DCL Policy Changed With out Notice

[AmyAnne]

I'm not arguing this point and have always booked this way. But, DCL allowed the transfers when OP booked. How could she guess, this would change and be retroactive? Not everyone is as...uh, um, er "dedicated" crazy2 to the DIS and privy to Disney's day to day policy rumors/changes/updates, as some of us.

Plus, the change became effective pretty much as soon as it was announced. So even if the OP had known about the change on the day that DCL made it, it probably would not have helped her.

 

[tweis]

originally posted by justmestace
And again, why should they? Why would they pay their reservation agents, just so someone could turn around and give their business to someone else?
If you want to use a TA, do it from the start.

originally posted by Meghatron
THIS. People were working the system in a way it was not intended to be used. It finally cut into profits in a way DCL noticed, so they closed the loophole. If people want an OBC, they need to book with a TA from the beginning. It's a privilege that has to be earned, not a right.


Well said. I guess I don't understand why you wouldn't just name your TA from the start or transfer rather quickly after booking. I understand people not wanting to bother their TA with moving their reservation multiple times but that is what a TA does. DCL certainly isn't the first company to change a policy and not notify their clients with the change until AFTER the new policy is in affect.

 

[lodge]

In my mind, the question isn't what policy Disney should have about transfers--the question is whether they should honor the policy that was in effect when a booking was made.

We can debate about whether the old or new policy makes better financial sense for Disney, but that is not the point. The old policy might have persuaded some people to book on board--encouraging impulse booking for people who might have been tempted to wait and contact a TA later. Obviously, Disney decided that the better policy for them is to not allow transfers after 30 days. I am totally fine with that, for bookings made after that change in policy was announced. But when I made my reservation, Disney said that I could transfer it to a TA so long as the final payment had not been made. Is Disney legally bound to honor that? Apparently not. But it still feels wrong to me that they are not honoring it.

I was thinking along the same lines as you, then went through the process of transferring to costco immediately (when I heard at the beginning of Feb). As it turned out, it wasn't Disney that had trouble honoring the policy being grandfathered, but rather the TA. The policy change is with the travel agent, though it affects the customer. After the cut off point, the TA doesn't receive the benefits it did prior.

When I transferred my cruise (well after the cut-off), my agent knew if it wasn't honored, I'd cancel ALL cruises I had booked with them, so they honored my transfer. Other agents are unable or unwilling to be flexible in that area.

When I realized that it wasn't Disney that I was trying to get cooperation from, but the TA, I could focus on what needed to be done to facilitate the transfer. Disney customer service was more than willing to do the change. Now, this was at the beginning of February, so I don't know the details now... just want others to know my experience to see if they can apply it to their own.

 

[justmestace]

I'm not arguing this point and have always booked this way. But, DCL allowed the transfers when OP booked. How could she guess, this would change and be retroactive? Not everyone is as...uh, um, er "dedicated" crazy2 to the DIS and privy to Disney's day to day policy rumors/changes/updates, as some of us.

But the OP had nine months to change it.

And no matter when a business makes a change, someone is going to be unhappy about it.
When it was booked onboard, it WAS okay to transfer. The onboard agent had no way of knowing the policy was going to change.

I could get a Whopper at BK today and if they quit making them tomorrow I wouldn't expect to be notified. It just doesn't make sense.

 

[erinfarber]

I just need some help in understanding all of this. My head is spinning having read all 4 pages of this thread. I really just need some advice. I am booked for a cruise in May on the Fantasy. My intention was to re-book another cruise while onboard and receive all the DCL benefits ( OBC, reduced deposit and 10% off) I am naming Costco as my agent. My question is , Do i have to have a definitive date in mind for next cruise? Can I just book a 7 day on the Fantasy and pick any random date and then change it later? Or is this part of the new policy changes everyone is upset with ? So confused !

 

[AmyAnne]

But the OP had nine months to change it.

I could get a Whopper at BK today and if they quit making them tomorrow I wouldn't expect to be notified. It just doesn't make sense.

A better analogy is if I bought something at Target last week and was told that I had 30 days to return it. But when I tried to return it today, I was told, sorry, we changed the policy yesterday and we no longer accept returns.

I really don't understand people telling the OP that she should have transferred sooner, when DCL told her that she could transfer up until the final payment.

 

[justmestace]

A better analogy is if I bought something at Target last week and was told that I had 30 days to return it. But when I tried to return it today, I was told, sorry, we changed the policy yesterday and we no longer accept returns.

I really don't understand people telling the OP that she should have transferred sooner, when DCL told her that she could transfer up until the final payment.

As a business owner, it is within their right to change policies at any time. ANY business, any policy.
As a consumer, you have the right to take your business elsewhere.


My mind doesn't work in the way some people's do. I wouldn't go through all that....book onboard to get this discount, that OBC...and then move it to get more. That, to me, is just cheating.

 

[ranidayz]

If you book onboard DCL does give you 10% off cruise cost plus OBC based on the length of your cruise. If you NAME your TA while making your onboard booking, many TAs such as Dreams Unlimited will also give you onboard credit based on the cost of your cruise. Until recently DCL pretty much gave you any length of time before your PIF to transfer your booking to a TA such as costcotravel.com but changed that policy in February. Now you have 30 days from the time of booking to transfer to a TA. Most TAs offer reduced OBC for transferred reservations but with costcotravel.com you could transfer and receive a cash card based on cruise cost.
In May I will be booking onboard and naming Dreams Unlimited as my TA that way I can receive $200 OBC from DCL for my 7 night plus $250 from DU!

We actually DID name Costco when we booked onward. When I happened to see the original discussion on Feb 1 on the DIS, I went to check my reservation and didn't see one from Costco. Many phone calls later it was resolved, noted as the error of the person making the reservation onboard.

And I'm not sure it was a consensus that Disney didn't have to inform anyone of the policy change. I think it was a couple insistent posters. In my opinion, all previously existing reservations should have been notified and given a 30 day grace period.

 

[sara mom]

fyi....DCL is not the only cruise line that has the 30 day rule. Royal Caribbean does as well. Not sure about the others, as we only cruise RCCL and Disney these days.

 

[tweis]

We actually DID name Costco when we booked onward. When I happened to see the original discussion on Feb 1 on the DIS, I went to check my reservation and didn't see one from Costco. Many phone calls later it was resolved, noted as the error of the person making the reservation onboard.

And I'm not sure it was a consensus that Disney didn't have to inform anyone of the policy change. I think it was a couple insistent posters. In my opinion, all previously existing reservations should have been notified and given a 30 day grace period.

I don't recall saying that it was the consensus that Disney didn't have to inform anyone of the policy change however, companies can and do change their policies all the time without notifying their customers.

As for my answer above that you quoted, someone asked why you would name Costco or any other TA and what the benefit was, and I simply answered. I'm sorry you had problems with your onboard booking but I was explaining the benefits that are received from booking with certain TAs while booking onboard.

 

[ranidayz]

I don't recall saying that it was the consensus that Disney didn't have to inform anyone of the policy change however, companies can and do change their policies all the time without notifying their customers.

As for my answer above that you quoted, someone asked why you would name Costco or any other TA and what the benefit was, and I simply answered. I'm sorry you had problems with your onboard booking but I was explaining the benefits that are received from booking with certain TAs while booking onboard.

No worries - I couldn't double quote from my phone. I quoted you because apparently my naming my TA didn't go through and led to quite a headache once I happened to find out about the policy change which should not have affected me at all - but because it wasn't recorded properly - wound up affecting me.

Someone prior to you said that in a prior discussion on DIS that the consensus was that Disney didn't have to inform people. I don't think there was mass agreement here - just a couple posters who insisted. Sometimes an obligation and an ethical consideration are two very different things.

 

[neg58]

A better analogy is if I bought something at Target last week and was told that I had 30 days to return it. But when I tried to return it today, I was told, sorry, we changed the policy yesterday and we no longer accept returns.

I really don't understand people telling the OP that she should have transferred sooner, when DCL told her that she could transfer up until the final payment.

I don't think DCL ever told anyone they had a right to transfer a reservation to a TA and receive anything. TA's have told people they will accept reservations before PIF date and receive an OBC or Costco card or whatever. Disney changed only the commission to the TA, and that caused the TA's to change the offers of OBC to their customers.

There have been a few threads on here about getting gift cards at Target or Sams or BJ's for 4-5% off, or even $10. Disney could pull all the cards out of those stores tomorrow and none of us would have any right to claim "Hey, I was going to buy gift cards next week and this isn't fair."

There is a way around this policy for most people, and that is to cancel the reservation and start again with Disney or take your business elsewhere. It may mean that you are going to lose the OBC and 10% discount you had with that reservation, but that's a choice only the buyer can make. There might be even a BETTER deal out there.

Nancy

 

[tweis]

No worries - I couldn't double quote from my phone. I quoted you because apparently my naming my TA didn't go through and led to quite a headache once I happened to find out about the policy change which should not have affected me at all - but because it wasn't recorded properly - wound up affecting me.

Someone prior to you said that in a prior discussion on DIS that the consensus was that Disney didn't have to inform people. I don't think there was mass agreement here - just a couple posters who insisted. Sometimes an obligation and an ethical consideration are two very different things.

That would seriously stink! Sorry that happened to you and caused problems when it shouldn't have affected you.

 

[mickey2000]

I'm fine with the new policy as long as I continue to get free soda that I pay extra for in my cruise price!

 

[TLSnell1981]

I really just need some advice. I am booked for a cruise in May on the Fantasy. My intention was to re-book another cruise while onboard and receive all the DCL benefits ( OBC, reduced deposit and 10% off) I am naming Costco as my agent. My question is , Do i have to have a definitive date in mind for next cruise? Can I just book a 7 day on the Fantasy and pick any random date and then change it later? Or is this part of the new policy changes everyone is upset with ? So confused !

As of today (subject to change without notice ) you can book a dummy date and name Costco as your TA. You will need to call Costco with your onboard confirmation #, so they can move it. This was not done automatically, when I booked last week.

.

 

[AmyAnne]

Disney changed only the commission to the TA, and that caused the TA's to change the offers of OBC to their customers.

More misinformation. Costco is willing to offer the incentive for transferred reservations but DCL refuses to approve the transfer.

 

[neg58]

More misinformation. Costco is willing to offer the incentive for transferred reservations but DCL refuses to approve the transfer.

Why would a TA take the reservation (and offer the OBC) if the TA is not going to get a commission? That would be like bringing your own food to a restaurant, having them do the cooking work, and then just leaving without paying the restaurant anything.

If Costco is willing to offer the OBC without receiving a commission, that's just bad business.

Nancy

 

[AmyAnne]

Why would a TA take the reservation (and offer the OBC) if the TA is not going to get a commission? That would be like bringing your own food to a restaurant, having them do the cooking work, and then just leaving without paying the restaurant anything.

If Costco is willing to offer the OBC without receiving a commission, that's just bad business.

Nancy

I would guess that Costco still gets enough in commission from DCL to make it worth their while to accept transferred reservations. The information that was posted here said that TAs receive less from DCL for a transferred reservation, not that the TAs receive nothing.

 

[lanejudy]

I would guess that Costco still gets enough in commission from DCL to make it worth their while to accept transferred reservations. The information that was posted here said that TAs receive less from DCL for a transferred reservation, not that the TAs receive nothing.

You are only partially correct. TAs will receive less for reservations transferred WITHIN 30 DAYS than when the TA is named up front or the reservation is initiated through the TA. They will receive nothing from DCL for reservations tranferred after the 30 day period. That is the change of policy.

 

[luv2sleep]

You are only partially correct. TAs will receive less for reservations transferred WITHIN 30 DAYS than when the TA is named up front or the reservation is initiated through the TA. They will receive nothing from DCL for reservations tranferred after the 30 day period. That is the change of policy.

Oh I thought reservations couldn't be transferred after the first month at all?