Dining reservations by phone - reservation number?

[Vala]

I did finally receive an answer from Disneyland Paris Guest Relations about some problems that have been repeatedly incurring during our last few stays.

Most is the usual "we apologize, shouldn't have happened" mumbo jumbo and they have made a point not to even touch most of the crucial points I made. So, pretty much what I expected.

However, one thing in their letter has left me totally flabbergasted: They are writing they are surprised that my dining reservations made by phone from home have been disappearing.

They claim I should have been given a confirmation number for all reservations, and of course with a number they should have been able to locate the bookings.

The only time I have ever seen a reservation number in all those years we've been going was when I did a new one at the Concierge Desk in the hotel and they handed me a slip of paper with a number.

But even then at the restaurant they didn't even care about the number, they only wanted the name.

I also remember twice asking habitualy about the number after WDW stays and being told "name and time will be enough."

I realize most of you do reserve at City Hall. But for those who made phone reservations, were you ever given a reservation number?

 

[DLPdaft]

no Vala, you're right, I've never been given a reservation reference number when I've booked over the phone for my restaurant tables.

 

[Mummy Minnie]

Hi

I booked mine yesterday on phone & he just took my name. I wasnt given a reservation number.

 

[Florida2012]

I was going to be ringing this weekend to reserve some tables but now I'm wondering is it worth just doing it when we get there!?

 

[Vala]

no Vala, you're right, I've never been given a reservation reference number when I've booked over the phone for my restaurant tables.

Hi

I booked mine yesterday on phone & he just took my name. I wasnt given a reservation number.

Thank you guys, at least I have not been imagining things then.

Some parts of their reply have been downright laughable. But claiming they have a procedure that maybe doesn't even exist or at the very least is not being followed... that is pretty bad. They really made it sound like it was my fault the reservations disappeared because I didn't provide the number.

 

[Ware Bears]

Doesn't it make you mad when the most important points get glossed over, or even worse, just ignored.

No, you're not imagining it, I've never been given reservation numbers when I've phoned either - just told to quote my name when I arrived at the restaurant. I was surprised too the first time I phoned, having been a WDW visitor first so used to their long ADR numbers.

Although thinking about it, I've just dug out a couple of old diaries to look and one year when I phoned the CM did give me numbers which began with the first few letters of the restaurant followed by some digits but this was way way back in 2006! So if such a system is in place it certainly isn't followed through as we neither gave them or needed them and I've never been given numbers such as this since. There's only once been a misunderstanding when we got to a restaurant to find someone had already been marked in under our reservation, think it was the Steakhouse Sunday Brunch, but this was a different type of error which would have occurred even with a reservation number and at least they were honest and didn't try to make out we hadn't booked.

I always make my reservations by phone before we go too although one year when we visited City Hall to change the time of a meal the CM printed up the list of all the meals I'd booked for that visit so maybe that's an option for anyone who's a bit concerned?

I was going to be ringing this weekend to reserve some tables but now I'm wondering is it worth just doing it when we get there!?

Well, I always prefer to book our meals before we go - we (or should I be honest and say I ) enjoy the planning and it stops any disappointment on the day if we did want to eat somewhere then found it wasn't open or there were no tables. If you've got your heart set on somewhere then I'd say phone to make reservations in advance but if you're not fussed where and when you eat then leave it until you get there.

 

[Vala]

Doesn't it make you mad when the most important points get glossed over, or even worse, just ignored.

No, you're not imagining it, I've never been given reservation numbers when I've phoned either - just told to quote my name when I arrived at the restaurant. I was surprised too the first time I phoned, having been a WDW visitor first so used to their long ADR numbers.

Although thinking about it, I've just dug out a couple of old diaries to look and one year when I phoned the CM did give me numbers which began with the first few letters of the restaurant followed by some digits but this was way way back in 2006! So if such a system is in place it certainly isn't followed through as we neither gave them or needed them and I've never been given numbers such as this since. There's only once been a misunderstanding when we got to a restaurant to find someone had already been marked in under our reservation, think it was the Steakhouse Sunday Brunch, but this was a different type of error which would have occurred even with a reservation number and at least they were honest and didn't try to make out we hadn't booked.

I've been alternating between being mad and utter disbelief. Mad about the ignorance and utter disbelief about the few replies they actually gave.

For example one thing I mentioned was CMs inventing their own pin trading rules, a problem which has very much increased this year.
"You can only trade pins for pins the same size." Yes, that's what several CMs told me. This is NOT and was never one of the official rules. The response from customer service?

They insist the CMs are following the rules. They sent me a print out of the "official pin trading rules" as a "refresher". Of course the print out does not have that "rule" about same size on it!

There's a lot of other replies (or maybe I better call them "non replies") that aren't exactly acceptable. I'll not go into more details, most of those replies would violate the board rules. Generally saying if they did not ignore the problem they in one way or the other have tried to shift the blame on us.

After being ignored by Guest Relations repeatedly this letter was even sent c/o the CEO at the suggestion of DLPdaft.
They did send a few trinkets and one half board food voucher along with the letter. I'm guessing that wouldn't have happened if I hadn't gone the CEO route.

But I really don't know what to say. The letter did pretty much totally erase the "make good" factor of the goodies. (And it is kind of... interesting that three people sign a complaints letter mentioning restaurant problems we had as a group and they send a one person voucher.)
My boyfriend was furious and wants to write back, and considering that this reservation number thing is so obviously not followed we may really best do that.

EDIT: I just called the reservation hotline again because I needed to move a reservation and specifically asked for the reservation number. The CM I spoke to assured me "there are no reservation numbers". *sighs*

 

[Ware Bears]

EDIT: I just called the reservation hotline again because I needed to move a reservation and specifically asked for the reservation number. The CM I spoke to assured me "there are no reservation numbers". *sighs*

Oh dear ..... have you ever felt more like bashing your head against a brick wall?