You can request a change of names in your Disney Cruise Lines booking through direct communication with them, although the whole process entails much more than just a single phone call. A mistake with spelling, late changes in travelers, or changes of a primary guest can each lead to totally different policies on the matter. According to the official Disney policy, changing the name is a cancellation, which certainly sounds terrible at first sight. However, the reality of the process can be much softer in practice depending on timing and on whom the name change concerns.
Failure to do it right or just a delay in making the phone call can easily result in additional fees or even outright refusal. This blog post will tell you all about the policies and the ways of name change in your reservations.
But not all name changes are created equal, and it is important to understand this difference before getting in touch with Disney.
|
Type of Change |
What It Involves |
|
Minor correction |
Fixing a typo, adjusting a middle name, or correcting a spelling mismatch against a passport or ID |
|
Guest substitution |
Replacing one traveler entirely with a different person on the same reservation |
|
Primary/lead guest change |
Changing the name of the person who originally booked and is financially responsible for the reservation |
A minor amendment is usually the easiest out of the three because it involves correcting a mistake and not making changes to who is actually travelling. The other two involve replacing the guest entirely and making changes to the main guest, which holds more gravity than a minor mistake that needs correction.
As per Disney Cruise Line's written cancellation policy, alterations to the departure date and alterations in the names of the guests fall under the definition of cancellations as per the airline's official terms. That is, strictly speaking, any alteration of names, even a change in spelling, may constitute grounds for the imposition of a cancellation fee schedule on a par with that of a full cancellation.
However, in practice, what the company says on paper doesn't necessarily match reality. According to the company's own planDisney guest service system, making an alteration in the name of the person who originally made the booking is something which can be usually accomplished via telephone and is, provided that the cruise is not paid for in full and the booking was not made in a restricted class, described as "no problem."
The bottom line here is that small changes and earlier changes will be handled informally, but the later the change request gets, and the larger the change is, the closer it will get to triggering the formal cancellation policy, which may include fees or even rejection of the change altogether.
And this gap between the policy wording and the actual practice is something that should not be overlooked in a panic. The Cast Members are constantly faced with spelling corrections on bookings, and to treat all of them as cancellations would bring much more conflict to their service model than Disney can afford. However, the existence of such a formal policy is what explains why some requests get extra attention and even incur charges despite being relatively minor earlier on.
There are two major ways of going about this, both of which depend on the nature of the change that you wish to make.
There are two major ways of going about this, both of which depend on the nature of the change that you wish to make.
When an initial booking was made through a travel agent, it is normally required that the travel agent would have to handle the process. Because Disney's system links the booking to the channel where the booking was initially made.
The timing of your request will play a part in determining whether it is granted and how much it will cost.
|
Timing |
Typical Outcome |
|
Before final payment |
Name corrections or full guest substitutions are usually straightforward, with little to no friction |
|
After final payment |
Changes are subject to Disney's approval and may come with administrative fees |
|
Very close to sailing |
Typically limited to minor corrections only; substantial changes become difficult or restricted |
It’s also consistent with the way Disney handles other types of reservation changes; the sooner you identify a problem, the more leeway you’ll have. The most likely situation for a refusal to make a change would be one where the problem is not identified until a week prior to departure, because Disney will already need the passenger manifest at that time.
If you see an error anywhere in your reservation details, it’s better to deal with it right away than assume that it can wait until later. Even five minutes spent by phone now, before you’re even close to making your final payment, will be easier and less expensive than if you waited until a week before sailing.
Not all names within a reservation are accorded equal status within Disney's reservations system. It should be noted that the main/lead guest, which refers to the individual who booked the original reservation and who will pay for it, is accorded more respect than another traveler within the reservation.
If it is your intention to change the initial party who made the reservation, it would be better to call and get an answer on the availability of this action for your specific case.