CRT PS selling on ebay right now [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

Wish Upon A Star

05-02-2002, 08:36 AM

Imagine bidding on a b-fast ressie . . .OMG what is the world coming too? Are people that desperate to pay someone money for making a phone call to get ressies at Cindy's? I'm sorry to be naive, but I cannot see why Cindy's is so important to get into . . .will it ruin someone's entire vacation because they could not get ressies? I don't know, I just don't get it!

DisOrBust

05-02-2002, 09:02 AM

It's selling for 36.00$!!! I hope the people at Dsiney see what a monster they have created.

Mooobooks

05-02-2002, 10:12 AM

The auction ended with a price of $56.
Jeeeeez.

Annie&Hallie'sMom

05-02-2002, 11:16 AM

Give me a break!

All Aboard

05-02-2002, 11:34 AM

Disorbust, I'm confused as to how Disney is at fault for this? Certainly there is a very high demand for this meal. Disney makes it available to everyone on a first-call first-served basis. They don't restrict it to resort guests, or guests staying at certain resorts. Even though they could, they don't charge a premium for the meal (it's priced the same as the other character breakfasts.) There are a limited number of seats and a huge demand for them. Something like this was bound to happen.

I can't imagine a more "fair" way for Disney to handle this. I guess they could eliminate the breakfast altogether, that would do it.

Perhaps if they required identification at check-in, or charged a non-refundable deposit that would help things.

I'm just surprised that you think this is something Disney needs to take shame for.

CM Tinkerbell

05-02-2002, 11:38 AM

Perhaps they should begin requiring a credit card number at the time of making the PS like they do for certain dinner shows and the like. That may cut back on the amount of people who would make a reservation for profit. Not sure though. But I do think it's crazy to pay that amount of money for a PS there.

Luv2Roam

05-02-2002, 11:43 AM

:rolleyes:
I think Disney should start taking cc ressies only.
As with other PS', what is to stop the person who booked the PS to call in and cancel it? Or even in this case, sell it more than once?

Donald's#1Fan

05-02-2002, 12:47 PM

The final cost on the res. after shipping, handling and ins. for the mail ended up being $73!!!! This proves 1 of 2 things to me......1) Either the system is terribly broken and needs fixing fast, or.....if they (Disney) don't want to change the system, then 2) I should be grabbing up all PS's at all the meals that I can and make money off of them auctioning them on E-Bay, hey, what's stopping me!:mad:

Galahad

05-02-2002, 12:54 PM

As gcurling asked: How in the world is Disney to blame for this? If there is anything Disney can do about it, what would be your suggestion?

All Aboard

05-02-2002, 01:02 PM

the system is terribly broken and needs fixing fast Once again, what fixes to the system will prevent this kind of auction from taking place?

Park Admissions Passes cannot be resold according to Disney's rules. Guess how many are available on ebay right now? How does Disney prevent this? By putting a photo on every pass sold?

What this tells me is that Disney is choosing not to milk us with respect to CRT ressies. Clearly the demand indicates that they could charge much more for the meal and (as proven by this case for at least these bidders) even charge for the darn priority seating itself!

In order to even out supply and demand, they'd have to either dramatically raise the price of the meal, or add a whole bunch of seats. Then, the black market for PS's (if you can call one instance a black market) would go away.

OnWithTheShow

05-02-2002, 01:11 PM

gcurling, Dont give them any ideas!

kilarney

05-02-2002, 01:26 PM

How is this for a fix....

You must reserve with a credit card. (no charge needs to be made at this time) To be seated, you must show the credit card that you used to make the reservation.

Liam

05-02-2002, 01:30 PM

Hope a solution to this problem can be found because I see this sort of thing catching on and getting out of hand.

raidermatt

05-02-2002, 02:51 PM

gcurling- I don't think this is Disney's fault, but its probably in their best interest to try to stop it. Yes, the passes are resold, but are there people in it for the profit, or are they just people who have the extra days and want to get something for them?

Even if selling passes does make a profit, at least the pass scalpers aren't taking passes away from anybody else. If I want a park hopper, I can ALWAYS buy it from Disney.

With CRT reservations, however, I can see this getting pretty big, pretty quick. Even if they only went for $25 each, that's quite a return consdering all it costs to get one is a phone call. Also, unlike the park pass example, the ressie scalper IS taking that reservation away from another Disney guest who couldn't get through as quickly.

You're right that one way to fix the problem would be to charge for the reservation, but I think the CC requirement would go a long way towards improving the situation before it gets out of hand.

DisOrBust

05-02-2002, 04:40 PM

I "blame" Disney because they are well aware of the problems with the CRT PS and do nothing! When we were there in January they had so many no-shows that they were "yelling" for walk ins. I believe this has to do with people making "several" PSs and using the one that fits their schedule and NOT cancelling any extras. Others just have a "difficult" time getting there in the AM. CC hold would help eliminate this. WDW does CC hold for the Alice Tea and Pirates cruise. For them to use CC holds for CRT would be labor intensive and "probably" not cost effective in their eyes but could realy eliminate EBay bidding, etc... I do believe Howie started with good intensions but that also has gotten out of hand.
Your would think with all the MBAs working at WDW they could come up with a solution for a larger or more frequent (ie lunch) Princess breakfast. My girls love it for the Princesses not the castle, they could care less if it was held in a barn,lol! Everyone could win then more PS times for guests more money for WDW.

All Aboard

05-02-2002, 04:41 PM

Raidermatt, I completely agree that the comparison on that level is moot. Hopper passes have a virtual unlimited supply. But, my point was that Disney says "don't do it" yet folks still do. They cannot regulate nor enforce everything. I took issue with blame being pointed at Disney and statements about how badly their system is engineered and that they should take note and fix it.

The credit card fix is a possibility, but that cuts out folks that don't have credit cards for one reason or another. Perhaps requireing some form of identification is an answer. That would put a dent in Howie's business.

raidermatt

05-02-2002, 07:42 PM

gcurling- Got it, and I'm with you except that I definitely think its time they did something. I don't think they had any reason up until now. Between the Howie's thing, and Ebay, its now gotten to the point that they should, in my opinion.

I don't see the cc requirement being a problem. CC's are required for varous other reservations around WDW. As Disorbust mentioned, its required for Alice tea and Pirates Cruise, and I know its required for golf tee times.

Its not that I think this is a huge problem in the grand scheme of things, but its only going to get worse, and its an easy fix.

DC7800

05-02-2002, 08:24 PM

Originally posted by gcurling
The credit card fix is a possibility, but that cuts out folks that don't have credit cards for one reason or another. Perhaps requireing some form of identification is an answer. That would put a dent in Howie's business.

For Disney resort guests the problem can be solved by simply tying the PS to your room reservation. In the case of excessive no-shows there would also be someone to charge. That wouldn't help off-site guests though, and I'm guessing there are a lot more of these people without CC's than among WDW hotel guests.

Planogirl

05-02-2002, 09:04 PM

Why not simply require ID and specify that the ressies are non-transferable? I know of some people who choose not to have credit cards and I think it's only fair to include them in this. And YES, bring back true reservations for high demand venues such as CRT.

Luv2Roam

05-02-2002, 09:20 PM

When I book behind the scenes tours I know I have to pay in advance.
And even if someone doesn't want a credit card, a debit card works just the same and as well. I have even rented cars with my debit card.

raidermatt

05-02-2002, 09:55 PM

Off-topic, but a word of caution on using your debit card in place of a credit card:

If there is ever a problem, your bank and/or the merchant will usually resolve it, however, until they do, its your checking account that is short of the money. This could be a problem for some people if its mortgage/rent/grocery time.

Snowgod

05-03-2002, 01:49 PM

Why not ask for ID when a person shows up for their resevation. If Bob soandso makes a reservation, then that person should have to ID themseves to the host or hostess. Another possability would be to tie PS to room reservations. Use you resrvation number to make PS (I think that this is what may happen).:smooth:

kilarney

05-03-2002, 02:43 PM

I think they have to do more than ask for ID. If that was the only requirement, anyone could make a reservation under my name. (ie: someone takes "requests", and then makes as many reservations as he can for those people.) It is easy to give someone else your name. It is another matter to give that person your credit card number.
My vote is for the credit card requirement. Nothing has to be charged to the card prior to the meal... you just use it as a way to verify that you are the person who made the reservation.

Horizons16

05-03-2002, 03:13 PM

COME ON PEOPLE!!!
I cant believe someone would do that :rolleyes:
~Steve

adrien32

05-06-2002, 07:55 PM

Why doesn't Disney just have the princesses at lunch and dinner at the castle? That would triple the availability and make lots of little kids happy. It would be easy to do.

Villain Dude

05-06-2002, 09:06 PM

This is not good ... some people are vultures!

Dude

Doctor P

05-11-2002, 06:08 AM

I like the idea of a credit card number and matching it at check in.

Annie&Hallie'sMom

05-13-2002, 06:59 AM

From what I've heard, the credit card deposit is moving towards a reality.

Juliet25

05-13-2002, 10:47 AM

I can't believe that someone would pay $56 just to get inside the castle! I sure hope that's a memorable meal...they are paying out the nose for something that their fellow diners will get for FREE!

Those kids better darn well appreciate the trouble that mom/dad went through for them. :rolleyes:

vcasey

05-13-2002, 10:50 AM

I agree with all of you that Disney could make things better by requiring a CC at PS time or extending the princesses to lunch and dinner too.

But I've just got to say 'There's a sucker born every minute' and that's not Disney's fault.

Did you see that besides paying bidding the $56 the bidder paid $12 shipping? What is there to ship?? A piece of paper confirming the PS and their transaction? Why wouldn't a stamp be good enough? Even certified is far less than that and they paid insurance too!!
They paid $5 in insurance too!! Since when is a reservation with no value (except percieved) insurable???

So long as there are people willing to rip others off and people willing to be sucked in, no matter what Disney does, people will find a way to get around it.

Juliet25

05-14-2002, 11:39 AM

Did you see that besides paying bidding the $56 the bidder paid $12 shipping? What is there to ship?? A piece of paper confirming the PS and their transaction? Why wouldn't a stamp be good enough? Even certified is far less than that and they paid insurance too!!

And isn't e-mail free? Couldn't they have just e-mailed the number? This is the funniest thing I've read in quite awhile.

:p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p

mattjs

05-16-2002, 04:00 PM

Supposedly the new CRT policy will go into effect June 9th.

Credit card guarantee to be required at time of reservation with subsequent name changes not allowable. 24 hour cancellation policy to avoid no show charge of $10 adults and $5 children.

Don't think they had much choice with this one.

vickyBaby

05-16-2002, 06:33 PM

I'm glad they are instituting this policy. It is sorely needed.

DNSDisney

05-17-2002, 12:45 AM

The halo honeys say they have a house CC they will allow people to use.. not sure how that will work but i would think that everyone showing up under the same CC #s would give Disney the info to know who they are.
Will be interesting to follow in coming mths.
I am sooooo glad Disney did this. One giant step towards solving the problem.

HorizonsFan

05-17-2002, 05:52 AM

The halo honeys say they have a house CC they will allow people to use..
They've already had folks getting reservations through the BC and then cancelling to free up the PS. Two things are likely to happen. Either the "house CC" will end up with hundreds of dollars in no-show charges or it's a non-working card and someone will be in trouble for fraud. They need to just give it up...