Transferring a Placeholder-Booked Cruise to Costco

[MickeySwirl]

Is there a way to book on the Disney site using a placeholder or do you have to call Disney?

We are all dreaming of the day when we can book placeholders online. Not sure why it isn't available yet. It doesn't seem like it should be that hard from an IT standpoint.

 

[Doingitagain]

Did you transfer the placeholder itself or the cruise booked with the placeholder?

The placeholder, right when we got off the cruise where we booked it.

 

[Doingitagain]

I have a lot of friends who book on their own and then transfer to Costco as usually its miserable trying to get through to Costco on a release day. That way they don't miss out on specific staterooms they want.

At the moment, DCL's wait times are longer than Costco's. And with a placeholder, you or Costco have to call DCL on the release day. Costco does have a TA-specific line with DCL that gets them through faster at least in some instances.

Release day with Costco is miserable. They don't even open their phones until 7 am pacific time, which is 10 am eastern time. So you are behind a long queue before they even get started. If you want to use Costco, see if they will take your information the day before so you don't have to wait in their queue on release day, then again wait while they wait on the DCL queue.

I haven't tried to use a placeholder to book a cruise and then transfer it to Costco after that. wouldn't the travel agent transfer would need to be done within 30 days of getting the placeholder cruise, not the actual cruise?

 

[lanejudy]

I haven't tried to use a placeholder to book a cruise and then transfer it to Costco after that. wouldn't the travel agent transfer would need to be done within 30 days of getting the placeholder cruise, not the actual cruise?

That’s correct. Transfer within 30 days of when you got the placeholder onboard, not later when actually turning it into a real cruise.

 

[Intr3pid]

Release day with Costco is miserable. They don't even open their phones until 7 am pacific time, which is 10 am eastern time. So you are behind a long queue before they even get started. If you want to use Costco, see if they will take your information the day before so you don't have to wait in their queue on release day, then again wait while they wait on the DCL queue.

I haven't tried to use a placeholder to book a cruise and then transfer it to Costco after that. wouldn't the travel agent transfer would need to be done within 30 days of getting the placeholder cruise, not the actual cruise?

You probably haven't experienced the Disney wait times yet. Yes, Costco can take your information and call you back if disconnected - but, with Disney on your own, good luck actually connecting at all.

 

[Doingitagain]

You probably haven't experienced the Disney wait times yet. Yes, Costco can take your information and call you back if disconnected - but, with Disney on your own, good luck actually connecting at all.

I was comparing it to working with another travel agent. We did the next release day with Dreams Unlimited and they took my information a few days before and emailed me when it was done. So different.

 

[Intr3pid]

I was comparing it to working with another travel agent. We did the next release day with Dreams Unlimited and they took my information a few days before and emailed me when it was done. So different.

As are the monetary savings.

 

[Doingitagain]

As are the monetary savings.

Both offer something different. I liked the $ value of the Costco shopping cards, but we have to use them at Costco. Dreams Unlimited offers stateroom credit, and that would help pay for excursions, tips, etc. It really depends what you are looking for, and it is good that people have options that may work better for them.

 

[Cheburashka]

I liked the $ value of the Costco shopping cards, but we have to use them at Costco.

I don't often shop at Costco, but I do buy most of my gas there, because it's got the best prices for gas by far. I always use my post-cruise Costco Cash Card to pay at the pump. That 8.5% of the base cruise cost they give back is the best deal for me. Combined with my executive membership 2% reward, and my Costco Visa card 3% reward, that's 13.5% total of my base cruise cost back to me. That's unbeatable savings on these expensive cruises, and for that I'll put up with one or two long hold times. When I can I book directly via DCL first & get all the details nailed down, and then transfer to Costco afterwards. That cuts down on the need to call.

 

[Doingitagain]

I don't often shop at Costco, but I do buy most of my gas there, because it's got the best prices for gas by far. I always use my post-cruise Costco Cash Card to pay at the pump. That 8.5% of the base cruise cost they give back is the best deal for me. Combined with my executive membership 2% reward, and my Costco Visa card 3% reward, that's 13.5% total of my base cruise cost back to me. That's unbeatable savings on these expensive cruises, and for that I'll put up with one or two long hold times. When I can I book directly via DCL first & get all the details nailed down, and then transfer to Costco afterwards. That cuts down on the need to call.

Isn't that great! I use the Costco VISA for 3% and the executive 2% as well.