[DisneyTeacher]

Ok, we've got two nights booked at WL before we move over to BCV. The family we are traveling with decided to join us for one of those nights at WL. I just called and tried to add a room to our reservation so I can apply an AP code if one comes out for our dates. The CM said I couldn't book 2 rooms in my name unless I had too many kids for one room. I have booked 2 rooms in the past with no problems but I played along and started to book the room in my friend's name. I went through the whole family, getting everyone set up only to learn there are no regular rooms left at WL, just deluxe rooms, suites, and club level rooms. All that for nothing. The CM did tell me to check with AAA and online because there are 3 different pools of rooms and there may be standard rooms available online.


I hung up and checked online and sure enough, all regular room types were available. I called back to talk to another CM knowing the first CM was wrong. Went through the whole thing again, no standard rooms.

Why would Disney not book a room that is available? Seems so strange to me because I know there are people (like my DILs) who wouldn't book a room online no matter what.

What I did learn is that I can't book 2 rooms under my name (unless I have more kids than will fit in the room) even though I have an AP and can get a discount on up to 3 rooms. I was told to book the room under my friend's name and I could still get the AP discount with my AP. Wouldn't it be easier to let me book both rooms in my name since the AP is in my name?

Also, check both online and with CRO to see if there are rooms available.

[ssn]

Not sure if this helps, but at the end of last year I booked a room-only reservation for our November trip online.

Last month I called the 800# to add park tickets and the dining plan to the reservation. Since I made the original online I was told that they would have to cancel and then rebook my ressie in their system. I said I was nervous to do this since we are going Thanksgiving week. She said it would be no problem that if when she went to rebook and nothing was available, she would make a call stating that we originally booked online and we would get the room .

If I was you I would grab the room online, get a confirmation # and then keep checking if rooms are available by phone and then if they are just cancel and rebook. At least you would know that they definately have a room.

Another thing, when I made my original ressie online I never received a confirmation email like I was supposed to. I called the phone # and I was told that they weren't able to email the confirmation to me since I made the reservation online!

Good luck!

[zefyr]

Not only that...but one year my sister called CRO and I went to book online while I was on the other line with her. Not only did they say one resort was booked solid but they quoted my sister a higher priced for the same category room at another resort.

Things like this happen...it just goes to show that if you don't get what you want from one avenue, try another one.

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by zefyr

Not only that...but one year my sister called CRO and I went to book online while I was on the other line with her. Not only did they say one resort was booked solid but they quoted my sister a higher priced for the same category room at another resort.

Things like this happen...it just goes to show that if you don't get what you want from one avenue, try another one.

That's even worse, at least the room I booked was the same online and through CRO.

I guess I don't understand why they don't book all the rooms. I know a lot of hotels have Internet specials that you can't get by calling but i didn't know Disney had rooms divided up. It just seems silly to let rooms sit when they could be booked.

[Ready2Go]

I have never had any luck getting an AP discounted room, that I wanted, at WDW. They reserve very few for AP discounts and it has been a crap shoot for me to get one at a popular resort, even when calling the morning they become available. I wish they would do what Disneyland does an have a calendar, on their AP web site, that shows AP rates and room availability. It really makes it much easier to plan your trip that way.

I really wish WDW would use the DLR model for everything to do with AP’s like, an AP card that is plastic and has your picture on it, and 10 to 20% discounts at most all shops and restaurants by just showing your AP.

[Soundgod]

Originally Posted by Ready2Go

I really wish WDW would use the DLR model for everything to do with AP’s like, an AP card that is plastic and has your picture on it, and 10 to 20% discounts at most all shops and restaurants by just showing your AP.

And I wish that Disneyland's dining plans were the same as WDW's and not just a bunch of monetarily denominated vouchers that always leave you paying at least 1/3 or more of the cost out of pocket or running out of vouchers long before your vacation ends.

But for whatever reasons, WDW and DLR do not operate the same and Disneyland especially gets testy when you mention WDW. It would be nice if I got the same level of discounts at WDW with an annual pass as I do at the other major parks in town (Universal, Sea world, Busch Gardens), but for dining alone, you've got to buy a Disney Dining Experience membership and merch discounts only happen at World of Disney and Rainforest Cafe. As for the plastic pass versus the paper pass, well, we've covered that one in another thread and the fact that they're paper lets you get a replacement in less than 3 minutes in most cases.

I think a lot of your issues though stem from the fact that WDW is so very much bigger than DLR in every regard.

[MissDisney]

Originally Posted by zefyr

Not only that...but one year my sister called CRO and I went to book online while I was on the other line with her. Not only did they say one resort was booked solid but they quoted my sister a higher priced for the same category room at another resort.

Things like this happen...it just goes to show that if you don't get what you want from one avenue, try another one.

I think it might (maybe???) work to grab a res online first and then call CRO and check their prices. And then if they give a lower price, ask them to rebook immediately?

[Soundgod]

I have actually been on the phone with CRO at the same time as surfing the website. Sometimes that helps because you're able to tell the CM that such and such is available and difference in price if it is in your favor.

[Ready2Go]

Originally Posted by Soundgod

I think a lot of your issues though stem from the fact that WDW is so very much bigger than DLR in every regard.

No sir my issues stem from being an AP holder for both WDW and DLR, and for me the AP advantages, for room booking and wide ranging discounts, at DLR are for superior to those at WDW. WDW being bigger would not prohibit them from programing in AP discounts for any shop they wanted.

As for as getting a plastic AP at WDW (the vouchers they sent me for the AP's were plastic) for $579 each I would think it not too much to ask. But that has been covered in another thread as well.

[Soundgod]

Originally Posted by Ready2Go

No sir my issues stem from being an AP holder for both WDW and DLR, and for me the AP advantages, for room booking and wide ranging discounts, at DLR are for superior to those at WDW. WDW being bigger would not prohibit them from programing in AP discounts for any shop they wanted.

And you sir misunderstand how I said what I said.
There seems to be something in the corporate culture of WDW that is keeping upper management from giving WDW guests the same perks that every other AP park guest in town gets at their parks (especially Universal!). I mention size because I'll bet there's a financial study somewhere that shows your DLR AP costs more than a premium WDW AP when factoring in 4 parks, 2 water parks, DQ and PI versus a pass for DL and DCA. My theory, based on this hypothetical study, is that there is a decision that there is enough incentive to buy WDW APs versus DLR APs without the added perks and conveniences.
I agree wholeheartedly that there should be blanket dining discounts and merch discounts at any and all WDW locations, just like Universal. Same goes for hotel discounts, but you already know they block out rooms for various discounts and when they're gone, they're gone instead of issuing a rate for passholders and just making it available. Again, this might also be due to the number of hotels in WDW vs the three at DLR, more conventions, golf events, sporting events/competitions. Some hotels do block out when a group of 500 comes in and they need to funnel guests to other resorts.
Also, WDW has for years been considered a destination resort because the majority of visitors are going to WDW and WDW alone and for an extended period of at least 7 days. DLR by itself is not quite yet a destination by itself the way that WDW or a Club Med is. This too changes how and why management doles out discounts and perks. That is, they see less incentive in Florida to offer additional discounts while Anaheim still depends more on the local market. OK, the local market is 50 miles north of LA to the Mexican border, but I hope you see my point.
Yes, I know Disneyland sees more guests every year than every park in the world except Magic Kingdom, but the local market in Southern California is bigger than Central and South Florida population wise.

[Ready2Go]

Originally Posted by Soundgod

And you sir misunderstand how I said what I said.

No sir I understood perfectly your initial sarcastic response and believe we should agree to ignore each other from this point on.


Sorry Disney Teacher.

[Soundgod]

Originally Posted by Ready2Go

No sir I understood perfectly your initial sarcastic response and believe we should agree to ignore each other from this point on.


Sorry Disney Teacher.

There was no sarcasm in my initial response or my follow up. If that's how you are interpreting my posts in this thread, it wasn't my intent.

[gingles]

IMHO, use the online to get a feel for prices and availability but ALWAYS call.

[lovemysons]

Originally Posted by Ready2Go

I have never had any luck getting an AP discounted room, that I wanted, at WDW. They reserve very few for AP discounts and it has been a crap shoot for me to get one at a popular resort, even when calling the morning they become available. I wish they would do what Disneyland does an have a calendar, on their AP web site, that shows AP rates and room availability. It really makes it much easier to plan your trip that way.

I really wish WDW would use the DLR model for everything to do with AP’s like, an AP card that is plastic and has your picture on it, and 10 to 20% discounts at most all shops and restaurants by just showing your AP.

I can't say much about DLR's model, but I know I have the same luck you do with AP discounts at WDW!! I would love a calendar like the one you mentioned for WDW.

As for booking online vs calling CRO, DT that seems awfully strange to me as well. I don't get why they wouldn't have the same pool of rooms.

[KingOMiami]

I am rather surprised that CRO could not give you the discount. When DW & were AP holders in '06, we took my folks to WDW and I was able to book the rooms with no problem and get them to be adjoining rooms as well.

It does seem like it depends on who is helping you on the phone because I was able to tell the person ovver the phone the discount code that I had from the website and that person was able to bring it up automatically.