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

[pepperandchips]

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST:

Orbitz has made changes to their booking system over the last couple of months and while I will personally continue to use Orbitz, please be aware of the following changes:

• Cancellation policy: previously, Orbitz's cancellation policy always mirrored Disney's cancellation policy. As long as you were at least 5 days out, you could cancel your reservation without penalty. This is no longer the case, at least not for every reservation. Please carefully read the fine print before booking, as some DISers are finding the cancellation policies a surprise. This seems to vary by resort and between app/web experiences.
• Linking to My Disney Experience (MDE): previously, Orbitz gave you a hotel confirmation number at booking that could be used to link your Orbitz reservation to MDE and seamlessly configure magic bands, fast passes, link dining reservations, request Magical Express, etc. This is no longer the case. Orbitz has also removed the chat feature from the web address, so you must call Orbitz customer service. Ask for the 12 digit number starting with a 4. You may have to request the Orbitz service agent call Disney to obtain this number. Wait on hold while they do this.
• Once you link your Orbitz reservation to MDE (using that 12 digit code), your MDE confirmation code may change to a 9 digit reservation code and previous posters have indicated that theirs each start with a 6. This is normal. However, keep the 12 digit code starting with a 4 somewhere safe and accessible so that you can use it to request Magical Express.
• Magical Express can be requested by phone or at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/airport-transportation-reservation/
• Magic Band shipping: when you configure your magic bands by customizing the color and names for your bands, please ensure you switch out the Orbitz shipping address for your home shipping address
• Discount/promotion codes: I have personally not found it user friendly or convenient to attempt to apply promotion discount codes to my reservation in my cart on the web. Per Orbitz, this can be done at the checkout step. However, using the app it is much easier (for me at least) to enter the promotion code at the search screen and have it automatically apply and show me the price after all promos once I click on the resort I am interested in booking. Your mileage may vary. If anyone has tips on how to apply the promo at checkout, please feel free to post and I will update this note. While booking through the app circumvents eBates or other web-based rebate services, you will get a higher rate of Orbucks booking through the app.

Please let me know if there are tips and tricks I missed!




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Original post:
I just booked a stay at All Star Sports on Orbitz and it appears they have changed something internally so I can't get it to link to MDE. The Orbitz internal reservation number is now all numerical (versus previously starting with PRBORB) and they did not automatically give me the 6-letter Disney confirmation code I used to receive. There's also a place in their customer service screen that says "If your booking number has letters (e.g. PBORB-653-923-6324), see this page for help." with a link to another webpage. Which is what led me to believe they've made changes.

Has anyone successfully linked an Orbitz reservation to MDE recently? The confirmation code they gave me (which is what they told me is the Disney confirmation) is a mixed alphanumeric with ten digits. I am inclined to think this is not the number I need, but not sure how to convey this to the person on the phone (there's also no email or chat version of customer support linked there any longer.)

I am pretty irritated with Orbitz and their customer support right now as I had been using orbitz for around two years with no glitches and found suddenly that it's changed... so I'm hoping someone here might be able to help! Thank you in advance

 

[loves to dive]

I booked my recent stay at the end of November, my confirmation email from Orbitz has the Orbitz number then below it it has the hotel confirmation number, which worked on MDE. It's 4 numbers and 2 letters.

 

[pepperandchips]

Not this one! Sigh.

 

[hsmamato2]

I just did one a couple of weeks ago- with a pborb # and another,all letters # for MDE-it was like 5-6 letters and worked just fine... are you sure you didn't see a 2nd conf.# set of #/letters? it was in the original email I got-

 

[KristiK]

Not this one! Sigh.

Did you figure this out? I didn't get a number that worked either There was an "itinerary number" and a confirmation number, but neither worked in MDE.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

Hmmm, very strange. I'm interested to know what is going on.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Hmmm, very strange. I'm interested to know what is going on.

Me too.

 

[pepperandchips]

Did you figure this out? I didn't get a number that worked either There was an "itinerary number" and a confirmation number, but neither worked in MDE.

No but I'm glad it's not just me - I am going to call again this morning and will let you know what I find out. I was going to just cancel and rebook through Disney (I like the orbucks but prices weren't much different) and see that Orbitz is now putting in fine print that there's a $25.00 cancel charge (from the hotel! Yeah I'm sure...).

 

[KristiK]

No but I'm glad it's not just me - I am going to call again this morning and will let you know what I find out. I was going to just cancel and rebook through Disney (I like the orbucks but prices weren't much different) and see that Orbitz is now putting in fine print that there's a $25.00 cancel charge (from the hotel! Yeah I'm sure...).

Ok! I did it! Call 844-849-1132 and tell them you need them to call Disney and that you need the Disney confirmation number starting with a "4" to link to your Disney Experience. If you have any kids to add, you can have them do that too. It was super easy. They did change systems and can no longer do online chat if your reservation/confirmation doesn't start with the PRORB. Hope that helps I linked it to MDE while Orbitz was still on the phone and it showed up perfectly

 

[pepperandchips]

I got another super unhelpful phone agent who eventually just helped me cancel altogether - she got "permission from the hotel" to waive the $25.00 cancellation charge. I'm still miffed but appreciate your help @KristiK!

 

[KristiK]

I got another super unhelpful phone agent who eventually just helped me cancel altogether - she got "permission from the hotel" to waive the $25.00 cancellation charge. I'm still miffed but appreciate your help @KristiK!

That stinks I did read some people had to call several times to get someone helpful...and it stinks the chat option isn't available anymore for Disney stuff.

 

[seashell7290]

I had to get the orbitz agent to call Disney while i was on the line to get the number that would link to mde. Took forever but it finally worked! It must have been a recent change because I booked through orbitz a few weeks ago and had no problems. Must be a way Disney is deterring people from booking through orbitz.

 

[KristiK]

I had to get the orbitz agent to call Disney while i was on the line to get the number that would link to mde. Took forever but it finally worked! It must have been a recent change because I booked through orbitz a few weeks ago and had no problems. Must be a way Disney is deterring people from booking through orbitz.

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Disney is not charging the BS $25 cancell fee. Orbitz is. Travelocity is doing the same thing. No more booking through either one of them unless we are certain we are going the dates we choose!

 

[msb578]

.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I will note, that I went onto the Orbitz app and made several mock bookings and there was no cancelation fee anywhere. Hmmm.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I don't think Disney is deterring anyone... if they didn't want people to use these companies to book anymore, Disney would just sever ties with them.

Maybe right. The cancel charge through Travelocity is real and is charged by them, even though they try to put it off on Disney.

 

[KristiK]

I will note, that I went onto the Orbitz app and made several mock bookings and there was no cancelation fee anywhere. Hmmm.

The $25 fee is noted way at the bottom of my confirmation email. Not sure I saw it anywhere before that.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

The $25 fee is noted way at the bottom of my confirmation email. Not sure I saw it anywhere before that.

Are you on the app? I don't doubt its coming, just may not be on the app just yet.

 

[JohnDaleswife]