HUGE advantage Disney has over Universal

[captainkidd]

Resort reservations. Disney makes it so easy to call, make payments, change the reservation around, etc. I'm going through the same crap with Universal/Loews that I always do. Loews only allows you to make 1 nights deposit when you book. If you want to pay any more before arrival, you need to fill out a CC authorization form, make a copy of your license, plus the front and back of your credit card, and fax it over to them. Pain enough, right? My bank limits my card to $1,500 a day, so I have to call them to allow for a 1 day authorization. I did all that this morning, then get an email from Loews tonight telling me to make a lighter copy of my credit card and re-fax it to them. Besides being a complete pain in the butt, I've stayed at the Universal Resorts about 8 times, and always use the same credit card.

Why they don't make this easier for the customer is beyond me.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Huh that's so interesting to hear that you have to go through such lengths just to pay them prior to your trip. I wonder why??

 

[Britt]

Huh!!! You would think they'd just make it easier! What a pain in the butt!

 

[ParentsOf4]

I suspect it's because Loews is a traditional hotel chain that is used to charging a one-night deposit. WDW is a vacation destination that more typically requires the entire vacation to be paid before arrival. Corporately, Loews and Disney treat room rentals very differently.

 

[englanddg]

That's odd. I don't remember having these issues when I booked for my trip in August. Maybe it's because I booked a package with tickets and BMG?

 

[luv]

It might be easier to just pay when you arrive. Why bother making early payments when you don't have to do that?

 

[wiigirl]

It might be easier to just pay when you arrive. Why bother making early payments when you don't have to do that?

This...still stinks.

 

[captainkidd]

It might be easier to just pay when you arrive. Why bother making early payments when you don't have to do that?

I just like to have everything paid for and taken care of before we leave.

 

[flynnibus]

what kind of credit card has a daily limit like that? Is that really a debit card with visa logo?

I get what you are saying.. but basically loewes is acting like a hotel.. which is what they really are, not a vacation package planner, which is what Disney is.

Open a free savings account.. put all your payments over there.. and use a real credit card and charge your trip as you go.. and pay it off via your savings when the bill comes.

 

[captainkidd]

what kind of credit card has a daily limit like that? Is that really a debit card with visa logo?

I get what you are saying.. but basically loewes is acting like a hotel.. which is what they really are, not a vacation package planner, which is what Disney is.

Open a free savings account.. put all your payments over there.. and use a real credit card and charge your trip as you go.. and pay it off via your savings when the bill comes.

It's a debit card with a Mastercard logo on it. I don't use any credit cards for vacation.

 

[englanddg]

what kind of credit card has a daily limit like that? Is that really a debit card with visa logo?

I get what you are saying.. but basically loewes is acting like a hotel.. which is what they really are, not a vacation package planner, which is what Disney is.

Open a free savings account.. put all your payments over there.. and use a real credit card and charge your trip as you go.. and pay it off via your savings when the bill comes.

My credit cards have similar daily charge limits. It's to prevent fraud, and not a reflection of the balance or total limit on the card. When I go to Disney, I always call my bank and alert them. Even then, every now and then I'll trip the automated fraud prevention system.

 

[afar28]

Kinda off topic, but two years ago when I was checking in to the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal and I payed it off already, they said I never payed. After 30 minutes of searching why it said I never payed, they spelt my name wrong on the reservation and someone who has the same last name as me never payed. Strange.

 

[flynnibus]

My credit cards have similar daily charge limits. It's to prevent fraud, and not a reflection of the balance or total limit on the card. When I go to Disney, I always call my bank and alert them. Even then, every now and then I'll trip the automated fraud prevention system.

That's usually fraud protection against charges out of your normal spending locations - not so much about having a daily charge limit.

 

[flynnibus]

It's a debit card with a Mastercard logo on it. I don't use any credit cards for vacation.

So my opinion would be.. your choices are compounding the problem. Debit cards complicate all hotel transactions. I wouldn't put it as much a knock on Uni, as simply Disney does more by allowing your periodic payments.

Fear of credit cards is misguided.. people should be fearing themselves if it's a problem Simply don't charge more than you can afford. Off-topic.. but a peeve of mine.

 

[englanddg]

That's usually fraud protection against charges out of your normal spending locations - not so much about having a daily charge limit.

Maybe we are talking past each other. I don't have a "limit" on the credit cards outside of the actual limit itself less balance. But my bank (USAA) will not allow me to charge over a certain amount without calling them. I forget the amount, but it's something like 2k a day.

I remember spending several thousand in one charge (I was buying artwork) and I had to call and pre-authorize, as well as when I'm paying off my trips in full. I actually like the feature.

Maybe I am confusing this with my debit card, but I hardly ever use that...only the Credit Cards. -shrug-

 

[flynnibus]

never seen that on any of my cards.. and that includes massive room bills at Disney and on DCL. I guess YMMV

 

[englanddg]

never seen that on any of my cards.. and that includes massive room bills at Disney and on DCL. I guess YMMV

Now that I think of it, it's not a daily spending limit, it's a single charge limit. Sorry for the confusion...didn't mean to misrepresent.

 

[captainkidd]

Fear of credit cards is misguided.. people should be fearing themselves if it's a problem Simply don't charge more than you can afford. Off-topic.. but a peeve of mine.

Nothing to do with a fear of credit cards. I simply don't believe in charging my vacations, regardless of when I plan to pay it off.

 

[englanddg]

Nothing to do with a fear of credit cards. I simply don't believe in charging my vacations, regardless of when I plan to pay it off.

I do something similar, but I still use the credit card. I just have the whole balance of the trip in a mutual fund and pay it off as I go. I walk into the trip ready to liquidiate at any point if I needed to.

 

[flynnibus]

Nothing to do with a fear of credit cards. I simply don't believe in charging my vacations, regardless of when I plan to pay it off.

Because getting rewards would be bad? Because extra purchase and insurance protections would be bad? I am curious what spurs your belief? I would think someone like yourself who is at Disney so much you'd want to get Disney visa points on those dollars.