DCL called to alter our ressies!!!!

[HoosierFantasia]

ANd I am really upset. DCL called me today to tell me that we can NOT stay at the CR before the cruise. We have the land/sea package for June 16 with an additional night before. Their reason was that the CR as of May will no longer be available for DCL land/sea package. The block of rooms at CR available to DCL has been taken away to allow for overlow from Shades of Green. We booked this trip in July of 2000. 11 people, in four different rooms, have already sent them $12,000 and ready to send the other $8,000 Monday. They said we will have to stay in either Poly, BC, WL or Swan/Dolphin. This is unacceptable to us. As a child we always stayed at the CR. Now 15 years later the whole family is going again with Grandchildren now and we want to do it like we did as a kid. Plus the convenience of the mono and walk to MK will be very handy for the little ones. I am really upsey about this and to top it off, they offered nothing in the way of an upgrade. Not a better room on the boat, not a shipboard credit, nothing! I just cant believe it. Has anyone else got this call??
Bill

 

[CarolAnnC]

Personally, I would book the cruise portion separate from the land and you could book CR on your own for those dates. Also, you would most likely save yourself quite a bit of money by booking separately vs the land/sea package.

Good luck!

 

[LibertyBelle]

I agree with Carol, I would look into booking the land/sea seperate, DCL will still offer you ground transfers, if you need them . The only thing is you would need to find your own air (if you had air through DCL...which is usually cheaper anyway) It might be worth a try to at least see the price difference.

 

[kshabare]

Maybe you can get a discount if you explain the inconvenience. I might even ask for the military discount. AAA has suggested to DH and I in the past you should always ask if there is a military discount or manager's discount and if you can use it. Let them overcharge someone else.

Sorry for the bad news. We did CBR in 2/2000 and really enjoyed it. Another suggestion, how about trying AK?

Kim ºOº

 

[LibertyBelle]

Originally posted by kshabare
Maybe you can get a discount if you explain the inconvenience. I might even ask for the military discount. AAA has suggested to DH and I in the past you should always ask if there is a military discount or manager's discount and if you can use it. Let them overcharge someone else.
Kim ºOº

You must be active duty military to get the military discount (they will ask for id at check in... As for other discounts, they do not run promos over the summer... June, July and August are the busy season... I still have to agree w/ Carol and say look into what it would cost to do it seperate. It may not have that "Seamless" Disney experience but you would get to stay at the resort of your choice and it may save you some money.

 

[Hygiene99]

yes book Sep rately , however u may have to go else where to catch a bus for DCl if they do not have a stop there..
however the BC or the SWAN / Dolphin is a Very nice area
i think u might enjoy it More than the other area
short walk to Epcot, short short walk to Mgm
or u can stroll threw Epcot and get on the Monorail
on the day of cruise took bell service had our luggage taken to resort and we walked over to catch the bus...

 

[HoosierFantasia]

We are looking into booking it all seperate. We really wanted the seamless experience of the package.
999GHSTs - you mentioned this happened to people a few years ago that had booked the Boardwalk Resort. Do you or anyone know what kind of concessions they made for those people??
I am thinking that Dis should upgrade us for the inconvience and not giving us what we want. Like to concierge at the Poly or BC. I don't think that is too out of line. Heck, sometimes they give people that as a free upgrade for the heck of it. If they wont upgrade then we might just seperate the package ourselves.
Bill

 

[4u2dream]

We booked separately-
4 day land & 3 day Disney Wonder in May/02- It was a bit more work to plan but definately had big savings. The discounts can save you $$ to make up for the inconvenience of what has happen. Your selection of hotels/resorts is better, never mind cheaper and you will find your vacation to be more personal, because you and the family were so much more involved.
Sorry to hear about the situation, advise to you-
Don't get discouraged and allow it to influence your outlook on your vacation, It probably happened for a special (pixie dust) reason and your going to benefit from it in someway!!

 

[HoosierFantasia]

One of the supervisors called me last night and offered us a lagoon view room at either the Poly or the Grand. In our minds this is a lateral move from the CR tower. I requested an upgrade to concierge and she denied it, so far. We are all upset with this treatment and now looking at cancelling our trip. Hopefully she will come thru and call with an upgrade offer.
Bill

 

[mmouse37]

Sorry to be the party poop but I think a Lagoon View at the Poly or the Grand is not a lateral move at all. It is definitely an improvement. I know you planned quite a bit for this trip and the CR has some sentimental value for you, but really, do you think the inconvenience is worth a concierge upgrade?

Take the Grand Lagoon view....it beats the CR tower any time!!! Don't cancel your whole trip over this. Also do look into booking separately, it is not that much more work.

Just my opinion!

MJ

 

[ducklite]

Personally I see it as an upgrade if they are offering the Poly or BC as an alternate. I'd go with one of those. The monorail is really NOT as convenient as it's cracked up to be IMHO. I'd much rather have the convenience of the BC, walk to Epcot or MGM and a fast bus ride to the other parks.

Anne

 

[Michelle]

The "rack rate" for Polynesian Lagoon View for your dates is $420 plus tax per night. It's $360 plus tax per night for the Contemporary Tower. What DCL is offering you is definitely an upgraded room. I'd take the Polynesian as you are just as conveniently located as you would be at the Contemporary.

 

[HoosierFantasia]

I know the rack rates are higher for LV at the Polynesian than the CR tower but its basically the same thing. It just happens to cost a little more at the Polynesian. I know there are some benefits to staying at the Polynesian but the sentimental value of our family staying at CR is whats important.

"Unlimited Park hopper...................$300
A night at the Contemporary ........$360
Seeing your daughters face lite up seeing the view from the room and reminiscing back to your own childhood..........Priceless!"

Sorry I had to do that, but I do love those commercials. Even though the Polynesian LV cost more it just isn't an upgrade in our view.

Will keep you all informed as the drama unfolds.

Bill

 

[Lisa F]

If the sentimental value is what's important, then how would concierge at either of these places make up for switching? You'd be better off just breaking up your reservation and booking the resort of your choice separately. I don't understand how the upgrade you've received could never replace the contemporary, but concierge service can?

Yes, it's an inconvenience to have your package changed, but they are offering you an upgraded room for the inconvenience. I'm sorry that you do not feel that this is enough for you, but Disney is being more than fair in this. Sometimes things change. It's Disney's responsibility to offer something comparable in exchange... not only are they doing that, but they are giving you an upgrade.

Lisa

 

[CRB#33]

OMG, I'd die for a lagoon view at the Grand Floridian. The ultimate for me.

 

[HoosierFantasia]

I guess some people are passive and some more aggresive. I, on one hand, am not one too get pushed around especially when I plan in advance and even pre-pay most of the reservation. I am sure there is a happy medium there somewhere. I will probably ask too much, there initail "upgrade" is too little, so we can meet in the middle. It's like buying a used car, its a up for negotiating.

 

[mmouse37]

I don't think Disney was intending to "push" you around or that being passive is a negative as you made it sound. Realizing that what Disney offered is better is not being passive.

Yes, it is a definite disappointment not to be getting the CR but there are constantly changes being made at Disney. If you were onboard and there was a storm, Disney has the right to change itineraries and ports with no compensation due the guest. This is plainly stated in the cruise documents.

I am not sure the policy of Disney hotel rooms, but it is probably in fine print somewhere!!

Seriously, since it sounds like you are going to pursue this matter don't be too "aggressive" . Remember the old saying....you get more flies with honey than vinegar!!! I would play up the sentimental value.

Good luck.

MJ

 

[HoosierFantasia]

I didn't mean to make it sound like being passive was a bad thing. Different means to an end is what i meant.
And yes I am working the sentimental angle big time.
As far as the crusie line analogy, I have to say that I would be upset if ports were changed, but I understand because of the weather. THat is out of their control. However, moving people out of one hotel to make room for others is their doing.
You know whats funny? CRO called me Saturday, Sunday and Monday to try and get me to accept the change. She told me whe would see what she could do each time and would call me the next day, which she did. The funny thing is on Monday I said I didnt think this was going to be acceptable to the group and what we needed to do to get our money back. Not the whole thing, just the $10,000 we sent in early and leave our deposits in case we decide to accept. The CRO said she didnt think we could do that. That was funny in itself. But then she said shw would look inot it and call me the next day. Guess what? NO call yesterday.
The bitter tast is coming back,
Bill

 

[Lisa F]

Sentimental shouldn't be an "angle." If the rooms at the contemporary have sentimental value to you then cancel the land portion of the trip and book at the contemporary. To me, that's the simple solution to this.

If you are looking to wring as much "free" as you can out of Disney, that's an entirely different story. Again, I do not understand how suddenly the "sentimental value" thing goes poof the second you get concierge service.

Actually, by really pushing the "sentimental angle" you might do yourself more harm than good because 1) the person on the other end will get the perception that NOTHING will make you happy but the contemporary and/or 2) make the person helping you realize that you are just using it to get what you want, ie concierge service for free, and be more resistant to give it to you. No one likes to be manipulated.

By the way, being aggressive is generally NOT a good way to get what you want. Being assertive is, but part of being assertive is also being fair. I'm sorry that you do not feel that Disney is being fair in their offer of an upgrade for your "inconvenience" and I'm sorry that you feel bitter because of it.

Lisa

 

[my3kids]

The AP rate in the summer at the Contemporary is $252 for the tower. Only one person needs the pass to qualify for the rate. Why keep agonizing over what DCL did to you and take control of the situation. Even if you get the conceige at some other resort, it sounds like you'll still be sorry it isn't the regular room at the Contemporary. Have DCL apply the $10,000 to the 4 night cruise(or 3 night....whichever it was) and cancel the Land/Sea package. Book only the cruise with DCL and get those rooms in the Contemporary you want. If the look in your child's eyes is priceless, then quit waiting for DCL to come through for you. Book it quickly on your own before they aren't available anymore.