New Disney Club Policy Change: Prepare to Pay Up

[pheneix]

Guess what? My new Disney Club card is now even more worthless than it was before. Disney is now requiring that all Disney Club reservations be paid in FULL *upfront*! Kind of a sh*tty policy for those of us who don't have our driveways paved in gold, isn't it? But it gets better... It seems that Disney is going to make this change for ALL reservations soon. That means that if you book through CRO, Disney Club, or through anything else, you will have to pay the entire cost of your room rates upfront. Now, for those of us that like to just give a desposit on one day and then save up for the rest of the trip, it pretty much screws us over from booking a reservation at WDW. In fact, in my case (with my job I may or may not have to cancel or reschedule at a moment's notice) I may just stay at an off-site resort (and with the case of a week-long vacation Universal's policy is just as bad) where their rules are much more guest-friendly.

I'm sorry, but I just don't like the idea of spending $1,500 months before my departure...

 

[JLW11Hi]

Is that the same through AAA then, I am guessing? That's crazy. And as I think about it, for us personally, that is probably going to be bad. We usually book our vacations way ahead of time to make sure we can get the rooms we want, but if we have to pay all taht upfront, well, dang it.

 

[ToTBellHop]

You said "pay your entire deposit payments upfront". The deposit is far smaller than the entire tab for your Resort stay. Did you mean you would have to pay for the entire trip when you make your reservation? Cuz...they have always made you pay your deposit within a few weeks of making the reservation.

 

[DDPGambit]

Isn't a deposit just the cost of your first night?

 

[pheneix]

>>>Did you mean you would have to pay for the entire trip when you make your reservation?<<<

Yeah. I should have made that point clearer when I made my original post, but I was fairly ed off at the time. The original post has been edited.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Originally posted by pheneix
>>>Did you mean you would have to pay for the entire trip when you make your reservation?<<<

Yeah. I should have made that point clearer when I made my original post, but I was fairly ed off at the time. The original post has been edited.

Okay...that does suck...

 

[cj2me]

:veryconfu I booked a trip last night through the DC and only had to pay the deposit and they will actually charge my credit card for the remainder when I check in.

 

[no2apprentice]

Hopefully, this will change back. I think this will hurt resort attendance, and I could see where that could hurt park attendance. If it doesn't, I would be surprised. The off-site hotels are probably doing cartwheels.

Pheneix, do you have any info on how the refund policy will work?

 

[pheneix]

>>>I booked a trip last night through the DC and only had to pay the deposit<<<

That's odd. I actually made a point of asking the woman over the phone to do this, and she gave me a flat-out "No." I then pled my case, and she asked a supervisor. She came back and said "No, and you had better make your reservation through CRO if you want to just make a deposit now, because he said that this policy made be in affect for all reservations soon." I was then switched over to CRO and I now have a 6 night stay in a courtyard room at the Wilderness Lodge for only $189 a night (tax included).

 

[pheneix]

>>>Pheneix, do you have any info on how the refund policy will work?<<<

Nope. I would imagine that it is probably the same.

>>>The off-site hotels are probably doing cartwheels.<<<

I would be doing them too. Disney is going to shoot themselves in the head with this policy.

 

[cymbaldiva]

Ouch! Who is supposed to be able to afford that? I've always been able to pay in full once I arrived, but not when I made the ressies! That's one of the reasons I'll never get to have b'fast at Cindy's - with the new policies I really can't afford to have anything charged up front. I'm eally starting to feel like I'll never be able to go again at all Do you think that 's the point of all of the new rules, or just a nasty side effect?

 

[JasonCajun]

I booked a trip for 4 people at Coronado Springs thru Disney.com's online reservations... Is this policy implemented for booking reservations on disney.com as well?

I think this policy is absolutely ridiculous. I know I dont have $3500 cash sitting in the bank that I can just fork over right away. I am not wealthy by any means, just someone who loves to go to Disneyworld and stay on site.

If this policy is true, that would keep me from staying onsite and staying onsite to me is a huge part of the experience.

They have taken away the early entry for disney resort guests, now this. I am wondering what the powers that be there are thinking...

 

[cymbaldiva]

I wish I knew...

 

[pheneix]

>>>Do you think that 's the point of all of the new rules, or just a nasty side effect?<<<

What, to prevent everyone but the rich and famous to go? I'd imagine Pre$$ler has thought of that one, but I doubt it. I wouldn't be surprised if this policy is directly related to the new attendance/booking projections for WDW (Disney hinted at this with their 3rd quarter stats in their conference call), which are not good at all. If attendance/bookings are as bad as Disney fears, they could be looking at a horrific 4th quarter, because all of Disney's other assets are plunging downward at a frightening rate. I would not be surprised if there are more "rehabs" at WDW resorts before next summer.

 

[JasonCajun]

How is this going to help bookings? I really do not grasp their line of thought here. If they want to help their onsite bookings, bring back the early entry, come up with more benefits to staying onsite, rather than create obstacles for people who want to.

 

[cymbaldiva]

Point is, it seems that all of thsese new policies are keeping people like me (who have to save) from going to WDW to vacation. I really don't expect special treatment for being a return visitor, but must it really be harder for those of us who have to scrimp and save for it?

 

[cymbaldiva]

WOW!!! I just got to 500 posts! I guess I need to get a life outside of Disney! :lol:

 

[JasonCajun]

Congrats

I know what you are saying cymbaldiva...

I have been planning a trip with a bunch of friends for next Spring. However, most of my friends are poor college students who will need time to save up the money for the trip, and I can not foot the bill right up front for 6 people.

 

[SpongeScott]

Pheneix,

Not to dispute you or anything, but where did you get this info? Can we read all of this for ourselves? I can hardly believe that Disney would actually do something this stupid.

 

[cymbaldiva]

Originally posted by JasonCajun
Congrats

I know what you are saying cymbaldiva...

I have been planning a trip with a bunch of friends for next Spring. However, most of my friends are poor college students who will need time to save up the money for the trip, and I can not foot the bill right up front for 6 people.

Thank you! As far as the bill, I can't afford my own...I save hard for my trips! Good luck to you and your friends though - when you get there ya'll will have a fabulous time!