Disney just screwed up so royally!

[cjsmith]

I understand there are so those are upset that I booked the two rooms and therefore took the discounted room away. This ends up happening all the time though, whether you booked one resort and then changed resorts due to the fact that you changed your mind or any other reason. There are more threads on this board about people changing their minds and changing resorts, sometimes more than once! Everytime this happens, the rooms go back to regular inventory.
I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone or ruin anyone's dream vacatioin.

 

[Stitch Inside]

If a discounted room is cancelled, it doesn't go back into the pile with the other discounted rooms... it returns to rack rate, keeping others who may be entitled to the discount from receiving it.

Do we know this for a fact? I'm sure that I've seen posts from people that had checked for an AP rate at a certain resort one day and were not able to get it, but were "magically" able to get that AP rate after checking back later.

Nonetheless, the OP should have been contacted before anything was cancelled.

 

[clkelley]

With this new policy, it sounds like if a party wants to book multiple rooms, it has to be at the same resort??

I'm thinking about making a big group reservation for my family for 2006, and some of our rooms will be at Port Orleans, French Quarter, and one of our rooms will be at Port Orleans, Riverside, because my BIL needs the room with the trundle bed.

So it sounds like, I won't be able to do that????

Carol

 

[Lewisc]

With this new policy, it sounds like if a party wants to book multiple rooms, it has to be at the same resort??

I'm thinking about making a big group reservation for my family for 2006, and some of our rooms will be at Port Orleans, French Quarter, and one of our rooms will be at Port Orleans, Riverside, because my BIL needs the room with the trundle bed.

So it sounds like, I won't be able to do that????

Carol

I've never used a TA for my Disney vacations but maybe you should give DU a shot at this. Let them worry about how to tell Disney you're going to have different family member in different resorts. If Disney asks for the names of the people in the resort and you have the same names in two different resorts for the same dates .....

 

[MDC2005]

I am hoping this only applies to reservations for DIFFERENT resorts on the same day. I have reservations for this coming Monday for 3 rooms at All Star Movies that I booked online with AAA. Nowhere did it say I couldn't do that.

 

[BostonRob]

I didn't know I was in violation of any rules. I was very, very clear when I made the YC reservation after having the BCV's reservation and again very, very clear when I put deposits down on them both. I was very clear about my needs.

Oh, since you mentioned that you knew it was against the rules in your initial post, I assumed you knew that before you made the reservations. If it went down as you explain, then you have every right to be upset. I would do as the others advise and take it up the chain until you get to somebody who will help you. Because in these situations, eventually you'll get there. But you have to be persistent.

Good luck.

 

[Nini]

IMO, I do not believe that ANY hotel chain should be allowed to dictate the number of rooms you want to book. Especially since you placed a DEPOSIT ON THE ROOM and were upfront with the situation!!!!! Yes, I know I know...it's their hotel and they can do what they want to...BUT guests pay for their hotel and for their salaries!!!

There is a saying which is applicable to the scenario posted earlier about someone noticing that CM forgot to cancel first booking and assumed that they should go ahead and do so..."Never Assume...it makes an A** out of U and ME".

Disney should definately take the high road and accomodate your needs. You should absolutely contact Disney until you get results...I have a strong feeling that they will come through in the end.

Good Luck!!!

 

[poohluvrs]

I think because you were clear w/ the booking CM about your intentions, if this was not allowed they should've let you know that and made you decide on one or the other before taking your deposits for both (which I doubt was done intentionally, as they didnt make any more money, and certainly wasted lots of time for all involved)...and they shouldn't have taken it upon themselves to decide which ressie to cancel, HOWEVER, that being said, I am in awe that Disney lets you hold multiple ressies for one trip b/c you're not sure which you can use...this explains why when I started planning our trip 2 months ago for 9 months in the future many of the room choices I wanted were taken...I thought I planned early but just not early enough, now I guess a lot of those rooms were being held by people who don't know if they want them....now I'm paying up - to the tune of an extra $2000 b/c my 1st two room choices are "taken" ...regardless, I will enjoy my trip, but "holding" multiple ressies for unsure vacationers while there are people calling in who want them and are willing to pay their deposits for them and keep them does not sound like a fair or practical business practice to me, and it sounds like they're (halfheartedly) trying to correct this...lets hope

 

[TammiMcMan]

It looks like the CM who took your second reservation made a mistake. If the 2nd room request was put under the same reservation number, would it have been a problem? Either way, the CM should have seen that when they pulled up your information. I thought they saw everything, even all your previous trips when they pull you up on their computer. At the very least, you should have been called and asked which reservation you'd like to cancel, they never should have assumed. I hope you can get it straightened out.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

When I booked our May trip back in January, I couldn't decide between Poly LVC and CR 12th floor. I asked "can I hold both and wait till my DH gets home to decide?" (BTW, there were no codes avail. yet so I wasn't trying to take anyone's codes away) The CM told me that I could not hold two different rooms. She said that the computer would pick one and cancel it. Unfortunately, for the OP, the CM allowed her to make both ressies and should have known that the computer system wouldn't allow that.

I agree with Disney's policy on double-booking, but it was the fault of the CM who allowed the OP to double-book.

Hope everything works out.

 

[Mymatisse]

Disney was wrong here. They needed to give you the chance to select which room would meet your needs. It's not like it's a situation where you are booking two rooms with the exact same number in your party. I would pursue this and find someone who can remedy this situation. There has to be someway they can make this right.

 

[Hippychickali]

I have a lot to say about this. Here goes:

Personally, I'm not sure what you are complaining about. Whether the CM you spoke to made a mistake in not telling you what you were doing was wrong is irrelevant. You knowingly went against the policy and should not have been surprised when something went awry with your reservations. I know that you said you didn't know you were doing anything wrong but that's not what you said in your OP and if you didn't think this would be problematic, why were you so careful to ask if it were ok and be very clear about what you were doing? Just because you were honest about breaking the rules doesn't make any difference. In post #13, are you saying it was the CM's idea to do this?

Also, this isn't a "huge policy change". It's been this way for quite awhile. It's just that they are really starting to crack down on those who are breaking the rules now. If you had one reservation with two rooms under it, it would not have been a problem. But you booked two rooms for the same time at two different resorts with two different reservations.

Disney has every right to care about this sort of thing because people who book two rooms who are unable or unwilling to confirm their travel plans potentially take money away from them. This happens a lot and they've become aware of it and I applaud them for finely taking action. Instead of leaving a room vacant because you cancelled at the last minute when you finally decided, they want to put someone in it who will show up and pay for the room.

Finally, I'm not sure how familiar you are with reservation systems but you said that "they" should have phoned you to discuss your options with you. "They" is a machine that automatically cancels multiple reservations. It would be really inefficent if Disney employed people to check up on these situations every time it happened. They have policies in place for a reason.

Clkelley, in your situation I would not worry. As long as you go through the group reservation process it shouldn't be a problem.

Ali

 

[MiaSRN62]

I'm just trying to be clear on this. Did the OP book 2 different ressies (2 different conf #'s) and not list the guests who would be staying in those rooms ? (i.e. sounds like she was very upfront and explained that she was in the "deciding" process). Because, unless the OP had to list the names of all the persons staying in each room, I'm not seeing that booking 2 rooms at 2 different resorts is a no-no. I did this one year (Oct 2001). We booked the WL for us and about 2 weeks later decided to "treat" my in-laws to their room. But, since I was on a limited budget and it was my treat, I booked them at the AS Music (all that was available in the values). Both ressies were under my name though since I was paying. So I did have 2 different ressie numbers under my name for the same week. I believe one should be able to do this ? Or is this a fairly new policy----I don't do this on a regular basis as I'm a DVC Member and usually stay on points. I just recently booked POP (2 rooms in my name) for this past Feb and it was ok, but I did have to list the names of each guest staying in each room (didn't have to do this with my ressie in 2001). I was wondering if the OP had to list the names of all the guests staying in EACH room/ressie and this is where the snafu occurred ? I am sorry the OP had her ressies cancelled with no notification. I think Disney should have handled it differently (i.e. explained that this would happen when they were on the phone the last time just to give the guest the "head's up" and make the decision between the two ressies).

 

[Hippychickali]

MiaSRN62, this is not a new policy and I believe it was in place in 2001. They have a better system in place now to catch these situations.

Ali

 

[cjsmith]

I agree with this as well. I think the point some are trying to make is that the OP had booked 2 rooms with the AP discount. Now, this is fine with Disney I would guess if it's the same resort. But given that's it's different resorts, Disney took the liberty of cancelling. I see the OP point in being upset about this, but when you look at all the people who didn't get an AP code this time around (and from what I read, there were quite a few), it's kind of unfair for them.

Disney was ethically wrong, but if the rules state this can't be done, then they have every right to do as they did I suppose.

Just for the record, the YC wasn't under the AP discount, it was under the FL RESIDENT discount.

There are no rules written on their website about not having not having more than one resort booked at the same time. When I made the reservation at the YC, I already had one at the BCV and told the CM that and wasn't told it was a problem, they took the reservation. Almost 2 weeks later I called back and put down a deposit on the BCV and again, the YC showed up and I told the CM (a different one now) my situation. They took the deposit on the BCV and reminded me when the deposit was due on the YC. Two days later I called Disney and gave the deposit for the YC, again with another CM. The BCV reservation showed up and I once again explained my situation, no problem I'm told and this CM took the deposit. The two reservations were allowed to sit side by side for 2 weeks without a deposit! If just one of the CM's that I dealt with had told me about the "rule" it would have been a different story.

And remember, people book their rooms all the time with discounts and then change their minds and switch resorts. No one is ever blamed when they do this and take that orginal room out of the discount pool. There are so many threads going right now about this exact same thing. People also book and cancel all the time because they change their minds about their dates or simply change their minds about going to Disney at all.
The discounts do eventually go back into the discounted pool. If they didn't, how come there have so very many times when I've called for a Fl resident discount or AP discount to not have it available only to find it later that very same day or the next day. I can't tell you how many times I've called only to call back 15 minutes later and get another CM who has a room for me. I never give up on the first no, I always call back.

I have never seen written rule about not having 2 reservations at once. There is nothing online, in their ads or brochures or on any of the confirmations. Without ever seeing it in print or hearing it from a CM, how is the general public supposed to know? God help those people who have seen the written rules and are told that value and moderate resorts only sleep 4 yet squeeze 5 in the room.

Everyone only seems to be upset because of the AP discount thing, even though that wasn't the case. If I had booked the room for rack rate would it be different in the eyes of the posters who brought this up?

 

[jckdisneybound]

I know I had to give reservations the occupants of our room, so if there are two rooms, two different hotels for the same time frame w/ the same names. Especially at the BCV and YC, I can see how that would be a red flag and be purged.

My question to the Original poster, if there was a chance your daughter was coming with you in the first place, why didn't you just stick with room that held 5 adults, and try for the other hotel your next trip?

 

[clkelley]

This rule also sounds as if guests will now not be able to work on getting their "first choice resort".

A couple of years ago, I wanted to stay at All-Star Movies. They only had a room available for my entire stay at All-Star Sports. I booked at All-Star Sports for my entire stay, then I would call periodically and try and get a night or two at All-Star Movies. One night at a time, I finally secured my entire stay at All-Star Movies, then cancelled the Sports reservation.

I'm not one to switch resorts, so if I had not been able to get my entire stay at All-Star Movies, I would have cancelled the Movies reservation.

I think it stinks that Disney is controlling their bookings in this manner.

Carol

 

[cjsmith]

I have a lot to say about this. Here goes:

Personally, I'm not sure what you are complaining about. Whether the CM you spoke to made a mistake in not telling you what you were doing was wrong is irrelevant. You knowingly went against the policy and should not have been surprised when something went awry with your reservations. I know that you said you didn't know you were doing anything wrong but that's not what you said in your OP and if you didn't think this would be problematic, why were you so careful to ask if it were ok and be very clear about what you were doing? Just because you were honest about breaking the rules doesn't make any difference. In post #13, are you saying it was the CM's idea to do this?

Also, this isn't a "huge policy change". It's been this way for quite awhile. It's just that they are really starting to crack down on those who are breaking the rules now. If you had one reservation with two rooms under it, it would not have been a problem. But you booked two rooms for the same time at two different resorts with two different reservations.

Disney has every right to care about this sort of thing because people who book two rooms who are unable or unwilling to confirm their travel plans potentially take money away from them. This happens a lot and they've become aware of it and I applaud them for finely taking action. Instead of leaving a room vacant because you cancelled at the last minute when you finally decided, they want to put someone in it who will show up and pay for the room.

Finally, I'm not sure how familiar you are with reservation systems but you said that "they" should have phoned you to discuss your options with you. "They" is a machine that automatically cancels multiple reservations. It would be really inefficent if Disney employed people to check up on these situations every time it happened. They have policies in place for a reason.

Clkelley, in your situation I would not worry. As long as you go through the group reservation process it shouldn't be a problem.

Ali

I can't find in my OP where it states that I knew I was doing something against the rules. The only thing that I can think of is where I said "I know it's not fair". Number 1, I put that knowing I was going to get slammed by some people this morning as an apology and number 2, that is very different than knowing something goes against the rules. When I called to inquire about room availability for the YC just in case my daughter decided to come, it was the CM who said, "Why don't you make both and decide when she knows her school schedule. You can cancel one and transfer the deposit to your the reservation that you keep." I guess stupid me for taking a Disney CM's advice and letting her book. AGain, like I have posted, at no time did I ever know you couldn't do this.
What about if I had booked the BCV and left a deposit and then changed it because my daughter came and booked the YC, would that still bother you because my plans had changed and I took the discounted room away from the BCV orginally. There are times when I book us into a different because the YC isn't available with the Fl resident and I keep checking back and switch resorts. I guess I have techinally taken away the room from inventory and then given it back. Sometimes the YC becomes available only a few days away from our arrival and I change it because what I wanted all along became available. As long as it's not in that 5 day window, it is my right to change resorts. It's my right as a consumer to change my travel plans at all times actually.

 

[cjsmith]

I know I had to give reservations the occupants of our room, so if there are two rooms, two different hotels for the same time frame w/ the same names. Especially at the BCV and YC, I can see how that would be a red flag and be purged.

My question to the Original poster, if there was a chance your daughter was coming with you in the first place, why didn't you just stick with room that held 5 adults, and try for the other hotel your next trip?

We are always together as 5 people. This would be our first chance to stay at the BCV in a one bedroom because for once we would only be a party of 4. When you're a party of 5, you don't have a lot of choices on where to stay and it would have been a nice thing to try something different.

The funny thing is, if I had just put one of the rooms under my husbands name it would be fine. Actually, one of the CM's that I spoke with this morning told me that I should have given ficticious names under mine!

 

[cjsmith]

I don't know - Maybe.

What if someone wanted to stay at the Yacht Club but it was already booked up when they called, and that reservation was going to be cancelled.

If what you're saying is true, and you didn't know about the policy (which is still up in the air) then I can see your gripe.

If you did know about the policy, then you can't really be mad at Disney. As someone previously said, "they" is a machine, not a particular person. Being that you've been to Disney so many times, you should know as well as anybody, most of the CR operators don't have a clue about policy. We seem to know more than they do.

Okay, so I'm a liar now. I have never stated that I knew the policy and I have said time and time again that I didn't know the policy, how can it still be up in the air?????? I have also posted that so many times I have made reservations under my name for 2 rooms and never had a problem, just this past January. They never asked who was going to be in the 2nd room, I gave them all the names when we checked in as we wanted to go to lunch and got their 1.5 hours ahead of our friends.

How many people have held a room while they contemplate their vacation or see how big the tax return is or any other reason and then cancel? Cancelling is a big part of every area of travel. Is it okay to hold a room then?