Grrrr...Please tell me if I'm doing this wrong...

[sarivers]

Called 407-WDW-PLAY this morning to get the Illuminations Cruise. Started dialing at 6:55. Redialed until I got through at 6:58. Immediately pressed 5 to get to cruised and got the message that all agents were busy, please hold. Its now 7:10 and I'm still on hold.

I know you all go through this regularly and I'm not complaining, just worried that I've done it wrong and it shouldn't be taking this long. Also, if I get through and don't get a CM right away, is there any chance I'll get the cruise?

Anything I can do to improve my chance of getting through?

Thanks for your suggestions,
Sarah Rivers

 

[Harambe]

I've never done it, Sarah! But keep trying. Did you read the thread about how to get an Illuminations cruise at the top of this board?

Good luck!

 

[Mike]

These are getting harder and harder to book. They are more popular - probably because of these boards. I always call a couple of minutes before 7:00. In 2000, I had no problem. I got right through and booked it (for May). Then in 2001, I was reading here that people were having a harder time booking them. We were going in September. I had a friend call at the same time and we both got through and booked cruises. Now we are going again in August. Again, I had another person call and it was a good thing. I called before 7:00 and got put on hold. I was still on hold at 7:10 and I knew I wasn't getting one. Luckily, the other person called to tell me they got through so I hung up.
My advice is to keep trying and if you can get other people in your party to call as well, that will increase your odds.
And another suggestion - if you do get two cruises booked (like I did in 2001), find someone on these boards who is looking for one. Once you do, set up a conference call with WDW and you can cancel the cruise and have the other DIS member book it instantly. I did this for someone here and it was a nice feeling to be able to help out a fellow DISer.

 

[holidaybarb]

It took my trying four straight days to get through in time to book a cruise. One thing I remember is that on the first three days I had a "musical interlude" while on hold. On the fourth day I was on hold but no music. So, yes, it's possible to be put on hold and still get a cruise.

I seemed to have the best luck by programming my cell phone and redialing. Since I was on my way to work at 7AM each day I'd pull over at 6:55 and start dialing.

I must have perfected the technique because I got CRT on the first try - but then again there are more tables than boats!

 

[Miscrapper]

Don't give up just because you are on hold - I called MOnday and even though I was on hold for 10 minutes I ended up getting through and getting a cruise! I thought it was a lost cause but I am glad now that I didn't hang up!

Sarivers, I was actually able to book 2 cruises - one for Sunday 10/5 and one for Tueday 10/7 I am not sure which one I am going with yet - going to discuss itinerary options with family. If you pm me with your e-mail I can let you know what I decide and maybe you can get my other one!

 

[harperwi]

I also dialed in beginning at quarter to the hour and finally got hold music at about 3 minutes to. I was put on hold for 10 minutes and was shut out, but we still booked the cruise. How? I had two other friends armed with my credit card number, and one of them got right through without a wait.

After I was shut out, I asked the CM if one of the bookings was in my name, and it was.

DEFINITELY find people you trust, give them your card number, and have them call at the same time. If you double book, you can always call back and cancel.

Jon

 

[jimmybop]

Originally posted by sarivers
Called 407-WDW-PLAY this morning to get the Illuminations Cruise.
Sarah Rivers

so did you ever get through???

 

[goofyernmost]

Gosh, did it occur to anyone that booking more cruises than you are actually going to use is depriving someone else of getting one. Come on people, think of others. If you are going to use only one cruise, book only one. Having multiple people call at one time is also the reason why everyone is on hold.

 

[Stimpy]

I was thinking the same thing, goofyernmost. Maybe that could be contributing to the fact the phones lines are always busy and everyone has problems getting reservations.

 

[Miscrapper]

Well goofy and stimpy I was only using one phone line and the reason I booked 2 is this... I called for Sunday, first day we could cruise (planning to see Spectro on Sat) just in case I didn't get Tuesday which was originally my first choice. I called to book Tuesday even though I got Sunday because I was originally planning to get MNSSHP tickets for Sunday. However once I booked cruise for Sunday I thought it might actually work better. I have emailed another poster here and let her know that when I do cancel I will get back to her.

I am not trying to be a boat hog - just kind of how it worked out and I will be sure to cancel so someone else can go!

 

[harperwi]

And as for my suggestion of having multiple people call, it's not like I DID book two cruises. I was only saying that if I had booked two without knowing it up front, I would have called back that morning to cancel one, and another early riser would have gotten it.

True, it wouldn't necessarily go to someone who dialed in at the first possible moment, but it would still go to someone only slightly less deserving.

At the risk of starting an arugment (I really don't intend to, and I hope I don't, but then again this post's title does begin with Grrr...), I liken this to people getting upset with someone for using Fastpass. The strategy I expressed is something everyone can use, so I don't see why someone else would get upset just because they didn't think of it.

Also, this is nothing compared to what people do to book the CRT breakfast. There are major websites who launch major calling campaigns to try to book a single reservation for one family.

Even if you have multiple calls to book the pontoon, I still think it's unlikely that more than one will be booked for one person. It just increases your chances of getting the one (and only one) you want for that date.

Them's my thoughts anyway. Personally I didn't shut anyone out, and on top of it, I ended up offering my boat to two other families, so now we are three sets of happy boaters all going together.

Jon

 

[Mike]

Originally posted by goofyernmost
Having multiple people call at one time is also the reason why everyone is on hold.

Oh boy - the Disney Gestapo is out in full force again

Now explain to me why having more than one person from your party call to book a cruise is wrong.

Must every thread on this board turn into somebody telling us how we should and should not do things? You shouldn't save tables, you shouldn't put lifts in your child's shoe, you shouldn't transfer park hoppers, you shouldn't have more than one person call for reservations.

Are you people serious?

People, there are 5 boats a day. If you don't want to do anything to increase your odds of getting one then don't. BUT KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!!!!!!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

SaRivers: Did you get a reservation????????

If you didn't, it may just be that your were trying for 10/9, which is the press event at Epcot for Mission Space. Disney may have reserved some (or all) of the boats that night for special guests. I hope that you can try agian for another night or something opens up for you if you haven't already been successful.

I am also curious, how many people are not successful even if they follow the recommendations on this board to start calling before 7 am. From the reports in this thread of recent attempts, I see 1 for 2, 1 for 4, 2 for 2 and 1 for 3. I also got one on the first try. This looks like a success rate of about 50%.

Any idea if some nights are easier to get reservations for than others? I got mine for a Monday in October. Miscrapper got Sunday and Tuesday in October, also on the first try. Is there any pattern?

The chance that you may be unsuccessful for a later night during your stay must often mean that you call for earlier less preferred nights and then cancel if you are later successful. It seems to be an inevitable consequence of the 90 day rule.

 

[goofyernmost]

Originally posted by Mike
Oh boy - the Disney Gestapo is out in full force again

You have got to be kidding. Gestapo? You advocate doing stuff that prevents others from getting things they want and I'm the Gestapo?

I don't even go on those cruises so I personally couldn't care less but the attitude that whatever you want justifies the means is exactly what I was saying. The world doesn't revolve around you, there are others on this planet that we all must share space with. At least try to remember you don't live in a vacuum. What you do affects others. They can be affected positively or negatively, the choice is yours. Enjoy!

 

[Mike]

Originally posted by goofyernmost

Originally posted by Mike
Oh boy - the Disney Gestapo is out in full force again

You have got to be kidding. Gestapo? You advocate doing stuff that prevents others from getting things they want and I'm the Gestapo?

I don't even go on those cruises so I personally couldn't care less but the attitude that whatever you want justifies the means is exactly what I was saying. The world doesn't revolve around you, there are others on this planet that we all must share space with. At least try to remember you don't live in a vacuum. What you do effects others. They can be effected positively or negatively, the choice is yours. Enjoy!

Having me and my brother both call to try to reserve a boat for both of our families to enjoy means the world revolves around me and I live in a vacuum??????????????

I rest my case - some people are over-the-top ridiculous and lately there seems to be an abundance of them on these boards so willing to lecture all of us poor lost souls. There is no debating people who lack any semblance of logic or rationality.

Instead of wasting your time on these boards, wouldn't your time be better spent staking out a local intersection and arresting j-walkers?

It just doesn't get any more ridiculous than this - you should be proud.

 

[sarivers]

Our trip is for October 7-14, which is over the Columbus Day weekend so perhaps demand is greater than normal. I've tried to call every day since last Wednesday without luck (although I didn't try this morning and won't try tomorrow because those are 90 days out from days in October that just don't work in our schedule).

So that's it for us this time . I've got a lead on a POSSIBLE share situation, but it'll be awhile before I know if that pans out.

Thanks for all your support and suggestions. Not getting it for this next trip just makes me more determined to get it next time.

Take care,
Sarah Rivers

 

[goofyernmost]

Mike, I think it is pretty obvious which one of us has the problem here. Have a magical day.

 

[harperwi]

Personally, I think it's worth noting that without these very boards, I never would have thought of the double dialing in the first place.

I find it ironic that those who complain about this being a problem are members of the very type of message board that (1) made the Illuminations Cruise so darn popular and high-demand in the first place, and (2) encourages people to give each other tips on how to squeeze the most magic possible out of their vacation.

Some suggestions (many of which put the uninformed non-DisBoards members at a significant disadvantage) are lauded and others condemned. The selection criteria for what is too far and what is not is beyond me, so I suppose we'll all have to trust that whenever we get our hand (or our post, rather) slapped, that means we've gone too far??

I came here with a request for advice. I was given advice. I followed it and was successful only after I followed it, and I passed the advice along, and look what it's gotten me.

Maybe I should go back to Magictrips or Intercot.

 

[Mike]

Originally posted by goofyernmost
Mike, I think it is pretty obvious which one of us has the problem here. Have a magical day.

Yes - we finally agree on something! But I will try to have patience with you. I have posted a topic on the debate board that you may want to check out. The purpose of that thread is to find out why posters, such as yourself, always feel the need to pipe in and preach to the world about what is and is not right - in your mind anyway. I posted that topic just so the rest of us can get an understanding of what drives this impulse.

The purpose of this thread, however, was to give the OP tips and suggestions on how to book an illuminations cruise. The topic was not "Oh goofyernmost - please oh please tell us what the acceptable number of callers should be when booking a cruise. And, oh yes, please tell us what you think about these horrible people who have no choice but to book multiple cruises because their backup days come before their desired date and the 90 day rule requires them to do this." If you should see a post with this title, then please feel free to proceed with your pontificating.


Oh, and by the way, there is no rule or law or policy against having multiple callers trying to book a cruise. There is, however, a policy against transferring a park hopper pass (whether we agree that it is right or wrong - there IS a policy). Yet on that thread you clearly state that you don't care - no one is going to tell you what to do with your property. It seems that your self-righteousness comes with a convenient on/off switch which makes one a hypocrite.



Have a magical day!


Mike

 

[Mike]

Originally posted by harperwi
Maybe I should go back to Magictrips or Intercot.

Jon,
Please don't let it get to you. I think you understand that, for the most part, these boards are great. I think that you'll find that 99% of the people will agree that you did absolutely nothing wrong - both booking your cruise and passing on the advice. Just don't worry what the loud and ludicrous 1% think. Enjoy your cruise - guilt free! I've gone twice before and it is a wonderful experience.


Mike