Penalty for applying current Visa discount?

[meliss8599]

Because of who she used to book our WDW reservations, our travel agent said there would be a $200 penalty if we applied the Visa discount before it's released to the general public. WTH? Now I'm worried that she's going to wait too long on Tuesday and either not get a room or have to get an upgraded room which will reduce our discount anyway. Anyone else have this issue with a penalty?

I love our agent as a person and we've used her for years, but she's not a Disney expert and I'm always the one calling her with the current codes and announcements to apply to our ressies. I feel bad being disloyal, but it's tiring and now this latest episode. I think from now on I'm going to go with a Dreams Unlimited agent or another company related to Disney. Any recommendations of agents who go above and beyond Disney wise?

 

[Random Ninja]

It sounds like your TA might have made the reservation with someone else instead of Disney and would have to cancel and rebook. Not sure why else there would be a $200 penalty. She should just be able to apply the discount without any penalties from Disney.

If you're doing all this work anyway, why not make your own reservations directly with Disney?

 

[Mousemommy1]

Yes, why not do it yourself? .

Sounds like you're doing all of the legwork anyway.

 

[sethschroeder]

Yes, why not do it yourself? .

Sounds like you're doing all of the legwork anyway.

Travel agents are for Millionaires and before the internet.

Literally you could just bookmark the discounts part of this forum and know exactly when any discount came out and possibly before it even came out.

I could see it if you wanted to get a ton of dinner reservations and they would do that all for you but I would prefer to control my own dinner reservations if I am that worried about getting into Albert's or something.

I know people have great experiences but I won't trust someone else to tell me the best options when its the 1 or 2 times I go on a vacation in a year. If I am going to do the research myself then I might as well book it myself.

 

[meliss8599]

You guys are all correct. I should just book myself b/c every year I feel like I do ALL the legwork aside from just calling in the actual reservation. I guess I just feel a loyalty to her since we've been using her for the last 10 years. I think this most recent episode will push me over the edge. Thanks.

 

[carrie1626]

Because of who she used to book our WDW reservations, our travel agent said there would be a $200 penalty if we applied the Visa discount before it's released to the general public. WTH? Now I'm worried that she's going to wait too long on Tuesday and either not get a room or have to get an upgraded room which will reduce our discount anyway. Anyone else have this issue with a penalty?

I love our agent as a person and we've used her for years, but she's not a Disney expert and I'm always the one calling her with the current codes and announcements to apply to our ressies. I feel bad being disloyal, but it's tiring and now this latest episode. I think from now on I'm going to go with a Dreams Unlimited agent or another company related to Disney. Any recommendations of agents who go above and beyond Disney wise?

What would the late Dear Abby have said.....?
Jusy saying, I wouldn't let anyone be in charge of my disney vacaction if they were not an expert.
I bet you are your own expert.

 

[patty57]

Sorry, I don't have the answer to your question about the $200 change fee, and is it normal. Have to agree with most here and say it sounds like you should just plan your own trips. I never use a travel agent because I want to be in charge of my own reservation, plus I enjoy the process of planning my WDW vacation. If you don't enjoy planning it, then absolutely use a travel agent, but if you do...why hand over the control to someone else?

 

[daisymomof4]

I'd ask who she booked it with and why the fee is there. I am a former TA and if she booked you through a tour operator that has change fees you should have been advised of them when you booked (were you advised of any change fees?). With you using her before, it sounds as if she should know you keep an eye on discounts and she's had to change your ressie in years past so that should have been something she kept in mind when booking your trip.

More importantly to me is that I'm not sure why the penalty would apply before the discount is released to the public, but not after it's released to the public. Usually on a package a change fee is a change fee is a change fee. That doesn't make any sense to me with the info I have, but I suppose it could just be wonky terms of her booking. Still, skeptic me is rearing her head and is wondering if the $200 fee is her own agency fee, for the drop in your price and her lower commission, and she's not being upfront with who is charging the change fee. I worked in a busy, high end leisure and corporate agency and the stories we'd hear from clients about things their former TAs would tell them were jaw dropping. Nothing against your TA personally, I'm just thinking out loud about the before/after fee, again that doesn't make sense to me

I hope it gets straightened out and you get what you want

 

[Marthasor]

I'd ask who she booked it with and why the fee is there. I am a former TA and if she booked you through a tour operator that has change fees you should have been advised of them when you booked (were you advised of any change fees?). With you using her before, it sounds as if she should know you keep an eye on discounts and she's had to change your ressie in years past so that should have been something she kept in mind when booking your trip.

More importantly to me is that I'm not sure why the penalty would apply before the discount is released to the public, but not after it's released to the public. Usually on a package a change fee is a change fee is a change fee. That doesn't make any sense to me with the info I have, but I suppose it could just be wonky terms of her booking. Still, skeptic me is rearing her head and is wondering if the $200 fee is her own agency fee, for the drop in your price and her lower commission, and she's not being upfront with who is charging the change fee. I worked in a busy, high end leisure and corporate agency and the stories we'd hear from clients about things their former TAs would tell them were jaw dropping. Nothing against your TA personally, I'm just thinking out loud about the before/after fee, again that doesn't make sense to me

I hope it gets straightened out and you get what you want

Completely agree. She either has no clue what she is talking about or there is something fishy going on here. Do you have a Disney Visa? If so, if I were you, I would call Disney NOW, before the discount is released to the general public and price out your trip with the discount. If it's less than what you are paying through your TA, put it on hold, if you can, or even just put down the deposit (it's refundable up to 45 days prior with Disney!) and then CANCEL the trip you booked with your TA (hoping there is no penalty - even if there is, the discounted trip cost may outweigh the penalty). If you really want to work with a Disney Authorized TA, you can always transfer your newly booked, discounted trip to your new TA as long as you transfer within 30 days of booking and prior to paying your final balance.

Working with a TA should make your trip planning easier! I'm sorry you are going through this. Yes, there are many Disney Authorized travel agencies out there who will work very hard to make sure you are getting accurate advice and the best deal possible.

 

[farah]

I had booked a package prior to the Disney Visa discount and just got my Disney Visa discount applied with out any penalty.

The only thing with calling Disney is that they will have you go through your TA since its booked through a TA. You can have your TA release your booking to Disney or another TA so that way you can apply your discount. But like you said if they are charging for changes then not sure if they will charge you for transferring your booking. Good luck!

 

[Kimberle]

Wow, she must have used a wholesaler. Can you cancel without loosing the $200? You could then rebook with someone else. Good luck!

 

[aaarcher86]

I wonder if she meant it would be another 200 on the res using your Disney Visa? The only 200 fee Disney has is canceling a pkg within 45 days... I guess it could be her own fee but it still doesn't make much sense.

 

[FiggieFan]

Here is how it was explained to me by a cast member. I had a package booked and then applied the Disney Visa discount code before it came out to the general public. There was no additional fee that I had to pay. They did say that to use the Disney Visa code, you had to have at least $200 of your trip charged to your Disney Visa. They looked at my account and since all previous payments and my original deposit were made with my Disney Visa, I did not have to pay a dime at that time. If I had not already paid at least $200 with my Disney Visa and had used another card, then I would have had to, at the time the discount was applied, charged a $200 payment to my Disney Visa.

 

[FtWildrns5]

Here is how it was explained to me by a cast member. I had a package booked and then applied the Disney Visa discount code before it came out to the general public. There was no additional fee that I had to pay. They did say that to use the Disney Visa code, you had to have at least $200 of your trip charged to your Disney Visa. They looked at my account and since all previous payments and my original deposit were made with my Disney Visa, I did not have to pay a dime at that time. If I had not already paid at least $200 with my Disney Visa and had used another card, then I would have had to, at the time the discount was applied, charged a $200 payment to my Disney Visa.

Exactly what was explained to me. Since my initial deposit was made with my Disney Visa I was able to get the discount. However, if I had not used my Disney Visa I would need to use it for at least $200 in order to get the discount. Not a penalty, just need to have at least $200 charged to your Disney Visa in order to get the discount.

Sounds to me like your TA got the terms mixed up. Like you suggested it's either time to use DU or do the booking on your own. I had booked with DU and hadn't heard of this discount. Just got an email from them 2 days ago telling of the discount. This is why I use them. Other vacations I book on my own but with Disney there are too many changes that come up from the time you book to the time of your trip. I find it easier to let someone reputable keep an eye on it for me.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

Sounds to me like you are doing all the leg work, and are more knowledgeable than your TA when it comes to Disney. See if you can cancel your trip, then re-book it yourself with Disney.

Good luck!!

 

[meliss8599]

Wow, she must have used a wholesaler. Can you cancel without loosing the $200? You could then rebook with someone else. Good luck!

This.

After I forwarded my TA a copy of a live chat w/a Disney rep who said there should be no penalty since I booked with my Disney Visa, my TA did tell me she booked through a wholesaler who, at the time, saved us $100 more than if we went through Disney direct. It makes sense now, but it's still stressful to now tell her to wait until Tuesday when the wholesaler can apply the Disney discount and receive no penalty, yet risk not getting a standard room and having to upgrade to a higher priced water/garden view which may end up being just as reduced a discount had we just taken the $200 hit initially.

I've been telling myself for years that I need to just book myself and I really do think now that this has finally pushed me over the edge. Thanks everyone for your helpful advice and comments.

 

[ponyboy]

You guys are all correct. I should just book myself b/c every year I feel like I do ALL the legwork aside from just calling in the actual reservation. I guess I just feel a loyalty to her since we've been using her for the last 10 years. I think this most recent episode will push me over the edge. Thanks.

It's nothing personal, it's just business.