BIG M.E. Problem! Advise and Help Needed, Please!

[princessjv]

I have posted about this problem on a few threads, but I am coming to the end of my witts, trying to deal with it and I need help!

In Oct. after a 10 day stay at WDW, M.E. lost our luggage on the way from POR to the airport. Basically what happened is, they unloaded us at Term 1, as our driver was unloading our luggage, he rudely asked my DH for his tip ("do you like my service...most people who like my service give me a tip"). My DH stepped over to me (on curb with infant and DS...no further than 6 feet away) to get the tip (that we planned on giving him), our driver then closed the doors to the luggage compartment, grabbed his tip and ran on the bus. As the driver was getting on the bus, my DH counted our luggage, yelled to the driver that we are missing one piece. The driver said, "gotta go, I am late" and left. My DH, then tried to wave him down, but he wouldn't open the doors and just kept going. To this day we are without our luggage...
The luggage included all of our trip momentos (including my DS's autograph book, which I made) and our dirty clothes.

Since a few minutes after it happened til today, we have worked non-successfully with Mears and Disney and no one is able to locate our luggage. In fact Mears told us that they were not responsible for Disney M.E., however will give us $250, due to the rudeness of their driver... Disney stated that it is solely up to Mears to work it out, however they will give us $250 towards our insurance deductable, if we file a claim. (Due to a recent accident, which my DH totaled our car, we are unable to file an claim with our Homeowners policy...) But most importantly, I DO NOT feel that it we should have to! Shouldn't Disney help fix this situation? At this point, I understand that we most likely will never see our luggage (my ds 4, still asks, "When will the Disney bus give him back his Disney treasures?"

Needless to say~ This was not a Magical way to end our 'Magical Vacation'!

Any suggestions on what to do/ask for next would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Chuck S]

Agreed, a most unpleasant way to end a Disney vacation. I'm sorry, I'm not up on insurance protocol, and it may vary by state...you can't file a homeowners claim because you had a car accident? I don't quite follow. Anyway, at this late date, insurance may not accept the claim. I'd take the $250 from Mears.

 

[princessjv]

Agreed, a most unpleasant way to end a Disney vacation. I'm sorry, I'm not up on insurance protocol, and it may vary by state...you can't file a homeowners claim because you had a car accident? I don't quite follow. Anyway, at this late date, insurance may not accept the claim. I'd take the $250 from Mears.

Our Homeowners and Auto are with the same company. We have spoken to our agent (the day we returned), they would take the claim, however with the car accident, they will most likely cancel us...

I have gone around and around with both Disney and Mears on the subject..they really could care less!

 

[Chuck S]

The $250, depending on what you purchased, could replace a lot of trip momentos. If this ever went before a small claims court, you would be limited to the real monetary value, not sentimental value, of the items. The judge would have to set an arbitrary figure for used clothing and possibly the actual value (if you had receipts/room charge copies) for the mementos. The homemade autograph book, while I'm sure lovely, would have very little replacement value. Nor does "mental anguish" in these types of cases. Unless you have receipts proving a much greater financial loss, I think the $250 from Mears will be the best you can do in this unfortunate situation.

 

[seashoreCM]

Save all the correspondence so far. Maybe Disney will give you some extra pixie dust on your next trip. Perhaps extra fastpasses so you will have more time to see the characters again.

Take the $250. from Mears. That act will increase the chance the driver will be disciplined. IMHO what happened was a major infraction even if the luggage had been stolen by somebody else at the previous stop.

If it will make you feel better, people lose their mementos because the photofinisher or wedding photographer ruined their pictures. All they have to give you is a new roll of film or a refund.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr.disney.htm

 

[momrek06]

WOW, I have nothing of value to say about this at all...only that I am so sorry your week in WDW ended this way. So sad for your 4 y.o. as well. Just read your Post and had to tell you that IMO, you are probably never going to see the suitcase and the items in the bag are more valaubale to you than the money they want to give you. So sad!
All I can say is that my fam has been to WDW many times and we have never experienced anything like that and hope we never do. Hang in there. Maybe, just maybe some good will come out of all this...you never know.

 

[cstraub]

I have posted about this problem on a few threads, but I am coming to the end of my witts, trying to deal with it and I need help!

In Oct. after a 10 day stay at WDW, M.E. lost our luggage on the way from POR to the airport. Basically what happened is, they unloaded us at Term 1, as our driver was unloading our luggage, he rudely asked my DH for his tip ("do you like my service...most people who like my service give me a tip"). My DH stepped over to me (on curb with infant and DS...no further than 6 feet away) to get the tip (that we planned on giving him), our driver then closed the doors to the luggage compartment, grabbed his tip and ran on the bus. As the driver was getting on the bus, my DH counted our luggage, yelled to the driver that we are missing one piece. The driver said, "gotta go, I am late" and left. My DH, then tried to wave him down, but he wouldn't open the doors and just kept going. To this day we are without our luggage...
The luggage included all of our trip momentos (including my DS's autograph book, which I made) and our dirty clothes.

Since a few minutes after it happened til today, we have worked non-successfully with Mears and Disney and no one is able to locate our luggage. In fact Mears told us that they were not responsible for Disney M.E., however will give us $250, due to the rudeness of their driver... Disney stated that it is solely up to Mears to work it out, however they will give us $250 towards our insurance deductable, if we file a claim. (Due to a recent accident, which my DH totaled our car, we are unable to file an claim with our Homeowners policy...) But most importantly, I DO NOT feel that it we should have to! Shouldn't Disney help fix this situation? At this point, I understand that we most likely will never see our luggage (my ds 4, still asks, "When will the Disney bus give him back his Disney treasures?"

Needless to say~ This was not a Magical way to end our 'Magical Vacation'!

Any suggestions on what to do/ask for next would be greatly appreciated!

I have heard of people losing their autograph books in the park and then they magically show up at their home signed by all the characters a few weeks or months later. Their address obviously was printed somewere in the autograph book.

Maybe Disney would arrange for all the characters to sign a book for you. You could even make a replacement of the one you had originally and send it to them with a note explaining what happend.

It may work. I would try it!

 

[princessjv]

I have heard of people losing their autograph books in the park and then they magically show up at their home signed by all the characters a few weeks or months later. Their address obviously was printed somewere in the autograph book.

Maybe Disney would arrange for all the characters to sign a book for you. You could even make a replacement of the one you had originally and send it to them with a note explaining what happend.

It may work. I would try it!

This is a great idea! I left a VM for the CM at Disney that I have been working with. I will cross my fingers!

 

[Donna]

I hope this works out and you can get the $250 from mears, even though it can't replace the autograph book which is priceless to your son.
on the insurance end, i would definitely be looking around for another carrier. If these are the only two claims you've ever turned in, they should NOT be cancelling you. This is what insurance is for. It's unfortunate they've happened, of course, but if they don't back you up, you should be cancelling THEM, not the other way around. Good Luck!