Terk-1
Dreaming of Disney Cruising!
- Joined
- Aug 26, 1999
- Messages
- 6,148
Being from the East coast, I make an annual trip down to WDW and have never paid more than $150 a night (even at the Deluxe resorts). This year I decided to go see a relative in CA, so I thought I'd do Disneyland for a few days, as it's been like 12 years since I'd last gone. I think I'm like Tikiman, where I am used to getting the same rate whether it is online or over the phone with Disney.
Disneyland is set up very different from WDW. When I first looked into staying at a Disneyland resort I looked at expedia, aaa & the "official" Disneyland website for rates. When I had gone to DL's site, it had stated $$ for standard room at the GC during Value Season. As I wanted to check to see what the discounted rate would be with AAA, I called Disney's CRO. I was quoted for the exact same room, with a AAA discount, $100 more over the phone than what was on Disney's own website. When I asked why it would be more to make a reservation over the phone versus booking directly with Disney on their website, I was told "if you want a cheaper rate, than go book it on the website. The rates given on the "official" website is different than those given over the phone by a Disney CM." WHAT???????? That made absolutely no sense and when I explained that when you go to WDW, it's the same rate online as it is through CRO. I was told that that is not how Disney runs the Disneyland resorts and maybe I should go to WDW instead. At this point, I was pretty angry and called the hotel directly to see what rate they would have. I was given yet another rate from them (even higher than the last one)! I was then sent back to Disneyland's central reservations, where I asked to speak to a manager. After telling her what had happened and what was said to me from the CM, I then told her what the rate was that was on the "official" website. She told me I must be looking at it wrong, because it was not that rate. I told her I was looking at Disney's website and was quoting exactly what the website was saying. She then said that she would honor the supposed rate on the website, which was $235 for a standard view room. I also said that I wanted to waive the $10 per night fee, as I would not have a car or be using the phones or internet access. She said "oh well, you still have to pay for it." She also kept pushing me to make a credit card deposit right now, as the confirmations were taking over 4 weeks to be mailed. I told her that if it was taking that long, to please fax me a copy of the reservation. No fax, no mail confirmation, nothing. A few days later I was on the phone with my corporate travel agent and had her take a quick look to see what she had for the Grand Californian. She came back with a rate of $235 per night. For a "Theme Park View" room!!!!!! For the same $$ I would have paid Disney directly for a standard view room, my travel agent got me a theme park view room! Also, she was able to add some requests to my reservation, as I wanted a room high up and not far from the elevators.
After all this was said and done dealing with DL CRO directly, I was angry and very disappointed at how poorly Disney trains their DL CM's, as well as how different one company runs two different theme park hotels. I never ran into this any of the times I went to WDW. I guess I just assumed that since these 2 parks were run by the same company, the resorts would be run the same way too.
Disneyland is set up very different from WDW. When I first looked into staying at a Disneyland resort I looked at expedia, aaa & the "official" Disneyland website for rates. When I had gone to DL's site, it had stated $$ for standard room at the GC during Value Season. As I wanted to check to see what the discounted rate would be with AAA, I called Disney's CRO. I was quoted for the exact same room, with a AAA discount, $100 more over the phone than what was on Disney's own website. When I asked why it would be more to make a reservation over the phone versus booking directly with Disney on their website, I was told "if you want a cheaper rate, than go book it on the website. The rates given on the "official" website is different than those given over the phone by a Disney CM." WHAT???????? That made absolutely no sense and when I explained that when you go to WDW, it's the same rate online as it is through CRO. I was told that that is not how Disney runs the Disneyland resorts and maybe I should go to WDW instead. At this point, I was pretty angry and called the hotel directly to see what rate they would have. I was given yet another rate from them (even higher than the last one)! I was then sent back to Disneyland's central reservations, where I asked to speak to a manager. After telling her what had happened and what was said to me from the CM, I then told her what the rate was that was on the "official" website. She told me I must be looking at it wrong, because it was not that rate. I told her I was looking at Disney's website and was quoting exactly what the website was saying. She then said that she would honor the supposed rate on the website, which was $235 for a standard view room. I also said that I wanted to waive the $10 per night fee, as I would not have a car or be using the phones or internet access. She said "oh well, you still have to pay for it." She also kept pushing me to make a credit card deposit right now, as the confirmations were taking over 4 weeks to be mailed. I told her that if it was taking that long, to please fax me a copy of the reservation. No fax, no mail confirmation, nothing. A few days later I was on the phone with my corporate travel agent and had her take a quick look to see what she had for the Grand Californian. She came back with a rate of $235 per night. For a "Theme Park View" room!!!!!! For the same $$ I would have paid Disney directly for a standard view room, my travel agent got me a theme park view room! Also, she was able to add some requests to my reservation, as I wanted a room high up and not far from the elevators.
After all this was said and done dealing with DL CRO directly, I was angry and very disappointed at how poorly Disney trains their DL CM's, as well as how different one company runs two different theme park hotels. I never ran into this any of the times I went to WDW. I guess I just assumed that since these 2 parks were run by the same company, the resorts would be run the same way too.
