FL Tours ---- BEWARE!!!!!!!!!

[karebear1]

can someone please post the link for this site? I do not have it and would like to be able to figure this out for myself. Thanks.

 

[lsyorke]

"It may have been an honest mistake on the poster's side but the fact still remains that they made the mistake. "

I agree that the poster made the mistake, but isn't the whole point of having a written confirmation(or e-mail) to correct any problems or misconceptions???

It just seems to me that an e-mail explaining the $9.00 charge for Magic Kingdom resorts could have avoided this whole problem.

 

[karebear1]

OK- I found the site... it's at the top of the page..DAH!!!

As of today- WL is mentioned under the heading of MK Resorts- so, if it was not there before- it has at least been corrected to include WL. So- this misunderstanding shouldn't happen again. But- to make sure it doesn't happen again- maybe FL Tours should quote their rate at $104.00 for the rd trip fee- and then asterick that the $104.00 includes a $9.00 fee for resort entrance. If they did this, there would be no question as to what the charge was- on either part.

 

[Disneyolic]

I do agree that the confirmation part of this whole thing is troublesome. I think that the actual reservations don't really get looked over by an individual but, rather, they are just a computerized confirmation emailed to you that FL Tours has received your info as you typed it. You are responsible for giving them the correct info. Mistakes do happen to everyone but everyone must make up for their own mistakes, not expect someone else to. If it were me that made the mistake, I would go back and look at everything all over, again, to make sure it was me but then own up to it. I would probably make a post later warning people to take their time and read the website over before putting in the reservation.

It would be better if each and every reservation could be looked over in detail but an individual, but do you really think that happens in any of these companies?

JMHO

 

[Tina]

Whew! I sure am glad we're staying at the Swan this time around!

Regardless of that fact, I also noticed the additional charge for MK resorts when I booked my reservation several months ago. Its pretty obvious on the site. I'm sticking with FL Tours.

 

[cigar95]

I'm curious about the reason behind Disney's $9 fee charged to the operators in the first place. It isn't charged to guests driving to MK resorts in their own cars or in rentals, and it isn't charged to limo companies going to other WDW resorts.

So how does this fee make sense, other than "because they can"?

 

[addie]

I could be WAY off here, this is just my guess and I admit that now, so don't flame me.

Here is what I think. I have never seen our driver pay the MK resorts gate anything. Nor have I seen the guard take down what company the car is in to send them a bill in the future.

I do believe that all transportation companies probably have to pay some kind of a yearly fee for a pass to get in the gates. All businesses have costs of operation, I believe that Disney has the right to charge and the transportation companies have the right to pass on the charge.

HOWEVER.....Here is my problem, I seriously doubt that Disney charges $9 per car that visits the MK resorts!!

I don't buy the fact that Disney would charge $4,500 for a transportation company to go throught those gates 500 times a year.

I could see Disney charging $300-400 a year for a gate pass. This would be paid off with only 33-44 cars and the rest of the year is pure profit.

If it were my company I would take away the whole $9 extra charge because it goes to disney and just build it in my cost. I don't break down my expenses for my clients, I just give them a price.

I'm not saying any transportation company is being dishonest, it's all about marketing tactics. I would just charge everyone no matter what resort they were going to an additional $4, and not tell them about any special fee, but that's just me

On a side note, as a business owner, I take responsibility for my confirmation emails no matter who made the mistake that's why confirmations go out. I have learned over the years that even if a client makes a mistake, but I also sent them a confirmation, I always side with the client. It makes a customer for life rather than getting an extra 15-30 dollars.

Andy may not be the owner and therefore maybe could not make the call in giving the OP the confirmation price. He might have been in fear of losing his job, if he did. I think a good business should always have a owner available to call for situations like this or should trust their employees to make those kinds of calls and give their employees a little more power.

Just my 2cents!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Thanks, Andy. My neighbor's quote was $104 - sounds like it is the correct price for MCO-WL r/t. It's their first trip, and I wanted to make sure it starts off well, which is why I booked them with FL Tours. Hopefully, all will go well.

 

[TammyC]

I remember reading about the gate fee in an older thread. Look in here for Tyler 's (Chip n Dale) response:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=428349

Tammy

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by addie
... I have never seen our driver pay the MK resorts gate anything. Nor have I seen the guard take down what company the car is in to send them a bill in the future...

That's probably because they are charged the fee when they go through the gate empty (no guests) on their way to pick you up for your return. They don't have to pay when dropping you off at your resort for checkin just as you wouldn't have to pay if you were driving in yourself. Otherwise, they would be adding on $18 for round trips ($9 each way). But when they come back to get you for the return trip, they are charged the $9 fee just as you would be charged the $7 fee if you were a non-registered Disney guest going through the parking lot gates after pleading "I'm on my way to pick someone up at the resort".

Now if you wanted to get into the semantics of whether this was a fair fee for all transportation companies except Mears to pay, that's a whole different thread.

 

[goofy4tink]

Ahhhh! Thanks GoldenOldie. You must be a mindreader. I was just going to ask why no monies are exchanged while I'm in the car. They get them when they return!! Thanks. Just call me dopey!!

 

[cigar95]

The odd thing is that the charge is actually more than the regular parking charge. Seems like it would save money to just pay for parking once a day and pass through the gate as many times as they pleased.

 

[sgtdisney]

This has nothing to do with the Original post, but it perplexes me.. If someone is staying at a Disney World hotel they do not pay for parking. It is free. You check in and tell them you are staying at WL and you don't pay. You drive back and forth every day including checkout day and you don't pay. Why is Disney charging these Limo companies to pick up paying guests? I suppose one could argue that the parking attendant have no proof that these drivers are picking up Disney Guests, but it just seems unfair to people who don't drive their own cars (or rental cars) into Disney's MK resorts to charge the limo companies a 9.00 fee which ultimately gets passed onto the Disney World Guest in one shape or another...

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by cigar95
The odd thing is that the charge is actually more than the regular parking charge. Seems like it would save money to just pay for parking once a day and pass through the gate as many times as they pleased.

The current WDW parking fee for cars is $7, campers & trailers are $8, shuttles/limousines (& town cars) are $9 and buses/tractor trailers are $12. So the $9 fee is correct.

Disney allows day guests unlimited coming and going with paid parking each day but they are not a commercial enterprise. Rules are almost always different when it comes to businesses.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by karebear1
OK- I found the site... it's at the top of the page..DAH!!!

As of today- WL is mentioned under the heading of MK Resorts- so, if it was not there before- it has at least been corrected to include WL. So- this misunderstanding shouldn't happen again. But- to make sure it doesn't happen again- maybe FL Tours should quote their rate at $104.00 for the rd trip fee- and then asterick that the $104.00 includes a $9.00 fee for resort entrance. If they did this, there would be no question as to what the charge was- on either part.

Good point, actually, excellent. But, isn't that what that "$" is for, to look?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Jillpie
I am in support of the OP. She is brand new to all of this, to their website and to DW. To me, I remember all too well the companies that have given me a break in the past for one thing or another. I become a customer for life and don't forget their kindness. I know business is business. But there is such a thing as a little flexibility here and there. You would have most likely have gained a loyal customer for years and years and she would have also come back to the Dis and commended your flexiblility, even though it was her mistake. It would have gone a long way.

Jillpie,
In some ways I agree with you, BUT....a brand new anyone should take the time to read the rules. I think before coming on the board and complaining, it would have been wiser to check it out first.
I am happy that you have had breaks cut for you and I may have done the same, depending on the attitude of the customer.
Flexibility is ok if you are not feeding yourself and family.

 

[packy]

If you received a confirmation from the company that stated you would be taken to WL for $90, then that is what you should have to pay. Anything else posted on the web-site becomes irrelevant once an accurate confirmation is received. Same rules apply for airlines and rental cars.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

the confirmation was based upon the customer saying that they were not going to a MK resort. The confirmation did not say that the customer would be taken to WL for $90, did it? The confirmation would have been "accurate" only if the customer had input factual information, but they did not.

Here is what firsttime said, "I pulled out my PRINTED confirmation that CLEARLY stated the fee of $90 to the WL. (Ed. note-that is not what the confirmation stated) He said since I typed in other that is what I am charged. Even though the cost to WL is $90. Well, how come my CONFIRMATION CLEARLY stated what we agreed to. ...We were soooo upset about being lied to by FL Tours. The trip could not of started out any worse. Knowing that FL Tours just totally RIPPED US OFF!!! ...PLEASE PLEASE BEWARE --- FL TOURS CONFIRMATIONS MEAN NOTHING!!!!!!!"

Here is what Andy of FLTours said in response to Firsttime's post,"Firsttime, Just for the record, it is $99.00 I asked not $114.00. I cannot make mistake on this as I’m responsible for all the content of what was written on the website –including the rate. Now, when you appeared puzzled and showed me the confirmation you have at hand which states $90.00, I tried to explain to you how you had chosen “Other Disney Resorts” when you should have been choosing “Magic Kingdom Resorts”. This, I tried to point out both to you and your husband was the reason why the rate was different than what you had in a print out. "

Firsttime is not fair to FLTours. They were not "ripped off", they paid the fare that everyone pays. The gate fee of $9 is charged by Disney to all transportation companies. Firsttime did not want to admit that they made a mistake in data input to the reservation system. Then, they bashed the company on this thread after not accepting Andy's explanation of what all customers are charged for a round trip to MK Resorts.

I agree with Gail in that the customer should take the time to read the rules, whether "brand new to all of this" or a repeat customer. I think that before someone comes on and complains about something that was their own mistake, they should check the terms and conditions first.

A rational response comes from DISNewbie_03, who says, "My wife and I are also planning a trip and have done our research as well. We are going to stick with our first transportation choice, FLTOURS. Although we aren't staying at a Magic Kindom resort, we did notice that it's an extra $9 charge, making it $99. I don't understand this bad review to FLTOURS. I think that if someone did their research for 6 months, they would know that Wilderness Lodge is a Magic Kingdom Resort."

If DISNewbie_03 understands the terms and conditions, why didn't Firsttime?

I also like what Disneyolic posted "You are responsible for giving them the correct info. Mistakes do happen to everyone but everyone must make up for their own mistakes, not expect someone else to. If it were me that made the mistake, I would go back and look at everything all over, again, to make sure it was me but then own up to it."

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by packy
If you received a confirmation from the company that stated you would be taken to WL for $90, then that is what you should have to pay. Anything else posted on the web-site becomes irrelevant once an accurate confirmation is received. Same rules apply for airlines and rental cars.

That would be true if you gave correct information, but, the OP did not.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by WDWisTheBest
the confirmation was based upon the customer saying that they were not going to a MK resort. The confirmation did not say that the customer would be taken to WL for $90, did it? The confirmation would have been "accurate" only if the customer had input factual information, but they did not.

Here is what firsttime said, "I pulled out my PRINTED confirmation that CLEARLY stated the fee of $90 to the WL. (Ed. note-that is not what the confirmation stated) He said since I typed in other that is what I am charged. Even though the cost to WL is $90. Well, how come my CONFIRMATION CLEARLY stated what we agreed to. ...We were soooo upset about being lied to by FL Tours. The trip could not of started out any worse. Knowing that FL Tours just totally RIPPED US OFF!!! ...PLEASE PLEASE BEWARE --- FL TOURS CONFIRMATIONS MEAN NOTHING!!!!!!!"

Here is what Andy of FLTours said in response to Firsttime's post,"Firsttime, Just for the record, it is $99.00 I asked not $114.00. I cannot make mistake on this as I’m responsible for all the content of what was written on the website –including the rate. Now, when you appeared puzzled and showed me the confirmation you have at hand which states $90.00, I tried to explain to you how you had chosen “Other Disney Resorts” when you should have been choosing “Magic Kingdom Resorts”. This, I tried to point out both to you and your husband was the reason why the rate was different than what you had in a print out. "

Firsttime is not fair to FLTours. They were not "ripped off", they paid the fare that everyone pays. The gate fee of $9 is charged by Disney to all transportation companies. Firsttime did not want to admit that they made a mistake in data input to the reservation system. Then, they bashed the company on this thread after not accepting Andy's explanation of what all customers are charged for a round trip to MK Resorts.

I agree with Gail in that the customer should take the time to read the rules, whether "brand new to all of this" or a repeat customer. I think that before someone comes on and complains about something that was their own mistake, they should check the terms and conditions first.

A rational response comes from DISNewbie_03, who says, "My wife and I are also planning a trip and have done our research as well. We are going to stick with our first transportation choice, FLTOURS. Although we aren't staying at a Magic Kindom resort, we did notice that it's an extra $9 charge, making it $99. I don't understand this bad review to FLTOURS. I think that if someone did their research for 6 months, they would know that Wilderness Lodge is a Magic Kingdom Resort."

If DISNewbie_03 understands the terms and conditions, why didn't Firsttime?

I also like what Disneyolic posted "You are responsible for giving them the correct info. Mistakes do happen to everyone but everyone must make up for their own mistakes, not expect someone else to. If it were me that made the mistake, I would go back and look at everything all over, again, to make sure it was me but then own up to it."

Very well put!!!