Rebooking through Orbitz?

[SugarSweetLee]

I currently have a room only reservation for a LM room at AoA in Jan, booked a month or so ago through the WDW site. I do not have any FP+ selections yet since I am more than 60 days out. Are there any disadvantages to rebooking through Orbitz to use their promo code, and canceling my existing reservation?

 

[kaytieeldr]

You have to pay in full when you book, but it's refundable until close to arrival - so be sure you're aware of the terms.
Orbits will own the reservation and you won't be able to contact Disney about it.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

You have to pay in full when you book, but it's refundable until close to arrival - so be sure you're aware of the terms.
Orbits will own the reservation and you won't be able to contact Disney about it.

Can't contact Disney about refunds, you mean? Can I still call Disney about room requests?

 

[patty57]

Can't contact Disney about refunds, you mean? Can I still call Disney about room requests?

I think you need to go through Orbitz for everything. I don't believe WDW will talk to you about a reservation that Orbitz "owns". If that's wrong, someone will correct me.

 

[jimandami]

I think you need to go through Orbitz for everything. I don't believe WDW will talk to you about a reservation that Orbitz "owns". If that's wrong, someone will correct me.

This is correct. Even though an Orbitz employee may tell you to call Disney for room requests or whatever, that won't work. Just be firm that Orbitz must call Disney for you and make you requests. Other than that, there is no reason not to change. Be sure if you have more than 2 people (if you have children), only book on Orbitz for 2 adults and then call and have your children added. Orbitz system is set up to charge you more for kids in the room.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Can't contact Disney about refunds, you mean? Can I still call Disney about room requests?

Correct. The Travel Agent - Orbitz - owns the reservation. Disney will only discuss your reservation with Orbitz, not with you.

When you pay Orbitz or any other agency/middleman, that's who you deal with regarding any/all payment issues, including refunds.

 

[TJA]

Hmmm, I was able to call Disney and add my room requests for my reservation last Easter. I had read on here that it wasn't possible, so when I had to call back at a later date I asked the CM if she saw any room requests noted and she read them all back to me, so it worked just fine for me.

I plan to book through Orbitz again for this Easter -- it was so nice last year to get a deal for Easter week.

 

[MCC Retired]

Downside is paying in Full to book . Refundable 6 days prior.
Upside is quite a $$$ savings over the current Disney Discount on RO rates.
Yes , any changes or requests go thru Orbitz to Disney but
I'll take what I just saved over any loss of direct control.

 

[FireflyTrance]

If we book on Orbitz, do we still have access to Magical Express? I got a better deal there, so I am hoping we can still use Magical Express.

 

[TJA]

If we book on Orbitz, do we still have access to Magical Express? I got a better deal there, so I am hoping we can still use Magical Express.

Sure do! You just have to call ME yourself and give them your airline info. Someone also posted a link on here somewhere where you can do it online.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

This is correct. Even though an Orbitz employee may tell you to call Disney for room requests or whatever, that won't work. Just be firm that Orbitz must call Disney for you and make you requests. Other than that, there is no reason not to change. Be sure if you have more than 2 people (if you have children), only book on Orbitz for 2 adults and then call and have your children added. Orbitz system is set up to charge you more for kids in the room.

Hmm, several other threads I found since posting this indicated they were able to talk to Disney reps about room requests with no problem. I simply mean things like certain building/view/floor type things. Nothing that would impact price.

 

[patty57]

Hmm, several other threads I found since posting this indicated they were able to talk to Disney reps about room requests with no problem. I simply mean things like certain building/view/floor type things. Nothing that would impact price.

I've read that you can't call WDW with an Orbitz (or other TA reservation), but TJA says that they did just that. I guess I would believe it. I will say it's contrary to most of what I've read, but maybe things have changed.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

I've read that you can't call WDW with an Orbitz (or other TA reservation), but TJA says that they did just that. I guess I would believe it. I will say it's contrary to most of what I've read, but maybe things have changed.

Maybe things have changed since then. I just got off the phone with Disney from canceling my original reservation. The woman swore up and down that she couldn't make any kind of request notes on my Orbitz reservation since they did not have any way of seeing them in the Disney system.

 

[Poohsmommi]

I currently have a room only reservation for a LM room at AoA in Jan, booked a month or so ago through the WDW site. I do not have any FP+ selections yet since I am more than 60 days out. Are there any disadvantages to rebooking through Orbitz to use their promo code, and canceling my existing reservation?

I saved $600 by cancelling my reservation and rebooking thru Orbitz.

 

[Poohsmommi]

You have to pay in full when you book, but it's refundable until close to arrival - so be sure you're aware of the terms.
Orbits will own the reservation and you won't be able to contact Disney about it.

I contacted Disney immediately and did not have an issue speaking with anyone about my reservation. In fact, they changed the address on my reservation from the Orbitz address to my home address.

 

[Poohsmommi]

Hmmm, I was able to call Disney and add my room requests for my reservation last Easter. I had read on here that it wasn't possible, so when I had to call back at a later date I asked the CM if she saw any room requests noted and she read them all back to me, so it worked just fine for me.

I plan to book through Orbitz again for this Easter -- it was so nice last year to get a deal for Easter week.

Correct. The folks saying Disney won't speak to you are wrong - or the agent they had was misinformed.

 

[Poohsmommi]

If we book on Orbitz, do we still have access to Magical Express? I got a better deal there, so I am hoping we can still use Magical Express.

Yes, you do. We live in Florida, but will be coming from elsewhere for our next disney trip. I called Disney immediately after booking with Orbitz. I had NO problems putting my room request on record directly with Disney. Afterwards, they transferred me over to Magical Express. I made the reservation for that, and gave them the correct address to mail the information to.

 

[patty57]

Maybe things have changed since then. I just got off the phone with Disney from canceling my original reservation. The woman swore up and down that she couldn't make any kind of request notes on my Orbitz reservation since they did not have any way of seeing them in the Disney system.

Correct. The folks saying Disney won't speak to you are wrong.

It looks like WDW told the OP that they can't speak to her about the reservation, if I'm reading this right. Other posters are able to make requests. Maybe like lots of other issues with WDW, it could depend on the individual CM.

 

[Poohsmommi]

It looks like WDW told the OP that they can't speak to her about the reservation, if I'm reading this right. Other posters are able to make requests. Maybe like lots of other issues with WDW, it could depend on the individual CM.

I'm going to guess that she gave them the wrong confirmation number. If she gave them the Orbitz confirmation number, then no - Disney wouldn't be able to look that up. The Disney confirmation number is the same type of number you receive when booking directly.

 

[patty57]

I'm going to guess that she gave them the wrong confirmation number. If she gave them the Orbitz confirmation number, then no - Disney wouldn't be able to look that up. The Disney confirmation number is the same type of number you receive when booking directly.

Maybe...who knows? I certainly have no reason to doubt you or the other poster who said they were able to make a request, but I've read the opposite too.