BAD Disney Experience...

[lizandjason]

Talk about entitlement... what did you expect the CM to do?

Perhaps you should use this as a wonderful example that life doesn't always turn out the way we want. Teach your daughter that she's not the center of the universe. Let her learn the best lesson of all, "life's not fair".

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[suemom2kay]

Wow, these posts have gotten dramatic.

For all of you that think the handler/photographer were tied up caring for their sick co-worker, that is what medics/nurses are for.

If she was so ill that she needed both non-medical personnel (standing around looking at her) to be with her for 30 minutes, I wonder why they would not call for medical attention.

The more realistic scenario is she wasn't sure if she could go on and neither of the 2 (non-medical) CM's with her thought to go out and let the waiting guests know there was a delay.

As for the PP that said how were the CM's to know she was still there? The guests were told SW would be back in 15. When that time arrived 1 (non-medical) CM should have pried themselves away from the in-firmed character and informed the waiting guests that SW was cleaning up after those messy dwarves.

I don't think OP had a large expectation, but the situation was not handled appropriately and if OP had contacted GR I'm sure they would agree. Leaving guests waiting for (40 was it?) minutes without informing them of a problem is not in the Spirit of Disney's Customer Service culture. They charge businesses big money to learn the Disney way. I don't think this scenario will be used for how to give good customer service.

OP write to WDW GR and then throw on your flame suit and come back here and tell all how Disney agrees with YOU. Glad you had a great trip overall.

 

[mefordis]

I don't understand how people can expect someone to pay $85 to get into a theme park, then walk in with low expectations.

Sorry, they were specifically told they were going to get to meet Snow White in 20 minutes. They didn't deliver. They deserved at the very least a measly $15 gift card. Gee whiz! Just about any (normal) person would have been ticked off.

 

[sandynd]

I can understand where you're coming from and understand your disappointment.

We read all these stories here about the "magical" moments and wonderful CM interactions, but I would guess that many of us have never experianced that. We're nice people we don't complain, we're friendly and chat with CMs, but we've never had an above and beyond moment.

I agree with everyone who says that Disney has created these expectations for us, and I know watching the commercials now makes me a tiny bit bitter because I know it doesn't really live up to the hype (although we've had a couple magical moments ourselves - Victor Pooey in DHS being the most memorable!) But how would you know that on your first day, in the first hour of your trip? And especially after reading the boards and expecting the aggregate of all these boards' extra special magic moments - magic seems to be the norm, and when it doesn't happen, the surprise can be very disappointing. I'm sorry your baby was sad - I don't think she's a brat for being sad. I'm sorry the CM didn't seem to care - that's not what we're supposed to expect. And I'm sorry many of the PPs felt the need to project their bitterness onto you - of course you weren't expecting monetary or merchandise compensation - you were hoping for a little kindness to your child. Kindness seems to be in incredibly short supply these days, and it says more about previous posters than it does about you, your parenting or your little girl.

 

[Lynn57]

This would have been a fun thread if everyone had followed the topic and shared their own stories of disappointment.

Why? I try to forget the disappointment of my trip and focus on the good memories.

It sounds like one negative moment happened on the OP's trip. I consider that a huge success and personally, I think I would learn from what happened and move on. Putting BAD in all caps may have been a bit of a stretch considering all the things that can go wrong on a vacation.

If this was the worst thing that happened, you should be very grateful!

 

[luvthemouse71]

I think that the CM could have done something small to cheer up the 3 year old. At that age, something small to us can seem like the end of the world. Would it really have killed the CM to offer a sticker or even just a kind word?

This wouldn't have ruined my trip. But, IMO,the CM dropped the ball on this one.

 

[mefordis]

Yep. The customer service at WDW has seriously declined. Do you see a 2011 trip in my sig?

I think that the CM could have done something small to cheer up the 3 year old. At that age, something small to us can seem like the end of the world. Would it really have killed the CM to offer a sticker or even just a kind word?

This wouldn't have ruined my trip. But, IMO,the CM dropped the ball on this one.

 

[amykathleen2005]

Perhaps the handler forgot she told them to wait. She probably tells hundreds of people a day the same thing so it is possible to slip the mind.

As for the three year old, she needs to get over it. Not everything works out, even when you are three. As others have said, this is a teachable moment for her and the perfect situation to talk about together.

What if there was a storm during your trip and you couldn't see the fireworks? Is Disney required to reimburse you? Should they comfort all of the disappointed children? Sometimes things just happen.

Would it have been nice of the CM to do something? Yes. Was it required in any way? No.

 

[Swan4Me]

Where did you get to see all 7 dwarfs????

I dont feel like reading this whole thread................I have never heard of the 7 dwarfs at WDW

Do they use "little people"

 

[disneydancer429]

my oh my, it's threads like these that make me a part time poster and a full time lurker on the DIS because of fear of getting attacked

Op, I am sooo very sorry that this happened! It's dissapointing when a character line gets shut down...but then to wait with the expectation to see that character and be told "oh she's not coming" is not the standard that I would expect when visiting a Disney park. I would not expect any kind of compensation but a little compassion never hurt anybody either. I'm glad she got to see SW later however...I hope it was worth the wait!!

 

[suemom2kay]

I dont feel like reading this whole thread................I have never heard of the 7 dwarfs at WDW

Do they use "little people"

At the Halloween Party. Think Mickey/Minnie sized. Clearly dwarves are larger than mice though so they are not to scale.

 

[declansdad]

She's three! Move on to the next country and she would have forgotten all about it.

 

[CathrynRose]

I don't understand how people can expect someone to pay $85 to get into a theme park, then walk in with low expectations.

Sorry, they were specifically told they were going to get to meet Snow White in 20 minutes. They didn't deliver. They deserved at the very least a measly $15 gift card. Gee whiz! Just about any (normal) person would have been ticked off.

I don't walk in with low expectations, but I also don't walk in expecting anything for free. Gimme a break.

I absolutely would have been annoyed, not ticked off and not expected freebies. $15 for what??? Her time?

EPCOT is open 9-9 (assuming it's not EMH's). At $85 a day, it's $7.08/hr, to be there. She waited 30 minutes, which is a whopping $3.54. What exactly is she getting $15 for?

I, personally, (and not just at Disney) am sick and tired of people going into any establishment, expecting to be catered to like royality, and pitching a fit, whining about it, or expecting things for free - when *things happen*.

I have a 20 y/o and a 16 y/o son. Neither of them would have had their day ruined, from ONE character meeting. Handle it. You're the Mom.

 

[Swan4Me]

At the Halloween Party. Think Mickey/Minnie sized. Clearly dwarves are larger than mice though so they are not to scale.

Thanks-for some reason I was imagining very tiny people


OP-this EXACT thing happened to my boys-but it was the Teenage Ninja turtles-so you know how long ago that was!
They were 6-8 and were SSSOOOO Sad when they closed the lines.

 

[mefordis]

When someone tells me I"m going to get something and they don't deliver, in any situation, I get ticked. I don't like liars. That's me. And yes, that is usually what we get compensated for -- time. It's valuable. Especially at WDW when vacation time is limited.

This is my opinion. I respect yours but mine differs in this case.

Off topic - you look very young to have a 20 year old!

I don't walk in with low expectations, but I also don't walk in expecting anything for free. Gimme a break.

I absolutely would have been annoyed, not ticked off and not expected freebies. $15 for what??? Her time?

EPCOT is open 9-9 (assuming it's not EMH's). At $85 a day, it's $7.08/hr, to be there. She waited 30 minutes, which is a whopping $3.54. What exactly is she getting $15 for?

I, personally, (and not just at Disney) am sick and tired of people going into any establishment, expecting to be catered to like royality, and pitching a fit, whining about it, or expecting things for free - when *things happen*.

I have a 20 y/o and a 16 y/o son. Neither of them would have had their day ruined, from ONE character meeting. Handle it. You're the Mom.

 

[tlh0726]

Thanks... you know, I was starting to feel, um, sorta, attacked I guess it was like, we save for 3 years for this trip and THIS is what happens? It I wanted her to have a tantrum I could have stayed home! So I was totally frustrated and that response wasn't warranted. The rest of our time there erased that feeling. I am definitely tempering my expectations for the next time.

 

[CathrynRose]

When someone tells me I"m going to get something and they don't deliver, in any situation, I get ticked. I don't like liars. That's me.

And you sound like a joyful client/customer!

 

[mefordis]

And you sound like a joyful client/customer!

I typically am. I just have to remind myself the key to happiness is low expectations.

 

[amykathleen2005]

Thanks... you know, I was starting to feel, um, sorta, attacked I guess it was like, we save for 3 years for this trip and THIS is what happens? It I wanted her to have a tantrum I could have stayed home! So I was totally frustrated and that response wasn't warranted. The rest of our time there erased that feeling. I am definitely tempering my expectations for the next time.

If your daughter has tantrums at home then I don't know why you thought they would stop at Disney. If anything they would probably get worse from all the stimulation.

 

[skater]

I love to read the stories of how Disney's CM's made "bad" things good. Maybe a sticker and a smile. A suggestion. Anything. Its too bad for OP that this wasn't one of those times. I could do better than a shrug if I worked at WalMart.