I just added $100 to my Dolphin bill

[Jodi1980]

for our trip December 2003 using my Visa credit card. Has anyone ever paid Dolphin in advance?

 

[lwestwise]

I must not be getting the jest of your post. I always pay in advance, though not at the Dolphin. It never costs me $100.00 extra to do so. Did they add $100.00 to your cost or did you pay $100.00 toward the balance? I could just be a little slow.

 

[treehugger]

Don't worry lwestwise I must be slow too! Jodi did they charge $100 to prepay? If that's the case I would've said "no thanks" and settled up when I checked out.

 

[JanetRose]

Bump

 

[Lewski709]

Jodi,
I know what you mean. I just had them charge my card 200.00. This is so when I get there, my bill will be less. Kinda like installment or lay-a-way Disney. Instead of saving it all and paying all at once, pay a little here and there and by the time we go.....Hakuna Mattata.............no worries. It's paid for, except incidentals!

This really helps my family by seeing our extra costs. When you know it's all paid for except incidentals, we can really narrow our "problem" areas down for the next trip.

 

[swilphil]

Originally posted by treehugger
Don't worry lwestwise I must be slow too! Jodi did they charge $100 to prepay? If that's the case I would've said "no thanks" and settled up when I checked out.

We put down a one night stay's refundable deposit when we stayed at Dolphin this summer. The balance of the bill was due at check out.

 

[treehugger]

Thanks Sherri,
That is also what I thought they told me when I made my reservation at the Swan. I plan on paying the balance prior to arrival, thanks for the information. I can't wait to stay at the Swan, we looked around when we were staying at the Poly in September and it was awesome. The best part is I received an incredible AP rate with free upgrade. Yeah, I don't have to keep calling CRO hoping for AP rates

 

[laurabelle]

I just paid my balance by calling the Dolphin directly. I like to plan ahead and have my hotel, PHPs and a few meals paid for ahead of time to help ease the budget!

 

[Threehearts]

Maybe, I am way off but we NEVER pay in full before we need to. I like to review the product before paying for the entire bill in case I am not happy and need to make adjustments. Whether you pre-pay or pay when the bill the comes in, the money is the same. If I got to a hotel on business and was not happy(or got bumped) then I would have to fight it out with the hotel and the credit card company for a refund. On top of that, I would then have to use my card to charge a new hotel. I assume I'm missing something on the whole pre-pay system because so many people do this. Can someone explain. I really do want to know thebenefit of doing this. Thanks.

 

[musicmom3]

I would also be interested in an explanation of benefits. I tend to not like to prepay anything in case of problems with service, because then I still hold a "card" or two in negotiation. I tend to accumulate dribs and drabs of vacation money in the bank. It earns a little (very little!) interest, but at least is doing something for me rather than becoming somebody else's money before I've received anything in return.

 

[Lewski709]

is a personal option. If you don't like to, don't. If you want your money to gain interest in your account, get the interest.

Some people prefer to pay as they go and others prefer it to be taken care of before they get there. Some people feel if Disney has the money, they can't spend it (they have trouble saving). Some people believe if they do it now, they won't regret it as much later (a little here, a little there and WOW a great vacation.....how did we do that again?)

It's a lot like Christmas shopping, you know you have to do it EVERY year. Do you wait 'til Christmas and let your money gain interest or do you buy throughout the year when you see something you know someone would like/can use to give to another at Christmas time? If you wait, the expense seems large and all at once. If you spread it out, you may get bargains you couldn't later (and vice versa) and it doesn't seem like such a big chunk of change in the end. EVEN if it costs the same!

<color=purple>There is nothing I can say to convince you if you already are opposed to doing it. </color>

There are just some who know and believe in Disney and maybe (?) some can be satisifed more easily than others. Disney is not in the business to have unhappy guests. I have been dissatisfied, but have NEVER left the resort and the problems have been rectified quickly. Some even resulted in "freebies" that were not necessary. I am sure it depends on the presentation as well as to whom you present the issue.

BUT, they have been perfecting this thing since 1971, that is why there are so many different resorts and different levels of CM's.

 

[musicmom3]

The Christmas shopping example is a good parallel and hits home...I buy for the next Christmas almost immediately after the current season passes! Gap wool scarves reduced from $27 to $4.99...how can you go wrong????? You are right, Lewski, in that everybody has a different approach to living their lives. I don't mind doing my Christmas shopping almost a year early for the incredible bargains, but I would not be comfortable prepaying for a vacation unless I were to get something in return. I don't know why that is...but I guess the end result is the same if we all get to where we're going!

 

[brentalex]

I also never quite get the pre pay thing either. It's not because I expect to have to complain about something and will need to get money back, its just that I would rather have my money in my account getting my own tiny bit of interest. I guess I just have enough will power to know what I will be needing for the vacation and am prepared to pay for it once the trip is over. I put money in the savings account all year and then I put everything on a credit card and then just pay it off when I get the bill.

 

[laurabelle]

Actually, I am getting a little something in return. I paid with my Disney Visa, which is still in the intro period with 0% interest for the next 6 months, I get a few more Disney Reward$ for my trip and have nothing more to save up for except spending money and food money. Different strokes for different folks...

 

[Threehearts]

If you spend, let's say- $5,000, how many points in dollar value do you get? It's true that I get points on my AMEX spending but instead of being thrilled with the points, I'm kicking myself for all the spending it took to get a $50 gift certificate. Now if my husband spends a fortune on travel and expenses it to the company and gets to keep the rewards, I'm positively thrilled. Last year, we had a half million FFpoints and 350,000 AMEX points and took the family to WDW twice and to Maui for Spring break. I even used hotel frequent stay points to purchase meal certificates. It was wonderful!
I understand the freeing feeling that comes with prepaying things so don't think that I'm not respecting that choice as well. Threehearts

 

[musicmom3]

I, too, have been using the Disney Visa, but the key is to pay it off every month so you skip the interest but get the little something in points. I think I have enough for two sit-down meals at the moment! Not a lot...but nice...