Originally Posted By mamamonkey I was wondering if there is any set pattern to when they offer it besides the slow periods. We plan our vacation schedule now for 2007 at work so I thought if anyone had got the ap rates this yr would be nice enough to write then I could kind of gauge around when would be good to take off at work. They offered AP rates the week I was there in Nov. but they were sold out for the dates I wanted the following day that someone posted here. Literally a day late, dollar short. Thanks for any help/
Originally Posted By mamamonkey hmm, that's what I figured but hoped people would write anyway so I could see generally when it might be offered. thanks for the fast response.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ One year I got them the night of December 19th! A few years ago, we got $159 at the Grand the weekend before Christmas. I've had the rate in May and June as well. But I've never been able to repeat dates year-to-year
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I think how it works is that, rather than setting aside specific weeks, they just wait to see how full they are a couple of months out... if they're at fairly low capacity, they'll offer the AP rates. If they're sold out or nearing that, they won't. So you can look to previous years as to which weeks MIGHT be likely to have them, but that's all it is; a guess based on past years. Certain things like a large convention in town during an otherwise slow time of year can skew everything. I think about all you can do is try to plan for a week where they've often been slow enough to offer AP rates, and then just hope that's the case in 2007 - and know it's not guaranteed. Then check the boards here and call at the first indication that they're offering AP rates for your week. I've never done this, but I've heard you can book at normal rate and then try back later to see if the AP rate is available; if so, they'll switch the rate for you. If they're not available 2 months out, keep trying; there could be cancellations, or it could be a case where they were close enough to selling out two months out that they didn't offer them, but then one month out they didn't really fill much more and therefore decide to offer them.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Yes, you can book at current rates then have them transferred to a better AP rate if it comes along. I frequently book 2 hotels. One in my budget and one Disney. If they AP rates open up, I cancel the other hotel.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Here's a question I have: I'm assuming the really good AP rates people have gotten at the Grand ($159 or $169) were for standard view? What if you've booked DTD view or TP view? To get the really good rate, do you have to change your room? Do they actually apply that really good rate to the better view-room? Or are there higher AP rates for the better view rooms?
Originally Posted By nemopoppins I think there are two different kinds of AP rates. There are the regular AP discounts which I was told they give you the lowest standard discount for any certain room. Then there are the specially released AP nights rates that are way the best and for those you can't be choosy.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins Actually, now that I think about it, even though I thought you can't choose on the special AP rates, I once had my GCH theme park view rooms changed to the AP released rates when released, and I still got the theme park view. I guess it never hurts to ask.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh I think they'll only guarantee you a standard room with an AP rate, but you might get upgraded, if they have room.
Originally Posted By raer We had a theme park view at the $169 rate & in July we got a DTD ap rate also. I think we paid about $200 then, but it was our son's b-day so we had to splurge!
Originally Posted By nemopoppins ^^^^Hey, it was our son's birthday too when we did it. He was turning 13 and thought that you had really made it in life if you could stay at the Grand Californian. We surprised him with it on the morning of his birthday.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ I've never had a standard view. It's always been DTD or TP when I've gotten the rate. My preferred view is DTD. Theme Park views are too stagnant for my taste. I like to people watch from my balcony, and watch the fireworks at night with a glass of wine.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins I like the theme park view because you can watch the after/before hours work. And it's the sunny side.
