After WDW Guest Communications?

[scrapbookworm]

How did you book your vacation? Did you use a travel agent? I don't understand their argument either it was last year's dining plan- that makes no sense. ???

 

[Mischa]

Michelle,

I can relate to a disappointing Disney vacation at Saratoga. This past December, my DH & I went to WDW. It was our first trip as DVC members, our first stay at Saratoga, & our first Disney Christmas vacation. Our very first vacation at Disney (only 6 months before) was very magical and fun and needed that again.

We had just been informed by our doctor that after years and years of trying and spending lots & lots of money, we would never be able to have our own child (and also plans to adopt had fallen through). We were devestated! We love kids and have been wanting at least one child for so long; we decided we needed to get away. We thought about our Disney vacation earlier in the year and decided we needed to go again. We were so looking forward to this vacation - wanting (needing) to feel the magic of Disney.

well, to make a long story short...almost everything went wrong. It rained almost every day (and night) we were there. (I KNOW that is NOT Disney's fault and I didn't blame them for that!) But tickets & other things that were suppose to be there weren't, the CMs (at the parks) were rude, the other guests at the parks were RUDE, but the biggest was having to wait for the bus from Epcot to Saratoga. We waited for over an hour! And to make matters worse, DH & I both got sick just before we left Disney and were sick through the holidays. Actually the only nice part was being at Saratoga.

I complained to a CM at Saratoga and she told me to email and write letters. She also told me not to be surprised if they didn't respond soon. But that I would get a response. So I wrote an email and also mailed letters to Disney. It took them awhile to respond, but I did receive a phone call; the CM was very nice and listened to my complaint again. We received a $25 gift card, which we thought was very nice. (We weren't expecting anything). I just hope the bus system improves! That was my main reason for writing - since we plan on going back to Disney many more times!

Anyway, Michelle, I am sorry to hear about your trip and I hope your son will be ok.

 

[karibritt01]

I know you must have been vey frustrated - especially with the DDP. I would have been in serious trouble, since we don't use/carry credit cards, and we didn't set up our key to charge. We went to the parks each day with only about $50 in our pockets. We would have been washing dishes if our DDP wouldn't go through! Disney should have been able to fix that for you, and it is poor on their part to have it continue through your entire vacation. I hope you do decide to try DDP again, as it is wonderful when working correctly! Since you are a DVC member, maybe you could try the Hilton Head resort next time, and enjoy the beach. Hugs for you and Justin.

 

[dsnymomof4]

Wow - OP - so sorry to hear about all of your troubles. Prayers for Justin We are headed down to SSR for our first DVC stay also for Easter and I would be devastated if everything went wrong as it did for you. I think everyone is right about having high expectations about WDW. I do think it was nice of them to give you the passes and gc, but if you still don't feel good about the situation, then keep on writing. At least it will bring some situations to their attention and hopefully will prevent the same problems from happenning to others. I understand what you said about missing so much time from your vacation. When we were there in 2004, our flight home was cancelled due to a hurricane and I spent our last evening there on the phone for hours trying to find alternate transportation home. While this was different than your situation(it was not anyone's fault), I felt a little cheated out of our vacation because of the time we missed having fun. And if that time were missed due to a problem that should have been corrected immediately, as in your situation, I think it would have made it so much worse. But, even if you don't get any further satisfaction from this situation, please don't let it ruin your future vacations - they can only get better, right? Good luck to you!

 

[Princess Bella Luna]

I really didn't read the complaints - too long for me. But I will happily take your park hopper and gift certificate if you didn't give them to the first person who asked.

PM me for address!

 

[AlwaysEeyore]

I'm so sorry to hear about your awful trip. Just remember tomorrow is another day and the chances of you ever having an awful trip again are very slim. But if you are looking to get rid of your DVC membership I'm looking for a resale! PM me

 

[Dis1978]

That does sound like a pretty bad vacation. I would be complaining lots until I got some recompense. I agree that when you write your letter of complaint it is best to keep it reasonably short, maybe a page to a page and a half, and non emotional. However, I would just add that your son is ill/(disabled?) and how much you were all looking forward to this vacation. When I have complained in similar circumstances, I usually mention the words breach of contract and loss of enjoyment of vacation. Just to remind them of their contractual obligations. Also perhaps you could look up the law on this in your state?
How is your son doing now?'Is his leg better? It One of my DS was disabled for quite a long time and had to use a wheelchair when we were at disney. I understand the sadness you must have felt when remembering the previous visit when he was well. I felt just the same.
We have also had a very bad year with other DS being seriously ill. It's so hard when kids have been ill because you want everything to be completely perfect on vacation and of course that is not possible. I know I strive for perfection for the kids in our vacations and then obviously am going to be disappointed.
I hope Saratoga springs was a nice resort because that is where we are staying part of the time!

 

[Bethnde1]

I know how bad your time was wasted. I've been there, you see, we went to Dw this past December and I decided that since my wheelchair wasn't delivered to me before we left, that we would just rent a motorized chair there. Of course, rentals are handled with vendors outside of WD. I won't get into it all, but we lost 2 1/2 days of me going without any "working" chair, no one would even give me a credit break until my next visit, lol, my lil one had to go off with other relatives, and I sat around waiting and waiting. It is hard to fathom.

We had tons of problems with DW themselves. We had lost packages by the hotel (one of which we didn't receive until 2 months later they finally tracked it), We had lunch reservations with the new baby einstein and jojo circus characters. Our reservation for lunch was at 2. Of course no one told us that they leave at 2, because they have to be in the parade.....UGHHH what's the point in paying extra, telling us to come at 2, when they know the characters leave at that time--needless to say, this made me see smoke circles come from my head. I was lied to in dtd christmas store, just to charge me more, until I complained with the manager, and the horrible moments go on and on.
but sometimes we have to think of how large of a crowd they do service. Also understand that nothing is perfect, especially computer systems. I also have to admit that after going to dW 6 times prior, I must say the last trip was the only one with problems.

It hurts even more, when you don't just have the money to go there any time soon, but look into using the free stuff they gave you. I pray that some day you and the family can go back and try it again, I'm sure you'd love it if you have a good time, which actually does happen!

I'm so sorry to hear about your son!!!

 

[klmall]

Michelle - I am so sorry that everything went wrong on your vacation. As others posted we hope, we plan and we count on things happening pretty much as they should for our Disney vacations and when they go royally wrong we are devastated! It makes it worse that Disney has that golden reputation for service and satisfaction.

Again, not to hijack your thread....but DH vowed to never return to Disney after a disastrous stay at AKL in 2002. We cancelled our Swan discounted reservations when I got a postcard for the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I got so excited for our stay but it went downhill after we were first assigned to a 'savannah view' room that directly faced a metal wall of doors and then got moved to a room so far from everything it felt we were in the next county. It got worse as I realized we were in a deluxe resort room that had a balcony view of a divided highway and countless other balconies. Everyone sent their screaming children out on their balconies to have tantrums and conducted cell phone conversations at all hours for the world to hear. Since we had stayed at other deluxe Disney resorts before I was horrified at what Disney called deluxe at AKL. My husband was disgusted and refused to consider returning.

After we returned I e-mailed a 1 page letter to Disney and they promptly called and we discussed my concerns. I was very surprised when 4 day Parkhoppers appeared in the mail and a letter of apology for an unsatisfactory stay. They also gave us a phone number to call after we made our next reservation.

I did convince DH to return when we came to Orlando in 2005 for a convention and for our Anniversary in 2006.

Give yourself time and think about what is important for your family's vacations in the future. The answers will come to you!