Bait n Switch

[webshark3]

I called today to book a Grand Gathering Experience for my family. Months ago, a helpful agent told me all the details, and even told me when to call back to book it.

I chose the Magical Firework Voyage and called today. I verified the price and Experience on their website.

However, the agent today instructed me that it was no longer a GG Experience, was open to the public, and now costs $10 more per adult. She said it's been that way since early Spring, and "they probably didn't update the website yet."

Just me, or Disney's Bait n' Switching here (even if they don't know they are)? I'll wait and book 90 days out (instead of the GG 180 days), but I'll be darned if I'm paying $53.99 per adult when their own advertising STILL says $43.99.

 

[tlenzendorf]

Thats total false advertisement and I don't know if legally they can do that when its posted right on their website.

 

[alicia080979]

I'd definitely call and ask to talk to someone else and push it a little and I'm sure they will see the error in their ways, hehe. Hopefully it works out! We are taking our first Grand Gatherings trip in September and I am about to call to find out what that means!

 

[webshark3]

I'd definitely call and ask to talk to someone else and push it a little and I'm sure they will see the error in their ways, hehe. Hopefully it works out! We are taking our first Grand Gatherings trip in September and I am about to call to find out what that means!

I did confirm that the other three events are still GG and up to date. Good luck!

I sent Disney an email. I'll give them a day or two before I call back.

 

[doconeill]

Knowing Disney IT, it is perfectly possible they failed to update the web site. However, advertising laws are generally in your favor. They are advertising it at a certain price on their web site - the cannot simply dismiss it as incorrect.

The problem is doing anything about it...

 

[paladin]

You might want to take a screen shot/print the page so that you have proof in case you need it.

 

[bubblycoconut]

I called today to book a Grand Gathering Experience for my family. Months ago, a helpful agent told me all the details, and even told me when to call back to book it.

I chose the Magical Firework Voyage and called today. I verified the price and Experience on their website.

However, the agent today instructed me that it was no longer a GG Experience, was open to the public, and now costs $10 more per adult. She said it's been that way since early Spring, and "they probably didn't update the website yet."

Just me, or Disney's Bait n' Switching here (even if they don't know they are)? I'll wait and book 90 days out (instead of the GG 180 days), but I'll be darned if I'm paying $53.99 per adult when their own advertising STILL says $43.99.

Where are the prices on the website? I've been trying to find the cost of a few things and haven't had any luck.

 

[Berlioz70]

I called today to book a Grand Gathering Experience for my family. Months ago, a helpful agent told me all the details, and even told me when to call back to book it.

I chose the Magical Firework Voyage and called today. I verified the price and Experience on their website.

Unfortunately, I don't think you have a case here. The Magical Firework Voyage will be gone and the Pirate and Pals cruise will be taking it's place. So it's not false advertising, the event you would like will have it's last voyage on July 12th. You're booking something different so prices cannot be compared.

 

[safetymom]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/recreation/fireworks.htm

 

[cchev]

If it WAS false advertising you can definitely do something about that....I got a car REALLY REALLY cheap due to a advertising mix-up

 

[TDC Nala]

They don't update the website with alacrity. That is why unofficial sites are invaluable when dealing with Disney.

If your trip is after July 13, by the time you go there will no longer be a Grand Gathering Magical Fireworks Voyage. Around this site, the change was announced some time ago. So there isn't any way they will be able to book your group on a private one and call it a Grand Gathering Experience.

 

[tlenzendorf]

Aah yes, only false advertising if its directly on the Disney website. No legs to stand on if its not on their site.

 

[catne]

doesn't virtually everything on Disney ads have a "subject to change without notice" or some similar phrasing in teeny tiny print somewhere?

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Disney's reservation agents run the gamut from extremely helpful to almost useless (although most are the helpful type). If at any time you think that you're being given incorrect information or forced to upsell, just say that you'll call back and hang up. Call again in 15 minutes, and you'll probably have a better experience.

The first time that I tried to book our upcoming reservation, the agent told me that standard view rooms at the Poly were not available for our dates, even though I told her that I was looking at them on the website. I called back a little while later and somebody must have found some under the sofa cushions, because they were available.

 

[seashoreCM]

They're constantly being stashed under the sofa cushions and taken out as the need arises and as cancellations occur, sometimes on a daily basis.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

 

[TisBit]

Even advertising laws have taken into account misprints, etc. Which is why you can go into a store on any given day and there are boards at the front saying that there was misprint and the actual price is.......

As long as they tell you up front, you are ok. What they are not allowed to do is advertise something with the INTENTION of it not being available and selling you something else.

 

[webshark3]

Unfortunately, I don't think you have a case here. The Magical Firework Voyage will be gone and the Pirate and Pals cruise will be taking it's place. So it's not false advertising, the event you would like will have it's last voyage on July 12th. You're booking something different so prices cannot be compared.

Correct, but they're STILL advertising the thing I want to book. If I try to actually book it, they are offering a different product in it's place at a different price. That's a bait-n-switch.

 

[doconeill]

Correct, but they're STILL advertising the thing I want to book. If I try to actually book it, they are offering a different product in it's place at a different price. That's a bait-n-switch.

Do you have a link? I couldn't find it on the WDW web site.

 

[webshark3]

Aah yes, only false advertising if its directly on the Disney website. No legs to stand on if its not on their site.

Correct. This was their official page. Looks like they pulled down the entire page with all the encounters today...

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...roducts?id=GrandGatheringsSpecialProductsPage

 

[webshark3]

Here's the Google cache if you want to see the page as it looked yesterday. Good ol' Google.

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache...cts&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a