Placeholder + Costco

[CelV]

We’re cruising shortly and I wanted to clarify something.


If I book a placeholder for a future cruise and name Costco as the TA, I would then be entitled to both the 10% discount from DCL and the Costco cash card at the end of the placeholder cruise?


TIA./ cel

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We’re cruising shortly and I wanted to clarify something.


If I book a placeholder for a future cruise and name Costco as the TA, I would then be entitled to both the 10% discount from DCL and the Costco cash card at the end of the placeholder cruise?


TIA./ cel

That's how I understand it.

 

[dcassetta]

That is my experience with Costco.

 

[Corfam]

If I book a placeholder for a future cruise and name Costco as the TA, I would then be entitled to both the 10% discount from DCL and the Costco cash card at the end of the placeholder cruise?

Yes, based off current policies. Assuming you use the placeholder on a non-blacked out date, you will get the 10% discount from Disney. Costco gives the cash card for onboard bookings just as they would for any other DCL cruise.

That is my experience with Costco.

My family has had similar experience too.

 

[MickeyCruzin]

I just transferred by OBB to Costco. I had to call them and move the placeholder to an actual date. They do not keep it as a placeholder. I picked the cheapest cruise because you do have to pay more deposit. They then send you a form that you fax back. After 72 hours you call again and complete the transfer. When they release the new dates I just have to call Costco and they change the cruise for me. The transfer has to be completed 30 days from booking the placeholder onboard.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I just transferred by OBB to Costco. I had to call them and move the placeholder to an actual date. They do not keep it as a placeholder. I picked the cheapest cruise because you do have to pay more deposit. They then send you a form that you fax back. After 72 hours you call again and complete the transfer. When they release the new dates I just have to call Costco and they change the cruise for me. The transfer has to be completed 30 days from booking the placeholder onboard.

According to this post, you can transfer a placeholder to Costco: https://www.disboards.com/threads/costco-bookings-wrap-up.3599388/#post-57483978

But the Costco system, apparently, can't carry a booking that isn't an actual reservation.

 

[JW9DVC]

We have booked a placeholder and used Costco with no problems. We get the 10% depending on blackout along with the cash card which is any booking.

JW

 

[LAX]

According to this post, you can transfer a placeholder to Costco: https://www.disboards.com/threads/costco-bookings-wrap-up.3599388/#post-57483978

But the Costco system, apparently, can't carry a booking that isn't an actual reservation.

If I cruise on a reservation booked with Costco and book a placeholder without changing the TA, I shouldn't have any problem when I am ready to turn that into an actual itinerary, right? I mean, Costco won't tell me they can't locate the placeholder, right?

LAX

 

[JWG]

Placeholders are actual reservations with reservation numbers, I don't see why Costco couldn't manage that.

 

[FigmentSpark]

My understanding is that Costco can't enter a non-cruise into their system, but they can be named the TA on DCL's system. So when you're ready to book, you can give Costco your res number, which DCL would already have assigned to them, and they can book it into their system.

 

[Corfam]

If I cruise on a reservation booked with Costco and book a placeholder without changing the TA, I shouldn't have any problem when I am ready to turn that into an actual itinerary, right? I mean, Costco won't tell me they can't locate the placeholder, right?

That was my concern too before going through the process once. My placeholder was also booked with Costco as the listed TA (directly onboard, no transfer later needed). I didn't book my next cruise with the placeholder for about a year. Even though I only had the placeholder reservation number (and no documentation from Costco), Costco pulled in the placeholder no problem. All I can say is it worked fine. Make sure to keep any documentation from the onboard booking desk as backup.

 

[LAX]

That was my concern too before going through the process once. My placeholder was also booked with Costco as the listed TA (directly onboard, no transfer later needed). I didn't book my next cruise with the placeholder for about a year. Even though I only had the placeholder reservation number (and no documentation from Costco), Costco pulled in the placeholder no problem. All I can say is it worked fine. Make sure to keep any documentation from the onboard booking desk as backup.

It's nice to hear from someone that it works even though some have reported Costco not being able to "keep" a placeholder in the system. Thanks.

LAX

 

[pdizzle27]

The answer to your question is yes. One thing to consider though, is that if you name Costco as your travel agent while on board, it becomes "their" booking. The disadvantage was that I had to wait for Costco Travel to open and get a rep on the line to book, instead of just booking it online through the Disney website, as soon as the itenerary was released.

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

Opening day is not available to book online. You have to wait for DCL phone lines to open. Unless you wait for bookings for the general public and then the website is available.

 

[pdizzle27]

Opening day is not available to book online. You have to wait for DCL phone lines to open. Unless you wait for bookings for the general public and then the website is available.

I guess I mean the general public day. I could book online, but couldn't use the discount. I called Disney and was told it was because the booking technically belonged to Costco, because I put them as the travel agent. Fortunately, the rooms I wanted were still available when I talked to Costco, several hours later.

 

[lanejudy]

That's correct -- when you use a TA, the TA technically "owns" the reservation. A placeholder is just a reservation without a date/itinerary specified. Any changes related to date/itinerary, stateroom, and payments must be done through the TA. In the past, the online booking system has only been available a short time before the phone lines opened to the public for booking; I think the past couple of itinerary releases people have found the online system live much earlier than the phones.

 

[birdmom]

Ok so I have a question. I am going to be on the Wonder in 2 days(omg omg 2 days so excited) I am booking a place holder waiting for Oct 2018 to come out. Should I not list Costco as my travel agent so when the dates come out (gold member) I can call Disney to swap the dates? Can I then just call costco and give them the new reservation? **momma wants her costco card but not bad enough to wait for dates to open to the general public**

 

[lanejudy]

Ok so I have a question. I am going to be on the Wonder in 2 days(omg omg 2 days so excited) I am booking a place holder waiting for Oct 2018 to come out. Should I not list Costco as my travel agent so when the dates come out (gold member) I can call Disney to swap the dates? Can I then just call costco and give them the new reservation? **momma wants her costco card but not bad enough to wait for dates to open to the general public**

Just like a regular reservation, a placeholder must be transferred to a TA within 30 days of initial booking (so sometime in June). It's possible Oct 2018 itineraries will be released before then but no guarantee.

If Costco isn't handling your current cruise, I don't know if you can name them onboard or will need to transfer after you get home anyway. You could wait a couple of weeks to see if new itineraries come out. But don't wait until that 30-day mark as it takes a few days to do the transfer and you don't want to cut it too close.

If you are a Gold or Platinum CC member, Costco can book on the Gold/Platinum opening day, you don't have to wait for general public booking. Unless DCL changes things, all bookings must be done by phone on that advanced Gold/Platinum booking day, no online.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[birdmom]

Thanks for the info judy, does anyone know if TA call a different line to book? (will they have a better chance getting my rooms then me calling disney on opening day?)

 

[dcassetta]

Thanks for the info judy, does anyone know if TA call a different line to book? (will they have a better chance getting my rooms then me calling disney on opening day?)

Although agents may call a different phone number, they will be in the same queue to talk to DCL.