Questions about booking through Travelocity

[SnoopyB]

I am able to get a slight discount through Travelocity but I'm a little skeptical to book a Dis room through them especially if I have to pay in full and they charge a fee for cancellations/changes.

For those that book through them for Dis resort, did you have to pay in full when making the reservation online?

Has anyone done this then had to cancel? Was a full refund issued?

Also, will booking through them affect any BounceBack offers that may be given to me?

Thanks

 

[cassie]

Call Disney reservations direct 407-939-7675. I believe a room only request is $200 down , payable in full when you get there, A package deal is $200 down and payable in full 45 days out. I've been to Disney many times and I deal only with them.

 

[michael's mom]

Call Disney reservations direct 407-939-7675. I believe a room only request is $200 down , payable in full when you get there, A package deal is $200 down and payable in full 45 days out. I've been to Disney many times and I deal only with them.

ditto

 

[SnoopyB]

I already have a reservation through Disney but I can get a much lower rate through travelocity. Just trying to see what others have experienced as I have never used them before.

Another question: Is it possible to hold 2 reservations under the same name? One through Dis and one through Travelocity. I don't want to let go of the Dis reservation yet in case they come out with something that beats Travelocity's price. I only paid the 1st night's deposit with Dis but with Travelocity I would have to pay in full.

 

[michael's mom]

When are you going? Have you thought about asking Disney if they can match the travelocity deal? I have no idea if that will work.

Some people here on the boards are expecting deals to be offered after 8/15 because that's when the free dining offer expires.

I'm also pretty sure you can't have two rooms booked under the same name if the same guests are listed in each room.

 

[Missoutandabout]

Are you sure there's a penalty to cancel more than 5 days before your scheduled arrival through Travelocity?

Just asking because I booked through Expedia (room only) and double-checked by calling and speaking with someone there, their cancellation policy is a full refund if cancelled 5 or more days before your arrival. If it's less than 5 days, you're charged one night's stay.

You might want to check with Travelocity about the details of their cancellation policy when booking a Disney resort as they seem to be quite similar to Expedia in lots of ways.

 

[SnoopyB]

Yes, I did check (reading the fine print very carefully) and they do allow you to cancel up to 5 days before, which is the same as Disney's policy for room only res.

Did you have to pay in full when booking through Expedia?

So, since I can't have 2 res under the same name & guests, I would have to cancel the Disney reservation 1st then book through Travelocity? Urghh. I just don't want to let that ressie go, lol. I feel like that is my backup and I already received my magical express vouchers too.

What if I book Travelocity under DH's name? The names in the room would still be the same however. Or would this cause much confusion?

 

[Missoutandabout]

Yes, I did check (reading the fine print very carefully) and they do allow you to cancel up to 5 days before, which is the same as Disney's policy for room only res.

Did you have to pay in full when booking through Expedia?

So, since I can't have 2 res under the same name & guests, I would have to cancel the Disney reservation 1st then book through Travelocity? Urghh. I just don't want to let that ressie go, lol. I feel like that is my backup and I already received my magical express vouchers too.

What if I book Travelocity under DH's name? The names in the room would still be the same however. Or would this cause much confusion?

Yeah, they take payment in full on Expedia at the time of booking which wasn't an issue for me -- just the cancellation thing. Wanted to make sure I had an "out" if Disney could get me a better deal. I called Disney twice and they had no availability on the dates I wanted at the resort I wanted. Even offered me 40% off but at a different resort. Anyway, I couldn't pass up Expedia's deal.

If you do decide to go with Travelocity, you should just be able to call up/email Magical Express and give them your new reservation number. (Travelocity should provide this to you after you book, if they handle it like Expedia; they give you two reservation numbers: theirs and Disney's.) I was able to book ME online without issue -- it's available to all resort guests regardless of where you booked it.

Not sure any of that helps but best of luck in whatever you decide.

 

[tinksgilrs251520]

Ok normally i do not chime in about rates because they are what they are but I work at a hotel and I need to advise people on these hotel sites.. Here is the deal on them , YES you get a good rate but there are so many disadvantages on using them like you are only guaranteed a reservation anything else is not, if you have any problems with the hotel there is nothing that the hotel can do for you you have to deal with who you payed through. its just as much of a hassle to go through them ..personally as a person who deals with this all the time i would just pay the little extra for the room rate then to deal with them.. Anymore questions feel free to ask!

 

[michael's mom]

Ok normally i do not chime in about rates because they are what they are but I work at a hotel and I need to advise people on these hotel sites.. Here is the deal on them , YES you get a good rate but there are so many disadvantages on using them like you are only guaranteed a reservation anything else is not, if you have any problems with the hotel there is nothing that the hotel can do for you you have to deal with who you payed through. its just as much of a hassle to go through them ..personally as a person who deals with this all the time i would just pay the little extra for the room rate then to deal with them.. Anymore questions feel free to ask!

I had this experience with airline tickets back in 2002. Since that time, we always book directly.

 

[SnoopyB]

... YES you get a good rate but there are so many disadvantages on using them like you are only guaranteed a reservation anything else is not, if you have any problems with the hotel there is nothing that the hotel can do for you you have to deal with who you payed through...

Thanks tinksgilrs for your input from your perspective. Much appreciated.

The hotel would have to honor the room category booked and of course anything else is just a request, which is the same policy when booking directly through the hotel, right?
If a problem came up once on site wouldn't it be handled by Disney since I'm now their guest (having paid in full)?

Sorry if I'm a little naive about all this, lol. With all my other traveling, I have mostly just dealt with hotel directly and when I did use an agent once on property any problems I had were handled by the hotel. With the $$ being spent on Disney I have to look into where the best rates are.

 

[MFLetou]

Ok normally i do not chime in about rates because they are what they are but I work at a hotel and I need to advise people on these hotel sites.. Here is the deal on them , YES you get a good rate but there are so many disadvantages on using them like you are only guaranteed a reservation anything else is not, if you have any problems with the hotel there is nothing that the hotel can do for you you have to deal with who you payed through. its just as much of a hassle to go through them ..personally as a person who deals with this all the time i would just pay the little extra for the room rate then to deal with them.. Anymore questions feel free to ask!

What do you define as a "little extra?" For me, the difference between Disney and Expedia was just about $200 a NIGHT on the room I wanted. For a savings of $1200, I'll put up with a little hassle.

 

[Missoutandabout]

I've booked many, many times through online Travel sites: the likes of Expedia and Travelocity since 1999. In the beginning it was usually domestic and then international flights with a smattering of hotels here and there. The only time I ever had an issue was in 2000 with a flight to Vancouver. It was solved by a phone call to Travelocity and I was on the next flight. Not had a single other problem with any other reservations and we're talking 50+ between my husband and I.

Granted, I usually book directly through an airline's own site now as they usually have a better deal -- this has changed for air travel in particular. It's always wise to check the site of either the airline or hotel you're looking into anyway just to see what their pricing is.

I've booked everything a'la carte for our upcoming Disney trip. I went with Expedia for the hotel only since it was $146 off per night from the Disney rate -- although Disney didn't have availability for those rooms at the resort I wanted after calling Disney directly twice to double-check. (I'm not interested in the Free Dining so that wasn't a consideration -- although something you should keep in mind if you're after FD I believe you must book directly through Disney.) Let me tell ya, I was so crazy with price-checking a'la carte pricing and package pricing I even made a spreadsheet I went with Southwest for the flights since they include 2 free bags and with adding bags to the flights on a "normal" airline each way, it actually worked out cheaper.

Anyway, as long as you're well-informed and feel comfortable, you'll make the best decision for YOU and your family.

 

[SnoopyB]

Thanks, Missoutandabout. I at least feel secure in knowing that I'm not the only person who has ever booked Disney trip through sites like Travelocity, Expedia, etc. I know mishaps can happen but that's with anything. Just last month I took a short trip to Pennsylvania and a lady was having a problem because she did not get the room she reserved and she booked through the resort's (major chain) main reservation number. I on the other hand booked through amex-points mall and had no problems what so ever.

 

[SAGE]

I booked 2 nights at CBR through Travelocity. Preferred room - $209. CAN total.
Great deal.
Unfortunately, I had to cancel my trip... ... Travelocity refunded my $$$, minus $25. cancellation fee. I would still book through them for the price.

 

[SnoopyB]

Why did they charge you $25 cancellation fee? Were you within the 5day range of your reservation?

 

[BeachPrincess]

You can have 2 reservations at the same time. I spoke with WDW yesterday about the Travelocity rate and they advised that they do give some discount rates out to certain sites, but will not match the price themselves. I mentioned that I did not want to cancel my great PH rate that I had locked in until I was sure I could get the Travelocity rate. His comment was that it was not a problem to leave it as long as I cancelled 5 days ahead. So I secured the Travelocity rate first, then cancelled the WDW reservation. I have used Travelocity many times and anytime I had to cancel, I got a full refund.

 

[SAGE]

Why did they charge you $25 cancellation fee? Were you within the 5day range of your reservation?

That's a good question.... I'm not sure.
I assumed that was "normal" for canceling through one of the travel booking sites. Perhaps it was because I booked on the .ca (Canadian site)?
Also I canceled 3 1/2 weeks before my holiday.

 

[whitehart]

When are you going? Have you thought about asking Disney if they can match the travelocity deal?

I did this, just this past week. I needed an extra day before our booked package in Sept., found a deal for room-only at POFQ on Travelocity for about $77, and called Disney to check if they could match it. When I told her the rate, the cast member sounded surprised and said "That's less than I can get it for myself!" Nope, no match.