No more CRO?

[2cutekids]

I'm new here, so I hope that I am posting this on the right forum. Anyway, today I called to make room only reservations and I immediately asked the CM if he was CRO. He laughed and said, "Well, I can be.....You must have been reading the Disney Website." I told him that I read all the Disney info websites, and he said "We'll, they will have to spread a new message around, because after about a month, we won't have CRO anymore".

I just thought that I would pass this on! The CRO system just seems easier to deal with.

 

[zurgswife]

Thanks for posting...This seems to confirm information that has been coming out for the past few months....Walt Disney Travel will be the only system....Sounds like they are going to only book packages and no discounts on room only like before...

 

[SnackyStacky]

Just a supposition here...

While CRO is being phased out, I don't believe that the policies are. People have reported speaking to Travel Company agents and being able to book room-only reservations with the CRO cancellation policies. I think that they are eliminating CRO to eliminate some confusion.

But that's just me doing some guesswork. I could be completely wrong.

 

[D&R love Disney]

The CM I spoke with last week said they were all one now. I was able to book 2 seperate reservations as room only and paid the one night deposit on each with the CRO cancellation policy.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Sounds like my guesswork may be right on!

 

[Geoff_M]

On 9/15 an article on MousePlanet referred to a new reservation system that was part of the "Destination Disney" CRM/reservation project. Is this what the CM's were referring to?

 

[Nuts4Disney]

WELCOME TO THE DIS, 2CUTEKIDS!!!

One thing I've learned from dealing w/WDW Travel & CRO is that there are some really great, friendly & informative CMs, & there are others that really stink. The phasing out of CRO has been bantered about for awhile now, but the guests haven't officially been let in on this, or what this actually means to guests. I suppose time will tell. I'm waiting patiently to see how it all shakes out.

Thanks for posting, 2cutekids!

 

[Aisling]

Walt Disney Travel will be the only system....Sounds like they are going to only book packages and no discounts on room only like before...

Oh dear, can this be true?

I don't care what they call themselves, just give me room-only codes!

 

[stitch79]

I really doubt they are going to do away with room only stuff, it would be a *very* bad decision business wise.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I don't care what they call themselves, just give me room-only codes!

I'm not sure if you're meaning the discount codes, or if you're looking for room only reservations.

Mousesavers.com had an article about the future of discount codes. Mary Waring (the mousesavers webmistress) seems to think that Disney is heading in the direction of trying to get more people to book packages, which means that the room-only discount codes might very well be fewer.

However, as I guessed, and as someone else confirmed, CRO and The Walt Disney Travel Company seem to be merging into one unit, that will be called the Walt Disney Travel Company.

The Travel Company representatives will be able to book a room-only reservation, and it will carry the same guest-friendly cancellation and booking policies that CRO had (deposit is equivalent to 1 night's stay, due within 14 days of booking, final balance due at check-in, change or cancel your reservation until 5 days prior to checkin without penalty)

I think they did this to eliminate the confusion between the different booking and cancellation policies of the Travel Company and CRO.

To review: you will probably still be able to book room-only reservations, but don't hold your breath for discount codes unless you have an AP, but even then, they're not guaranteed.

 

[Grumpy37]

They had no problem booking A/P room rates (for available dates of course) with the standard CRO deposit (one night incl. tax) and CRO cancellation policy.

I asked the guy about this and he hedged a little bit but did say that whatever else happened, you'd still be able to book A/P room-only discount rates vs. package rates at the same number: 407-WDISNEY.

After all an UPH package doesn't do an annual pass holder any good. And a UPH is wasted on people like us who don't park hop every day of our stay.

 

[montessori]

SnackyStacky is right.
I received a phone call from a DW representative a few days ago.
It was in response to an email I sent about this subject.
He told me just what SnackyStacky said.
They are not doing away with room-only reservations.

 

[2cutekids]

Great! That makes me feel alot better. We are planning our second trip for December. Since we don't have AP's, both times I have come out alot better budget wise when I booked everything myself separately. Thanks for all the great info!

 

[Mommo]

Just to let you know, when I received my room confirmation (for room only), it had the word package on it and a choice of mini golf or sports admission. I called to question and was told that because our reservation is for 2004, only packages are able to be booked. I don't know if this is new policy. If anyone knows I can get a room only, I'd appreciate hearing about it. Mommo

 

[justhat]

We have 2 reservations booked, one for May 2004 and the other for June 2004, and neither one is a package. We've had the confirmations since June and March of this year and neither one says package or the mini golf stuff. Call back if you just want a room-only since I know they're able to do it.

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by Mommo
Just to let you know, when I received my room confirmation (for room only), it had the word package on it and a choice of mini golf or sports admission. I called to question and was told that because our reservation is for 2004, only packages are able to be booked....

What you have booked is called the Basic Package through WDTC. You put a $200 deposit on it and the balance is due 45 days prior to arrival. It is Disney's way of booking room-only as a package by including the mini golf/sports admission.

You should be able to book a straight room-only reservation with the one night's deposit and balance due at check-in if that's what you want. Just make sure you specify that to the CM *before* they finish with your reservation. And understand that at this point in time, your room-only price will be at rack rate.

 

[SnackyStacky]

What GoldenOldie said!

I would definitely cancel your current reservation. You've got plenty of time such that you don't have to worry about them selling out.

Then, ask them to book you a room only reservation with NO extras, and that you'd like to pay one night's deposit, and pay the balance at check-in.

If they tell you they can't do that, end the call. Call back and try again.

Myself and a few other people have had good luck getting one of the last few CRO representatives by doing the following:

If you have to call again to make a new reservation:

After the schpeel, press 1 for English
Then, press 2 for a new reservation
When asked to put in the number of nights, enter 2, followed by the pound sign.
Then enter your phone number, area code first.

Because the packages need a certain number of nights to be booked, they'll more likely than not put you through to a CRO representative until they're phased out.

 

[Mmketeer]

Hi,

Disney and DRC is in fact trying to "merge" systems into only one booking unit. It's called SBC. Their were folks that used CRO only systems and some folks that could use both WDTC systems and CRO systems. DRC had hoped to have everyone using the new SBC system by the end of September, but due to the fact that they have been in mandatory overtime since August and don't have enough Castmembers to run their current opertaion as it is they have had trouble scheduling training classes. They have even scheduled classes put folks in them and then decided to cancel them. So, the new system is coming but who knows by when. More than likely it will be before the holidays, and maybe as soon as the end of October, but who really knows. Right now their are some folks using the new SBC system (and you may have talked to someone that's using it if they put you on hold for forever just to make a payment etc. cause the system is horribally slow). Most foks who aren't using the new system at this time are WDTC agents.
Anyway,
When the system merging is complete the changes we'll notice is that you will no longer be able to give the reservationist your reservation numbers or client file numbers to pull up or research your reservations. You will be asked not only for your last name and zip code (which is policy now when you call) but also for all names of the people traveling in your party. Yes, even just to get a price quote. The new system will be easier for the Castmembers to use (once all the bugs are out) cause they'll be less codes etc. to deal with or remember for them, but it also has it has some down sides too for the reservationists.

As far as the booking policies are concerned. Disney is trying to become more "packaged" driven cause it does bring them in more money. To the point that all Dream Maker Packages will be booked w/ WDTC policies period for 2004. No more getting it booked through CRO if you asked nicely to avoid the 45 day cancellation policy. Even Travel Agents got a shock when they were told earlier this year that their room discounts can no longer be booked using CRO (which it has always been booked through in the past). They are now too booked through WDTC and have the same 45 day cancellation policy as ever one else.
As far as what your cancellation policy will be it just depends on what your booking for. Passholders/Florida Residents/CastMembers/etc. are still being booked out of CRO at this time and will keep the 5 day cancel policy and current deposit spiels. When everyone is trained on the new system the sytem will automatically know which policy to assign based on what package or discount pacakge is being booked so this won't change. The future remains to be seen if "all" packages and or discounts will become what they currently call WDTC packages using WDTC policies, but it wouldn't surprise me if they do. Look at the Travel Agents for instance they are already dealing with that new policy change, so I would say that could happen to other packages as well. Personally, I hope not.....

Hope this helps...
Mmketeer

 

[Mommo]

Thank for the detailed info. I'll give them another call tomorrow (or two or three) and see if I can get room only. Our trip isn't until Oct. so we have wiggle room.