep discounts?

[mickaholic4077]

Sorry I'm getting long-winded here,but delmarjohn,who is your inside contact? I'd love to have someone on the inside. PLease,please,please tell us who it is!!!!! :)