Room-Only vs Package; something new?!

[raven69david]

Tried to book a room-only today and was told that i could no longer make payments in advance as we've always done to payoff balance early. I was told i had to book a MYW package which came out to the same price as a room-only. The only difference now is that i have to payoff 45 days out, which is fine since we payoff several months in advance, but just had to vent at this new policy!? if it is in fact for real. I was told this was something that had been in place for a few months, even though i had never heard of it. I've never booked a pacakge and a little nervous about taking on such a new issue.

Anyone else heard of this?

 

[skipperkim]

While I personally haven't been told this, it's been somewhat of a popular topic here lately. I don't think I understand why they decided they didn't want their money upfront?

 

[raven69david]

I don't think I understand why they decided they didn't want their money upfront?

Bingo. It's more likely that someone that's PIF and confirmed will carry though with their trip rather than have them pay the balance in full upon check-in and possibly have them change their minds and decide to do something else. The reason i got sounded like something the CM remembered overhearing in a conversation or staff meeting, but it was something that definetly wasn't quoted from some kind of policy handbook.

 

[DrmWvr1299]

That is weird. I just made a payment (for my '09 room only) 2 days ago and nothing was said to me...hmmmm.

 

[kristenrice]

I read on another thread ( I would paste it, but I cannot remember which one it was....)that you can make payments on a room-only reservation (or pay it off completely) ONLY if it was NOT booked online. Apparently, if you booked it online, you can only make the deposit and the rest cannot be paid off until you arrive at the resort. I phoned in our 2 night reservation at POP, put down the 1-night deposit and called to pay off the other night a month later. Hopefully, this is correct since they've already taken the $$$ off of my Rewards card for the entire stay.

 

[Ilovestitch]

Yes, if you book it online you can't make payments.

It's really ridiculous because Disney online should be the same as booking on the phone-- they are all one company. I know there's the difference between CRO and WDT but come on-- you shouldn't be penalized for booking through their website.

Another similar situation. Say you book your package online, then relatives book a package online and you call Disney to make them a Grand Gathering b/c you have 8 people now-- they'll tell you you can't make it a GG because it was booked online. Which is dumb because what if you didn't originally know you'd have 8 people...