Price increase AFTER sending in deposit?!?!

[pdolan]

I am a total trip planning newbie, and I just sent in my deposit to reserve our 4 day land/3 day sea vacation with Dreams for spring break, 2004 and just got an email from them after I sent in my $ that says, sorry, the price quoted was wrong, it'll now be $200 more. Something about you don't get quotes in writing with DCL, etc. , etc. I am so disappointed. I booked with them to get the $150 credit which seemed to make it all worthwhile. I did all of my homework - got quotes from a couple places - I am so confused. This just doesn't seem right. HELP - I feel like I've been had. Is this just the way it goes??

 

[alexandrew]

find another TA...

 

[pdolan]

That's what I am thinking - a new TA or booking directly through DCL. Is that a mistake? I just checked the DCL site and the price of the vacation package is the same as my initial quote from Dreams was, so I don't know how the price went up if even on the Disney site it is the same, but who knows. I am so frustrated. Last trip I just called Disney directly and booked a resort vacation and I read so many good things about Dreams on this site, that I thought - what the heck. Very disheartening. Maybe I just need to toughen up!

 

[jfeasel]

If the price they quoted is what you sent your deposit in on, then the quoted price should be honored. Changing the price after you've sent in your deposit doesn't seem like the way to do business. How can their price be more than the DCL price? I'd cancel and go through Disney directly if that's the case.

 

[pdolan]

I called Disney and got a quote of my original price. Is it useless for me to contact Disney directly regarding my reservation because I booked it through Dreams? I have my Disney reservation number. Is there any way that the price increased because they gave me a waterview room at the BC? I was repeatedly told by Dreams that you could make a room request, but that it was not a guarantee, so I didn't think the price would be increasing because of the room. Am I totally wrong.

Thanks, jfeasel for your input! ))))))

 

[Dreamer04]

I personally don't use DU. I use alleastravel.com. I have read on another thread that Dreams Unlimited has had a few changes to their staff. You may have an inexperienced travel agent. Call Dreams Unlimited and ask to speak to someone in charge. This may be a mistake.

Good Luck

 

[my3kids]

Book with Disney and cancel the one with DU. If they can transfer the deposit to the new reservation, all the better. If not, you'll have a charge for the deposit and a credit of the DU deposit refund on your statement.

 

[jilljill]

Disney does charge more for a waterview room than for the standard room so that may be the price difference. When you called Disney did you ask for a price quote with a waterview room or a standard view?

 

[Dreamer04]

pdolan,
John from Dreams Unlimited posted his e-mail address for anyone who is having problems. Include your reservation number and a way for him to contact you. I've read on other links that he quickly takes matters in hand.
john@dreamsunlimitedtravel.com

Good Luck

 

[KathyTX]

At the BC, a Waterview room is a category that you explicitly book and pay extra for at reservation time. During 2004 Regular Season, it lists for $66 per night (plus tax) more than a Standard View room.

It sounds like this is likely to be where your difference is. You could ask your Dreams agent to change your reservation to a Standard view and see what happens.

(The room requests you've probably seen discussed generally apply to things like room location and the like, where the rates are the same. Waterview at BC is actually an upgrade. The upgrade fairy COULD appear at check in time, but it's not very likely.)

You're going to enjoy your trip regardless of the view you choose at BC!!

 

[WebmasterJohn]

Hi Pdolan

Without having the specifics of your quote in front of me it's difficult to give you an answer as to what is going on but if you changed the roomtype of your room (i.e. to a Water View) after you received your initial quote then the quote would have to be revised.

I would be happy to look at your reservation and make sure this was not a mistake on Dreams Unlimited's part. If it was we will absolutely honor your original quote.

Again, my email address is john@dreamsunlimitedtravel.com

John

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Every thime I make a reservation I insist on a faxed confirmation. When we were cancelled Nov. 30, 2002 Wed night before we were to leave for WDW I rebooked a couple of extra nights at WDW and the 4 night Dec. 1 Wonder. When we arrived at WDW they had no reservations for us.......we were in cancelled status. I showed my fax that I recieved and things got worked out.

 

[CRB#33]

Quoting the OP's opening thread, "I am a total trip planning newbie"

I'm sorry pdolan, but it probably would have been a good idea to remove the list of the 5 Disney trips you've taken out of your signature before you posted this thread. While this may be your first cruise, it certainly is not the first time you've planned a trip.

Dreams always honors their quotes for a certain amount of days and you do have access to that quote page. If the price went up $200, you probably didn't send it in on time, or there's something that you aren't telling us.

Dreams always, always honors their written quotes unless you changed it on them.

 

[pdolan]

I am a trip planning newbie - I've planned exactly 1 of my listed trips as an adult and that was just to WDW - and I booked it directly through Disney. Have never spoken to a regular travel agent before in my life! So, yes, I am a TRIP PLANNING newbie, but do admit I've been on plenty of trips with my parents, and on trips with college and high school friends that didn't require any planning on my part.

I left out nothing in my explanation of what happened to me. My DU TA evetually emailed me regarding the price increase and said Disney keyed in the wrong Castaway Club member # for my DD which resulted in her age being 45 years old rather than 8 and resulted in a cruise booked for 3 adults and 1 child rather than 2 adults and 2 children. So, I panicked. Thanks for all of your support though....

 

[CRB#33]

Please pardon my cynicism and accept my apologies. I'm seeing a lot of negativity on these boards, mostly undeserved, IMO.

Thank you also for letting us know this was a DCL mistake.

 

[vgaskin]

Sorry, I got to this a little late. Having kids and teenagers, that sounded exactly the rate for someone being over the kid age and getting the adult rate. Sorry, I didn't see it sooner!