Scared this would happen

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

I booked a standard room at the Poly through Orbitz a couple of years ago. Actually, this was when Orbitz had made a mistake on the pricing and I was able to get the room for around $140 a night.

When we arrived, I was not happy with our room assignment since I like a quiet location and we were assigned a room right in front of the elevator. After about 20 minutes I called the front desk and asked if we could be moved to a quieter location. They were so nice and accomodating and even upgraded us to a water view room. BTW, this was during value season so I'm guessing the resort had some flexibility and we did not ask for the room upgrade.

So my experience is just the opposite of the review you read. I really don't think it matters where or how you book your vacation just the availability of rooms and the willingness of the CM to be helpful.

 

[Robbi]

don't count on it - used dvc points to stay at Yc - ONCE - they told me did not have a room. they refused to contact DVC - so I did. DVC called them - since the cm would not talk to them on my phone.

It took w/DVC help about 45 minutes to fix it.

really think it is YC with the problem.

I think you're right. A few years ago, I booked a suite at the YC. One reason being expedited check in because it was Easter Week. We arrived and there was no one there to greet us and show us to the club level check in. I asked a few CMs and got no help at all. After waiting in the regular check in line for 30 minutes, I was told that I had gotten in the wrong line. I told the CM that I was not going to a different check in because by this time we had been waiting an hour. They called and someone finally came to show us the proper place. No apology -bupkis.


Adding that we have booked through expedia before for CR and we were treated fine.
It was our first and probably last trip. I expected more from one of Disney's top resorts.

 

[goofy4tink]

I booked through Orbitz for our upcoming trip and then read this review on trip advisor...

Beautiful place... Great views. But... Be aware if you don't book directly with the hotel you will not get treated as well!! We had 2 rooms and one was for 1 night, the other for 3 night. We wanted the water view for the three nights but the desk clerk called someplace and found we had booked thru Orbitz instead of thru Disney and they then wouldn't give us the water view room!! Shocking after we are already checked into it and moved in.

The hotel is beautiful ,otherwise.... And ya know, come to find out ,the water view rooms are very noisy with all the boardwalk people partying into the wee hours outside your windows



Luckily, my BWI is still through Disney but my POR one is through Orbitz. Glad I stuck with Disney for the BWI. Hope I get a nice room~~

A few thoughts.....
1. Doesn't matter who you booked with. Disney doesn't care. BUT...if you booked through a travel agent or middle man, such as Orbitz, they pretty much own the reservation, and they have to fix it if something goes wrong when you are checking in. And they pretty much don't much care. This is why I don't recommend booking through a middle man.

2. I have had those desired boardwalk/lake views. They aren't all that noisy. Keep your door closed and it is quiet. At night? Pull the heavy drapes closed and it's even quieter!!! Have yet to have a noisy stay on that side of the resort.

3. If it was, in fact, a mess up on Orbitz's side, then they would be the ones to fix it. Disney wasn't under any obligation to fix someone else's mess up. Could they have? Possibly. Perhaps there was only one night that had a water view room open. It's obvious that there were two reservations...one for one night, the second for mulitple nights. And BWI didn't have any open water view rooms for those multiple nights. Happens all the time. So, perhaps that person got lucky and was able to have a water view room for one night and figured they could just stay in it for the addtl nights, but that's not how it works.
Disney did nothing wrong.

 

[QueenQueso]

A few thoughts.....
1. Doesn't matter who you booked with. Disney doesn't care. BUT...if you booked through a travel agent or middle man, such as Orbitz, they pretty much own the reservation, and they have to fix it if something goes wrong when you are checking in. And they pretty much don't much care. This is why I don't recommend booking through a middle man.

This, exactly! I will use a travel agent for some things, but I will never use anything like orbitz/hotwire/etc. after having worked as an airline reservationist for a short while. I can't tell you how many calls I took from people who booked through a discount service and then missed their flight or wanted a change of some kind... and the airline CAN'T do ANYTHING with it. All we could do is refer them back to whoever they booked with to make a change through them, and a couple times the other places flat refused to help. I *think* it might have been hotwire (I can't remember for sure now) but they don't allow any changes/cancellations/refunds period. If you miss your flight or someone dies and you have to cancel, you are SOL, totally out whatever you paid for the ticket. I might spend $50 more booking straight through the airline, but if I have to cancel, at lease I get a credit for my full amount...

But as for the OP, I feel like there was a booking error that the reviewer didn't understand. The hotel doesn't care how they received the money for the room, just that it got paid for. So what others suggested, maybe they booked the 1 night WV and not the 3, sounds likely. I saw that one poster was offended by someone saying they don't believe trip advisor, but I feel the same way. I read tons of reviews on a bunch of sites before I book a trip somewhere, and I notice that a lot of them on the discount sites seem to be copy/paste of other reviews, or just totally, 100% inaccurate. I booked a B&B in New Orleans a couple years back and it had three totally awful anonymous reviews right in a row, like a week apart. I'm pretty sure that it was the same person posting all three because when I got there, it was NOTHING like the review posted. Plus, people are much more likely to post a complaint than they are to post a praise.

 

[ParrotBill]

2. I have had those desired boardwalk/lake views. They aren't all that noisy. Keep your door closed and it is quiet. At night? Pull the heavy drapes closed and it's even quieter!!! Have yet to have a noisy stay on that side of the resort.
.

I think people who report Boardwalk views as noisy are remember something from many years ago. We are owners at BWV and have stayed dozens of times there. In the first few years they held a street party outside Atlantic Dance with a DJ and loud music that went til 2AM. It was loud, loud, loud and we could not sleep until 2am. We complained every day but they could not move us. Awful. We've never requested a boardwalk view since even though we know it is not that noisy any longer. What activity there is on the boardwalk is not nearly that loud now and it all wraps up by 11pm.

 

[gwynne]

I take issue with the comment about finding trip advisor unhelpful or inaccurate. Of course, that is your opinion. But, I post a lot on trip advisor and I like to follow and post on the dis. Trip advisor reviewers are not exclusively bound to only post on the TA site. I've read outrageous posts here on the dis but common sense should prevail. Any public forum will have a wide variety of opinions and people who just like to stir the pot (on trip advisor and the dis)

I've gotten a lot of helpful information on the dis but I have to admit some of the posts here are like watching a train wreck. You don't want to look but sometimes can't help yourself

Trip advisor "advice" is not particularly helpful in my experience or opinion.
Certainly folks that find it helpful, will use it.

And I agree about the train wreck. This whole thread was the result of an import of a "review" from trip advisor written by someone with a grand total total of two reviews--both negative. I understand the draw of a water view, but I would never expect Disney to gift it to me.

 

[minnie mum]

I take issue with the comment about finding trip advisor unhelpful or inaccurate. Of course, that is your opinion. But, I post a lot on trip advisor and I like to follow and post on the dis. Trip advisor reviewers are not exclusively bound to only post on the TA site. I've read outrageous posts here on the dis but common sense should prevail. Any public forum will have a wide variety of opinions and people who just like to stir the pot (on trip advisor and the dis)

I've gotten a lot of helpful information on the dis but I have to admit some of the posts here are like watching a train wreck. You don't want to look but sometimes can't help yourself

I also post reviews on Trip Advisor- but I am the first to admit that when I am scanning reviews of hotels for an upcoming stay I always take them with a grain (or 2 or 3) of salt. There is a lot of inaccurate information in some of them, and some of the complaints are really ridiculous. But they are, when all is said and done, only individual opinions written by non-professional reviewers.

Yes, the Dis has some outrageous posts and train wrecks. But when something is posted that seems really out there or off the wall, they are immediately called on it. By multiple Disers. You don't often see that happen on trip advisor.

 

[RedfromNL]

I also post reviews on Trip Advisor- but I am the first to admit that when I am scanning reviews of hotels for an upcoming stay I always take them with a grain (or 2 or 3) of salt. There is a lot of inaccurate information in some of them, and some of the complaints are really ridiculous. But they are, when all is said and done, only individual opinions written by non-professional reviewers.

And I watch tripadvisor reviews. But I check some of the glowing ones and some of the burning ones and see WHY they give it that score...
Some people will complain about the location! Then do your research, not give a bad review. These reviews I don't count, sorry.

But a moderate review because the bar out front is an open one and can get loud does matter in my choices.

Same with reviews and opinions here about Disneyworld and it's hotels and restauarants: is what people have to say at all fair and is it relevant to my priorities and choices?
I mean : no childcare isn't relevant to me, but choice in restaurants is.
Specific complaints may be of influence, but a general complaint: the hotel was horrible and staf were unkind won't. Those probably say more about the reviewer......

 

[gogo]

Just wanted to mention that if wanting a lot of information regarding Disney, then the Dis is the best. I would refer anyone wanting information galore regarding Disney to visit this site.

But, I do travel to other destinations so the Dis is of no use in that regard. I rely heavily on TA when travelling beyond the World and it has never steered me wrong. Again, just like here, you have to read a significant amount of reviews and then use common sense. If a poster has only a few posts and writes a horrible review while the majority of others are glowing, that's not a hard one to figure out.

IMO, TA and the Dis are very valuable resourses for travellers. But, they are very different and it is apparent that a lot of reviews on TA regarding Disney really irk some dissers.

 

[donaldlovesdaisy]

I dont get the reason why people use company's like Orbitz. I just went on their website and Disney's and they were more expensive.


Orbitz gave me this

Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside Rooms & Rates
Selected room
($222.01 per night)
Continue booking
FREE Cancellation
Price Assurance
Standard View
Actual nightly rates
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
Week 1 $217.35 $217.35 $217.35 $217.35 $217.35 $225.33 $225.33
Week 2 $225.33 $225.33 $225.33 $225.33 $225.33
$10.80 more
($232.81 per night)
Choose this room
FREE Cancellation
Price Assurance
Garden View
$25.75 more
($247.76 per night)

Hotel (12 nights)
4 guests
$222.01 avg/night
$2,664.06
Price Assurance
FREE
Taxes and fees
$360.48
Total due at booking
$3,024.54

Disney was 188 for the first 5 nights and 196 for the next 7. Total price being 2601.00
So what am I missing.

 

[msjprincess]

I dont get the reason why people use company's like Orbitz. I just went on their website and Disney's and they were more expensive.


Orbitz gave me this



Disney was 188 for the first 5 nights and 196 for the next 7. Total price being 2601.00
So what am I missing.

Orbitz recently had a big sale that made the rooms cheaper than booking through WDW directly.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I would not believe much of anything on Trip Advisor and the review about Disney. The reviews are as noted here often tilted to one side and cutesy worded to present Disney in a bad light.

Although I don't have proof, I do almost believe it is intentionally done this way.Beyond that I rarely find them of much help going to any resort, the reviews always seem to be plain wrong!

As to this item, not worry about it, you will be fine. The Disney hotel staff would never say anything like that in front of a guest, which raises questions about the honesty of the review.

It addition as noted here *wanted* and *reserved and payed for* are not the same.


Have a great vacation


AKK

 

[bltman]

I dont get the reason why people use company's like Orbitz. I just went on their website and Disney's and they were more expensive.


Orbitz gave me this



Disney was 188 for the first 5 nights and 196 for the next 7. Total price being 2601.00
So what am I missing.

First, search for 2 people only and don't include your kids in the search. You need to add your kids after or Orbits gives the wrong rate. Second, add the code Spring15 to the code field and you will get a really nice rate as long as your stay is during the code period.

Try hotels.com with a 10% off coupon too.

 

[brertoad]

I thought Boardwalk has 3 views available:

1) Standard View
2) Garden or Pool View
3) Boardwalk View

I don't think there actually is something called a water view.
Boardwalk View which is on the lake facing towards YC/BC, costs more money to book. It's the more expensive of the 3 room types.

So if someone *wants* a free upgrade from standard or garden/pool view to Boardwalk view - that's probably not going to happen. And it wouldn't be Disney's fault, unless the person actually paid for the Boardwalk view and was denied that view, in cases where a booking error or overbooking might occur, I expect Disney would possibly compensate the guest for downgrading the reservation.

Once we had an obstructed pool view at AKL, paying OOP direct with Disney, they "upgraded" us to a Zebra Trail - Sunset Savannah view. We've always had very good customer service at the hotels thankfully.

 

[Mynamewastaken]

Well, I check in at POR with my Orbitz ressie in 14 days so I will be sure to post how that went! Then Wed of that week we move to the BWI (I kept my booking with Disney for that one) longest 2 weeks EVER

 

[Sammie]

From the posting on Trip Advisor, it sounds like they booked one night in a Boardwalk view which they are calling a water view. Then they had booked the other nights in another category and they wanted to stay in the same room for the entire trip.

So it seems they got what they booked.

Disney can not change reservations that are booked through outside agencies.

What does amaze me, is the people on this thread that are regulars to Disney World, yet really want to put the blame on them without even knowing what really happened and based strictly on what was shared, I see where Disney was at no fault.

 

[msjprincess]

I thought Boardwalk has 3 views available:

1) Standard View
2) Garden or Pool View
3) Boardwalk View

I don't think there actually is something called a water view.
Boardwalk View which is on the lake facing towards YC/BC, costs more money to book. It's the more expensive of the 3 room types.

So if someone *wants* a free upgrade from standard or garden/pool view to Boardwalk view - that's probably not going to happen. And it wouldn't be Disney's fault, unless the person actually paid for the Boardwalk view and was denied that view, in cases where a booking error or overbooking might occur, I expect Disney would possibly compensate the guest for downgrading the reservation.

Once we had an obstructed pool view at AKL, paying OOP direct with Disney, they "upgraded" us to a Zebra Trail - Sunset Savannah view. We've always had very good customer service at the hotels thankfully.

BWI only has two categories.

Standard- Parking lot, garden or pool view
Water View- Crescent Lake/Boardwalk view

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/boardwalk-inn/rates-rooms/

 

[donaldlovesdaisy]

first, search for 2 people only and don't include your kids in the search. You need to add your kids after or orbits gives the wrong rate. Second, add the code spring15 to the code field and you will get a really nice rate as long as your stay is during the code period.

Try hotels.com with a 10% off coupon too.

ty

 

[Mynamewastaken]

Well, I check in at POR with my Orbitz ressie in 14 days so I will be sure to post how that went! Then Wed of that week we move to the BWI (I kept my booking with Disney for that one) longest 2 weeks EVER

 

[davedmaine]

I booked through Orbitz for our upcoming trip and then read this review on trip advisor...

Beautiful place... Great views. But... Be aware if you don't book directly with the hotel you will not get treated as well!! We had 2 rooms and one was for 1 night, the other for 3 night. We wanted the water view for the three nights but the desk clerk called someplace and found we had booked thru Orbitz instead of thru Disney and they then wouldn't give us the water view room!! Shocking after we are already checked into it and moved in.

The hotel is beautiful ,otherwise.... And ya know, come to find out ,the water view rooms are very noisy with all the boardwalk people partying into the wee hours outside your windows

Luckily, my BWI is still through Disney but my POR one is through Orbitz. Glad I stuck with Disney for the BWI. Hope I get a nice room~~

Sorry, but you have to be confused. I don't for a second believe that you were down-graded because you booked through Orbitz. Is that what they told you?