Alert to multiple ressie holders!

[grumpyandbashful]

I just called CRO to change the room type of a ressie for December. I am holding ressies at 2 resorts until a final decision is made. The CM told me "you have 2 rooms reserved" and told me it is against policy now to hold more than one ressie at a time - "everyone is doing this and then cancelling one last minute and holding rooms so that others can't have them". She put me on hold for several minutes, then when she came back on, she told me she had to speak with her supervisor, and that they would let me hold the 2 ressies, but that I would need to make a decision soon!!:eek: . She also told me that CRO was going to start cancelling multiple ressies when they are discovered. Her tone was rather harsh and unlike anything I've heard from CRO (usually the people I talk with are either very with it and friendly, or new and inexperienced, but friendly!).
Anyway, while on hold I decided to keep the YC and cancel the AKL reservation, since I decided we would rather be closer to Epcot at Christmastime. A little guilt involved, but at least I made my decision!:rolleyes: .
Just a warning that you might get a) denied, or b) a lecture if you try to book more than one resort at a time for the same trip.

[Gagebre]

Did you have a deposit on each of the rooms already. I don't see how they could cancel a room with a deposit on it!

[grumpyandbashful]

Yes, I did have a deposit on each room. I am not sure what the policy would be. I'm of the impression that very soon they will not be allowing a 2nd ressie to be made (it shows up on the computer that you already have one for the same time).

[Disney1]

I am just wondering... would it be okay if your party was split between two hotels to hold two reservations ?

[Disneydenise]

I have two reservations with 2 deposits at 2 hotels I am going to be using both one ifs for my friend, How can they cancel it. I got the rooms for all of us. I think that they are right to limit the # of reservations so they can have a true reading of how full or empty a resort will be but what if you have two families traveling or you are taking more than one trip in 6 months? It doesn't seem right.

[skiwee1]

I've heard of others being told this also. I can't blame them. There are so many holding two ressies that by the time they decide it may be too late for others. Did you know what happens when you book a room with an AP rate and then decide later that you don't want that room? That room goes back into the system as a regular room and not available for an AP rate. Any room booked under a certain code or special rate will go back to a regular rate room if someone cancels it. I know that many may not agree with me but I'm glad they are doing something about multiple ressie holders. :D

[Ronda93]

It does seem that CRO's software has gotten some smarts added to it over the last year or so. In the past every call required me to tell them who I am, where I live, phones, everything.

This year they started to ask just for my last name and ZIP. They know me, they see my reservations. When AP rates came out for the fall I called to make a rez at POR. They saw and commented on my ASMo rez. I said it would probably be canceled.

Having the additional information has made them sloppy in a way... This trip includes two rooms and some friends travelling with us. After we speak for a few minutes the agent invariably calls me by the name of one of the friends accompanying us on this trip.... only reason I can come up with is alphabetical.

Holding two or three reservations for a few weeks while you firm up plans is one thing, holding them for months is another. I agree that CRO cannot begin to indescriminately cancel reservations, but based on my experience this year, they may begin refusing to book you in another resort for the same time period.

This will lead to the Katherine reservation, the Katy reservation, the Kate reservation, the Kathy reservation, etc... It's a business problem they need to solve. It's better than cancelation fees or demanding full payment further in advance.

[Trekker]

Just thought I would add my support for this policy. The only problem I see with multiple ressies is that it uses up discounted rooms.

For example: Say at Poly there are 100 rooms set aside for the AP rate. Each time one is booked the number is reduced. If that room is then cancelled it is added back into to inventory at rack rate.

[Nolcrest]

Yes, I was told the same thing by a very nice CM last year when I booked another ressie using a code. I didn't want to cancel my first ressie until I had the confirmation in my hand and saw all info was correct. She was okay about letting me keep both until then but she let me know they were cracking down on multiples. I really can't blame them for doing this. It's hard to know how many rooms are actually booked when we hold multiple ressies.

[betterlatethannever]

Let me get this straight. Let's say there were 100 rooms available for the Disney Club code last month, and another set of 100 rooms for the AP code. Does that mean that when we booked a room with the DC code (which came out a few weeks before the AP code), and then changed it when the AP codes came out, the DC code room couldn't be used by someone else ( who is a DC member)?

[skiwee1]

betterlatethannever, that is right. So even if someone only takes a day to make up their mind about which ressie they want, they will have already pulled one out of the system that would have been discounted. It makes no difference if you hold the room for 1 day or 3 months, it is still put back in the system under rack rate and therefore ruined for anyone else to have a chance at a good rate. I am happy they are going toput the one ressie policy in effect.:D

[idontknow]

I understand the left hand, but I don't understand the right hand. What other hotels do not allow multiple reservations? I have reservations at 3 different hotels for our next trip. The cancelation policies range from 24 hours to 5 days for a full refund. Why is it any different with Disney? All I am saying is to turn it around and say "Radisson" or "Holiday Inn" when talking about Disney hotels.

As for the multiple reservations at different WDW hotels, I do not understand that either. Does that mean that I can not reserve 3 rooms for my family reunion? As stated before, what about friends and other family members rooms at different WDW hotels? This just doesn't seem right. (not mad, just confused)

I really do not understand the "once a room is reserved with XXX rate and the reservation is canceled, the room goes back to regular rate." I have heard/read this many times before, so I've always taken it as correct. But, in the past I have tried to get a room with my DC card and was unable to because there were not any more rooms available at that rate. But, low and behold a few weeks later I was able to get the room that I wanted with the DC rate. Where did that discounted room come from?

None of this is ment as flaming, I'm just really confused about policies.

[grumpyandbashful]

I hate to open up a big can of worms, with everyone speculating what the policy is (I'm not sure myself!). I would assume that if, for instance, you need 3 rooms (at one or more resorts) for a family reunion, and intend to occupy and pay for all 3 rooms, there would not be a problem. The practice they (CRO) are trying to prevent is one family booking 2 or more resorts while making a final decision on where they want to stay. This is the first time I have been guilty of this practice - I booked both AKL and YC while trying to decide. I cancelled my AKL ressie today. Now that I know it takes a room out of the pool of AP-discounted rooms, I won't do this in the future!
Everyone may now hit me with a wet noodle.

[VickiVM]

When a ressie is made for multiple families that is under one person's name, they ask for the names of the occupants of each room. At least they did when I made a ressie for 3 AS rooms under my name. So, likely if multiple families are vacationing together they would be in the same resort. it is obvious that the person making the ressie isn't making a "back" up ressie. And if the families are staying in different resorts, they will have the names of the members of the parties which would signify that those are legit ressies. Although, I guess that would be a way around this policy.

So although this new policy doesn't eliminate multiple ressies for different resorts during the same time frame, it probably does deter it. As business gets increasingly tough at Disney, I'm sure they feel this is necessary to make accurate sales projections of resort business. I have to support that.

[gepetto]

Originally posted by idontknow
All I am saying is to turn it around and say "Radisson" or "Holiday Inn" when talking about Disney hotels.

I believe those chains are franchised. Like McDonalds.....a different "owner" for each location.

[NHMickey]

I just booked a trip and got 5 rooms... They wanted to know who was staying in each room. Not just my name but the names of those using the other rooms. I didn't think anything of it till I read this thread. I think it's a good idea.

[Minnie's Pal]

Same here, I booked four rooms and two campsites last Feb. and they did ask the names of everyone in each room. They said that I could still get the bill or I could give them one person out of each room's address and they would bill each room accordingly.

[Bob NC]

I also reserve 4 rooms for the same time period every year. I am always asked the names of occupants for each room.

I think it's a great idea to stop folks from holding reservations at 2, 3 or 4 resorts while they make up their mind.

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by idontknow
...I really do not understand the "once a room is reserved with XXX rate and the reservation is canceled, the room goes back to regular rate." I have heard/read this many times before, so I've always taken it as correct. But, in the past I have tried to get a room with my DC card and was unable to because there were not any more rooms available at that rate. But, low and behold a few weeks later I was able to get the room that I wanted with the DC rate. Where did that discounted room come from?...
Let me see if I can give you a general idea of what happens.

All Disney room discounts have quotas. That is there are only a certain number of rooms made available at any given discount (DC rates, AP, AAA, codes, etc). The number of rooms available at any given resort available for the discount is determined by the manager of the individual resort. It is based on projected occupancies. The lower the projected occupancy, the more discounted rooms are available. The higher the occupancy, the fewer (including no rooms at all for specific resorts) are available. This is why some discounts exclude certain resorts.

Once someone makes a discounted reservation with CRO/WDTC and puts a deposit on it, it is removed from the pool of available discounted rooms. If you should decide to cancel your discounted reservation after holding it for a while, that room goes back into the general pool of available rooms at rack rate.

Periodically, the resort managers review the ever-changing occupancy projections. If they see that bookings are still low and the discounted rooms are gone, they can and often do (but not automatically!) release more rooms to the available discounts. It is completely up to the resorts themselves as to whether or not to offer more discounted rooms. Once occupancy reaches certain levels (the norm is usually 75-80%) you will probably not see any further rooms released at discount.

I hope this quick tutorial helps some of you better understand what happens to the discounted rooms.

[Ronda93]

Disney has inflicted this on themselves in some ways... I make a rez at ASMo way early (seven, eight months out). So I KNOW I will have a place on property to rest my head.

DC Discounts come out. I move the rez to ASMu (because it seems Movies never has discounts). Finally they release the AP rates. Now I can get a deep discount at a moderate resort. I make that rez and consult with my group to find if the extra money is worth it (it was - I really like the shade available at the quiet pools in POR/AB).

Now I cancel the original rez at ASMu. If they would offer their best price first, I'd take it and stand pat. They can't do that. If they can get three people to take a rack rate room and not persue further discounts, my discounted, although now non-discounted because I've canceled, room can sit empty and Disney comes out even, maybe slightly ahead.

It's my hope that the enhancements in the reservation system will allow them to target repeat visitors more accurately. After a dozen trips I have never gotten a post card discount. I've heard that some get them after one visit.

We all want the same thing: to go to WDW a lot and do it as cheaply as possible. What would I do if I could not get any kind of discount? I'd still go, stay at the Movies and grump about the price a little bit.

The pricing of Disney rooms is almost as varied as the pricing of airfares... The airlines used to consistently reward early bookings, now they reward looking at the right websites at the right times ($118 RT available for three days, then it's gone again).

I'm always going to go, but I won't stop trying to save as much money as they will allow.

[eeyore0062]

Add me to the supporters for eliminating multiple bookings! It is not fair to those who may really want to go, or use a code, discount, etc and are denied it because someone is holding on to multiple ressies because they can't decide which they want. I am glad that they finally caught on to this and have a policy in place to eliminate it. It the most fair to everyone!

[Bob NC]

All that hunting for better room rates is great, and there's no reason why anyone shouldn't do it. Sure, you make one ressie, and if you find a better price or resort, you change it.

I read many, many posts however, about people holding multiple reservations just because they "can't decide". C'mon people, this isn't your eternal resting place, it's a weeklong vacation.

[PamOKW]

If Disney can get an accurate reading on how many hotel rooms are really going to be used and are able to rent all of them, then they may be able to offer discounts earlier to all of us.

The difference between holidng a ressie at Holiday Inn, Raddisson and Disney is that each hotel will only suffer the loss of one room when you cancel. If you hold reservations at 5 different Disney resorts, they will lose the ability to book 4 of those rooms in a timely manner.

This is no different than the airlines having to crackdown on people who hold multiple flight reservations. They just cancel them.

Having specific names attached to each room will help pick out the "real" multiple room users and the folks just booking everything and deciding later. Of course, there will be those who figure out how to beat this system as well.

[Sammie]

having multiple reservations, that you do intend to use, also causes Disney to get a false read on room occupancy levels.

Discounted rates are only offered if rooms do not book at rack rate. If Disney thinks the bookings are good then discounts are not going to be offered.

I book one reservation, then I check back for discounts and have that discount, if available applied to my orginial reservation.

[Lisa P.]

What other hotels do not allow multiple reservations? ...Why is it any different with Disney?

Because it's Disney?

They are different. They know that they have a certain appeal to people and they can do what they want, in order to address any problems in projecting occupancy.

I would imagine a LOT of other companies would like to be able to do something similar to cut down on last minute cancellations. But businesses weigh these decisions out. Will it make them more cost efficient? How much? Will it deter guests from choosing them? How many & how much revenue may be lost? How do these figures compare?

Apparently, Disney doesn't worry about this restrictions keeping guests away. If one is already willing to pay their higher prices for onsite stays (vs. comparable offsite), then Disney may figure that a little change like this won't dissuade them.

It's always about money... business... cost-benefit. The "magical" illusion is in giving the impression that it's about service or pleasing the guest. Those are the means, money is the end - not the other way around. This makes financial sense for Disney and so, it's no surprise. JMHO.

[Bob NC]

Lisa P......I don't see how you can compare Disneys resorts with other hotels in this regard. Where else do you go that has so many distinctly different hotels operated by the same company? Of course, you are not going to call the Wyndham in Key West and make 3 or 4 different reservations at the same hotel. And, why would you call the Marriott in Washington DC and make 3 different reservations because you want to decide later which room you'll stay in? There's one thing I'll tell you though, if you DID try to do the abovementioned things, I'll bet anything they'd prohibit you from doing so. It makes absolutely NO sense for ANY hotel to let ANYONE carry multiple reservations. Why should a hotel have to suffer the problems of; Being unable to forecast occupancy levels; Having man hours eaten up with unnecessary record keeping; etc, etc.

Just try calling a local hotel in your town today, tell them you need one room but you would like to reserve 4 rooms, you'll cancel 3 later. Just see what they say to you. You may find that other companies are no different than Disney.

[jlb]

I was holding a reservation at the GF and booked one at the WL. Deposits on both and when I called back to confirm one and cancel the other they told me that my GF was cancelled and I was refunded the deposit...checked my bank account and there it was, I asked if I could get it back and they told me the resort was sold out for that week.

Oh well, so after all that we are at the YC.

[peachgirl]

Add me to the list of those who will be glad when Disney eliminates or at least reduces the problem of people making multiple reservations. I think they're well on their way to doing it, just as they're trying to put a stop to making reservations at CRT's that people make "just in case". As far as booking then getting the DC discount later, I've always found that the DC discount is the first one to become unavailable, so I don't see how one could make a reservation, then "later" get a DC discount on that room. If you can make a reservation for a room, it's never too early to book a DC discount...well unless you're booking more than a year in advance. At least that's been my experience. I've booked as much as 8 months in advance and gotten the DC discount and tried 6 months in advance only to have them sold out. Most likely they weren't sold out, they were taken up by people holding multiple reservations. Like another poster here, I book the room I want, using a DC or AAA discount, then wait for any other discounts that may become available. I'd bet my bottom dollar that 99% of multiple bookings are based on the fact that they can't decide where to go or they want the luxury of changing their minds. Bottom line, multiple bookings don't just cost Disney , they cost a vast majority of the people trying to visit at a reasonable price.

[Lisa P.]

Lisa P......I don't see how you can compare Disneys resorts with other hotels in this regard. Where else do you go that has so many distinctly different hotels operated by the same company?

Bob NC, Disney may be compared to any other popular destination hotels. I said that I thought Disney is different.
But they are still just another part of the hospitality industry. If other hotels could restrict people's making multiple reservations with the intent to cancel most of them, they would do it too. In the end, it's a financial decision. I suspect we agree more than disagree.

...why would you call the Marriott in Washington DC and make 3 different reservations because you want to decide later which room you'll stay in?

Perhaps some people do... one pricey room on the Mall and a less expensive suite on the Metro line. Then they can think it over and choose or look for later discounts. But the hotels don't know about it so cannot address it. I could see people doing this with a nice hotel chain in Hawaii... one Outrigger on the beach for a higher price, then another Outrigger inland with a discount deal, while they wait to see what kind of budget they can work up as they get closer to travel.

if you DID try to do the abovementioned things, I'll bet anything they'd prohibit you from doing so. It makes absolutely NO sense for ANY hotel to let ANYONE carry multiple reservations.

Really? Do you know of any that prohibit this? Plenty of people make reservations, just in case, then cancel later. Plenty make reservations for groups of rooms, then cancel some when their travel companions are unable to travel. Many, many hotels and resorts allow cancellation up until 24 hours or even 6PM of check-in day. In our experience (limited, I admit), it's been primarily individual owners, realty management groups, weekly rentals and prime season (beach or ski) resorts that have very restrictive cancellation policies - and I've never heard of anyplace restricting the making of reservations to only one room.

Disney's attempts to reduce late cancellations are understandable, from a financial standpoint. But this restriction on the number of concurrent reservations one may make is, in my sight, pretty unusual. They're doing it because they can.

Why should a hotel have to suffer the problems of; Being unable to forecast occupancy levels; Having man hours eaten up with unnecessary record keeping; etc, etc.

Why shouldn't they? Isn't that part of the nature of the hospitality industry? People's plans change. I don't blame them for trying to control this. But it is the way of the business.

Just try calling a local hotel in your town today, tell them you need one room but you would like to reserve 4 rooms, you'll cancel 3 later.

If people actually tell Disney this, then that's the reason for the new change. Perhaps the encouragement to do things this way, on this forum (and similar newsgroups, forums, and guidebooks), has been counterproductive.

[Bob NC]

Gosh Lisa P.

You've convinced me with that very persuasive argument. You're right! Making multiple reservations, reserving rooms you don't plan on using, taking away discounted rooms from others for no apparent reason is the way to go.

Disney has no right to try to prevent people from doing this. Thanks for setting me straight.

As a matter of fact....I wonder if this plan could work for Cinderella's Royal Table breakfasts? I may try to get a couple PS's for every morning of my next vacation. Heck, it's my right to decide later which one I want.

[dandave]

Bob NC, :D :) :)

[peachgirl]

If people actually tell Disney this, then that's the reason for the new change.

If making multiple reservations is just fine, nothing wrong with it...why wouldn't one tell them? One wouldn't tell them for the same reason some wouldn't mention it when a cashier gives them too much money back....they want something more than they want to be honest. It's just flat out being dishonest to make multiple reservations with no intention of using them all. It's one thing to make a reservation, then because of circumstances beyond your control or just because you decided not to go, to cancel them. It's quite another to make multiple ressies because you're trying to cut the best deal you can. Disney's situation is pretty unique with their onsite resorts and they have every right to try and cut down on the practice. It's a good idea for them and a good idea for honest people who wouldn't consider making fraudulent reservations. I doubt they'll ever go to a full pay in advance system, but not allowing same date ressies with the same exact names in each room is an easy thing to do. Not foolproof, but it would help curb the problem for sure.

Bob NC....
I'm with you, I'm gonna book every CRT I can and I'm staying for 14 days! But wait, that little trick Disney pulled about the deposit for CRT kinda puts a kink in that plan...hmmmm does anyone see a trend here? :)

[CuteKatCar]

Even though it appears that I've just joined these boards, I actually have been around since 1999. I recognize alot of names from back then too....

So I guess alot of people remember how crowded WDW resorts were. Filled - not like this year. Although it is still difficult to secure discounts, I agree that holding more than one ressie is unfair. I wonder if all those times I called and called and called again looking for my discount only to be turned away (in despair) was a result of others holding multiple ressies. If you're on the other end trying to get the discount, it is very frustrating.

Like a lot of people say - pick the hotel you can afford without a discount, then hope for the best. I've never held more than one ressie and don't plan on starting now. If I'm lucky come springtime to get the GF at a discount (which I have in the past), then I'll switch, but I won't hold the GF now just to hope. At least, I'm glad to hear that now I can't.

We recently returned from the Delta Montreal. The lobby was pretty and the food was actually quite delicious, but there really is just something about disney hotels that puts a spark a your eye and a spring in your step when you walk in. Can't wait to get back there.

AnnaM

[Lisa P.]

Gosh Lisa P. You've convinced me with that very persuasive argument. You're right!

What convincing argument? Perhaps I didn't make my thoughts clear.

Making multiple reservations

I think it's counterproductive and unnecessary.

reserving rooms you don't plan on using

Never did it and don't recommend it. I think it's a shame that it's been recommended so many times by OTHERS on these boards.

taking away discounted rooms from others for no apparent reason is the way to go.

When have I ever advocated this? It's silly. Your sarcasm is unnecessary as well.

You know, I suspect that perhaps something else I've said somehow irritated you and you've since perceived me in an adversarial way. I'm used to that, because I don't see Disney through rose-colored glasses anymore. (I'm not saying you do.) And because I see them more as a huge corporation (a generally successful, effective business at that) than as a magical, warm, fuzzy, personal company, I occasionally hit a nerve with some on these boards who don't care for my perspective at all.

What I have said (and please do re-read my posts with a fresh look), is that Disney is a business and this change in policy makes sense from a financial standpoint and that's why they've done this. I stand by that. Sorry it's ruffled a few feathers. Balance and sharing different perspectives are healthy.

Disney has no right to try to prevent people from doing this. Thanks for setting me straight.

Hm. ;) Good luck with those multiple CRT p.s. ;) ;) ;)

[Jen D]

Lisa, your posts have seemed pretty straightforward to me. What I'm getting is

1) it is an unusual policy
2) perhaps because this is a problem unique to Disney
3) Disney is probably wise to enforce the policy, although it wouldn't fly with most hotels

Peachgirl wrote:

t's just flat out being dishonest to make multiple reservations with no intention of using them all. It's one thing to make a reservation, then because of circumstances beyond your control or just because you decided not to go, to cancel them. It's quite another to make multiple ressies because you're trying to cut the best deal you can. Disney's situation is pretty unique with their onsite resorts and they have every right to try and cut down on the practice. It's a good idea for them and a good idea for honest people who wouldn't consider making fraudulent reservations.


(shrug) I don't know why every argument about Disney policy has to come down to the cheating, lying, needy, dishonest, overdemanding guests trying to bilk the poor little benevolent family business that is Disney. I think Disney realized they needed the policy because they have a unique problem--- probably due to their successful "code" program. But since the policy is new, I don't think there is any call to characterize the people who held two ressies before the policy was in place as liars and thieves-- especially since the cancellation policy CLEARLY states you have until five days prior to cancel.

Full disclosure (since I sound defensive): last summer I held two ressies, for about a week, for a trip coming in the fall. Basically, I booked six nights at a moderate (FULLY INTENDING TO USE THEM.) A few weeks later, some codes came out, and I called to check prices on the "cheaper" Deluxes: WL, CR. They were sold out, but there was an AMAZING rate for the GF-- Very low rate for the GF, but would have doubled the price of my vacation. But, since the code rate seemed to be selling out at the other resorts, I grabbed it and did not immediately cancel my POR ressie, because I wanted to decide if I was really gonna shell out $600 more bucks for accomodations. I guess I didn't consider my reservations "fraudulent" because there was a 50/50 chance I might use one. I conferred with the family and within a week had cancelled one reservation. This was a good five months before the check-in date. Now that I know that I took a GF room out of the discount circulation, I'm sorry guys! But I just don't feel there was anything dishonest about what I did.

Anyway, I actually agree with you, Peachgirl, that Disney has every right to cut down on the practice (I think that is what Lisa was saying too) because it makes their business harder to do. I guess I don't see it so much as "cracking down" as just closing a loophole.

[Disneydenise]

I make reservations at more than one hotel when I am not sure of what exactly the place is like or if the price is better at one hotel and then I find another price or a perk I like at another place. Whatever. This is part of the travel business. I think that if Disney would just give you the best rate up front like the marriot or the Hilton with whatever the discount is then they wouldn't have these problems.

[grumpyandbashful]

I think it's going overboard to label people who may have reserved more than one room while making a final decision as "dishonest", "fraudulent", etc. First of all, we might not have known that it takes rooms permanently out of their discounted status (if in fact it does - does anyone who has posted this work at CRO or in management at the resorts??). I never thought about making more than one ressie until I read posts of others doing so on these boards!!
I'm just a regular Disneyophile who was trying to get an affordable rate for our Christmas trip and decide on the best resort for my family. I am hardly evil!! In fact, when I made the 2nd ressie, the CM at CRO knew about it and was very friendly, and said "no problem at all, it's fine to make a 2nd reservation while you decide". It was only after I called to make a room change on one reservation that I was told that I shouldn't have 2 reservations, and why, and at that point I cancelled one of them.
I try to keep my posts on a high level (and friendly). I didn't mean to start a series of arguments with this thread. So please lighten up.
If Disney changes its policy to deny multiple ressies, that will be that, so let's stop slinging mud over this.

[LvsTnk]

I am glad you brought up the fact that maybe this is not infact what happens........when you cancel the discount is gone for another person, the reservation goes back into the pool of rack rate rooms. I was led by CRO to belive otherwise. But, it wouldn't surprise me if they gave out the wrong information.

[peachgirl]

I don't know why every argument about Disney policy has to come down to the cheating, lying, needy, dishonest, overdemanding guests trying to bilk the poor little benevolent family business that is Disney.

I look at this as more of a healthy debate, not an argument. Perhaps I should clarify my point. I'm not naive enough to think that Disney is a little family business just out to do their best to make me happy. I just happen to really like what they sell and I'd like a fair shot at being able to buy. I'm not at all worried about Disney, they are certainly capable of defending themselves against the evil guests!:) It's the person trying to find a room at a decent price that I'm more concerned about. I'm not trying to attack anyone personally, but there's no getting around this simple fact.....when you make a reservation with absolutely no intention of keeping it, then that is making a fraudulent reservation. I wouldn't put it in the same category as robbing a bank:), but it isn't an ok thing to do.

[Bob NC]

Hey, I don't think the practice of holding multiple reservations is akin to stealing or fraud.

Searching for the best rate or code is something everyone, (who knows about it), should do. The only thing I don't understand is why one would keep their original reservation after finding and making another 'code' reservation. I've made reservations before, subsequently found a better rate, made a new reservation and at the same time canceled the old one.

Nobody has a problem with folks finding the best rate they can. I was only commenting on the posts I've read where people are holding 2, 3 or 4 reservations just because they can't decide where to stay. Obviously Disney has found this a practice that has gotten too big to ignore, (remember CRT PS's?), and has taken action against it.

Oh, by the way Lisa P.......When someone takes my post, divides it up into quotable bites, then refutes every bite, that IS called an argument.

[LvsTnk]

If CRO could book it right I wouldn't wait for a confimation before cancelling my previous reservation. I have told them this and they tend to agree :confused:

[Trekker]

This is the first and only warning on this thread. The intent of the original post was to pass along information on a policy change for making reservations at Disney.

This thread has gotten awful close to breaking the posting guidelines. (http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm)

3. NO FIGHTING: Several Internet news groups are marred by the actions of a few selfish people who turn an otherwise positive forum into a soap box for their anger issues. Internet newsgroups are not moderated, and therefore, anything goes. These boards are moderated in an effort to keep the discussions appropriate to the topic at hand. Those who feel they can not abide by these rules are welcome to read the posts on the board, and respond via email to the person who posted the message. Messages that are argumentative or sarcastic in nature will be deleted without discussion.

If this continues I will be forced to close this thread.

[Lewisc]

Holding multiple reservations while making up your mind is a practice that was encouraged by some CRO. Courtesy demands you cancel the extra reservation when you make up your mind.
It seems too many people were doing that so Disney is changing the rules. THAT DOESN'T MAKE PEOPLE WHO DID THIS IN THE PAST Cheats, they were following the rules.
People who try to get around new rules by change the spelling of their names and/or using different addresses are cheats and will simply cause Disney to require large (or full) deposits and/or cancellation/change fees.

[pollyanna]

Originally posted by Bob NC


I read many, many posts however, about people holding multiple reservations just because they "can't decide". C'mon people, this isn't your eternal resting place, it's a weeklong vacation.

LOL! BobNC!!:p ;) :p ;)

[Disneydenise]

Its a nice thougt though my Eternal resting place under my favorite Palm Tree on Disney Property. I wonder if that could be arranged? Oh know I hope this isn't going to start another debate. I am only kiddding I am not planning on checking out of here anytime soon.

[Jen D]

I look at this as more of a healthy debate, not an argument. Perhaps I should clarify my point. I'm not naive enough to think that Disney is a little family business just out to do their best to make me happy. I just happen to really like what they sell and I'd like a fair shot at being able to buy.

I know-- I didn't mean to jump all over you, I guess I was just reacting to many different arguments on the boards that ends up pitting Disney versus guests. I think we both agree that Disney is a business trying to get the most out of us, and that as consumers, we're trying to get the most out of Disney! The disagreements are about when either party seems to be crossing the line! Anyway, sorry to you (and to the moderator! Don't shut us down! :D ). Didn't mean for sarcasm to creep in.

:)

[peachgirl]

Jen D

Thank you for being so nice...gee I've never been shut down before, now I'm the one feeling "evil":). Anyways, my apologies if anyone feels I was personally insulting them, sometimes my words come out harsher than I mean them to.

Eternal resting place under my favorite Palm Tree on Disney Property

Ok, I'll admit to telling my family I want my ashes scattered in the waters of It's a Small World or over the town on Peter Pan's Flight. They have no problem with it as it gives them an excuse for another Disney trip!:):)

[Lisa P.]

Oh, by the way Lisa P.......that IS called an argument.

You're right. This is just a forum thread about hotel policies, after all. I was trying to clarify my previous posts and responded poorly. Perhaps I misunderstood your intent with your posts to me. So I apologize for reacting this way. No hard feelings.

[Luv2Roam]

I agree that Disney causes a lot of their own problems.. hhmmm just like us regular folks. ;)
If they would just flat out put the rates out there for a year to six months, including discounted rates. They would need some tweeking if one resort was too full, one wasn't.
But it's not like anyone here likes to play the rates game: call CRO, be put on ignore and be given wrong information half the time.
Same goes for very LE pins Disney sells. They put mystery pins in the parks (supposedly no one knows where, how much or what they are, or other pins with very low numbers -- under 1,000) and then gripe that guests are *cheating* and take extra precautions and measures to keep everyone within their guidelines. Which of course doesn't always work, takes a lot of extra effort, and generally ticks guests off.
Why create such a concern in the first place? :rolleyes:

[Carrieberry]

I appreciate the heads up on this poilcy. I have never had more than one reservation, but I can certainly understand people who make them. It is a real bummer when you don't book something because you're waiting for a better rate, only to end up without a better rate, and also no back up ressie. We have always just made our ressie for where we wanted/could afford and then if something else popped up we cancelled that one in the same call as we booked the other one. i understand that this leaves the risk of Disney booking it wrong, but since I always have them repeat everything to me I have never had this happen. Let's face it though it's CRO so the possibility of something going wrong is pretty high. I understand the policy and I think the long and short of it is that no one really realized that they were taking rooms that when cancelled, would go back to regular rack rates. Of the many people I've met on these boards, I can't think of any that would try to take a discounted room from someone else just to be dishonest, greedy or selfish. After all, finding good deals and discounts are a lot of what these boards are for, and we all know that getting the best rate is importanat to everyone. I think it was just something no one really thought twice about, esp since CRO practically advocated this practice. I'm sure that now that we all know that booking two rooms at a discount will take away a discounted room from someone else, we will think twice about it.

Thanks again for the heads up.

[grumpyandbashful]

Thanks, Carrieberry, for a voice of reason!
Tell us all about the BCV when you return - I would love to stay there someday :) .

[Carrieberry]

Oh you can be sure I will be writing a legnthy trip report!! Take care!

[WolfpackFan]

I agree with this new Disney policy in general, but let me throw out a scenario that might be happening to us that would be effected by this policy. We're thinking about planning a WDW trip for the week after Christmas next year (2003). The problem is right now we're not sure who all might be going - it might just be me and my wife. But our 22 yo DD might be joining us and there is a chance our 27 yo DS might be with us also. If all four of us were to go, I'd get two rooms at ASMu. But if DS can't go but DD does go, I'd want a room at POFQ. Finally, if DD doesn't go and it's just my wife and I, we'd probably stay at AKL. So what do I book? We won't know until closer to time whether either will go with us (it all depends upon their job situations at the time as to whether they can get off work). I had thought about booking 2 rooms at ASMu and 1 room at POFQ (we think DD probably will go, DS is more of a question). With this new policy, we can't do that. So I guess I'll reserve 2 rooms at ASMu and cancel one of them if DS can't go and try to change to POFQ if that happens taking a chance it might not be full and if it is, we'd just stay at ASMu. Anyway that's how the change will effect us.

[peachgirl]

Originally posted by WolfpackFan
) So I guess I'll reserve 2 rooms at ASMu and cancel one of them if DS can't go and try to change to POFQ if that happens taking a chance it might not be full and if it is, we'd just stay at ASMu. Anyway that's how the change will effect us.

I can understand your situation, a lot of us have the same problem with having to book so far in advance. I would guess not a lot of people know a year in advance what their schedules will be. Then again, maybe if some type of new policy cuts down on people holding 4 and 5 reservations at a time we'll get the luxury of being able to book a room closer to the time we want to go.

[Bob NC]

Granted, it HAS been a convenience to be able to hold multiple reservations at once. But honestly, where else in life do things work like this....You can't go down to your Pontiac dealer and say you want either the Montana or the Aztec, "Please put them both in the back and take them off the market, I'll decide which one I want in 6 months". The airlines discovered a long time ago that people holding multiple reservations was a problem and they put an end to it with their 'non-refundable' policies.

OOPS....Just remembered, I have to go down to the bakery....I had them decorate 3 cakes for my sons birthday and I have to go look at them to decide which one I want.

WolfpackFan....You might want to call CRO and state your problem just as you have here, maybe they will have a suggestion for you. Yours is a true dilema, but, I think what has caused this policy change is the folks who made extra ressies just because they 'could', not because they 'needed' to. As usual, the actions of a few mess it up for everyone.

[Disney Doll]

I don't think I've ever held 2 reservations at the same time, but I have had a reservation for a moderate with a discount, then when a deluxe with a discount came out and it was slightly more expensive than the moderate, I have changed to the deluxe, cancelling my moderate reservation. But, as I understand it, that took a discounted moderate room and put it back into circulation at the rack rate? That seems silly to me. If the room was a discounted room and it gets cancelled, it should go back into circulation as a discounted room.

[Carrieberry]

I agree, it should. But it doesn't. It seems to me that you did what ost people do. Have and hold one ressie and then when soemthing else comes up thats better, you book that and cancel the first one. That is not a multiple reservation and is still allowed. Besides, we never really know what happens to the room down the line. It could stay at rack rate until 30 days before and then get discounted again. Who knows? I guess it depends on how fast they book them.

WolfpackFan:
If I needed to legitimately book more than one room, I would use a travel agent like Drema Unlimited. Tell them what you need and let them handle Disney. Have them make the reservation for you for the scenario when you would need the most rooms. Since it is so far off, you won't be reserving any discounted rooms or thus taking any from anyone else. If something changes you can always change your reservation, but you won;t have to deal with Disney directly on this matter. Another option would be to book the AS rooms under your daughters name since she is an adult, leaving you open to book a seperate resort. Since she will be staying there with you in a different room, there is nothing wrong with it since you are not just usuing her name to hold multiple ressies.

Bob: LOL-that is exactly what I think!


Also, there is nothing wrong with making a ressie now in advance, as long as you CANCEL it when you make your new one. The thing that is wrong is having a discounted ressies and knowing that as soon as you get a better rate you will cancel. If you go into knowing this is what you will do and you are only booking to insure you have a room somehwere, then pay the rack rate for it, it will get transfered to your new ressie anyway, and you won't be holding a discounted room that someone else can't get.


(I'm editing this to make it more clear I realize that I worded it wrong)..I meant booking two discounted ressies at the same time with the same code at two different places, therefore removing an extra discounted room from inventory.

[Lewisc]

Bob--LOL

[jdwright13]

Carrie, I have to strongly disagree with your last part. There is nothing wrong with making a Discount rate ressie, and canceling it once you find a better rate, because you do not know if you are going to find a better rate for sure. If I see a good discount rate and make a reservation, why is it wrong for me to cancel if a better offer comes out? If no offer comes out, I have my discount, but if a better one comes out, I'll take adavantage of that. So you are saying in order to make sure I have a room, I should pay rack rate and if another offer doesn't come out, be screwed with the higher rate or canceling of a vacation? :confused:

[LvsTnk]

I don't think anyone is gonna stay with a room that has an O.K. discount if they can change it for one that has a better discount

[Carrieberry]

jdwright13- Actually when I was referring to paying rack rate I was talking about booking a year in advance when no discounts are available yet. Those people book and pay rack rate at the resort they want to make sure that they have a ressie, then they can call back for a discount when it opens up either there or at a different hotel and book it when it comes available.

Also, I said holding TWO discounted ressies. To me this means having a discounted room, finding a better rate, booking that one TOO and NOT cancelling the first one when you decide which you would rather stay at. If you look at my first post above, I said that I totally understand people that book discounted rooms while awaiting a better discount. I do. I know plenty of people that booked the recent discount code and then found better AP rates after the fact. They then cancelled the discounted code room and booked the AP room, but they didn't just hold on to both of them. There are many who don't know about the discounts and have no problem paying rack rates and when multiple reservations are held they can't book those rooms and Disney can't release them at a discount at say, the last minute. The fact that we all book discounted ressies and then have to cancel them for one reason or another is just how life is. If Disney chooses to relase the rooms back into regular rack rate inventory, that is unfortunate but not really something we can do anything about. I think the point of this thread was just to let people know not to book two ressies at a discount at the same time,holding both of them, not because of what happens to the room once you cancel one of them, but because you are taking a discounted room out of the inventory that someone else could book that same day or the next day.

It is not wrong for you to cancel. In fact I'm saying just that. You should cancel if you can get a better rate. We all do it. Regardless of whether the room goes back to regular or discounted inventory, canceling it as soon as you get the discount you want is just the right thing to do. Disney doesn't have a problem with this practice at all, it's just holding on to two or even three ressies at the same time all with discounts that they want to prevent and I feel this is understandable. I can see after re-reading my post, that my words could have been misinterpreted- my apologies.

For example:

When I speak of booking two rooms at a discount, I mean booking a room at one resort at a discount and then using the same exact discount code, AP rate etc to book a room for the same dates at a different resort. I don't mean having one ressie and then waiting for a better rate and then cancelling the first one which is what we all do and therefore not a multiple ressie.

Did I explaing that better this time? I hope so!:)

[jdwright13]

O.k., sorry about that. It just read a little differntly, or at least I read it differently. To be honest, I don't see where a lot of the fuss comes from. I always pick a place I can afford, then hope for the discounts. If it means I have to change resorts, so be it. All their resorts are wonderfu so I never worry about what my first choice is. Well, unless I'm fortunately to have disney close the resort so I can play up the disappointment if they aren't offering me an upgrade. :)

The other thing I never understood, while are people worried about not being able to hold onto mulitple rooms? I made a reservation, needed 2 rooms, so they put both on the same ressie. Doesn't get any simply than that. They didn't even care who was in the other rooms since it was all on one ressie, held by me.

Anyway, I just can't wait to grill me some Zebra steaks at the AKL. I wonder if they would have a problem with me putting a grill on the balcony? ;)

[Carrieberry]

LOL! I think you might lose your steaks to the animals! One whif of those and there will be a stampede! I would like to hear all about your stay there, I hope you will post a trip report for us! We will only be there on night, but are really looking forward to it.

I also don't understand about the problems with booking more rooms. Maybe because some of the rooms are at a different resort and that means they have to have a seperate ressie?

It wasn't the way you read it, it was the way I wrote it. I did wirte that it was wrong to hold onto a ressie while waiting for a better rate but what I meant was holding two ressies at a discount at a time while waiting for a better rate for either. Sometimes I'm a real dolt. DUH! (smacks self on head)

Have a great trip!:p