CM wouldn't give me the time at Ohanas I wanted!

[roliepolieoliefan]

I called this morning to make an ADR for our upcoming September trip. DS and DD are dying to do the breakfast at Ohanas with Stitch.

Its DD's birthday while we are there , also a MK day. I'll call and see if they have anything early.

Its an EMH day that day and we are staying at the BWV.

I asked for the earliest time for 4. She asked where are you staying and do you have your own car. I told her BWV and no we don't have a car. Well she goes on to say, it will take you a while to get here so the earliest we have is 8:40am.

So we have another MK day scheduled, asked the earliest time for that day. Same thing 8:40am. I said , Are you sure nothing before that? No, and ma'am she says, why would you want earlier than 8:40am you couldn't possibly get to the Poly before then anyhow since the buses only start running 1/2 hour before park opening.

I said its an EMH day and the buses start way before 1/2 hour prior to opening. She wouldn't budge. I says thanks, hang up, call right back. Got a great CM, lo and behold they have a 7:30am for 4 at Ohanas.

Just makes me mad. Why did this CM think she could dictate when my family could get to the restaurant? We can take a cab if need be.

Another example, if you don't get what you want, call back.

 

[kimbac3]

Wow!! How rude of that 1st CM! A cab was the first thing I thought of too. I really don't like that they ask where you are staying. What does that have to do with anything anyway!!
I'm glad you got what you wanted though!! Have a great trip!!
Kimba

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I'm sorry you had that experience. It is frustrating getting a CM that's trying to be "helpful" and really isn't. I had a CM the other night arguing with me when I was trying to make ADR's for Rainforest Cafe at AK at 6:45 p.m. (the park closes at 7 p.m. that day but we're arriving that early afternoon and will not be going to any park) that unless we're planning on being at the park that day that I really shouldn't make an ADR for there. What? I then convinced her that we really do want to eat there and will be driving and not riding the bus so then she starts to argue with me about we'd have to pay for parking at the gate just to eat at the Rainforest Cafe at AK. I told her we have AP's (wasn't sure if you get free parking to the parks with an AP as we've never driven to the parks) and we're staying on property. She then asks what kind of AP we have so she can see if I get free parking. I told her it didn't matter if we had to pay to park at the gate (as I didn't really care or have the time for her to look through to see if our AP's included free parking as it was irrelevant) we still wanted to eat there so she FINALLY made the ADR. I thought it was all kind of funny and strange at the same time. I was almost waiting for her to say "I was pulling your leg this whole time..." but it never came.

 

[bsmcneil]

I called this morning to make an ADR for our upcoming September trip. DS and DD are dying to do the breakfast at Ohanas with Stitch.

Its DD's birthday while we are there , also a MK day. I'll call and see if they have anything early.

Its an EMH day that day and we are staying at the BWV.

I asked for the earliest time for 4. She asked where are you staying and do you have your own car. I told her BWV and no we don't have a car. Well she goes on to say, it will take you a while to get here so the earliest we have is 8:40am.

So we have another MK day scheduled, asked the earliest time for that day. Same thing 8:40am. I said , Are you sure nothing before that? No, and ma'am she says, why would you want earlier than 8:40am you couldn't possibly get to the Poly before then anyhow since the buses only start running 1/2 hour before park opening.

I said its an EMH day and the buses start way before 1/2 hour prior to opening. She wouldn't budge. I says thanks, hang up, call right back. Got a great CM, lo and behold they have a 7:30am for 4 at Ohanas.

Just makes me mad. Why did this CM think she could dictate when my family could get to the restaurant? We can take a cab if need be.

Another example, if you don't get what you want, call back.

Did you ever say to the first CM that you might rent a car? I feel like s/he was being incredibly considerate for keeping your transportation issues in mind instead of signing you up for a 7:30am ADR and letting you figure out the rest (especially since you had a discussion about not having a car). Sometimes I think we're looking to be frustrated, so it happens.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Did you ever say to the first CM that you might rent a car? I feel like s/he was being incredibly considerate for keeping your transportation issues in mind instead of signing you up for a 7:30am ADR and letting you figure out the rest (especially since you had a discussion about not having a car). Sometimes I think we're looking to be frustrated, so it happens.

No, never told her I might rent a car. We have NEVER rented a car in all our trips to WDW. I think it was very inconsiderate of that CM to withhold times to a meal because she "thinks" our family can't make it there.

I specifically asked her for the earliest ADR. Not trying to sound harsh, but it was her job to make the ADR when I wanted and then let me figure out how to get there.

 

[crisi]

"Thanks for letting me know about buses, we always take cabs for resort to resort travel."

 

[vascubaguy]

Hrmm... very interesting because when we were staying at the BWV I had an ADR for 8am at Kona... had no problem at all getting there (though I don't recall how we got there). I think we took a bus to the MK and then the monorail over to the Poly (and it wasn't EMH).

While I think it is nice of the CM to point out the potential transportation issue, I think if you insist that you want something earlier and will make alternative arrangments to get there, that the CM should not take it on themselves to determine that you are incapable...

 

[gigi1313]

i'm going to guess that the ADR cms have been coached in how to handle situations like your 'cause of a lot of late shows to the restaurants... methinks a lot of people want an 8am adr and when they cannot get it they will take a 7:40, knowing full well they'll not be able to make it, but figure better late than never and then show up late blaming wdw transport... ergo, those coming from a distant resort are strongly suggested to take a later adr...

 

[disneynewbee]

Geez that was rude when you told her you would figure out how to get there she should have scheduled it and left it at that. Yes it was kind to inform you of possible problems but rude to not let you schedule the time you wanted because of her opinion. I asked for the earliest time for two breakfast ressies and was asked where I was staying, I wonder if I could have got earlier times but didn't because of where I am staying.

 

[Buzzandthemermaid]

OP,
Next time just say "Oh, I was just kidding, we're not staying at the Boardwalk, we're staying at the Poly."

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

OP,
Next time just say "Oh, I was just kidding, we're not staying at the Boardwalk, we're staying at the Poly."

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

That would really ruffle my feathers! She shouldn't lie to you about the earliest time because she thinks you may not be able to get there. That's ridiculous!

 

[SueEllen]

I can see both sides of this. The CM was correct to try to tell you about transportation times and how long it may take to get there BUT she should have also booked the time you requested (if it was available.)
She should not have taken it upon herself to determine when she thought you could arrive and tell you that was the earliest time.

I would have been incredibly frustrated and irritated as well.
I personally think she should have just advised you of the transportation issue, possibly made a suggestion about a way to get there, and booked what you asked for.

It was smart of you to call back to get another CM and get the dining time you requested.
Good luck with getting there on time (it does take a while using WDW transportation, but I suggest asking your resort guest services/concierge desk to see if they are offering the early morning character breakfast transportation busses still, or what they recommend.)

Sue Ellen

 

[betterlatethannever]

i'm going to guess that the ADR cms have been coached in how to handle situations like your 'cause of a lot of late shows to the restaurants... methinks a lot of people want an 8am adr and when they cannot get it they will take a 7:40, knowing full well they'll not be able to make it, but figure better late than never and then show up late blaming wdw transport... ergo, those coming from a distant resort are strongly suggested to take a later adr...

If that's the case, the CMs are coached wrong. The MK area breakfast (and behind the scenes tours) busses start running before 6:30AM.

Ed

 

[eeyoreiscool]

I have seen quite a few people at restaurants that complain they couldn't get there in time because the buses were late. Because of this, the CM's are probably being told to make sure the people aware of the bus situation and how they might be late. Trying to get early breakfasts at AK is also fun because the parking lot doesn't open early to drive in and sometimes the buses are late so having a later seating is probably best.

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

I have seen quite a few people at restaurants that complain they couldn't get there in time because the buses were late. Because of this, the CM's are probably being told to make sure the people aware of the bus situation and how they might be late. Trying to get early breakfasts at AK is also fun because the parking lot doesn't open early to drive in and sometimes the buses are late so having a later seating is probably best.

We used the bus from POFQ and were at Animal Kingdom by 7.30, so we were well in time for our 8am ressie.

 

[MosMom]

She obviously didn't consider that you could take a cab to the breakfast.

 

[beth_cam]

My breakfast times before park opening were always made when I wanted without question but then they would follow the ressie with a statement something like "remember that for this reservation disney transportation may not be available and to plan a way to get there"

 

[Katy Belle]

I thought it was interesting that when I made my ADRs this time they were very specific in saying...if you are using Disney Transportation it will take you an hour. Maybe they have lots of people late for ADRs that then complain about Disney Trasportation?? I do think its good that they point out that it will take a while, not everyone knows that and it seems crazy!

Glad you got what you wanted.
Katy