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 for my trip to Florida I booked with a major company .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.

A couple of nights ago 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 the following 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.
Also the exact same holiday I have booked to The All Stars is almost £700 cheper and no flight suppliments for the month of August, another saving of £180.
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 that I could upgrade with them for another £1180 or 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.
They then said that they would price match it with another company if I found the same deal, so I said " as they had said their other compnay was a different company would they price match them"- Their answer -NO, because they are the same company!!!! Confused..I am.
Oh well, almost got to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I know it's the risk of leaving it until the last minute, but it's sure left a sour taste.

 

[Hilary]

What a b***er! I know that, logically, it's the risk you take when you book early enough to know you've got the dates you want, but it's hard to accept when you see it in black and white.

Have you tried checking for any comparable deals with anyone else so that you can try their price-match? Fingers crossed that you might come up with something.

 

[florida sun]

Hi Hilary

Tried everything, looked everywhere, nobody can come anywhere near the prices they are offering at the moment, so tempted to cancel and rebook, but then stop, kick myself and tell myself that thats spending money thrown down the drain.We have stayed in the All Stars before and have always had a good time, but seeing those prices for the Animal Kingdom Lodge is killing me. Not so worried about the fact that my exact holiday is so much cheaper, good luck to anybody that can get a good deal, but oh to see and stay in that wonderful hotel. Oh well back to saving for a couple of years.

 

[florry]

You will have a wonderful time at All Stars..

book AKL for next time

 

[Hilary]

What about a split stay? Will the tour operator do that, or do they only book one-centre trips?

If it's possible, what about booking the AKL for just a few days at the end of the trip? If it's only possible to do whole weeks, it sounds as though a week at AKL would cost about £600, so that may well be out of budget for you anyway.

I'm sure you will love ASSp, but I imagine you'll still be thinking 'if only'. There can be advantages to staying in the budget / moderates - such as the fact that they have food courts which make it easy (and relatively cheap - for WDW anyway!) to find something to suit everyone without going to a lot of effort after a long day in the parks. You can always visit the deluxe resorts for a look around, maybe stay for a meal and check out the gift shop .

 

[lucy_love_]

that must be really frustrating it would drive me mad knowing if i waited......... thats usually my luck with everything i buy (clothes cars toys holidays) you name it i lose out on a bargin.

just vote with your feet and dont use the operator next time (unless they have a really good deal on then use them for your own selfish means).

i would be tempted to sick with what i had with only 4 weeks to go.

can you name the tour operator or is that illigal or something?

love

lucy

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

This is in a similar vein to another thread last week about Virgin's Megadeals.

I truly do understand completely how you feel because Virgin did this to us when we went to St Lucia last year, but persistent letters did the trick and we were given a refund of the difference.

I just kept quoting customer loyalty.

Please name and shame your company, we all need to know who they are to make sure we don't get duped by them in the future.

Really feeling for you, but I'm sure you'll have a great time once you're there

 

[KayleeUK]

 

[kazzie]

I would be extremely upset if this happened to me (and angry)

The operson you spoke to,can you go above 'their head' and take this issue higher up the compnay?I did this recently with a company and had theoutcome I wanted after I went above the initial travel consultant

Don't give up on this, there is a heck of a lot of difference between the same price for Allstars and AKL

 

[florida sun]

Hi Guys

Just thought I would update you with what has happened since my original post. After all the support here and other friends that I have told my story to, I decided I would try to take it further.
I have phone this company 12 times with no offer of a phone call back, my travel agent has repeatedly tried also on my behalf. I have sent 2 emails with no reply. I have explained to them that I have travelled to Florida and other destinations with them for the last 4 years, I am a single parent and have always paid full adult price for my daughter since she was 7, so I asked as a gesture of customer goodwill would they be prepared to negoitate a resonable upgrade price for me. I am afriad that it has all fallen on deaf ears, they are adament that they will not upgrade me to The Animal Kingdom Lodge for any price lower than a £1180 extra payment, taking my holiday to well over £3000, even thou they are offering it on the web at £1700.
I have written to their Group Cheif Executive but I fear nothing will come of it.
I know it sounds stupid but I am to scared to name them incase for whatever reason they do something to jepodise my upcoming holiday. My daughter would never forgive me and I would never forgive myself. I dont know if it may count as some sort of slander, I am probably being paranoid, but we really want to go on this holiday and I have to keep telling myself that up until I saw this holiday on their web site I was perfectly happy with what I had.
I am however prepared to take this as far as I can until we leave and I will let you know who it is once I have my hands on my tickets. I have told them that I will never book with them again, and they told me that was my choice.
Thanks for all your support, we will one day make it to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and it will not be with this company. They have and are recieving bad press at present, and things like this make me understand why.

Sue

 

[florry]

Keep going. You have every right to complain. They misinformed you in the first place by telling you that AKL was fully booked during the times you wish to go. This actually is not true because my son has been 'surfing' to book his holiday while we are there which is the same time as you, and AKL has always been available with all the major tour operators.

I do think that you should give us a hint as to who the operator is.

Keep up the fight before your tickets arrive.

 

[AlisonB]

We stayed at the CBR in 2001 and decided when we were there to move to the Polynesian for our last few days. We just paid the difference in cost of the rooms direct to Disney on the day that we moved. Maybe this would be an option for you?

That way the holiday company (could it be TCD by any chance?) wouldn't actually be involved.

 

[lucy_love_]

i have been thinking about your dilemma and i think you should go to trading standards. im not sure if they will be able to do anything for you but it would be worth a phone call to find out. maybe they will as i think offering a holiday cheeply now that they said wasnt available a few months ago even at full price seems very unethical (regarding the alk vacation). i think its neither here nor there that you actually booked all stars for the same price regarding ethical stance (although upsetting for you). mention to trading standards your dilemma regarding akl that they originally said they didnt have it and now they have plenty cheep as chips (so to speak). or you could even threaten them with trading standards first but make sure its not an idol threat.

hope you get some joy.

love

lucy

ps let me know what happens and what you do and of course eventually the company name.

 

[patdavies]

Please publish the company name to protect others here.

You cannot be sued for either libel or slander for any truthful statement.

 

[florry]

How about some big hints instead of actually writing who.

Or PM one of us and we'll do it for you ! LOL


I've changed my holiday quite a few times and every time I've changed it there has never been a problem. Always found the staff very helpfull. I've upgraded the car then downgraded it changed the hotel then chose to upgrade on the flight ! Always with a very willing and helpfull person on the end of the phone so well done TCD

 

[floridalol]

I think the travel company concerned may be getting some stick it doesn't deserve. Travel companies pre-purchase a set number of rooms in advance and then sell them onto us the customer. It appears that all the AKL rooms were sold when Florida Sun tried to book - it doesn't mean that another travel company didn't have rooms available and you can hardly blame them in not saying "try one of our competitors". Then what has happened is that the travel company has received a cancellation 4 weeks before date of travel for rooms at the AKL - so it is now trying to sell those rooms at a discounted rate. If they allowed Florida Sun to take those rooms they would then have vacancies at All-Stars that they would have to sell even cheaper because of the standard of hotel - so they would end up losing even more money. At the end of the day businesses have to make a profit and in this case I think they are being unfairly treated.

Just my point of view.

Florida Lol

 

[florida sun]

Hi Guys

Just a quick reply to let you know whats happened.

1st of all Floridalol,- I understand completly what you are saying, but I never approched the Travel Company with the attitude of upgrading me for nothing at all,but asked could I change rooms to The Animal Kingdom Lodge for a resonable price upgrade as they had them available, they would not even consider me paying a resonable price up to £400 more which would work out with what I have already paid to £600 more than they were selling them on the web, but wanted another £1180 from me even thoug they are selling the rooms on the web for the reduced price. It was the attitude of their customer services that annoyed me the most not the fact that they would not upgrade me. As for The All Stars having spare rooms they are also being sold for £700 cheaper for the same flight and dates. Again I have never approched them and asked for a refund or a drop in price as I understand that this is a discounted price due to cancellations, so rooms are already avalible at the All Stars at a discounted price which they have to try to sell. I am sure if you take what I would have been prepared to pay plus all the cancellation charges they must have collected from the cancelled holidays 50% at 4 weeks, I dont think it would have made a massive difference to an enormous company like this.After all they might not sell them and be left with them.

Anyway they are not going to budge, I did recieve a letter from the Group cheif executive today, telling me he fully understands my frustration, and sympathises with the situation but they will not except anything less than a £1180 upgrade charge to change hotels. Which after paying £1900 already for the All Stars for one adult and one child I am not prepared nor can afford to pay. I just thought on an occasion like this that they might be prepared to make an exception.
I am not talking about a large party just myself and my daughter, so I am sure the loss to them if any would be minimal. After all would it not be easier for them to sell my room at The All Stars at such a cheap reduction rather than The Animal Kingdom Lodge which could still be out of peoples price range.

Thanks anyway to all of you for the support and who did understand what I was trying to do.

I am putting it all down to experience and will now continue my plans to enjoy my holiday with my daughter. Be it right or wrong I will never book another holiday with this company again.
Cheers and happy holidays to you all.

 

[floridalol]

Hi Florida Sun

Actually I have every sympathy with you and I think it is disgraceful that they are not prepared to change your booking at a more reasonable charge. My point was more directed to those who seem to think that the travel company should do it for nothing and reduce everyone's holiday that is being sold cheaper close to the departure date. It's like buying a television for £500 and then seeing it in the sales three months later at £300 and expecting the shop to refund £200.

I take my hat off to Mrs Dazzle with her discount - but then again being a Frequent Virgin myself I have had several brilliant discounts with Virgin who IMHO cannot be beaten for quality of service.

I think you should name the travel company though to let people know how inflexible they are.

Have a great holiday

Best wishes

Florida Lol

 

[lucy_love_]

florida lol

hi

i have skimmed over this thread and i dont think anyone was suggesting "that the travel company should do it for nothing and reduce everyone's holiday that is being sold cheaper close to the departure date."

i think everyones point who posted here was merely to make florida sun feel better and give HER some reasurance, moral support and practical advice that may or may not help.

just my point of view

lucy

 

[floridalol]

Originally posted by lucy_love_
i have been thinking about your dilemma and i think you should go to trading standards. im not sure if they will be able to do anything for you but it would be worth a phone call to find out. maybe they will as i think offering a holiday cheeply now that they said wasnt available a few months ago even at full price seems very unethical (regarding the alk vacation). i think its neither here nor there that you actually booked all stars for the same price regarding ethical stance (although upsetting for you). mention to trading standards your dilemma regarding akl that they originally said they didnt have it and now they have plenty cheep as chips (so to speak). or you could even threaten them with trading standards first but make sure its not an idol threat.

hope you get some joy.

love

lucy

ps let me know what happens and what you do and of course eventually the company name.

Lucy - unless I'm reading it incorrectly it seems that you are saying that a travel company should not offer cut-price holidays when they sold them full price at an earlier date - at the time I am sure they had no availability for AKL - why would they not want to sell a more expensive holiday?

We all agree that the company concerned should be doing their utmost to accommodate Florida Sun into the AKL now it has availability and THAT is the problem not that they are selling a holiday cheaper than when first advertised

Florida Lol