There *is* a new system..

[duck_adoo]

OK so my extra nights plans are once again in a state of chaos... Went to book an extra night at WL @ w/std room. no availability. DU checks last night and they have a woods view, I say OK. When DU went to book it this morning it was gone. So, Rather than have DU check availability (and costs) at other deluxes I call myself. The first thing the CM asks is for last name and zip code. I say I just want to check rates & availabity. I repeat I'm just checking rates & availablity. The CM says something like 'we have a new system and we need this info. before we can give any info.' I just said "OK then, I won't deal directly w/Disney.' I just don't understand why it's necessary for them to request this info before giving any info. Any thoughts?
Duck

 

[Luv2Roam]

Marketing and control is my guess.

 

[Tiffany]

This has been going on for awhile now. I believe it is for marketing purposes.

 

[gepetto]

I like that they have my customer history in their system. It saves time when I make reservations that they already have all my info already.

Maybe some marketing info in there will get me a postcard someday.

 

[Bob NC]

I don't understand what your problem would be in giving them information that they already have. I could see, MAYBE, people that had never dealt with Disney not wanting to give out that info.......(I hate when I go to a store to pay for something with cash and they ask my phone number, I simply tell them they cant have it).....

Is it like, say, a pet peeve or something?

I may be totally clueless, but I'm really curious now as to why this would be a bad thing.....

 

[RNMOM]

I think this is to prevent people from holding several reservations at once. This keeps the available rooms free and forces us to make our choices earlier.

I have been guilty over the years of having simultaneous reservations but I always try to make my decision asap and free the other room up.

 

[duck_adoo]

OK maybe I'm just being a little sensitive, and you're right about caring about the info they already have. But it seems that if Disney already knows you have a ressie at a certain rate, they may not be willing to try and find you a better price. There is often conflicting information that is given out by CRO and WTC. I think it's better to be able to double check and start from scratch. If they have all your info in front of them, they just may rely on that and not go the extra to see if that's all they can do. But then again, as has been stated before, it probably all depends on the CM. OH well...it's just me. Thanks for the input though. I'm sure there's some benefit to it somewhere.
Duck

 

[Bob NC]

Actually, duck_adoo, that's a good point, and I hadn't thought of that. lol....I guess I trust Disney too much....

If I get into your situation in the future....I may just use a different name to check rates....

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by duck_adoo
OK maybe I'm just being a little sensitive, and you're right about caring about the info they already have. But it seems that if Disney already knows you have a ressie at a certain rate, they may not be willing to try and find you a better price. There is often conflicting information that is given out by CRO and WTC. I think it's better to be able to double check and start from scratch. If they have all your info in front of them, they just may rely on that and not go the extra to see if that's all they can do. But then again, as has been stated before, it probably all depends on the CM. OH well...it's just me. Thanks for the input though. I'm sure there's some benefit to it somewhere.
Duck

This happened to me this morning; it also happened to another DISer.

The CM I spoke to asked for my info ( which usually refuse to give) . I gave it to her to speed up the process. She pulled up the current reservation I had and said I COULD NOT get the AP rate because I had a room booked using a code.

When I plan a trip I book at the resort that I am willing to pay full rate for. As discounts come out I try to get a better rate if I can. Since I go during summer or holidays I book ASAP to secure a room. If I wait until the special rates come out I may not be able to get a room.

I would not mind giving them my last name and zip code when I call if they were only using the info. for marketing. But to use it to keep me from getting a better rate bothers me.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I haven't made two ressies for the same time frame, and don't plan to. But, I am just curious.

First, if the personal info is in their system, why do the CM's go through the trouble of making you say it each time? I can understand them wanting you to verify you are who you are by providing your address, or even get a personal tidbit, like a mother's maiden name, birthplace, etc.
To me, if it was customer service based, as we know it's not, it would be made easier for guests.

Second, haven't I read that an AP guest can reserve up to X amount of rooms? (Was it five?)
So what would be wrong say if Jane books a room for her family. And later she books a room under her name for another family member.
Eventually they willl have to pay a deposit or let it go.
I can understand Disney doesn't want a guest to have multiple ressies, who in the end will only use one. But in 10 days, the unpaid ressies would open up anyway, right?

 

[Mom of 5]

This morning when DH called to check on the AP rates (we already had code rates for 1 night at ASMu and 3 nights at YC). When the CM finally found our ASMu reservation, she questioned why we even wanted her to check the AP rate, since we were only paying $55+tax. I don't believe they should decide whether or not we should try for a cheaper rate. $5 is $5 to me....

 

[duck_adoo]

That's why I really didn't want to give my info.We do have a ressie, and I wasn't looking to book 2 at the same time. I agree w/Mom of 5. I don't think as paying customers we should be subject to commentary. I just feel it's their job to pass along the costs & availability. When we first booked last year, I went through the travel desk at @ Disney store. If I found a lower rate and mentioned it to her, she acted like I was bothering her. I guess I've been scarred.lol! That's definetly NOT the case this year. Dagny at DU has been great!
Duck

 

[cindala]

Okay, I don't like the idea of them having all that information on me either! If they got my name and zip, and pulled up all my records, and saw how many times we've been to Disney, do you think they are likely to offer me ANY discount? I don't think so!

They'll think they can charge top dollar, and probably get me to come back anyway. (Not at rack they won't!)

Maybe it's just me, I'm suspicious by nature!

 

[Disneydenise]

I don't understand what is so hard to understand about this problem. When I want to check a price that is all I want. I think I have a right to shop around for the best price I can get especially when I go to the same place so often. They don't need a history unless they ar e going to creat a frequent travelers program which is doubtful. I would like to check to see what the AP rate is but I am a DC member the only real benefit I get from my $30 investment is I paid for the use of the toll free # but now I can't use it because they give you a hard time without pulling up your history. I don't like the new system and I don't hold 2 reservations for the same time. I just like to have the best price and I should have access to the information. I am glad that I have older children this would have been reallly bad when they were younger and we were poorer.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by Disneydenise
I would like to check to see what the AP rate is but I am a DC member the only real benefit I get from my $30 investment is I paid for the use of the toll free # but now I can't use it because they give you a hard time without pulling up your history.

They ask for your information on the 1-407 number also. In fact I have never called using the DC 1-800 number and have been asked my info on more then one occassion. This started during the first part of 2001 because I was asked this back when I was looking for AP rates for our Sept 2001 trip.

We are staying at the Dolphin in two weeks and I booked this trip trough the Starwood website. I got 50% off of rack rate with a AAA discount and did not have to deal with one CM

 

[christianweecare]

I think alot of this depends on the CM that you get. I called this morning to check out AP rates on a ressie that I had with this week's code. I was upfront from the beginning and told the CM that I wanted to see if I could do any better with my rate. He was very nice and checked for me. I got the AP rate with only a $33 savings from my code rate, but that's $ that can be used for something else. WDW will get it one way or the other! Anyway, the moral of my story is sometimes we have to play the game and keep calling until we get the answer that we want. Fortunately, I got a very helpful CM.

 

[StrwLady]

Disneyjunkie,

If I were you I'd call back. I had the Boardwalk reserved at the CKO rate and then called to get it changed to the AP rate. The frist time I called the CM told me that the 2 rates were the same. Which I didn't believe since I had been reading here. So I called back and sure enough that CM quoted me a rate $10 cheeper and changed my reservation.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I have had the same trouble for awhile. Usually however if I say I just want to check a rate and then I will give you my name( if I'm going to make a ressie.) If not I say never mind, hang up and hit redial and usually that person will give me the info. Try another CRO.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Thanks for the tip StrwLady. I called back but no luck. I have Nov. 26-29 for $292.32 (rack rate) and Nov.29-Dec. 2 for $165.00( ??????AP rate) at All Star Sports.

I guess a discount for half the stay is better than no discount at all.

 

[Sammie]

If you are booking through DU, I am not sure why you are calling on your own anyway. I am sure they will get you the best rate available and be more than glad to check on anything you would do yourself.

That way you do not have to deal with the questions that you did not want to answer when calling yourself.