Anyone Else Getting Fed up With Disney CM'S?

[julielovestigger]

I called Disney Dining yesterday to confirm my entire list of ADRs. The first CM I spoke with would not go over my list with me. She said the intent of the Disney Dining line was to make reservations, not confirm them.

It was obvious I was going to get nowhere with her, so I said thank you, hung up, and immediately called back. I spoke with a CM who was more than happy to go over the list with me! The first CM was not filled with Disney magic!

 

[bicker]

Y'know what they say: Magic doesn't buy groceries!

These stories sure make me appreciate the such consistently great service I receive from DVC Member Services. I think if I didn't have that I'd be willing to buy a subscription that gives guests access to a customer service line where the operators don't get bonus incentives based on how much they sell. It seems you always get better customer service when the cost of customer service is separated out from the cost of what you want the service on.

 

[budbeerlady]

Hugs and pixie dust to you Meezers, that is a horrible spot to be in. As one who has been there and done that, good luck with your job. I was once (ok a couple of times) so verbally insulted and acausted by my boss. I was determined he had to fire me, I wouldnt give him the satisfaction of having me quit. The only way I plugged through those months was knowing that is @#!@ him off every day I showed up at work. Funny how time works out, I have his nice office and glass topped cherry desk these days. You get what you sow but sometimes it take a little while . Good luck to you! (Just so you know I do smile every time I unlock my office door )

 

[DW mouser]

Budbeer Lady, Way to go girl!!!!!

 

[Sammie]

How can they get away with this? I don't understand how they can charge you fully for something you have not received and use your money. I'm truly disappointed in this policy and I hope it backfires and they lose a lot of business over it. I can absolutely see giving them a credit card to hold and if you don't show up charge the five or ten dollar standard per person, but to charge for an entire meal 5 months before you eat it, is absurd.

As far as the CM, oh dear lord, it's a crap shoot plain and simple. They wonder why I call so much, it's because I'm waiting to talk to someone who knows the answer. The last guy I talked to laughed when I told him! If they're not being rude, then they don't know what their talking about or they're incredibly nice and are willing to do anything to help. I certainly don't get the same great service with a smile they use to give, it's such a shame because that's what drew me to Disney to begin with, their incredible customer service.

The truly sad thing about CRT is this credit card situation would have never come to pass if you had not had a group of people booking this restaurant and giving them away to others. If only people would do what is right and within the guidelines set forth by Disney so much of this could be eliminated.

As more and more people try to scam Disney those that try to do what is right get punished too. It is very sad. And I am afraid you will see more and more situations such as this as Disney tries to regain control.

 

[PatriciaH]

I know there are some good disney cm's that know their stuff, but I can tell there are more and more of them that are only in it for the money and are not even trying to be helpful!!

Sorry but this just made me lol considering they make about $6.85/hr.

Since I was required to attend Disney U several years ago I have some idea of the dress codes, etc. For example...only recently have men been allowed any type of facial hair.

But does anyone know what the starting pay is...and can you still "work your way up"? But how long does that take and can you afford to take the time and effort for something that might happen someday?

Meezers, Starting pay for most hourly positions at WDW is right above minimum wage- $6.85 /hr. It is a bit more for things like lifeguards and concierge/guest service (maybe 40 cents more an hour.) Because cost of living in Central Florida has gone way up, most people can not afford to work for this. That is why the CM quality has gone down. The gas increase alone has cost WDW a lot of CM's that drove from a bit further away. I am amazed at how good the guest service still is to be honest. You can work your way up but competition for salaried and professional jobs is fierce. It is a long process.

 

[DW mouser]

PatriciaH, maybe I should of said "just there to put in their time", regardless, I'm sure they want the paycheck or they wouldn't be there!! I was just brought up that if you took a job, no matter what the pay, you did your best at it!! Yes, I'm a grandma so I'm from the old school!!

 

[okapi]

Are they pre-charging for PS at Akerhus?

 

[simzac]

This thread is just another reason I'm using Dreams Unlimited for my travel planning and reservations. They do all of the phone calling, and I just sit back and get ready for the trip. Also, they don't charge me anything for their services, I just don't understand why people insist on doing it all themselves.

 

[tanmar]

they said i could order what i wanted for him off the menu and it was free as he was under 3

I didn't know that. Is that true? Can you order off of the menu for a child under 3 and it's no charge?

We are on the dining plan, but I thought the little one would have to eat off of our plates - I didn't know I could actually order for him. Can I?

I'm not trying to "get more food" here - It's just that this way I can order what I actually want to eat instead of worrying if he's going to like what I order.

 

[DisneyMom5]

I didn't know that. Is that true? Can you order off of the menu for a child under 3 and it's no charge?

We are on the dining plan, but I thought the little one would have to eat off of our plates - I didn't know I could actually order for him. Can I?

I'm not trying to "get more food" here - It's just that this way I can order what I actually want to eat instead of worrying if he's going to like what I order.

There have been people who claimed this was true of their trip, but most of us have had the opposite experience.
As it stands, you must pay for meals off the menu for children under 3. Buffets and plated all you can eat are free for children under 3.

Oh, and I might add, you will have PLENTY of food off your own plates with the plan, some people have ordered only side dishes for their kids for a lower price than a full entree, and 2 of our waiters did not charge us for a soda for my 2 yo. But policy is to charge for them.

 

[TDC Nala]

Are they pre-charging for PS at Akerhus?

They are not pre-charging in full for any meals other than CRT (except for the dinner shows - Hoop De Doo, Spirit of Aloha, and Mickey's Backyard Barbecue - and special events such as the Candlelight Processional dinner package).

 

[okapi]

Thanks TDC Nala.
P.S. I liked the Turkey crossing sign.

 

[Beca]

The truly sad thing about CRT is this credit card situation would have never come to pass if you had not had a group of people booking this restaurant and giving them away to others. If only people would do what is right and within the guidelines set forth by Disney so much of this could be eliminated.

Sammie...I don't understand what you are talking about. Could you explain further?

TIA,

Beca

 

[susan1]

hi
what shocked me most was that one of them couldn't speak english. i was trying to find something in the main shop at epcot and asked a oriental girl a question and she looked at me blankly and pointed to another c.m. i know it was the time when they were training a lot of hong kong chinese for their park opening but it definitely was not one of them.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm not Sammie, but some time ago there was a bit of a controversy over an online group that set themselves up as "helpers" to those desirous of the rare CRT PS who were savvy enough to contact them. Apparently they had a small battalion of people who volunteered to get up in the morning and do the calling, then made a PS for the parties they had taken "orders" from. They would also book any PS they could at the time and post the availability on their site, then change the name on the PS to that of the first reader to claim it for their party. I don't believe they asked for compensation, but they took up a number of PS slots in this fashion.

There were also instances where some persons, who may or may not have been part of this group, were offering CRT PS's for auction on Ebay.

 

[dvcgirl]

I have planned several disney vacations in the past, and I have never had as much misinformation given to me, nor as many mistakes on their part as what I have had this vacation!!! It has cost many long distance phone calls to get mistakes changed that they have made! If they don't know the answer to your questions, they put you on hold forever and then come back and still don't know!! I asked about an AAA discount and the CM put me on hold and then came back 5 minutes later and said guest services would call me back!! Of course, that never happened!!! Then today, I noticed I was changed $318 for a dining reservation at CRT March 20th!!! When I called, I was told the computer froze up and they could not get into my ADR's!!! She gave me a number to call back tomorrow! The CM that made that ressie assured me that they needed my cc number for holding the ressie only since I was on the dining plan!! I know there are some good disney cm's that know their stuff, but I can tell there are more and more of them that are only in it for the money and are not even trying to be helpful!!

Well, if they're in for the money, they're barking up the wrong tree . Not a whole lot of money working as a reservationist with Disney.

I do agree that there are times when I'll call to book a special event, like a Food and Wine Event and I know far more about the dates and rates than the CM does.

 

[LoriZH]

I'm not Sammie, but some time ago there was a bit of a controversy over an online group that set themselves up as "helpers" to those desirous of the rare CRT PS who were savvy enough to contact them. Apparently they had a small battalion of people who volunteered to get up in the morning and do the calling, then made a PS for the parties they had taken "orders" from. They would also book any PS they could at the time and post the availability on their site, then change the name on the PS to that of the first reader to claim it for their party. I don't believe they asked for compensation, but they took up a number of PS slots in this fashion.

There were also instances where some persons, who may or may not have been part of this group, were offering CRT PS's for auction on Ebay.

Oh I can completely understand the reason for the credit card hold as well as the identification when entering the restaurant for your seating, what I don't agree with nor do I understand is the charging of a full meal before it's even eaten. I don't get it. In Boston at the most expensive restaurants they do require a cc hold, if you cancel that's fine, if you don't show up, then you get charged 10 bucks a person, this is fine considering they held your table. I just have never heard of them charging for a full meal beforehand. I feel bad for the people who are saving for the trip and they don't have the funds to tie up at for a dinner they will be eating in 5 months, that to me is crazy. Once again, I am hoping this policy blows up in their faces (not the little people of course, but the disney brass who are doing this) I hope more and more people see this is ridiculous and boycott the policy by not eating there.

 

[TDC Nala]

There is some speculation that the paid in full policy has been instituted to reduce demand, which is still extensive for this particular meal venue. Offering other princess-intensive meals apparently didn't help much.

Disney has been charging in full for dinner shows and special events, and they seem to have decided that due to the heavy demand for the castle meals, they belong in this category.

It'd be great if they decided that the food should be better, but this one is all about the combination of the castle and the princesses.

 

[Goofygirls4God]

Yes! The misinfo is very frustrating, but listen to my latest...I call yest. to make our 2nd changes on our 9 night vacation in May 2006...I get this CM and she tells me I should not make any changes to our plans and leave it alone...She boldly urges me, I could rechange over and over and still not get it right...that I should rethink about it and call back when I know for sure and make final changes and close my book so I won't doubt my plans...all this was before she even had my PS plans pulled up! It was not like I had called 1 billion times.

She did not even give me a chance to respond with my case... #1 I was calling to make a quick change and I really did not think to ask for her recommenation #2 I am spending over $6000 on this vacation and I figure enjoy my planning without a complaint from the CM who is suppose to help me. I am beginning to think
Some of these CM's need a manners class or refresher course on the ettiquette and magic of Disney Vacation Planning.

I love planning our fun. I dream about and it imagine our course of travel and how long things take...so when we get there we are not spending alot of uneccessary time on buses and monorails instead of playing! I think I am being effeicient and smart. And inspite of this CM I told her my thoughts and she helped my anyway...

But their sole purpose is to take my calls and help me, not ruin it for me!

Thanks for letting me vent...I knew you all would understand
Blessings
Kristie