I am working on updating this!
I am just trying to get straight answers. I'm getting different answers from different people. On hold now trying to get some details ironed out. Sales was saying that this will be the only option for passholder discounts. Basically, guest services is saying that "maybe" you'll still be able to call in. They aren't sure yet. The agent I spoke with said she wouldn't expect to see call in rates available beyond October 4th untill at least September 1st. It sounds like they are being told that calls ins will depend on the success of the online program.
I asked if they would honor other passholder rates:
-answer from sales: "there won't be others, this is it." I pushed and asked what if this program wasn't as successful as they hoped and they released call in rates for last minute travel. She said if that were to happen, then they would be higher than the best rate program rates. Best rate program rates are guaranteed to be the lowest general public rates available. When I pushed on that she said that passholder and Fla resident rates are considered public rates. By public rates they mean rates announced to the general public rather than rates sent privately to one family be means of an email or pin.
-answer from guest services, was basically that nothing offered to passholders or "for anyone" rates will be less than the best rate program rates.
what about AAA rates?
-answer from both: they have always been totally separate from AP rates so there was no difference now. Passholders will have to decide which they want to book.
who is elligible:
-AP, PAP and Florida resident seasonal passholders
change fee:
-$50 change fee will apply to anything that reduces the total price of the package including changing dates, resorts, views, number of people, ages of child etc. If the total cost of the package remains the same or increases, then the fee will be waived
deposit/payments:
-1 night deposit must be made online at the time of booking. No monies can be applied on the phone. This includes calling to make payments before arrival (though it looks like you can make those payments online).
-balance is due at check in.
-deposit is completely nonrefundable
-deposit must be made with a credit card in the passholder's name (guest services suspects it will accept a spouse's name but they hadn't tested it)
dates from 10/5 to 10/15:
-sales says "sorry." She then said keep on the lookout, another offer may become availble even if it isn't a passholder offer.
vouchers:
-if you make a reservation with a voucher, it is validated with your name so no one else will be able to exchange it later. In other words, don't buy your voucher, book a room, order a DDE card and then expect to sell the voucher on ebay and buy less expensive tickets (not saying anyone here would do that!
)
-yes, you will have to have the voucher in hand. The software isn't set up to be able to do a purchase of a voucher at the same time. It needs to validate the voucher. Maybe in the future.
discounts available:
-it is just like everything else, limited # of rooms available on the program. I could get no info on what rates to expect if there is availability. No info on if it was a flat % or $ amount off or what.
rates beyond 11/26:
-they should be available "soon." No idea on when soon might be, but just soon.
The big thing that is still up in the air is will there be any call in rates available under 120 days? (one person I spoke with said they suspected the possibility that if there are enough rooms available to warrant discounting them that we may see general public discounts rather than AP disocunts on them, but they were quick to say that was pure speculation on their part and not based on anything he had been told.) Friday and this weekend everyone was saying there would absolutely be call ins for less than 120 days, now it's "maybe."
So that's what I have. At least the rates being quoted are discounted now!
