Pam - I agree with that 100%. I also think that people mis-using the old system (which was happening without Disney doing anything about enforcing their own rules) by doing things that getting the rates with a child ap or without ever buying an ap have a lot to do with it as well.
Gully - you and I stand at a difference in fundemental thoughts. I know Disney is a business, but I also think that having an AP program that keeps people coming back again and again, one that now gives incentive to keep your APs year round and not let them expire, one where they can cut back costs on CMs having answer "no there aren't any better discounts available Mrs. Jones. Wow - you have called 22 times this week now" - all of these allow Disney to give me that extra special feelings that keeps me coming back along with making a much better bottom line for their shareholders. I believe that AP holders bring in huge amounts of revenue to Disney and that they are always looking for more ways to keep bringing us back while staying in the black. I think you don't believe that AP holders are the bread and butter of WDW so why bother with us when they could "fill" their rooms with AAA members? Well, there have to be more of us than them, we don't get things like most of the package deals with AP discounts now, so if you want those, you have to give up the cheap room rates already (can't blame them - they can't GIVE you free food and a cheap room) and we are without a doubt the repeat customers. Numbers to back either of our points here would be nice, wouldn't they? Without them, I know its all speculation. But, if AP holders were not profitable, they would be decreasing the services available to AP holders, not expanding them. They aren't doing away with the AP discount, simply changing how it will be implemented. They have, however, added those things I mentioned earlier as of this year, so to me they are obviously courting the AP members and DVC members (by giving us an AP discount, etc). You see it as "lets give them this while we take away that". I see it as "lets get them here as often as possible in a way we control - giving out the best discounts when the resorts are the least filled - keeping them here for eating with discounts - giving them a free ride so they won't go off property to other things in Orlando - giving them nighttime entertainment discounts to keep them at DTD or at the resorts." The 120 thing also gives them the ability to KNOW what occupancy looks like at 90 days when they typically release the AP rates and whoopie - if they need more people in the rooms, they will give a good rate and we all benefit! If they don't, then I get the room rate I agreed to pay (which is apparently being corrected from rack rates even as we type.)
Its a win win for me as long as they are setting the first bar BELOW the rack rate level (which I have said here many times already - that I dont believe rack rates to start off with would hold up if they expected people to put down a non-refundable deposit) thus assuring people that they will be paying "less" to begin with and hopefully MUCH less as time goes on by guaranteeing you the lowest released rate to date.
I am not so much worried about not getting the current level of AP discounts because of the wording of the release (lets face it - you are right...once again they seemed to botch things - BUT we dont really know if they botched it or if the internet just flames things so out of hand BEFORE it can be fully implemented and companies need to learn how to use this resource to their advantage, not to their disadvantage). I think that people will get good rates and if enough people sign up 120 days out, the ones trying to get a last minute deal will find them hard to find.
