Changing reservation paid with rewards card

[bailey2007]

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask this but I hope so. On Saturday I booked myself one room for one night at Pop century for this coming Monday, October 22. I booked it online and then paid for the room with my Disney rewards card. I needed to use them up and thought this was the best way. Then yesterday, I thought it may be better to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter and pay the difference. SO I called the number on my reservation "to modify or cancel this reservation." I had to call twice and was on hold forever. I actually was on the phone for a total of 40 minutes, long distance because they don't have a toll free number. Finally I was told that I needed to pay $181.00 for the new reservation. I explained to the CM that I wanted to transfer my money paid on the original reservation to the new one and pay the difference. She said I had to cancel it and they would credit my credit card. I explained that I had used my rewards to pay for the room. She repeated the "credit your credit card" spiel. She told me that I could not change an online reservation by calling that phone number. I ended up hanging up. I tried the online "chat" box that opens up on the ressie page at Disney.com and the CM there told me that I needed to call the reservation number....Is this a Catch 22 situation? Is there anyway that I can move my reservation without cancelling the first one? I just don't want to end up with a credit of my rewards that won't show up for a month. I don't know when I will be going to WDW again and wanted to use everything up now.
Sorry for rambling- Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

 

[Cmbar]

I wish I could help you, but I would just keep trying until you get a good CM to help you. If you can't get it fixed you could always check in at POP and ask to change resorts and pay the difference there. I am not sure if an online reservation can be changed without cancelling. But they should be able to apply your payment to the new reservation. I know if you had called in for the reservation you could do this because I have done that.

Toll free number to Walt Disney Travel is 1-800-828-0228 Just push 2 for modifying a reservation.


Keep trying!

Oh and POP is wonderful, so don't stress too much! I wouldn't loose my Reward points over being at that resort. I think it is great to use up your points for a quick trip to Disney! Good luck!

 

[safetymom]

WDW policy is that they credit the first money back to the card used. They won't use it for the new reservation.

If all you wanted to do is change resorts they should have to credit back your money. You should be able to make another payment for the difference.

 

[BroadwayGirl]

IMO it is simply not worth the effort to book room only reservations online. They are much less flexible than normal room only reservations booked through DRC. And unfortunately because you decided to change so close to your travel dates they don't have much leeway to try to request a transfer of funds from one reservation to the next - they are required to collect the deposit at the time of booking. You might want to ask them to see if they can speak to their guest services team - there might be a slight (we're talking micro-pixel sized) possibility of extending the deposit requirement in order to have the funds transferred but you cannot count on that as their systems are apparently really strict about stuff like this.

As far as the Disney Rewards points it really is considered the same as a credit card so they would just credit back the points to your card.

Good luck - I hope things work out...

 

[pwrflpills]

It might be best for you to try to just forget about the POFQ and enjoy your stay at POP. I don't mean to make light of your predicament, but how seldom do you go that this is actually a problem? You'd be able to use the refunded points sometime soon, right? I guess it sounds like you're facing an expiration. That stinks. Look at it this way, at least a stay at POFQ is $181 towards another stay in the future. Otherwise, why did you get the card?

I assume any time there is a refund of points that it's not a very convenient process for the consumer. I mean, the bottom line is it's free money, but it's not real money that can be handled through the streamlined bank systems, so it's hard to complain too much. I recently got a rewards card and it took 8 weeks for my points to show up. And that was just purchases. Ironically, I used my first points for a stay across the street from DTD, but it wasn't for a Disney trip, we were in town for other events. It was painful to not be able to go to F&W this year.

 

[bailey2007]

Thanks everyone- I guess I'll just stay at POP. It will be easier than trying to change at this point.
Another question- if I get to the resort in the morning, will they keep my luggage until I return for the official check-in time of 3:00? I had thought of returning about 4:00 to do that. I know I have read of people doing that but wondered if it is standard or does it depend on who is on duty at the resort.
thanks-

 

[Cmbar]

Thanks everyone- I guess I'll just stay at POP. It will be easier than trying to change at this point.
Another question- if I get to the resort in the morning, will they keep my luggage until I return for the official check-in time of 3:00? I had thought of returning about 4:00 to do that. I know I have read of people doing that but wondered if it is standard or does it depend on who is on duty at the resort.
thanks-

Yes they will keep your luggage until you call them to bring it to your room. Good luck, I think you will love POP!

 

[safetymom]

You can go ahead and check in when you get there. If the room is ready great, if it isn't they give you the room key and a phone number. You can call the number when you are at the parks to check if the room is available. They will tell you the room number then. When you return from the parks you can go straight to your room and call to have your bags delivered. No need to cut your time short in the parks.

 

[bailey2007]

WDW policy is that they credit the first money back to the card used. They won't use it for the new reservation.

If all you wanted to do is change resorts they should have to credit back your money. You should be able to make another payment for the difference.

I called again tonight, just to see what would happen and the CM gave me exactly what I wanted. He changed my reservation to Port Orleans French Quarter and I only had to pay the difference. The phone call only took 5 minutes. Now I am so psyched! This will be my last visit to WDW for a long time I'm afraid, and I wanted to just have a really good last memory.

 

[Cmbar]

So Glad this worked for you! You just need the right CM! Have a great trip!