Booked with Travel Agent & Issues with DCL

[geoly1]

Hi All! Just curious if anyone else is having the same issues I am. We booked our cruise through a Travel Agent (Not the Disboard Sponsor) & have been having issues with booking port adventures, onboard fun & spa on line through the DCL website. Ive used different computers/phone/tablet/servers (google/safari/Internet explorer) & get the same error message. I scheduled all of these by calling DCL where each time (4 total calls) they mention "Oh you booked through a travel agent" Really? Just got off the phone where they moved a port adventure to the afternoon without letting me know & got "We told your travel agent!" Ok...anyone else not feeling the love from DCL because of using a travel agent to book their cruise? This will be our 5th DCL cruise & never has this been an issue.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

That is how it works with a TA. Most communications go via the TA. It is part of the deal. Has nothing to do with love and everything to do with contract.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

That is how it works with a TA. Most communications go via the TA. It is part of the deal. Has nothing to do with love and everything to do with contract.

This was not our experience. We booked all of this (excursions, spa, etc.) via the website, and when we had questions or issues arise, DCL did their best to help us on the phone. (Like once when we booked something, but it didn't go through, even though it seemed like it had gone through). The only things we had to do through our TA was the initial booking, any changes to the booking, and receiving the travel documents. Everything else we were able to handle ourselves and we chose to do so.

 

[geoly1]

Thanks aurora borealis ...

 

[Ben E N]

I am having the same issue myself. Always stuck with the dwarves and "we're working on it" when I look into booking something.
Oh well. More money in my pocket and less in theirs!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

This was not our experience. We booked all of this (excursions, spa, etc.) via the website, and when we had questions or issues arise, DCL did their best to help us on the phone. (Like once when we booked something, but it didn't go through, even though it seemed like it had gone through). The only things we had to do through our TA was the initial booking, any changes to the booking, and receiving the travel documents. Everything else we were able to handle ourselves and we chose to do so.

I booked with Costco. Once I checked in, I've gotten things like the booklet directly, but while DCL was changing the itineraries all communications about that before the PIF date went via Costco. Any changes to the reservation prior to PIF also had to go via Costco.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Sometimes it's a browser issue, not a DCL website issue. Try another browser.

 

[oakleycat]

I do Costco too, and have had no problems booking or calling DCL to make any changes. I occasionally get the dwarves too but seems to be just an issue with the website.

 

[AngelDisney]

I always use a TA for the onboard credit offer. I don’t have issues booking port excursions online and Disney contacted me once via email directly regarding cancellation. I usually have the TA make dining requests and inquiries since I don’t want to call long distance.

 

[Jess_S]

We book through a TA (Yes, the Disboards sponsor) and were able to book things online. But the TA did have to set us up properly to use the online tools initially. There was some sort of consent form, I think. In any event, I haven't tried calling DCL because my online account is working fine, so I don't know if DCL would be willing to talk to me directly.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The port excursions booking is more about IT than anything. All Disney websites run on a tech stack made of old chewing gum, Windows 95, and diseased gerbils in rusty exercise wheels.

 

[Bsmitty]

Hi All! Just curious if anyone else is having the same issues I am. We booked our cruise through a Travel Agent (Not the Disboard Sponsor) & have been having issues with booking port adventures, onboard fun & spa on line through the DCL website. Ive used different computers/phone/tablet/servers (google/safari/Internet explorer) & get the same error message. I scheduled all of these by calling DCL where each time (4 total calls) they mention "Oh you booked through a travel agent" Really? Just got off the phone where they moved a port adventure to the afternoon without letting me know & got "We told your travel agent!" Ok...anyone else not feeling the love from DCL because of using a travel agent to book their cruise? This will be our 5th DCL cruise & never has this been an issue.

I highly recommend the TA affiliated with this disboard. We used them & they are amazing. As soon as mine heard anything (& there was A LOT to hear, we were on an eastern highly affected my Irma with port locations changes all the way to booked excursions changing up to a few weeks before, due to not being re-built enough to still allow the excursions) We used Allison at DU & she’s beyond amazing!

 

[hanscarlet]

My TA booked my Sept cruise and I was able to book everything I wanted online myself

 

[Sytrace]

That is really odd as excursions, adult dining, spa services, On Board fun, online check in etc can all be done by the guest/client if that is what you choose. Or, the TA can do it for you. Sometimes it is a combination of both.
The only thing that DCL cannot discuss or accept from the client/guest is payment...that does go thru the Agent directly to DCL. They certainly CAN talk to you as the guest about excursions etc and online issues with their website.

Also, your DCL cruise account is the same email and password as your MDE (WDW information) or any Disney account that you have, therefore, there is no special set up to be done by the TA for you to access this information. You could not, however, modify, make payments etc thru your My Disney cruise site.
Hope it gets squared away for you!

 

[n2mm]

I use a TA from dreams unlimited for my last 8 cruises and have never had a problem booking my own stuff through the Disney cruise website. I hate calling dcl.

 

[Ben E N]

Sometimes it's a browser issue, not a DCL website issue. Try another browser.

Yep. It was a browser issue. Which is so weird. Both DVC and MyDisneyExperience work great on my normal browser.
Holy moly, though. After seeing some of those prices I am glad I missed out on the "opportunity" to buy into them.

 

[tee11]

The port excursions booking is more about IT than anything. All Disney websites run on a tech stack made of old chewing gum, Windows 95, and diseased gerbils in rusty exercise wheels.

This. This is a website/browser/tech issue. Has nothing to do with travel agent vs. direct booking.
I had so much technical trouble this time booking everything (port adventures, character meets, nursery time), and I told Disney about it.
They admitted they changed the interface from how it was previously (for example; you could place check marks next to timeframes for the nursery, now you have to book each 30 minutes slot individually!!) and passed on my feedback...

 

[PinMan]

To those who use a ta, I know threw Costco you get about 8.5 per cent back on a card , what do you get from a ta

 

[MelSpees]

Sometimes it's a browser issue, not a DCL website issue. Try another browser.

This exactly. I've always used Firefox, but lately have been having this problem with them. I get the dwarfs telling me they're working on it. I go through edge and it's working fine. I'm afraid I'm going to have to switch my go-to browser.

 

[Ben E N]

This exactly. I've always used Firefox, but lately have been having this problem with them. I get the dwarfs telling me they're working on it. I go through edge and it's working fine. I'm afraid I'm going to have to switch my go-to browser.

Weird. I went chrome to firefox. Wonder why things don't work on one computer with that browser but do with another. The mysteries of Disney IT...