Well, here is my update and what I've learned. DU is great and I really like my agent so far. We've used DU before and I think their system works very well. BUT, it helps if you understand the system before, and in this case I didn't.
Understand that we have 2 boys, so I wasn't dying for Cindy's PS, but it would've been nice since their Mom promised to "eat in the castle" and we like the princesses.
So I booked my FTP with DU in May I think for Sept 7-14. It took a few days to get the questionnaire and an initial itinerary put together. When our agent wrote to me about PS at Cindy's, she was very clear about booking at 60 days, the limited # of tables, the credit card, etc. After debating for a few weeks over our PS requirements, I submitted my CC info at their site, well before the 60 day mark, but not early-on.
So yesterday morning came and no word from DU. After a few emails back and forth I hear "I am waiting to hear from our Cindy's team" and then "you didn't get in, but you are now AT THE TOP OF OUR LIST for your alternate date." Very polite, apologetic, professional, and all of that. So from this and other comments made by the agent early on I have a new understanding. Maybe it's totally off base. But what I gather is that DU has a team of a certain number of agents. When you submit your CC info you are put in a queue for your particular day. When the day comes they (the team, your agent does not do this booking) start at the top of the queue and work down. It seems that things were sold out by the time they got to my name.
BOTTOM LINE _ If you want Cindy's through DU _ Send them the credit card authorization for Cindy's and a preferred PS time as soon as you book your room!!
I'm not griping about DU, just want people who have little princesses to be armed with as much info as possible.
As for me, we are going for our alternate dates. In the meantime, I am booking lunch PS at the castle just in case (and it'll be cheaper than breakfast).
