[mickey]

Walt Disney World has modified the Annual Passholder best rate program terms. You must now book rooms 60 days or more in advance. That is a change from the previous 120 day limit.

This change makes it much easier for Annual Passholders to plan, since rooms don't have to be booked 4 months in advance. October 24 is 60 days out from today (August 25).

[BDavis932]

I'm glad they changed the program. Unfortunatley for me, we are leaving our resort on October 24 so thats a bummer.

I called to get more information on it tonight and they told me this MUST be booked online only.

[cinderbella]

That's awesome...i am glad they chopped it down..that 120 day thing was driving me insane!

[Dana]

I am glad to see they lightened up a tad with the booking dates. 60 days is a bit more resonable. That wasn't my issue with this program anyway. It's the nonrefundable deposit, but I totally understand why they want it. Now, since WDW is feeling the love for the APers...how's about a nice discount for my trip? That would be nice. I know I mentioned it in another thread, but the CM I talked to swares one is coming out for after 10/4. I have no faith in that, but was wondering if you heard anything mickey?

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by Dana

I know I mentioned it in another thread, but the CM I talked to swares one is coming out for after 10/4. I have no faith in that, but was wondering if you heard anything mickey?

That would be nice!!!

[BDavis932]

Originally Posted by Dana

I am glad to see they lightened up a tad with the booking dates. 60 days is a bit more resonable. That wasn't my issue with this program anyway. It's the nonrefundable deposit, but I totally understand why they want it. Now, since WDW is feeling the love for the APers...how's about a nice discount for my trip? That would be nice. I know I mentioned it in another thread, but the CM I talked to swares one is coming out for after 10/4. I have no faith in that, but was wondering if you heard anything mickey?

The CM I spoke to a couple weeks ago told me the same thing, Dana. So I call back every day or so and check. No luck as of yet.

[mickey]

I have heard the same rumor from several sources, but nothing concrete yet. I think Disney really wants to see the AP best rate deal work. They want to have to room only discounts, one for FL residents, that continues to be released as usual, and the best rate program for AP holders. When you think about their push to longer stays, this makes sense. If you have to plan your trip 60 days out, and you can know the most expensive price you are going to pay several months out, you are more inclined to stay longer.

The one thing about this plan that I rarely see mentioned as a positive is that as an AP holder, you can get discounted rates until the middle of February right now. By my count, that is over 170 days away, nearly a half a year.

[honeypot]

I'm confused about AP rates. I am considering getting APs but from what I'm understanding from this thread, AP holders don't get discounted rates all of the time?! Someone please tell me I'm wrong.

[mickey]

Originally Posted by honeypot

I'm confused about AP rates. I am considering getting APs but from what I'm understanding from this thread, AP holders don't get discounted rates all of the time?! Someone please tell me I'm wrong.

That has always been true. Annual Passholders and everyone else have always been at the mercy of WDW to release discounts. Over the past couple of years, there have pretty much always been discounts of some sort or another for annual passholders. There have been chunks of time where they did not release any sort of discount.

For dates after October 4, 2005, there are not any standard AP discount rates available. The only option now is the best rate program that has to be booked 60 days in advance. Rumors are that standard AP discounts will continue, but we haven't seen anything yet. Just remember to make sure there is a valid discount before you buy your AP, unless you intend to buy an AP regardless of room rates.

[disneymom]

This really stinks for me. I panicked and booked the best rate deal for our December trip a couple of weeks ago. I was hoping that they would come out with the free dining for December but I couldn't wait any longer. Now I could have waited two more months. I wonder if they would let me change to the free dining IF they came out with it and IF it was still within the 60 days? I am sure that I am dreaming but you never know.

[ThreeCircles]

We (my family of four + grandma) have become so stressed out this year over Disney's new policies for annual passholders. I have become so frustrated that we really don't know if we are going to make the 16 hour drive this year to spend our money at Disney. --->A huge LCD televsion is looking better.

My frustration started in July with this "Best Rates" plan. Crap if you ask me. I booked a Fort Wilderness Cabin in November 2004; the day we left WDW. We had been getting great rates at the Allstar resorts and had been booking two rooms for each of our last stays. So, we decided with the rates APs were getting, the cabin would be a great deal. I've never had a problem rebooking under newer and better published AP rates...until this year.

First, I rebooked back to the Allstar Resort in July...more than 120 days out under the "Best Rate" program, only later to find out the reservaion was inadvertently deleted by the booking agent/cast member. I was told, the reservation, for which I had a confirmation number, was inappropriately assigned. I never did get an answer for that one.

Well we called and tried to work things out, but no no avail. The best we could get was the going rate for the public. What really complicated things was that we wanted to arrive on Thanksgiving and stay the next ten days. The rate they quoted was the public Thanksgiving rate...and...they carried it over to the following week!?!?!

We've written to Disney Executive Offices twice, who claimed never to have received our e-mail. Then we responded to an executive staff member e-mail who worte us (a month ago) and have received absolutely no response, offer or condolence. We even called the phone number on the e-mail, received the person's voice mail, left a message and still heard nothing.

Tommorow is our 60 days out for a new booking under this "Best Rate" program. I just can't bring myself to book anything new.

Anyone else run into anything like this?

The last three trips EVERY dollar we took was spent in/on/at Disney property. This year if we go, we won't be able to say that.

I just feel like we APers are getting shut out and shut down.