Onsite hotel through Orbitz - how does it work?

[kaolinmommy]

I booked a 5 day stay at AKL and got the alphanumeric code immediately in my email and had no problems with MDE. I did add my kids after through Orbitz customer service, no problems.

Only a couple of weeks later, I added a night at All-star sports. This time, adding two kids didn't change the price of the hotel!! So I went ahead and booked my kids in my initial reservation to save the hassle of the Orbitz phone call. (it's not a HUGE hassle, but you do stay on the line while they call WDW). However, in my confirmation email, neither the confirmation # or itinerary # worked in MDE. I had to call Orbitz and explain more than once what I was looking for. But when the CS rep finally got it, he asked me to type a new number directly into my MDE and see if it linked right then. It did! He then resent an email with that number as well.

It don't know what's going on, but it seems like Orbitz is changing the way they book Disney, or is inconsistent at best. Still, I saved a few hundred $ on AKL and earned Orbucks that made All Star around $50 for a night, and both are all set in my MDE. I would rather go through WDW directly, but with these savings, we can pay for a few of our ADRs!!

 

[mickey1968]

Once you have attached your reservation to MDE you will still be able to make a room request at 60 days out. There are pre-set options based on what you booked I can't remember if their is a open comment section or not. My requests are usually covered with the presets.

I found this link a few trips ago to reserve Magical Express and have used it a couple of times. You should get an email confirmation from them.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/airport-transportation-reservation/

I just booked my April trip today with Orbitz. With my $35 in Orbucks I saved about $115 over the Spring discount or the AP discount for April 6-12.

 

[JuneBugFL]

If you're booking a non DVC room you're going to be charged for the extra adults anyway. The 2 adult trick is for those with children, because Orbitz charges for kids when they shouldn't. They *should* charge for extra adults, though, in a normal room so there's no point in keeping the others off.

Thanks, I honestly had no idea there was an extra charge for more than 2 adults in a room. The only time I have booked a non-DVC room was when I was doing a solo trip. Guess I'll bit the bullet and put out a little more cash.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I've booked through Orbitz 3 times now and love it. Each time I have been lucky enough to have a discount code for 20% off with no cap. My next trip I have saved $250 plus earned $33 Orbucks which I may be using to add another night to my trip. I haven't done the math on the total savings for my trip next month but last year in March my savings was approx $500 total between the Disney discount and the Orbitz discount.

Also, join Ebates and link through to Orbitz. I earned $80 from Ebates just on my Orbitz booking alone.

 

[hsmamato2]

wow- just decided to change my resort...canceled and rebooked on Orbitz.... big change from a couple of weeks ago! last time I got everything set thru email and a quick online chat...this time, it is 20 mins. on the phone to get the number for MDE and add a kiddo.....

 

[hsmamato2]

....And the 6 digit number code they gave me on the phone isn't working!!! oh ugh....

 

[KristiK]

....And the 6 digit number code they gave me on the phone isn't working!!! oh ugh....

Ask for the twelve digit number beginning with 4 from Disney. It will also come in the confirmation email from Disney you get two to three days after booking.

 

[hsmamato2]

Thanks.... I called back and got someone who knew what they were doing,got the right number in less than 2 minutes..... all set now

 

[bcbmommy]

Thanks.... I called back and got someone who knew what they were doing,got the right number in less than 2 minutes..... all set now

How long does it take to get it all squared away if you book through Orbitz. Someone mentioned Disney sends a confirmation code 2 or 3 days later. Is that true? I was considering booking with them for one night this coming Saturday. Is that too close?

 

[KristiK]

How long does it take to get it all squared away if you book through Orbitz. Someone mentioned Disney sends a confirmation code 2 or 3 days later. Is that true? I was considering booking with them for one night this coming Saturday. Is that too close?

You can call right away and have Orbitz call to get the 12 digit Disney number to link to MDE. My actual Disney confirmation took a couple days, but getting the number from Orbitz was easy.

 

[scrapquitler]

We are going to the world May 21- June 2. I've already book POR and CBR (split stay) through disney with their current discount. I received a discount code from Orbitz today that gives an extra 15% off. When I ran the numbers, switching to a value can save us over $1000.

So, it makes sense to use Orbitz, but if I do, do you get a confirmation number that allows you to add it to your MDE so you have disney benefits like Magical Express etc. How do you add your family members on the MDE site, etc?

Thanks!

Yes. When I booked thru Southwest Vacations they emailed me the confirmation number that I need to add to MDE. When I booked thru Travelocity I had to call them to get the confirmation number. One trip I booked thru SW vacations because Disney's room inventory didn't have the room I wanted for the dates I was going. When I booked my upcoming trip with Travelocity, it was because I saved about $600 booking it with them vs. with Disney directly. It was no big deal either time.

 

[Tink415]

I booked CBR thru Orbitz this past Sunday as I waited too long to book with Disney and the spring discount was no longer available for the room I wanted but Orbitz still had it plus an additional 15% off. There were two numbers on the confirmation but neither worked for MDE, a quick call to Orbitz and I was given a reservation number that worked.

I would have preferred to book with Disney because of their better cancellation policy, but oh well!

 

[bcbmommy]

You can call right away and have Orbitz call to get the 12 digit Disney number to link to MDE. My actual Disney confirmation took a couple days, but getting the number from Orbitz was easy.

Okay, so it's okay if I don't get the Disney confirmation before we go then? I just want to make sure we will have a room and that DME will pick us up if I reserve a room through Orbitz today and we're there on Saturday.

 

[bcbmommy]

I booked CBR thru Orbitz this past Sunday as I waited too long to book with Disney and the spring discount was no longer available for the room I wanted but Orbitz still had it plus an additional 15% off. There were two numbers on the confirmation but neither worked for MDE, a quick call to Orbitz and I was given a reservation number that worked.

I would have preferred to book with Disney because of their better cancellation policy, but oh well!

Yes, the cancellation policy has me a bit nervous also. We're going in two days, but you know never if someone will get sick, a flight cancelled, etc. Do we lose the whole night's stay with Orbitz?

 

[KristiK]

Okay, so it's okay if I don't get the Disney confirmation before we go then? I just want to make sure we will have a room and that DME will pick us up if I reserve a room through Orbitz today and we're there on Saturday.

You have to call and set up your own magical express reservation with the 12 digit Disney #

 

[Tink415]

Yes, the cancellation policy has me a bit nervous also. We're going in two days, but you know never if someone will get sick, a flight cancelled, etc. Do we lose the whole night's stay with Orbitz?

Im not sure, but I as I understand the confirmation I got from Orbitz, I think its 1 night cancellation fee to the hotel and $25 to Orbitz.

Disney has been really generous letting me reschedule without a fee (room only) in the past when we had an emergency come up.

Same reason I like Southwest for air, can cancel & reschedule up to a year from when tickets were purchased.

 

[bcbmommy]

Im not sure, but I as I understand the confirmation I got from Orbitz, I think its 1 night cancellation fee to the hotel and $25 to Orbitz.

Disney has been really generous letting me reschedule without a fee (room only) in the past when we had an emergency come up.

Same reason I like Southwest for air, can cancel & reschedule up to a year from when tickets were purchased.

Okay, so not necessarily a whole night's stay, but a fee to the hotel and to Orbitz. That sounds better, depending on what the fee to the hotel is.

 

[Tink415]

Okay, so not necessarily a whole night's stay, but a fee to the hotel and to Orbitz. That sounds better, depending on what the fee to the hotel is.

Um, I meant a nights stay to the hotel (disney) plus $25 to Orbitz.

BUT I looked closer at my Orbitz confirmation and it says Orbitz does not charge to change or cancel but Disney CRB may charge in accordance with its own rules and regulations:
Cancellations or changes made before 4pm April x (5 days before check in) or no-shows are subject to $25 hotel fee.
Cancellations or changes made after 4pm April x (5 days before check in) or no shows are subject to a hotel fee equal to the first night's rate plus taxes and fees.

Makes sense to me. The price of getting a deal, lol!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So if you book through Orbitz are you able to make room requests on MDE (3rd level in X section) like you are when you book directly through Disney?

 

[dansdad]

So if you book through Orbitz are you able to make room requests on MDE (3rd level in X section) like you are when you book directly through Disney?

Yup.