Booking ? - Adding People & Trip Insurance

[DisneyTravelers2008]

I'm planning to book my hotel and ticket package asap to be sure I get the hotel I want. I plan to get the $35 trip insurance. I want to call back about two weeks later and add my kids to the reservation and pay the additional money since I don't have the cash on hand to pay for it all at once. The full amount is due when I book since its a trip for Feb. 13-16.

So, when I add the kids, can I also get the $35 trip insurance for them? One Universal phone rep said "no" and the other said "yes" and …not only "yes" but it would be mandatory. So, I got two different answers.

Im booking an onsite partner hotel and ticket package...Anyone have an experience with this?

 

[macraven]

why don't you call UO reservations again and ask to speak with a supervisor.
they would have the correct info.

when you book a package, you are charged $50 for anytime you make a change.
i don't know if adding people to the reservation would be considered a change.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

Ive actually called a few times. They put me on hold while they ask a supervisor and I keep getting different info.I have spend a lot of time on hold with them. UGH... But, that is a good suggestion. I may just keep putting a 24 hour hold on it till I get the final cash to pay for it all...

 

[bumbershoot]

Went through UO as though I was booking a package, got to your preferred hotel, and looked around.

http://media.triseptsolutions.com/sites/VAXWEBUNT/PublishingImages/w3/booking/CancelForAnyReason.PDF

"For more information about the Cancel for Any Reason Waiver, contact a Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations agent at (800) 407-4275."


Do you need cancel for any reason? It's good until the last 24 hours; what happens if your plane is delayed? It doesn't work?

You can get travel insurance from other places; might not be for "any" reason, but it will likely be less expensive.

Before going forward, make sure you know what this is and if you need it!


Also from that page, "Cancel for Any Reason may be purchased at any time up until final payment of your package. Please be advised a change fee may be applied for any modifications to packages. "

 

[macraven]

i would try one more time and find out if there will be any charges if you make a change on the original booking.

i would think if you are increasing the costs of the package, it might not happen but you need to be sure.
why waste $50 if you can avoid it.


next time you call, request to talk to a supervisor.

looking at the package requirements, you do have to pay in full if you are that close to the arrival date of the reservation.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

i would try one more time and find out if there will be any charges if you make a change on the original booking.

i would think if you are increasing the costs of the package, it might not happen but you need to be sure.
why waste $50 if you can avoid it.


next time you call, request to talk to a supervisor.

looking at the package requirements, you do have to pay in full if you are that close to the arrival date of the reservation.

The $50 change fee is another thing that I get different responses on at various times. Some say there is no problem and it does not apply as long as you are adding to the package. Other say it would need to be waived. overall, Im not really impressed with how this part is going. I think it will just be easier for me to wait until I can pay it in full which is in the next week or so. In the mean time, Im just going to be annoying and call and put it on hold each day...LOL...

 

[pixeegrl]

Just curious why you are purchasing a package since generally it's cheaper to book the hotels and tickets separately. Plus when you book separate there is no change fee if a lower rate comes out or you have to cancel or change your dates What do you mean by onsite partner hotel? Do you mean offsite partner or are you booking one of the 4 onsite hotels?

 

[HM]

I would also just get a room reservation. Are you staying at least four days? Stay More Play More discount would work for you as a discount. And you only pay one night's charges when you reserve and the rest at check-in. Buy your tickets from Undercover Tourist so you have them when you arrive.

 

[macraven]

i might have the wrong poster in my mind but i thought the op was planning on the package due to the perks of the hp breakfast that was included in the set up.

one package i looked up for offsite had room, tickets, breakfast included for one price.

with her being 3 weeks out from the trip, it has to be paid in full when making this reservation.

if she went room only, it's like you said, pay first night deposit on room to book.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

I am have described it incorrectly...its not one of the four onsite hotels but its a partner hotel...so we can get early admission. That is the only perk Im interested in. Is there another way toget in early? I thought you had to book through Universal to get early entry? Thanks for all your help everyone! Im feeling like a muggle for sure!

 

[bumbershoot]

I am have described it incorrectly...its not one of the four onsite hotels but its a partner hotel...so we can get early admission. That is the only perk Im interested in. Is there another way toget in early? I thought you had to book through Universal to get early entry? Thanks for all your help everyone! Im feeling like a muggle for sure!

If you're offsite, you do have to get a package to get early entry.

In your original post you did say "onsite package", which I skimmed over but the eagle-eyed other poster noticed! I had seen your Wingate post the other day (but had no answers for you) so I didn't even notice that.

Again I'd just say to make sure that insurance is what will work for you and is what you need. Cancel for any reason is nice, BUT what if you suddenly have an emergency inside the 24 hours before the trip. It's not going to cover that, from what I read.

I had also gone into UO's system to see the pricing difference with that hotel vs an onsite, and at least the packages are a good deal less expensive.

Since you are only interested in early entry, and not unlimited express pass, what about booking Cabana Bay? No need to do a package (though the packages for the random date I looked at for Wingate vs CB seemed similar) that way. Book CB any way you choose and you'll get early entry just by having a room there. Get your tickets from wherever you like. Might be worth checking on if you haven't checked already!

 

[damo]

Bumbershoot, Cabana Bay is already booked up for that weekend.

 

[bumbershoot]

Bumbershoot, Cabana Bay is already booked up for that weekend.

Eep, I did NOT see that date in the post. Wow. Talk about skimming the post!

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

I wanted to follow up and let you know what we ended up doing. I booked the room around Jan. 30th and just put my name on the reservation since I didnt have the money to pay for me and my 2 kids all at once. I got a rom at an offsite partner hotel, Wingate by Wyndham, the 2 day park to park ticket that came with a free 3rd day and the $35 "cancel for any reason" trip insurance. I also booked a room for my friend with all the same things as my room, but I also added the $19 insurance that covers you while you are on the trip in case anything happens. There are helath concerns with her daughter so this was agood option for her. Then, around Feb 9, I called back and added my 2 kids to my reservation. I added the $35 trip insurance for each of them.The cost was exactly what I had expected it to be. And for my friend, I added her daughter and the extra $19 in trip insurnce. It went well...all was very smooth. I was able to go to the Hard Rock Hotel, one of the Universal partner hotels, on the day we arrived and printed my tickets at the kiosk. I just needed my credit card that was used to pay online. I was pleased at how it worked out....Thanks for all your advice and info!

 

[macraven]

i remember when you posted and needed info about the package.
sounds like you did find a good deal and it went smooth.

thanks for the heads up on how it turned out for you.