I will have an AP for our upcoming trip in late October/early November. We have never stayed at a Deluxe resort before and this might be our one and only chance. I know they offer AP rates for that time period usually (I checked out Mousesavers historical discounts), but I was wondering how much they were for. Does anyone have an approximation? I know things can change, but it's nice to think we have a chance!

I think the cheapest AP rate at a deluxe I ever got was at the AKL for about $149/night over Labor Day weekend in 2006.

We got quoted rates of about $279/night for the Beach Club last August.

If you look at a discounted AAA rate you can probably take another $10 OR $20 off of that for a good idea of the rates you can expect.

YMMV of course.

I usually book the most expensive room I can afford without the AP discount. This is because of the short time-frame (usually) in the AP rates, or at least shorter than I normally like to plan (and definitely less than 180 days if you need to make ADRs for popular locations). And if/when the discounts are announced THEN switch to the higher level accomodations. OR, if you're really willing to gamble, reserve the location you'd stay at if you had a discount, and know you'll have to tighten your belt, spending wise, if it doesn't materialize.

But I wouldn't count on being able to downgrade if discounts don't happen. Chances are good if it's normally a discounted time, and they don't offer any, then it's because they're close enough to capacity.

Also, for Oct/Nov, I wouldn't count on huge availabilty of discounted rates at Beach, Yacht, or Boardwalk. A lot of people like those three resorts due to the Food & Wine festival, and so even if they do advertise discounts, the number of rooms at those three is likely to be VERY limited.

We woudl love to try the Boardwalk, but it is too expensive even with the discounted rate most of the time.

Last November we were considering Wilderness Lodge or AKL.

I like the idea of booking what I can afford without the AP rate and then moving if it is available. Thanks Drince!