Booking through Orbitz…what will I be missing?

[blessedby3]

Can anyone tell me where the chat option is on their site? I was going to chat with one of them, but when I go to customer service it only gives me a phone number. I would rather chat because I always get someone with a thick accent and I have a hard time understanding them and getting my questions across. Thanks

 

[blessedby3]

Disney does charge extra, IIRC $25 pp for each adult after the first two. I would compare prices on Disney's website: 2 adults vs. 3 adults to see how much extra they truly charge. Then do the same search on Orbitz and see if the 3rd adult surcharge is equal or not. If Orbitz charges more, I would wait and add them on at the time of the chat if possible. I'm not really sure if the agents are able to make price changes too. I guess it can't hurt to ask. JMHO, but I think if the difference in prices was like $5 between 3 adults on Disney vs. 3 adults on Orbitz, I probably would let it go and just focus on adding any children. I have had Orbitz chat agents tell me I need to modify and add the child but I simply explain that Orbitz charges me extra then when I know for a fact that Disney does NOT. They make a feeble attempt to say that all hotels charge for >2 guests but I have found that to be untrue except hotels on the strip in Vegas and who really needs to bring kids there. lol.

As for adding an infant, I believe they still must be on the reservation for legal occupancy purposes but the big difference there is that an infant doesn't need a ticket. So unless you're buying tickets from Orbitz, it's a moot point. Simply add as another child and there shouldn't be any extra charge for doing so. I don't recall if Orbitz lets you make requests (we rarely have any) but I would try to request a crib.

Keep in mind that booking through Orbitz means they are now your travel agent. Anything you change must be through them. Since Disney pays a commission to all TAs, they generally do not want to:
1. step on a TAs toes so to speak or
2. perform the duties that a TA is being paid to do.
So calling Disney directly will usually leave you disappointed. Just something to keep in mind. This can be very frustrating when people book flights through 3rd party sites such as Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, etc. If you're at MCO and find that your flight home was cancelled due to bad weather back home, instead of having the airline help you, the travel agent has to help. At least this is what I have read anyway. That would drive me bonkers.
I do know with DCL, if a TA is involved, everything goes through the TA. I don't even try to contact DCL directly.

If Orbitz has no way of letting you request a crib, then I would contact Disney probably a week in advance and make sure it's noted on your reservation.

hth

Well, I checked with orbitz on their page and when I add my over 18 yr old it makes it $28 and change more per night. I thought WDW added $25 per night extra for an adult. I wonder if I wait to add her if I will still get charged $28 by orbitz or $25. I was trying to find the chat option and cant. Only a phone number. And not that an extra $3 a night x 8 nights is gonna break us, I just find it odd that the rooms are discounted by orbitz but the extra fee charge is more than WDW charges.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Orbitz no longer charges extra for kids at least it didn't for my family with three kids. There was no difference b/w adding just one kid and three kids. Additionally, there is free cancellation for some of the resorts, at least at the ASMusic, there is no $25 cancellation fee. I did not get a Disney confirmation number when I booked but after I sent an email inquiry, Orbitz replied within 24 hours with the number. With the additional 15% off code coupled with the current disney discount, even the $25 cancellation fee should not be a deal breaker.

Well this is good to know. Maybe they got tired of so many people contacting them to add kids. The chat button is usually among the "contact us" section. Perhaps this has changed too? I haven't used them to add a child since a Dec 2015 trip and for that I was booking/making plans probably that spring or summer. Gosh I hope they haven't done away with it. If I had to call I would keep trying until I get someone who has good English skills, and then email the company about your experience. Then again, if they're anything like Macys email customer service, they don't know English either.

 

[HHMcG]

I just booked my third Disney trip with Orbitz.

The chat feature is now gone. I used their 'contact us' feature under 'customer service' which sent an email. I had my reply email containing my Disney confirmation number within 20mins. Added it to MDE without problem. I did have to change the mailing address for our magic bands.

Yes, Orbitz has fixed the issue with adding kids to your room. I was able to list my 3 kids on the original reservation with no additional charge.
The $28 mark up one of you is seeing for an adult child may very well be $25 + tax. That would be 12% tax which seems steep but may be correct, I don't know.

My confirmation states there is a $25 cancellation fee. Obviously this differs from Disney. I was confident enough of the trip happening that it was worth the risk to save hundreds $ on my trip.

 

[msb578]

I just booked my third Disney trip with Orbitz.

The chat feature is now gone. I used their 'contact us' feature under 'customer service' which sent an email. I had my reply email containing my Disney confirmation number within 20mins. Added it to MDE without problem. I did have to change the mailing address for our magic bands.

Yes, Orbitz has fixed the issue with adding kids to your room. I was able to list my 3 kids on the original reservation with no additional charge.
The $28 mark up one of you is seeing for an adult child may very well be $25 + tax. That would be 12% tax which seems steep but may be correct, I don't know.

My confirmation states there is a $25 cancellation fee. Obviously this differs from Disney. I was confident enough of the trip happening that it was worth the risk to save hundreds $ on my trip.

Between 12 and 13 percent room occupancy tax is correct. Depends on Orange County vs Osceola County, but they're both in that ballpark.

 

[blessedby3]

I just booked my third Disney trip with Orbitz.

The chat feature is now gone. I used their 'contact us' feature under 'customer service' which sent an email. I had my reply email containing my Disney confirmation number within 20mins. Added it to MDE without problem. I did have to change the mailing address for our magic bands.

Yes, Orbitz has fixed the issue with adding kids to your room. I was able to list my 3 kids on the original reservation with no additional charge.
The $28 mark up one of you is seeing for an adult child may very well be $25 + tax. That would be 12% tax which seems steep but may be correct, I don't know.

My confirmation states there is a $25 cancellation fee. Obviously this differs from Disney. I was confident enough of the trip happening that it was worth the risk to save hundreds $ on my trip.

That makes sense on the $25 plus tax, thanks. I am saving quite a bit so I won't stress on the cancellation fee. Just want to try and have everything figured out before I book. I will have two reservations (split stay) so it would actually be $50 to cancel but hopefully I won't have to! Just have to check with my husband on dates to make sure there is no issues with him being gone at that time.

 

[Dashzap]

Disney room pricing is based on 2 adults. Each additional adult means an additional charge, based on the resort tier. Value resorts I think it is $10+tax/night for each additional adult... Moderates $15, and Deluxes $25. DVC and FW campsites don't charge for additional adults.



edited to correct price on Deluxe additional adults

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

That makes sense on the $25 plus tax, thanks. I am saving quite a bit so I won't stress on the cancellation fee. Just want to try and have everything figured out before I book. I will have two reservations (split stay) so it would actually be $50 to cancel but hopefully I won't have to! Just have to check with my husband on dates to make sure there is no issues with him being gone at that time.

JMHO, but I would book the more expensive leg of your split stay first. It will earn more Orbucks than the less expensive stay and you can immediately use those Orbucks earned to apply toward the 2nd reservation.

 

[blessedby3]

JMHO, but I would book the more expensive leg of your split stay first. It will earn more Orbucks than the less expensive stay and you can immediately use those Orbucks earned to apply toward the 2nd reservation.

Thanks for that!! The more expensive part will be the last 3 nights. I will book that first and then book the first 5 nights It takes a village to help me think it through

 

[gottalovepluto]

...The chat feature is now gone...

NO!!!!!! I'm seriously bummed. That was SUCH an easy feature

Has anybody tried using Twitter with Orbitz? I see they have a DM option. (I've been using Twitter for more and more support lately from companies and I totally recommend it if the company has a twitter account and actively engages in customer support!)

ETA: less bummed now, Twitter is a much more convenient option for me!

 

[blessedby3]

NO!!!!!! I'm seriously bummed. That was SUCH an easy feature

Has anybody tried using Twitter with Orbitz? I see they have a DM option. (I've been using Twitter for more and more support lately from companies and I totally recommend it if the company has a twitter account and actively engages in customer support!)

ETA: less bummed now, Twitter is a much more convenient option for me!

I don't have Twitter but my daughter does. Are you saying you can go through Twitter to chat?

 

[lullwater]

Reservations using Orbitz will sometimes have your Magic Bands delivered to an Orbitz address in Chicago unless you make the change to the delivery address. Just verify your Magic Band address after making your color selection and correct it if is inadvertently being sent to Orbitz.

 

[blessedby3]

Thanks for all the help! Just booked a split stay at the CR and GF on Orbitz. It was easy and I got $67 in Orbucks to apply to my second reservation! That was a great bonus. Im pretty excited at the savings we got with the 15% off extra on Orbitz and the Orbucks! Thanks again to everyone for all the tips!

 

[onescgirl]

Can you get tickets too through Orbitz? I'm not seeing that option on the site, just hotel rooms.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I don't have Twitter but my daughter does. Are you saying you can go through Twitter to chat?

Yep! Some accounts allow you to direct message them and that creates a private chat between you and whoever you are DMing, just like an online chat. I have an account I use with a fake name & I don't write tweets myself- it's just not my thing- I just use Twitter to browse news and message companies. Through Direct Message I can give them my relevant account numbers and real name without anyone on Twitter seeing.

It's also good for in the moment travel. I had big issues with Lyft on a trip once and I DM'd them with screenshots from my phone & they processed my refund immediately. No time on the phone, no time trying to email back and forth after my trip, it was great. I've had q's for United & Alaska & both responded to me within 15 mins. I also like that I don't have to monitor it like with an online chat. I ask my q and go about my life and Twitter notifies me if they respond and I read and respond at my leisure.

 

[msb578]

Can you get tickets too through Orbitz? I'm not seeing that option on the site, just hotel rooms.

Yes! Sometimes at a discount.

Orbitz WDW Tickets

 

[magickingdomprincess]

Has anyone had luck booking 5 total (3 adults, 2 children) at Caribbean Beach? This is allowed on the Disney site but orbitz says room occupancy exceeded.

 

[blessedby3]

Just wanted to come back and post that I called orbitz after booking yesterday. I was able to have orbitz call WDW and get me my Disney reservatio

Has anyone had luck booking 5 total (3 adults, 2 children) at Caribbean Beach? This is allowed on the Disney site but orbitz says room occupancy exceeded.

You can book with 4 and then call orbitz and have them call Disney to add the other child.