I have learned that there are few if any early booking rates. (Sorry: its is loss leader not lost leader) Below is my letter I sent to DVC...I as trying to use points, but the facts true for cash also:
Dear Sir or Madam:
On Thursday, August 14, 2009, I called member services about the newly released Adventures by Disney trip to Ecuador and Galapagos Island leaving on June 16-June 25, 2009. I was informed that it would be 594 points per person. I called today to book the trip for my wife and me only to be told that the early booking rate is no longer available. As you are aware, the early booking sheet says that early booking must be done 120 days out. Although it is subject to availability, the trip is still available, but the discounted rate is not.
Then this is not an early booking rate: but a loss leader. (which is illegal under the consumer protection laws in Georgia (my state) and Florida (DVC’s state). I have followed up with Adventures by Disney. This trip is not full: less than 12 people have booked. It only became available to anyone (cash or DVC) on August 1. Yet they say that the early booking rate is no longer available: only 16 days after starting to market the trip. Neither parts of Disney have taken the lost leader off their websites. The loss leader is still being actively used to mislead consumers into contacting Disney for this trip.
I expect to have the trip booked for us at the rate stated today and on Thursday: 594 vacation points each for a total of 1,188 points. I expect a timely response to this demand.
From a marketing stand-point, loss leaders are inconsistent with the excellent reputation that the Disney family has for its vacation businesses. In fact, as a stockholder of Disney, I am disappointed that any division of my company would engage in such conduct.
I must also add that the DVC staff that handled my concerns were very professional! They understood my concerns and did everything in their powers to resolve the issue to my satisfaction. However, they could not (after repeated phone calls by them) get the Adventures by Disney group to correct the lost leader and honor their offer.
Dear Sir or Madam:
On Thursday, August 14, 2009, I called member services about the newly released Adventures by Disney trip to Ecuador and Galapagos Island leaving on June 16-June 25, 2009. I was informed that it would be 594 points per person. I called today to book the trip for my wife and me only to be told that the early booking rate is no longer available. As you are aware, the early booking sheet says that early booking must be done 120 days out. Although it is subject to availability, the trip is still available, but the discounted rate is not.
Then this is not an early booking rate: but a loss leader. (which is illegal under the consumer protection laws in Georgia (my state) and Florida (DVC’s state). I have followed up with Adventures by Disney. This trip is not full: less than 12 people have booked. It only became available to anyone (cash or DVC) on August 1. Yet they say that the early booking rate is no longer available: only 16 days after starting to market the trip. Neither parts of Disney have taken the lost leader off their websites. The loss leader is still being actively used to mislead consumers into contacting Disney for this trip.
I expect to have the trip booked for us at the rate stated today and on Thursday: 594 vacation points each for a total of 1,188 points. I expect a timely response to this demand.
From a marketing stand-point, loss leaders are inconsistent with the excellent reputation that the Disney family has for its vacation businesses. In fact, as a stockholder of Disney, I am disappointed that any division of my company would engage in such conduct.
I must also add that the DVC staff that handled my concerns were very professional! They understood my concerns and did everything in their powers to resolve the issue to my satisfaction. However, they could not (after repeated phone calls by them) get the Adventures by Disney group to correct the lost leader and honor their offer.