Frustrated!

[mom4fun]

I learned on these boards about Costco cash cards and decided to transfer my booking to them as my paid in full date isn't until next week. Called Disney and they said because I had paid in full I couldn't transfer. If I only owed $1.00 I could have a cash card for $300.00.

 

[WallaceFamily]

I'm so sorry. Really I am, but can you tell me more about this? Perhaps I can use this idea for our trip. I booked online myself (no agent) for a 7night cruise December 2013. We haven't paid in full yet. We do have Costco Executive membership. Can I get this $300 voucher thing? What do I need to do?

 

[Luv2Diz]

Ouch! I am sorry to hear this. But if anything, by posting here you will probably have helped others to avoid this happening. I will sure keep this in mind for future cruise bookings!

 

[Luv2Diz]

I'm so sorry. Really I am, but can you tell me more about this? Perhaps I can use this idea for our trip. I booked online myself (no agent) for a 7night cruise December 2013. We haven't paid in full yet. We do have Costco Executive membership. Can I get this $300 voucher thing? What do I need to do?

Did you book directly with Disney? Someone else will have to jump in and say whether you can transfer it to Costco if you booked it yourself with Disney. I'm not sure about that.

The Costco cash card amount varies depending on the cost of the cruise. They aren't all $300. Some are more and some less. You can plug in the dates of your cruise on the Costco Travel website and it will tell you what the cash card amount is for your cruise and the specific cabin category that you booked.

 

[WallaceFamily]

Did you book directly with Disney? Someone else will have to jump in and say whether you can transfer it to Costco if you booked it yourself with Disney. I'm not sure about that.

The Costco cash card amount varies depending on the cost of the cruise. They aren't all $300. Some are more and some less. You can plug in the dates of your cruise on the Costco Travel website and it will tell you what the cash card amount is for your cruise and the specific cabin category that you booked.

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I did book directly thru Disney (am I the only one to do this? What is it that I don't know? ).

 

[kuhltiffany]

If you book through a third party travel agent, most of them offer an onboard credit as an incentive...

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I did book directly thru Disney (am I the only one to do this? What is it that I don't know? ).

 

[mae5731]

I'm so sorry this happened to you, but I think it is standard procedure when it comes to a transfer. I still had my initial transfer email from Dreams Unlimited and this was stated:

"Please note that in order to process your transfer the deposit has to be paid with Disney Cruise Line. This must be done prior to you initiating the transfer process with us. Also, the reservation cannot be paid in full prior to transfer as per Disney policy. As a professional courtesy, we do not accept transfers from other travel agencies."

Completely understand your frustration, but by posting here hopefully you have helped others!

 

[mom4fun]

I booked directly through disney myself. If your paid in full date hasn't happened and you haven't actually paid in full, unlike me, you can download a booking transfer form from DCL's website and name costco as your travel agent. You will receive approx. 10% of cruise cost only, not taxes or port charges, back from costco in a cash card. It is just that simple.

 

[sayhello]

I booked directly through disney myself. If your paid in full date hasn't happened and you haven't actually paid in full, unlike me, you can download a booking transfer form from DCL's website and name costco as your travel agent. You will receive approx. 10% of cruise cost only, not taxes or port charges, back from costco in a cash card. It is just that simple.

You will probably get less % on a transferred booking, because DCL will pay less of a commission to Costco for a transferred reservation.

Sayhello

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Cancelling and rebooking is an option.

 

[mom4fun]

You will probably get less % on a transferred booking, because DCL will pay less of a commission to Costco for a transferred reservation.
No, you get the full cash card.
Sayhello

Cancelling and rebooking is an option.

Disney suggested this but the cruise price has went up too much and so there would be no savings.

 

[mom4fun]

You will probably get less % on a transferred booking, because DCL will pay less of a commission to Costco for a transferred reservation.

Sayhello

Oops, I messed up on your quote. I would still get the full cash card amount.

 

[lbgraves]

I think that booking directly with DCL was brought up because there are some TAs who no longer accept transfers due to the reduced commission paid to them by DCL. I thought that Costco was one of those...but their policy may have changed.

 

[nishijb]

I think that booking directly with DCL was brought up because there are some TAs who no longer accept transfers due to the reduced commission paid to them by DCL. I thought that Costco was one of those...but their policy may have changed.

I have a trip coming up and have never heard of transferring my registration for a credit or gift card. Is there a thread on this? What are the other commonly used TAs? Is Costco currently the best option to do this?

 

[mom4fun]

I think that booking directly with DCL was brought up because there are some TAs who no longer accept transfers due to the reduced commission paid to them by DCL. I thought that Costco was one of those...but their policy may have changed.

Yes, must have. I talked to Costco travel today. They are the ones that told me how to down load the form off of Disney's website.

 

[nishijb]

One more question. If I transfer my registration will I still have access to my registration through the Disney cruise website to purchase excursions, massage, cooking class, etc. or will these have to be arranged through the TA?

 

[mom4fun]

One more question. If I transfer my registration will I still have access to my registration through the Disney cruise website to purchase excursions, massage, cooking class, etc. or will these have to be arranged through the TA?

No, you do it yourself. Only difference is you make final payments through Costco by phone or web. I guess they are technically not a travel agent but a booking agent.

 

[Billinaz]

We have been using Costco for a while now. You get a cash card that is equal to 8 to 10 percent of your cruise cost.

The way to get the maximum card is to book with DCL but name Costco as your travel agent. We set up the reservation but make the deposit through Costco.

You will fill out a form naming them as the travel agent so they get control of the reservation number you got.

I thought if you transferred a res from another agent (DCL if you paid them as the agent) then you idnt get the cash card???

 

[kcashner]

I have a trip coming up and have never heard of transferring my registration for a credit or gift card. Is there a thread on this? What are the other commonly used TAs? Is Costco currently the best option to do this?

Many TAs offer a "thanks for booking with us" gift. Some are onboard credits, some gift cards, some gifts delivered to your stateroom, etc.

If you booked directly with DCL rather than using an agent, you can transfer your reservation to an agent IF you have not fully paid for the cruise. If you transfer, the agency gets a lower commission than if you had booked with them originally. To reflect this reduced commission, some decrease the amount of the "perk" they offer. Other agencies will give their usual amount in hopes of gaining your future business.

Remember that you are buying their service as well as shopping for the best "perk". Costco gives a Costco gift card--if you typically shop there, this can be a good deal. On the other hand, make sure the agent knows what he/she is doing!

Differences among agencies include:
Hours--9-5 or are they available weekends and evenings? Do they have an emergency number for REAL emergencies while traveling?
Experience--have the agents been on the ships? Have they attended Disney training? How long have they been working in the travel business?
Communication--800 number? e-mail? your choice or their dictate?

You get the picture. There is MUCH more to the choice than just "how much of a perk can I get?"

 

[nishijb]

Remember that you are buying their service as well as shopping for the best "perk". Costco gives a Costco gift card--if you typically shop there, this can be a good deal. On the other hand, make sure the agent knows what he/she is doing!

Differences among agencies include:
Hours--9-5 or are they available weekends and evenings? Do they have an emergency number for REAL emergencies while traveling?
Experience--have the agents been on the ships? Have they attended Disney training? How long have they been working in the travel business?
Communication--800 number? e-mail? your choice or their dictate? You get the picture. There is MUCH more to the choice than just "how much of a perk can I get?"

I am new to DCL and am planning on just booking the trip myself, so any perk offered above what I receive directly through the DCL website sounds great to me. Since I selected my rooms and plan on selecting my own excursions based upon feedback from this forum, how important is it that my agent attend Disney training or agency hours? Given the factors that you recommend that I consider, is Costco a good choice to transfer my reservation to since I do shop there and I plan on managing the details of the cruise myself?