When is Final Payment Due

[CdnDisneyNut]

I have booked a package (room + UPH). I think it was from CRO (12 digit conformation #). When I booked the trip originally I was told that they were a temporary hold (5 days) on the reservation before payment was required. At that point a payment of one night plus tax was required. The balance was required 21 days prior to arrival date. When I called back to make my deposit I was told the balance could be paid at check in. I then received my original confirmation notice (I has to change my trip by a day because of availability of airline). The confirmation notice states that the original deposit is required four weeks after original booking date?
:confused: :confused: :confused:
I am so confused. Do I need to call to pay the balance of my reservation.
T - 26 days

[chell]

I would go ahead and pay it. Just so you do not have any surprises at check-in! I believe with the packages that the full payment is due by 21 days prior to arrival.

[angey77]

What about room only? I'm freaking after reading this post. We are leaving in 20 days, two nights paid out of six (since CRO couldn't get my payment straight the FIRST time). Last time we stayed on grounds, we paid the rest upon check-in. There was nothing on my confirmation that said any money was due before check-in.
Anyone?

[Carrieberry]

Room only ressies are different than packages. The balance for a room only reservation will be due upon check in as it always has been. If you include tickets, booked through DC or even booked a basic package, then balance would be due depending on the package either 21 days out, or 45 days out, or if the trip is less than 30 days away I think it is, then balance is due in full. This has alays been my experience. If you only have a room only reservation, then don't worry. Also, it has NEVER been my experience that balance of a package inlcuding UMP's can be paid on arrival, these balances have always been due at least 45 days out.

[DisneyFreaks]

We have room only reservations for next May. {PO/FQ} When we originally booked at rack rate they said balance was due at check in. We recently aquired a AAA discount and when we got our confirmation back it said balance due twenty-one days prior to check in. We did call to see why the change but after talking with three different CM at CRO and being put on hold for almost forty minutes we never did get any answers. We would prefer the balance paid at check in. Can anyone here shed any light on what happened? I'd really appreciate it because whenever this subject comes up I get a little freaked.

[Carrieberry]

Any time you use a discount that is not through CRO (like the recent codes published) whether it be DC, AAA, or another type of club, they count it as a package. That is why the deposit is due before you check in. Any discount booked through CRO with a CRO/Disney discount the regular rules apply. I don't know why they do this, but it's always been like this with the discounted rates. Maybe when they enter it into their computer, the only way the computer can tell to give you the discount for AAA is by booking it as a package and since all packages have that rule, that is the reason. Who knows!

[angey77]

OK, I used an AP discount. So I should be clear until check-in?

[Carrieberry]

yep- I think so! What does your confirmation say?

[DisneyFreaks]

Is this just something new this year? Last year at CBR we had a AAA discount and we paid our balance off at check-in. Could it be because we booked at rack rate and then changed over to the discounted price? That would have been the only difference between this trip and last. We booked CBR initially with the AAA discount.

[Carrieberry]

Well I think it might have something to do with the switch over from MKC to Disney Club. Back in 2000 when we used our MKC card to get a room only discount, we paid on check in. Now, with DC you have to pay the balance in full beforehand. Maybe it has something to do with "club" packages in the computer? I don't know for a fact about AAA, but I do know that sometimes they book them as basic packages. Some things to look for on your confirmation:

The word "Package" or "package discount" or "Club discount"

The total equalling an exact even number such as $176.00 rather than $176.49 for example.

Both of these point towards a package booking, not to say that a package booking can't have an uneven number in dollar totals, it can, but rarely do room only resrvations have an even number.

[angey77]

If I'm not mistaken, my confirmation just listed when my deposit had to be in. I guess I'm just getting overly worried the closer I get!

[Carrieberry]

LOL. I get worried like that too as my trip approaches. The confirmation would list the date deposit is due, and then the date the balance is due. If it does not state a date the balance is due by, then it is due on check in. Also, if your confirmation only lists the one night rate, but has the dates of your stay on it, it is not a package and therefore is due on check in.

[Tink42]

I booked a room only at POR with an AAA (CAA for me actually) discount and paid one night's deposit. I am waiting for my confirmation. From this thread I gather I will have to pay the rest in advance and it should say on my confirmation. Will it be due 45 days ahead or 21days and what is the cancellation policy for this kind of a reservation?

Thanks,

Tink42

[DisneyFreaks]

Thanks carrieberry you have been most helpful. My confirmation papers do say "package type" now where the oringinal one did not. I guess I don't mind the twenty one day pay off thing so much but what about cancellations? What is the policy now? They told us when we booked originally that it was five days. That's probably different too now right?

[Carrieberry]

You know, I'm not sure about cancellations. I think it might still be 5 days if it does not include tickets. It should say somewhere on the back of your confirmation. I know for my code discount through CRO for this winter, it lists "Package Type" and the code of the package even though it is the room only. Also, on the back it says the 5 days yadda, yadda, yadda. Glad I could help!

Tink~As far as the CAA thing goes, I'm not sure how far in advance the balance is due these days. Anyone thats booked through AAA know for sure?

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by Carrieberry
Any time you use a discount that is not through CRO (like the recent codes published) whether it be DC, AAA, or another type of club, they count it as a package. That is why the deposit is due before you check in. Any discount booked through CRO with a CRO/Disney discount the regular rules apply. I don't know why they do this, but it's always been like this with the discounted rates. Maybe when they enter it into their computer, the only way the computer can tell to give you the discount for AAA is by booking it as a package and since all packages have that rule, that is the reason. Who knows!

Just to correct something, using codes does not constitute a package and does not have to be paid ahead of time in most cases. I've used codes twice and both through CRO and both paid balances at arrival There are codes, four digit ones, that are through WDTC. The three digit codes are through CRO and follow all CRO rules.

[Carrieberry]

Actually thats what I said. "Any time you use a discount that is NOT through CRO...." Meaning that the codes were through CRO.

The codes through CRO are NOT considered packages, but DISCOUNTS booked through WDWTC as AAA or DC are considered packages due to the fact that they are discounted and not using a specific CRO code.

[ASFCurly]

I booked room only AAA through CRO, the confirmation that I got in the mail very clearly says when the balance is due, the date is 21 days before arrival, on the back of the confirmation is does say that the cancellation is 5 days before arrival,

[Carrieberry]

Thanks for clearing that up! I couldn't remember if it was 21 days or 45 days out! This is confirming the fact that these are booked into the WDW computer as packages. Thanks!

[DisneyFreaks]

Okay, at the risk of being a pest, sorry, we were planning on buying an AP if the discount is better than the 15% AAA we have now. Will our ressies go back then to the pay off at check in or stay at the 21 days prior? Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge about this carrieberry.

[angey77]

Carrieberry,
You were dead on. I had emailed Disney in my panic and they told me the remainder of my payment is due on check-in. I CAN RELAX!!
Well, not really. I still have to buy film, pack, get my maps straight, make sure I have my ps's in line, shop for the remainder of my BF's costume for MNSSHP, get traveler's cheques.....;)

[Carrieberry]

I'm so glad that you can somewhat relax now! Theres nothing worse then having to worry about these types of things right before a trip. You don;t want to get there and have them say "Oh we cancelled your reservatipon because you didn;t send in the balance 21 days out. That would be awful, and if you are anything like me, you imagine all sorts of rotten scenarios before heading down to the World, an my favorite nigthmare is the one where there isn't a room for you!

DisneyFreaks~ You are NOT being a pest! Glad to help out! As far as the AP thing goes, angey77 used the AP discount I believe and she said her deposit is due on check in. I think that CRO has a special code in their computer for AP's.

[DisneyFreaks]

Thanks so much carrieberry. I really appreciate it. It's amazing how sometimes you can't get a simple question answered when calling CRO.

And angey77, good luck with your packing. On our last trip I left my packing until the last minute and my son wanted me to watch a wrestling pay per view with him and I ended up forgetting so many important things that we found ourselves hunting down a Walmart somewhere in Morrow Ga.!

Have great trips everyone!!

[Carrieberry]

Again-you're welcome! Glad to be of some help! So many here have helped me, I just like to pass on the info I've learned cruising these boards for the last few years!

I think you only leave packing to the last minute once! LOL. I also packed at the last minute during our first trip to WDW and I also forgot a ton of stuff I never even thought about. I can't believe how much they want for those tiny packets of Tylenol in the gift shops! I (since I'm always the one packing everyone's stuff) always start packing two weeks out now and I am still amazed how many little things I throw in the last couple of days when I thought I had everything already!

HAppy trips to all and I hope to see some trip reports!