Hotel Upgrade upon arrival

[danamarie27]

Curious question...If i booked my vacation through a travel agent and it is paid for, can I upgrade hotels when i get there? I really want to surprise my daughter and stay at the Polly or the Comtemporary...It just wasnt affordable when I booked. Anyone ever do this? If so, please explain how to go about it. Thanks!!

 

[Fievel]

I would change it now....chances are that it'll be booked when you get there

 

[BoyXE]

Some info for you

I know that this can be done, and though I'm not sure how it would be wisest to simply call CRO (407-WDISNEY) and ask them. Even though you booked through a travel agent they should at the very least be able to tell you which steps to take, if not completely take care of everything. What they will do is take the money you've paid and credit it to your new resort. I have known people that did this while DOWN-grading too, so they wind up with a hotel credit when they change to a cheaper resort or room rate.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!
BoyXE:animwink:

 

[Maria]

Yep... I would try doing it from now, not when I arrive. Also, keep in mind that if there are rooms available, you would probably end up paying the rack rate if you do it when u arrive. The rack rate is the highest one, the public rate, the walk-in rate.

I would do it now through CRO or the travel agent, and save money upgrading too! :animwink:

 

[danamarie27]

Thanks everyone!! I called my travel agent and she claims I have to cancel my trip and rebook. One problem, I will get charged a cancellation fee:brick: :veryconfu I don't see how I can accomplish this unless I can do something through Disney. I will try them next. It seems like its going to be a hassle so I may just hang at CBR. Thanks again for the info

 

[Maria]

I understand about the cancellation fee and rebooking through a travel agency.... you do it with them, they do it to their wholesaler, and/or Disney, etc. Maybe you can try and call CRO and tell them how much it means for your daughter to stay at bla bla bla bla! Maybe they have a way to work it out? I don´t know!
(I can´t believe I AM saying this! :hammer: ) You never heard that from me! :animwink:

 

[Pioneer Hall]

When is the trip? Unless it is within 5 days from now you shouldn't be charged anything.

 

[danamarie27]

The trip is on October 3rd of this year. She claims she cannot "credit" and upgrade. She says I have to rebook. I'm starting to question my choice of travel agent. I am going to call Disney tomorrow and see what my options are. I don't know if they can edit a reservation made by the travel agent or not. I know when doing room requests I have to go through my travel agent because Disney can't tap into my reservation to make any notes. I may have to wait till I get there. I mean if she's (my travel agent) is going to charge me $100 cancellation fee just to rebook and upgrade, I don't think it's worth the extra money. I'll just be satisfied with CBR or see what Disney has to say. Next time I go, I will uae a different travel agency. Maybe go through Disney travel. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Goofette]

Did you use any codes when you booked, to get a discount? Try also talking to the manager or the travel agency and look at your paper work and fine print to see if it says anything about 100.00. If you can't find it, demand that they show you on print. I am one who won't throw a fit about much, but I can't say that anymore. I feel like the travel agency is being unreasonable, and you have a right to make them show you. One thing though, be very very very nice about it, being nice will get you further, but take it up to the Office Manger if you have to. I booked through Disney and glad I did. They do have rules about cancelling and different charges, but not this far in advance. Anyway, make sure to read your fine print. Goodluck

 

[Maria]

Do you have your vouchers already? If so, that might be the thing... The travel agencies are the mediators between you and the wholesaler, being this one Disney, or another agency.
I worked in a travel agency a looong time ago, and sort of remember a few things... but I might be wrong too...

If the travel agency has already issued the vouchers, means that they are already being charged by the wholesalers, so your money is already in transit, maybe it´s not even your agency the only one charging for changes, maybe it comes from the wholesaler. Also, at least here, travel agencies live on comissions (percentages of the sale), and here, they do charge for changes in tickets and reservations.... paperwork costs money and time for them, so they decided to start charging for that.

Good Luck with it!

 

[wdwmanager]

Upgrading Hotels

As a Guest Service Manager at a WDW Resort I can tell you what you need to do.
First...forget the travel agent, (P.S. It is easier to book through Disney than a travel agent)...Dont get mad at me for this comment, You must understand hoe many guests arrive to find that they were promised something that isnt true.

Second...Call the day before arrival to 407wdisney and check to see if there are rooms available.

Third... When you go to the Hotel that you are booked for, tell the Cast member that you want to upgrade and stay at a different resort. They will talk to there manager, and the Disney whole sale Department. Then they will tell you the difference that you will have to pay.
We do this all the time at the resorts.

It is time consuming, but easy to do.

Good luck to you!!!!!!!

 

[danamarie27]

Thanks I will do that. Yes, Maria I do have my vouchers..I think you're right and that is the problem. If it really is all that time consuming, I think I will just hang onto CBR. I never been there anyway. I was just hoping to surprise her with something extra special on the trip. Does anyone have any suggestions for an ultimate Disney surprise that is ultimate mega bucks? Sorry all working with a budget here. See here's the thing, the trip was suppose to be a surprise for her birthday in Feb. The little found out and the surprise was ruined. Would it be out of line to celebrate her birthday down there even though it isnt? I mean it was her gift. I'm not looking for unfair advantages at restaurants or anything, just a little extra special magic for a girl who is definately not going to be 8 forever. Any suggestions all?

 

[DisneyGal]

If there is one thing that I have learned, never trust a travel agent!!! I can't tell you how many times my family and I have been hit with hidden fees and such by travel agents. A word to the wise, BE CAREFUL!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ConNH]

We always have booked through a travel agent in the past and found that by booking it myself I save over a thousand dollars! I'll never use an agent agian!

 

[LoriL]

I have another idea for you. Go to the CBR and cehck in there, but ask if you can move to one of the deluxe hotels halfway through your stay. Then, if another hotel is available, you don't have to unpack completely, and Disney will move your bags to the new resort teh day you change. that way you'll save some money on the upgrade (you won't have to pay for as many nights) but you'll still experience a deluxe resort and you can still surprise your daughter by moving halfway through your trip.

 

[Maria]

Originally posted by danamarie27
Thanks I will do that. Yes, Maria I do have my vouchers..I think you're right and that is the problem. If it really is all that time consuming, I think I will just hang onto CBR. I never been there anyway. I was just hoping to surprise her with something extra special on the trip. Does anyone have any suggestions for an ultimate Disney surprise that is ultimate mega bucks? Sorry all working with a budget here. See here's the thing, the trip was suppose to be a surprise for her birthday in Feb. The little found out and the surprise was ruined. Would it be out of line to celebrate her birthday down there even though it isnt? I mean it was her gift. I'm not looking for unfair advantages at restaurants or anything, just a little extra special magic for a girl who is definately not going to be 8 forever. Any suggestions all?

I´m not sure if I uunderstood correctly... (language barrier! ) but you are not on a budget, right? If so, you can probably arrange a private character meeting for your family and daughter... they are expensive, but can be done. I´ve seen small parties at the terrace of the Rose and Crown Pub in UK during Illuminations, so you can have a private view with desserts. Or have her meet a character at any of the lounges in Epcot. I´m not sure about MK, I only worked in Epcot *shrug*

At eight years old, I think she is old enough to like and enjy Cirque du Soleil. She´ll be in "oooohhhh" for days... (like me...hehe).

What else?.... also mention it is her birthday to the cast members around -this a free thing!-. My cousin "staged" with The Houzali Trouppe in Epcot and that was the highlight of her vacation and the video of the trip!

I´ll try to think of more!

 

[hadleybarth]

My son's birthday is December 22 (he will be four). We never go to Disney over Christams as it is way too crowded (although we might have been talked into it had we not promised my parents who haven't seen the kids in a year that we'd spend Christmas with them). He is desperate to celebrae his birthday there--and asks about this at least once a week even though he has 6+ months until the big day. We will be at WDW Thanksgiving week (leaving Dec. 1) and plan on celebrating his birthday one of those days. We'll let him wear his birthday crown around the park, get a button, etc.. I think it would be valid to do this for your daughter--like you said it is a birhtday present (even if it is a few months off for you) and it's that extra magic that means so much to little ones. Any other opinions out there on this?

 

[hadleybarth]

Something that might be extra special for her would be an Illuminations Cruise. It's a 90 day advance booking and I understand they sell out quickly (similar to Cindy's breakfast). I think this runs $120 (for a boat that takes up to 10 I believe). Or, if you can afford to kick in another $100 there are actaully Birthday Illuminations Cruises. The boat is supposed to be decorated, there is cake, soda and goody bags. I have never done either of these, but I have heard only great things about both.

 

[Invero]

There are tons of lil/big "surprises" that you can have set up for a Birthday surprise...

When at CBR, talk to Guest Services... (Or Guest Relations at the theme parks) They can help you set up some Birthday memories that will last a life time.

A few suggestions I might have...

I'm not sure how it's set up, or how they pick and choose... But talk to Guest Relations at either Animal Kingdom or Magic Kingdom, and see if maybe they can set you up to be one of the Grand Marshalls for the Share a Dream Come True parade, or one of the special float guests in the Mickey's Jammin Jungle parade. I don't know how shy she is... but I think an 8yo would get a kick out of being *IN* a Disney parade. But like I said... I don't know how they pick and choose, and how feasible it is... but talk to Guest Relations, I'm sure they can set something magical up for you.

Another suggestion... Maria mentioned (and I totally agree) that she might enjoy Cirque du Soleil... It is a tad on the pricey side (although they do have child rates I beleive) but it is something that I think both you and her (and everyone else in your party) will go "WOW!" to... It is a lil less than 2hrs long... no intermission... absolutly amazing. And funny too. Very enjoyable, and worth the ticket price.

I have to run off to create some magic in motion now... but if I think of anything else, I'll post it later.

 

[danamarie27]

Thanks for all of your suggestions...if anyone thinks of anything else, please let me know.....Thanks AGain:animwink: