Didn't do my homework - mistakes - Clarifications for next time

[Shiningstar77]

So about 3 weeks ago we decided to go to Disney. We had saved for a vacation and never planned it. Waiting for friends to decide etc. Anyway we've been crazy busy and decided it was time to go. I started looking at Miami and it was so expensive I said... Oh I bet this would be cheaper at DIsney - It was btw.

SO I have a facebook friend that does disney vacation planning I contacted her and just booked standard room at art of animatiion with 7 day tickets (non hopper) for 2 adults (we also have a 2 year old ) and the middle dining plan (I know character meals were in our future. THat was where I focused my attention.

SO our two year old doesn't sleep with us - nor does she sleep in a stroller or in the car (ever - yes it's great) Although I realize exhaustion might play a part in disney - we were talking about how difficult it will be to get her down to sleep in a standard room - because we'd be in the room (I think every nap will be a struggle and i'm not sure how much time it will take to get her to sleep and us sitting in silence (I wish this would have occured to me before booking)

So I decided I'd price the upgrade - as you can guess it's 7 nights so it's around 1200.00 Meanwhile I was doing some googling and low and behold I see something about hotels.com. We could have booked a standard room on there at AKL for less than the upgraded AOA room will cost us. (Then we'd have a balcony so somewhere to go - which solves our problem)

So I was curious if we could keep our disney trip and just book the hotel and drop the hotel from our reservation (I knew it was sort of a long shot)

I called the reservations - I was on hold for 40 minutes - I thought I was lost in disney music and advertisements and I was never getting out.

Somehow I got the ruddest rep (Not so much of an apology for hold time at least the cable company does that) and she pulls up my reservation and says I can't tell you anything you have to call your travel agent. I said I just have general questions (Like if you book at these sites can you still get tickets/dining etc) She tells me she just spoke to someone who booked at HOtels.com and they couldn't have airport transportation, tickets or anything?
She then kept saying talk to your agent. I said lets pretend I booked direct and she would say I can't touch your reservation. I said could I switch hotels at this point. She said we'd charge you a 50 fee plus 15 fee if you booked with us but your travel agent might not let you at this point. Really we aren't even permitted to buy an upgrade?

I don't want to talk to the travel agent - I honestly thought she just booked for disney (It's not like she does anything but disney vacations) I thought I was booking with disney.
If that is the case what is the differentce between HOtels.com and my vacation planner.

Biggest regret using a disney vacation planner. Honestly I want to just call Disney. When I log into my disney account it says if you have questions call 407-xxx-xxxx

I was so frustrated when I got off the phone I was in tears - I remember out last trip to disney (my 1st one ) about 7 years ago calling and the folks were the nicest I didn't expect to have such an awful experience.

Do they outsoure to other countries - I felt like I was talking to someone who was just reading a scripted line over and over.

The worst part was the phone system and even the girl at the end said something about a survey which I was already looking forward to taking and I don't know how but she disconnected me. SO I couldn't even leave feedback. I emailed their email - I hope they can pull the call and give her the correct info if she was in correct.

Anway - Can disney make changes on your reservation if booked by a disney travel agent?

Can I upgrade my room? Will it cost me?

Are you really that screwed with getting tickets/airport magic express/dining plan if booking at external site?

 

[tasha99]

That stinks. Years ago I worked at a Royal Caribbean call center and it was the same. People who used Expedia would call for changes and there was nothing we could do. I always try to avoid a middleman now and book direct.

 

[Shiningstar77]

I forgot the most important question - Will I be able to upgrade our room at check in if one is available. Would it be the same price as today or do they offer any discounts at check in if rooms are available - Is there any advantage to waiting? Again Art of ANimation we go next week.

 

[MomToOne]

I used a travel agent once to book a Disney trip. Learned I really don't like giving up control that way, so never did it again.

Call your friend and tell them the deal you found. If they can't get you the same deal you can get somewhere else, then just have them cancel your booking and rebook it yourself. This is a business transaction at this point - they were making money off of your booking - so don't feel guilted into keeping something you don't want simply because they are a "friend".

 

[mjkacmom]

I used a travel agent once to book a Disney trip. Learned I really don't like giving up control that way, so never did it again.

Call your friend and tell them the deal you found. If they can't get you the same deal you can get somewhere else, then just have them cancel your booking and rebook it yourself. This is a business transaction at this point - they were making money off of your booking - so don't feel guilted into keeping something you don't want simply because they are a "friend".

The person at the call center can't talk to you - your TA owns your reservation. Frustrating, yes, but it's a fact. None of my kids ever slept with us at home, but were always fine in a hotel room. If your trip is close, book your ADR's quickly - you can do this on your own.

 

[Zim]

What the last poster said. I went through AAA once. Once. It really is frustrating but Disney will not work with you if there is any kind of go between travel agenty person. I agree you should contact your Facebook friend and let them know you are seeing prices for a room you would prefer at AKL now. The only thing she has to do is make the phone call you're not allowed to make now. It was very frustrating for me because the AAA office I used didn't have a designated Disney rep, and a lot do. So he didn't know what he was doing, had no idea there was free dining available and I basically did all the research for him and then spent two frustrating days trying to get a hold of him to fix my reservation. All the while I'm waiting for the free dining rooms to fill up, as they only block X number of rooms per hotel for those deals.

You could possibly upgrade your hotel room once you get there, from say a Little Mermaid room to a Cars Suite at the AoA.... but I don't think you could switch hotels entirely and I think you'll find the upgrade from LM room to Cars suite will be astronomical. Also, I can see why you would feel awkward canceling the vacation through your facebook friend, but do treat this like a business exchange, because that's what it is, and if she can't provide a satisfactory experience on what is a huge vacation you have saved for, I wouldn't hesitate to cancel it and work on my own. I won't book through AAA anymore.

 

[Shiningstar77]

We are within a week of our trip - Disney told me we'd lose all the money we paid which is all the trip if we cancelled it. We booked within 30 days of the stay as it was

So the person that is only a disney vacation planner isn't really the same as working right with Disney? Will disney not allow me to pay for an upgraded room at check in?

 

[hsmamato2]

I believe if you have a package booked, you can cancel without penalty 45+ days out..... If you can I would do so, and then rebook what you want on your own. If you are stuck within 45 day window, I wouldn't sweat it, I think you will be fine. At worst, you can take turns going for a walk if needed, or most likely your kiddo will be exhausted and sleep just fine. (a splash in the pool tires kids out quickly lol) Disney (I hate this) won't look at your res. if it's booked 3rd party.It's a lame,lame,stupid system. I've booked other hotels 3rd party,and able to check on res,etc easily. Disney is magically insistent on their details and rules which don't exist anywhere except in the disuniverse. I learned that lesson too,and it wasn't an easy lesson.

 

[mjkacmom]

I believe if you have a package booked, you can cancel without penalty 45+ days out..... If you can I would do so, and then rebook what you want on your own. If you are stuck within 45 day window, I wouldn't sweat it, I think you will be fine. At worst, you can take turns going for a walk if needed, or most likely your kiddo will be exhausted and sleep just fine. (a splash in the pool tires kids out quickly lol) Disney (I hate this) won't look at your res. if it's booked 3rd party.It's a lame,lame,stupid system. I've booked other hotels 3rd party,and able to check on res,etc easily. Disney is magically insistent on their details and rules which don't exist anywhere except in the disuniverse. I learned that lesson too,and it wasn't an easy lesson.

Cruise lines work the same way if you book through a third party, which is why I prefer to book directly, unless the TA offers some nice incentives.

 

[Shiningstar77]

I wish someone would have told me this. I actually knew she was a disney vacation planner but in my head that never meant travel agent. I just figured it was a disney subcontract type of job so they don't have to pay call center help - I saw the price online and hers was the same. She booked me right in the system. There is no perk to this at all.

So has anyone upgraded at check in. Since our trip is 3/3 -3/10 (next week) they still have rooms left would I get a discount if I upgraded to a suite (same hotel) at check in or would it be the full price?

I am starting to wish we went to Miami.

 

[tzeitel]

It would be rack rate. I worked at the Y&BC front desk and the agents at the fd do not have access to any discount rates, just rack rate.

 

[Shiningstar77]

Thanks everyone that is good to know.
I looked it up and it looks like the penalty for cancelling in such a short time would be 200.00 MIght still be worth it. Good to know the check in will be rack rate.

 

[My3Princez]

You really will need to speak to your travel agent (Disney Vacation Planner) and see what you can work out. Tell her about the AKL room you saw and see if she can make it happen. She may not be able to get you AS GOOD of a deal on that as if you were booking from scratch, but maybe she can get something close to it. Disney's policy is that if you make changes to your reservation this close to the trip, there is a change fee ($50). If you cancel, you get a refund less $200. The change fee is usually waived if the change you are making results in a more expensive trip. But bottom line, since you started the process with your friend, you need to talk to them to see what your options are.

 

[Zim]

In your position given how close it is to going there, I would wait until I checked in. Then at the check-in counter explain the situation: that this was a short notice trip, you went through a 3rd party not knowing it would be so complicated to make any changes, and that if it's available for around X price you would really love to upgrade. X price meaning bring the prices you got quotes for online for the AoA Suite and AKL, I'd even go so far as to bring the print outs. If a room IS available, even at another hotel, they might make it available because they'll get more money from you and it frees up the high demand Little Mermaid rooms. I've seen people get pixie dust upgrades like that simply because it worked out for Disney (a coworker's family went down and checked in at AoA and got a magical upgrade to Wilderness Lodge!! - They probably overbooked the rooms and my coworker lucked out)

I wouldn't eat the $200, I think that'll just put a sour taste in your mouth for the trip, and really how much time do you spend in the room? I think you'll find the tyke is exhausted after a long time in the Florida sun running around the parks and swimming if they can only accommodate the LM room). There is a smaller pool right in front of the LM rooms - very convenient for that last bit of kid energy.

 

[runsandjumps]

I would just explain the situation at the front desk.

I too made a booking for next week just a couple weeks ago, and have learned I don't like using third parties at all. I booked our flight direct and should have just booked the hotel and passes through the resort. Sometimes it seems the savings get eaten up in frustration and anxiety. I hope you enjoy your trip.

 

[PrincessMama605]

I wouldn't wait until check-in, you may not be able to upgrade at all especially if you are looking at another hotel. I would call your friend and see if she what she can do for you. As far as I know Disney doesn't charge you the fee to change if the change means any upgrades or more $$. The worst case scenario is that she can't do any thing and since it's too late to cancel you will be stuck with your original booking. But on the bright side, you are going to Disney!! AoA has amazing theming, you are going to love it! Make sure you plan some time just to walk around and take pics. Plus Disney really does tire you out, your little one may just fall asleep because she's worn out after a full day.

 

[smiths02]

Just talk to your TA. You are nearly in tears, but you can't call your TA? If she is a Disney Vacation Planner, she can handle this.

FWIW, the advantage to a TA over hotels.Com is that a TA will help you plan your trip, a live person you can talk to who should be more knowledgeable than hotels.Com (or even a call center person), can help you make dining reservations, watch discounts for you, etc. And you don't pay extra for those services.

 

[tinkerone]

would NEVER book a wdw stay with a ta again. the one and only time I used one it was a nightmare trying to get free dinning when it came out. I had three other reservations for family members that I had booked myself however I had a ta who booked a dcl cruise for me and dh tacked on to a wdw stay so I let her do it all. was able to get free dinning for my family members but it took days before the ta would respond to me and get the free dinning. she said she had to many to do and would work on them as she could.
NEVER NEVER again! there's just no upside.

 

[Firefly09]

1. How much is the price difference between upgrading to AKL and the AOA upgrade? If it is <$200 then I would book AKL and then cancel your AOA room which will save your dining reservations.

2. how much is AKL on disney's website? You mentioned it was less, just have your TA call and change you to AKL, should not be difficult at all.

3. the cast member you spoke with on the phone probably just wanted to get you off the phone since she knew that 1) there was nothing she can do for your reservation 2)she's not going to get any credit for a new reservation.

I talked to an AAA agent once about a Disney vacation and will never even think about using a TA again. I just wanted to see if they had any special offers, which they didn't, and when I said I wanted to think about it she became very pushy, so it's all about the sale.

Ok, i just did a quick search on Disney for 3/2-3/9 and the pool view at AKL is cheaper than the LK room at AOA. So I would just have the TA change it ASAP. That is, if you're committed to upgrading in one way or another.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Are you sure a balcony is going to solve your problem? Is your 2 yr old going to want to stay alone in a strange, dark room while you guys go outside? I'm just wondering if you might be better off just staying at A0A, especially if you can upgrade to a suite - young children tend to love it there, and at least you'll be inside and just in the next room, right? Call the person who booked it and see if she can upgrade - I doubt it will be a problem unless the resort is full. Then stop awfulizing - you're going to have a blast with your DD once you get there!