Getting to Sold Out Events???

[Shamrock927]

Hi Everyone,

Our Western Caribbean cruise on the Disney Fantasy is coming up on July 23rd, and we are looking forward to another great trip after enjoying the Eastern Caribbean journey last summer. We have run into a bit of a snafu, though... and I am hoping you can provide some encouragement or oprimism.

When our online booking window opened in early May we were very efficient in booking the activities we wanted online. We did the same for my parents when their window opened a little later. We loved the ticketed character events last year but understood we got those tickets the day we boarded at the port excursions desk.

Little did we know that DCL changed the booking system for these in early June. Well after our booking window had opened and we thought we were set... these character events were added to the online system. DCL never notified us of the change and I only found out about it today by accident on Twitter!

I logged in right away to do what I could but had limited luck.

The Frozen Meet & Greet I was able to get tickets for myself, my wife, and our 3 year-old daughter. The grandparents were not able to get tickets but that is probably okay.

The Disney Junior Breakfast I could only get 4 tickets, and we have 5. So as of right now my daughter's grandfather will have to miss that event.

The Princess Gathering is completely sold out both days and I know my daughter will be crushed not getting to meet the princesses.

Someone on Twitter suggested tickets might still be available the day we embark... but when I called DCL they did not say for sure one way or another. They just said I will have to ask guest services about any cancellations and "I will know better for my next cruise".

So... those of you who may have more experience on board than me... what do you think the odds are that we can get a 5th seat added to our Character Breakfast and somehow get my daughter the chance to attend the Princess Gathering? Even if it is just a ticket for her and my wife?

Obviously I WILL know better next time... we just did not expect the policy to change midway through our online booking window.

Thanks so much! Hopefully you can provide some optimism for us!

 

[TestingH2O]

Umph. That is very frustrating and you are the second person to talk about not being able to get enough individual tickets. This is clearly a change to previous years when meet &a greets were schedule by room.

Anyway, based on other ticketed things like Palo and Remy, DCL has typically held back some percentage of the tickets. I would assume they will also hold back some of these types of tickets too.

I don't think anyone in the position of not being able to sign up ahead has come back yet. I will be closely watching for updates and hoping for the best for our trip next spring.

Good luck and please come back and let us know what happens.

 

[Shamrock927]

Thanks. I will definitely keep the post updated with any changes.
After mentioning I was not satisfied with my original phone call, I did get a phone call back from another gentleman with DCL. He was very nice and said he is going to do what he can to make the arrangements and get back to me tomorrow... so that is at least more hopeful.

 

[Shamrock927]

Just a short update that Roy from customer service called back. He was able to add the 5th person to the Character Breakfast for us but said there is no availability for the Princess Gathering. He did also suggest I ask guest services the day we board and see if anyone canceled. I will keep my fingers crossed!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

The DCL Blog posted a tweet that if tickets are available for M&Gs on any particular day, a notice is put in the navigator to get tickets at the Port Adventures desk.

 

[Shamrock927]

UPDATE:

We depart on Saturday, July 23rd.
Today, the 20th, the sold our Princess Gathering became available with many time options on both days.
There were also tickets for the sold out Frozen meet & greets that became available.
I did not check the Character Breakfast but assume it may be the same.
So either many, many people canceled and decided that they did not want to do these after all... or DCL held tickets that they made available much closer to the sail date today. I am guessing the second one is more likely. =)

** I did look to see if additional days and times for Palo brunch opened up and they did not. So this seems to apply to the character experiences only.

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

UPDATE:

We depart on Saturday, July 23rd.
Today, the 20th, the sold our Princess Gathering became available with many time options on both days.
There were also tickets for the sold out Frozen meet & greets that became available.
I did not check the Character Breakfast but assume it may be the same.
So either many, many people canceled and decided that they did not want to do these after all... or DCL held tickets that they made available much closer to the sail date today. I am guessing the second one is more likely. =)

** I did look to see if additional days and times for Palo brunch opened up and they did not. So this seems to apply to the character experiences only.

Good to know! I'll keep that in mind as my trip gets closer!