DU reservations

[BuzzNutt]

For us, we needed a suite so I was dying waiting for my TA to get back to me. I wasn't looking for a repo or the summer of 08 but for Oct 08. It worked out for us. We got what and when we wanted. I hope by sun-up, everyone else has ther magic too!!

 

[ElenitaB]

All of this is just SO unfortunate, especially for those that could have booked online this morning, but didn't because they figured DU would come through.

Put us in that boat (no pun intended). I've been priced out of this cruise. Had I confirmed the quote I had on the DCL site for the category we wanted in a GREAT location and at a price within my budget, we would be sailing.

I have a question... did DU pool their bookings or did each TA do theirs separately?

I'm very sad... but am trying to be philosophical about this. I guess I'm feeling blessed that this is the greatest "tragedy" that's befallen me in the past few weeks (and I give thanks to God that had a good pathology report from my surgeon last week).

 

[gydell]

Well it's 9pm and I couldn't wait any longer so I e-mailed Tracy. Hopefully I will hear from her soon because I am ready for bed!

 

[ElenitaB]

Anyway, the point is that if people had known that the TAs were going to have so much trouble on the phone, they could have just done it online themselves.

Not to be contentious, but that's not the point. I, for one, did not want to fall into "double booking gluttony." I believed that DU had access to a TA-only line. (I know of others who believed the same thing as I did.) I was proven wrong and I don't think I'll ever use a TA again to make delicate travel arrangements. As someone said above, if things are going to be messed up, I'd rather know that I tried my best and be able to blame myself for messing them up.

 

[gydell]

Tracy has responded with - "I got rooms for everybody". She is working on quotes.

 

[sejejoemmiev]

This just in:

Hello,



I am writing to you from Dreams Unlimited Travel.



Unfortunately, the August 2008 repositioning cruise is currently listed as sold out.



Our agents have been working diligently on the telephones since early this morning. They have been reporting having difficulty finding availability beginning at 9:30am on the morning of January 31st.



We have spoken with a representative from Disney Cruise Line who has suggested that there will be a good possibility of stateroom availability opening after the initial deposit requirements have passed. There will be many people that do not pay their deposit as well as many that have double booked reservations.



While this circumstance is beyond our control, we would like to offer our apologies for the inconvenience and disappointment.



For those people that booked on 1/31/07, the window of opportunity in which to make a deposit on the August repo cruise ends at the end of business on February 3rd. We will try to book this sailing for you beginning Sunday , February 4th. We will send a price quote just as soon as availability opens.



If this is not something that interests you, please just let us know.



Again, while this was beyond our control, we apologize for any inconvenience.



Sincerely,

Kevin Klose

Dreams Unlimited Travel, Inc.


Good thing I got on the phone this morning and booked a room just in case. I have never worked with a TA before and I could not let go of the control. 1 hour and 45 minutes of waiting and I am at least on the ship. Not exactly the rooms I wanted but I am very happy especially after receiving this email tonight!

 

[NancyIL]

I wasn't planning to book this cruise - but decided to check the DIS cruise board around 9 this a.m. I was curious about the price of the westbound repo - and it was even less than the $1699 starting price I expected...so talked myself into booking online. Then I sent 3 different pieces of correspondence to Dreams to transfer the reservation to get the $200 onboard credit. I got that acknowledgement earlier this evening.

I'm sorry to those of you who are paying more than you wanted to pay, and for those who got shut out. The fact that many of us got a cabin guarantee instead of being able to book a specific cabin - means (I think) that DCL was allowing the cruises to be overbooked. When the dust settles and people cancel their double bookings or change their minds, things will open up again.

 

[cruisin'Mike]

(and I give thanks to God that had a good pathology report from my surgeon last week).

Awesome!

 

[Makua]

I too was very disappointed with DU. I went with them thinking they had an "in" and I didn't need to worry. They did get me a room but at a higher cat than I had requested and a MUCH higher price than many others have gotten for the EB. And yes, I am jealous! When adding in the airfare and hotels it would be around 10,000 for the 2 of us. I really want to go but that is SO much money. Gald I have a few days before the deposit. I have no idea what to do. Time to think and pray and pray and think!

 

[tigger2on]

(

 

[eeyoregon]

Add me to the disappointed list! Matter of fact I was just reading my saved email from Dreams from a few weeks ago assuring me I would get a cabin but that it would be late afternoon before I heard the official word of which cabin. Well, it's almost midnight Eastern time and not a word from Dreams. Sadly, at noon Eastern time today, almost all categories were still available on DCL's site but I didn't want to be selfish and "hog" 2 ressies so I logged out after seeing the final price and waited all day/night to hear from Dreams.

Looks like the ship sold out, Dreams had a MAJOR snafu and we have no chance of getting on the Eastbound repo. I tried to take the high road but can't seem to stop crying. I knew better than to get my hopes up...just wish I didn't know that cabins were available but I put my faith in Dreams and passed up my only chance. Makes me sad. I am truly happy for those who were smarter than I was and will be on board the Eastern Repo - congratulations all!!!

 

[Quimby]

Still waiting to hear from Tracy at DU...Good thing I booked one on my one this am just in case but I still want to see if her pricing etc. is better.

 

[eeyoregon]

Still waiting to hear from Tracy at DU...Good thing I booked one on my one this am just in case but I still want to see if her pricing etc. is better.

I am hoping that others tied-up multiple ressies and that maybe some of us still have a chance when those start getting cancelled. I can guarentee you that the pricing you got on your own will beat anything that comes in from TA's.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I was on DCL's site this morning. First I was shocked that there were sooooo many categories still left on the Eastbound repo at noon Eastern time. I wanted to see the final price for the category I wanted. Got my quote, used the restroom and refreshed the info and in 10 minutes the exact cruise had gone up $400!!! Amazing! From what others said Disney just kept jacking up the prices as they watched the rooms selling out. Wish I hadn't put my faith in a travel agent as the quotes coming in from the various TA's are considerably higher than those booked directly thru DCL. Sucks big time.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Just checked my mail and I have a quote on the Westbound repo from DU. 2 category 10 guarantee- 2 adults, 2 children, no insurance or transfers:$6986

I think this is a great price....But can I take the kids out of school for two weeks??????

 

[princessdaisy]

TA's are considerably higher than those booked directly thru DCL. Sucks big time.

This is so true! I didn't book on DCL website but patiently waited for my quote from my TA...well, got the quote this evening and for a Cat higher then what I wanted and second dinner seating (said "first' was sold out)

Luckly, I have a smart sis who booked the cat we wanted & early dinner seating on DCL website (I didn't know this untill she called me this evening...whew! thanks sis!)

Only thing is, now I have to listen to her "I told you so!!" as I kept telling her all week to let my TA take care of things.

 

[KrisannB]

I decided to give it a try myself - I normally go through a local TA but did not want to ask him to get up so early because he has had the flu (he booked our September 2007 cruise a couple of weeks ago and was cheaper than Disney) But all the talk about great rates on the first hours got me interested to try myself. Well I was a lucky one - was up and called at the time they opened was on hold for about 30 minutes while they were waiting on everything to come up but my CM told me to do it online while I waited and just as I finished it he came back on and we confirmed that my reservation had gone through and he coded it with my Disney Visa thing.


Ended up on the WB Repo for $5800+ for 2 adults, 2 kids (11, 13) on deck 7 with my room selected. This will only be our 3rd cruise.

Oh and I had to talk to my TA about something else and told him about booking and he checked prices for me and his quote was over $7000 - he totally understood why I did what I did BUT he always has a better price if I call him when I called him for both of my other cruises (but were not booked on first day available) yet I always check the Disney site first before going with a TA to make sure I am getting a good deal because I want to support TA's if possible if it is a good deal all the way around and 9 out of 10 times they can get a better deal for me.

Krisann

 

[OCLover]

I'm sorry people didn't get what they wanted through DU. I put my faith in a really great TA to get me on the WB Repo and he did a fabulous job for me. He called me at 12:45 Pacific Time with the quote. It was considerably less than the price DCL had on their website so I was pleasantly surprised. Thanks Bob!

 

[Quimby]

Wow, just got the Quote from Tracy at DU. I would say she has been working for 17 hours straight now..Poor thing!! Go to sleep!!!

Cat 9
7/13/08
2 Adults 2 kids
$6402 incl. tax & ins.
$150 + $25 room credit.

Room #2526

I am going to give it up (lower price and better room this am) so if anyone wants it email Tracy at DU.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Y'all don't take it all out on DU. Apparently they weren't the only ones having "issues" getting thru even on the TA-only line. My TA (allseas) had the same problem. They said they'd start calling us after noon (and wouldn't take calls or emails before noon) and I hadn't received a call by 4pm so I called. I couldn't get the person I'd been talking to because she was on the phone still- but the person that answered looked up my ressie and she said that they were all on hold for an hour and a half! (sounds like DU was also) She even said at hour and a half when some people got thru- others were still on hold!
And I ALSO (like others mentioned here) got a cat 6 when I wanted cat 7 (ie: I got a category higher than I wanted) with a cat 11- and they are both gty. I need them close together- but I'm hopeful we can work that out later... like the cat 11 across the hall.
I'm not very hopeful about being able to change to cat 7 nav verandah for LESS than we're paying for cat 6 though- and I'm certainly not going to downgrade a category and pay more now that the prices are higher!
I wasn't able to get a price as low as some I've seen on this board early this morning- but by the time *I* checked online while waiting this morning- probably about 8:30 or 8:40am or so... the prices were higher than what they were able to get for me. And I was checking cat 7 instead of cat 6!

So my point is- other TA's that were using TA-only lines also had huge hold times on the phones- and also were only able to get different categories than we'd asked for. This isn't limited to only DU and shouldn't be taken out on them- it could have happened with another TA the same way.

 

[Skallywag]

Add us to the list of people v ery upseet by the service or lack of it we receied from DU.

Went on line when the bookings opened and could have got the vcategory 5 we wanted and the room we wanted for total £6996.48 and main seating. Did not book as this is not we consider fair but waited patiently for the quote from DU. After chasing up several times received the quote at $7666.48. Guranteed only and second seating.

Have been awake on and off all night as am so annoyed by this, particularly the late seating which we could not tolerate at all.

Apparently we are waitlisted for main seating but how can we ensure we get this and also how long before we know what cabin we are to get and can we choose if there are some due to cancelleations and non-payment of deposit.

Would never use any travel agent again but it is a bit late now.