TA messed up seating time for 10/11...am I hosed?

[CVW]

We're intending to travel on the 10/11 Magic with my wife, 7, 4, 1 year old, grandma, and grandpa. I just received my documents which said we were on late seating, even though I requested early when I reserved six months ago.

We're NOT doing the late seating. I'm not going to spend $8500 on a vacation where my kids fall asleep before they've eaten dinner. (Their bedtime is invariably EARLIER on vacation, because of all the excitement.) Nor are we going to spend seven nights choosing between room service or chicken strips.

She (the travel agent) called DCL today and was told we were already "waitlisted" for early seating.

QUESTION 1: How difficult is it going to be to get a party of seven switched to early seating?

QUESTION 2: Should I really buy a line that I've been "waitlisted" for early seating for six months?

It's very, very difficult to swallow. Especially considering that I was "waitlisted" for a verandah room, and it came through three days later.

We're scheduled to leave in a couple of weeks, so any thoughts on how to secure early seating would be appreciated.

Again, I'm flexible on time, and I'd rather reschedule the trip if our family can't be together at dinner. (Together and awake.)

 

[AnnMorin]

when you got your confirmation six months ago what seating were you down for?
Since you are past your 60 day mark I don't think you can reschedule your trip without a penalty.
I would go right away to the seating changes area upon boarding and request to be switched. I have heard of people getting switched to main upon embarkation. You do have the option to eat at topsiders which does have the nights featured menu instead. Or maybe feed the children there first.

 

[alexandrew]

I think considering your situation, they will be able to accomodate you...

However,when making this request, keep in mind what they say about bees and honey....

 

[kamgen]

I am so sorry this happened to you! I will cross my fingers you get it! I would really put up a stink on this. I understand your frustration, we have had some frustration in the past, but it has worked out...I hope it does for you too!!!!
Don't give up! Enjoy your cruise.....it will be a blast!

 

[jel0511]

QUESTION 1: How difficult is it going to be to get a party of seven switched to early seating?

I'm not sure, since most cancellations occur before 60 days out, and you're 3 weeks out, it still might happen. You could wait and try to change it upon boarding, I've heard many success stories with that, but it is a chance you'd have to be willing to take.

QUESTION 2: Should I really buy a line that I've been "waitlisted" for early seating for six months?

Yes, you should. Early seating is the most popular and is the first to get filled. On a cruise we did have booked for 11/1/03 for this year (we've since switched to the 10/30/04) the early seating was sold out around 8-9 months out. I know this, since we had friends who were going to join us, and decided against it since early seating was no longer available.

I understand your quandry, as my kids will be 6 and 3 when we cruise next year, and I wouldn't do it if we were in late seating. My kids can't wait until 8:30 to eat dinner, even with a late snack. I'm suprised that this is a suprise to you, since when I've book my DCL cruises, I've always gotten a confirmed Early Seating confirmation on my receipts from my TA. I can't believe that your TA didn't tell you this, and I'd be a little miffed at the TA if that was the case, since you obviously requested Early Seating and weren't informed that you were confirmed in Late Seating. I'd bring that point up with you TA and see if that moves things a little for you, if your TA doesn't seem to want to budge, ask for their supervisor, or the owner of the agency. Good luck to you!!!

 

[CVW]

I never received any type of confirmation from her six months ago. She's been my travel agent for almost ten years (averaging once a year). But this, I think, is a good opportunty for me to rethink.

I've always wondered what you guys were talking about when you refer to all these different documents and videos you get. I never received anything until Friday.

 

[4nana]

I do not believe you will have any problems being changed to early. Disney will bend over backwards to help you, especially since you requested it when booking. I would call Disney directly, even tho you have a TA, explain your situation and request change. If it is not taken care of before, you can also do after boarding. We booked our cruise only 3 weeks out, requested early, with late dining being our only choice. We were put on a wait list and week before sailing had early dining assigned.
It will work out ~ don't stress over it.

 

[figment52]

As a last resort make the request the day you board. All the dining room managers are available (in Sessions I think) to make arrangements and will do whatever they can to accommodate you.

As previously stated, use "honey" not "vinegar". They want you to be happy and have a pleasant experience.

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

I know when we booked our 10/25 Magic back in December we requested and received early seating (me, my MIL, DM, DD and my 2 young son's). Then my sister and her partner decided to cruise too and booked about 1 month after us and were waitlisted for early seating but put in late seating.

Now we were a table of 6 only wanting to add 2.................it took some work to get it done. My DM is disabled so DCL finally changed them to our seating when my Dad asked the Medical Coordinator for assistance.

I would call DCL yourself now before you cruise. I understand where you are coming from and don't think you should be banished to eat pizza, chicken strips and room service for a week.

I would call DCL now and explain the situation and that your TA made the mistake, admits she made the mistake and that you would rather reschedule than have the Grandparents and young children too tired to eat dinner.

Good luck and I just sent you a PM.

Tiff

 

[hopelea]

CVW........we are cruising with you!! We are a party of six. We requested early seating when we booked through DU, six months ago. We are on a wait list for first. I don't want second either. I was told that DC will make the change if possible. I was told that it shouldn't be a problem if you talk to them early. I am planning on being at the port at 10 AM. The dinner seating changes are right up there with Palo and Spa ressies for me!

See you in a few days!!

DCL will not talk to you if you have booked through a TA. I have tried that.

Hope

 

[Jeanny]

Originally posted by hopelea
CVW........we are cruising with you!! We are a party of six. We requested early seating when we booked through DU, six months ago. We are on a wait list for first. I don't want second either. I was told that DC will make the change if possible. I was told that it shouldn't be a problem if you talk to them early. I am planning on being at the port at 10 AM. The dinner seating changes are right up there with Palo and Spa ressies for me!

See you in a few days!!

DCL will not talk to you if you have booked through a TA. I have tried that.

Hope

Hey Hope~well you are right, DCL will probably not do anything right now as she booked through a travel agent...

From what I've learned on these boards, being at the Port at 10:00 a.m won't help... I think they'll let you into the terminal around 10:30 a.m., and I think you need to go to dining services to request a change to early seating after you board.
Anyone know for sure??

 

[hopelea]

I was just checking out one of Barb & Tony's NAV's from prior cruises and there is a section that says "DINNING SEATING CHANGES" 12 - 3 in the Sessions Bar........I know dates and times change, but at least we know that there is a spot once we are on board!!

Hope

 

[jwann]

I hope all works out for you.
But if it doesn't here are some thoughts:
You are from Central Time, right? Your kids bodies will feel like 7:30 instead of 8:30. Also, The waitstaff will bring your kids entire meals with everyone else's first course. Finally, perhaps your children may want to eat in the kids clubs (they usually eat about 5:30) and then skip dinner with the grown-ups or just come and sit at the late sitting with you (coloring, watching the Animators Palate show, etc.).
We went on our first cruise last May (kids aged 4,5,6,8) and had the first sitting. We leave tomorrow for our second cruise and this time we are doing late sitting.
Either way -- I know you'll have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[hilltopfamily]

this may be wishful thinking, but you may be in early seating and not know it. That sounds crazy but it is how it turned out for us. We booked 8 months ahead of time and were "wait-listed" for early dining (family of 5) When we got confirmation and again when we got our documents everything still said late seating so I resigned myself to this. Then when we got our KTTW cards at embarkation I found out we were in fact in early or "main" dining. Up until that point we had no idea we had indeed been changed. I hope it all goes well for you----good luck!

P.S. My DD 6 still took a short nap every night at dinner!! just too much activity all day I guess and the down time waiting at the table was too much for her.

 

[Melrosgirl]

Originally posted by CVW


QUESTION 2: Should I really buy a line that I've been "waitlisted" for early seating for six months?

I was waitlisted for 10 MONTHS for early dining on my Princess cruise last year. Never got the waitlist and unfortunately I was unable to change it on my cruise last year. Too many people ahead of me. I was #91 on the request list, lol.

On the Wonder this year, I was also on waitlist for early dining, but I was able to change that on board by immediately going to the dining room manager and requesting it. An hour later, I got a call in my stateroom saying it came through.

It's probably not your TA's fault. Early dining is important to a lot of people especially on a Disney ship (lots of kids).

 

[CVW]

Well, this story has a happy, but nonetheless curious ending.

I called my TA and expressed very firmly that we didn't want to buy a cruise for three kids and two grandparents if we couldn't eat together. I would rather reschedule to another time.

She said it would most likely work itself out when I got on board, but I said that wouldn't work either. I told her I needed to know immediately that I could have early seating. If not, we would reschedule (we have trip insurance) and I could re-open my clinic to stay home and see patients.

I also told her (as I mentioned in a post) that it didn't make any sense to me that I was "wait-listed" for a verandah (with an inside state room across!) for only three days before it came through, yet I've been waitlisted for 9 months for main dining. (I said six months earlier, it had been nine.)

Now, some of you have pointed out that my last point may not BE a point, but nonetheless, here's what happened next:

My TA said, "You're right, I forgot about the verandah request. Let me check on something, and I'll call you back."

Within an hour, she called me back and said, "You're now confirmed for main dining." She faxed me a confirmation a couple of minutes later.

She said she had talked to SOMEBODY (I can't remember who...DCL official? booking agent?). She wasn't very clear on that.

Anyway, this was a gift horse that needed no oral exam. I thanked her profusely, and told her I was looking around my office for the gasket I had blown. But I'm curious if anyone has any thoughts on this. What do you suppose she did?

 

[jel0511]

To be honest, she probably called DCL and blew a gasket with them and had them move you into Early Seating. She might also have told them you would "cancel" if you didn't get early seating, and then you might have been moved. Or, she has a "friend" at DCL who moved you as a favor to her. Either way, you got the seating that you were hoping for, and I hope you have a GREAT cruise!!!

 

[LAMPSKIES]

CVW...........these boards are to learn, right? I ALWAYS ask for a faxed confirmation when I book. This way there are no questions. DCL has no problem imediately faxing a change.........bring that fax with you. Have a great cruise!!!!!!

 

[CVW]

AMEN.

My confirmation fax has now been successfully grafted on my chest. I'll have it excised in the medical clinic immediately after our last evening meal.

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

I am just glad it worked out for you and would be get a paper trail with that TA for future travel.........