Should we have had to pay for their mistake?

[bicker]

I've seen that: With lots of packages they're not going to show you a break-down of the prices for each line item... that's not what folks are suggesting you should have. Rather, all that's necessary is a break-down of what's included in the package price. That's essential information whenever you purchase a package, and you need to be sure that it explicitly lists everything you expect should be included. The rule of thumb is if it isn't explicitly listed as included, you should assume it isn't included.

 

[BCV23]

When we used to book packages, we were never quoted a price if we were booking more than a year ahead. Package prices are usually calculated toward the end of the year if I remember correctly.

Anyway, since your child was four I think it fair to pay for her no matter where the foulup happened.

 

[Lewisc]

I've seen that: With lots of packages they're not going to show you a break-down of the prices for each line item... that's not what folks are suggesting you should have. Rather, all that's necessary is a break-down of what's included in the package price. That's essential information whenever you purchase a package, and you need to be sure that it explicitly lists everything you expect should be included. The rule of thumb is if it isn't explicitly listed as included, you should assume it isn't included.

The problem is without a per person breakdown for the tickets it's not obvious Disney charged the wrong price. Disney priced the package based on the ages given by the poster. The poster also gave the kids DOB and assumed the computer would properly use the kids age at time of the trip in computing the charge. This is a case of someone assuming the computer was programmed to do more than it was.

 

[bicker]

What I'm saying is that I wouldn't make any assumptions. I'd make sure I have a confirmation that says, "7 nights accommodations, two 6-day adult park hoppers, plus two 6-day child park hoppers" or something along those lines.

 

[Sammie]

I am not exactly understanding the details of your complaint as we never book a package.

But from your description it was a booking problem, not a problem caused by anyone at the Yacht and Beach so you would need to address the problem to the booking agent; either Disney Reservations Center or WDW Travel Co. not to the managers of the resort.

 

[SnowWhite]

I did give them their birthdays at the time we'd arrive....DD1.5 wasn't even born yet, so I said she'd be 1.5 yrs old at the time...the person on the phone when I made the reservation gave me the price quote with the information I provided....1 infant, 1 child (4yo), 2 adults...when I got the papework, the price was the same price she quoted me, so there was nothing to make me think anything would be wrong with the information. I guess it was my mistake for not double checking but I didn't see any reason to do so, when the person on the phone had the information correct when giving me the quote. I guess maybe she just entered it in different from what she said.

I can completely see why you are upset, not sure why others don't understand. I understand your frustration with the extra charge upon arrival but even though it may be Disney's mistake (or travel agent or whomever) I still feel it is your responsibility to pay for the ticket. I would be angry at whomever made the mistake and would have let them know that I was angry but in the end it is your responsibility to pay. Every reservation we had this trip and ADR had a different amount of kids or the wrong ages and ALL reservations were made with Disney and we even called back when we saw our hotel reservations on the Disney website didn't all include our children, some just my daughter and one just my son. We arrived at Akershus the first morning and they had no idea that our reservation was for 4 not 3, they had left out my son but all reservations were made including him......computer glitches I suppose. Be angry for now but then move on...its Disney....ya gotta get over it!!!!

 

[Lulu's Mom]

When we used to book packages, we were never quoted a price if we were booking more than a year ahead. Package prices are usually calculated toward the end of the year if I remember correctly.

Anyway, since your child was four I think it fair to pay for her no matter where the foulup happened.

We just booked our package a year out and was given a price, that matched what I looked up on Disney's website. Our last package was booked with Expedia and on our itinerary it stated what we had in our package, not an individual price per item but what was included, ie:

7 Nights at CSR
2 Adult 7 day park hoppers w/dinning
etc..

It also had our names on the itinary. I do not understand why you would only recieve a paper with just the amount on it, this confirmation letter would have to have what is included in the package. When I recieve my confirmation letter (for the trip I just booked), if it is just a dollar total and has no names or what is included in the package I will be calling CRO to have something mailed to me that does have all that infomation on it.

I do wish you the best of luck in fiquring this all out.

 

[HLAuburn]

I was just looking over our confirmation letter from Disney, and it states all the people in your party, and next to children, it has the age in parentheses. (My daughter will be 18 months, and it has a (1) ). Then it breaks down each part of the package, not with prices, but it says who is included in each part. For example, for hotel and tickets it has DH and I (since DD is "free"), but for Magical Express, it has DD, DH, and myself.

Anyway, I guess my point is that the confirmation letter pretty clearly states who is in your party, their ages, and what each person gets (i.e. tickets, dining etc). It also states that you should review all the info and call if there's a problem. So I don't really know who's "fault" it was, but I'd definitely review your confimation letter to see what it said. I would have been pretty upset about forking out another $300, too.

Hope you still had a nice trip!

BTW, I booked directly thru Disney Travel Co.

 

[BCV23]

We just booked our package a year out and was given a price, that matched what I looked up on Disney's website.

But if you just booked it, you are at the end of the year and that was when prices for packages used to be released. If we booked in June of 85 for Dec. of 86 for instance, we would just pay the one night deposit with a notice on the reservation that package prices had not been set yet. The OP's daughter was 2 when the package was booked and is now 4, so that it surprised me that she received a package quote that far out. But if the original was just booked as room with the package to be added later, I can sort of see how the age of the daughter didn't matter as much at that point YWIM?

Anyway, I know the added expense would be an unwelcome surprise but her age is not really anyone's fault.

 

[MTstitch]

I booked a package also and it doesn't give you a breakdown just a total price of the entire trip including airfare so I can see how she thougth she was paying for the 4 year old in that price she was given.

 

[bicker]

Did you book your package with Disney or with a travel agent?

 

[cara loves the poly]

Since I am not familiar with packages, it doesn't give you a break down of what costs what? It just said you owe XX dollars and you paid it?
When you booked it she was 2 so she wouldn't have been charged and WDW must have given you that price. Maybe a mistake in teh computer system but whenever I pay anything out I would expect to see a breakdown of what the charges are.

no, there is no breakdown when you have a package, they just send you a total price.

 

[bicker]

And, as HLAuburn indicated, a description of what's included. The only thing you don't get is a break-down of what each line item listed in the description costs.

 

[tinkwannabe2]

I guess I'm in the minority, but it seems like you gave them all the info that they requested and you were given a price in return. I would think it would be their fault (disney?, ta?) I would have been very upset to find out upon check-in that I owed more money.

 

[HLAuburn]

And, as HLAuburn indicated, a description of what's included. The only thing you don't get is a break-down of what each line item listed in the description costs.

Right, but you don't need the break down of the amount to see what each person is supposed to get. Next to "Admission", it says 10D PH Fun NE, 1 per person for guests 1 and 2 (me and DH). No mention of guest 3 (DD) b/s she doesn't get tickets. But for Magical Express, it has guests 1, 2, and 3, since all of us will be riding ME.

It would be interesting to know what the OPs confimation letter said.

 

[Harmony]

Every time I've booked a package, I get a breakdown of the people/price/details of what I'm paying for. The ages are also listed right next to the children's names. And I've also been asked for their birthdates when booking.

I can understand why you were upset but I also agree that while it was probably more difficult to add up the extra cost at the last minute, it's also the right thing to do. After all, your child is at the age where they are no longer free. Makes sense but I can see where you might be put off. I guess the lesson here is next time be sure to know exactly what/who you are paying for.

I do hope you had a great trip!

 

[threeboysmom]

Wow! I guess I'm in the minority here. I'd hate to pay in full for my Disney package and then find out at check-in that I owe $300 more!!! Yikes!! OP, I feel for you! I can understand how you thought everything was paid for including tickets for your 4 yo, especially if you did not have a breakdown in costs. It can't hurt to write a letter to Disney Travel if that is who you booked through. Just make sure you go over your confirmation papers again to make sure you didn't overlook something about not having tickets for your 4 yo. If there is just a price and no breakdown at all as to who got tickets, etc., then I believe you should not have paid the extra money. It can't hurt to write and explain your side of the story.

 

[petchie]

We booked thru CRO actually, not thru a travel agency.

Bicker, she stated she booked through Disney directly

 

[Ladyhawke10]

Wow! I guess I'm in the minority here. I'd hate to pay in full for my Disney package and then find out at check-in that I owe $300 more!!! Yikes!! OP, I feel for you! I can understand how you thought everything was paid for including tickets for your 4 yo, especially if you did not have a breakdown in costs. It can't hurt to write a letter to Disney Travel if that is who you booked through. Just make sure you go over your confirmation papers again to make sure you didn't overlook something about not having tickets for your 4 yo. If there is just a price and no breakdown at all as to who got tickets, etc., then I believe you should not have paid the extra money. It can't hurt to write and explain your side of the story.

I agree. I choose packages based on their cost vs benefits--so if I chose a particular package, thought I'd paid it in full according to the verbal transaction between me and CRO, then checked-in and was informed of a higher cost (how can you back out once you are already there?) I'd definitely think it was unfair because I might have picked another package...but now there is no choice. I don't think you should have to pay the difference at check-in, when you were told you were paid in full, and it was a booking error on the ages of your children that was caused by the reservationist.

 

[Lewisc]

I agree. I choose packages based on their cost vs benefits--so if I chose a particular package, thought I'd paid it in full according to the verbal transaction between me and CRO, then checked-in and was informed of a higher cost (how can you back out once you are already there?) I'd definitely think it was unfair because I might have picked another package...but now there is no choice. I don't think you should have to pay the difference at check-in, when you were told you were paid in full, and it was a booking error on the ages of your children that was caused by the reservationist.

The online reservation system asks for the child ages at time of travel. We'll never know if the OP didn't hear the CM's question or if the CM asked for the kids age and not for their age at the time of travel. I'm not sure why the OP didn't say something when all of the travel documents listed the wrong age for the kids. By the time the final documents were sent it should have been obvious the wrong age was listed.

In any case this was an honest mistake, either by the OP or by the CM who took the reservation.