so mad at myself....lost $$$$$

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

I don't think DCL has phantom dummy dates, but still use actual cruises for dummy dates. I think that DCL just has certain lower demand cruises in the distance that they assign to people who indicate they want a dummy date. Three weeks ago we booked a dummy date cruise and let the rebooking agent know we didn't intend to actually cruise on that date. He put us on a December 2011 cruise and told us to cancel or move our reservation by a certain date and circled it for us on the paperwork.

DCL also immediately assigned the cruise to our TA upon our request. Our TA will call me next year before 105 days knowing we are Gold CC members to ask if we want to pay in full to book Palo or excursions if we haven't already moved it. We actually let her know it's a dummy date so she will contact us when the 2012 dates are announced.

I know that it's our responsibility if our TA messes up and forgets to call or email, but on our first 5 cruises the TA contacted us well in advance of final payment/cancellation date. They want to be paid afterall! It's nice having a backup that costs us absolutely nothing! They actually save us money through extra OBC!

I only bring up the TA as an idea to others who book dummy dates far in advance and want someone else on their side helping them. It could help prevent what happened to the OP. I'd use a DCL specialist TA.

OK, I was wondering how they could keep track of dummy dates/cancellation dates, etc. So it really hasn't changed then.
I agree about the TA suggestion. Out TA always lets us know way before anything is due, as well as knows it's a dummy date and when we actually want to cruise in the future.

To the OP: DId DCL not send you a Welcome Aboard Packet? We usually get ours well before any final payment dates.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Id be scared to book a vacation 2 years in advance. i hope they can help you!

I book all of our Disney cruises 2 yrs in advance, or as soon as my desired date becomes available to book. Once it was 15 mos out but I think that's the earliest. We're on our 5th DC in Oct. Nov 2011 was booked last year, 1st day of release, and I'm ready to book 2012. I'm used to it.
I have a dummy date for Dec. 2011. Even if I didn't have a date in mind, I'd move it to end of 2012 asap, which is soon, not as the 75 day mark approached.

Hard lesson learned but DCL doesn't send out reminders to anyone and they have no way of knowing in the system that you have no intention to cruise that date.

We've all had times in life when we're so busy don't know if we're coming or going. Esp those with kids. I'd be sick.

OP, I hope this all works out for you!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

OK, I was wondering how they could keep track of dummy dates/cancellation dates, etc. So it really hasn't changed then.
I agree about the TA suggestion. Out TA always lets us know way before anything is due, as well as knows it's a dummy date and when we actually want to cruise in the future.

To the OP: DId DCL not send you a Welcome Aboard Packet? We usually get ours well before any final payment dates.

I didn't get one for our Oct cruise but did get an email saying something like, soon you'll be able to start booking online for Palo, spa, etc.
Maybe op has changed email addresses and didn't get one. That can be frustrating when changing internet providers. I stopped using their email services just because of things like this. I stick to hotmail instead of ____@comcast.net or ____@verizon.net. Every time we changed providers, I changed my email address and would lose track of things.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Why? They have terms and conditions like every other company out there. Basically when you pay the deposit you are agreeing to those terms and conditions that are listed on the back of the confirmation letter you receive upon paying deposit.

It isn't DCL's fault that the OP misssed their date. If they knew they were changing their date they have had almost a year to do so. The 2011 dates became avaialble almost one year ago.

While I am sorry this happened it is in no way DCL's fault they did send them a letter reminding them that their final payment was coming due

This is true. But, letting her change to a different date would have cost Disney nothing. And the good will from the customer would have assured years of travel from a satisfied customer. Long term, they would be better off letting her change the dates.

 

[itutorfortravel]

Did the OP buy DCL insurance? Just wondering if this is the same way it works if you cancel for a non-covered reason but have purchased DCL insurance. Do you only get to move the date and non-refundable portion one time? Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread, but I'm really curious as to how it's done if you cancel yourself but have DCL insurance.

 

[taswira]

To the OP: I'm sorry that you are having to go through this, but if you booked directly with DCL and gave them proper contact info including not only address and phone but email as well, it surprises me that you did not hear from them MANY times since booking, and at least a few times as final payment date for your "dummy date" was approaching. That's certainly been my experience. I usually book 2 years ahead (except for my impulsive Wonder cruise next week) and they never let me forget any of my bookings. But if you did not intend to go on the cruise you booked, I can see how you may have inadvertently overlooked or ignored communications about it. Good luck with your situation.

BTW - I am on your "dummy cruise." If you check out our cruise website and our official cruiser list, you'll see that this sailing is very special for many of us. We're sorry that you won't be joining us.

 

[tjbaggott]

The word on my cruise meets board is that the 2012 dates are to be released any day now.
Here's a quote from a fellow cruisers email from his TA:

Quote from email:

Lead-time between Disney Cruise Line's® announcement of itineraries/sail dates and the opening of 2012 for booking is anticipated to be a matter of days. Based on last year's timing, we expect the announcement and subsequent opening very soon.


How long, OP, can you wait to book that one new date? Has DCL given you a deadline to rebook by?

 

[Michelle2]

This is true. But, letting her change to a different date would have cost Disney nothing. And the good will from the customer would have assured years of travel from a satisfied customer. Long term, they would be better off letting her change the dates.

I totally agree. I know that Disney is a business and sets up policies to protect itself from those who would take advantage, but sometimes a little kindness goes a long way, especially if it's not a loss to anyone. Kind of like cutting of your nose to spite your face. I see it as a lose/lose, which is a shame.

So sorry OP

 

[KSDisneyDad]

This is true. But, letting her change to a different date would have cost Disney nothing. And the good will from the customer would have assured years of travel from a satisfied customer. Long term, they would be better off letting her change the dates.

Again I completely disagree. DCL has very generous policies related to cancellations and changes. How do they decide who gets an exception and who doesn't? If everyone is allowed to make a change after the change date, everyone else will suffer as DCL will start charging change fees or implement other policies making it difficult to book dummy dates onboard and moving them later. Yes, I feel for the OP and DCL may decide this would be good to do to help her. But how many white lie sob stories do they hear that aren't legitimate, but are just manipulative because the person changed their mind after the final change date? As consumers, we need to understand the benefits and risks of corporate policies. DCL's policy is fairly easy to understand compared to other companies such as our health care provider!

Again, I feel for the OP and hope it works out for her. Unfortunately, I don't think early December cruises sell out so they may take that into consideration.

 

[Anal Annie]

This is true. But, letting her change to a different date would have cost Disney nothing. And the good will from the customer would have assured years of travel from a satisfied customer. Long term, they would be better off letting her change the dates.

Sad that it had to happen at all BUT the OP was holding FOUR rooms beyond their PIF date - that gives DCL less time to fill them now. If she'd only been holding 1 or 2 rooms like most people book it wouldn't have seemed like such a big deal. She also would've only lost the normal deposit amount. It's sorta like buying a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner on Wed. then on Thurs. deciding to go out to a restaurant instead & then trying to return the bird to the grocery store on Friday. She's asking for a pretty big store credit on something that's going to be hard for the store to sell after the fact. Long term better off for who? She stiffed 'em. Now they probably gotta discount those rooms a lot to get rid of them.