AMEX White Glove Package question about Palo reservations

[SweetSpot]

I understand as part of my package that I am able to make my reservations for Palo before the cruise. Does anyone know what number I am to call to make Palo reservations before the cruise? Noone I ask seems to know this answer or seems to willing to find out for me. Any help is really appreciated.

 

[pagirl410]

Call Disney Cruise lines and tell them what you want to do. They will put you in touch with the right department.

 

[SweetSpot]

Thank you, I did call and was told that my TA should receive a letter 30-45 days before the trip and that my TA should call in the reservations. Now I need to trust that my TA will take time from her busy schedule and call me to let me know when she receives that letter. I'd much rather be in control and receive my paperwork directly.

 

[rae519]

SweetSpot -
I have the Amer Ex Caribbean Magic package also. For my reservations, I called the Castaway Club Reservation Line and asked for the Dining Coordinator. I left a detailed message on her service (my cruise reservation number, phone, Am Ex package and request for Palo). She (Debbie) called back within 2 hours and I was able to make dinner, brunch and high tea reservations. I requested a certain rotation (LAPLAPL) and she was also able to put that down for me.
I was unable to make reservations for anyone else, which I was hoping to do for my 9/28 DISer's.

I have 29 days left to my cruise and have not received anything from TA or AM Ex regarding this special. I highly suggest you call yourself - all best intentions.

Good luck!
Rae

 

[SweetSpot]

rae519:

How far ahead were you able to make the reservations? I've never cruised before so I'm not a member of the Castaway Club and don't think I would be able to call them. The person I spoke with at DCL said I had to wait for that letter and I didn't feel as if she knew what she was talking about which is why I asked here.

Also, I am 5 days away from the day I can book excursions and I received nothing about the excursions. I know what is available from reading on the net but wasn't I suppose to receive something from DCL or will that be coming with my cruise documents?

 

[rae519]

I called last week - so that was about 40 days from our cruise date.

Unfortunately, I've learned not only from my own personal experience but numerous experiences from other Disney veterans that one DCL rep will say or do one thing that another will say "no" to.

Right now it's the dining times - Main Dining was 6PM - well, they started an experiment that called for Main at 5:30PM. Seems it's been upped 15 minutes now to 5:45PM but no one can say exactly what time our dining is (5:30, 5:45 or 6:00PM). It's only for those who like to book excursions or make plans ahead of time that this is important - forget the real issues like children eating, babies napping, etc.

The DCL Dining Coordinator at the DCL can be reached through the DCL number - I don't have that available to me right now, but it's the number you call to book reservations. If s/he balks, insist on talking with the supervisor. Remember these are people who have jobs because we taking our vacations with their employer - they actually work for us! Sometimes I think customer service went out the window in a lot of places and I just hope that you don't get the "run around" when you try back.

If you book directly with Disney - they send you excursion info. It's also available on the DIS Boards and at the Disney website.
I have NEVER taken a Disney excursion, but I am going horseback riding on the beach with Nicki on Grand Cayman. If you booked through a Travel Agent, they are "supposed" to send it to you. Again, look at the DIS Boards and at Disney's website.

Where are you going and when? If you want to keep it private, as many do - just use the "pm" mode to "private message" me.

Again, as Winston Churchill said, "Never, never, never, never, never give up!"



Rae

 

[SweetSpot]

Thank you! We are going Nov. 2nd and although I am usually very persistant I wasn't sure if I had the right to be while I was still over 60 days away from the cruise. Now that I know I can make reservations without the letter I will call Tuesday (day 59 for me) and be persistant until someone lets me make the Palo reservations. I wish I had booked the cruise myself instead of going through a TA. I find it incredibly frustrating to call a TA and have her call DCL and then wait for the TA to call me back when I can do it myself and even more frustrating waiting for papers to arrive at the TA and the TA getting around to telling me they are in and to pick them up.

Silly stressing over dinner reservations 2 months away. I just want to make the decision and not have to think about dining rotations anymore. Maybe it's the idea of having someone actually cooking for me for once that has me so obsessed. I just can't imagine not cooking, cleaning up after or deciding what everyone will eat for an entire week. Thank you for being so patient and answering my questions. I really appreciate it.

 

[rae519]

November 2 - not too far away! I really hope you will have a wonderful time. I like Deck 5 and the open verandah - I didn't care much for the Navigator's Verandah because you can't see through the wood and my son (5-at the time) had to stand up and have us hold him to see over it. The open verandah is plexiglass and makes the room seem even larger.

I use DCL to make the reservation then give it over to a TA who gives me a 7% rebate on the price of the cruise/airfare (not the tax or port charges). It's been a good thing for us and we usually get about $200 back. He didn't know about the Am Ex package or that we could get both Castaway Club benefits and AM Ex package both. BEFORE Castaway Club would give $200 in onboard credits for a 7 nighter - now it's less and you have to book on board. I do suggest that if you do like it and can afford to, book onboard because you can always get your money back if you have to cancel (up to 60 days, I believe). Anyway, I did all the legwork myself on the AM EX deal and had it added to my cruise.

I also learned that there is another one "Am Ex Parks and Ports" that I added to the December 3 night land/4 night sea package we have (that trip is with my husband and son - my 9/28 is son and my Mother). Anyway, it's the same sort of thing program - you buy it and get more back in onboard credit and benefits.

Don't you dare worry about being stressed about the cruise - hey, we all are the first time out! It's something that even if you only do once - and our first one was going to be our only one because I thought I'd get seasick! The food is very good AND if you check around these boards you will get an idea of the different restaurants, their menus and what night you might want to go to Palo. Have that and if you want brunch and high tea reservations in mind when you call - if you know your dates and times you will be way ahead of things.

Any more questions - just ask! Like I said, there are more people out here with more experience than I have at this and they are always willing to help out!

Enjoy the cruise!

Rae

 

[MichellT]

And where does one find out about such things?

I have a reservation through DCL directly (though I'm considering cancelling it when I hear back from Dreams and booking through them instead) but I didn't know there were any benefits from booking with your Amex ... or is it that you need to book some special package?

Details, details -- thanks!

 

[SweetSpot]

I was lucky enough to read about the AMEX add on package here. It cost me an additional $60.00 total and I am receiving $250 in onboard credit, a bag, pin, priority ressies at Palo, free 8x10 at shutters among other things. I didn't have to cancel the reservation, I just added it on. This is the website that lists the conditions. I hope it helps.

http://travel.americanexpress.com/t...bcid=1&vnd=9&page=1&bcr=vnd&sort=0&tpid=11524

 

[rae519]

MichellT - I was very annoyed that as an American Express Customer, I was unaware of the American Express Disney benefits until I also read about them on this board. I even peruse their website for information and still never saw this offer.

SweetSpot is correct - it's just an add on. And don't let anyone tell you that you can not have both a Castaway Club onboard credit and this - two entirely separate things at this time - you can get both (many of us have!).

By the way, I had to go over my TA's head to get the benefit because TA said I couldn't have both onboard credits (that was after I was told that they never heard of the Am Ex program). Anyway, I did call Castaway Club and asked for it. It was billed to my Am Ex and that was that.

It is called "Caribbean Magic" and the site SweetSpot sent you to will help out.

I book directly with Disney then give my reservation over to a TA who gives me 7% back as a rebate on the cost of the cruise/air fare. The only thing they do is get my documents from Disney and forward them on to me. No big deal there for getting around $200 back off the price of my cruise.

Again, thank God for this forum where we can get information!

Happy Sailing!

Rae