inventory control...how does it work?

[dreamcometrue]

ok, I did it...I faxed inventory control a request for a 7 day Eastern in August 2008, for a SPH room.

Now here are my question...

how will this be handled?
I understand I will get a postcard from DCL stating that my request has been received. Will they call me the day before the dates open to confirm and ask if I still want the room? Or the day the dates open? I will still check on the day they open and see if the room I requested is available and if it is, I will book it. would that be ok?

Has anyone done the inventory control? How exactly did it work, from faxing to actually booking?

 

[Buddy Bear]

ok, I did it...I faxed inventory control a request for a 7 day Eastern in August 2008, for a SPH room.

Now here are my question...

how will this be handled?
I understand I will get a postcard from DCL stating that my request has been received. Will they call me the day before the dates open to confirm and ask if I still want the room? Or the day the dates open? I will still check on the day they open and see if the room I requested is available and if it is, I will book it. would that be ok?

Has anyone done the inventory control? How exactly did it work, from faxing to actually booking?

It doesn't necessarily happen that quickly; it is a first come first serve basis. It is not unusual for somebody to fax a request a few years in advance. Since you asked for a SPH on a 7 day eastern in August 2008 you basically limited yourself to 12 rooms; 6 on each sailing (there will probably be only two easterns in 08/08).

After all the requests are filled prior to yours then you will get a call from DCL Inventory Control. It may work out for you I am just trying to enlighten you on what may or may not happen.

 

[dreamcometrue]

It doesn't necessarily happen that quickly; it is a first come first serve basis. It is not unusual for somebody to fax a request a few years in advance. Since you asked for a SPH on a 7 day eastern in August 2008 you basically limited yourself to 12 rooms; 6 on each sailing (there will probably be only two easterns in 08/08).

After all the requests are filled prior to yours then you will get a call from DCL Inventory Control. It may work out for you I am just trying to enlighten you on what may or may not happen.

thanks Buddy Bear! So, I think I will still get online the day the dates open and try to book a SPH myself.

 

[Buddy Bear]

thanks Buddy Bear! So, I think I will still get online the day the dates open and try to book a SPH myself.

Unfortnately many staterooms that are normally requested via Inventory Control like SPHs and suites do not even become available when the dates are released

If you try to book a suite on any sailing many times you won't even find a cat 1, 2, or 3 on the list of available categories. Sometimes calling is more effective than booking online for suites or calling a TA.

Your best bet is what you did which is to fax over a request. Requests are fulfilled first and if any SPHs are left over for a particular sailing they are released to the general public.

What you have to hope for is that there weren't a lot of requests for SPHs faxed over to Inventory Control before yours for those two eastern dates you asked for.

My gut feeling is that you made a request far enough in advance but it is always a good idea to make your request as flexible as possible.

 

[dreamcometrue]

Unfortnately many staterooms that are normally requested via Inventory Control like SPHs and suites do not even become available when the dates are released

If you try to book a suite on any sailing many times you won't even find a cat 1, 2, or 3 on the list of available categories. Sometimes calling is more effective than booking online for suites or calling a TA.

Your best bet is what you did which is to fax over a request. Requests are fulfilled first and if any SPHs are left over for a particular sailing they are released to the general public.

What you have to hope for is that there weren't a lot of requests for SPHs faxed over to Inventory Control before yours for those two eastern dates you asked for.

My gut feeling is that you made a request far enough in advance but it is always a good idea to make your request as flexible as possible.

well, we want to go on the first Eastern in August 2008, so I am not VERY flexible! School here doesn't start until the end of August, however, I work in an elementary school office, and have to be back to work about 2 weeks before school starts.

What I think I will do is, if they haven't called me the day the dates open for 2008, book a cat. 9 room. I really want the SPH to save some money, however, I absolutely need a porthole, since I get claustrophobic with no window. Then, if they call me later with a SPH opening, I can always change my ressie to that, depending on the price difference!

 

[Buddy Bear]

well, we want to go on the first Eastern in August 2008, so I am not VERY flexible! School here doesn't start until the end of August, however, I work in an elementary school office, and have to be back to work about 2 weeks before school starts.

What I think I will do is, if they haven't called me the day the dates open for 2008, book a cat. 9 room. I really want the SPH to save some money, however, I absolutely need a porthole, since I get claustrophobic with no window. Then, if they call me later with a SPH opening, I can always change my ressie to that, depending on the price difference!

I think that is a great idea. I booked a cat 6 for the 08/19/06 western double dip in 09/04 as a back up plan and got the call for the cat 1 I requested about 10 months after the 2006 dates were released.

Either way you are going to be on the cruise you want and with any luck you will get a SPH.

Good luck,

Jeff

 

[ScrapinDisney]

Can anyone tell me where to fax in my request for a December 2008 cruise?Also, how specific are you on that fax...date and cabin #??
Michelle

 

[garada3]

Confused

I called Disney this morning to request a planning package and asked about requests for 2008 category 1 or 2.

The woman I talked to said that they do not have a wait list for cabins for future cruises and that it is first come first serve when the dates are released. I mentioned that I read about making a request in advance of dates being released on a message board. She said 'I have no ideas why they said this. We don't do it.'

Help! Can I really put a request in now for 2008 cruises? Does it have to be a fax? When does a deposit need to be made?

Thanks!

Lisa

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Sounds like you got a new employee on the phone.

I believe the fax # is in the FAQ section. You will only need to put in a deposit once DCL calls you asking if you still want the booking.

Yes, you can be specific about dates and room #s.

Like Buddy Bear said, its first-faxed, first served. One time I must have faxed my request early enough because I had a choice of different Category 3 rooms.

 

[dreamcometrue]

Can anyone tell me where to fax in my request for a December 2008 cruise?Also, how specific are you on that fax...date and cabin #??
Michelle

the fax number is: 407-566-7739

you can be as specific as you want to be. If you want to be on a specific cruise, tell them. If you are flexible, just give them a time frame (example: anytime in December of 2008).

I faxed them a request for the first Eastern cruise for August 2008. Told them, if the Eastern starts in July, and ends in August, I want that one, otherwise the first one in August! I am hoping for a SPH so I just told them the cabin numbers I would want. If you want a specific cabin number, write that in your request, if you just want, let's say cat. 1, 2, or 3, put that. If you want to book any other category besides those 3, and don't care about the cabin number, I'd wait until the day the dates open, because there will be plenty available. They won't all sell out in one day

ETA: be sure to put down your address and phone number, so they can contact you!

 

[castawayfan]

Question? I have a category 3 booked for December 07. We want to "move" that reservation to April 08. Can I fax this type of request to inventory control?

 

[Buddy Bear]

Question? I have a category 3 booked for December 07. We want to "move" that reservation to April 08. Can I fax this type of request to inventory control?

I would fax over a request for a cat 3 for 04/08 and hold onto the 12/07 until you hear from Inventory Control.

Often people will book a room as a fall back position on the cruise they want to sail in case their request doesn't come through.

For instance, I booked a cat 6 in 09/04 for 08/19/06. I also faxed a request for a cat 1 for the same date so whether my request came in or not we were sailing on 08/19/06.

The only thing you have to careful about is that starting in 2007 the deposits for suites (cat 1, 2, and 3) are not refundable. It doesn't mean you can't use the deposit for a future cruise, you just can't get your money back if you decide not to go and don't book another cruise.