Stealth Final Payment Date

[Bree]

Disney has no obligation to call you an remind you of a bill that is due. Does your mortgage company or power company do that?

I'm a cynic too with this being the first post of someone who is a brand new member.

 

[NEGeekymama]

When you make your reservations on DCL's website it very clearly shows how much the deposit is, when the deposit is due, how much the remainder of the balance is, and when that is due. It reminds you of this again when you make the deposit. It reminds you again when you make any other payments.

You even state that you knew the final payment date was June 3, and that the reservation would be cancelled if 100% payment was not received by June 3. Yet this is somehow a "stealth" final deadline and DCL's fault when you log on 11 days later to pay?

This is exactly what Google Calendar Alerts are for. It sucks, yes. But this is in no way Disney's problem.

 

[norhel]

To be honest, I agree with all of the rest. It's your own responsibility.
You have to make sure you have paid before the final date.
As DCL have given you a notice, it's your problem, not theirs.

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

I'm really sorry for your situation, especially since you're celebrating a special occasion. I can understand feeling frustrated. It seems clear though that you were aware of the policy and your payment due date, so I'm confused about why DCL customer service is to blame? And I don't understand why you would rebook if you feel so strongly that DCL was negligent in some way. Personally, if I feel a business provides poor service, I'd rather not spend my money with them. That said, I really hope you'll feel better about the situation in time so you and your wife can celebrate and enjoy your trip. I think DCL truly will impress you if given the chance.

 

[tinkerone]

Disney has no obligation to call you an remind you of a bill that is due. Does your mortgage company or power company do that?

I'm a cynic too with this being the first post of someone who is a brand new member.

i was thinking the same thing. after reading it the post seemed wrong, like they are looking to start confrontation. if it is real then the opp is expecting to much from dcl imo.

 

[tup1830]

First...i agree with all previous posters...they set a date, can't expect them to not honor it.

Second...i would think it would be in Disney's good interest if the guest wants to make full payment and actually cruise...1 more stateroom filled and potential additional spending. But its a long shot for them to do this.

 

[KLB9]

First...i agree with all previous posters...they set a date, can't expect them to not honor it.

Second...i would think it would be in Disney's good interest if the guest wants to make full payment and actually cruise...1 more stateroom filled and potential additional spending. But its a long shot for them to do this.

As long as that cabin was not booked by anyone else I could see an operator doing this.

After the pif date they could open that cabin up to booking, but still let original guest complete payment and apply the deposit as long as it wasn't taken by anyone else.

 

[AquaDame]

We received a notice of our reservation and down payment for a cruise a couple of months ago. So far so good.

Received an e-mail from Disney (along with about 100 other e-mails that were spam and legit on that specific day) about a month before the final payment due reminding us that if payment was not received by June 3 our down payment would be forfeited and reservation cancelled.

That was it...So guess what... go to pay the final bill today and we were cancelled. No other warning...nothing not a phone call...nothing.... DIS just took the money and ran.

You had reminders... #1 when you booked the cruise and agreed to their terms. #2 when you got the email confirmation stating your pay in full date again. #3 When you received their email reminder about a month out (which went to spam - did you add them to your contact list after that...? Please say yes...) which AGAIN specifically said if you did not pay on June 3rd your reservation would be cancelled and the down payment forfeited. And yet you ignored June 3rd and tried to pay on June 15th. When they specifically said what the terms were. When you specifically knew when it was due.

One would think that DIS would magically at least pick up the phone and call or try to remind us before they cancelled a key event like this. Their marketing people would be all over us is they were trying to sell some more DVC points!!!

I fail to see how a phone call reminder would have gotten through to you vs. the reminders that you received and noted and ignored. Clearly Disney feels the same - you DID get the emails and you WERE notified. YOU KNEW IT WAS DUE AND WHEN. End of story there. Comparing it to their marketing department, really? And DVC no less? I have found them to be very non obtrusive. We went to one of their on board meetings and there was 0 pressure. We had one note left on our door thanking us for going, and then one pamphlet came in the mail after we were home. Then, nothing more. Ever. That makes two reminders, much as you got for your reservation.

This was our very first Disney Cruise and a major anniversary for us. Not very magical to say the least.

Congratulations on your anniversary! [insert joke about spouses forgetting anniversary deadlines here]

My wife was in tears and so upset that Disney she could not talk to they any longer and I had to finish the call.

You know, this actually happened to me once too, so I am actually empathetic though this is one of the snarkiest responses I have ever left on the DIS. I held a cruise on opening day and thought about it, then went to actually put down a deposit that Monday. Turns out they cancelled it at 12am on that day, not at 11:59pm as it turned to the next day as I had thought. I called and asked, she said sorry there was nothing she could do. I accepted it was my problem, and since the price was too high at the new prices I didn't book it. The kicker? It would have been over our anniversary this year. I never once thought to blame Disney (though I was certainly P.O.ed).

Way to ruin what should have been a memorable vacation Disney!!!

At this rate, I am not sure either of you are going to enjoy this trip... If you honestly in your heart of hearts think Disney should have made this right for you though it was no fault of their own, and they RUINED the trip by not throwing their rules out the window, I don't think there is anything on that ship that is going to meet your satisfaction. They will not change their world for you.

One would think that a cruise line like Disney that alleges to be a cut above the rest would provide more that a single e-mail warning and no other follow up (after they already received a very substantial down payment indicating our intention to go on the cruse)!!! Sure buried in the other Disney cruise e-mails that we received in the fine print they stated this policy.

Disney will hold your hand on many things. Forcing you to give them money is not one of them. There are thousands of people who put down deposits and then back out. Curiosity is getting the better of me, so I went through my emails from my most recent cruise. I had MANY more specifically for that cruise, but these are the ones that specifically said the price and the day payment was due in full - in the same size print and on the same line as the amount. I received:

1) The original reservation (and again the next day for some reason - same email so I won't count it)
2) 7 months later a copy of the same reservation stating $ and PIF again.
3) 7 months later (yes again, I guess there is a trend?) a copy of the same reservation stating $ and PIF again.
(one month later I made a partial payment and received a new email reflecting the new balance - that doesn't count since I triggered it I suppose)
4) 2 months after #3 I received another Disney triggered email reminding me again of my balance due and the date. I was one month out at this point.
5) 10 days later I received yet another copy of the same reservation stating $ and PIF again.I was 27 days out from my PIF date at this point so I went ahead and paid it off.
6) 3 DAYS LATER - still 24 days out from PIF - I received yet another copy of my reservation along with a $20 refund due to changes in port fees or gas or who knows... I frequently get a tiny kick back after PIF from them.
7) 14 days PAST PIF I got another copy showing another refund.

I received SIX reminders for this one cruise. Personally all the other emails reminding me about onboard activities, itineraries and just the fact we were going served as a reminder for me to pay for the cruise as well, but I didn't count those. I'm thinking maybe more went to your spam folder than you thought...? My current one is through a TA so I haven't been getting emails at all for that one except via her.

Not wanting to upset my wife any more than she already was, I rebooked a lesser room at a higher price.

Was your wife an innocent bystander here? If my husband had been upset I'd have rebooked at a higher price too since it was MY FAULT.

I am extremely disappointed in Disney customer service and this just ruins what should have been a joyous occasion for us.

What you are asking for isn't customer service. You wanted them to make an exception for you - one that they have no power to do. Disney will frequently go above and beyond when they are able, but there are some things even they can't do. You hit one of them and there is not a company in the world, no matter how high up the ritz factor you go, that will make exceptions like this when they had nothing to do with it. They are still a business.

I am sorry to be snippy, but sometimes the victim mentality gets to me...

As long as that cabin was not booked by anyone else I could see an operator doing this.

After the pif date they could open that cabin up to booking, but still let original guest complete payment and apply the deposit as long as it wasn't taken by anyone else.

How would they do this? The system automatically updates pricing - they can't make it go back to what the pricing was when he booked, it doesn't work like that. Even if they could, can you imagine the nightmare number of cases they would have to deal with? Especially if it got out it was possible? EVERYONE would expect it and there are many people who would very much take advantage of it. I think it is better this way - it is fair.

 

[bumbershoot]

Assuming the poster is legit...I wonder if he's not telling it backwards? Like NOW he realizes they sent an email, but at the time he didn't?

But still, if you're not noticing your important emails, if you're inundated with junk emails, you're not going to notice THAT one, either. I agree with the poster who said to start taking care of all the spam...

But...looking at my emails...it's not even in the fine print, as to when payment is due. There's "Dear Molly, Great news...", then Cruise Details, then Guest Information, and you've barely scrolled down a quarter of the email and you see Fare/Payment information, and the amount due and the date is right there in BOLD. It behooves us to read at least the initial email, and to note down pertinent dates...

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Don't feed the trolls.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Well that was entertaining... I hope OP comes back. There should be lots more drama out of this cruise!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Assuming the poster is legit...I wonder if he's not telling it backwards? Like NOW he realizes they sent an email, but at the time he didn't?

But still, if you're not noticing your important emails, if you're inundated with junk emails, you're not going to notice THAT one, either. I agree with the poster who said to start taking care of all the spam...

But...looking at my emails...it's not even in the fine print, as to when payment is due. There's "Dear Molly, Great news...", then Cruise Details, then Guest Information, and you've barely scrolled down a quarter of the email and you see Fare/Payment information, and the amount due and the date is right there in BOLD. It behooves us to read at least the initial email, and to note down pertinent dates...

Still, for our first cruise (and others that followed) we couldn't wait to be paid in full so we could start booking excursions online and complete the online check in.

 

[Jaya]

Don't feed the trolls.

....or the pot-stirrers.

 

[aaarcher86]

Doesn't really sound like it's anyone's fault but you're own. Sorry. A company doesn't need to hold your hand and do more than necessary. If you want to go, you'll pay. If you dint, someone else will.

 

[bumbershoot]

Don't feed the trolls.

I generally prefer to take people at face value. The discussion is also very good for cruising newbies to learn from. Read your emails, keep your emails, when you book a cruise put it ALL into your calendars so you don't miss anything, etc.

It is interesting, though, that there's an old post on cruisecritic's DCL forum that was closed last week, about pretty much the same issue.

Still, for our first cruise (and others that followed) we couldn't wait to be paid in full so we could start booking excursions online and complete the online check in.

Aha. I pay at the last minute because I prefer to earn my little bits of interest (checking and savings accounts with interest is fun!) rather than let Disney have that fun.

 

[Alesia]

I generally prefer to take people at face value. The discussion is also very good for cruising newbies to learn from. Read your emails, keep your emails, when you book a cruise put it ALL into your calendars so you don't miss anything, etc.

I'm sorry but every adult should already understand that. You pay your bills on time or you face the consequences. You are responsible for understanding the terms that you agree to. This isn't something that's exclusive to cruising.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm sorry but every adult should already understand that. You pay your bills on time or you face the consequences. You are responsible for understanding the terms that you agree to. This isn't something that's exclusive to cruising.

And yet so many people don't get it. People miss their WDW package payment dates, people DO miss car payments, utilities payments, etc.

They don't have classes in those things growing up. But here, in this little world of *helping* other people, we CAN help with those things. Why else are we here? Either to help others or BE helped, right? (and also blather on about things no one IRL lets us blather on about) So...let's make sure all the words are used, so that mistakes aren't made by newbies lurking here.

Heck, if we can have "remember to find your *leaving the country* documents" posts every month, we certainly have have "remember when you're supposed to PAY" posts.



When you book through Costco they have a PIF something like a week before Disney's PIF date, so that if there's a problem it isn't going to get your cruise cancelled. Even they want to help us not miss our cruise for lack of payment.

 

[erocrobro]

I agree with other posters on here that OP is responsible for monitoring due dates and such. However, after reading many stories on here and other cruise forums I can't believe DCL does not notify when they cancel. An automated email is all it would take.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Sounds like OP needs a diligent travel agent. When we cruised as a large extended family and had a rather hefty balance coming due, the plan was to sell some stock, wait for the proceeds to clear one account and transfer to another, then wait for the bank to release the funds before we could pay the travel agent so she could pay the cruise line -- lots of hoops to jump through. Definitely a first-world problem. And yes there was some procrastination involved. You'd never know that one of the parties involved has a college degree in accounting. Our travel agent became concerned we'd miss the deadline so she paid the six-figure balance out of her corporate account to make sure the cruise line got it on time.

 

[stitchfan75]

I am surprised Disney doesn't send out automated confirmations when a vacation is cancelled. It would have saved me calling Disney to confirm when I cancelled our POP reservation.
It might have given this OP more of a chance to save his vacation. I can't imagine being 30 days out and then finding out there will be no cruise. I think I would have a heart attack.