Reservation change ?--what am I missing here?

[kokotg]

Right now we have a reservation for 2 rooms (family of 5) at Pop for 8 nights in September, free quick service dining and an upgrade to regular dining, 8 day base tickets, 2 adults and 3 kids (4, 7, and 9).

We were thinking of changing the reservation to Port Orleans Riverside (why we're thinking about this NOW instead of months ago is a long story involving the other families we're traveling with; I know it would have been much easier earlier). When I put in our dates and 8 day tickets at POR on Disney's website, I come up with a price of around $2500 for the trip. This makes sense to me based on how much we should save by switching (I figure the room should be about $14/night cheaper than 2 rooms at Pop, and then we should save something like $30/nt by not having to upgrade the dining). But when I call Disney, I've been told twice now that the new cost would be $2772 or something. I know that includes a $50 change fee, so that's fine, but aside from that I can't figure out the difference. And the woman on the phone was completely unable to explain it. She could not tell me the price of the room. She could not confirm that the price was for a standard view room although she thought it was (she had to talk to someone at guest services to get the price, but apparently all he told her was the price, not any details at all?) She couldn't explain why the price would be different online. She couldn't tell me if they'd taken off the fee for upgrading to regular dining (which I shouldn't need to pay anymore if we stay in a moderate)

so, umm, am I forgetting something in figuring out the price myself? The way they're figuring it, the package price would only go down a little more than $100 total after the change fee, whereas I'm figuring it should go down more than $40/night. And if I keep calling back, will I ever get someone who can give me more information?

 

[Missytara]

Right now we have a reservation for 2 rooms (family of 5) at Pop for 8 nights in September, free quick service dining and an upgrade to regular dining, 8 day base tickets, 2 adults and 3 kids (4, 7, and 9).

We were thinking of changing the reservation to Port Orleans Riverside (why we're thinking about this NOW instead of months ago is a long story involving the other families we're traveling with; I know it would have been much easier earlier). When I put in our dates and 8 day tickets at POR on Disney's website, I come up with a price of around $2500 for the trip. This makes sense to me based on how much we should save by switching (I figure the room should be about $14/night cheaper than 2 rooms at Pop, and then we should save something like $30/nt by not having to upgrade the dining). But when I call Disney, I've been told twice now that the new cost would be $2772 or something. I know that includes a $50 change fee, so that's fine, but aside from that I can't figure out the difference. And the woman on the phone was completely unable to explain it. She could not tell me the price of the room. She could not confirm that the price was for a standard view room although she thought it was (she had to talk to someone at guest services to get the price, but apparently all he told her was the price, not any details at all?) She couldn't explain why the price would be different online. She couldn't tell me if they'd taken off the fee for upgrading to regular dining (which I shouldn't need to pay anymore if we stay in a moderate)

so, umm, am I forgetting something in figuring out the price myself? The way they're figuring it, the package price would only go down a little more than $100 total after the change fee, whereas I'm figuring it should go down more than $40/night. And if I keep calling back, will I ever get someone who can give me more information?

Sometimes they include travel insurance, which you might not have done with the previous package.

I would call back again, and if you have not been given a straight answer, keep going up the ladder and ask to speak to a supervisor.

Good luck!

 

[kokotg]

thanks...yeah, I already asked specifically about trip insurance, because she was trying to tell me that maybe they hadn't added that in yet online and that's why the price was lower. "But I don't want trip insurance," I said, "are you adding in trip insurance?" "Oh, no, you don't have trip insurance," she said. Umm, right, so that wouldn't explain the price difference.

It was frustrating, because it was one of those situations where I could tell she thought I didn't know what I was talking about, and she was trying to humor me. But really, I'm pretty sure I DO know what I'm talking about. The best guess I have is that they were giving me the price for a water view instead of standard view--either because they didn't listen to me say I wanted standard view or because there's no availability--but it just seems ridiculous that she can't tell me whether the price was for water or standard view.

 

[squirrel]

Try upgrading the 9 year old to adult (10) and see if they waive the $50 change fee. This will increase the cost at POR a little on the tickets. The 9 year old will then be able to eat off the adult menu.

I don't know why the price is so much more than when you price it out online. Give the CM the price you get online and see if s/he can figure out why there is a difference.

Do you know the price difference for preferred? I get $27.75 per night after taking the $50 off the difference for the change in package. I think you did figure it out they are uping you to preferred.

 

[chimo2u]

Just a thought......Is there a code attached to that time frame? (ie) 30% off room only....or some such code? I found when I input my trip dates for FEB on WDW website, it quoted me $3900.00 pricing for 6 nights/deluxe dining plan/ 6 day park hopper passes the first time I called.
THEN I told the CM I had priced it out online and I got a price of $2900.00 ($ a $1,000.00 diff for the same stuff!/time) . She had to play around with codes, but eventually we got what she saw to match the price I was quoted online.....it had to do with the fact that they where able to give me a room-only discount and add on the extras, in essence "building a package" by pieces....but still getting the great discount!
Perhaps that is what is happening here???
I hope you find someone that is able to help you out!

PS....before she was able to figure it out I said to her: perhaps I should just cancel with CRO and book online.
She told me not to worry, she would work to find the price discrepency....and there was no reason i should have my money ($200 deposit) switching a bunch of hands....in the end she was able to help me, but if no one can help you....perhaps cancel with CRO and book online at the cheaper price you are seeing????

 

[jillianml]

I have found that if you keep calling back you will get someone who knows whats going on.

 

[blondietink]

What about the increase in park tickets that took effect earliert his month? Would that change your price?

 

[kokotg]

Try upgrading the 9 year old to adult (10) and see if they waive the $50 change fee. This will increase the cost at POR a little on the tickets. The 9 year old will then be able to eat off the adult menu.

I'm not really worried about the change fee; I mean, I knew to expect that, and I'm willing to pay it, but I still was thinking there should be a bigger price difference

Just a thought......Is there a code attached to that time frame? (ie) 30% off room only....or some such code? I found when I input my trip dates for FEB on WDW website, it quoted me $3900.00 pricing for 6 nights/deluxe dining plan/ 6 day park hopper passes the first time I called.
THEN I told the CM I had priced it out online and I got a price of $2900.00 ($ a $1,000.00 diff for the same stuff!/time) . She had to play around with codes, but eventually we got what she saw to match the price I was quoted online.....it had to do with the fact that they where able to give me a room-only discount and add on the extras, in essence "building a package" by pieces....but still getting the great discount!
Perhaps that is what is happening here???
I hope you find someone that is able to help you out!

PS....before she was able to figure it out I said to her: perhaps I should just cancel with CRO and book online.
She told me not to worry, she would work to find the price discrepency....and there was no reason i should have my money ($200 deposit) switching a bunch of hands....in the end she was able to help me, but if no one can help you....perhaps cancel with CRO and book online at the cheaper price you are seeing????

So the online reservation system was giving you a discount automatically? Huh. I hadn't thought of that as a possibility. But, still, when I price the room (rack rate for value season; $149/nt) and tickets separately, I'm coming up with 2383 before tax...so the 2500 price quoted online doesn't seem to be discounted. I also asked about canceling and rebooking; I'm into my 45 days, so there'd be a $100 fee. That would STILL save me money...except that she said I can't get free dining for September anymore.

What about the increase in park tickets that took effect earliert his month? Would that change your price?

Would they charge me more for tickets just for changing resorts on my package, though? Oh, and also the price I'm comparing it to would definitely be with the new ticket prices...I just put it in on Disney's website today.

Thanks for the thoughts, everyone! I'm going to have DH try again tonight and see if he can get farther than I did. If it's only going to save me $100, I think we'd just as soon stay at Pop and have more space (we originally booked there because the friends we were traveling with were staying there...now they've all fled to the Coronado, where we can't stay because we have 5 people).

 

[snykymom]

Did the CM put in park hoppers instead of base tickets? Sometimes the computer defaults to PH.

I'd just call again.

 

[mareed]

I checked 8 nights in Sept. and the increase from Standard view to Water View was about $225, and this sounds like the likely price difference you're seeing to me. I'd double-check that they're pricing a standard view room, although it may be that all they have available with the free dining offer is water view. If that's the case, I'd seriously consider staying at Pop with the extra space of 2 rooms.