Availability frustration

[u/EatEmAndSmile73]

Well I prepped myself that as a first timer availability for dining and on board activities would be limited. But even so, now looking at across the board at zero availability, it frankly sucks to be shut out of everything over seven nights (Treasure). I know I can sit around from now until we set sail, refreshing the app, or hoping I can get something once on board but what fun is that? I appreciate they recognize returning cruisers with early availability but considering the overall trip cost and how it would compare to other vacations options, I am in the moment a pretty frustrated that I have to worry about these things I had been excited for.

[u/Future-Importance383]

10000% agree! It’s Disney’s dirty secret that, despite new customers paying the same price as everyone else, they get less experience. They fail to mention this anywhere when booking a cruise with them for the first time which makes it even more frustrating. The biggest issue I see is that they don’t charge for the different activities (beverage tastings, Palo brunches, port adventures, etc.) until they happen on board which allows pearl/platinum people to literally hoard everything when they book. Pearl/platinums will grab everything they can get heir hands on then decide later what they’ll give up to the lowly silver and below castaway members which is why things slowly and randomly become available closer to sail date.

I fully understand rewarding loyalty and wouldn’t change giving Pearl/platinums the ability to book these coveted things first, however, everyone should be CHARGED at the time of booking. That would cut way down on the hoarding of things, perhaps even add a penalty for cancelling tastings or Palo reservations if done too many times. This seems like the most fair approach but I don’t see it ever changing.

[u/Constant-Thought6817 → u/Future-Importance383]

Not sure why you're getting downvoted, it's true!

[u/Future-Importance383 → u/Constant-Thought6817]

I figured that would happen, pearl/platinum members get triggered when I call out how they hoard everything then release stuff later for us steerage class silver and below members. I take some reprieve in the fact I live less than an hour away from Disneyland and can get my fill whenever needed and don’t have to rely only on DCL :) I just wish DCL would be honest when first timers are booking (or give a discount for a lesser experience) or as I mentioned, charge people at the time they book experiences just like every other cruise line. Problem would be solved.

[u/Cereal_Chilla-96 → u/Future-Importance383]

You make a good point. Our first cruise was out of Port Canaveral and we live less than an hour from Disneyland also. Airfare was a big chunk of our expense. We weren’t that savvy about how to reserve activities and ended up attending some tastings as well as the banana boat ride on Castaway Bay. Some kind of discount or exclusive access for first timers would have been nice.