Good evening Outlander, I would be happy to respond to your questions:
As I posted earlier, I did indeed call myself to recheck the rate at least 3 times, that is because when I attempted to apply my PIN code, I was given 3, yes, 3 different amounts for the same original booking( same specifics)within the same phone call.
I did hear they were having trouble with the Pluto pin code.
#1 -was at least $1500.00 more than the original $5999.00 ( supervisor at that time and I both suspected it was being applied over 2008 room rates which had been added in the system that very same day.)
It does sound like the newly added room rates were part of the problem.
#2 - around $ 5,700.00 - as I posted earlier( still wasn't a 40% discount based on room rate math. ( this is the amount that "reappeared "in their system this week, according to guest services)
I'm not surprised this is the one that showed up as it is the most logical one. The one thing about the codes is that they are not easy to figure out but you can tell by the whole package discount compared to rack rates that there is a discount. *To all those that don't understand codes and discounts and special offers* The prices all work out to about the same! Yes, some are a little better than others and you can save a few hundred here or there but you are going to pay around the same (less than full price rack rate) for any 'discount' package. 40% off does not mean you get 40% off of the final package value no matter what. If 'Sallydisney' pays the non-discount price of $4000 for her vacation and 'Susiedisneypincodequeen' uses the 40% off pincode, she does NOT automatically get the exact same package for $2000 less. It just doesn't work like that! What usually happens, is it works out that you get an upgraded room for standard room pricing or something similar.
#3 - was $ 3329.00? - I have no clue but that was my supposed final answer at the time I hung up, again, they only read what's on the screen so I had to go with it.
I agree, who wouldn't go with the cheaper one!? Of course, being half of the other quotes, you would (as you were) be suspicious and take all precautions with documentation. But you would know that the screenshot isn't going to be the saving grace from a $3000 undercharge.
What I ended up with was around $2,800.00 on the website and all the confirmations they sent me.
How did it get down to $2800 from the already too low $3329? I'm lost there.
Yes, I suspected a system glitch, and I called to keep rechecking , at least 3 times over 1 month. What was I supposed to say to CRO outlander " Um, I think I owe you guys $3,000.00." In my book, they had the opportunity to "catch it".
No, I am not suggesting that you tell them you think you owe them $3000. You already knew that. My point was, at what point would it have been 'okay' for them to have found the error? If on the very first time that you called CRO they said 'I'm sorry, we've found an error on your account and you owe us $3000.' Would you have been as upset? You knew all along that it was a glitch and the possibility of them discovering it was very real. I am just trying to understand if it was the timing of the discovery by Disney or the discovery itself that is causing the grief.
Yes, I am upset with the problem itself, because I feel a company of that magnitude should have better quality control, and better IT systems for that matter. I have had no problems when I stay at Holiday Inn.For a company such as Disney that prides itself on how it runs its business, seems like way too many widespread problems, but that is just my opinion. If the DIS members are a very, very small sample size of Disney's customer base, and we hear of this many problems ( possibly recent, I haven't followed that long,) but from what I see people post, it seems it has started to deteriorate of late.
I see you answered my previous question here. Actually, I can't even begin to address your issue if you feel that a comparison of staying at a Holiday Inn is comparable to staying at Disney.
And , yes, I am the most upset about the very, very late notice, as well as the fact that, had I ,myself , not called concierge and CRO 3 days ago to find out where my final documents were, I would never have known about the "balance" until I was in Florida, standing at a check-in desk being humiliated and probably screaming my head off in front of my children and everyone else.
As I mentioned previously, it really is too bad that Disney didn't discover this sooner. My guess is, the final 'check' for them comes somewhere right about when the itineraries are being printed up. That is probably why you didn't get yours. That is only my assumption but really, knowing you had a glitch price, I think you should have suspected (as you did, otherwise you wouldn't have called AGAIN) that there was still a chance they were going to discover the error. Whether it was 45, 30, 10 days out or at check in, preparation for the inevitable would have saved a lot of headache and hassle.
To coin a phrase they are running it like a " Mickey Mouse" operation, pun intended.
And the vast majority of the time, things go perfectly smooth.
What if it was not me, who was "aware" it may have been a glitch, but some poor first timer, non-DISer, less educated, less enlightened to the "wonderful world of Disney", they would be scr***d. Call me Underdog if you want, but no business should run that way, let alone Disney. Yes, I hold them to a higher standard, I believe they like that position.
I hold them to a higher standard as well and nothing here has changed that for me. I think an unusual set of circumstances occurred here and both parties had a part in how things evolved.
And , don't get me wrong, I don't believe the whole corporation is that way, but when you have a single pivotal department, such as Central Reservations, and poor management in that area to boot, it will be the beginning of the end for them. Especially if all of the management above is not watching.
I see it as having helped WDW, free of charge of course, because if it is true that they monitor these boards, I have just done the job for them, that they actually pay someone who works for thewm to do....
What if I hadn't posted? Would the next person it happened to post? Would the problem get corrected?
So, You're welcome WDW.
I'm sure they appreciate all you've done for them.
Outlander, Quid Pro Quo? What would you have done?
I think you've got the idea by now of what I would have done. For those who don't want to read or like to draw conclusions, I'll outline it here:
If I decided I wanted to take advantage of the mistake, I would try to ride it as long as I could but I would fully, unquestionably, be prepared to pay the fair price. Even if it was 10 days away from my vacation. Even if it was at check-in.
This isn't like the wrong price ringing up at the registers at Target or a $25 or $50 difference at the Holiday Inn. It was a very large difference and the answer lies somewhere in the middle.
I have no doubt that Disney will make some compromises for you because unlike most people here, I still believe they want to try to make things right. Of course, just like in the news, it's the dirt that gets the headlines so I doubt we'll get much of the good of Disney. C'est la vie.
I truly hope you have a magical vacation with your family.
I agree, dburg did a great job explaining the process.
It's amazing how calming posting on the DIS can be
