Tell me how to do this -Dummy date

[runwad]

I'm going to book a dummy date on board to be pushed far far out into the future. Actually don't even know at this time if we'll sail again but I can just cancel if not. We are a family of 5 and get 2 rooms. If I book 2 rooms and just put myself in one and DH in the other can we add the kids later and pay the same per person rate that we would've paid had I added them to the reservation to begin with? Trying to have as little outlay of money as possible in regards to deposits. Unless adding them at a later date would mean booking them at the prevailing rate then I don't think that would be smart. Also let me know if there is any other considerations. Thanks

 

[Meghatron]

I'm going to book a dummy date on board to be pushed far far out into the future. Actually don't even know at this time if we'll sail again but I can just cancel if not. We are a family of 5 and get 2 rooms. If I book 2 rooms and just put myself in one and DH in the other can we add the kids later and pay the same per person rate that we would've paid had I added them to the reservation to begin with? Trying to have as little outlay of money as possible in regards to deposits. Unless adding them at a later date would mean booking them at the prevailing rate then I don't think that would be smart. Also let me know if there is any other considerations. Thanks

Adding people later is at the prevailing rate. Also, there is no single rate, so just you in one room and just DH in another room would still mean a deposit equal to the first two people in each room--so you might as well add in two of your three kids since you'd be depositing the money anyway. Then it's kind of pointless to NOT add your third kid to one room at 10% of a few hundred dollars for that individual fare. Also, you might not be able to add the kids later once you decide to cruise depending on how full the kids' clubs are or whether the muster station is full in the area of the ship your room is.

Much better to book a shorter/cheaper cruise with ALL the people on the reservation as your dummy date.

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[disney1990]

Just tell them at the rebooking desk that you want to book a future dummy cruise. They will know to book you into a 3 day, inside room. I think the deposit on one of our dummy cruises was only $88 for 2 people.

 

[runwad]

I guess what I'm confused on the 3 day booking is if I move to the 7 day would I get the same $ per person rate?

 

[Kittylover513]

So are dummy reservations totally above board then? You can just tell them? Can you completely switch to another cruise?

 

[disney1990]

I guess what I'm confused on the 3 day booking is if I move to the 7 day would I get the same $ per person rate?

No. When you move it to a 7 day, your deposit is then based on the cost of your new cruise. We recently moved our dummy cruise to a new date and has to pay additional deposit funds based on the new cruise amount. But, because you booked it initially on the ship, you still only to pay the 10% deposit rate.

 

[omalley1118]

So are dummy reservations totally above board then? You can just tell them? Can you completely switch to another cruise?

We booked on our last cruise to get the discount. Due to some unforeseen things, we have changed the date FOUR times... I have never had a single issue. I am happy to say that we are finally going this Nov!!!

 

[crundell]

So are dummy reservations totally above board then? You can just tell them? Can you completely switch to another cruise?

I just told the gal at the desk that I wanted a dummy date because I didn't know when I would be able to cruise next. She didn't even bat an eye and booked it for December 2014 the deposit was like $90. So yes, I would think it's fine to just tell them that is what you are doing; however, others may have had other experiences.

 

[bbon6]

Ok here is my question on the issue...if I book a dummy 3 day cruise for two adults and 1 kid ....I will book it and only pay a 10% deposit and get a small on board credit. If I later decide that I want to go on a 7 day cruise I will obviously have to pay an additional down payment. Will the down payment be 10%? Will I get the greater on board credit? Will I still get the 10% off on the 7 day cruise? Leaving in in 10 days!!!!!!

 

[CanuckTraveller]

So are dummy reservations totally above board then? You can just tell them? Can you completely switch to another cruise?

We were completely honest and told them we wanted to sail in 2015 or later. They responded by offering to book a "placeholder" cruise and gave us instructions as to how to keep moving the date forward until the dates we want are released.
I didn't let on that I already knew this from the disboards, but it was interesting to hear their perspective. This was the Dream in March, 2013.

 

[Lisa Lisa]

Ok here is my question on the issue...if I book a dummy 3 day cruise for two adults and 1 kid ....I will book it and only pay a 10% deposit and get a small on board credit. If I later decide that I want to go on a 7 day cruise I will obviously have to pay an additional down payment. Will the down payment be 10%? Will I get the greater on board credit? Will I still get the 10% off on the 7 day cruise? Leaving in in 10 days!!!!!!

Yes, you will pay the additional down payment based on the price of the longer cruise (still only 10% of total, though), but you will keep the 10% discount and the OBC will increase to $200. Keep in mind that you will pay the prevailing rate for the new cruise. Many here book a dummy date and then transfer it when new dates are released, thereby getting the best of both worlds -- the OBB benefits + opening day prices.

 

[cpc430]

If Disney opened up kids sail free at some point and you have an dummy booking for a later date, are you able to move your deposit and credit from obb to one of those sailings? (Still trying to wrap my head around how all this works so I can start convincing DH we need to do this)

 

[Meghatron]

If Disney opened up kids sail free at some point and you have an dummy booking for a later date, are you able to move your deposit and credit from obb to one of those sailings? (Still trying to wrap my head around how all this works so I can start convincing DH we need to do this)

You can definitely move your deposit. Reports vary over whether the OBC stays and appears to be luck of the draw based on who answers the phone at DCL. You will never get to keep the 10% discount, as you are already getting the Kids Sail Free fare reduction.

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[ScottFamily2005]

When is "opening day" for Spring/Summer 2015? That's when we would need the rest of the deposit, right?

 

[Meghatron]

When is "opening day" for Spring/Summer 2015? That's when we would need the rest of the deposit, right?

No one knows.

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[cpc430]

You can definitely move your deposit. Reports vary over whether the OBC stays and appears to be luck of the draw based on who answers the phone at DCL. You will never get to keep the 10% discount, as you are already getting the Kids Sail Free fare reduction.

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Thanks! I forgot about the 10% since I've never done an obb. Makes sense that would be lost with ksf.

 

[su_A_ve]

You can definitely move your deposit. Reports vary over whether the OBC stays and appears to be luck of the draw based on who answers the phone at DCL. You will never get to keep the 10% discount, as you are already getting the Kids Sail Free fare reduction.

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No. No DCL OBC is preserved as KSF requires a complete new booking. The OBC is tied to the reservation number and when you book KSF, a new one is issued.

Basically, you cannot combine offers that include a booking code. OBB does in fact use a booking code. Similarly, KSF, MIL, Disney Visa Rewards, all use a booking code.

The only offers that can be combined are *GT rates with Disney Visa Rewards OBC. The *GT rates do not require a booking code and hence one (such as the visa one) can be applied, but DCL needs to do it. (it worked for me last August). Or the infrequent 'online booking OBC'. That one can be combined with the Disney Visa OBC.

 

[Meghatron]

No. No DCL OBC is preserved as KSF requires a complete new booking. The OBC is tied to the reservation number and when you book KSF, a new one is issued.

Basically, you cannot combine offers that include a booking code. OBB does in fact use a booking code. Similarly, KSF, MIL, Disney Visa Rewards, all use a booking code.

The only offers that can be combined are *GT rates with Disney Visa Rewards OBC. The *GT rates do not require a booking code and hence one (such as the visa one) can be applied, but DCL needs to do it. (it worked for me last August). Or the infrequent 'online booking OBC'. That one can be combined with the Disney Visa OBC.

This is why I said there's no way to know for sure, because yes, that's the rule, but as with all things DCL, there are numerous reports of CMs making exceptions and allowing OBC to follow an OBB that gets turned into a KSF. I don't agree with them doing it, but it's not up to me. Since I don't work for them I don't know how they make it work in the system, but clearly it can be done.

 

[MDennis28]

So the way to get the best rate from. dummy cruise is to rebook the desired cruise/date the day it comes out?

 

[love280mickey]

my DH and I just cruised the Fantasy and did a dummy booking, it is completely normal. Ours is for Dec 3, 2014 Magic 10A. For 2 adults and one child age 14 is 1324.80 and so 10% down was only $133. We just said we don't know when we want to go and this is what they gave us, the furthest out booking you could get then.

My question is: could we have booked 2 separate reservations, or is it only two cabins on the same sailing?