Please explain the benefit of using Vaction Planning?

[nunzia]

OK..so when we go in Sept I thought I'd try to have Vacation Planning book my character breakfast and Fantasmic buffet to save some stress. So I call am told they only book 60 days out..Well, I know this, but "I" can book 60 days out, so why first wait for them to open then call them to call Dining? This seems even more stressful. Isn't that just wasting time having a middle man? Do they have priority over regular calls to get PS?
I'm wondering if I can call Vacation Planning a little ahead of the 30 for Fantasmic buffet booking? I worry that if I wait for 30 days out then call Vacation Planning to make the reservations, how do I know that they won't be sold out before they do this???
So, long question long...am I better off just doing this myself or having them do it??

 

[teatime]

just call them and make reservations your self, call when all your dates are 60 days out, or even 45 days out. you will get the reservation you want.

 

[Disneyanajc]

I love vacation planning...usually by our 90 days mark I have sent VP an email with our hotel reservation numbers and how many in our party. We give them an overview of what dates and times we well need PS's for. (We can tweek the PS's as we change or update our plans) We put our CC on file with them and we get a very nice email back letting me know they have put my information in their system. We have already gotten our email from VP with all the PS's made and verified. As soon as they know that Fantasmic is going to be shown on the date(s) we requested, they will make those reservations. So easy and I have never been disappointed. I Love VP

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't use travel agents, and I haven't yet found a reason to use VP. I like to do things myself.

 

[nunzia]

I love vacation planning...usually by our 90 days mark I have sent VP an email with our hotel reservation numbers and how many in our party. We give them an overview of what dates and times we well need PS's for. (We can tweek the PS's as we change or update our plans) We put our CC on file with them and we get a very nice email back letting me know they have put my information in their system. We have already gotten our email from VP with all the PS's made and verified. As soon as they know that Fantasmic is going to be shown on the date(s) we requested, they will make those reservations. So easy and I have never been disappointed. I Love VP

Now, see, that 's what I thought they'd do, but nope..wouldn't take my info or anything. I thought maybe I'd get a jump on Fantasmic using them, but doesn't look like they will?? Maybe I'll try again if they EVER list the entertainment for that weekend...

 

[boscoj]

I think you should try to call again....

We've used them many times and they are especially helpful when we want to book the Fantasmic packgage. I usually call 60 days out and they take all the info they need (# in party, cc #, etc) and will make the reservation on the 30th day. If I don't use them, that would mean me waking up at 5:00am Hawaii time to try and book and I'm just not good at waking up that early!!!

 

[nunzia]

...maybe I called the wrong number or something. Can someone give me the number they use?
Thanks!

 

[Inkmahm]

We're staying at the GCH in August and i just called VP this morning and had them take all the information for me for doing the Fantasmic Dessert event, Walk in Walt's Steps and the Segway tour at California Adventure. The CM took all my information and told me they'd make the reservations for me at the 30 day mark and then call me mid-day each day to let me know if they were successful. I just came to this forum to ask if anyone had ever NOT been successful using VP this way? I'm normally a WDW person and this service seems a lot like the service you only get with concierge rooms there. If it works as well as concierge at WDW, I'm sure I will love it!

 

[Inkmahm]

...maybe i called the wrong number or something. Can someone give me the number they use?
Thanks!

714-300-7526

 

[nunzia]

714-300-7526

yep..that's the number I called..So I call again and NO ONE ANSWERS..
hmm..guess I'll try again later.

 

[Canyon girl]

Ask for Lauren or Barb!!! They are wonderful!!! I called on Sunday morning and talked to Lauren. She actually took all of my PSs even though they were not all open for booking yet. She said that she will put them in as they become available. I don't know who you spoke to, but I spoke to a gentleman last year that was less than friendly. Lauren and Barb both go above and beyond. DD cake is all ordered and set to be delivered to our room one night of our stay.

yep..that's the number I called..So I call again and NO ONE ANSWERS..
hmm..guess I'll try again later.

Are you getting an answering machine? Did you press option 2? I don't know how many people are there at a time, but on Sunday, I think that Lauren was the only one there. At least that is the impression that I got. If you get a chance to leave a message, they should call you back. It may be that they are on the phone with someone else.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm normally a WDW person and this service seems a lot like the service you only get with concierge rooms there. If it works as well as concierge at WDW, I'm sure I will love it!

Yes, the baseline "disneyland resort guest" service is about where WDW's concierge starts. I just don't feel the need to use it, I want to have things under my control.

Being known in the concierge level of DLH in May bugged me too! I want to be anonymous!

 

[Inkmahm]

Yes, the baseline "disneyland resort guest" service is about where WDW's concierge starts. I just don't feel the need to use it, I want to have things under my control.

Being known in the concierge level of DLH in May bugged me too! I want to be anonymous!

But if they start taking reservations at 8 am, I'd have to be on the phone with them each day at 10 am for 4 days in a row to do these myself. With being at work, that may not be possible for me. Also, I get the feeling that they actually book these things before hand and just put your credit card charge through 30 days before the event. I'm guessing there is a better shot at getting what you want having VP do it for you. I hope.

We now have "booked" Fantasmic desserts seating, Walk in Walt's steps, Seating for the Electric light parade and the California Adventure Segway tour. I hope I get them all!

 

[bumbershoot]

All I've said is that it isn't needed for us, b/c of how we work.

We're west coast, and I don't work outside the home, so I can do things. Dining is not anywhere near as competitive as it is with WDW, so it isn't as important to be on the phone bright and early to get what you want (though both times I've booked a Dining PS I have done so, just to have it done with). And I don't need the other things...hate Fantasmic and wouldn't pay for a box of desserts my son and hubby probably can't have, sit on a bench for Electrical parade, don't really need to do the Footsteps tour...oh wait, I'd love to do the Segway tour. But back in March, on a day that they made AP holders get handstamps b/c they anticipated so many people...even a week before I could have booked the Segway tour for that day....it's just not as competitive at DLR.

But it's all just that I don't feel the need to have someone else do these things...gotta have my hands on everything.

 

[nunzia]

Ask for Lauren or Barb!!! They are wonderful!!! I called on Sunday morning and talked to Lauren. She actually took all of my PSs even though they were not all open for booking yet. She said that she will put them in as they become available. I don't know who you spoke to, but I spoke to a gentleman last year that was less than friendly. Lauren and Barb both go above and beyond. DD cake is all ordered and set to be delivered to our room one night of our stay.



Are you getting an answering machine? Did you press option 2? I don't know how many people are there at a time, but on Sunday, I think that Lauren was the only one there. At least that is the impression that I got. If you get a chance to leave a message, they should call you back. It may be that they are on the phone with someone else.

I pressed option 2 and it rang for about 20 times before I gave up..maybe cutbacks? Anyway..the CM I spoke to when I called awhile back was a guy and yes, less than friendly.

PS..got through..it rang alot this time too and the gal who answered, sounded a little flustered at first but was very nice and helpful. Anyway..they took all my info and could give me the Fantasmic schedule for the days I'm there even though they aren't listed on the website..Sooo..hopefully we can get the tickets and it won't be cancelled for wind or soemthing because we will see it the last night before it goes dark (I think for the rest of the month she said)

I usually also like total control over my reservations, but the last time I did the fantasmic dessert, back in the day of the balcony and small riverside area, I called over and over and they were closed then called like 5 seconds later and they were open and all the balcony seats were already gone..so, for this time I thought I'd give VP a try.

 

[MommiePrincess]

When I called VP last week a man told me that I would have to call 60 days out for each PS dining I needed, which means I would call every day for a week to schedule them all as we are doing one or two each day. Also I would need to call on the 30th day for Fantasmic PS. He didn't offer to take down my info and do it for me, call me, email me etc. We are staying for 7 nights at GCH, so I kinda expected better service. Is it because we are just a party of 4 people?

What should I ask them to do if I call back......are they susposed to take down all your requests and book them as they come up or did some of you just find a gem of a CM??

 

[nunzia]

When I called VP last week a man told me that I would have to call 60 days out for each PS dining I needed, which means I would call every day for a week to schedule them all as we are doing one or two each day. Also I would need to call on the 30th day for Fantasmic PS. He didn't offer to take down my info and do it for me, call me, email me etc. We are staying for 7 nights at GCH, so I kinda expected better service. Is it because we are just a party of 4 people?

What should I ask them to do if I call back......are they susposed to take down all your requests and book them as they come up or did some of you just find a gem of a CM??

I would try again..sounds like your experience was much like my first. We are just a party of 5 (2 kids) and staying at GCH. We're staying Concierge (yea DVC DP!) but she didn't know that until she pulled up my reservation and stuff. I ended up making PS at Ariel's for breakfast on my own after my first VP encounter with the guy..but this time it was a much nicer experience

 

[Inkmahm]

When I called VP last week a man told me that I would have to call 60 days out for each PS dining I needed, which means I would call every day for a week to schedule them all as we are doing one or two each day. Also I would need to call on the 30th day for Fantasmic PS. He didn't offer to take down my info and do it for me, call me, email me etc. We are staying for 7 nights at GCH, so I kinda expected better service. Is it because we are just a party of 4 people?

What should I ask them to do if I call back......are they susposed to take down all your requests and book them as they come up or did some of you just find a gem of a CM??

I"m a party of two, just my DH and me. We're also at the GCH. I called twice for setting up the tours/desserts/etc. and both people I talked to were great. They pulled up my reservation to get my info and then took my credit card info to do the booking for me. I'd say it was great service!

I'd already booked my Priority Dining times last month a few days after the 60 day mark. Those went very well, too. It was a different phone number though than the VP number.

 

[Inkmahm]

We're staying at the GCH in August and i just called VP this morning and had them take all the information for me for doing the Fantasmic Dessert event, Walk in Walt's Steps and the Segway tour at California Adventure. The CM took all my information and told me they'd make the reservations for me at the 30 day mark and then call me mid-day each day to let me know if they were successful. I just came to this forum to ask if anyone had ever NOT been successful using VP this way? I'm normally a WDW person and this service seems a lot like the service you only get with concierge rooms there. If it works as well as concierge at WDW, I'm sure I will love it!

Yay! I got the Fantasmic Dessert pkg for us on August 18. Vacation Planning is wonderful (thank you, Brad!)

 

[disneynerd420]

I agree with Bumbershoot, I can get this all taken care of myself.