Did I do a horrible thing??

[Tina]

I'm feeling very guilty about what I just did. I had used Dreams Unlimited to book our stay later this month. We were booked in a discounted WL standard room for 6 nights for $149 with a ressie at ASM for the 7th night. I had written my Dreams agent yesterday afternoon to ask her to check on any availability at WL for that last night (none had been available earlier). She wrote me late this afternoon to tell me she had found a Woods view room at only $139 (AP Rate) and asked if I wanted to book it. I told her yes. I know she works another job in the evening and I hadn't heard from her, so I got anxious and called CRO myself. Not only was the last night available, but all the rest were too!! I told the agent to book them and I said I would cancel with my agent later. So I now have a Woods view instead of a standard view and a cheaper rate to boot! But I also have this sinking feeling in my stomach about going over the agent's head. Did I do a horrible thing? By the way, I did write the agent and explain everything, including an offer to transfer the ressie to her so she can still get her commission.

 

[jaysue]

I would give the agent a call and explain what had happened and let them at least try and match the rate.

Thanks
jaysue

 

[mickeysaver]

No offense meant to the agent, but they should be the one to apologize. It sounds like they let you down. Good job in taking care of business. Mickey

 

[jaysue]

It is unusal for this to happen with Dreams Unlimited, Tina did you tell them when you booked that you were an AP holder? Wondering if wires crossed and they did not have you down as eligible for an AP discount?

thanks
jaysue

 

[Tina]

Yes, she knew I was an AP holder. We currently have an AP rate at ASM for our first night - and our last night was AP at ASM as well. The WL stay in the middle was booked at another, but higher, discounted rate. I think these rooms at WL were just recently freed up.

I just sent her another email offering her the opportunity to call CRO in the morning and try to change the ressie she booked to this same deal. Then I will cancel the one I made.

 

[Gillian]

You can always transfer your new reservation over to them. It's very simple! This way, you get the better rate, plus the services that Dreams offers.

I've actually done the same thing once or twice. I'm a bit of a control freak, and it's easier (mentally) for me to call myself and book a new rate. Then I just transfer it over, no big deal.

 

[Honeychild]

I recently had a similiar thing happen to me with DU. I have reservations with DU for POFQ. Well, POFQ is closing and my agent e-mailed me my upgrade options. I had read on these boards about some great offers and the offer she sent wasn't to good. So, I called Disney myself, received fantastic rates, and the Disney agent gave me the correct code to change my reservations with. I then e-mailed the information to my agent, she made the changes, and she apologized that I had to call for myself. I was worried about calling and I certainly understand that different people get different info when they call.

The latest thing I did was over a PS. I had made a last minute request and my agent emailed me that it was unavailable. She also made another suggestion for dinner. I decided to call myself and I got the PS. Again, no big deal.

Stop beating yourself up! Transfer your rooms to DU and start planning a wondeful trip!

 

[Planogirl]

It's a good idea to check yourself once in a while IMO. I once had an Internet travel agent (NOT Dreams Unlimited) quote prices at the resort I wanted at a very high rate. I thought that the resort must be in big demand so I thought nothing of it and stayed with another resort. I played around on Expedia one evening and found much lower rates for the other resort than what I'd been quoted.

I don't think that the agent meant anything bad by it but they can miss things sometimes IMO.

 

[Bottlejet]

I have found that most travel agencies are very inconsistent (including Dreams Unlimited, I've used them twice) in their pricing. Sometimes the rates they quote are real bargains and other times they are not even close to reality. My strategy has always been to check with several travel agents and see what they can do. Once in awhile they come in with a great price, however, more often than not they don't. The Internet has cut the legs out from under most travel agents.

 

[miko]

I'm feeling very guilty about what I just did.

I would not. You utilize a service for benefit to you. I think when you tell DU about your finding better rates they should evaluate their current sources and adjust accordingly. In this day and age of incredible data availability, service organizations such as travel agents must keep at least in pace with their clientel. Ihave used DU in the past but I always check latest rates and codes "just in case". I think you can still xfer ressies to DU to take advantage of their other services.

 

[gonga]

You should definately not feel guilty or bad. She dropped the ball. I am a TA I do not work for a Wholesale Travel Agency. When any of my clients want a Disney Vacation I book directly thru Disney. Even my own trips are done thru WDWTC. I recently extended my own trip without a problem, no changing rooms thru WDWTC.

When you book a trip thru a wholesale agency, they buy blocks of rooms/airline seats. When you make your reservation thru them say months in advance, that reservation is thru the wholesaler. Your reservation does not get reserved in the Disney computers until 5 days before your arrival. So people that request certain rooms, that book thru WDWTC/CRO will more than likely get their request because it is in the Disney reservation system immediately. This was told to me by a manager at WDWTC, and although many people may be happy with a wholesale travel agency, sometimes it is better to call WDWTC/CRO directly too and compare prices. Once you book thru a wholesaler you are locked in, and if you cancel - even a day later you may wind up paying $100.00 per person in cancellation fees. A TA that calls WDWTC directly and plans your trip does not make any commission from the client but is paid by Disney for booking the trip.

Watch your prices, before I was a TA and booked vacations (non Disney) thru wholesalers (which can only be booked thru a TA), I found their prices to be higher on rooms and airfare. So shop around, know your prices and read the FINE PRINT.

 

[Tina]

Thanks everyone for your replies. My Dreams agent was very nice about all of this. She will attempt to transfer the ressie today, but its not likely to happen since its less than 14 days prior to the ressie.

 

[goofy4tink]

OMG, you sound just like me. I wish I had read this thread earlier! I'm currently using DU also. I guess I didn't tell my agent I'm a DC member. I was booked at WL for 8 nights this Aug. Well, I could barely sleep last night, wondering what the day would bring in discounts. I emailed my agent that I was a DC member and gave her my member # last night. THis morning comes and nothing from her at all. Sooooo, I get on phone to Disney myself. First I book a FT package for WL. THen change my mind and call and cancel that one and book it for Polynesian!! THen I get an email from DU saying..."Oh didn't know you were a DC member. I can book it for you." I email back that I already booked it and about the change in resorts. I tell her that I'll call and cancel if she's going to rebook it. She should get her commission, she has worked for it so far. She says she doesn't think they'll let her book it if I'm already holding one, so I cancel mine. That was at 9:20 this morning. It's now 11 and I haven't heard anything. I'm going slightly crazy here. I dont' want to leave the computer for anything. I have groceries to buy, paint to buy and paint my playroom etc, etc. I really need a vacation now!!
Diane

 

[Tina]

LOL Diane! I guess we should both just handle it ourselves next time. I don't know about you, but I'm way to anal to sit around and wait for someone else!!

 

[maggiew]

It seems to me that with email and cell phones, etc. that people are used to INSTANT information and have become very impatient. It sounds from your original post that you made a request one afternoon. She responded the next afternoon with an offer. You replied back with a Yes. Then she didn't email you back THAT night and you got impatient and called CRO yourself the next day?? It doesn't seem like you gave her much time.

I have never used a travel agent, so I can't really say, but it seems like you wouldn't do this with a B&M travel agent. It sounds like you cost her the commission.

I am not flaming or bashing, just giving my opinion. If you don't want the TA to do the work for you, then don't use one.

Maggie

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, I know that I, for one, got caught up in the 'heat of the moment' today!!! I did email my poor beleaguered DU agent and got on my knees and apologized for causing her any distress. She was most gracious in saying.."Aw..don't worry about it. Happens a lot. We'll get it figured out. No need to apologize." Now, I am the happy recipient of a Fairy Tale package for 8 nights at the Polynesian. All's well that ends well.

 

[Tina]

Ok Maggie, I can see your point - if I were booking a hotel stay somewhere else. But we're talking about AP rates at a Disney resort less than 2 weeks before my stay. These AP rates were not previously available (sold out), so you how many days do you think I should have waited, considering that discounted rooms are snatched up as quickly as they are? I think waiting more than 24 hours was much more than adequate.

 

[peachgirl]

Of course you didn't do a horrible thing! If you can get a better rate handling it yourself, what's the good of a travel agent?

AP rates aren't something you can sit around and wait to get. If you want them, you better take them the second you can. I doubt your agent faults you either. You're not obligated to take chances on paying higher rates so that the TA can get a commission.

 

[lucysdad]

We experienced a similar problem with DU. I am an original WDW visitor from year 1 and lately we have been going to WDW every summer to expose our little one to the magic. We love these boards and although we usually book everything ourselves we thought let's try the DU services. Well, our agent told us on two separate occassions that Disney wouldn't let her do something that I knew we could do. So I did the work myself. But when she neglected to inform us that the AP pass rates were out and she booked us into another DU special package, I called CRO myself and took care of it. She knew about our options as DC members and I specifically asked her to check into AP rates. I guess maybe she could have gotten a bigger commission from her package, but she didn't provide us with the service we wanted and so she wound up with no commission. If you don't provide the service, then you really aren't entitled to the business. Travel agents have to be one up on their customers to stay in business now.

 

[Bottlejet]

Originally posted by lucysdad
We experienced a similar problem with DU. I am an original WDW visitor from year 1 and lately we have been going to WDW every summer to expose our little one to the magic. We love these boards and although we usually book everything ourselves we thought let's try the DU services. Well, our agent told us on two separate occassions that Disney wouldn't let her do something that I knew we could do. So I did the work myself. But when she neglected to inform us that the AP pass rates were out and she booked us into another DU special package, I called CRO myself and took care of it. She knew about our options as DC members and I specifically asked her to check into AP rates. I guess maybe she could have gotten a bigger commission from her package, but she didn't provide us with the service we wanted and so she wound up with no commission. If you don't provide the service, then you really aren't entitled to the business. Travel agents have to be one up on their customers to stay in business now.

Well said! And the same thing goes for DVC property rentals. You can save a lot of money if you know the ropes. Otherwise those folks that work on commission selling and renting properties can take advantage of visitors.