August 20, 2005 - L.A. to Port Canaveral - Eastbound Repo Cruise - The SHIP OF FOOLS Part 3

[Bmwdsny]

Tracy i am in chat...just got in... didn't ask for passsword though...

Mark, you try again too!!

 

[Bmwdsny]

This is how I see it. Fifteen more dollars is not going to be hardly any more $ out of our family's pockets as compared to the total we are spending on this trip. We cannot even go to a fast food burger joint for that much for our family.

The wine tasting party is something Brian and I are very much looking forward to sharing with everyone and on the ship.

So, Brian and I are very happy to pay the $15.00 corkage fee (hypothetical) and have the wine tasting party on the ship in all its glory.

My 2 cents!

can someone please explain to me what is this CORKAGE FEE????' i mean i heard of it for i have seen it in restaurants and all, but i don't understand it.. i mean, why is there a FEE to have someone just simply open the wine?? Why can't we do it ourselves??? i don't understand the big deal about "opening" the wine??

 

[winotracy]

can someone please explain to me what is this CORKAGE FEE????' i mean i heard of it for i have seen it in restaurants and all, but i don't understand it.. i mean, why is there a FEE to have someone just simply open the wine?? Why can't we do it ourselves??? i don't understand the big deal about "opening" the wine??

Mel, I cannot get in. A corkage fee is just what you think. It is a fee for you to bring in your own beverage rather than buy it from a restaurant or bar. The cost you pay for the wine in a restaurant or bar has the corkage fee built into it. You also pay a service fee on top of the $15 for the actually opening service. We would be able to do it ourself unless our corkscrews were confiscated at check-in. Make sense?

 

[mark & sandra]

To add further insult to injury they also add on tax or gratuity, either way the final cost is like 17.50. If hypothetically DCL was to charge for the "service" of enjoying ourselves, I would opt for an informal meet somewhere else and tell DCL to go Scratch!! (not you Janet)

If they happen to be reading here they should be ashamed of themselves for trying to extort more money from us for being creative as a group and not individually purchasing wine packages. After all we will be paying for the "FREE" food we're already getting. It seems to me that DCL is losing touch with Customer Service.

As it is, Disney is overcharging us for ALL the services they offer. I have reserved 2 buses for transportation from Port Canaveral to MCO after the cruise for just over 7.00 a person. DCL charges 25.00 for the same service.

Since many of us will be taking group photos while onboard, and each group will want a copy, I've found a company that will make copys for 4.50 each (that includes shipping and handling). That beats DCL's price of 19.99 per photo.

 

[Bmwdsny]

To add further insult to injury they also add on tax or gratuity, either way the final cost is like 17.50. If hypothetically DCL was to charge for the "service" of enjoying ourselves, I would opt for an informal meet somewhere else and tell DCL to go Scratch!! (not you Janet)

If they happen to be reading here they should be ashamed of themselves for trying to extort more money from us for being creative as a group and not individually purchasing wine packages. After all we will be paying for the "FREE" food we're already getting. It seems to me that DCL is losing touch with Customer Service.

As it is, Disney is overcharging us for ALL the services they offer. I have reserved 2 buses for transportation from Port Canaveral to MCO after the cruise for just over 7.00 a person. DCL charges 25.00 for the same service.

Since many of us will be taking group photos while onboard, and each group will want a copy, I've found a company that will make copys for 4.50 each (that includes shipping and handling). That beats DCL's price of 19.99 per photo.

BRAVO!!!! You tell em, Mark!!!

So Tracy, should some of us bring the Corkscrews on board??

Also, i am confused, i thought that DU is sponsering the Wine Tasting?? and we would still have to pay the stupid Corkage fee???

 

[Mom2Belle&PeterPan]

While I understand that it is the principle of the matter, if DCL decides to charge this and will not budge, then I think it is a battle not worth fighting IMO. To me, DCL is jacked up for a million things, but I pay it because of the "magic" of the whole experience. I would vote second for it being held at port, but I'll tell you, I pre-perceive this location as "not" being as fun or exciting as if we had it together on the ship.

What I do suggest that if DCL means to charge this fee for each bottle of wine at the party, how about that they give the $ they receive from this event and donate it to a charity of our choice? That way, the big boy is not receiving the profit, but is doing something good for humanity.

All the finer restaurants charge such a fee. I know they are milking us should it come to be. Perhaps we should cancel then and just enjoy the nightly fun we've already paid for in our fares minus a wine tasting party.

To add further insult to injury they also add on tax or gratuity, either way the final cost is like 17.50. If hypothetically DCL was to charge for the "service" of enjoying ourselves, I would opt for an informal meet somewhere else and tell DCL to go Scratch!! (not you Janet)

If they happen to be reading here they should be ashamed of themselves for trying to extort more money from us for being creative as a group and not individually purchasing wine packages. After all we will be paying for the "FREE" food we're already getting. It seems to me that DCL is losing touch with Customer Service.

As it is, Disney is overcharging us for ALL the services they offer. I have reserved 2 buses for transportation from Port Canaveral to MCO after the cruise for just over 7.00 a person. DCL charges 25.00 for the same service.

Since many of us will be taking group photos while onboard, and each group will want a copy, I've found a company that will make copys for 4.50 each (that includes shipping and handling). That beats DCL's price of 19.99 per photo.

 

[mississaugamom]

I can see both points of view on the "corkage" issue. I think it's somewhat ridiculous that we may have a "hypothetical" change and need to pay a per-bottle fee to Disney for the privilege of drinking our own wine after paying them for food (which we probably could have ordered individually from Room Service without a charge other than the gratuity for delivery), but I'm also not going to get stressed and "pull out" of the event for $17.50 per couple.

Heck, if we went to Disney's "Wine Tasting" it would be $24 per couple, and we'll have a LOT more variety and fun at our own party. I'm still game for going ahead as planned. It's too hard to imagine trying to coordinate this in a different location than on the ship.

Arlene

 

[big cheeser]

Just as a hypothetical, if DCL were to charge us for corkage at the wine tasting party would you want to:

a. Try to have the party near DL on Friday
b. Have the party at the port on Saturday morning
c. Have the party as planned and pay the $15 + gratuity per bottle charge
d. Have an informal party on deck and figure a way to get the bottles open if our corkscrews get confiscated

Again, this is just a hypothetical right now.

Tracy - I think the reality is that this has to be on the boat - anywhere else and we can't all guarantee to be there or to be there at the same time or to be there unencumbered by bags, cameras, and aliens (DDs / DSs). I have to say that we are looking forward to this as an "event" so if push comes to shove we'll cover our bit of the corkage.

Cheers (hic!)

Allan

 

[Scratch42]

Just as a hypothetical, if DCL were to charge us for corkage at the wine tasting party would you want to:

a. Try to have the party near DL on Friday
b. Have the party at the port on Saturday morning
c. Have the party as planned and pay the $15 + gratuity per bottle charge
d. Have an informal party on deck and figure a way to get the bottles open if our corkscrews get confiscated

Again, this is just a hypothetical right now.

As I was away from the Boards last night!

I'll pay the cost of corkage if need be! (for me that is!)

Scratch

 

[winotracy]

I guess my feelings on this are that you all have valid points, however, when I started looking into this I asked what charges there would be. I was told that we would have to pay for food -- no doubt about this. We would not have to pay corkage fees because we would open the bottles ourselves (like they did on the 10-day X-mas cruise). DCL would provide wine glasses and the room. Armed with this information I obtained a sponsor -- DU -- for a specific amount of money, which easily will cover the food. If charged corkage fees, the fees will be 3 times the cost of the food and will be charged to ME in advance. Knowing this was not the case, I came to all of you and presented the plan. If the plans were to change at this time and we are now going to be charged and our corkscrews confiscated at the port (I have ALWAYS brought a corkscrew on the ship), I do believe that this will definitely change the dynamic of our party. The people that were opposed to paying for the food will definitely be opposed to paying for corkage.

And Arlene, while your thoughts about ordering from room service are a good one, I was told point blank that if that were to happen, we would all be charged for the food. Don't really know how they would figure that out, but if we had a room for the event and this happened, again I would be charged for the food. I fear having a wine tasting bill higher than the cost of some of your cabins!

Finally, I will get to the bottom of this and see if there will be a hypothetical or not. Hopefully not. Happy Friday everyone!

Tracy

 

[kpgclark]

I may be in the minority but I think it is OK for Disney to charge a fee. They count on making money for alcohol and I think that is built into the price they charge for the cruise. Remember there is no casino revenue on this ship. I also think we got an amazing deal (probably most of the people on this board did for this cruise as we mostly reserved early). When you look at the price of a hotel room, entertainment, and food not to mention babysitting, fuel and all the rest I don't think it is unreasonable for them to charge the fee. I think the fee they are charging for the food (to DU) probably covers the service required to make the dishes, serve them, clean the room etc.

 

[winotracy]

Kathy I totally understand them charging a fee, when that is what I'm told from the start. What I oppose is being told one thing, booking the party and then being told another.

 

[NYdiscuisers]

Our 2 cents...

Linda and I think that it would be difficult to arrange to do the wine tasting party anywhere but on the ship. Also, since we have a lot of people interested in attending, it would probably be hard to find a place large enough to accomodate all of us for an informal deck party.

While the $17.50 per bottle charge seems like extortion, we would pay the (hypothetical) fee to attend this event.

corkage fee = $17.50
Getting all of us Fools together and drinking wine = priceless

Paul and Linda

 

[Grumbo]

The main purpose for us attending this was for the camaraderie and the opportunity to meet fellow Disers in a casual format.
Doris doesn't drink wine, I'd have a glass, and figured the real "winos" would be able to clean up on what we don't drink. The other two couples within our group were bringing wine also so as to meet others within the group.
The alcohol was and is so down the list of reasons for attending.

I would pay the $17 + fee, but am not asking others who have no real affiliation to do so. I actually feel like I'm being coerced by DCL to pay on their behalf as DCL initially had indicated that there was no fees involved.

As Tracy said its not paying the fee, as much as being told one thing, and passing that on to others within our group, and now having to tell them to cough up the cash, when the wine tasting was the means to a get together.

Insofar as the corkscrews I defy them to search everyone's luggage for a corkscrew. Thats inane. I'll make sure I have a screw on top then

Don't feel badly though Tracy. We all know its not YOUR fault. S#*T happens, and we appreciate everything you've done, and are doing. Let us know what transpires, and we'll go from there. Thankfully we still have a bit of time before the cruise.

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[DudetteTwo]

I am only catching the "tail-end" of the Wine Tasting Party & DCL issue. We had a "informal" party on the hidden deck (of course there wasn't as many people as our planning on attending this party) & it was really fun . I bought a corkscrew & so did several other people. We uncorked our own bottles & DCL didn't even know we were there. If you pack the corkscrew how can they confiscate it?

I really will try to catch-up today or get a condensed version from Disney Dudette #1 (Bonnie) since it is raining again. I really think I am going to start building an ark & collecting two of every animal

Hope you all have better weather then New Jersey . Have a great weekend. Toodles JEANNE

 

[NYdiscuisers]

I would pay the $17 + fee, but am not asking others who have no real affiliation to do so. I actually feel like I'm being coerced by DCL to pay on their behalf as DCL initially had indicated that there was no fees involved.

Cheers,
Grumbo

Now I see the whole story..seems like a bait and switch scheme by DCL.

Tracy,
Hope you can sort this whole thing out and as Grumbo says, "...we appreciate everything you've done, and are doing."

Paul

 

[kmiles]

Here's my opinion on the wine tasting and other things:

First, I originally suggested the wine tasting because on a previous cruise one of our fellow cruisers decided to host such an event. They were in the Walt Suite and invited the group from the internet to bring a bottle of wine and have a tasting in their cabin. The group was not large, at least by the "Bringing the Magic Home" standards, and probably consisted of no more than 35 people. Perhaps because the hosts were in the Walt Suite, or the number of cruisers attending was not large, or DCL had not experienced "group events" before, they charged nothing for the event. They allowed us to have it in the suite, they allowed us to order room service for food, and they even brought us glasses. This was back in May of 2003.

I had originally envisioned this wine tasting to be a similar event. Just a very informal get-together with small amounts of wine being tasted. No need for food as that was already endlessly presnet anyway. Have a snack and or lunch prior to attending the event if need be was my mentality. When Tracy arranged the sponsor and food, I thought that was great. And who would be opposed to free food, anyway?

Since that first wine tasting I have heard numerous stories of "group events" on the DIS. People arranging groups for Palo Brunch, for parties, and for other events. I have also heard tell of some of those individuals running into problems and becoming upset with DCL. For instance, becoming angry because DCL refused to allow a group to reserve the entire Palo restaurant for brunch.

Here is where I think our problem lies. We have to understand that we are a group of 500 people who claim to be "sailing together as a group." Realistically, I just don't see how DCL can handle this task and maintain any amount of order on the ship. Although, I do think that they are going out of their way to accommodate us on most issues.

So, perhaps DCL is watching things unfold with this group and becoming a bit nervous about being able to handle such things. Sure, it's probably fairly easy to allocate space (Studio Sea or Rockin' Bar D) and a couple of bar tenders for out meet on one day but how easy is it going to be for the cruise line to organize event after event?

Don't take this the wrong way and certainly don't change any planning because of my opinion, but I just think it may be very difficult for some of our expectations to be met. Arranging to have 100 families seated in the same area of a restaurant on the same dining rotation may be difficult at best or even impossible. Having a group of 200 show up for lunch at one of the restaurants and asking to be seated together may not work. I just think we should keep such things in mind.

Perhaps the reason that Disney didn't say up-front that there would be a corkage fee charged is because, just as we're making this up as we go along, so too are they. Perhaps they should have left this question open from the start and said that they may need to charge a fee.

And, I too can't disagree with their fee. They are there to make money and I'm guessing that there are going to be costs associated with this event that need to be covered. Servers to bring in the food and keep it fresh, Cast Members to clean the area to be used after the event, Cast Members to set it up. Let's remember that DCL is one of the few (if not the only) cruise line that actually allows guests to bring alcohol onboard to begin with. Would we be entertaining this idea if we had to buy the wine from DCL? The corkage fee will help to offset the additional costs incurred by the cruise line for having the event.

Like I said, I don't anyone to take my opinion the wrong way I'm just throwing my thoughts out there. While I'm very excited about meeting all of you and can't wait to spend time with you on the ship I'm not forgetting that my actual sailing party is one of 2 and not 500.

 

[Scratch42]

Kathy I totally understand them charging a fee, when that is what I'm told from the start. What I oppose is being told one thing, booking the party and then being told another.

Tracy,

That's Disney for you!

You talk to one CM they tell you one story.......

Talk to another CM they will tell you something totally different!

It's unfortunate that they have decided to go this route but bottom line Disney wants their $$$!



Scratch

 

[piglet33]

Tracy,

Me and Lenny will pay the corkage fee, if it's needed. Like you, I'm not too happy that they didn't tell us about this before, but I don't want to miss this opportunity to have a great time with many new (and old) friends.

Reneé

 

[winotracy]

Again, I don't disagree with what anyone is saying and it may be a moot point, but I specifically asked about corkage fees from the start and was told no fee. We have had a change in staff and "if" things change, it would be with a new person. Like I said before, hopefully this will not become a reality, but just wanted to get everyone thinking in case. (Also to bring so more life to our jibberish )

Tracy