PIF Extension - DCL Unwilling to help

[we"reofftoneverland]

I’ve never cruised before. My PIF date is coming up, assumed I’ll be paying by cc (and paying cc balance with savings accrued for the cruise) How would I pay in cash?

You could buy gift cards with cash and pay with those.

 

[NaturalNine]

Well... I think they should have given it to you. I think it is short sighted and silly on their part, especially when you were so far in already. I have read of some other cruise lines doing this on a regular basis. I personally prefer for people to be treated as individuals and am not a fan of bureaucracy.

Thank you At least somebody on here gets my point

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Thank you At least somebody on here gets my point

I get your point, but I don't agree. Most of us book these trips a LONG way out. You know when you book, often a year or more in advance, when the PIF date will fall. There are certainly very rare emergencies that would warrant an extension, but the vast majority of people should be able to budget for it give the amount of time we have.

 

[olafLover]

We just bought a new home last month. The funds of selling our current home won't become available until February, our PIF is January 11th. It's very unlucky timing (booked the cruise before we bought the house, but we really want to go), but I never even considered asking for an extension. Did consider borrowing some money from family to get over those two weeks

 

[Sytrace]

Thank you At least somebody on here gets my point

Absolutely get your point...I just don't agree with you on expecting DCL to give you an extension for that type of reasoning.
It is not an extenuating circumstance at all. It is merely that you don't feel like you should have to pay on the paid in full date even though that PIF date was communicated to you from the very beginning when you booked the cruise.
Christmas always comes on the same day every year, so you knew your payment date would come after that holiday, not like that was a big surprise or anything.
Glad it worked out and that you had the savings to back it up after all is said and done.

 

[Quellman]

While others are berating you for your situation... THANK YOU for sharing your experience. It is important that the most current information and practices are known based on real experiences. As you said, while it may have been true a year ago about extensions, it no longer appears to be the case. Good info. Glad you can still sail.

 

[hcox31]

I get your point. I don’t agree with it. That doesn’t mean I don’t understand you.

You felt an extension should have been granted. DCL said no. Your reason wasn’t an extenuating one. You knew the payment due date when you booked.

 

[serenitynow]

But maybe some cruisers did not foresee the federal government shutdown when considering their PIF date...

 

[Karin1984]

While others are berating you for your situation... THANK YOU for sharing your experience. It is important that the most current information and practices are known based on real experiences. As you said, while it may have been true a year ago about extensions, it no longer appears to be the case. Good info. Glad you can still sail.

I am more curious to why people even ask for an extension when you know when you are supposed to pay well in advance. I get 'if you do not ask, you don't get anything either', and that the US economy is based on credit cards and extended payments, but still, it would never cross my mind to ask for an extension.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

But maybe some cruisers did not foresee the federal government shutdown when considering their PIF date...

How much of an extension could they get? There is no telling when it's going to end so if they do not have the money now, there is no guarantee they will have it anytime soon. In that situation, cancellation is more appropriate as you can use whatever you've already paid to cover things until it ends.

 

[piccolopat]

I'm confused why a PIF date would be a problem for anyone. IMHO, if meeting a PIF date is a problem it is likely there are more issues with that person's finances that should have been looked at before an expensive cruise was booked.

 

[Pkltm]

But maybe some cruisers did not foresee the federal government shutdown when considering their PIF date...

That is a completely different circumstance, not the one of the original poster. They simply just did not run their budget properly. Our PIF date was Dec 30, and we managed to plan for in spite of the holidays. If thousands of other people can do it, why not them. Why complain about having to follow a clearly communicated policy.

 

[serenitynow]

How much of an extension could they get? There is no telling when it's going to end so if they do not have the money now, there is no guarantee they will have it anytime soon. In that situation, cancellation is more appropriate as you can use whatever you've already paid to cover things until it ends.

I was merely pointing out that not every financial situation can be anticipated.

 

[piccolopat]

I was merely pointing out that not every financial situation can be anticipated.

But isn't that what the recommended 6 month emergency fund would be for?

 

[TeamRipper]

I was merely pointing out that not every financial situation can be anticipated.

Which is also why Disney should not be expected to catering to each financial situation. The policies are clearly set for everyone and exceptions often lead to misuse. The original poster is a perfect example. They had the money all along, but just didn't want to use it.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I honestly don't get the negativity in this thread.

OP said he had plans to pay by PIF, so it's not like OP didn't plan ahead. OP did plan ahead. But, it would have been EASIER if it was a week later. Why shouldn't OP ask?

Also, I think we should all be thanking OP for posting this info. It's good to know that the PIF date is a firm deadline, and people should not expect an extension. This is great, and VERY IMPORTANT info for anyone who may be thinking of booking a cruise.

 

[Karin1984]

I honestly don't get the negativity in this thread.

OP said he had plans to pay by PIF, so it's not like OP didn't plan ahead. OP did plan ahead. But, it would have been EASIER if it was a week later. Why shouldn't OP ask?

Also, I think we should all be thanking OP for posting this info. It's good to know that the PIF date is a firm deadline, and people should not expect an extension. This is great, and VERY IMPORTANT info for anyone who may be thinking of booking a cruise.

I think it's the entitlement in the OP's posts is the cause of what is bothering people and reason for negativity. Especially with the remark "you'd think they would have been willing to extend it by a week for me," and the title of this thread.
There is no reason to assume that any kind of PIF date, whether it's at Disney or another company would be flexible.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

I was merely pointing out that not every financial situation can be anticipated.

I understand. I've lost a job before that put a damper on things. But it really isn't Disney's concern if someone runs into an unforeseen financial struggle. Given the sheer volume of guests they deal with across their myriad businesses, they can't afford to offer extensions on deadlines except under extraordinary circumstances. Even then, they must be careful with it lest it get out and people begin expecting it by default.

 

[Jess_S]

I agree with the sentiment that there's no reason to assume that any company would extend its PIF date, which is exactly why it is the type of gesture that would generate tremendous goodwill if the company chose to do it. I still recall the 2 week extension of my payment due date that Discover gave me 10 years ago while I waited for my first paycheck from my first job and I will never, ever cancel my Discover account for that reason.

For those who would like more time to pay their cruise fair after the PIF date, the Disney Visa is a good option. You get 6 bonus months after the PIF date to pay for your trips because they offer 6 month interest free financing. Though I don't "need" that extra time, I like having the option. Like the OP, my PIF date was near the holidays. Using the Visa, I get to put off paying one of those expenses for a while longer, which just feels better psychologically than paying both at the same time. Plus, the money is in my bank account for an extra 6 months earning interest, instead of in Disney's bank account for that time.

 

[NaturalNine]

Wow.... for “Disney” people there sure is a lot of hate boiling under that skin of yours

Maybe you need the Mouse to cheer you up from your miserable lives?

I was merely posting this information for others to be aware of in future, trying to provide information that hasn’t previously been provided (recently) in the hope of helping somebody in future (as I went searching for this info and couldn’t find it)

I wasn’t looking to cop a lecture or such negative replies - certainly not looking to be judged by people and the insinuations that some are making

This forum would be a better place if people were encouraged to make posts with information, and different view points embraced rather than the usual suspects on here creating a culture of intimidation, bullying and negativity

Probably safer to stay with lame posts of “decorating” room doors (which in my opinion is ugly), how many days until you sail away (which nobody other than you cares about) - but see the thing, as much as I don’t care for the info and commentary on those threads, I just skip on past rather than abuse the OP