I was just told CRO doesn't exsist anymore!!!

[q21701]

I just got off the phone to find out about AP rates and got horrific news instead. I asked to be transferred to CRO as always and the represenative told me that CRO doesn't exsist anymore and that today is they merged disney travel company and CRO. He also told me that AP rates were posted and then pulled to make some changes. And that no AP reservations for september were booked today. I'm going to call again now to confirm this info.

 

[Susiesnowflake]

Please keep us posted. I'm curious about any changes to the cancelation policy if CRO was infact phased out.

 

[q21701]

Ok, second call. Got some more info. There are currently 3 types of reservation specialasts now. CRO, disney travel company, and reps that have access to both. They are currently training people to operate the software for the combined system. So a few reps have access to both systems. Eventually when they are done training people there will be only one system and one set of travel agents. The first person I talked to had access to both systems, so for him, CRO doesn't exsist. The second person I talked to is currently CRO only but will be trained soon on the dual system. She also said, to the best of her knowledge, that cancelation policies will remain the same for room only bookings and package bookings. But keep in mind she has not been trained on the new system yet. Hope this helps anyone who got the same answer I did. PS she also said AP rates for sept appeared for a breif period today and then were pulled for changes.

 

[Cleokitty]

Earlier today when I called to check on AP rates, I was told that the cancellation policy for room only reservations was going to become the same as for packages--45 days out. Was told that inside of 45 days, room only reservations that cancel would lose their one night deposit. If you wanted to change w/in that 45 days, you could upgrade (to a higher price) with only a $10 change fee but if you downgraded (to a lower price resort) there would also be a $50 fee on top of the $10 fee.

The CM said Disney is trying to discourage room only reservations but that they will still be available.

Kim

 

[polyfan]

Personally, I don't like the packages, and always book a room only. We buy the 7 dayPHP- we have been going 2x a year which we get use of the tickets because we don't use all the days the first trip. We split our days 3/4 park, 2 water park, then some pool days each time. Booking a package would cause me to stop going twice a year, therefore in the end WDW would be losing out on the money I would normally have spent on the resort and food during the second visit.

 

[DebbieB]

Was told that inside of 45 days, room only reservations that cancel would lose their one night deposit.

That is ridiculous! Where else in the travel industry do you lose your deposit on a room that far out? For an expensive room, that could be alot of money. I could see a small fee but not one night's room rate, not that far out. Doesn't WDTC charge $100 from 6 to 44 days?

 

[Puffy2]

For Goodness Sakes!

Disney is the only place I know of that can make making a simple room reservation a horrific ordeal.

We KNOW their stadegy ; confuse the customer into paying too much.

 

[susy]

So I guess that if discounts come out within the 45 days, you will be charged for either upgrading or downgrading-what a racket!

Ap holders and Fl residents will be "driven" offsite!

 

[thessaly]

I read something similar on usenet a few weeks ago, saying that old CRO-style terms would be phased out by the end of the year.

I've got to admit, I'll have to really rethink my Disney resorts at that point, it doesn't seem very reasonable.

For what it's worth, the Universal resorts don't do this nonsense.

 

[Purrrrfecta]

I have to agree with you, thessaly! Disney is really pushing this too far! I understand that their profits are not at where they want them to be, but this is outrageous.

I had a not so wonderful time during xmas. Felt like the "magic" had slipped away from them.
If this is the case I will not stay on their property.

 

[honeymo78]

These changes in the reservation policies seem to coincide with the changes rumored about the PS system. Perhaps then this will make it easier for all guests on property (perhaps with the exception of DVC) to get the early PS

 

[dejr_8]

Don't be mad at Disney...

We all do it. We reserve a room at rack rates and then when the discounts come out we change the orginal reservation. But don't you realize that Disney sets the discount rates (AP ,etc) based on the number of available rooms.

So Disney sets a discount rate to attract additional guests but then we all change our original reservations using the discounted rate. In the end, Disney doesn't attract new guests it just gets the same guests at a lower price (i.e. lower profit)

For comparison. Look at Movie Theaters that charge a lower price for matinees. If people stopped going to movies at night and only went in the afternoon do you think the theaters would keep the price low for matinees? NO they would raise the price. This is simple microeconomics.

Disney has changed the rules.

 

[kimmie]

Oh Boy! What does that do to reservations already made for 2004? I have paid my 1 night deposit (with CRO) and am planning to pay the balance at check-in. Will I have to pay all of it 45 days prior? Will they send me a notification of this change? I am really starting to worry about all the changes they are making.

 

[SueEllen]

I don't think you need to worry. Even if the CRO system is gone, they will still have the "room only" reservations where you pay at check-in. I cannot imagine that this would change to a pre-pay system for room only reservations (although I know they do offer basic packages without tickets that have the pre-pay now)

I really believe that you will not notice a difference in the room only reservations.

Sue Ellen

 

[q21701]

I agree, that was the impression that I got from both represenatives I spoke with today. However both reps gave me different answers regarding the cancelation policy. I am almost afraid to get a straight answer from more than one rep. All that we can hope for is that disney montiors our opinions on this board and uses some common sense when re-writing their cancelation policies.

 

[KIS]

I'm planning my first WDW vacation for my family for April 24- May 2, 2004.

I stumbled onto the disboards and have appreciated the discussions because I've plodded along, an early bird, I suppose, by many people's standards. I anticipate a rather jam-packed period of work and professional development in the fall and winter and so I have been making thoughtful decisions about how to plan our family fun vacation this summer.

It's rather unappealing to find only a month or so after I've begun planning that WDW has made so many significant changes all at once. First I learn about the FASTPASS is/may be altering, then the PS is/may be altering, and now this CRO and "room only" policies will alter, too. It's a bit of a turn off, frankly. I wonder how many more significant surprises are coming before my vacation and whether it's worth it to pursue vacations at a place that change policies so often. I've got no experience to go on, but I find it rather confusing and the implications are still uncertain.

I know it's too early to really tell how room onlys will be handled, how the PS reservations will be handled, and even how the FASTPASS will change, but I don't like considering that these policies will be ironed out all the while before my first trip, possibly even while I can't pursue being all that well-informed.

Is WDW really hurting so much as to discourage room only reservations? Are they discouraging early booking and people being happy with options for planning vacations?

I'm feeling turned off, like some others have mentioned. Is this sort of mode of conducting business common with WDW?

KIS

 

[P'colaFla]

Hey Q21701! Your going the same time that we are...cool. 46 more days for us too....so excited. Thanks for the CRO update. Sometimes I think that we "DISboard" members have to try to keep Disney on their toes. Don't ya just love these boards?

 

[dkostel]

Wouldn't discouraging room only reservations be the same as discouraging APs? And if you discourage APs aren't you discouraging people from taking that second trip to get their money's worth & filling rooms. It makes no sense, I'm only getting the AP for the room discount but already I'm dreaming of a Spring trip and will probably do it just because the park entrance is already paid for.

Donna

 

[cindala]

Originally posted by Cleokitty

The CM said Disney is trying to discourage room only reservations but that they will still be available.

Kim

If they want to encourage packages, then they had better keep coming up with Fairy Tale deals! Otherwise, it's room only for me!

 

[SnackyStacky]

dejr_8,

That theory would work if Disney's profit margin was reasonable. But because they have SO many rooms to fill, and simply can't fill them all year, the rates are astronomical.

Your thinking's along the same lines as Disney's: thinking only of the bottom line. If nothing else were taken into consideration, you'd be absolutely right. However, when you take into account the dissatisfaction that MANY loyal guests will feel, it doesn't look so good. How many people in this thread have already mentioned staying off property?

As for me, I was planning on booking my honeymoon now, and applying AP discounts later, simply because I can't get AP discount rates now. And while they don't specifically say in their legalese that hotel discounts are a perk, it's definitely one of the selling points. And unless I'm mistaken, Florida residents are offered a completely different pass than those from other states. Not everybody has the luxury to take a last minute trip, and by offering the discounts the way they do....it's just pretty crummy.

And to those of you who have booked a reservation with CRO, keep your confirmation! The cancellation policy should be printed on it. I haven't seen one, so I can't verify, but unless it specifically says that they can change the terms at any time and without prior notification, they HAVE to abide by what they printed on your receipt.