Anyone Else Getting Fed up With Disney CM'S?

[DW mouser]

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!!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

yeah some of them need help
i called the other night with a question about one of our adrs and they wre like oh you know the 20 month eats for free
i was no
they said i could order what i wanted for him off the menu and it was free as he was under 3

 

[Drizzo67]

There have been a ton of changes made recently in regard to Dining Reservations, etc. I know that I have talked to a few CMs recently that were still just learning the new stuff at the same rate we are. Getting updated info from the DIS is easier than getting it to all CMs. LOL.

Be aware that the reservations for CRT, no matter what time of day (B,L,D) now have to be paid in full at the time of making the reservation. I believe this takes effect Feb 1, 2006. That means all ressies from 2/1 on will be charged to a cc before you even arrive. Other ressies like FDP can be held with a cc and not charged. This is so they have the info to charge you for a NO SHOW.

I haven't gotten fed up yet, but if I'm still getting misinformation after the end of November than I will be. That's enough time for EVERY CM to learn all the new information.

Dina Marie

 

[diznygirl]

Yes! My problem is in the parks. I am the spouse of a castmember and get the CM discount with my MainGate pass. Do you know how many WDW castmembers don't know how to ring up a castmember discount? The number reaches into the thousands! They always ask ME the code! My brother - who visits frequently - has learned to walk away from me when we get to the cashier........ he knows it will always involve a discussion of my right to the discount and then how to go about getting it, and will frequently involve calling over a manager....

I think there are far too many new CMs - so they don't know everything. But why are there so many newbies? Is turnover that high at WDW? Don't know the answer to that one - but better training for the newbies would be a good start.

 

[DW mouser]

Drizzo67, the charge to a credit card is only if you are not on the dining plan. That is what I was told anyway. If they charge you 5 months in advance, how would you use your dining plan credits?

I realize there are a lot of changes, but if you are working for disney and didn't know something, I would want to find out the answer so I'd know next time someone asked. What I am saying is some of them say anything to het you off the phone or put you on hold hoping you'll hang up! That crap about guest services calling back about took the cake!!! He was hoping I'd hang up while I was left on hold for a long period of time.

Now, I have to call back again tomorrow and I just hope when their computer froze up, if it truly did, that my ADR'S where not lost like someone else reported once!!

 

[BrerMama]

My understanding is that with the dining plan, you would be charged, but it would be refunded when you use your dining credits. That's why we're not doing it -- don't want to prepay and then worry about getting it refunded.

 

[dixiedizfan]

After reading this I am sooo glad I took advantage of using Magical Journeys! I had always made my own reservations with WDW, but thought I'd give them a try. After they made our initial resort reservation I had made two changes to it, and several requests and changes with ADRs. Not once did I ever have to pick up the phone. MJ got everything I wanted, with confirmation numbers to back it up. They also were able to answer any questions I had, as well as notify me of codes and discounts I qualified for.
And best of all it's free!!

 

[helenk]

This should save you some money, here is a 800 number
800-828-0228

 

[DW mouser]

Henlionk, is that number for disney dining? Thanks!! Wish I would of had it a month ago!!

Who are Magical Journeys? More info please!!!

 

[Drizzo67]

DW mouser - Make sure you double, no triple, check about CRT. BrerMama believed the same thing I did. That CRT is paid in full up front, she said you get credited when you use your dining credits at the meal. This is a new policy just implemented within the last 3 weeks.

We are not going to CRT this year because of having to pay in full up front.

 

[DW mouser]

That is just unbelieveable!!! They charged me almost 5 months in advance!!! They are using people's money and who knows the problems we'll have getting it credited back!!!

 

[Stitch1404]

800-828-0228

What is this number? Just for dining? Why haven't I been using it all along???!!!

 

[CallaLily]

800-828-0228

What is this number? Just for dining? Why haven't I been using it all along???!!!

The number is for CRO, but they will connect you to Dining when you choose option 3 from the main menu.

 

[dixiedizfan]

Who are Magical Journeys? More info please!!!

Yourmagicaljourneys.com - You can find all the info on their site. I found them through intercot.com. My TA is Deb and she's wonderful ... good luck!

 

[Stitch1404]

So when CRO connects me to dining, which is not an 800 number I won't be charged long-distance?

 

[helenk]

So when CRO connects me to dining, which is not an 800 number I won't be charged long-distance?

When you dial that number you are given prompts for making a resort reservation or dining, just chose the number for the prompt you want. You are not connected out of the 800#

 

[ellyn2000]

I always use the 800 # for my dining ressies. Used AAA Travel for next trip and TA sent me a note to give her the info for what I wanted and she will take care of it on 180th day prior and send me the confirmation #'s. I think I'm going to take a leap of faith and just let her handle it. I agree with a deposit or cc# to hold an ADR, but the whole pre-pay thing is too much for me. Now I know without a doubt we won't get to go to CRT.

 

[Wendy1953]

As a family member of a CM you should know the turnover is great.....the CP kids come and go, the salaries aren't great, and you can't blame the staff if the training is inadequate....I too am a family member of a CM, and to my knowledge my family member goes through extensive training before being allowed to perform her job. Maybe it's the restaurant staffs that are not being trained properly. All I can say is...get the CM's manager, and if they can't help you either, then inform the Company....I wouldn't "single-out" a cast member, since they are trained by their superiors and could get reprimanded (suspended, fired) and it isn't their fault....enough people complain about the "staff" at the same restaurant, I'm sure Dis will look into it. I also have to say, I have an PAP, DDE, DVC, & AAA membership, and have not had a problem with CM's giving me the discounts at all.

 

[Supercod]

I have had a 1 bad, 1 amazing and 1 ok response when calling from the UK to book restaurants, I was paying International Rates and was on for ages, but I don’t care as long as I get me some food in the end

The 1st bad one made me say every date only to be told the Fantastic package was not available at that restaurant for each of the days I said. So I put the phone down and called back.

This time I got super helpful person that was everything things I would expect in a “Disney” person. She asked when I was staying from and to and then got me loads of bookings, keep in mind this was just a few days ago and even got me a party of 8 for Fantastic package next week and how did she manage this amazing thing that the first couldn’t.. Because she check Mama Melrose and it was booked out for my party size and then told me Hollywood and Vine do it and that she can check that if I like, I didn’t know that and was delighted when she checked and found me a table for 8, top class to actually know other restaurants that have it, and recommend them to a customer She then done a bunch of other bookings and then booked MVMCP also for me.. what a star. Only got charged for MVMCP, rest was guaranteed by the card and no money taken as I am on the Plan.

After I was done I heard about Boma at AKL, called back and got a guy that was ok, he booked it for breakfast for me and didn’t ask for a card to grantee it as I was staying in AKL, I was like ok, got a booking reference so I was happy.. however trying to find me anything to eat on the start part of the holiday for dinner was a bit of a nightmare and after he recommended that my part of 8 have dinner at Tavern in MK with 4 easting 2 hours before the other 4 I was like, ok just leave it, I go away and come up with some ideas myself.

I would love it if everyone was like number 2, but hey can’t have it all

 

[Cruiser1969]

I booked CRT lunch for May 2006, on the dining plan. I was told that a credit card $10 deposit per person was required, but it would be credited to my account when we arrived for lunch.

I hope that's accurate . . . I haven't seen anything on my credit card, yet, as I just booked yesterday.