New Policy to change your reservation?????

[alaskanmommy]

Hi everyone. I am currently working on booking a vacation with Dreams Unlimited and at the bottom of the quote it states:

"The following is a policy of Disneyland and will be followed no matter whom you book this reservation with. Dreams Unlimited Travel does not charge for cancelled or changed reservations.

Land Cancellation & Change Fees: A fee is assessed each time a change and/or cancellation is made. The cancellation/change fees are per reservation and are as follow:

*30+ days prior to scheduled arrival - Once deposit or full payment has been paid, $100 cancellation fee / $25 change fee

* 29-6 days prior to scheduled arrival - $200 cancellation fee / $50 change fee

* 5-0 days prior to arrival - 50% of reservation (plus fees) charged for cancellation / $75 change fee

***Changes effecting accommodations must be made at least 6 business days prior to arrival. All existing documents must be returned to Walt Disney Travel Co., Inc. via overnight delivery service and revised documents will be delivered express at an additional cost of $10 plus fees.

**For changes, the change fees must be paid in addition to any increase in rate resulting from the change.

*Cancellation/change penalties may be reimbursed if appropriate insurance is purchased on or before final payment date."

It's been only a few years since we have been to DLR and the last two years have been to WDW, where they didn't have a policy like this. I know alot of us book and pay our deposit in hopes for a better deal to switch to or a sweeter discount to come up. What's up with this change fee??? I wanted to book now and then wait for the early 2010 discounts to come out and then switch my reservation. Now what is the best way to do this?? Should I book now or not??? Is there a way to avoid the change fee or is this another way for Disney to make some extra $$$ off of their fans??? Pretty lame if you ask me. Sorry for the tiny rant.

 

[JustAKid]

Hi everyone. I am currently working on booking a vacation with Dreams Unlimited and at the bottom of the quote it states:

"The following is a policy of Disneyland and will be followed no matter whom you book this reservation with. Dreams Unlimited Travel does not charge for cancelled or changed reservations.

Land Cancellation & Change Fees: A fee is assessed each time a change and/or cancellation is made. The cancellation/change fees are per reservation and are as follow:

*30+ days prior to scheduled arrival - Once deposit or full payment has been paid, $100 cancellation fee / $25 change fee

* 29-6 days prior to scheduled arrival - $200 cancellation fee / $50 change fee

* 5-0 days prior to arrival - 50% of reservation (plus fees) charged for cancellation / $75 change fee

***Changes effecting accommodations must be made at least 6 business days prior to arrival. All existing documents must be returned to Walt Disney Travel Co., Inc. via overnight delivery service and revised documents will be delivered express at an additional cost of $10 plus fees.

**For changes, the change fees must be paid in addition to any increase in rate resulting from the change.

*Cancellation/change penalties may be reimbursed if appropriate insurance is purchased on or before final payment date."

It's been only a few years since we have been to DLR and the last two years have been to WDW, where they didn't have a policy like this. I know alot of us book and pay our deposit in hopes for a better deal to switch to or a sweeter discount to come up. What's up with this change fee??? I wanted to book now and then wait for the early 2010 discounts to come out and then switch my reservation. Now what is the best way to do this?? Should I book now or not??? Is there a way to avoid the change fee or is this another way for Disney to make some extra $$$ off of their fans??? Pretty lame if you ask me. Sorry for the tiny rant.

Forgive me but....I think you answered your own question.

 

[pixarmom]

This is the exact same issue I have been considering over the past few days! I don't know how to link to this, but I posted the following thread earlier today: "Need help with hotel reservations." I received a very helpful response! I'm a WDW vet, and have always booked very early, but I'll wait to book DLR based on what I'm learning here. I'll be really interested to hear more about this from those familiar with DLR.

 

[ballarinamom]

When we book any vacation, land or cruise alike, there are fees for changing or cancelling. I believe when we went to WDW, there were only fees if you downgraded hotels but an upgrade was free until you hit 30 days out. I can tell you we had friemds stay at the DLH in June. They paid a $25 change fee but saved $700 when the summer special came out. Well worth it.
That being said, I think that is why so many people do al a carte planning. You can hold your reservations with a credit card for the hotel. You pay for the room after the trip unless you pay cash.
Or that is why they offer the insurance

 

[alaskanmommy]

Forgive me but....I think you answered your own question.

Hahaha! Sorry I'm the type/think out loud kind of gal!! I really wanted to let others know about this unfortunate change in Disney policy.


Does anybody else have any experience in this matter???

 

[alaskanmommy]

When we book any vacation, land or cruise alike, there are fees for changing or cancelling. I believe when we went to WDW, there were only fees if you downgraded hotels but an upgrade was free until you hit 30 days out. I can tell you we had friemds stay at the DLH in June. They paid a $25 change fee but saved $700 when the summer special came out. Well worth it.
That being said, I think that is why so many people do al a carte planning. You can hold your reservations with a credit card for the hotel. You pay for the room after the trip unless you pay cash.
Or that is why they offer the insurance

You know we have always booked a package at both DLR and WDW. I haven't even thought of booking things separately. Thanks for the idea!!

 

[JustAKid]

You know we have always booked a package at both DLR and WDW. I haven't even thought of booking things separately. Thanks for the idea!!

I've never been to WDW but from the research I've gathered, package deals are pretty much a must at WDW, while the opposite is true at DL. I think WDW vets just automatically do packages because that's what they're used to/the savings are great. I don't think the same is true for DL. At least...that's what I've heard. Also, it may be closer and cheaper to stay off-site at DL, and a lot of those places do NOT charge cancellation fees!

 

[bumbershoot]

It's possible the cancel fees have gone up, but they did have the same basic cancel/change stuff for our '07 vacay that we booked in March of that year.

I remember well, b/c we changed things twice, and both times the kind folks waived our change fee. And one of the times, we were lowering the total with our change!


It might have been mentioned, but the "book then change" thing with DLR is that you book a room only, then change it. They do charge one night's stay when you book, but as long as you change things before the cancellation time runs out (it's a few days before checkin now) there's no fee.

With packages, you're running the risk that they won't waive the change fee, if you change it.

 

[Kelsie]

Unfortunately, this has always been the policy for Disneyland. Their policies are nothing like WDW or DCL (completely different planet). From almost the minute you pay your deposit, you are subject to change and cancellation fees.

The thing to consider is if you wait, you run the risk that the hotel/view you want will no longer be available. Remember, with DL there are fewer Resort Hotels and they sell out quickly, particularly when there is a discount.

I know it's frustrating but you can still take advantage of any discounts even on an existing reservation however, you will pay the change fee if the package price is less than the original total (they don't charge this if the price of the package increases).

 

[LuLusApple]

We had a package in April and the same 25$ change fee applied, 4 weeks prior to our trip the hotel prices dropped at another hotel so I paid 25$ and saved over 300$. It was worth it.
But I won't do another package, Its less expensive to book seperate.

 

[nunzia]

We just never book a package at DLR..it seems I can always get the components cheaper without the package. It looks like WDW is different in this, since it's always a package thing to get free dining or whatever. I've never had an issue changing things at DLR with no charge.

 

[pixarmom]

Unfortunately, this has always been the policy for Disneyland. Their policies are nothing like WDW or DCL (completely different planet). From almost the minute you pay your deposit, you are subject to change and cancellation fees.

The thing to consider is if you wait, you run the risk that the hotel/view you want will no longer be available. Remember, with DL there are fewer Resort Hotels and they sell out quickly, particularly when there is a discount.

I know it's frustrating but you can still take advantage of any discounts even on an existing reservation however, you will pay the change fee if the package price is less than the original total (they don't charge this if the price of the package increases).

I think I'm understanding correctly, but I just want to double-check! At WDW, we book the room only (to reserve the room) and then add the package when the special offer rates appear. Although the price of the room decreases, our total price is more because we added the tickets to create the package. Would you recommend a similar process at DLR? Would DLR still charge a fee under these circumstances?

 

[Disney Fool]

I've never been to WDW but from the research I've gathered, package deals are pretty much a must at WDW, while the opposite is true at DL. I think WDW vets just automatically do packages because that's what they're used to/the savings are great. I don't think the same is true for DL. At least...that's what I've heard. Also, it may be closer and cheaper to stay off-site at DL, and a lot of those places do NOT charge cancellation fees!

Not true. A lot of us NEVER book a package at WDW. We just book room-only. Some folks like the package because it's convenient, and has the option of a meal plan --which at WDW can be a savings since there are sooo many restaurants. A lot of us, though, prefer the do-it-yourself method and book room only. It's a lot cheaper, too!!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Looked at my 2006 reservations and the change fee notification was on the ressie confirmation for DLR.

Jack