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

[pepperandchips]

Okay... For anyone still interested in my personal saga, I reached out to Orbitz on February 22 in response to their email about the changes. I detailed the issue with the Disney booking and my frustration that they made the promo code field less transparent and easy for users. I received a response this afternoon (a full month later) thanking me for my feedback and offering me $250 in Orbucks toward a future hotel booking for my feedback if I respond and accept them. Of course I would be foolish not to so I immediately replied accepting them.

I will post again if and when the Orbucks are deposited into my rewards account.

It doesn't make things right but it does make me feel like they appreciate my feedback, so that's a step.

 

[SnowWhite112]

I booked a room at POR for May on Orbitz a week ago. Just like many of you, the reservation numbers Orbitz sent me were not working to link to MDE. I tried calling Orbitz three times but nobody on their customer service line could understand what I was asking them for.

So, I cancelled the room on the Orbitz website and re-booked through the app. The reservation number Orbitz gave me this time was six digits long and had both numbers and letters. I linked it to MDE just fine

So try booking through the app if you think you may encounter any problems. Seems like that might be a work around to this problem, but things could change.

 

[pepperandchips]

Great tip, @SnowWhite112 - I am generally only using the app at this point just from the promo code issue but I am glad to know the reservation number works better from there too.

Will have to remember that when my $250 free Orbucks show up I got an email today confirming the acceptance of their gesture and informing me my Orbucks should be available in 5-10 business days. Gotta say, that goes a long way to improve my attitude!!!

 

[meggiemouse]

I'm fighting with them currently over adding 2 children to my existing reservation. They are wanting to charge me $21 to add them when they should do it for free. I'll calling back tomorrow and asking for a supervisor. So just beware if you are trying to add children on after to avoid a fee... they may have changed that policy too.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I booked through the app for a stay at Vero Beach. Can not get it to link. Ughhhhh. Guess I'll have to call Orbitz then?

 

[pepperandchips]

I'm fighting with them currently over adding 2 children to my existing reservation. They are wanting to charge me $21 to add them when they should do it for free. I'll calling back tomorrow and asking for a supervisor. So just beware if you are trying to add children on after to avoid a fee... they may have changed that policy too.

@meggiemouse come back and let us know how this turned out!

I booked through the app for a stay at Vero Beach. Can not get it to link. Ughhhhh. Guess I'll have to call Orbitz then?

I would try it if you have time. Remember the tip to ask for a 12 digit number starting with a 4! Just out of curiosity (I have never stayed at Vero Beach), what are you able to do in MDE once your stay is linked? Online check in? Room requests? Let us know how it goes. Crossing my fingers for you!

 

[JohnDaleswife]

@meggiemouse come back and let us know how this turned out!



I would try it if you have time. Remember the tip to ask for a 12 digit number starting with a 4! Just out of curiosity (I have never stayed at Vero Beach), what are you able to do in MDE once your stay is linked? Online check in? Room requests? Let us know how it goes. Crossing my fingers for you!

Ok, I will. Wouldn't be able to do any online request until July though. Didn't get charged any extra fees for my kids, one being an adult, but it is a DVC property so that may be why. I won't get any magic bands at Vero though.

So aggravating having to call. But $153 a night plus taxes is great.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Called them, they transferred me to CS, then I got disconnected!!! I sent an email but will try to call back tommorow.

 

[meggiemouse]

I called to add my 2 kids to the reservation. They wanted to charge $21 fee to add them on. I explained that Disney adds children for free and the employees had no idea what I was talking about. I ended that conversation and called back the next day. I spoke with another employee and they added the kids no problem. So maybe I just got a clueless phone operator?

The whole process has been frustrating though. I hope they sync their systems up better. A lot more hassle than my past experience with them.

 

[pepperandchips]

The whole process has been frustrating though. I hope they sync their systems up better. A lot more hassle than my past experience with them.

Totally agree - which was why I felt compelled to send that feedback email. If those stupid Orbucks and promo codes weren't so tempting I would dump Orbitz for good!

 

[JargonX]

Can you stack orbitz discounts with a room discount?

 

[JohnDaleswife]

OK I ended up canceling my first reservation with Orbitz and rebooked another one. Two nights instead of three, but this confirmation number linked no problem. Difference? I noticed the first confirmation number was all letters, the second was letters and numbers.

 

[pepperandchips]

Can you stack orbitz discounts with a room discount?

Yes, IF it is available on Orbitz. I think Orbitz gets a certain number of reservations with the room discounts to sell, so you may click through and see (for example) that Animal Kingdom Lodge has a 30% discount for certain room types for your dates. That is the Disney room discount and the Orbitz discount is stackable. I have done this many times -- just know that not all resorts or all room categories may have availability on Orbitz, even if that same room is available directly through Disney with the discount.

 

[pepperandchips]

OK I ended up canceling my first reservation with Orbitz and rebooked another one. Two nights instead of three, but this confirmation number linked no problem. Difference? I noticed the first confirmation number was all letters, the second was letters and numbers.

Thanks for the info! I wish I knew what was up with the Orbitz system lately - in searching for a potential June stay I once again noticed that some of the resorts offered free cancellation while others made no mention of the cancellation policy in the description. And this varied even between the same resort category - i.e. Coronado Springs was free cancellation while Port Orleans French Quarter was not (just as an example, I don't remember if those were the ones).

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Thanks for the info! I wish I knew what was up with the Orbitz system lately - in searching for a potential June stay I once again noticed that some of the resorts offered free cancellation while others made no mention of the cancellation policy in the description. And this varied even between the same resort category - i.e. Coronado Springs was free cancellation while Port Orleans French Quarter was not (just as an example, I don't remember if those were the ones).

Right, people really need to look for the Free Cancelation on the page.

 

[pepperandchips]

Just an update that I was able to get my Disney reservation number via email today. It only took about an hour and a half for them to email me back. Here is what I requested: "Please send me the Disney reservation number, which I need to link my reservation to my Disney account. This is a 12 digit number starting with a "4", and is not the Orbitz Itinerary number or confirmation. Thank you!" This was a lot less hassle than calling, so just wanted to pass along the tip!

 

[MIChessGuy]

I had a similar experience a few weeks ago with CheapTickets. In fact, I emailed them to request the Disney reservation number, but they never replied. Finally I telephoned them. Sure enough, the agent wanted to give me the useless CheapTickets-specific number that did not work for linking. After a minute or two of explaining exactly what I needed, she did supply another number which also sounded wrong because (if I recall correctly) it did not start with a "4" or have 12 digits. And yet that number did work to link up to my Disney account. A strange experience all around, but the deal is still pretty good so I guess I won't argue with success.