So I'm the only one that weird things happen to booking a room for WDW;right?

[auntpolly]

Soo I'm the only one that weird things happen to booking a room for WDW;right?
I swear every time it's something - sometimes it's big and sometimes not, but a room reservation never is made smoothly. Which leads me to believe they really don't have their act together over there.

I made an on-line room only reservation for September. Room only, deposit, balance due upon arrival; right?

So when I look up the reservation, "Just to look at it" (I'm a dork - OK - I'm excited! ) I notice this little announcement - "Your balance is due August 7" -- uh-oh! They must of changed the policy!!!!! Well that stinks,but I call CRO and see if I can make the payment over the phone and she says,

"uhhhhh, you don't really owe that....."

"OK", I say, "Are you sure? 'Cause I don't want to lose the reservation."

She says, "uhhhhhhhh......yeeeaaaaaahhhhh......uhhhhhh......I 'm sure." (very confidence inspiring)

So, I'm pretty sure I don't owe it by August 7, but when I say to her, "But why would it say that on my on-line itinerary" -- the line goes dead! She's hung up on me!!!!!! I wasn't being argumentative or anything!!!! Really, I know that's hard to believe, but I was just asking!

So what's up with that? I swear if any of you start saying that my expectations are too high and I have some kind of "sense of entitlement" because I'm complaining, I'll sock you! I'm not asking for towel animals here - just good old customer service!!!

 

[Leota]

CRO has gone WAAAAAAY downhill. I don't know what happened there, but they just don't really have it together anymore at all. Good luck!

 

[ChrisAlli]

I used a travel agent because when I tried booking through Disney, the person I spoke to was clueless. It made me very nervous, so I went local and someone I can see in person.

 

[safetymom]

They are also under a lot of pressure to reach certain sales goals. She might have hung up because she needed to handle another call. I am not saying that was the right thing to do but they are under a lot of pressure to perform.

 

[alohaguy]

In my experience, if you're not comfortable with an answer from CRO, hang up and call back and you'll get a different one. They are extremely inconsistent and often give incorrect information. I often have to call multiple times to find someone I feel comfortable with ... or even someone who knows as much about Disney as I do ... it's pretty sad, I think.

 

[HM]

Room only reservation policy has not changed. You do not owe the balance until check-in. Don't sweat it.

 

[dwmlaf]

Are you sure about the balance to be paid on check in?

I made my reservations on-line had it all paid in full. I had to make some changes to the itinerary and the woman couldn't tell why it kept saying the balance was due on Aug 2.

She told me that when you book on-line they have a problem changing (I guess it is a different system).

 

[wendypooh]

I called CRO and made my reservation about a week ago......... (I booked a MYW package) a deposit was required of course. I said "OK". Then she said the "BALANCE" would be due by Dec. 15th........ I said "WHAT"???? I thought it could be paid at check - in........... NOPE, she said that since it was a package, the ENTIRE amount had to be paid by Dec. 15th............. Well, I ended up paying the entire amount right then.............. SO, I go online to check too........ I must be a dork as well............ LOL, and low and behold if it doesn't say that my balance must be paid by dec. 15th............ so I call back to ask about it......... since I've PAID IN FULL........... I was told that the online system takes awhile to "catch up"............. well, OK, I have my bank statement which shows I've paid......... so, I'm not worried, but my point to this novel..... is that I wouldn't worry about what it says online.............

ALSO, just to clarify, she also DID tell me that a "room only" reservation had NOT changed, and that if I had made a "room only" reservation the balance would NOT be due until check - in. Which is the way it's always been. I've never booked a package before, it's always been a "room only". Which is why I was unaware of the balance being due by a certain date.
Also, I've never booked online before so, I can't say one way or the other on that.......... I was in the same boat as DWMLAF - as far as my online reservation was showing that I still have a balance due, and I don't!!!!
I think it's pretty much the luck of the draw when you call CRO...... some know what they are doing, but most seem to not know anything........... If you paid your deposit, I wouldn't worry about it......... have you gotten your "package" from Disney yet??? I'm meaning the paperwork with your reservation on it........ it should state on it that your deposit has been paid. Just bring that with you to have at check-in.

 

[NCombs]

Okay, I'm thinking room only online reservations are actually booked as some kind of package and that is why the payment is due earlier. Would that make sense?

 

[Alice's Mom]

my trip started May 9, 2005 and my balance was due on March 24th. I was told that it was standard to have packages paid in full 45 days before check-in. I also would incur a $100 charge if I made any changes to my reservation within 45 days of arrival and a $200 charge within 30 days of arrival.

 

[NCombs]

Just looked at the online reservation system and the rooms are referred to as a "room-only package". Payment for packages are due 45 days out not at time of arrival.

 

[Luv2trav]

I called twice and requested AP rates from Oct 3rd-8th. 2 different times I was told I couldn't get those rates past 4th. I kept telling them I am checking in on the 3rd and they are good for my whole stay.... I just hung up and called back.

Then the MOST wonderful thing happened. I got a very VERY informative customer service rep on the phone and she went above and beyond what I expected. She really searched high and low to get me the best deal and she seemed to know EXACTLY what I wanted. I asked her name and asked to be put through to her boss.... I gave her KUDOS... I wish I could call her everytime!

 

[kimmbagley]

Room only reservation policy has not changed. You do not owe the balance until check-in. Don't sweat it.

I made a room only in June and pmt in full was due in July, but I think it was cus it was 1 nite only.

 

[bengalbelle]

This happened to us when we booked online last fall, and I called CRO to question it. The CM checked with her supervisor who checked with someone and the explanation I was given is that the online booking system is somehow tied into their "package" system and that's why it says payment must be made in full 45 days prior BUT payment is not actually due until check-in.
We booked room only online and didn't pay our balance until we checked in.

 

[DizzKneeLand]

I called last night - to check on my reservation - yes I am dork too.

The lady who answered the line was very nice - and seemed very knowledgeable ... but I got concerned when she told me - my package was 'auto-canceled'.

She put me on hold to go do something - I was on hold for a while - listening to disney music - and Poor Unfortunate Soul came on - I thought it was a SIGN!!

She eventually came back - and somehow magically (with a little pixie dust for good measure) found my reservation.

Sometimes - the computer system at WDW scares me ...

DizzKnee

 

[srfrgrl07]

Package reservations are due 45 days prior to arrival and are 8 digits long. Room only reservations require a 1 night deposit and the rest due at check in and are 12 digits long. For some reason, the online booking engine is tied to the system in which package reservations are booked (as above poster mentioned) and whether you book room only or package you receive an 8 digit reservation number. If it's a package, it usually starts with a '6.' If it's room only, it starts with and 'R.' So 'R' reservations are room only and follow the normal "balance due at check in" policy. I hope this makes sense!

 

[goin2disneyagain]

In my experience, if you're not comfortable with an answer from CRO, hang up and call back and you'll get a different one. They are extremely inconsistent and often give incorrect information. I often have to call multiple times to find someone I feel comfortable with ... or even someone who knows as much about Disney as I do ... it's pretty sad, I think.

This is what I do, if I get a clueless agent I will call back and get someone else. I will keep calling until I get someone that appears to know what they are talking about.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

Okay, I'm thinking room only online reservations are actually booked as some kind of package and that is why the payment is due earlier. Would that make sense?

Some room only reservations are booked as a "package" , therefore requiring payment earlier. This is the way my room only reservations are always booked.

 

[princess pooh]

I swear something wierd happens every time I try to book through CRO. One time I ended up with a reservation I never made . I'm going with a travel agent from now on.

 

[WDWRC]

CRO has gone WAAAAAAY downhill. I don't know what happened there, but they just don't really have it together anymore at all. Good luck!

Please refrain from making such broad statements. Some of us that work at CRO can get pretty offended, especially the ones that know what they are doing!!!

Tracy