2 WI Adults Spring Break @ Disney A Mar '12 PTR *Update 3/12 We're Back!!*

[JessicaKnits]

Todays challenge is....

Your favorite place to eat in a Disney Park.


Hmm...difficult, as most of my favorite restaurants were at the resort hotels. But, if I had to choose a favorite in park place, I think it is Chefs de France. Awesome food, and awesomely hot waiters!

 

[JessicaKnits]

Well...I guess it wasn't meant to be. Called Disney today as it has been one week since they told me they were going to re-issue a new gift card and express mail it to me...and no gift card. Called...and was told that replacement gift card was never issued. Fabulous. And to add insult to injury, I got an email asking me to review my recent purchase. Again, the phone agent was completely unconcerned that the gift card is missing. I had asked simply for a refund. I got no appology that any of this happened, and attitude when I asked for a refund. I explained that since this first gift card is obviously missing or lost in the mail, or was never sent (they will not admit that any of this is the case) and since a replacement has not even been issued and we leave on Friday, that a full refund was the only way to make me whole. The gift card really is useless if it arrives after our trip. Still, they wouldn't deactivate the card and process a refund. I finally had to tell her that if they wouldn't issue a refund I had no choice but to dispute the charge with my credit card company. Only then she offered to deactivate the card and issue a refund.

Does anyone know if you can buy Disney gift cards at the Disney Store? We don't have one here, but there is one in Chicago where we fly out of and we would have enough time to stop.

I just can't even begin to explain how upset I am by all of this. However, I am determined that I will NOT let this effect our trip, even though in all likely hood I will be $500 lighter in the pockets when we go depending on how quickly they process the refund.

 

[Lidian]

Well...I guess it wasn't meant to be. Called Disney today as it has been one week since they told me they were going to re-issue a new gift card and express mail it to me...and no gift card. Called...and was told that replacement gift card was never issued. Fabulous. And to add insult to injury, I got an email asking me to review my recent purchase. Again, the phone agent was completely unconcerned that the gift card is missing. I had asked simply for a refund. I got no appology that any of this happened, and attitude when I asked for a refund. I explained that since this first gift card is obviously missing or lost in the mail, or was never sent (they will not admit that any of this is the case) and since a replacement has not even been issued and we leave on Friday, that a full refund was the only way to make me whole. The gift card really is useless if it arrives after our trip. Still, they wouldn't deactivate the card and process a refund. I finally had to tell her that if they wouldn't issue a refund I had no choice but to dispute the charge with my credit card company. Only then she offered to deactivate the card and issue a refund.

Does anyone know if you can buy Disney gift cards at the Disney Store? We don't have one here, but there is one in Chicago where we fly out of and we would have enough time to stop.

I just can't even begin to explain how upset I am by all of this. However, I am determined that I will NOT let this effect our trip, even though in all likely hood I will be $500 lighter in the pockets when we go depending on how quickly they process the refund.

I'm sure the Disney Store sells gift cards, because I can buy them at Krogers, Target, etc., locally. They are probably better at the Disney Store, since the only ones I can find at in $50 increments.

I'm really sorry that you're having such horrible luck with the gift cards, and were LIED to on top of that! That's just bad customer service. And since the cards can be deactivated, they have no reason to behave the way they did. I don't think I'll ever order a gift card online after your experience. Not worth the horrible hassel you had to go through.

Fingers are crossed they were honest this time and are issuing you a refund!!!!

 

[DMGeurts]

Well...I guess it wasn't meant to be. Called Disney today as it has been one week since they told me they were going to re-issue a new gift card and express mail it to me...and no gift card. Called...and was told that replacement gift card was never issued. Fabulous. And to add insult to injury, I got an email asking me to review my recent purchase. Again, the phone agent was completely unconcerned that the gift card is missing. I had asked simply for a refund. I got no appology that any of this happened, and attitude when I asked for a refund. I explained that since this first gift card is obviously missing or lost in the mail, or was never sent (they will not admit that any of this is the case) and since a replacement has not even been issued and we leave on Friday, that a full refund was the only way to make me whole. The gift card really is useless if it arrives after our trip. Still, they wouldn't deactivate the card and process a refund. I finally had to tell her that if they wouldn't issue a refund I had no choice but to dispute the charge with my credit card company. Only then she offered to deactivate the card and issue a refund.

Does anyone know if you can buy Disney gift cards at the Disney Store? We don't have one here, but there is one in Chicago where we fly out of and we would have enough time to stop.

I just can't even begin to explain how upset I am by all of this. However, I am determined that I will NOT let this effect our trip, even though in all likely hood I will be $500 lighter in the pockets when we go depending on how quickly they process the refund.

I am so sorry Jess. I do know that Target does sell $50 Disney GCs. They usually display them with the other GCs on a back end cap in electronics. I also noticed yesterday that they had them on a front end cap on a check lane in a $25 incriment. I am not sure that either of those helps you, since you want such a large denomination.

I can totally relate that Disney was horrible to me when I tried to return something - I think it was even your PTR that posted about it in.

D~

 

[JessicaKnits]

I'm sure the Disney Store sells gift cards, because I can buy them at Krogers, Target, etc., locally. They are probably better at the Disney Store, since the only ones I can find at in $50 increments.

I'm really sorry that you're having such horrible luck with the gift cards, and were LIED to on top of that! That's just bad customer service. And since the cards can be deactivated, they have no reason to behave the way they did. I don't think I'll ever order a gift card online after your experience. Not worth the horrible hassel you had to go through.

Fingers are crossed they were honest this time and are issuing you a refund!!!!

I never would either! Since they were kind enough to send me an email asking me to review a product that I will never receive, I gave them a 1 star review and basically said I would not use their service, nor recommend their service to anyone else.

I am so sorry Jess. I do know that Target does sell $50 Disney GCs. They usually display them with the other GCs on a back end cap in electronics. I also noticed yesterday that they had them on a front end cap on a check lane in a $25 incriment. I am not sure that either of those helps you, since you want such a large denomination.

I can totally relate that Disney was horrible to me when I tried to return something - I think it was even your PTR that posted about it in.

D~

You did post here! I am just shocked. I honestly think that they outsource to a third party telecommunications company for their Disney Store employees, the service is that bad. Nothing Disney about it. My only consolation is that in one week we are going to be in the greatest place on earth with the greatest SERVICE on earth!

 

[JessicaKnits]

A meet and greet character that isn't available but should be.

Answer:

I think they should have a Hercules character. A well chiseled hunk of a man wandering about in gladiator gear. Yes, I know its a family friendly park...but that would be pretty amazing!

 

[Lidian]

A meet and greet character that isn't available but should be.

Answer:

I think they should have a Hercules character. A well chiseled hunk of a man wandering about in gladiator gear. Yes, I know its a family friendly park...but that would be pretty amazing!

I'd stand in line for that.

 

[JessicaKnits]

I'd stand in line for that.

Apparently, according to a co-worker, they used to HAVE a Hercules back when the movie came out, but he was apparently pretty puny and had a SHIRT on that had the outlines of muscles. How disappointing.

 

[JessicaKnits]

Favorite Disney Hotel To Stay In.

Well, stayed onsite at Pop Century. It was awesome, but not really our style. I think we will enjoy Coronado much better, but there was definitely NOTHING wrong with Pop.

My dream hotel to stay at is the Contemporary at Disney World, or the Disneyland Hotel in Disneyland.

 

[JessicaKnits]

Time for a quick trip update! One week from right this moment, we should be finishing up our welcome lunch at Earl of Sandwich.

I have almost everything done and plan to get the bulk of our packing done today! It was NINETY degrees in Florida yesterday (I have a co-worker there now!) and looking like it is going to be low to mid 80s, at least for our first few days. Right now, weather.com is saying that there will be isolated thunderstorms both our first and 2nd day...however upon closer inspection it is actually only a 30% chance of rain. So I am NOT going to worry about it, but we do have our ponchos this time...just in case.

Only major things left to do are little things, like picking up toiletries, packing all our summer clothes up, getting hair and nails done. Easy stuff. I only have three days left at work, so it will hopefully be easy to get through.

On a happier note, my refund from the Disney Store hit my account today. So we can finally put that issue to rest. Ok, maybe that deserves 2 bananas.

I have also been trying to come up with some names for both dining and trip reports. So far I am coming up empty. Any suggestions?

 

[Lidian]

Glad you finally got your refund! (Now the GC will show up Monday. )

I'm at a loss for suggestions on TR names for you. I have an idea of what mine will be called ... but I'm going to see if the trip picks it's own name out first. Maybe it will come to you on your trip?

I checked AccuWeather today and it looks like rain every day of our stay. But the other day when I checked, it was sunny and partly cloudy. I'll just wait until closer to the trip before I stress over weather. I know I won't be happy in the cheap ponchos around here, so I'll just buy a Disney one if it rains. I hear they're good quality (plus, it's Disney, so they're cute!).

This time next week, we'll be on our way back to the resort from Chef Mickey's. Actually, we'll probably BE at the resort. Swimming if it's nice out.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Ugh, I can't believe the drama with your gift card! At least the refund was processed! I'm around 99% positive that the Disney Store sells gift cards, so you could probably pick one up there. They DEFINITELY have them at Disney, if you want to get it there.

 

[DMGeurts]

Time for a quick trip update! One week from right this moment, we should be finishing up our welcome lunch at Earl of Sandwich.

I have almost everything done and plan to get the bulk of our packing done today! It was NINETY degrees in Florida yesterday (I have a co-worker there now!) and looking like it is going to be low to mid 80s, at least for our first few days. Right now, weather.com is saying that there will be isolated thunderstorms both our first and 2nd day...however upon closer inspection it is actually only a 30% chance of rain. So I am NOT going to worry about it, but we do have our ponchos this time...just in case.

Only major things left to do are little things, like picking up toiletries, packing all our summer clothes up, getting hair and nails done. Easy stuff. I only have three days left at work, so it will hopefully be easy to get through.

On a happier note, my refund from the Disney Store hit my account today. So we can finally put that issue to rest. Ok, maybe that deserves 2 bananas.

I have also been trying to come up with some names for both dining and trip reports. So far I am coming up empty. Any suggestions?

I am having the same issue, I have no idea what to name our TR.

Glad you finally got your refund! (Now the GC will show up Monday. )

I'm at a loss for suggestions on TR names for you. I have an idea of what mine will be called ... but I'm going to see if the trip picks it's own name out first. Maybe it will come to you on your trip?

I checked AccuWeather today and it looks like rain every day of our stay. But the other day when I checked, it was sunny and partly cloudy. I'll just wait until closer to the trip before I stress over weather. I know I won't be happy in the cheap ponchos around here, so I'll just buy a Disney one if it rains. I hear they're good quality (plus, it's Disney, so they're cute!).

This time next week, we'll be on our way back to the resort from Chef Mickey's. Actually, we'll probably BE at the resort. Swimming if it's nice out.

I agree, I think we will buy ponchos at Disney... I have heard they are much better quality than the ones you can get at the stores around here and also much cuter.

D~

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Ugh, I'm so sorry that the gift card never worked out. I'm glad they got your refund issued quickly though!

Yay for being so close to your trip! Try not to worry too much about the rain. We had a chance of rain every day (except for maybe one) and it rained two times during the entire trip, for about an hour each time. I hope you don't need the ponchos at all!

 

[JessicaKnits]

Glad you finally got your refund! (Now the GC will show up Monday. )

I'm at a loss for suggestions on TR names for you. I have an idea of what mine will be called ... but I'm going to see if the trip picks it's own name out first. Maybe it will come to you on your trip?

I checked AccuWeather today and it looks like rain every day of our stay. But the other day when I checked, it was sunny and partly cloudy. I'll just wait until closer to the trip before I stress over weather. I know I won't be happy in the cheap ponchos around here, so I'll just buy a Disney one if it rains. I hear they're good quality (plus, it's Disney, so they're cute!).

This time next week, we'll be on our way back to the resort from Chef Mickey's. Actually, we'll probably BE at the resort. Swimming if it's nice out.

Make sure to buy the Disney poncho and you will be fine. They are expensive. I got one from some store in downtown Disney because it was the closest place to run to from Raglan Road. It was the cheap yellow kind. Adam refused to buy one that night because he was still suffering from the dillusion that it would be the only time it rained on that trip, you know, with the three hurricanes right off the coast of Florida and all. By the next morning he finally gave in, and got a really cute Disney poncho. It was much cuter than my yellow one (there is a pic of a very unhappy me in my yellow poncho somewhere in this PTR) and I subsequently claimed his poncho as my own, claiming that the Disney one was much too cute for a boy to wear.

Ugh, I can't believe the drama with your gift card! At least the refund was processed! I'm around 99% positive that the Disney Store sells gift cards, so you could probably pick one up there. They DEFINITELY have them at Disney, if you want to get it there.

Thanks! I am thinking we will have enough time to stop by the Disney store on our way to Chicago, but if not we can get one at Downtown Disney!

I am having the same issue, I have no idea what to name our TR.



I agree, I think we will buy ponchos at Disney... I have heard they are much better quality than the ones you can get at the stores around here and also much cuter.

D~

They are cuter, but I think the quality is about the same. We have some pretty good ones here.

Ugh, I'm so sorry that the gift card never worked out. I'm glad they got your refund issued quickly though!

Yay for being so close to your trip! Try not to worry too much about the rain. We had a chance of rain every day (except for maybe one) and it rained two times during the entire trip, for about an hour each time. I hope you don't need the ponchos at all!

Thanks for reassuring. I keep trying to remind myself every day that the weatherman has on no less than 20 occassions said it was going to snow this winter. And it has only really snowed once. All the other times were just a little dusting.

 

[JessicaKnits]

Your favorite Disney park song.

Boy, these are all sooooo hard! I can't say I have a perfect song. I love the soundtrack to Wishes. But really, what gets me the most excited is that little man's voice when he is announcing the the Wishes Firework Spectacular will begin in X minutes. Oh my Lord, I turn into a 6 year old girl every time I hear it.

 

[JessicaKnits]

Oh United....our love/hate (currently HATE) relationship continues.

Today, while on lunch at work...I saw an 800 number ringing my cell. I usually never answer 800 numbers, since I know I don't owe anyone any money. Well, I googled the number and it came up as United Airlines, in sheer panic I picked up the phone, thinking it may possibly be something to do with our flights THIS Saturday, I answered it at the last possible second.

Aren't they tricky, deceptive little buggers. Everything with our flight THIS Saturday is just fine. But in addition to a schedule change on our outbound flight to California, they have completely cancelled our flight back to O'hare. Well, I had intentionally bought tickets on the LATEST flight back because our trip is so short. They are now offering us a crappy 11:00 AM return, so basically shortening our trip a full day. OR, I can take a flight out the following day, but we have to pay for the hotel for the extra night.

Oh United...

On one hand, I am happy, because I had toyed with the idea of flying back on Sunday, but the flights were $400 more. So, we are getting a bargain I guess.

But, I don't really want to shell out an extra $150 for another night in the hotel. Maybe I could get a room for one night on Hotwire? Maybe Disney will come out with a great discount for our dates and make the decision EASY? Uh...well, I guess we will have to sort everything out when we get back from FLORIDA!

 

[JessicaKnits]

Your Favorite Park Shop.

I sadly don't have any pictures, but it is definitely Mitsukoshi in Epcot. I could spend hours wandering about in there and just fawning over all the neat stuff they have. They also have pick a pearl, which was a really fun and neat experience.

Mine was a pretty decent size, but while they were cutting my pearl, a little girl, MAYBE 2, picked a huge silver pearl. Lucky lady.

I had this set in a horseshoe pendant and I will pin it inside my wedding dress for good luck.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Ugh, how annoying!!! What do you think you're going to choose? I'd definitely vote for the extra day, hopefully Disney will have a good price available!

 

[JessicaKnits]

So, we are back onto the love side of things with United Airlines. After I had more time to look over United's website, they offer an 11:20 PM flight back on Saturday. Magical!! It was a quick phone call back to United and the adjustment was made. So, we get an extra day technically, without having to pay the price! All is well again.

And, I appologize in advance for the barrage of updates that are about to happen. Have to get this bad boy finished TODAY!!