Orbitz changes - please read for tips and linking to MDE instructions

[JohnDaleswife]

 

[hsmamato2]

Cancel fees now? no more online chat? This is a BIG change and it'e very recent! Usually all the listings will say upfront 'no canc. fee' right on the search page..... and it was less than 2 weeks ago that I booked online, got a conf.#(all letters,no 4) that worked for MDE,then did online chat to add a kid,very simple! sad to learn it has changed....

 

[KristiK]

View attachment 148935

I did mine online, not the app . I don't mind since I know I'm not cancelling, I just know it's different than what it used to be. This was my first time using orbitz.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I did mine online, not the app . I don't mind since I know I'm not cancelling, I just know it's different than what it used to be. This was my first time using orbitz.

Right, its just a bummer if they start this as a charge. And to say Disney is charging it is total BS!

 

[team weasel]

As far as cancellation fees, it looks like it may vary based on the resort. I was playing around today and noticed the "Free Cancellation" verbiage for Port Orleans and All Star Music, but it is missing from POP Century and others. Weird.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

As far as cancellation fees, it looks like it may vary based on the resort. I was playing around today and noticed the "Free Cancellation" verbiage for Port Orleans and All Star Music, but it is missing from POP Century and others. Weird.

Very weird. My above post was for Pop.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I am still seeing the free cancelations on the app, but I think I am going to just start focusing on purchasing and churning Disney gift cards at the 15%-20% off rate and just use those for payment when booking.

I will probably not bother with Orbitz on my next booking, either with Disney or my TA.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

This leads me to another totally off topic question. But do TA get commission on room only reservations or must you buy tickets through them for them to gain benefit?

 

[msb578]

This leads me to another totally off topic question. But do TA get commission on room only reservations or must you buy tickets through them for them to gain benefit?

http://media.disneywebcontent.com/S...tinations_Commission_Research_Information.pdf

 

[laughinplace2]

I am having this issue of neither code working and am extremely frustrated. Neither of the codes provided work for linking to MDE. They appear to no longer give you a code called "hotel confirmation number" in the email. I will try calling the number that was listed in a previous post to see if I can get the proper number that way. I've never booked through orbitz before and this is why!!

 

[KristiK]

I am having this issue of neither code working and am extremely frustrated. Neither of the codes provided work for linking to MDE. They appear to no longer give you a code called "hotel confirmation number" in the email. I will try calling the number that was listed in a previous post to see if I can get the proper number that way. I've never booked through orbitz before and this is why!!

The emails don't have the code anymore, I think. I had to have Orbitz call Disney for the 12 digit code beginning with 4. Or, I got an email from Disney with the number 2-4 days after booking.

 

[laughinplace2]

The emails don't have the code anymore, I think. I had to have Orbitz call Disney for the 12 digit code beginning with 4. Or, I got an email from Disney with the number 2-4 days after booking.

Thanks! Do you think you got the email from Disney only because you called? Or do they send this to everyone who books on orbitz now?

Also, is it strange that they didn't ask for guest info when I booked? They just asked for my name as the contact person...

 

[KristiK]

Thanks! Do you think you got the email from Disney only because you called? Or do they send this to everyone who books on orbitz now?

Also, is it strange that they didn't ask for guest info when I booked? They just asked for my name as the contact person...

I believe everyone gets it, it just takes a few days. If you have kids, you have to call Orbitz and have them call Disney to add them to the reservation, which I did. If not, when I linked it in MDE it asked me about my guests, and I added my husband.

 

[pepperandchips]

I did not get an email from Disney after booking through Orbitz and ultimately after three calls I still could not get a number that worked to link to MDE. I did not, however, know the pro tip to ask for a 12 digit code beginning with the number 4. Orbitz finally refunded me the whole price (no cancellation charge) and I rebooked directly through Disney. As an aside, I now find it much easier to use the app on my phone than the website on a computer. They recently sent out an email explaining Orbitz had made changes and asked for feedback -- I emailed as directed with my feedback about the changes and it was not positive, I'll tell you that.

 

[laughinplace2]

Just an update. I had emailed Orbitz this morning asking for the code but after 8 hours of no response I was getting antsy lol so I called Orbitz and explained what I needed them to get me from Disney. At first he told me the 10 digit number which is the second code that was listed in the confirmation from Orbitz and I told him that's not it, and mentioned how it should be 12 digits, starting with a 4, which I learned thanks you all of you!! So I told him I need him to please call Disney for it and after a few min on hold he got me the number and it worked!!! Thanks so much for all of your help, I don't know how anyone figures things out without the disboards! haha Oh and as soon as I linked it, it did ask for the names of the rest of my party, so they do make sure that's taken care of as soon as it links. Thanks for all the help!

 

[laughinplace2]

**One other question---Maybe this is me being ridiculous over details but I have to ask....did it happen to anyone else where the reservation number listed in MDE isn't the 12 digit confirmation number that you entered for the reservation (the one orbitz got from Disney)? It shows the reservation number for it in MDE as a nine digit number beginning with a 6....So strange that it wouldn't just be the 12 digit number from Disney. I'm just confused more than ever now because I did just get an e-mail response from Orbitz and they sent me a DIFFERENT 12 digit number starting with a 4, totally different than the one I got over the phone an hour prior. Does this mean Disney's system just creates temporary 12 digit confirmation numbers for third party reservations or something?? I just want to make sure nothing weird is going on with my reservation.

 

[mexi]

I'm thinking of booking with cheaptickets for this summer. I'm getting a little scared now to do this and cancel my bounce back I already have through Disney. It will save me a few hundred more dollars by doing this but now after reading about orbitz changes and having trouble linking to MDE I'm not so sure anymore. I've never used these sites before for hotels.

Has anyone had problems with Cheaptickets?

 

[ellie05]

I made our reservation for our April trip through orbitz. While I didn't have an issue calling and getting the reservation to link to mde, I did have other problems with the cancelation policy I made a post about it if you want to search for it. If you are not cancelling and are 100% sure then I say go for it you will save money. For our reservation was a $200 difference plus the money I got from ebates.

 

[KristiK]

I'm thinking of booking with cheaptickets for this summer. I'm getting a little scared now to do this and cancel my bounce back I already have through Disney. It will save me a few hundred more dollars by doing this but now after reading about orbitz changes and having trouble linking to MDE I'm not so sure anymore. I've never used these sites before for hotels.

Has anyone had problems with Cheaptickets?

Orbitz was really no trouble if you are firm in asking and know what you need. You do have to call and set up your own Magical express and make sure to change your magic bands shipping address, but it was worth the $250 savings

 

[KristiK]

**One other question---Maybe this is me being ridiculous over details but I have to ask....did it happen to anyone else where the reservation number listed in MDE isn't the 12 digit confirmation number that you entered for the reservation (the one orbitz got from Disney)? It shows the reservation number for it in MDE as a nine digit number beginning with a 6....So strange that it wouldn't just be the 12 digit number from Disney. I'm just confused more than ever now because I did just get an e-mail response from Orbitz and they sent me a DIFFERENT 12 digit number starting with a 4, totally different than the one I got over the phone an hour prior. Does this mean Disney's system just creates temporary 12 digit confirmation numbers for third party reservations or something?? I just want to make sure nothing weird is going on with my reservation.

Yes, mine is the number with a six in MDE. It denotes that you used a third party I believe. If you use Magical Express you need to use the 12 digit number beginning with 4 when calling to set it up. Also use the number with a 4 if calling the hotel for room preferences.