package more expensive via phone vs. online?

[hungrygreenhippo]

I'm looking to book a buy 4 get 3 package at Caribbean Beach. When I priced it out online for 4 adults with 7 day tickets, it comes to $2051.40. But I also had some questions so decided to call the reservations line and ask for a quote as well. The quote on the phone for the same details came to $2357.52. Why would this be?

I did some calculations to see if the phone quote might have included park hopper or trip insurance, but none of the numbers match.

Edit: I guess what I'm really after is whether there's any sort of benefit to booking over the phone. For some reason I've always booked via phone in the past so I'm a little hesitant to book online. There's no rational reason why. I guess I'm just worried I may forget or overlook something that a CM on the phone might be able to help me with.

 

[RMulieri]

Well if you include insurance it comes out to 2319.20. Not sure why the difference.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I ONLY book by phone.

 

[mbanks21]

the price online will ALWAYS be the same as by phone. The $300 differance could be the park hopper or water park option, it could be insurance for 4 adults. Something is differant between the two

 

[iloveeeyore]

Also check the room category...maybe one is standard and another in a preferred location or "water view?"

 

[eeyoreforever]

When I booked our trip (when the package first came out in Nov), I was on the phone with a CM for about 45 minutes arguing about the cost. He kept quoting a much higher price than I was coming up with on the computer. Finally he told me to go ahead and book it on the computer and tell him my confirmation number so he could look at it. I did so and when he looked at it, he told me I forgot to put my husband on the reservation. I never told him my husband was going - it is just myself and my daughters. I guess my husbands name is still on our profile since he went with us one year. I would have them read to you every single thing related to your reservation and you'll probably figure out the difference.

 

[fuji]

Is there an extra adult fee because there are 4 adults in one room? I think anything over 2 adults there is a fee. If anyone knows this to be true or false please feel free to confirm this.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Yes. there additional adult fees for any number of adults beyond the standard 2. The fee is $15 pp per night at the moderates.

 

[fuji]

If you go to the WDW web site you can go into my Disney vacation and put your conformation number in and it will show you details. (you have to log in first)

 

[Luv2Roam]

Really there is no reason not to book on-line if for whatever reason that is coming up with a better price.
I would think there must be something different between the two. But for a lesser amount, just book the on line quote.

 

[miprender]

I had originally booked on the phone, but when the 4/3 deal came out the CM could not apply it to my ressie. She kept telling me there was no rooms available for that promotion. I told her it was coming approx $600 cheaper online. She said to book online and call back to cancel my original ressie. And thats what I did.

In the past too I have always booked online and never have had a problem. Actually I do most of my shopping online too now

 

[Justsyd2]

I have found that when I price it on the computer, then call, that it's almost always more because they don't quote you for a standard room, they usually add more days, and they add Park Hopper, and other extras. I have to specify exactly what I want - then they always match what the computer says.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

(Thumbs down to Disney, not directed at Luv2Roam in any way.)

Really there is no reason not to book on-line if for whatever reason that is coming up with a better price.
I would think there must be something different between the two. But for a lesser amount, just book the on line quote.

I disagree. If you read the fine print, the cancellation and payment terms are better if you call to actually book. DO use the webpage though. I always like two sources on verification when I'm spending a thousand dollars or more.

Personally though I do find the website very useful. I compare prices, see what room sare available, and verify what the CM's are saying.

Sadly, it happens more often than not that I now get incorrect information from CRO. I called about a month ago asking about the 7/4/3 offer and got the wrong info. Called back and a different CM told me something totally different. The first cm said the 7/4/3 offer was over (It wasn't). The second CM told me I could modify my tickets up until arrival and still get the 7/4/3 discount. Maybe that is true, as they have now extended the 7/4/3 offer beyond the second deadline - which was then Jan 24th. Maybe she knew they were going to extend the offer....but at the time being able to modify the tickets beyond that date that the deal was offered (as has always been the case in the past) was not an option as far as I could tell. Generally, most CM's are not allowed to tell you info before it is released to the public, at least as far as I know.



Today I called to book a room and again was given totally false information. This time I'm almost certain it was not a misinformed CM, but someone truly trying to give me mis-information. I asked about using the $200 gift card for food and was told it could NOT be used for food (false). I thought he was right for a moment and almost didn't book....but he also added in almost a nasty tone, "Well THAT'S why they offer the dining plan. Why would they offer the dining plan and a gift card you can use for food?"
YIKES!

It scares me to think of how many people are booking trips to WDW with flat out false information! In that sense, booking via the website is more reliable.

When dealing twith CRO, it REALLY has become a situation of BUYER BEWARE!

It's a shame buying something as expensive as a WDW vacation has to be this way. It's not the Disney level of quality. It's more on par with what I expect from timeshare salesmen.

One last thing though...the website is terrifically annoying in that every time you adjust a date or something.....it resets your ticket and dining options. I HATE that! It takes forever to compare different options because you have to keep re-entering the SAME INFORMATION!

 

[hungrygreenhippo]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. In the end I bit the bullet and booked online because I just don't have the time to spend all that time sitting on hold and then trying to explain what I need to a phone rep. So I still don't know what the differences are between the quote I got over the phone and online... But I am happy with the online quote and am pretty confident that it includes everything I need.

(Thumbs down to Disney, not directed at Luv2Roam in any way.)



I disagree. If you read the fine print, the cancellation and payment terms are better if you call to actually book. DO use the webpage though. I always like two sources on verification when I'm spending a thousand dollars or more.

[snip]

One last thing though...the website is terrifically annoying in that every time you adjust a date or something.....it resets your ticket and dining options. I HATE that! It takes forever to compare different options because you have to keep re-entering the SAME INFORMATION!

I wish I had seen your post before I booked online. Do you know what the differences in terms are? I'd be interested in that for future trips. For my package I'm booking less than 45 days out so I had to pay the entire balance for the package up front. At least I put it on my Disney Visa so that's 20 more reward points! I'm pretty sure that the cancellation terms were that a $100 fee would be charged for cancellation. I can't remember if that had to be a certain number of days before arrival.

I totally agree with how annoying the website is. But it's still better than sitting on hold. The hold music I listened to last time was awful! It sounded like noise from an industrial warehouse.

 

[bubblycoconut]

I'm having the same issue right now. I was told it's because the extra adult fee isn't applied when you book online. It would make sense for it to show up online because if it doesn't then people wouldn't find out until they went to check in. I'd hate to arrive only to find out I owe a couple hundred more then what my confirmation said. Of course this would only apply to room only ressies since packages are paid in full 45 days prior. Hopefully everything will get figured out.

 

[Selket]

I have booked trips both ways with equal success (at least I got what I expected to get - no surprises). I wouldn't worry about booking online. You should get an email confirmation and sometimes I get one in the mail too (but sometimes not!). You can always call and ask them to mail you one. I always have something in hand when I go to check-in.

I have never seen that the terms are different when calling vs. booking online directly through Disney (I don't know about going through Expedia, etc). It is always a 45 day cancel policy for a package (which most of these deals are at the moment) and a 5 day cancel for a room only.

 

[~Kristina~]

When I book, I make sure I have the online quote right in front of me. That way if they come up with something different, I can call them on it.