CM was very RUDE on the phone and hung up on me!

[boardom]

Let me ask you all something. Put yourself in my position. You get married, you have a very small honeymoon that lasts for 2 days because thats all you can afford. Your 1st year anniversary you couldnt go anywhere because your husband's job wont let you go anywhere. 2nd anniversary rolls around your by yourself because your husband is over seas in Iraq getting mortors shot at him on a daily basis and you worry about him every day for 4 months straight. 3rd anniversary is completly shot down because your husband has to work to get ready for another deployment so the most you could do was go out to dinner before he had to go back into work for the rest of the day. We've had to celebrate birthdays apart and not to mention this past holiday season. Now pardon me for wanting to celebrate our anniversary everyday of the trip. But I think we should and not to mention deserve to and have the right to. Im not trying to make anyone feel sorry for me or anything. Im just telling you what I've had to deal with for 4 years now of our marriage. Think about what I just said before you reply. Think about what you would actually would have wanted as well if you had to put up with everything I just mentioned above. If you still feel that we should only celebrate it only on 1 day, fine. Theres obviously no way to get you to see my point.

Teresa, you celebrate your anniversary every durn day you're there! And every day you're together for that matter. And thanks to your husband for his service.

 

[Tricia1972]

I am so sorry that a CM was rude to you on the phone, as others have stated there is absolutely no excuse - if someone doesn't like dealing with customer's requests that person should find a different job. I do have to agree with lmhall2000 - I can understand that people want everyday of their anniversary/birthday/engagement/etc. trip to WDW to be special and magical and I am sure they always are. We are visiting in Octoberfor the first time ever for my daughter's birthday and I want each and every day to be as special as possible for her and I am sure there are hundreds if not thousands of people in similar situations. Many people are not fortunate enough to be able to visit WDW every year or even more than once in a lifetime, so when they are able it generally is for a special occassion. If everyone requested special treatment everyday of their vacation for every special occassion at WDW - there would eventually be a breaking point.

I really like your post and I agree with you. Everyone has special circumstances and not everyone is lucky enough to go to Disney every year.

Like I 'confessed' before. We went last year for our 10th anniversary. Anyone who has been married for a while knows that all marriages have their ups and downs. They have their good times and their hard times. I don't think that our times were any worse than anyone else's, and I know that we had many bumps in the roads and for short times considered throwing in the towel.

We didn't, we made it and we're happy. Not Ward and June Cleaver happy, but we're happy.

When we went last year, our choice - again this doesn't work for everyone, we noted our anniversary on our reservation for our actual anniversary. HOWEVER, we did wear our buttons all week. It was nice to hear the Happy Anniversary wishes from CM's, we talked to a lot of people (other guests) and it was fun. We never ever lied and said it was our anniversary when it wasn't. When talking we explained that this was our anniversary trip. We also never ever expected anything extra. We wore them because they made us happy as we were celebrating us and our 10 years of marriage. (Besides they are pretty darned cute buttons!) We did get a card at LeCellier and a dessert at Kona when it wasn't our anniversary, but we always told our servers the truth.

Personally I wouldn't lie to get something out of Disney. But that's just my personal feeling. Everyone is different and feels entitled to different things, which is fine. It's what makes the world go round. I just hope that there aren't so many who demand extra things that all of the special little things go away.

Now this being said, I am sure that many feel that we were wrong to wear our buttons on a day that wasn't our actual anniversary. That goes beyond their comfort level, even though we were honest when asked - to some we were portraying a lie by wearing them. That's their personal comfort level and that's fine too.

(Strange when we went for DS's and my Birthday in October last year, we didn't wear the buttons all week - that felt wrong to me, but the anniversary trip didn't. Go figure )

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

I'm sure everyone has a story behind their celebration. I have a whopper of one but don't feel the need to share. In any case, you do what you feel is right for you and dh and have a wonderful trip!

 

[AbbyPan]

Isn't this your Anniversary Trip? you're celebrating 4 years of love & patience with your husband on this trip...again, I don't see why anyone is even giving you a hard time about this.

If I was a CM you'd get whatever freebie I could give everynight!

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

We got a VERY nice man on the phone for our ADR;s

 

[Mom2PixiePrincess]

I think maybe there must be a lack of training and/or supervision when I read so many posts referring to discourteous treatment. I am left wondering if this is a problem to be addressed by Human Resources. I think I read or heard recently that Disney has reduced training time. Maybe I am imagining this, but I think not. It is not acceptable. "courteous" is part of the Mickey package.

Also, in the hospitality business, and yes, Mickey Magic is a business, the phone contact is often the first contact a future guest has. It sets the tone, often, for the entire trip. Therefore, when you can't make eye contact you need to offer a smile in your voice, to convey interest, concern, enthusiasm, and the thought that "you are a very important guest." (because you are)

I have heard that there is a staffing issue with Disney. I don't know if that relates just to parks, or if if carries over to all other departments.

Please try to erase the bad experience and move ahead, looking forward to an incredibly special place to celebrate your anniversary, and Congratulations.

We go to Disney several times a year and have recently noticed (all across the board) a change in the customer service level. In fact on our last vacation 02/08 my DH and I discussed this. It seems that there MUST be a lack in training. Disney has always been exceptional in customer service from all employees, but over the last year it's becoming more of a 50/50. We actually had a waitress give us the third degree because my DH told her he was allergic to mushrooms! She gave a little gripe and lecture about people who aren't really allergic just saying they are to get the menu changed. And went on about how the chef would have to come out and he would have to cook DH's food on another grill. Yada Yada Yada First of all, she should have never questioned it that certainly isn't good customer service. Second my DH is very allergic to mushrooms and we suddenly felt under attack and needing to defend DH's allergy. This is the first time we've ever had a problem like this. Also, I was literally yelled at by a CM at Epcot. The little gaming area off the exit to Spaceship Earth to be exact. There was a kind of shuffle board game. My DH was playing the game with my DD5. She was having trouble with the computerized stick so I stepped in to help her. The CM literally yelled at me that I couldn't be in there. When I explained that I was trying to help my little girl, he said "I don't care, you have to step back." I was shocked! In the past a CM would have come in and helped! Helping hands, curtious smiles, friendly dispostions that is what Disney is known for. Sad that this seems to be a fading past time.

Hopefully they get on the ball and put A LOT of the Walt charm back into their training!

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

here is a nice funny story from epcot for EMH

me, my sister,and grandma were at epcot around 11 for Extra magic hours, & we were trying to get on test track. the guy yelled at us [scrawny guy I could have beat up if I wanted to] and said we can't get on unless we had the wrist-band. SOOO we glared at him and went around the whole park and found the people with the wrist bands and they were about to leave so we were holding them up but they were nice. they said we didn;t even need the wrist band if we had the room key.
so we run back to test track and WADDA YA KNOW! they are letting everyone on with just their room key. so before we were seated for TT, my sister saw the guy who yelled at us and showed him her wrist band and said 'HERES YOUR WRIST BAND'

 

[Disney8704]

Personally I think wearing a button during the entire trip is pushing it a little. Because it would be visable to EVERYONE. At least a note on ADRs its only known to you and your server and maybe to the people sitting around your table and thats it. If we get buttons (after convincing DH for an hr to wear 1) we would only wear the day of our actual anniversary. We would never lie to anyone. If our server say congrats, we would tell them its not our actual anniversary we are just celebrating it, unless it is of course our actual anniversary, then we would say thanks. Personally, I dont like people who demand stuff. And I for one know DH and I arent like that. To be honest, if they bring us out free desert, whos to say Im even gonna eat it right there and then. Most of the time dinner alone fills me up. So I might have to end up having them wrap it up and take it with me anyways. Like I said previously, Im not expecting anything. People who go in with high expectations are the ones who are usually let down, because they are greedy people and feel that everything should go their way. The only expectations I have is for our cake delivery to our room and our diver and menu at coral reef because they both should happen since its all been set up except for the cake for right now. Never could I ever dream about demanding something. Demanding doesnt get you anywhere. For those who demand a free cupcake or whatever, sure they might get it, but I bet you they feel bad later on for demanding. If they dont, they they have no heart and/or conscience.

I really like your post and I agree with you. Everyone has special circumstances and not everyone is lucky enough to go to Disney every year.

Like I 'confessed' before. We went last year for our 10th anniversary. Anyone who has been married for a while knows that all marriages have their ups and downs. They have their good times and their hard times. I don't think that our times were any worse than anyone else's, and I know that we had many bumps in the roads and for short times considered throwing in the towel.

We didn't, we made it and we're happy. Not Ward and June Cleaver happy, but we're happy.

When we went last year, our choice - again this doesn't work for everyone, we noted our anniversary on our reservation for our actual anniversary. HOWEVER, we did wear our buttons all week. It was nice to hear the Happy Anniversary wishes from CM's, we talked to a lot of people (other guests) and it was fun. We never ever lied and said it was our anniversary when it wasn't. When talking we explained that this was our anniversary trip. We also never ever expected anything extra. We wore them because they made us happy as we were celebrating us and our 10 years of marriage. (Besides they are pretty darned cute buttons!) We did get a card at LeCellier and a dessert at Kona when it wasn't our anniversary, but we always told our servers the truth.

Personally I wouldn't lie to get something out of Disney. But that's just my personal feeling. Everyone is different and feels entitled to different things, which is fine. It's what makes the world go round. I just hope that there aren't so many who demand extra things that all of the special little things go away.

Now this being said, I am sure that many feel that we were wrong to wear our buttons on a day that wasn't our actual anniversary. That goes beyond their comfort level, even though we were honest when asked - to some we were portraying a lie by wearing them. That's their personal comfort level and that's fine too.

(Strange when we went for DS's and my Birthday in October last year, we didn't wear the buttons all week - that felt wrong to me, but the anniversary trip didn't. Go figure )

 

[kimsuenew]

Well, this is just me -- and I don't know how many ADRs you have ... it sounds like several -- but I don't extend my anniversary or birthdays over a whole trip. I make lots of ADRs and maybe on the "special" day, celebrate it over a meal.

I think I would just feel strange booking, say, a week's worth of ADRs or even several days' worth of ADRs and expecting the restaurant or a reservation service rep to continually note "anniversary" on each one.

Like I said, this is just me. I'm in WDW every year for the week of my anniversary, and I make one special ADR where I'd like it noted that DH & I are celebrating that meal as our special, anniversary meal.

That was my thought exactly. You can only have one anniversary, like one birthday.

In 2008 we will be there for my birthday. We will have a special dinner (Coral Reef) and we will note it, as well as ordering a cake beforehand. This will be my only celebration, I cannot imagine adding it to all ADR's in hopes that I get something special.

We have been married nearly 20 years, quite happily, but have never taken a trip. We also do not do gifts (we do cards) and we have probably went out to eat to celebrate it about 5 times. Our 2007 trip to WDW (our first time there ) was a combination anniversary trip, as well as a celebration of both my husband and my birthday (we checked in a week after his birthday actually and checked out 6 days before mine) and we did not "officially celebrate" any of the above... as neither the anniversary, nor the birthdays, actually fell on the days we were at WDW.

Certainly celebrate an occassion if it falls while there and on the day it falls only!

However, a CM being rude and/or hanging up, is absolutely unexcusable. I would contact WDW, in the form of a very detailed and nicely written letter. They need to know that this happend and take steps to ensure that it does not happen again!

 

[dkhillerud]

I dont expect something at every meal. Heck, Im not expecting anything at all. Just to hear congrats or happy anniversary or seeing "pixie dust" on our table once is good enough for me. Im already planning on making my own "pixie dust" by ordering a cake for room delivery while DH and I are at dinner of our arrival night - gonna be a total surprise for DH and I also already called Debbi from Coral Reef and got my personalized menu and diver all set up - once again a huge surprise for DH. Im not going to go down and have high expectations and not get anything and let it ruin my trip. Im not like that. I mearly just wanted the note put on my ADRs that way they no it is our anniversary trip and if they like to do something, great. If not, oh well. Like I said, I already planned my own "pixie dust" which in my honest opinion is better then any free desert that a TS place can give us. Truthfully I much rather have a dream granted like a lanyard or dream fast passes then free stuff at every meal.

I am very sorry to have started such a debate....I really was just asking an honest question to which you gave a honest answer. Thank you!!

I am new and just trying to figure out how all of this works, your answer makes perfect sense! Thanks for clarifing things for this newbie!! I am sorry the CM was so rude to you, that would make me mad as well.

I hope you have a wonderful trip with lots of great surprises!!

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

Some cast members I just wanna slap when rude..

 

[Mom2PixiePrincess]

Let me ask you all something. Put yourself in my position. You get married, you have a very small honeymoon that lasts for 2 days because thats all you can afford. Your 1st year anniversary you couldnt go anywhere because your husband's job wont let you go anywhere. 2nd anniversary rolls around your by yourself because your husband is over seas in Iraq getting mortors shot at him on a daily basis and you worry about him every day for 4 months straight. 3rd anniversary is completly shot down because your husband has to work to get ready for another deployment so the most you could do was go out to dinner before he had to go back into work for the rest of the day. We've had to celebrate birthdays apart and not to mention this past holiday season. Now pardon me for wanting to celebrate our anniversary everyday of the trip. But I think we should and not to mention deserve to and have the right to. Im not trying to make anyone feel sorry for me or anything. Im just telling you what I've had to deal with for 4 years now of our marriage. Think about what I just said before you reply. Think about what you would actually would have wanted as well if you had to put up with everything I just mentioned above. If you still feel that we should only celebrate it only on 1 day, fine. Theres obviously no way to get you to see my point.

Just wanna add that we arent just celebrating our anniversary for this year. But we are celebrating our anniversary for the past 3 years plus making this our 2nd honeymoon. Plus making up for all the birthdays we missed. I dont see the harm for wanting to try to make up all those that we had to miss out with this trip. We've been planning this trip now for 5 years. AAA has had our reservation for 5 years now, constantly changing the dates every year. We now finally get to go. I really hate to say this, but those who dont believe we shouldnt celebrate our anniversary everyday are putting me in a worser mood then that CM did. That CM just didnt wanna do her job. But at least she encouraged me to let the people at the podium no that we are celebrating our anniversary.

Personally I don't understand what all the squabble is about. It's a special time of year, you should have the option to celebrate it for your whole vacation! I don't think this is taking advantage of anything! The "freebies" that Disney gives away are stocked to the gills. Heck we went for my nieces' b-day and they gave ALL the kids at the table free cupcakes. I don't know about the rest of the people on here, but I'm certainly thankful that I have a marriage worth celebrating for more than a day!

Also, I'm sure yourself as well as many others don't expect freebies. It's just the point of saying "It's our anniersary, our birthday, our honeymoon...etc" It's the happiness and excitement of the trip, the MAGIC!

We've never celebrated our anniversary at Disney. We've been there during our anniversary but we didn't know they had buttons for it! We thought there was only buttons for 1st Time Visits and Birthdays. Anyways on this last trip we witnessed a couple celebrating their 10 years. The CM explained to them that they should ask for a button from each park as there are different ones. So I think that Disney understands and is prepared for the people that want their celebration to last the whole vacation! We plan to do this on our next Anniversary, making dreams that last a lifetime!

So to this I say: LET YOUR CELEBRATION BEGIN!

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

I went on my like, 9th birthday 6 years ago and I got a cake.

it was YUMMEH.

 

[Tricia1972]

Which is EXACTLY my point! Everyone has a different comfort level of what's right and what's not. I feel that noting on a reservation pushes it more - you feel that wearing a button pushes it more.

You can argue it's visible by everyone - I can argue so what - these are people I am passing on the street who I am not even interacting with.

I can say a note on your reservation is seen long before you're there to explain it and preparations may be made in advance for you, you can say that so long as it's explained that's the point.

We could go back and forth all day and in the end we'll find:

We're both right
We're both wrong
You have a tough times story
I have a tough time story
There is always someone out there with a worse story than either of ours

It's not a competition, you aren't going to change my point of view and I am not going to change yours.

I feel making a note on your reservation at a restaurant implies that you are asking them for something.

You are entitled to your opinion that the note on your ADR means nothing to the restaurant.

Are you demanding something - certainly not. As has been said previously in this thread - even notes don't always guarantee that pixie dust will find you. You don't seem like a person who would have a tantrum or cause a scene because you didn't get a dessert or a good table or even anniversary wishes, so no you aren't demanding.

Are you a bad person for wanting to have a magical vacation? No! Are you a bad person for feeling entitled to a magical time because you had a rough go your first few years. No!

Where I feel you may be being a little short sighted is seeing that there are thousands with a similar situation to you who are staying at Disney for an extended vacation every day of the year.

The point I was agreeing with is that if thousands upon thousands are making special notes and wishing for extra, pretty soon Disney will tap out and maybe, just maybe, they won't treat special days any differently for people. That's the point I agreed with.

Go and have a FUN vacation. Know that you are doing what you want to do to make it magical for you and since it's your vacation, that's fine and hopefully your vacation is magical as you wish it would be.

Personally I think wearing a button during the entire trip is pushing it a little. Because it would be visable to EVERYONE. At least a note on ADRs its only known to you and your server and maybe to the people sitting around your table and thats it. If we get buttons (after convincing DH for an hr to wear 1) we would only wear the day of our actual anniversary. We would never lie to anyone. If our server say congrats, we would tell them its not our actual anniversary we are just celebrating it, unless it is of course our actual anniversary, then we would say thanks. Personally, I dont like people who demand stuff. And I for one know DH and I arent like that. To be honest, if they bring us out free desert, whos to say Im even gonna eat it right there and then. Most of the time dinner alone fills me up. So I might have to end up having them wrap it up and take it with me anyways. Like I said previously, Im not expecting anything. People who go in with high expectations are the ones who are usually let down, because they are greedy people and feel that everything should go their way. The only expectations I have is for our cake delivery to our room and our diver and menu at coral reef because they both should happen since its all been set up except for the cake for right now. Never could I ever dream about demanding something. Demanding doesnt get you anywhere. For those who demand a free cupcake or whatever, sure they might get it, but I bet you they feel bad later on for demanding. If they dont, they they have no heart and/or conscience.

 

[kimsuenew]

Let me ask you all something. Put yourself in my position. You get married, you have a very small honeymoon that lasts for 2 days because thats all you can afford. Your 1st year anniversary you couldnt go anywhere because your husband's job wont let you go anywhere. 2nd anniversary rolls around your by yourself because your husband is over seas in Iraq getting mortors shot at him on a daily basis and you worry about him every day for 4 months straight. 3rd anniversary is completly shot down because your husband has to work to get ready for another deployment so the most you could do was go out to dinner before he had to go back into work for the rest of the day. We've had to celebrate birthdays apart and not to mention this past holiday season. Now pardon me for wanting to celebrate our anniversary everyday of the trip. But I think we should and not to mention deserve to and have the right to. Im not trying to make anyone feel sorry for me or anything. Im just telling you what I've had to deal with for 4 years now of our marriage. Think about what I just said before you reply.

No one is faulting you for wanting to celebrate, however, there are people other than yourself that have not had honeymoons, anniversary celebrations, 2nd honeymoons, or birthday celebrations.

We did not have a honeymoon at all, went straight to our apartment the night we got married. We have been married almost 20 years, we only went out to eat to celebrate about 5 times. We have always worked different shifts, so son was not in daycare.

Generally, we do go out for birthdays. Why? Because our local Mexican Restaurant gives you a free birthday meal and the in-laws send us $30.00 each, which is then used to pay for the one not celebrating the birthday and for our son's meal (and tip). Sometimes it does not work, due to schedules, and since the free meal is only on the actual birthday (must show driver's license)... we do not go there if we cannot schedule it on the actual day.

Our trip last September (first to WDW) was a combo everything! We celebrated our anniversary and both of our birthday's, although not formally... as they did not actually fall on the days we were there (there were literally days differences, 6 for one... a week for another). We did not get any buttons. This September we are bouncing back and we did note my birthday on the reservation, and will on the ADR, as it actually falls while we are there. I will celebrate it on the 16th, wear a button, order a cake, and enjoy it... but only on the 16th! Our anniversary and hubby's birthday will not be celebrated, as the actual day does not fall during our trip.

To each his own, I guess. Whatever feels right for you... do it!

 

[Vemnox]

Just wanna add that we arent just celebrating our anniversary for this year. But we are celebrating our anniversary for the past 3 years plus making this our 2nd honeymoon. Plus making up for all the birthdays we missed. I dont see the harm for wanting to try to make up all those that we had to miss out with this trip. We've been planning this trip now for 5 years. AAA has had our reservation for 5 years now, constantly changing the dates every year. We now finally get to go. I really hate to say this, but those who dont believe we shouldnt celebrate our anniversary everyday are putting me in a worser mood then that CM did.

Not one single person in this thread is saying you shouldn't celebrate your anniversary every day. It's your "anniversary trip", right? That's what you're celebrating. I don't assume you'll also be wearing "Just Married" and "Happy Birthday" buttons, so - while you might be celebrating those in retrospect as well - the trip is an Anniversary trip.

With that said, I think the argument some folks are trying to make is simple. What does a guest expect when you "put a note on the reservation" or "tell the podium"? You have to expect something. Why else would you tell them? When you go outside in the mall during your anniversary, do you go into each store and say "It's my anniversary!" I think it's common knowledge that Disney goes out of their way to help families celebrate their special occasions with a cupcake, a song, a card, or something ... so it's coming off as if you will expect (or at least like) something done at just about every place you go to. This goes beyond "expecting" someone to just say "Happy Anniversary" to you and to let it be known that you are celebrating years together. If that was all it was, the buttons themselves communicate that. They are bright, recognizable, and every cast member knows what they are!

Anyways, everyone is their own person and - just like religion - my philosophy is to do whatever you feel is right for you. For the record, if you ask me personally about what I would do: I'd make sure the fact I was on my anniversary was notated on my resort reservation, I'd get the Anniversary buttons and wear them through the entire trip, and then I'd make sure on the actual DAY of my anniversary that the special lunch/dinner I have that day the restaurant knows "TODAY is my anniversary". Beyond that I'd just wear the button around and let any "extras" just come to me in the form of great guest service.

 

[Vemnox]

In the past a CM would have come in and helped! Helping hands, curtious smiles, friendly dispostions that is what Disney is known for. Sad that this seems to be a fading past time.

Hopefully they get on the ball and put A LOT of the Walt charm back into their training!

$$$

 

[Mom2PixiePrincess]

How many of you, growing up, had your birthday parties on your actual birthday? Or plan your children's birthday parties on their actual birthdays?

I don't know about ya'll but I very rarely attend a child's party that is on their actual birthday! We'll be celebrating my DD's birthday at Disney the week before her actual birthday. We plan to celebrate HER everyday of the trip. No we didn't note it on any of the ADR's, we never do. We just tell them when we get there or rather she does! It's an exciting/special time and should be treated as such! We have something special planned for her everyday of the trip!

For the record I'm going two days before my birthday to celebrate as well!

 

[Evil Princess]

Some cast members I just wanna slap when rude..

Oh that's sweet.

 

[Disney8704]

Sounds like us. We went straight back to our apt as well after the reception and then we werent alone then either because we lived with my sister and brother-in-law at the time. Then the next day we just went out and spent the day together and then DH had to work the following week and then we finally went on our honeymoon that weekend.

We did not have a honeymoon at all, went straight to our apartment the night we got married.