Frustrated with the Screen & Scream GotG DVC Event

[NeutralNovice]

Hi all, I was hoping I would get some advice on what to do in this matter (or if I should do anything at all).

When it was first announced, I signed up for the DVC Screen & Scream Event, where we would get to screen the new Guardians of the Galaxy movie at AMC Disney Springs and enjoy exclusive park hours at Epcot from 10PM-1AM and get to ride Test Track and the new GotG coaster. The other purchase option was to get access to after hours event and get a $15 Fandango Gift Card to view the movie on another day. (I'm sure most of you know the details but am putting it here just in case).

In the e-mails, they weren't specific about the showtimes and specifically said, "movie screenings being at 2PM with staggered showtimes across multiple theaters."

Now to me, that sounds like we would have several opportunities to watch the movie BEFORE the Epcot event, which starts much later at 10PM.

When we checked in at Disney Springs around 2:15PM, the literal LAST showing opportunity was at 2:30PM. They said there were 4 other screenings prior and I'm like.. check-in, according to e-mails, began at 1PM so only 4 screenings were provided in a 1.5 hour window? Anyway, we would not be able to watch the movie at that time because 2 of my party had lunch reservations nearby and others of my party, including me, wanted to freshen up at our hotel as we just came from a very hot and fast day at Animal Kingdom. I asked the cast members there if we could watch another showtime that would fit our schedule (we originally wanted to see the movie then go straight to the event afterwards) or if we could switch our ticket to the one that gave $15 Fandango credit but they said no.

What's frustrating about this is that this event came a bit late. I sped up our day at Animal Kingdom so we would be able to attend this event. Of course, we will still be able to enjoy the exclusive hours in the evening, but we really wanted to see the movie as well. I wish they just gave us what the actual movie times were so we could plan accordingly. The vague wording made it sound like there would be screening events throughout the day.

Anyway, I would like to ask the community... is this something worth complaining about? I would like to get the Fandango credit but even if I don't get that, I would hope a complaint would prevent something like this from happening again.

TLR - DVC was vague with the details on showtimes, implying showtimes throughout day. Checked in at 2:15PM and was told final screening was at 2:30, which we wouldn't be able to make because of other plans. They wouldn't accommodate.

 

[Sandisw]

When i read the details, I didn’t read it the way you did…yes, the times would be varied but close to the check in time..which to mean meant that because they needed to check everyone in and would run multiple theaters, you’d be sent to the theater that would be starting closest to when you got there. That’s why they have a check in time..which was to check in to watch the movie.

I realize you were disappointed that it wasn’t an all day choice for watch the movie…and I am sorry it didn’t work the way you had hoped it would.

 

[Nursemanit]

It seemed like a quickly thrown together event. Disney has thousands of communications majors working for them - With some announcements it seems like they forget that fact.

 

[Geomom]

I read the description the same as @Sandisw

It never hurts to ask, but don't expect anything. You could complain to Member services by saying what 'you' thought the email meant and ask for a Fandango card or a refund for the movie portion, saying that you're disappointed to have missed the movie.

I hope you enjoy the actual event though!

 

[New Mouse]

DVC is terrible at event planning and communications. Adjust expectations accordingly. I would certainly request my money back.

 

[Jgc014]

Sorry to hear - feel like the overall consensus from the night wasnt overly positive. I think DVC still needs to find its footing with its paid events.

 

[NeutralNovice]

When i read the details, I didn’t read it the way you did…yes, the times would be varied but close to the check in time..which to mean meant that because they needed to check everyone in and would run multiple theaters, you’d be sent to the theater that would be starting closest to when you got there. That’s why they have a check in time..which was to check in to watch the movie.

I realize you were disappointed that it wasn’t an all day choice for watch the movie…and I am sorry it didn’t work the way you had hoped it would.

Ah ok, I can see how others can read it differently lol---I guess that means they should be more clear in their direction. If they were more clear, I would have easily bought the other option instead as my time was tied up in the parks.

This is my first ever after-hours event for DVC (and my Welcome Home stay!). My only other after-hours event was awhile ago during a Halloween night in California. Based on sentiments of others, when it comes to these types of events, DVC tends to have some issues with communication/running.

In the end, I feel like they COULD have accommodated my situation. Since it was opening night, there were other screenings after their set block but then again, that wasn't the agreement between DVC/AMC/Fandango.

It seemed like a quickly thrown together event. Disney has thousands of communications majors working for them - With some announcements it seems like they forget that fact.

Haha, I wonder now if it was interns who were tasked to produce and run this event. In the end, it'd be hard to please everyone I guess. Other than that hiccup, I felt like the event itself went pretty well for the most part. We got to ride GotG 3 times before we became exhausted and left shortly after midnight.

The start was a bit weird. We were corralled in the entry plaza before event began with ropes holding us back. My party was somewhere near the front of that herd. They then opened one section of rope to allow us in but were stopped about 100-feet in as apparently they were just extending the holding area as it was getting crowded. Then we had to stand for what seemed like forever and after a super long and hot day earlier, my legs and feet were killing me haha.

When event began, we followed guide to the event area--at a really fast walking pace, and got on the ride. By the time we finished our first ride, wait time ballooned to 45-min. We were one of the first to get in and only really had to go through the long queue and the preshow sequences.

Little did I know the ride would essentially be walk on about 30-min later for the rest of the night. We rode it 2 more times and it was awesome. My only wish was that they would either start letting us go through via LL entrance or just cut out the preshows altogether.

The food was... ok. The extra party atmosphere seemed a bit meh... like I kinda feel like they didn't really need it? But I'm not into that type of stuff personally--I'm sure others enjoyed it.

I gotta say... that was my first time ever on GotG and it is now, by far, my fav. coaster in ALL of Disney Parks that I've ridden. We rode TT afterwards and it felt so tame in comparison lol!

I read the description the same as @Sandisw

It never hurts to ask, but don't expect anything. You could complain to Member services by saying what 'you' thought the email meant and ask for a Fandango card or a refund for the movie portion, saying that you're disappointed to have missed the movie.

I hope you enjoy the actual event though!

Ok thank you for your input! Other than the check-in/screening hiccup and entry issues (mentioned above), I had a great time! I feel so privileged being able to ride GotG three times with essentially zero wait before the preshows. First time rider and it's SOOO GOOD.

DVC is terrible at event planning and communications. Adjust expectations accordingly. I would certainly request my money back.

Yes, next time I'll have to use more caution for sure and make sure to ask. I don't really want my money back---would rather just have the Fandango credits--that would make me quite happy if they could do that. I'll message Member Services. TY!

Sorry to hear - feel like the overall consensus from the night wasnt overly positive. I think DVC still needs to find its footing with its paid events.

For me, other than the screening issue and the entry issue of us just standing around in a crowd for what felt like a long tie, the event went pretty well but then again, it IS my first after-hours DVC-specific event ever but overall, for the night event itself, it wasn't disappointing!