DISer's vs Central Reservations

[the kabuki]

So why in the world do I, who does not work for Disney ,know more information about the resorts, ticket pricing, max occupancy in rooms, locations of resorts, new package pricing, etc.

Just talked to a CM today. It was all I could do to stop from laughing at him. It was quite obvious that I had more knowledge of the workings of the reservation system than he did.

For instance:

A family of 5 can fit in a "standard" room at AKL. No they can't it has to be a deluxe with bunk beds.

When booking a land/sea cruise, you can pick different categories of cabin/resorts. Telling me I could stay at the values when booking a CAT 4 land/sea package through Disney. Uh, no I believe if I book a Cat 4 then I have to pick from deluxe resorts. Although I'll give him a break here, cause this wasn't the cruise line #, but come on, shouldn't he have at least some idea?

I'll need 2 connecting rooms at POR for a family of five. Uh no, can sleep five in certain rooms here.

Conversation goes on like this for a while.
Then I make the mistake about asking if there's any codes connected with my name in the system. HUH? well ma'am there's Florida resident discounts and I believe they may have AP discounts.

Uh ok, thanks for your time, goodbye.

That's it. I'm getting a job at Disney. Then I can live it all day at work and come here at night!!

Maybe it should be mandatory training for all employees to spend time at the DIS .

 

[the kabuki]

oh, I forgot, according to him, I could purchase the new park tickets which will allow me access to the disney water parks. This is the base ticket right? Yes ma'am it is.

 

[Tinkaroo]

WOW!! It's no wonder people are so confused...

 

[the kabuki]

It's funny...whenever I hear someone mention that they're going to disney, I'm all over them with tips and advice. Just hate to see them get real messed up talking to CRO

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

We have 3 friends planning trips to Disney within the next year. I told them it was mandatory to come to the DIS before making any reservations. We are also going to have a trip planning party in a few weeks.
We got the same story about not fitting 5 people into POR. I told DH hang up and try again
. They also didn't know what "AP" was we had to spell it out for them.

 

[msteddom]

I think we should all take calls for CRO one hour a day three days a week. Imagine how their customer service satisfaction ratings would soar!


Melissa

 

[the kabuki]

Disney stock will SOAR!!

 

[step4now]

You're right... I hate getting bad information. I had a bad one when booking this trip (going next week), he was so confused over basics like Florida resident discounts and AP discounts. But my biggest nightmare is still happening... the Magic Express is all screwed up already. There will obviously be growing pains out of the gate. We arrive on May 5, the 1st day of the Express, and I still don't have luggage tags. Disney's solution is for me to get off the plane, find the Magic Express booth, get luggage tags, go BACK to baggage claim, get my bags, tag them, go back to the booth, check in, then carry my own luggage to the bus. I've posted about this in another forum here, so I won't go on and on...but it's so frustrating to spend so much money, plan your trip dates so you ARRIVE on a day when the Express will be available, and then not be able to use it because it's such a hassle... all while spending about $5000. It's crazy. My kids are 4 and 7 and I don't think the Disney alternative plan is reasonable. As I asked elsewhere, it's shame the people I speak to are so confused about what's happening with Mag Express and can't simply FAX, email, or 2nd day mail me the tags I need. And...even if I decided to gut it out and follow their advice, how can I have any confidence the bags will arrive on time since they seem so disorganized right now...!

OK, vent over. Sorry

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

step4now,
Geez if you have to go to all that trouble you may as well take care of your own bags. Sometimes I think CRO just doesn't get it.
We were there 2 weeks ago and they were running busses, I guess they were practicing. I would try to call back every day and ask for supervisors until you get what you need. Good luck. Sending some pixie dust your way!

 

[YCFAN]

I called yesterday asking about a particular suite at GF. I had the code, building location, etc. The CM said "Wow, you've done your research." I just laughed!! I love reading different books about Disney so I buy them all the time. I recently bought a book and in three different places it referred to Crescent Lake as the Seven Seas Lagoon. I just wanted to scream. The Boardwalk according to this book looks out across the lovely Seven Seas Lagoon!!!! I can see a misprint, but this was in three separate areas of the book.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

We have 3 friends planning trips to Disney within the next year. I told them it was mandatory to come to the DIS before making any reservations. We are also going to have a trip planning party in a few weeks.
We got the same story about not fitting 5 people into POR. I told DH hang up and try again
. They also didn't know what "AP" was we had to spell it out for them.

I have a friend leaving may 8th and staying at the cabins at Fort Wilderness
i went over to her house and bookmarked the Dis in her computer along with mousesavers, all ears and tour guide mike and dropped off two books
and told her to cal me with questions
shes finding more answers here than from disney

 

[disneyfanfamily]

I asked if there were any codes/pins next to my name and they did not know what I was talking about. I then told him I wanted 2 rooms at a value because we have 5 people in our family, but could not afford 2 rooms unless I had a good discount. He then told me, "Well, ma'am, don't tell anyone that I am telling you this, but you could just leave one of your kids in the car while you are checking in, and they would not know if you have 5 in your party." WOW!!! I could not believe he was telling me this. I just told him thank you and hung up.

I will call back another time, and hopefully get someone who knows what is going on.

 

[jcsbama]

Rarely do I speak to someone at CRO that knows their stuff. I do what everybody else that reads the dis boards does, I tell the CRO that I can book a room with an AP discount even though I don't have my ticket yet, how many can sleep in a room for that resort, beginning in 2005, you don't have to be FL res. to get the DDE, etc. I get frustrated, but I'll try to teach them what I've learned so that they can better help the next caller. As I've learned in life, do your research and be informed, don't depend on somebody else.

 

[philaround]

I quess I've been extremely lucky. I've only had 1 little problem over the last two years [and that was 2 years ago, no problems since]. For our May 2003 trip I was attempting to make a PS at LeCellier. After giving the CM at WDW DINE all my info she came back with "your PS for March 25 at LeCellier...." at which point I interupted her and wait "Hold on a second, I don't want to eat there tonight. Since it is the middle of the afternoon and I am still in my home state of Connecticut and I will not be checking in until May 25th I would much prefer that my PS is actually for a day that I will be there."

As far as CRO itself for my room or package reservation is concerned I have never spoken with a CM that wasn't friendly and knowlegable.