Q for past FL Resident Cruisers....

[alexandrew]

Have you ever had the situation where DCL announced FL Resident pricing for your cruise date after you made final payment for that date...? If you used TA, were you accommodated by having the difference refunded? Is DCL flexible with TAs on this?My TA has been pushing back on me, stating "I'm not sure if they will release FL Res for that date"?(In 6 cruises, never once have I not gotten it).And also, "I'm not sure if DCL will refund the difference"....

We are cruising in May, and I noticed that DCL has been very slow in releasing FL Res discounts on upcoming cruises.....

Thank you...

 

[GenieDana]

Used DCL directly for our reservations (haven't tried a TA yet), and DCL credited the card each time. Full payment was made as we reserve late to take advantage of the FLR rate (no other discount is allowed if you use the FLR rate), so doesn't pay book early other than to have a spot on the ship (we do GTY category also and have gotten upgrades each time).

I guess it depends on your TA - some may use the price reduction as a windwall to make more profit. Likewise, some might pass the savings on to you.

Disney will tell you when Florida residents rates are in effect and their "from-the-source" pricing, so you can determine for yourself if your TA is enjoying the windfall, or if you are.

You can check current FLR rates here:

http://cruises.allseastravel.com/c/5/5738/1147576_5738.htm

 

[izzinmac]

We had 6 rooms in our group of 8 in November that were booked a regular rates and then qualified for Fla Resident rates. All were booked thru DU, and the Fla rates came out before the 60 day final payment date. However, one in the group had already paid in full. All rooms got the new rate (DU initiated the action without us being aware of the Fla resident rate) and the one that was paid in full got a refund of the difference applied to the credit card used to pay the booking. As I recall, the refund was fairly rapid. (within 30 days)

 

[staceymerrill]

Genie:

Thanks for the info....I check allseas consistently, and I noticed that the FL Res rates that usually are released 60-90 days in advance for 3-4 day cruises, are only through 3/4.....

I'm confident that my TA will adjust my pricing accordingly when FL Res is finally out for my date....I just dont have the time nor the inclination to fight for it...

 

[cjsmith]

We've been inside that 60 mark and Disney refunded me the price difference. I was booked right with DCL so I guess there was no arguments.

 

[mailman028]

Man o man,thank you thank you thank you.I just called Disney about the Florida resident discount.I was just reading your posts and called Disney.They are gonna refund me 670 dollars. Thanks again for bringing this up.Mike

 

[kcashner]

DCL will always refund the difference to you if the price of your cruise is discounted for any reason, but you or your TA must contact them. That is, if DCL lowers the price of your date/category, or if they make a FL resident discount available for your date/category.

DCL will not call you and tell you that a discounted rate is available. They will give it to you if you contact them. That's why it's a good idea to use a TA who tracks such things by computer and checks them regularly, unless you are compulsive enough to do it daily yourself. Remember rates can (and do) go up and down based on occupancy.

The reason DCL is "slow" in releasing discounted rates is that they are still filling the ship at full fare.

 

[floridaminnie]

I'm still waiting to see if there is a FL rate for 3/25 3 day. I checked the "regular" price it it is way over three thousand for the four of us.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by floridaminnie
I'm still waiting to see if there is a FL rate for 3/25 3 day. I checked the "regular" price it it is way over three thousand for the four of us.

They waited until VERY late to announce the Fl resident rate for the 7 day cruise 20 March. I doubt they are going to add it for the 3 or 4 days cruise(s) that week. FWIW, the announcement for 20 March came in after our final payment and I'm pretty sure after the 60 day mark. They did refund the difference but we lost our credit.

 

[val2001]

Can someone please post a link where I can check on Florida Resident rates?

 

[floridaminnie]

the allseas online agency in the link in one of the posts above staes the fl resident rates.

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by val2001
Can someone please post a link where I can check on Florida Resident rates?

The best source of information for Florida Resident rates is Disney Cruise Line. I've found significant lag times between the announcement of FL Resident rates by DCL and the announcement of those rates on web sites such as MouseSavers and All Seasons.

 

[currycook]

Three circles is right. Others have said on the boards that you can find out from web sites and such, but there is always lag time, sometimes quite a bit. The only accurate and up to the moment source is for you to contact DCL directly.

 

[Juli]

I appreciate all the info in this thread. My boys and I take an annual trip with my MIL to WDW every year. Most of the time it is with DVC, but I'm considering the 4-day cruise for our next trip. My MIL lives in Florida so it looks like the FL Resident rates may be the way for us to go if we do this.

So do you just wait until it is 3 months out and give DCL a call? Do you find these rates to be better than rebooking on board? Has anyone seen anything that is cheaper than the FL Resident rates?

I would handle all the planning. I do know that only one person in the cabin has to be a FL resident but I'm wondering if the reservation could still have our MI address on it for document mailing?

Juli

 

[alexandrew]

Juli:

If you can book onboard, and that reservation will have a Florida resident on it, I'd go for it.....Then, I'd transfer the Res to a good discount TA like All Seasons, whereby you not only will lock in the original stateroom credit, but lower pricing, and eventually the FL Res discount if and when it becomes available... I've yet to ever see better pricing by DCL vs All Seasons

 

[Juli]

Thanks alexandrew.

Juli