I am A Little Dissapointed... UPDATE....

[florida sun]

Let me tell you why!
A bit of a long tale and I am not knocking Disney in any way shape or form, nothing to do with them, just wanted to express my dissapointment.
When I origionally booked my package holiday over here in the UK for my trip to Florida I booked with a major company who operates under two different names. I tried to book the Animal Kingdom Lodge under the one company name they go under and was told unfortunatley that the Hotel was fully booked, also fully booked under the other company name as well, so we settled on The All Star Sports which as you can imagine was much cheaper, so with the extra I saved I put it towards my upcoming cruise on the Wonder. Last evening I logged onto their web site which is the same for both companys just to check my flight times and low and behold what do I find but The Animal Knigdom Lodge available for the same flights, transfers, etc as the date I have booked for the All Stars and would you believe it the exact same price as the AllStars which is unbelievable. So first thing this morning I phoned the company to find out if the web was correct and was told indeed The Animal Kingdom Lodge had become available as a late deal. I enquired as to weither I could change hotels as we were on the same flight, same transfers and the same overall company. I was told no, as the holiday would only be available to change had I booked with the other named company that was offering the deal, even though they are run by the same overall company. They told me I could cancel the one holiday and rebook the other but that I would lose 50% of what I have paid as I am only 4 weeks away, even though I have not recieved my tickets. Not an option as the difference I would lose is almost £1000.
Oh well, almost got to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, but never mind I still have my wonderful cruise to look forward to. Please dont shoot me down in flames I am not really complaining just expressing my dissapointment at nearly getting to my original dream hotel.

 

[Nolcrest]

I would be disappointed too. Even though you''ll enjoy your trip the thought of being able to stay at AKL for the same as a value resort would bother me too.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[SamanthaL]

I would be terribly disappointed!! I would also have complained to the company a bit too. Since they are both run by the "big" company they are not losing any money if you cancel one and re-book with the other, right. Maybe speaking to a manager would help. Going from an All-Star to the AKL is a huge difference, though I am not knocking the All- Stars!
Maybe speaking to someone else will get you the results that you want. Good luck!

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

I too would keep calling and go right up the line until you find someone that can help you. Tell them you have 70,000 DIS friends that are waiting to hear the details.

That is way to big of a cost difference to accept.

 

[florida sun]

SamanthaL Nolcrest magicinmyheart

Thanks for the replies. I have been thinking all day ever since I phoned and asked this morning can I change if I should try very nicely to take it further, having never stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge I dont know what the differences are, but would presume looking at the normal costing it must be a lot as I have never seen the Animal Kingdom Lodge priced anywhere near the budget hotels. To be truthful with you (and to make it worse) the Animal Knigdom Lodge actually works out at £130 cheaper than the AllStars. I have stayed at the Allstars before and had a good time but it would have been wonderful to stay somewhere new. I have just checked the web again and the offer is still there but to make matters worse they are now offering my identical holiday at the All Stars at £600 cheaper than I paid. Guess sometimes it does not pay to book early. But I suppose it is a chance you take when you are taking children in the school holidays for fear of not getting anything at all. I may ring tomorrow and give it one last try. Wish me luck.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

florida sun,

Pixie Dust

for them to do the RIGHT thing.

 

[Barbday62]

We did this in Las Vegas one time. The hotel booked by the travel agent wasnt acceptable to us so we paid for a second hotel that we found a good price on by ourselves. We had 2 rooms booked for 2 nights but at least we got what we wanted with a little extra money.

Maybe you can get a rate at Animal Kingdom to at least go there a couple nights of your trip. No one will be none the wiser.

 

[iwannabeminnie]

I have always booked through Disney direct except for our last trip, and I went through Dreams Unlimited for that. But I have always been able to change my reservations if a better deal came out. One trip we had to change from a November trip to a January trip because of something coming up, and much to my amazment when we got to the Hoop de doo AND the Luau, we had front row seats. I booked early, early to get them for the November trip, but when we had to change (in September) I thought if we got reservations at all for those shows we would be way in the back. I was very pleasantly surprised and pleased. I guess what I am trying to say is sometimes these travel agencies just don't allow the pixie dust to sprinkle over on them. I will always and forever deal with a company that is Disney oriented and believes in pixie dust.

 

[SamanthaL]

I hope you get your wish to stay at the AKL. If you saw how beautiful it is you would be on the phone ASAP. Think of it this way: All -Star is like a yummy bowl of icecream on a hot summer day, add hot fudge, whipped cream and nuts with a cherry on top and you have AKL.
Call and say WE said you should get the upgrade!

 

[florida sun]

I have just got the ball rolling by emailing the main tour operator with a very nice email pleading my case. I will wait to see the outcome of that first and if I get no joy I will be on the phone as soon as possible to the manager. The company I am referring to have had very bad press over here for the last year, so I am just hoping they will do something customer friendly. Half of me was even contemplating losing the 50% off the original holiday just to be able to stay at the Animal Kingdom as I have to admit it does sound wonderful, but I wont give in yet. I am a single parent and have always paid full adult price for my daughter with this company for the last 5 years so maybe if they track the holidays I have booked with them they may return the favor. Or am I just being to hopeful
Please keep your fingers crossed and send plenty of pixie dust my way. I will keep you all posted and thanks for all the support. I was thinking maybe I was being to greedy.

Cheers

Sue

 

[Jasminesmommy]

wheres the site for this deal? I want it.

 

[SamanthaL]

Sending the pixies themselves your way!!! Let us know how you make out. I would be sure to point out how many holidays you have booked with them despite their bad reputation and if you have exhausted all avenues without luck, let them know they will not see you back! And take your business elsewhere.
Hey I would book your trip and it wouldn't cost you a thing!

 

[LisaZoe]

I would most definitely point out that you are a repeat customer with them and that you would hate for this to cause you to change firms. Since these two companies use the same website (or that is what I believe you to have stated), both should offer any deals listed on that website or be willing to transfer your reservations to the company that does offer it if they are at all interested in good customer service.

Like you, I'm a single parent and have paid full adult fare for my DD, even when she was only 11 months old. As such, I expect to be get some recognition of this if only in reasonable flexibility by the travel agent or company when things such as this come up. I don't understand how it could hurt the travel firm to make such a change since they'd still be getting the commission and the prices are comparable.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

Just sending good wishes your way.

 

[florida sun]

LisaZoe

I agree. Nobody need lose out here as you are right, I did state that both these companys come under one flag of the main company, they both offer their holidays on the same web under the same main name. I have checked and double checked under the bussiness names here in the uk and both companys trade from the same head office address. Any emails to either company must be addressed to the main company(if you are still following me) it's enough to confuse anyone. I have noticed though that in the US it seems as if you find a better deal with another related or unrelated company then you can transfer your holiday over to that company without a penelty(am I right) Here in the UK they will normally pricematch if you find another better deal but it has to be within a certain amount of time at booking. But the companys that I am refering to over here are related so I am hoping as a gesture of goodwill they will allow the change. I dont mind paying a surcharge for any paperwork within reason.The deal as it stands on the web at the moment is direct Flights from my regional airport, transfers from the airport to the hotel and back and two weeks accomadation for £1,700 for 2. When I first tried to get a quote for this same holiday package in January it was well over £3000, I paid £1,830 for the Allstars, so you can see why it is such a good deal. Sorry I am not very good talking in dollars so you will have to work that out.

 

[florida sun]

I dont think I will hear anything back tonight so I will let you know how I get on tomorrow.

 

[inaminute]

Good luck.

I'll join in sending PD and positive thoughts your way!

 

[Micca]

Hope it works out like you want it to. If not, don't let it consume you during your trip. Next time, I recommend booking with Disney direct.

 

[fam4jc]

Oh!!!! I am sure hoping you get this worked out to your satisfaction! Please be sure to write down every contact you have with this company about this. It will make a big difference when you finally get to talk to the company president if you can say, "I spoke to so&so on this date, at this time and he/she said this... I emailed to this address on this date, with this response..." You will need all your very sweet, pixy dust layden amunition in line to beat this one! I would email and call VERY often until I got a favorable outcome.

Keep us posted! We will all be thinking of you!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I really hope you get someone who cares on the other end of the phone!

Best of luck!