Should I have lost DDP?

[LiquidSunshine]

Evening all!

Quick question. When I booked last year, originally staying at CBR, my booking included QSDP.

I changed to POFQ a few months ago, as decided as this was our 1st trip I wanted to stay at our first choice hotel. (VH offered a better price with CBR)

When I changed hotels, VH told me I would lose the free DDP. Wasn't overly upset about it and decided to compromise.

Looking at WDW next year, and have seen that the same September dates in 2015 at POFQ includes the free QSDP.

I didn't change my dates or duration, just the hotel. Should I have lost it or was I still entitled to it. The VH girl at the time was adamant that I was no longer entitled when I asked why I would lose it just for changing hotels.

Thanks

 

[chocolateMinnie]

not 100% sure but can tell you that when we went with virgin in 2012 and had free ddp we then decided about 6 months before our trip that it would make sense to upgrade to dxdp but were told that if we did that we would lose the free ddp and pay for dxdp in full so it's possible that you would lose free dining under your circumstances too.

 

[scoobydooby]

I guess that's down to the small print. Free dining was certainly available at POFQ as part of the same offer.

 

[2Tiggies]

What may have happened is that when you changed resorts, the 'book before x date' to qualify for the offer had passed so they didn't/couldn't add it on.

If you book directly with Disney as long as it is an amendment and not a cancel and rebook, your benefits go with the booking. I have changed ours several times this year and although the free dining falls off by default when it changes, they have told me this at the time and that they send an email through to the office that deals with it and manually add it on. It has been added back every time. VH terms may be different but I suspect this may be what has happened with yours.

 

[Elise79]

Did you change your trip outside the booking window?

If so that will be most likely why - if you had changed in the booking period you would have kept it. It's all done to the small print and you are at the mercy of VH implementation of the offer.

We have changed dates with WDTC and kept out original benefits but that's their decision - VH don't have to be as flexible with amendments (and are known for not being unfortunately)

 

[LiquidSunshine]

What may have happened is that when you changed resorts, the 'book before x date' to qualify for the offer had passed so they didn't/couldn't add it on.

If you book directly with Disney as long as it is an amendment and not a cancel and rebook, your benefits go with the booking. I have changed ours several times this year and although the free dining falls off by default when it changes, they have told me this at the time and that they send an email through to the office that deals with it and manually add it on. It has been added back every time. VH terms may be different but I suspect this may be what has happened with yours.

Thanks guys for your replies.

2Tiggies, you could be right about the book before date. VH girl didn't give me a reason as such when I asked, it was more along the lines off "if you decide to change hotels, it will automatically be lost!"

Shame they couldn't add it back on manually the same way as Disney can.

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Did you change your trip outside the booking window?

If so that will be most likely why - if you had changed in the booking period you would have kept it. It's all done to the small print and you are at the mercy of VH implementation of the offer.

We have changed dates with WDTC and kept out original benefits but that's their decision - VH don't have to be as flexible with amendments (and are known for not being unfortunately)

Thanks Elise.

Next holiday (fingers crossed) will have to be booked with Disney encase I start changing things

 

[flortlebap]

Thanks guys for your replies.

2Tiggies, you could be right about the book before date. VH girl didn't give me a reason as such when I asked, it was more along the lines off "if you decide to change hotels, it will automatically be lost!"

Shame they couldn't add it back on manually the same way as Disney can.

What they told you is half true.

When we booked CSR in 2011, we hadn't banked on moving house but three months before our trip, outside the FD window in 2012, I rang VA to update our address details.

They then posted a revised itinerary minus the FD.

I rang them again and the first agent said they couldn't add it back on (obviously I was pretty peeved!) and asked to speak to a supervisor... When they rang back they confirmed they could add it back on!

Like anywhere, I guess it depends who you speak to. This was VHs fault though as I don't think it ever should have been removed.

FWIW though, WDTC are much easier to deal with

 

[pickers1982]

VH is all marketing, the customer service is dire.

I believe they treat changes as a cancellation in t&c so probably was what was on offer at the time

 

[ch1975]

we were moved from wilderness lodge to yacht and beach by virgin, they had made a mistake over room size, no probs with us, but then we tried to move the holiday dates back 3 days we were told we would lose ddp as it was no longer on offer from disney, we were told that it is disney that offer the free dining and the offer was for bookings made before 5 december, it was the 8th of december when we tried to change, so left it as it was. because we were changing the date we would have to cancel the original booking and rebook so it was a new booking and out of time for the offer.

 

[2Tiggies]

we were moved from wilderness lodge to yacht and beach by virgin, they had made a mistake over room size, no probs with us, but then we tried to move the holiday dates back 3 days we were told we would lose ddp as it was no longer on offer from disney, we were told that it is disney that offer the free dining and the offer was for bookings made before 5 december, it was the 8th of december when we tried to change, so left it as it was. because we were changing the date we would have to cancel the original booking and rebook so it was a new booking and out of time for the offer.

Did you have a flight inclusive package? I'm assuming you did. The rules are slightly different when you have flights in and they can't amend like they do with a room package; they actually have to cancel and rebook.