Downgrading Cabin after PIF Date

[MamaBear58]

Is this possible and if so, is there a penalty or will Disney refund the entire difference? Also, we booked first day pricing...will that be honored? Thanks.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I don't believe you can downgrade and get a refund after PIF. Opening day pricing would be honored, but that really isn't your biggest issue here.

 

[RedSox68]

First day pricing will not be honored if you change your reservation -- you will have to pay current pricing and it will probably not be cost effective for you to downgrade. Plus, I don't think Disney would allow it after PIF.

 

[MamaBear58]

So first day pricing is only honored on a change I make before I PIF?

 

[lanejudy]

I suggest you call. I recall reading a report from someone who downgraded their cabin after PIF. There may be a change fee involved, but it shouldn't be a complete cancellation to change categories even as a downgrade. And I would expect them to honor the earlier price-point just as they would for an upgrade, even after PIF. However, be aware that you cannot "downgrade" to a special offer (like IGT or MTO or such) -- those require new bookings and would be a cancellation of your current reservation including any penalties depending how close you are to the sail date.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[MamaBear58]

I suggest you call. I recall reading a report from someone who downgraded their cabin after PIF. There may be a change fee involved, but it shouldn't be a complete cancellation to change categories even as a downgrade. And I would expect them to honor the earlier price-point just as they would for an upgrade, even after PIF. However, be aware that you cannot "downgrade" to a special offer (like IGT or MTO or such) -- those require new bookings and would be a cancellation of your current reservation including any penalties depending how close you are to the sail date.

Enjoy your cruise!

Can you downgrade to a GTY, if that's all that is left, or can you only downgrade to a specific cabin?

 

[lanejudy]

If it's a "regular" GTY and not a special offer rate, then I believe yes you should be able to downgrade to a GTY without picking a specific stateroom. Please be aware that despite posts on the DISboards about upgrades, most GTYs are given the exact category booked, so I would not downgrade hoping/expecting a free upgrade.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[MamaBear58]

We aren't hoping for a free upgrade. We would downgrade because we are really torn about whether we want to pay as much as we are paying for the category that we are in currently (Deluxe Family Verandah). It might make sense to PIF to get the larger cabin but then after we do our taxes, if we owe a lot of money and have buyer's remorse on the cost of the cabin, downgrade to something more reasonable. But if we book the more reasonable price now, we may not be able to get the larger room later, you know?

If it's a "regular" GTY and not a special offer rate, then I believe yes you should be able to downgrade to a GTY without picking a specific stateroom. Please be aware that despite posts on the DISboards about upgrades, most GTYs are given the exact category booked, so I would not downgrade hoping/expecting a free upgrade.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Dug720]

It makes sense kind of... Except after PIF you are already paid and would not get a refund - and you might even have to pay more. So why not just stay there?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

First day pricing will not be honored if you change your reservation -- you will have to pay current pricing and it will probably not be cost effective for you to downgrade. Plus, I don't think Disney would allow it after PIF.

How do you know this? I've always read that changing categories on the same cruise, you'd be locked into what the prices were on the day the original reservation was made. Whether it was an upgrade or a downgrade.

My take is that, if the downgrade is done after the Paid In Full date, any "extra" money would just be applied to the onboard account. DCL would still be getting that money, but it would be applied to a different cost.

If the downgrade was done before the PIF date, then the money would be refunded.

 

[RedSox68]

How do you know this? I've always read that changing categories on the same cruise, you'd be locked into what the prices were on the day the original reservation was made. Whether it was an upgrade or a downgrade.

My take is that, if the downgrade is done after the Paid In Full date, any "extra" money would just be applied to the onboard account. DCL would still be getting that money, but it would be applied to a different cost.

If the downgrade was done before the PIF date, then the money would be refunded.

Maybe I misunderstood -- but last year or so I remember someone posting that when they tried to change their stateroom on the same cruise, they had to pay current rates. Sorry if I posted the wrong info from another source

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Maybe I misunderstood -- but last year or so I remember someone posting that when they tried to change their stateroom on the same cruise, they had to pay current rates. Sorry if I posted the wrong info from another source

If they were changing their stateroom due to adding an additional person, the additional person(s) will be charged the prevailing cost, but all others already on the reservation get the prices that were effective the day the original booking was made.

 

[MamaBear58]

How do you know this? I've always read that changing categories on the same cruise, you'd be locked into what the prices were on the day the original reservation was made. Whether it was an upgrade or a downgrade.

My take is that, if the downgrade is done after the Paid In Full date, any "extra" money would just be applied to the onboard account. DCL would still be getting that money, but it would be applied to a different cost.

If the downgrade was done before the PIF date, then the money would be refunded.

I would be fine with a credit to the onboard account--based on my past account balances and the fact that the Alaska excursions look pricey, I can't imagine that we wouldn't use it!

 

[RedSox68]

If they were changing their stateroom due to adding an additional person, the additional person(s) will be charged the prevailing cost, but all others already on the reservation get the prices that were effective the day the original booking was made.

Thanks PrincessShmoo. I posted knowledge from an unclarified source apparently. Appreciate knowing this.

 

[Huskiesrule]

Actually, I tried to do this before PIF and the DCL person on the phone told me that it would be considered a new reservation at current pricing. I was trying to go from a 6A to a 7A GTY and they were willing to cancel my cruise booked on opening day and rebook at the current price but that may have been because it was a GTY. Not sure what they would do after the PIF date though.

 

[clten]

I have never heard of DCL taking any extra money from a downgrade (even after a reservation is PIF) and them putting it as a non-refundable onboard credit. It is either DCL's money (penalty) or your money. If it is your money, they have to refund it. You can direct them to make it an OBC, but they can not require it.

First everyone is responding as if once the cruise is PIF, it is under full penalty. It is not. So even if it was a cancellation (which I don't think it is -- see further on), it wouldn't become fully non-refundable until about 2 weeks before the cruise. But if you look under their terms and conditions, penalties they list are for cancellations and they define cancellation 3 things: cancelling the cruise entirely or changing the cruise commencement date or changes of guest names. A downgrade is none of those things so shouldn't be considered a cancellation. Therefore, if you downgrade, they should refund your money. My knowledge is from reading the terms and conditions, not from actually performing a downgrade after PIF date. So I would advise you to check with DCL to confirm.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Actually, I tried to do this before PIF and the DCL person on the phone told me that it would be considered a new reservation at current pricing. I was trying to go from a 6A to a 7A GTY and they were willing to cancel my cruise booked on opening day and rebook at the current price but that may have been because it was a GTY. Not sure what they would do after the PIF date though.

Sadly, that's just another example of the person answering the phone not knowing the correct answer. Now, if you said, "I want to cancel (or change) my 6A and book a 7A GTY" that would be called a cancellation. The key is to say "I want to move my category".

Unless it's changed very recently, it's always been reported that you are locked into the prices on the day you made the original booking, if you wish to change categories on the same cruise.

 

[hanscarlet]

pretty sure they would price you at current day pricing, that's usually how it works with most changes, never heard of honoring opening day pricing, that sounds like a nightmare for Disney to manage anyways because people change all the time and it's always current day pricing

 

[Dug720]

pretty sure they would price you at current day pricing, that's usually how it works with most changes, never heard of honoring opening day pricing, that sounds like a nightmare for Disney to manage anyways because people change all the time and it's always current day pricing

I have always been told you are locked into the pricing for that cruise the day you book.

If you booked on opening day, then that would be what you are locked into.

 

[KristiMc]

pretty sure they would price you at current day pricing, that's usually how it works with most changes, never heard of honoring opening day pricing, that sounds like a nightmare for Disney to manage anyways because people change all the time and it's always current day pricing

We have changed our category before and we got the pricing from the day we booked which was opening day. You are locked in on the pricing on the day you book