Travel Agent disappointment!

[peachiepie]

We've booked to go at the end of October, staying at POR. We booked the trip last year with Tomas Cook. I was feeling a bit rash so I thought I'd pop in and see about upgrading to either one of the monorail resorts as a surprise for my husband (what can I say, I was enticed by the allure of the monorail!). They phoned through to their call centre, who checked their system and said that there are no rooms available in the whole of Disney for our dates (except rooms at POR where we're already booked), which blew my plan out of the water. I'm guessing they've just got a small number of allocated rooms or something?

Then I enquired about car hire as we want to go to other places, such as a day at Universal and she said "don't worry, the Disney buses will drop you off at Universal"...now I know it's been over 10 years since I've been to WDW but I was fairly sure that Disney buses only went to Disney property.

I'm now starting to get a bit worried about my travel agents!

I'm sure my upgrade money will be useful for some other treat at Disney, but was just rather disappoint and wanted to get it off my chest... I thought I couldn't really tell my husband as then he'd know we almost went to a deluxe hotel but can't, which would be disappointing for him too, so I was hoping my fellow dis-boarders would understand!

 

[wilma-bride]

Unfortunately, in my experience, a lot of travel agents don't always know enough (very much) about the destinations they offer holidays to.

I'm sorry they weren't able to sort out a change fo hotel for you but rest assured that being at a monorail resort isn't the be-all and end-all. POR is a lovely resort and I'm sure you'll have a great time there and thoroughly enjoy your stay.

Regarding car hire, if you just want to have one or two days at Universal, it possibly wouldn't be cost effective for you to hire a car. You could always get a taxi (which will set you back around $30 each way) or you could use the Lynx buses (although that can take quite a while).

If you think you will get the use out of a hire car (and you don't already have one included with your booking) you can always arrange car hire yourself.

 

[peachiepie]

Thank you, just wanted to get it off my chest!

I'm sure POR will be wondeful, I'd just psyched myself into paying the extra and splashing out! My husband doesn't seem as keen on Disney trips as I do (this will be his first time) so I was hoping if I can make this trip is extra amazing for him he'll want to come back in the future too.

We're going for 2 weeks and thinking of renting a car for the 2nd week as there are several places we want to go, Universal, shopping malls, visiting family friends and the like, so figured a car would be better than taxis.
Think we are going to prebook ourselves through Alamo, then we can pick the car up at Disney.

 

[dixonsontour]

Yes if you book with alamo then you can pick the car up at the disney car care centre.

They collect you from your resort in a shuttle bus and after dropping the car off will drop you ate hotel or a park.

We've used it twice.

Being charitable to the travel agent maybe she just heard studios and thought you meant Hollywood studios. If you just said Universal no excuse.

 

[peachiepie]

Being charitable to the travel agent maybe she just heard studios and thought you meant Hollywood studios. If you just said Universal no excuse.

Normally I'd like to be charitable as she was vey nice, but I definitely said Universal as in the conversation I said that we wanted to go to the wizarding World of Harry Potter!

 

[Jordanblackpool]

I remember booking my 2007 holiday to Disney staying at the POFQ, the girl we dealt with told me 'Buses from Disney will get you around Disney, to Universal and they even run one to Miami'.

When I explained id been 6 times before and knew they didnt she continued to argue her point that I was wrong! When I asked how we booked on the Miami bus, she told me I didnt need to book they went hourly!!!

 

[Vixster]

We have stayed at POR in dec2009 thought it was a great place an the buses were really good we are there end oct for 2 weeks, best sort out your own car hire through Alamo or go back in to travel agent when the lady is away who you used

 

[Vixster]

Normally I'd like to be charitable as she was vey nice, but I definitely said Universal as in the conversation I said that we wanted to go to the wizarding World of Harry Potter!

Just looking at when your going looks like we are leaving same day as you

 

[peachiepie]

Just looking at when your going looks like we are leaving same day as you

I think I'm going to organise my own car hire!

We're going 30th Oct - 13th of Nov, staying at POR...how about you?

 

[Vixster]

Same dates 30th till 13 nov from gatwick

 

[Samaya]

We've booked to go at the end of October, staying at POR. We booked the trip last year with Tomas Cook. I was feeling a bit rash so I thought I'd pop in and see about upgrading to either one of the monorail resorts as a surprise for my husband (what can I say, I was enticed by the allure of the monorail!). They phoned through to their call centre, who checked their system and said that there are no rooms available in the whole of Disney for our dates (except rooms at POR where we're already booked), which blew my plan out of the water.
I'm sure my upgrade money will be useful for some other treat at Disney, but was just rather disappoint and wanted to get it off my chest... I thought I couldn't really tell my husband as then he'd know we almost went to a deluxe hotel but can't, which would be disappointing for him too, so I was hoping my fellow dis-boarders would understand!

Can I make a suggestion.

I presume your staying at POR for 14-nights, well what about trying to book the last 2 or 3-nights at one of those monorail resorts you set your heart on.

The cheapest option would be to rent points from a DVC Member, for 3-nights at Bay Lake Tower (Disney's Contemporary Resort) staying in a Deluxe Studio with a Lake View, sleeps 4 with one 1 queen-size bed and 1 full-size sleeper sofa.

The approximate cost for a 3-night stay checking in on the 19th October would be between $560 (£350) and $650 (£420).

On the other hand if you were to book those 3-nights on the US Disney web site in a Bay Lake Tower studio it will cost with tax $1,600.00 and that's for a standard view which is a lower class than the Lake View studio quoted above.

It might prove to be a great surprise ending to your vacation.

 

[higgy66]

Can I make a suggestion.I presume your staying at POR for 14-nights, well what about trying to book the last 2 or 3-nights at one of those monorail resorts you set your heart on.

The cheapest option would be to rent points from a DVC Member, for 3-nights at Bay Lake Tower (Disney's Contemporary Resort) staying in a Deluxe Studio with a Lake View, sleeps 4 with one 1 queen-size bed and 1 full-size sleeper sofa.

The approximate cost for a 3-night stay checking in on the 19th October would be between $560 (£350) and $650 (£420).

On the other hand if you were to book those 3-nights on the US Disney web site in a Bay Lake Tower studio it will cost with tax $1,600.00 and that's for a standard view which is a lower class than the Lake View studio quoted above.

It might prove to be a great surprise ending to your vacation.

What a brilliant idea!

It's answers like this that keeps me nipping on the dis (far too often!!!!)

 

[peachiepie]

Can I make a suggestion.

I presume your staying at POR for 14-nights, well what about trying to book the last 2 or 3-nights at one of those monorail resorts you set your heart on.

The cheapest option would be to rent points from a DVC Member, for 3-nights at Bay Lake Tower (Disney's Contemporary Resort) staying in a Deluxe Studio with a Lake View, sleeps 4 with one 1 queen-size bed and 1 full-size sleeper sofa.

The approximate cost for a 3-night stay checking in on the 19th October would be between $560 (£350) and $650 (£420).

On the other hand if you were to book those 3-nights on the US Disney web site in a Bay Lake Tower studio it will cost with tax $1,600.00 and that's for a standard view which is a lower class than the Lake View studio quoted above.

It might prove to be a great surprise ending to your vacation.

Thank you, that's a really good idea and one I'd not even though of!

 

[peachiepie]

Same dates 30th till 13 nov from gatwick

Date twins! We're going from Gatwick too. Hopefully October will hurry up and come around!

 

[sue_gowin]

This makes me SO mad!!! I hate when travel agents give the rest of us a bad name. It's ridiculous that she thought there was a free shuttle from Disney to Universal...it's quite well-known that there is not. I'm so sorry you had this disappointing experience....I hope it doesn't deter you from using a TA in the future, we're a dying breed!!! A little fun fact - you can always ask your TA for references before using them...the good ones will be more than happy to provide them for you!!!! Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Samaya]

Thank you, that's a really good idea and one I'd not even though of!

If you do decide to check into Bay Lake Towers for two or three nights then two things comes to mind, first don't go through the check out procedure at POF until the last day of your vacation.

There's a chance that if you did check out, then your POF 'Key to the World' cards might deactivate at the end of that day and you might loose you dinning credits, etc.

Your new Bay Lake Tower 'Key to the World' cards will just be room access and non-charging cards, so you would go on using your POF 'Key to the World' cards over the last few days.

And if you did find you had a little spare time, or better still your husband, then Bay Lake Tower guest have access to free washing and drying machines so you could wash all, well almost all of your clothes before leaving. Makes returning home a little less painful.

There's obviously other and better benefits when staying at Bay Lake Towers and those I'm sure would be worth checking, might make your decision to go a lot easier.

Some of those benefits can be found at 'The ALL NEW Disney's Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower FAQ with PICs'! on thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2762185

 

[shells4]

I find it very difficult to believe there aren't any rooms available the end of Oct. Personally, I would call Disney myself and check. Doesn't sound like your TA is very reliable.

 

[Giddy Kipper]

How about booking a Universal Hotel for night or two....then you can benefit from the front of line access...

 

[peachiepie]

I find it very difficult to believe there aren't any rooms available the end of Oct. Personally, I would call Disney myself and check. Doesn't sound like your TA is very reliable.

I'm guessing Thomas Cook have sold out of their alloted rooms for that time? But as I've booked and paid most of the holiday off I'm a bit stuck as I can't go and book direct with Disney without losing all the money I've already paid out. I'm thinking of going back another day, speak with a different advisor and get them to check again.

 

[laura_<3]

I was lucky when I booked mine with Thomson. The lady I booked with had just come back from her 7th stay at POR (which is where we're staying) and is going to AKL in a few months time. We had a great chat about WDW.

Hope you manage to get your surprised planned