Help - Am I being unreasonable?

[kstelzner]

Hi all..... So, I really want to be midship. I don't even want a specific room, just generally in a specific area (and preferably starboard side, but I suppose I could forfeit that). And all the TA is saying is available is 1 room in Cat 6 (aft and port side). Baloney. This TA is also one who buys rooms in bulk, but had to call Disney for a room. Maybe that's how they work... still having to call for one of their rooms to be released... I dunno. It's a good rate, but it's a lot of money to pay and not get what we really want.

Are there other known TAs out there that buy bulk rooms that perhaps get the majority of the "good" rooms? Or is everyone at the mercy of Disney telling them what's available? Hope this makes sense!

BTW, this is on the Wonder for April 30, 2006 (I thought was plenty of advance notice).

Thanks in advance!

 

[miclen]

I just went onto the DCL site and went through the reservation process for your cruise. They say room 6580 is available (mid-ship starboard side.) Now, I don't know how the TA work. Maybe they can't get you this room, but if you also check the DVL website and see that it is still available, then maybe you could call your TA and ask about it. I guess another option is to book through DCL. In my opinion, for what you are paying to cruise, you should try to get what will make you happy.

 

[lookingforward]

Okay, here is my personal experience (No offense to all the travel agents out there!).

I was ready to book two lower cat/connecting rooms on the Wonder or one suite( the suite was my preference at the time). I inquired about this to an internet travel agency. The agent told me that all the Cat 3 suites were "sold out" but she could place us in a Cat 4 room. She quoted a price that was not discounted in the least. My "connections" on the disboards told me to call Disney directly. Sure enough there were several Cat 3's left. I was very, very confused. Well, it was told to me that this particular agency books a block of rooms for each cruise. She was possibly looking only at her agency's inventory OR she didn't check. From what I have learned it seems the agency had an incentive to book a room from their own "stock". Needless to say, I booked directly with DCL and got exactly what I wanted. THEN, I transferred the reservation to another agency to get their rebate. All in all, the $75 rebate was not worth it for me. Due to hurricanes and bizzare refund practices it was frustrating to me when I could not discuss my reservation with DCL and was told to contact my agent! (by the way, we eventually settled for two connecting CAT 5 rooms because of a great FL resident special...saved $2000!)

 

[kstelzner]

Thank you! This must be.... they want you to go with their inventory. I went online with Disney and sure enough 6580 came up, but that was after I typed in only 1 child. It must sleep 3 and the others are 4. We will have one child in a pack-n-play and the other will be 4 years old. I don't want her in a pull down bunk situation.... how does that work? There has to be some default on Disney's part to request a room that sleeps 3 even there there is 4 people (1 being an infant).

Thanks for your help! Any TA recommendations?

 

[CM_Mom]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if you have two adults, a 4 yo and an infant, you must book a room that sleeps 4 even if one of the 4 is an infant and will be in a pack and play instead of the bunk. I believe DCL is restrained by Coast Guard regulations on that one.

 

[mmouse37]

Correct...the cabin must have a bed (berth) for each individual in the cabin....you do not have to use all the beds, but DCL has to book you in a cabin for 4.

The sofa bed does not pull out like a regular sofa bed....it is more a sofa into futon. If you have the room steward remove the coffee table from the cabin a pack and play will fit fine.

MJ

 

[lbgraves]

We just booked one of those great group rates with DU. From what I understand they book a number of staterooms...none in any particular category. They can fill those rooms with any category so they don't run out of 11s or 5s. I was told that I could change my category after I booked & keep the group rate once I had the deposit in for that spot.

Your TA gave you the only room that she could book with DCL for four people...no matter their age or where they would actually sleep. I just checked the 4/30/06 cruise & there are no specific category 6s available for 4 people now...just gty status. You are booking less than a year in advance so it isn't unusual for a category to sell out at this time. You can put a request in with your TA to watch for an opening in the area that you want. They should be able to monitor when a stateroom opens up due to a cancellation and switch you over.

 

[webray]

Portside is perfect..say thank you and enjoy..you will love it!!!!

 

[musicgirl]

And believe it or not, the ship may very well be close to being full. We are going in 6-2006 and there are only around 60 rooms left. Some of the cat. were sold out.

 

[married2grumpy]

It is possible that there is nothing better available. We booked our upcoming May 6 06 cruise a year out and they had only 1 set of connecting cat 9 rooms on deck 2 left. We hesitantly booked them while onboard and was assured that some will open up becuase they will certainly get some cancelations. Well, I call DCL every single day and nothing else has opened up yet. I wouldn't cancel my cruise but I will be really disappointed if we cannot relocate. I will continue to call every day until the day we sail in hopes of getting our rooms changed.

So if any of you are going to cancel and have connecting category 9's on deck 2 for the May 6, 2006 sailing...let me know!

 

[Capt_BJ]

this reminds me of a too funny story - it is true, believe it or not.

Our first DCL trip was in the first year of operation of the MAGIC - a Christmas present for the family. I was anxiously awaiting the package of documents, and when they arrived spousal unit and I devoured everything. To our dismay our family of 4 was assigned a cabin which the book said was a 3 person cabin

So quickly I dialed away and got the DCL folks on the line. "Not to worry" I was told. All the cabins of that category sleep 4 but if they were all full there wouldn't be enough life boats so they printed the book like that to satisfy the Coast Guard. I swear - this is what I was told.

Nearly in shock I hung up, and lo...we went and the room did sleep 4 having the sofa bed and the pull down. And I've had a similar room every time since and despite there sometimes being 3 and other times 4 of us, every room had the pull down and the sofa.

But wait - there's more.

We had the wonderful opportunity to be invited to the bridge for the departure from Castaway Cay that trip (not sure that happens as much now, post 911) We were not alone, there were maybe 20 lucky's up there and as we were steaming out I struck up a conversation with a nice fellow about my age: "so, I know what I did to squeak my way up here, how did you do it?"

He says, "I'm a VP with the cruise line and I'm with a group of our telephone agents for training."

"Reallly, well have I got a funny story for you..." And I related my conversation.

We was aghast to say the least and assured me it wasn't really that way.

I laughed and assured him I was sure the CM was just giving me a line and then handed him my card. "Maybe you should warn them they never know who's on the other end of the line." It identified me a Senior Officer & Commanding Officer of a Coast Guard Cutter in South Florida....

He told me he thought they should have another training session that night and last I saw he was heading off the bridge.

My Dau got to sound the Magic'al horn on the departure from Castaway....I have it on video....very special.

oh ya - I've never doubted that the CG inspectors have ensured there are adequate life boats.....

 

[lbgraves]

 

[miclen]

Capt BJ......LOVED your story. Thanks for sharing!

 

[ElenitaB]

Capt BJ, that story was amazing! Thanks for sharing it because it certainly did a smile to me.

It's very true... you never know who you're dealing with when you're in a customer service type of job!

 

[Regina]

It looks like there are some misconceptions regarding how group space works.
The agencies reserve space in categories. They DO NOT and cannot reserve specific rooms. The rooms get assigned the same way as any other booking. Whatever is available can be booked at the time that the reservation is made.

Lbgraves, you have it partially right, but it is specific categories that are held at the group rate. Disney does allow flexibility. For example, if an agency has a category 5 and needs a category 11, or vice versa, they will let that spot be swapped. This is why once you have a group discount you can change categories and still get the better rate.

As others have said, infants are counted as a occupant, even if they're going to be in a crib. Those are Disney's rules and there's no getting around them.

Capt BJ, too funny! Of all the people to make that comment to, LOL. Thanks for sharing the story.

 

[princesses2]

Just had to comment to Capt BJ that your story is too, too funny!

 

[Bee]

I am in room 6108 on the wonder for the 10-27 to 10-30-05 trip... does anyone have info on this room?

 

[married2grumpy]

Just wanted to add an update to my previous post...I called DCL today and they had found new rooms for us and moved us more midship!!! They had done it without me even calling.

I am so happy!!!

So there is still hope when you've been assigned a stateroom you don't want.