8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC Part 15

[brack]

Good Monday from just outside Hedgesville, WV.

 

[tigger137]

Just duplicating another of my posts on the WB thread:

Hello WB'ers,

My family's on the EB Panama and just heard last night about the $100/person increase. I've been reading posts and agree that this doesn't seem to add up. According to Disney, our family of four's total taxes just increased from $1,412 to $1,812, or $453/person, which is a 28% total increase (and by some estimates posted here a 100% increase of the Panama share). I understand that the "terms and conditions" allow for it, but it really seems wrong when Disney chooses to sell these cruises 1-1/2 years out and sit on our deposits.

Anyway, there are some direct contact/phone numbers at DCLnews.com that I haven't seen anyone else post, so I thought I'd provide them:

http://www.dclnews.com/ContactUs.aspx#contactForm

I know we're a long way off, so maybe Disney will work the issue out, but if it still seems to receive unsatisfactory responses, I may contact BBB.org.

Joel

Joel

Thank you for this information.
If as individuals we all get unsatisfactory responses from DCL, as I have had, I wondered if we could organise a mass e-mail bombardment. For example, as many of us as possible to send the same e-mail to the same address on the same day - perhaps so they are waiting for the person when they arrive on a Monday morning, something like that? I didn't know who we could send to, other than the general DCL Guest Communications address I have. But now I'm wondering, what about using the form on the link you've given us, and send them to Jason Lasecki, the PR Director?

It might be better if we could send direct e-mails rather than using the contact form. Or send to both. Could anyone get hold of a direct e-mail address for this man?

 

[goofyforlife]

But now I'm wondering, what about using the form on the link you've given us, and send them to Jason Lasecki, the PR Director?

It might be better if we could send direct e-mails rather than using the contact form. Or send to both. Could anyone get hold of a direct e-mail address for this man?

PERSONAL EMAILS FOR DISNEY EMPLOYEES NOT PERMITTED TO BE POSTED ON THE DIS BOARDS.

 

[m&m's mom]

Just duplicating another of my posts on the WB thread:



Joel

Thank you for this information.
If as individuals we all get unsatisfactory responses from DCL, as I have had, I wondered if we could organise a mass e-mail bombardment. For example, as many of us as possible to send the same e-mail to the same address on the same day - perhaps so they are waiting for the person when they arrive on a Monday morning, something like that? I didn't know who we could send to, other than the general DCL Guest Communications address I have. But now I'm wondering, what about using the form on the link you've given us, and send them to Jason Lasecki, the PR Director?

It might be better if we could send direct e-mails rather than using the contact form. Or send to both. Could anyone get hold of a direct e-mail address for this man?

Sure. Just say the word and we can start the bombardment. I agree that it is much better to send to a particular contact.

 

[PBader]

Good Monday from just outside Hedgesville, WV.

Brack I was so sorry to read that your family will not be joining us on the TOAL. I was looking forward to meeting you-- you will be missed



Happy Birthday Cheryl!

 

[pdarrah]

Thank you for this information.
If as individuals we all get unsatisfactory responses from DCL, as I have had, I wondered if we could organise a mass e-mail bombardment. For example, as many of us as possible to send the same e-mail to the same address on the same day - perhaps so they are waiting for the person when they arrive on a Monday morning, something like that? I didn't know who we could send to, other than the general DCL Guest Communications address I have. But now I'm wondering, what about using the form on the link you've given us, and send them to Jason Lasecki, the PR Director?

It might be better if we could send direct e-mails rather than using the contact form. Or send to both. Could anyone get hold of a direct e-mail address for this man?

I definitely think bombarding DCL with a direct email and maybe even snail mail would be a good idea. Has anyone put together a good general letter on this (on this thread or over on the westbound) that we could use? I started trying to put something together, but kept seeing posts that seemed to phrase it so much better than I was! If someone is willing to post a basic boilerplate letter - then each of us could use it as a starting point and add whatever other comments, personalization we want.

I suspect that Disney enters every phone call, letter and email into a tracking system - that is standard procedure at most large companies and I would be shocked if DCL didn't follow something similar. It there is a sudden spike in complaints for these two sailings it should show up on a report to management at some point (weekly?, monthly?) If management sees a problem, there is a better chance that someone who actually knows something can address the issue.

I would suggest that we all continue to call, write, email to the various addresses we know. Once someone digs up a good address for a mass campaign, we can all resend the same letters to that location/person.

I've gotta believe that a few hundred complaints all for just 2 sailings should become noticable in their system!

Pamela (pdarrah)

 

[m&m's mom]

I can guarantee you they log each and every email. My company has a similar system. And, I am sure they run reports. The difference would be if we sent to general email, it would be tracked. If we sent to a manager, it would higher on the hassle factor for them, but probably not be tracked the same way.
Obviously, it would be better to write individual letters, but the same letter would impact as well.

 

[buckifan]

About the banner....you can find it on the WISH forum site. I think it's one of the sticky threads under "Events and Competitions". Mickey '08 refers to the full Marathon (26.2 miles) that takes place at WDW in Jan'08. Donald is the half (13.1 miles) and Goofy is for people who do both (39.3 miles over 2 days!) I have never done a marathon before, but was so inspired watching my daughter run one at WDW this past January, I have been training since then and am now scheduled to do my first in Jan '08. I will be doing it with another DISer (and throngs of other DISers from the WISH board) who will also be on our PC sailing (padisneyfan). That's one of the reasons it has been so hard to keep up with this thread.......our training takes hours and hours each week. I'm 54.....Nancy is a few years older...and this will be our first full marathon. I train in NC and she trains in PA, but we did a half marathon together in April in PA and it was as if we had been walking together all our lives. if you've never been to the WISH board, check it out....they are amazing folks over there.

Thanks for the info. I didn't realize that was for the marathon....but I guess that makes sense, given the fact you only see Mickey's feet! (I'm a little slow). I still think its really cute!

 

[mkygrl]

-ing

Happy Birthday and Pixie Dust Wishes!!!


(Diane had to borrow THAT is such a perfect cake!)

Chrissie

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

Just got this in my email.

 

[mkygrl]

OMG!!!

Just opened my ME info/tix!

How is it someone can go to WDW or DCL (ok for me that one has only been once!) and get so excited like it is you first time going!!!!


OH and some one asked me about a Vermont/Montreal trip report (Disneyvegas? I think??? Blonde moment!?) Where would I put a non-disney trip report? Here? Somewhere else?


Chrissie

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

Just a quick FYI - I have no response yet, but I took a chance on email address, and sent the following email to what I considered to be the email address of the President of Disney Cruise Line:

Dear Mr. McAlpin,

I am taking the chance that this is your correct email address, and I hope that it will elicit a better response than the ones we have already been given.

Let me start out by saying that my family has been on many Disney Cruise, we love the product, and have never sailed on another cruise line.

Recently, many friends as well as myself who are cruising on the May Panama Canal Repositioning Cruise received communication that our cruise cost was increasing by $100 per person. The reason given was due to an increase in the taxes paid for passage of the Panama Canal.

Upon researching this issue, we all discovered that the Canal had changed the method for calculating payment for passage from a tonnage charge to a per berth charge for cruise ships. The new per berth charge that took the place of the tonnage charge is the $100 per berth fee.

Since we are all aware that DCL had to take into account the cost of passage of the canal when pricing this cruise, we feel we should be charged for the difference between the new fee, and the old fee, if any. However, it appears that DCL has not only charged us for the old fee in the cost of our cruise, but now added the new fee as if passage for the canal was not originally accounted for.

We have contacted several people both through travel agents and with DCL. The only answers we get are boilerplate non-responses that have left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. This is not the level of service we have come to expect from Disney Cruise Line, or Disney in general. Many of the affected passengers have banded together to suggest some sort of petition, or contact to business agencies or the press in regards to how DCL is being unresponsive to this issue.

In short, we want to be treated fairly, as intelligent adults. While we understand the language of the contract with DCL for our cruise (yes, some of us are even attorneys), and have no problem with DCL passing on an increase over which they have no control, the current situation does not logically seem to fall into that category.

I look forward to hearing from you, and hope you can help in this matter.

Sincerely,

John W. Halkias

It has been several hours since I sent it, and it has not bounced back as undeliverable, so I will let you know what happens!

This if from John on the WB thread. I hope that he does mind sharing it with us. If Mr. McAlpin did get this it will be indeed interesting what his response will be.

 

[dahuffy]

Just got this in my email.

Huh,day after my 50th birthday.

 

[got2travel]

This if from John on the WB thread. I hope that he does mind sharing it with us. If Mr. McAlpin did get this it will be indeed interesting what his response will be.

A very well worded letter. Can't wait to see what response, if any, is given.

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

I just wrote my own letter that will be sent to Mr. McAlpin if indeed we have his email address. Please feel free to comment, change or steal (we are s) for yourselves.

Dear Mr. McAlpin

Our family is booked on the Magic for next summers repositioning cruise from Los Angeles to Port Canaveral. We are all very excited about yet another magical cruise aboard one of your ships.

I recently received a letter from DCL informing our family that we are now responsible for a $100/passenger charge to transit the Panama Canal. I have researched this and indeed the government of Panama has restructured the transit charge from a Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) tonnage basis to a per passenger charge. We understand this was developed so that the cruise industry can pass the fee of transit on directly to the passenger instead the cruise line paying for this fee. We do not have a problem with this. As a passenger, I expect to pay for my transit through the Panama Canal either from my ticket price or the individual passenger fee. After all the Magic is not going to go through the canal for free is it. This part of the letter is totally acceptable.

My concern is on how and when I should expect reimbursement for the portion of my original ticket price that was slated for payment of this transit. Obviously transit charges based on Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) tonnage were used to calculate our original ticket price. From reading the available information on this suggests that the new method of calculating (per passenger) is about 20% more than the PC/UMS method of calculation. What I am interested in is whether the previously charged transit fee (~$80/passenger) will be deducted from my final payment or applied as shipboard credit. As you know this is an expensive endeavor for our family and we need to budget for this trip well in advance of sailing. Thank you in advance for your timely attention to this matter.

Thank you,
XXXXX

 

[DisneyWatchMan]

Well said!

 

[castoff]

Belated Birthday Wishes............to those that I have missed recently.

 

[goingsouth]

We had paid in full back in May and happily get to avoid the 100 fee pp.

 

[castoff]

The odds of being struck by lightning are 1 in 83,930

The odds of being struck twice by lightning twice are 1 in 9,000,000+

The odds of a meteor landing on your house are 1 in 182,138,880,000,000



You might wonder why I am posting these odds. It is because even though these are long odds they can still happen.

I say that because it appears now that the odds of the Dodd family making this TOAL are really, really slim. Things with our schedule for our work make it almost impossible to go. So impossible that we really have decided to rearrange our vacation plans for 2008.

The one slim chance is if we get transferred again after only two years. If that were to happen it would be announced in May of 2008 just a week before the 90 day mark for the TOAL. Coincidence? Maybe and maybe not. If that happens then we will see if it can be possible but the odds are slim.

But for right now we are making new plans for other TOALs. Like Andy the VM I do plan to stay on this thread but not quite as active as before. I do have another thread for our December cruise that needs attention.

Also I am going to make the September 3rd meet at DTD.

Thanks for all the fun times. I really wanted to make this cruise.

Sorry Captain but Mr Gibbs has to miss this sailing.

Sorry to hear this Brack. Everything does happen for a reason. Hope to sail with your family in the future.

It would appear that I have been found out. All is well, we just got back from our first DVC trip at BWV. It was lots of fun.

Although I don't expect to be able to keep up with the crowd we are starting to get exciting again and can't wait to fly to CA, visit DL again and get back home to what Sarah refers to as "Her Ship".

We didn't sail the Magic this year for the first time in 5 and we miss her a lot. 08/08 can't come fast enough for us.

I hope all is well with you Lisa. I see from a recent post by Crash that you lead the pack with almost 5k posts. Wow! You have been busy.

Just wanted to say Hope you join the thread more often.

I am currently working on that same puzzle at our place in the poconos. It is a hard one.

Great Job!!!

Thanks, the one I am working on now is even harder. Oh why am I doing this to my eyes?


Dahuffy: Omg those pics of your bears are adorable ! You are very talented and creative.


Tom31b: Did someone mention about an Aruba tax?


Esteri: I need to talk with DH and ST about shirts. I am in but who knows if I can talk ST into wearing anything I want her to.

 

[castoff]

Morning Pirates....



Tom, Sounds like Alicia has a serious physical ailment.... Maybe one of our fine medical consulting team on the TOAL can help her out...



mmmm looked at the site... Wouldn't 60x60 be 240 threads maybe?



yay Dante....

Abby has not been crated during the day for a little over a month now.

When we were in NY we always crated Dante. Couldn't baby proof enough for a spilt level. He likes his crate, He goes potty indoors so I really wanted him to have some freedom. We were gone 5 hours...........I wouldn't want to push much more then that.

After lurking since the winter - I have decided to start posting. My family (myself, DH, 2DD ages 4 and 7) will be joining you on this cruise. We are very excited and can't get over all the valuable info found on this thread. I have to admit I usually spend time on the DVC boards, this one always seemed too intimidating with the number of posts. Not sure if I'll be able to keep up!

I have a DD who will turn 15 on cruise. Don't be a stranger, jump right on in.