Booking Opening Day and Costco

[WiscMomof2]

We are Gold CC and want to book our next cruise for May 2021. Can someone confirm if I can still book on opening day for Gold on DCL website and then transfer to Costco travel for the benefits they offer?

 

[lilsonicfan]

Yes, you can transfer within 30 days and all the same benefits should apply.

 

[Watt-man]

lilsonicfan,

Thanks – that was a question I had as well. A related question: if I book on DCL and put down the minimum deposit, or pay, say, 50%, Costco would accept "the rest of the reservation" either way and I’d just pay the remainder through Costco? I’m assuming their ‘cash card’ value might scale down by how much I’ll actually be paying them. I ask because we always have been our own TA and paid with Disney gift cards where we get $1 off per gallon on fuel purchases… just trying to combine what I can here. Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I’m assuming their ‘cash card’ value might scale down by how much I’ll actually be paying them.

You're not paying Costco for the cruise, your payments go through Costco to DCL.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

lilsonicfan,

Thanks – that was a question I had as well. A related question: if I book on DCL and put down the minimum deposit, or pay, say, 50%, Costco would accept "the rest of the reservation" either way and I’d just pay the remainder through Costco? I’m assuming their ‘cash card’ value might scale down by how much I’ll actually be paying them. I ask because we always have been our own TA and paid with Disney gift cards where we get $1 off per gallon on fuel purchases… just trying to combine what I can here. Thanks!

The Costco cash card amount is strictly based on your cruise cost, not how much of the payment went via Costco to DCL. Once I transferred a cruise to Costco that was almost (but not) paid in full, and I got the cash card for 8.5% of the base cruise cost, just as if I'd made all payments through Costco.

 

[Watt-man]

I appreciate both of your replies.

Mainsail Minnie, the experience that happened you you is great to hear about! I assume the key to that working is I must make the reservation transfer from Disney to Costco within 30 days of my booking with Disney, correct?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I appreciate both of your replies.

Mainsail Minnie, the experience that happened you you is great to hear about! I assume the key to that working is I must make the reservation transfer from Disney to Costco within 30 days of my booking with Disney, correct?

Correct.

 

[Watt-man]

Learning a lot on the boards. PrincessShmoo, I’ve read a number of your posts which has been really helpful. Thanks!

One clarification is still out there for me to understand: it’s about the “transferring a placeholder to Costco within 30 days”…

Sometimes I see wording that suggests it must be done within 30 days of obtaining the placeholder…

Other times I see wording that suggests it must be done within 30 days of USING the placeholder and booking a cruise.

Which is it? I have a placeholder that we obtained in 2019 (that Costco is unaware of right now) that we’ll use next week on an early 2021 cruise, and I’d love to transfer it to Costco after booking the cruise next week if possible.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Learning a lot on the boards. PrincessShmoo, I’ve read a number of your posts which has been really helpful. Thanks!

One clarification is still out there for me to understand: it’s about the “transferring a placeholder to Costco within 30 days”…

Sometimes I see wording that suggests it must be done within 30 days of obtaining the placeholder…

Other times I see wording that suggests it must be done within 30 days of USING the placeholder and booking a cruise.

Which is it? I have a placeholder that we obtained in 2019 (that Costco is unaware of right now) that we’ll use next week on an early 2021 cruise, and I’d love to transfer it to Costco after booking the cruise next week if possible.

Within 30 days of making the initial reservation/deposit (either an actual reservation, or booking a placeholder reservation).

When in 2019 did you make the placeholder?

 

[Watt-man]

Got the placeholder on May 13, 2019. Plan to use it on next Tuesday for booking the Feb 26, 2021 WBPC.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Got the placeholder on May 13, 2019. Plan to use it on next Tuesday for booking the Feb 26, 2021 WBPC.

The placeholder needed to be transferred to Costco by June 13, 2019 (within 30 days). So, you won't be able to transfer it when you make your actual reservation later.

 

[Watt-man]

Thank you for the clarification!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thank you for the clarification!

You're welcome.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

I appreciate both of your replies.

Mainsail Minnie, the experience that happened you you is great to hear about! I assume the key to that working is I must make the reservation transfer from Disney to Costco within 30 days of my booking with Disney, correct?

Yes, any cruise or placeholder must be transferred to Costco Travel within 30 days of the initial booking. And I recommend putting in the request at least a few days before the 30 day deadline, as the process isn't instantaneous.