Travel Agent Advice

[PrincessShmoo]

My point is that you have to go to the DU site and make payment. You don't go to Disney site and pay there. So...you are not paying Disney directly.

When we use a TA (rarely), they take the credit card and charge it directly to the cruise line, not the TA. I'm pretty sure that's how DU would handle it, also. Like they are a cruise line (whichever one) merchant, selling their product.

 

[n2mm]

When we use a TA (rarely), they take the credit card and charge it directly to the cruise line, not the TA. I'm pretty sure that's how DU would handle it, also. Like they are a cruise line (whichever one) merchant, selling their product.

exactly. if I was paying DU, my credit card would say DU. It doesn’t.

 

[LeggoMyMeggo87]

I'm the OP The first person to reply was not in the US, but I am.

This isnt common in the US and Id wager that most are replying from a US perspective when it seems like the OP may be UK based. Hopefully the OP gets the info that she needs (and correctly from her perspective).

I'm in the US. The first individual to reply wasn't but I am.

 

[T & R]

This payment method is a big issue for why we do not use a TA, so was hopeful that someone here could clear it up. We use discounted gift cards purchased through BJ's or Sams depending on whichever has the best sale at the time of purchase. We save from 4% to 6% depending on the sale. This may not seem like much money to some but we are family of 6, so we have to buy 2 rooms and many times 3 rooms because I made the financial mistake of getting my parents hooked on DCL as well. So 2 or 3 rooms times 10+ cruises, plus we use the discounted gift cards for onboard credit, we're talking several thousand dollars of savings so far via the gift cards.

So my issue is that DCL only lets you put up to $1k on each gift card. So I have to go in enter 10 or 12 gift cards when we pay for our cruise. If you book through a TA, can you not go into DCL website direct and enter all your gift cards? If you do have to go through your TA, does it kind of tick them off that, hey TA, enter these 10 or 12 time consuming data entry gift cards for me? The best scenario for me would be that even when booked through a TA, you could still go to DCL website and pay off your own cruise via gift cards, is this scenario an option? I feel like I'm passing up a lot of onboard credit that the TA's offer, especially given how much we spend annually on DCL.

 

[monkeydawn]

I'm the OP The first person to reply was not in the US, but I am.

Ah. by the time I got to that part of the discussion I had lost track, sorry.

Hope the discussions have helped you and others.

This payment method is a big issue for why we do not use a TA, so was hopeful that someone here could clear it up. We use discounted gift cards purchased through BJ's or Sams depending on whichever has the best sale at the time of purchase. We save from 4% to 6% depending on the sale. This may not seem like much money to some but we are family of 6, so we have to buy 2 rooms and many times 3 rooms because I made the financial mistake of getting my parents hooked on DCL as well. So 2 or 3 rooms times 10+ cruises, plus we use the discounted gift cards for onboard credit, we're talking several thousand dollars of savings so far via the gift cards.

So my issue is that DCL only lets you put up to $1k on each gift card. So I have to go in enter 10 or 12 gift cards when we pay for our cruise. If you book through a TA, can you not go into DCL website direct and enter all your gift cards? If you do have to go through your TA, does it kind of tick them off that, hey TA, enter these 10 or 12 time consuming data entry gift cards for me? The best scenario for me would be that even when booked through a TA, you could still go to DCL website and pay off your own cruise via gift cards, is this scenario an option? I feel like I'm passing up a lot of onboard credit that the TA's offer, especially given how much we spend annually on DCL.

Why not got to a TA and be up front and ask if thats ok?

I *think* Costco allows this, I am sure its been asked many times and would be easy for you to dig up that answer. I'm pretty sure Expedia does not allow for third party gift cards (do they even do DCL?). Those are usually my go to TAs for cruising. If none of the bigger agencies allow, you could always just go to a local agency and ask. But carefully clarify if they hold your monies (cant imagine they would with a GC) or enter it in right away.

 

[CM Dad]

So my issue is that DCL only lets you put up to $1k on each gift card. So I have to go in enter 10 or 12 gift cards when we pay for our cruise. If you book through a TA, can you not go into DCL website direct and enter all your gift cards? If you do have to go through your TA, does it kind of tick them off that, hey TA, enter these 10 or 12 time consuming data entry gift cards for me? The best scenario for me would be that even when booked through a TA, you could still go to DCL website and pay off your own cruise via gift cards, is this scenario an option? I feel like I'm passing up a lot of onboard credit that the TA's offer, especially given how much we spend annually on DCL.

I have used Dreams Unlimited for most of our cruises and have paid for the entire cruise with gift cards. On the DU online payment form, they have an option to pay with Disney Gift cards. The page does have a note that says:

Please note that if you are using Disney Gift Cards for partial payments they can be less than $100 each but we ask that you limit these to 10 transactions per day. Please retain all Gift Cards used until after you have completed your travel as any refunds will go back to the original card used as per Disney policy.

If you would like to use two or more gift cards each one needs to be entered as a seperate transaction. We ask that you take a few minutes and consolidate multiple gift cards into one by visiting disneygiftcard.com and click on the Manage Cards option. We appreciate you taking the time to do this as it will speed the payment process and allow us to apply your gift card payments to your reservation faster and easier.

On one of the first cruises that I used discounted gift cards to pay for, I missed the request to limit to 10 transactions per day. I may have entered 15 the first time. They processed them all, but did send me an email requesting that I not do that again. One of the cruises I paid entirely with giftcards was a family cruise for my wife's 60th birthday, and include the Walt suite for us and 3 other verandah staterooms for family members that I was paying for. GC savings do add up.

 

[T & R]

One of the cruises I paid entirely with giftcards was a family cruise for my wife's 60th birthday, and include the Walt suite for us and 3 other verandah staterooms for family members that I was paying for. GC savings do add up.

That would be a lot of gift cards.

 

[CM Dad]

That would be a lot of gift cards.

It was

 

[n2mm]

My daughter also uses gift cards (target). She goes to the Disney gift card website and loads the cards onto one master up to $1000. Her cruises usually cost around $3000, so has 3 main cards with $1000 each.. She goes into the DU payment page and applies the payment there, but generally does one payment at a time. Keep in mind you need to hold on to those cards in case of cancellation.....been there done that=Hurricane Irma.