My Parents Got Their Cabin Assignment - A Little Bummed

[mickeyboat]

P.S.

Even with early seating, my DD's (3 and 4) fell asleep during dinner several nights - the activity just wore them out. They also fell asleep in eveyr show we took them to. When the lights came up, we were left with two sleeping cherubs to lug back to the cabin!

Denae

 

[yourtravelpro]

They'll have a great time no matter!

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Can't say much about the late seating for dinner. If you want to make sure you get early seating for dinner, then you have to book early.

However, I never noticed before that Disney considers the rooms with two little port holes to be the same catagory as the other Large Porthole Rooms. Disney needs to either recatagorize these as Cat 10 (like the secret port hole rooms) or redo the catagories to add another catagory for these rooms.

Unless it was made obvious to your parents that booking a GTY Category 9 put them as risk of getting a small port hole room, then I would raise a ruckus with DCL to demand that they either give you a discount (something equivilent to a Cat 10 room, or at least split the difference between Cat 10 and Cat 9) or get reassigned to a large port hole room or so other upgrade.

It's only if you go looking into the details that you discover there are Cat 9 rooms with these small port holes. DCL's marketing material (such as the free marketing DVD you can get with about 2 hours worth of information) seems to pretend those rooms don't exist.

On a side note, that was something I was very disappointed in with the DVD. The didn't really show you all the different room types. As an example, they show you the same cabin for Cat 5 and Cat 4 (the difference being the Cat 4 is bigger because of the murphy bed).

But to reiterate...

It's your own fault for not booking early enough to get early seating (i.e. DCL hasn't done anything their).

But as for the room, based on what I've seen with their marketing, I'd complain until I got satisfaction as there is no equitable comparison between to two small port holes on Deck 1 and a huge port hole that you can sit in on Deck 2.

Basicly, you've got several valid and fair arguments with DCL over this cabin assignment:
1) You were (probably) not made aware of the fact that booking GTY 9 means you might get assigned with two little port hole (like I said, the marketing material always shows the large port holes).
2) Not only are the port holes smaller, but they are also on a lower deck from the "better" port hole rooms listed in the same catagory (generally, higher in the ship is higher catagory, for example, Cat 5 and Cat 6 are the same except Cat 5 is a higher deck, Cat 12 and Cat 11 are the same, except Cat 12 is Deck 2 while Cat 11 is Deck 5 thru 7).

Good Luck!

 

[kcashner]

When your register, you will be given a paper with details of where everything is being held. They need to go to "dining changes" (usually deck 3 forward in Sessions) . It was open as soon as we boarded (12:00) in Feb. Make the request to change to early. The crew will do everything possible to meet their request.

It is unlikely that they will be able to change cabins since summer cruises are nearly always full. They can always ask at check in.

 

[crisi]

Disney's marketing material also shows kids romping on the grass (which is fenced off) at the MK with Snow White and riding Dumbo with Mickey. I'm not sure you are going to get far with "but your marketing materials showed the best possible room" any more than I'll be able to get a ticket refund because my kids have never riden Dumbo with Mickey or because - contrary to the marketing materials, I had to wave down a CM at CC to get an umbrella drink.

I'm sorry your parents expectations are not being met. But the dinner assignment should have been expected booking that late - it doesn't seem fair that those booking early wouldn't get first choice of seating assignment and that on a DCL cruise first seating will be more popular. I know that it seems like March wasn't "that late" but DCL does book fast. Hopefully, they will be able to switch at arrival, but it probably doesn't hurt to give them some hints from this thread in case that doesn't work out.

 

[mmouse37]

Personally I don't think the smaller porthole cabins deserve a separate category.

I do not think the OP would have a leg to stand on with Disney if they start complaining about a room on Deck 1. There is enough material out there for people to make informed choices. Next time they will know to book earlier to get desired seating and choice of cabin location.

MJ

 

[horsewings]

Hi! We have been on 6 cruises and 3 of those were the last minute "florida resident" rates and we were assigned the late seating which is not my choice.

We get to the port early and upon entering the ship we RUN down to the "bar" area to put our names in to be changed to early seating - and each time we got our wish!! They did not notify us until after the lifeboat drill because they have to see how many passenges want to be changed. We have had good luck and I'm sure you will too - just tell your parents to get to the port early!

Good Luck-
Jean

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Personally I don't think the smaller porthole cabins deserve a separate category.

I do not think the OP would have a leg to stand on with Disney if they start complaining about a room on Deck 1. There is enough material out there for people to make informed choices. Next time they will know to book earlier to get desired seating and choice of cabin location.

Right or Wrong, intentional or not, the way Disney has the rooms catagorized, you have to pay GTY for Cat 8 if you want to make sure you're not a part of the "unlucky" 10% of Cat 9 that gets "stuck" with a room with two port holes.

Now I know that there are several people who might also feel like the smaller porthole cabins need a separate category, but obviously there will be people (like my self and OP) who think these cabins are not up to par with the rest of the Cat 9.

It basicly comes down to this...
If you honestly feel cheated by this room assignment and you sincerly contact DCL to tell them about your complaint, you're willing to take the time to push the complaint to a supervisor and on to Disney management, and you make a reasonable request, you might get some satisfaction.

For me personally, if I was blindsided by this type of situation, I would feel like I've been given a Cat 9 1/2 rather than a Cat 9 (but yet obviously better than a Cat 10), so I would ask for some sort of compensation for the difference. In this case, the difference between a Cat 10 and Cat 9 is about $200 (not sure of the exact number since I don't remember if this was for a 3, 4, or 7 day cruise). Half of that would be $100 so I would ask for $100 ship board credit. Given all the various promotions that seem to range from $50 to $200 on on-board credit (depending upon the trip you take), it wouldn't suprise me that IF you can make a legitamate case with DCL that you might at least get $50-$100 on board credit to compensate you "for your loss".

All that being said, if you knew going in that this was something that could happen, you won't be in a position to make a legitamate complaint and your interactions with DCL will reflect that (unless you're the real good "salemen" type and can fake it).

 

[mmouse37]

I guess it is all personal preference......I never felt that I was "unlucky" to get a Cat 9 on Deck 1. In our 10 DCL cruises we have stayed in most cabin categories and most decks and found Deck 1 to be a very great location and those cabins to be just fine. But you are right...some people will want to have them reclassified and some don't see the need.

My only argument is that I don't think DCL misled them in any way.....so how can they ask for compensation?

Anyway....too late to discuss any further...time for bed.

MJ

 

[Billinaz]

I think if you get there early and be one of the first to request a seating change, then you may be able to get it.

Im still not sure why you could only book a GTY cabin, probably all who you booked with could get.

 

[Christine]

First of all, I want to thank everyone for their wonderful advice. I relayed most of this information to my parents and they are feeling much better. No one has had a bad thing to say about the deck 1 cabins.

Now, my parents are not *too* disappointed or shocked by what has happened. We are all very well aware that we booked late. This was a definite spur-of-the-moment trip and we knew that we would be wait-listed for dinner and of the 3 travel agents AND DCL that we went to for prices, all of them at the time stated that they could only give a GTY cabin at that time. Of course, after reading these boards, my mom did hope for an upgrade, but again, just wishful thinking on our point. Definitely not counting on it.

My mom's words when she got her documents: "I didn't get an upgrade which is fine but I feel like I got a *downgrade*." I said what do you mean? She then told me that about a week ago she had gotten The Passporter book and found out at that time that some Category 9 rooms did not have the big porthole--that they had two smaller ones and that took her by surprise because she didn't know it. Now, my mom really wanted a Family Suite with Verandah, but due to our late booking they felt they couldn't justify it for the money--we would need to book at least a year out to afford those cabins. We then looked at the Category 9 rooms which were in the budget during the late booking and she really felt that she could live with the large porthole and was happy with her choice. HooKooDooKu was absolutely correct--during our booking, we never saw any mention of the double porthole Cat 9 rooms. We got the tape, we looked at the DCL site, and in my searches on this board, I never really saw it, although I'm sure it was there. But I think that I shouldn't have to search internet message boards or non-Disney publications to find this information.

Still, though, they are feeling better and my dad is going to make a nice, polite call today to inquire about this matter (following HooKooDooKu's advice). He will not pursue it to any degree further than nicely asking. He will just mention that he didn't know about the double porthole rooms and that he was disappointed because he had not learned of this possiblity when he booked. I guess it is "buyer beware" and they have learned their lesson. I think if they had known about the double porthole rooms being a possibility they would have definitely booked a Cat 8.

 

[Zandy595]

I'm on the fence about a cat. 9 on deck 1 being recategorized. However, I totally agree that it is not mentioned anywhere that you could get this type of cabin when booking a cat. 9. If I hadn't looked at every single picture on Barb & Tony's website, I never would have known about them. I called my TA immediately, when I looked at my confirmation papers and saw they had put us on deck 1. I booked almost a year out so I had no problem switching to a cat. 9 on deck 2.

Every time someone asks questions (on this board) about cat. 9 cabins I always post that they should make sure they get on deck 2 because of the two little portholes on deck 1.

Someone mentioned that you should go to Sessions to change your dining assignment. I believe this information is incorrect. On the Navigators I've looked at it is:
Rockin' Bar D (12pm-3:30pm) on the Magic
WaveBands (1pm-3:30pm) on the Wonder.

Your parents and kids are going on the 3 night Wonder, correct? If so, they should try to be at WaveBands before 1pm.

 

[Christine]

Sandy,
No, my parents/kids will be on the 7-night Magic beginning 7/24/04.

 

[traycie2201]

DCL will always do their best to accomodate requests, as other posters have mentioned get to port early, board go straight to the dining room manager and ask to be moved to early dining explaining the situation, wherever possible they will accomodate your request. In the meantime ring dcl every day to see if an early slot has come up from a cancellation they take you off the waitlist after a certain amount of time i believe, also if you are having late dining ask for the kids meals to be brought with your starters and if necessary if the kids have fallen asleep ask if you can take your main back to the cabins, try and build in an afternoon nap / late wake up for your son if possible during the cruise and he might be fine . Hope your family have a wonderful time. p.s your mum and dad might want to enquire about upgrading rooms at port if they want - take the passporters though to check out location before they pay for an upgrade which i believe is a lot cheaper if you do it at port if ther'es availability.

 

[JOANNEL]

Christine,

We are also on the 7/24 magic with late dinner. We went in June of 2004. Stayed in room 1078. We loved the first floor. You are the first ones out at castaway keyand all stops. You really aren't in your room much. We took an inside room this time cause my mom wanted a veranda and the inside room accross the hall is much cheaper. We are also early people. I was up every morning at 5 am walking deck 10(so I could eat all those delicious desserts.) We are also early dinner eaters. It wasn't that hard to change but I missed most of the late night club happenings. I was usually asleep by 11. Tell your folks we are meeting by the goofy pool at 3:15 to meet other disers. There is another thread going about it.

Joanne

 

[JOANNEL]

I meant June 2002

 

[Zandy595]

Christine ~ Oops, sorry. I was looking at the June calendar and the 24th was Thursday.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Im still not sure why you could only book a GTY cabin, probably all who you booked with could get.

When the ship gets a certain percentage full, DCL will no longer assign rooms, they will only do GTY. That includes booking directly through DCL.

I don't know if this is a new thing, but it's basically what a DCL rep told me amout 2 months ago when I tried to change cabin numbers for our up-comming Sept 25th trip.

 

[Dizzyworld]

I hope things work out for your family. On our second cruise, which was the Wonder, we had a room on Deck 2 under Beat Street. We had not asked to be moved. DCL called a few days before we cruised to ask if we would like to be moved since it might be noisy in that cabin? (They were going to move us a few cabins away since we were traveling with friends and they didn't want to move us far away from them.) Regretfully, we were in WDW so we missed the call. But there is hope.