changing from "room only" to "package"

jo-jo · 06-07-2005

Has anyone had a problem changing a room only reservation to a package? Right now we have a room only for early dec. but if some great package (like free dining) comes thru, I'd switch. Can you just change it or do you have to cancel one and then try for the package? Someone told me if you try to change you lose the room reservation and then hope for the package and may end up with nothing. Has this happened to anyone?

MerlinMatt · 06-07-2005

Room only's have a generous refund policy, so you'll get your deposit back if you cancel more than 5 days prior.

So, if a deal comes out, call and try to get the package deal. THEN, only if you get the deal, cancel your previous reservation.

BuzzLightyear · 06-07-2005

Very good advice from MerlinMatt.
Make sure to keep your room only until you have secured a package.
Oh, and it's real easy to do as long as you get a knoweledgeable CM on the phone.
If you don't keep calling back till you do.

jo-jo · 06-07-2005

This is what I was told by a travel agent and it just didn't seem right.

"I'll always be able to book a package as long as there's availability at the resort. The problem is that room-only reservations are booked through what Disney calls the Central Reservations Office (CRO), while packages are booked throught the Walt Disney Travel Company (WDTC). They are two different entities on two different systems, so they can't just take your existing reservation and add a package to it. You'd actually have to cancel the room-only reservation you have and book a new package reservation in order to switch. There's no guarantee, and in fact it's highly unlikely, that we could cancel your existing CRO reservation and be able to catch the room in the WDTC system. We've tried it a couple of times in the past for other clients and have ended up with no reservation both times."

I thought I had read about lots of people switching with no problem. The last line scares me the most if it was true.

**DisneyTeacher** · 06-07-2005

I think your TA is a little wrong. I have changed a room only to a package and had no problems at all. When you call to book a room the CM can book either a room only through CRO or a package through WDTC. I think a couple of years ago the two were different but I think that has changed.

Twins1023 · 06-07-2005

Your travel agent was right there use to be two companys central res that the travel agent use to call just to book a room and then walt disney travel company that would book the package's or cruises. But that changed maybe one or two years ago. But anyways I always make just a room res and then once a find out who's going I call and change it to a package and have never had a problem. It's more money for Disney.

jo-jo · 06-07-2005

Thanks for the info. I never used a travel agent before and had heard they are so great for getting the specials that come out, but I'm really thinking of either changing TA or just do it myself. We've gone to disney a few times, but each trip is years apart and the rules seem to change so much.

**DisneyTeacher** · 06-07-2005

Your best bet is to go with a Disney only TA like Mouseketrips. They are a sponsor of this site and many people here have used them and have very good things to say about the service.

jo-jo · 06-08-2005

Does anyone else have advice on this? I admit I'm a little chicken to change TA, but yet I don't want to ruin my 50th birthday trip.

BuzzLightyear · 06-08-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by jo-jo

Does anyone else have advice on this? I admit I'm a little chicken to change TA, but yet I don't want to ruin my 50th birthday trip.

I'd go with Mouseketrips. The specialize in Disney only and will take great care of your trip.
You'll have no worries.

MerlinMatt · 06-08-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by jo-jo

Does anyone else have advice on this? I admit I'm a little chicken to change TA, but yet I don't want to ruin my 50th birthday trip.

jo-jo, there are a NUMBER of people here that have used Mousketrips. I've never heard a single complaint. More importantly, they know all the insider information. They're up to date on all the latest news and "how to do Disney" and are always able to get you the best available rate.

Here's a link: http://mouseketrips.com/

Have a great time!

**mickey** · 06-08-2005

As said, your TA was right, but is apparently unfamiliar with how to do this. Never, ever, cancel your room reservation until you have something else in place. I have done this over 100 times, never had a problem. My suggestion would be to keep your room reservation as it currently stands. Watch for a discount here or at Mousesavers. If you see something you like, contact our sponsor Mouseketrips or whoever you like, and book the package. Once you have the deposit paid and your discounted package is secure, go ahead and cancel your room only reservation.

One other strange thing I noticed is that if it comes down to just one room available at the resort, there is 0% chance that you would get any kind of discount on that room, it just wouldn't be available.

06-07-2005	#1 (permalink)
jo-jo Mouse Meister Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,224	changing from "room only" to "package" Has anyone had a problem changing a room only reservation to a package? Right now we have a room only for early dec. but if some great package (like free dining) comes thru, I'd switch. Can you just change it or do you have to cancel one and then try for the package? Someone told me if you try to change you lose the room reservation and then hope for the package and may end up with nothing. Has this happened to anyone?

06-07-2005	#2 (permalink)
MerlinMatt DC Grand Poohbah Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 3,492	Re: changing from "room only" to "package" Room only's have a generous refund policy, so you'll get your deposit back if you cancel more than 5 days prior. So, if a deal comes out, call and try to get the package deal. THEN, only if you get the deal, cancel your previous reservation. __________________ Erin's still my favorite.

06-07-2005	#3 (permalink)
BuzzLightyear MB Cast Member ® Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Space Mountain Posts: 3,917	Re: changing from "room only" to "package" Very good advice from MerlinMatt. Make sure to keep your room only until you have secured a package. Oh, and it's real easy to do as long as you get a knoweledgeable CM on the phone. If you don't keep calling back till you do. __________________ 86,92,96 Offsite * 2002 AKL * 2003 BCV * 2004 Contemporary * 2005 WL * 2006 BWV* 2008 CSR * My Disney Countdown Counting down to: 110 days 15 hours 16 minutes

06-07-2005	#4 (permalink)
jo-jo Mouse Meister Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,224	Re: changing from "room only" to "package" This is what I was told by a travel agent and it just didn't seem right. "I'll always be able to book a package as long as there's availability at the resort. The problem is that room-only reservations are booked through what Disney calls the Central Reservations Office (CRO), while packages are booked throught the Walt Disney Travel Company (WDTC). They are two different entities on two different systems, so they can't just take your existing reservation and add a package to it. You'd actually have to cancel the room-only reservation you have and book a new package reservation in order to switch. There's no guarantee, and in fact it's highly unlikely, that we could cancel your existing CRO reservation and be able to catch the room in the WDTC system. We've tried it a couple of times in the past for other clients and have ended up with no reservation both times." I thought I had read about lots of people switching with no problem. The last line scares me the most if it was true.

06-07-2005	#5 (permalink)
DisneyTeacher Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: WDW in my dreams Posts: 18,305	Re: changing from "room only" to "package" I think your TA is a little wrong. I have changed a room only to a package and had no problems at all. When you call to book a room the CM can book either a room only through CRO or a package through WDTC. I think a couple of years ago the two were different but I think that has changed. __________________ ~Stephanie~ 1993 Caribbean Beach Resort ~ 1996 Caribbean Beach resort ~1997 Caribbean Beach Resort ~2003 Wilderness Lodge ~2004 Beach Club Resort/Shades of Green/Pop Century~ 2005 Wilderness Lodge Resort/Beach Club Villas ~ 2006 Saratoga Springs Resort~2007 Port Orleans French Quarter/Beach Club Villas/Boardwalk Villas ~ 2007 Port Orleans Riverside~ 2008 Wilderness Lodge/Beach Club Villas~2008 Beach Club Villas~2009 Hilton Head Island~ 2009 Beach Club Villas My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Beach Club here we come 242 days 10 hours 16 minutes

		MouseBuzz.com > Walt Disney World > WDW Resorts
changing from "room only" to "package"

06-07-2005	#6 (permalink)
Twins1023 Senior Mouseketeer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 359	Re: changing from "room only" to "package" Your travel agent was right there use to be two companys central res that the travel agent use to call just to book a room and then walt disney travel company that would book the package's or cruises. But that changed maybe one or two years ago. But anyways I always make just a room res and then once a find out who's going I call and change it to a package and have never had a problem. It's more money for Disney.

06-07-2005	#7 (permalink)
jo-jo Mouse Meister Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,224	Re: changing from "room only" to "package" Thanks for the info. I never used a travel agent before and had heard they are so great for getting the specials that come out, but I'm really thinking of either changing TA or just do it myself. We've gone to disney a few times, but each trip is years apart and the rules seem to change so much.

06-07-2005	#8 (permalink)
DisneyTeacher Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: WDW in my dreams Posts: 18,305	Re: changing from "room only" to "package" Your best bet is to go with a Disney only TA like Mouseketrips. They are a sponsor of this site and many people here have used them and have very good things to say about the service. __________________ ~Stephanie~ 1993 Caribbean Beach Resort ~ 1996 Caribbean Beach resort ~1997 Caribbean Beach Resort ~2003 Wilderness Lodge ~2004 Beach Club Resort/Shades of Green/Pop Century~ 2005 Wilderness Lodge Resort/Beach Club Villas ~ 2006 Saratoga Springs Resort~2007 Port Orleans French Quarter/Beach Club Villas/Boardwalk Villas ~ 2007 Port Orleans Riverside~ 2008 Wilderness Lodge/Beach Club Villas~2008 Beach Club Villas~2009 Hilton Head Island~ 2009 Beach Club Villas My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Beach Club here we come 242 days 10 hours 16 minutes

06-08-2005	#9 (permalink)
jo-jo Mouse Meister Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,224	Re: changing from "room only" to "package" Does anyone else have advice on this? I admit I'm a little chicken to change TA, but yet I don't want to ruin my 50th birthday trip.

06-08-2005	#12 (permalink)
mickey Administrator Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 6,232	Re: changing from "room only" to "package" As said, your TA was right, but is apparently unfamiliar with how to do this. Never, ever, cancel your room reservation until you have something else in place. I have done this over 100 times, never had a problem. My suggestion would be to keep your room reservation as it currently stands. Watch for a discount here or at Mousesavers. If you see something you like, contact our sponsor Mouseketrips or whoever you like, and book the package. Once you have the deposit paid and your discounted package is secure, go ahead and cancel your room only reservation. One other strange thing I noticed is that if it comes down to just one room available at the resort, there is 0% chance that you would get any kind of discount on that room, it just wouldn't be available. __________________ Frank Costanza: You can drop a grand in Disney World, like that.

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