Oh help.... deposits, balances, I don't like not being the one in charge

[LifeWithLouie]

I know that this site is specifically owned and run by travel agents. And I take nothing away from travel agents or the people who use them. But for me, a big part of the fun is planning the trip. I have always planned the trip... but this time my son-in-law and I seem to be bumping heads. And it's tough enough to be bumping heads with another "planner" in the party... But it's maddening when this other person that you're bumping heads with is not actually even doing the planning.... but insist on the planning being done by a travel agent online that you have no access to. The planning is going at a pace that is just mind numbing to me, and if I have a question it might be a week or so before it even gets answered. Honestly I just want to take them all and throw them out the window. I could have had this done at to me a much better price.

I could go on and on but let me just get to the current issue. If We are booking a package (room, tickets, dining package) .... I understand that the deposit is due soon after booking, and that's understandable. When is the balance due? We're being given a figure and told that the entire balance is due within 30 days. This vacation is not happening until later in May. Are we really being asked to pay 100% in February? Is that new? And what happens if there is changes and we've already put down 100%?

Oy.... this is driving me up a wall. Decades of being the family planner and now I'm pushed aside for someone an in-law has met in a chat room on a gaming site. I think I'm going to throw my chair out the window.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would pull myself out of that travel
plan and make my own arrangements.

 

[kenthanson]

I would chill, relax and think is this really a battle worth having and causing a rift? Same-ish thing happened to me our last trip but with my FIL but I'm laying in a bed at Coronado Springs right now on a trip planned by me and I had fun on both the FIL and planned by me trips.

 

[writerguyfl]

When is the balance due? We're being given a figure and told that the entire balance is due within 30 days. This vacation is not happening until later in May. Are we really being asked to pay 100% in February? Is that new?

Disney's policy for packages with room, tickets, and dining:

For reservations made 31 days or more prior to guest arrival, a deposit of $200 per reservation is due at the time of booking or the reservation is not confirmed. For reservations that include travel insurance, the total price of travel insurance is due at the time of booking. For reservations that include air transportation, the total price of airline tickets is also due at the time of booking or the reservation will not be confirmed. Payment in full is due to Walt Disney Travel Co., Inc. 30 days prior to guest arrival.​

Individual travel agencies may have their own payment policies. Based solely on the information provided, it sounds as if you are giving your travel agency as 3 month zero interest loan.

And what happens if there is changes and we've already put down 100%?

Disney's cancelation policy for packages with room, tickets, and dining:

For cancellations made 30 days or more prior to guest arrival, amounts paid, minus cancellation fees assessed by third party hotels or other suppliers, non-refundable air transportation, non-refundable runDisney race registrations, travel insurance premiums, and other amounts owed, will be refunded.
For cancellations made 2 days to 29 days prior to guest arrival, amounts paid, mminus [sic] a cancellation fee of $200.00 per package and minus any cancellation fees assessed by third party hotels or other suppliers, non-refundable air transportation, non-refundable runDisney race registrations, travel insurance premiums and other amounts owed, will be refunded. No refunds are given for cancellation of any personalized products or experiences.
For cancellations made 1 day or less prior to guest arrival or for no-shows, the full price of the package is non-refundable.​

Again, individual travel agencies may have their own policies. That said, I'm not sure if a travel agency is allowed to sell a Disney World package that has a more restrictive cancelation policy.

Personally, I'd either change to a travel agency that mirrors Disney's policies or book direct.

 

[Calee]

Is it possible them TA means payment is due in full within 30 days of the trip, not the booking?? Bc that's Disney's policy. Otherwise, I would bail and book my own trip!

 

[Amanda999]

OP keep in mind that you can cancel your room from your SIL's TA (leaving his room with the TA). You are well within the time to cancel without a fee. Then just book directly on your own. That's what I would do.

I do use a wonderful TA one trip a year, mostly because of her agency exclusive discounts. BUT a huge upside - to me - of using a TA for Disney is for changes to the reservation: calling Disney to do anything is, for me, most of the time, very painful.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I could go on and on but let me just get to the current issue. If We are booking a package (room, tickets, dining package) .... I understand that the deposit is due soon after booking, and that's understandable. When is the balance due? We're being given a figure and told that the entire balance is due within 30 days. This vacation is not happening until later in May. Are we really being asked to pay 100% in February? Is that new? And what happens if there is changes and we've already put down 100%?

If you are using a travel agent then your payments, reservation changes and cancellation policies are dictated by them and not by Disney. I know some travel agencies make you pay in full upon booking, while others have different terms. You'll have to abide by whatever terms the travel agent uses.

 

[JAMIESMITH]

I’d cancel and book my own trip.

 

[tjmw2727]

Unless your sharing a villa - if the TA and or your BIL aren't being forthcoming with you regarding terms and conditions I would definitely cancel and book a reservation on my own that mirrors theirs. We travel with family and close friends fairly often and we always get our own room in the same resort to avoid situations such as this. This works for us for a variety of reason, length of stay, type of room etc. but most of all I like to control my own reservations!

This way you could let the TA work on ADR's as well as trying for them yourself, then just cancel any duplicates.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I know that this site is specifically owned and run by travel agents. And I take nothing away from travel agents or the people who use them. But for me, a big part of the fun is planning the trip. I have always planned the trip... but this time my son-in-law and I seem to be bumping heads. And it's tough enough to be bumping heads with another "planner" in the party... But it's maddening when this other person that you're bumping heads with is not actually even doing the planning.... but insist on the planning being done by a travel agent online that you have no access to. The planning is going at a pace that is just mind numbing to me, and if I have a question it might be a week or so before it even gets answered. Honestly I just want to take them all and throw them out the window. I could have had this done at to me a much better price.

I could go on and on but let me just get to the current issue. If We are booking a package (room, tickets, dining package) .... I understand that the deposit is due soon after booking, and that's understandable. When is the balance due? We're being given a figure and told that the entire balance is due within 30 days. This vacation is not happening until later in May. Are we really being asked to pay 100% in February? Is that new? And what happens if there is changes and we've already put down 100%?

Oy.... this is driving me up a wall. Decades of being the family planner and now I'm pushed aside for someone an in-law has met in a chat room on a gaming site. I think I'm going to throw my chair out the window.

Unfortunately, no one here will be able to give you a definitive answer as to what this TA's policies are. While most EarMarked agencies abide by WDW's deposit, change and cancellation policies, some don't and have their own terms and conditions layered in to a booking that are, usually, more stringent than WDW's.

If they ARE abiding by WDW's policies, then your package deposit (room plus tickets and/or dining) of $200 is required to book your reservation. You say you "understand the deposit is due soon after booking". It's actually REQUIRED to book. If you haven't put down a $200 deposit yet, you don't have a reservation. Have you given this TA $200 to book the reservation? If not, you are just sitting on a price quote for a package that may or may not be still available.

Once you've put down a $200 deposit, WDW then requires you to pay the balance in full by 30 days prior to your check-in date. So balance is not required within 30 days of booking. It's required 30 days before check-in. Big difference. But, again, we don't know what THIS TA's terms and conditions are. I wouldn't book anything with this TA unless you see all of this in writing.

WDW's change and cancellation policies - you can change and cancel your reservation with no penalty up to 30 days prior to check-in. If you change within 30 days, you are subject to a $50 fee (it's always better to reschedule your trip, if you can, than cancel outright so you don't lose your deposit). Cancellations made 2-29 days prior to arrival - you lose the $200 deposit. Cancellations made 1 day or less before check-in - you lose everything. Again, we don't know if this TA has different terms and conditions.

If you can't get this in writing, I would run fast. In fact, I would probably run fast anyway and book something on your own as it sounds like you may not even have a reservation at this point?

 

[Sue M]

Your payment in full is due 30days before your trip. I wouldn’t use a TA that tells you otherwise.
I’m not sure how you can get cheaper prices on your own if you book directly with Disney? The Prices from TA for room, tix & DDP package should be the same as Disney quote . If they are more there’s a problem, yes!
Did you check price on WDW web site vs TA quote? The first time I planned a trip to WDW, I got a quote from AAA. It was hundreds more than what I researched on WDW web site. I asked why and TA says she priced it thru a 3rd party vendor AAA uses, Sun Fun Holidays I walked away.

I have booked myself and use an online TA. I still do all the planning, I have to choose which resort, book my 180 day dining ADRs, and book my FP+. My TA just books my resort, DME, and makes payments on my behalf when asked. If I have any questions she always gets back to me the same day. I prefer to use my TA, it saves me time.

Assuming you have your own room, I’d pull out and tell them you prefer to make your own arrangements.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

[QUOTE="LifeWithLouie, post: 58738755, member: 540438

Oy.... this is driving me up a wall. Decades of being the family planner and now I'm pushed aside for someone an in-law has met in a chat room on a gaming site. I think I'm going to throw my chair out the window.[/QUOTE]


SOMEONE YOUR SON-IN-LAW MET IN A CHAT ROOM ON A GAMING SITE!!???!!!!
Dump him and his "friend's" plans. If necessary for family peace, let daughter & son-in-law make their own plans through this highly questionable person you cannot get in contact with and whom doesn't respond in a timely manner.
You enjoy the planning, know how to do it, and want/need to be in control of planning your trip.
Let them do theirs, and you do yours.
I understand your desire to throw a chair out the window.

 

[MainMom]

I would be making my own plans.

 

[tjmw2727]

Did not see your edit - it would be helpful if you would post a new reply instead of editing jsyk.

In any case I would not book with this TA if your not comfortable with it. Personally I like to book room only and tickets separately as that gives me the most flexibility - we have AP's but I have used UCT or other ticket discounters for family and friends and we have been happy with the pricing.

You can book your own room at the same resort they are booking and still have the flexibility of managing your own vacation time and money.

 

[bumbershoot]

I could have had this done at to me a much better price.

Work it out, show your son in law. Show him how the TA buddy has different and more restrictive policies than Wdw. Check out the buddy’s cancellation policies vs Disney’s.

Lay it out for him. See what happens.

And then cancel your part and plan your own trip to happen alongside theirs since no doubt he’ll stick with his TA buddy.

 

[focusondisney]

What they said. Cancel with the agent, book your own room & tickets. Make ADRs together. Maybe your SIL has money to throw away. No reason you should too.