Furious with DISNEY! (SORRY FOR THE VENT!)

[Cmbar]

WHY, WHY, WHY when I finally decide to use it, does this happen!?!?! It was for free dining in december, so really isn't THAT great of a PIN, but enough to get us back down there. I am so mad I just spent another 36 minutes on the phone to be told this!!!!

I am ready to say we will be vacationing somewhere ELSE!

So I called again today (and yes the system was down for awhile, if that means another code coming out is anyone's best guess) and asked to speak with customer service. I told them I really wasn't interested in booking the FD in
Dec deal, but my concern was this continues to happen and it is very frustrating. Well instead of trying to figure out WHY this is happening she wanted to just book the ressie.

ah yes the big sigh and I see the olive branch offering as a sign off peace.



I still didn't book, I am too stubborn, and still feel like proving my point. Like tiny little me matters to disney or something
But I just wanted to give you the update, and now we can all spread the love

OK I don't mean to be rude, but why did you waste all our time complaining you wanted to use a PIN and then call and get a CM that was willing to book it and you still didn't

I don't think that is stubborn but maybe a little bit on the stupid side

I tried to figure out why the FD isn't a good deal. I guess if it is just two people it wouldn't be that good of a deal but for my sister's family of six thats about 1000.00. I find it hard to believe that you can find a room discount for 1000.00 with any pin code. OF course, it all depends on which resort you want to stay in and how many people!

 

[nicolemomof4cuties]

Today I called to pay while driving to the tanning bed and they said that I wasn't in their system....period. I actually had to pull over the car. I thought that I was going to hyperventilate, LOL! I mean we have 4 kids- finding a room for 6 people this late in the game would be a joke. Besides the fact that we have been 6 times..... Finally, they said that I was in the system underneath my EX-husband's name (who has never even BEEN to WDW LOL!) What a riot! I told them they neede to fix that in a flamin' hurry because the last thing that some poor CM neede to do was call my sweet hubby by my ex's name LOL! It might be the last thing that CM did for a while or wanted to at least from sheer embarrassment! I think that their computer's have went on crazy pills! The CM on the phone got a real kick out of it too though- she said her hubby wouldn't have liked it one bit either! And where in the world are you guys getting these PIN codes? Disney must just not have the good love for us or something because we haven't recieved not a one!

 

[robinb]

I tried to figure out why the FD isn't a good deal. I guess if it is just two people it wouldn't be that good of a deal but for my sister's family of six thats about 1000.00. I find it hard to believe that you can find a room discount for 1000.00 with any pin code. OF course, it all depends on which resort youwant to stay in and how many people!

Yes, that's exactly it. Free Dining is worth $40 per adult and $11 per child. For us, it's equivalent to a $91 per night "discount". The current AP rates are about 35% off, so for that discount to be better the rack rate would have to be above $260 (35% of $260 = $91). So ... for us anything under $260 free dining is worth it and anything over $260 35% code would be better. That assumes that we would but the DDP anyway, of course.

 

[snykymom]

Yes, that's exactly it. Free Dining is worth $40 per adult and $11 per child. For us, it's equivalent to a $91 per night "discount". The current AP rates are about 35% off, so for that discount to be better the rack rate would have to be above $260 (35% of $260 = $91). So ... for us anything under $260 free dining is worth it and anything over $260 35% code would be better. That assumes that we would but the DDP anyway, of course.

Remember that it's only a $91 "discount" if you have no other discount on the room before FD. For example, I had a reservation at CSR with a AAA discount of 20% (cost of $119). To get FD, I'd have to pay rack rate of $149 for the room. So FD would be "worth" $91 (assuming the same configuration as your family) minus the extra $40 I'd have to pay for the room. Then the discount is only $51 - nothing to sneeze at, certainly, but not as big a discount as it may appear at first.

 

[bytheblood]

I recieved free dining for my December trip and it is a savings $820. We are staying for 10 nights, so for us, that is a good deal. There is only 2 of us. (both adults)

Of course, if there is another discount I can take and apply towards my stay at the Wl, then I will do that if it is better. I am happy with what I have, however.

 

[mjamm]

I guess you can call it what you want.

The ONLY reason I called disney for the 4TH time was to clear this up and make sure that IF I would want to book on this or ANY other pin offer that comes through I could. That is what I stated at the beginning of my fourth call to the CM, whom at that point told me a whole different story then the first three.

This free dining really isn't that great of a deal for my family for several reasons. We are not going to eat that many sit down meals if we are paying out of pocket. For us free dining is slightly less than $800 for a week. I would get a better deal with several other discounts that have been offered. Keep in mind I would need to also book two rooms at a value to accommodate my family, the family suites were booked. It is all a matter of which resort and discount, I am limited with 5, therefore when a good one comes by I want to book it when I can. I had already done all the configuring and new this wasn't that great.

This also came on the heels of what some considered to be the eve before a big discount announcement through disney. I know I have until October to use the pin, also, if the next time I call the magic eight ball says it's ok. So if a better discount falls into my lap that I don't need to spend endless hours on the phone on hold hoping I have someone who wanted to come to work today, who will grant my request.


I was merely trying to voice my complete frustration with the obvious incompetence in this database and "random" selection process, which is even more unnerving with what seems to be a book of policies that is rewritten every time I call. Whether you think that is stupid or not is up to you.

 

[CathrynRose]

Book it under your MIL's name, include yourself on the reservation, and call back in a few months and switch it to your own.

It wasn't a 'pin' but we booked free dining for this fall, under my husbands names, with myself and my youngest son included on the reservation.

My husband isn't going to go this year, so I switched it to my name and his name switched to my step son, who is going with us.

Might even help to book it, switch it to a Travel Agent (I have a great one) and have them switch it over to your name.

 

[got2luv_Tink]

I understand how frustrating it is to get the run around and have issues like this. Granted it depresses us and changes our mood; but do you guys honestly think you will have a more awesome time somewhere else than going to Disney?

Sure it's insane to go through the whole code junk, but seriously that's just their little workers taking calls all day long. It doesn't change the feelings and joy you have being with your family in a magical place. There are other offers and specials they are running now. I'm sure a supervisor someone can hook you up.

There really is no place like Disney. I did the whole Sea World/Six Flags thing this year and will be looking forward to our next vacation at Disney again. Haven't planned it all out yet, but there will be 12 of us this time instead of our little 4.

Even Disney can have crazy slacking and annoying cast members also. It's a magical place but it's still difficult to correct everyone they hire with a snap of their fingers.

Just my thoughts. I hope you all have a wonderful time no matter where you go.

 

[JPN4265]

Alright, I have spent endless hours price comparing packages etc with the pin I received via email a few days ago. I have received others in the past and when I called on them I found they were actually under my MIL's name, because I made ressie's for her previously. The CM told me then she switched everything and it was taken care of. So now naturally when I receive this PIN and want to act on it, I sit for 20 minutes to listen to another CM tell me he switched everything AGAIN and it is all taken care of, if I want to book. I call today, to book...disney will NOT honor it, even though it is my email and I can forward it to them via fax or email, they will not honor it.


WHY, WHY, WHY when I finally decide to use it, does this happen!?!?! It was for free dining in december, so really isn't THAT great of a PIN, but enough to get us back down there. I am so mad I just spent another 36 minutes on the phone to be told this!!!!

I am ready to say we will be vacationing somewhere ELSE!

Just tell them what they want to hear. You are the MIL, and you want to make a reservation.

 

[marcielm]

I'm curious if you ever went ahead and booked a trip, now that free dining has gone public. I know that you were complaining that FD really wasn't a great deal for you family due to the number of TS meals, so did you go with a room-only discount that has come out?

I guess I'm curious if you are taking your fall/winter trip or not after all the frustrations of trying to go for less than rack rate!

 

[mjamm]

I am still holding out hope for a winter...January deal. It works better with our schedule to go in January. We went with the free dining last fall, and it was crowded! Then again what is disney without crowds ? You couldn't get a table service meal without an ADR, which meant a strict schedule. It was fun, but I enjoy a more laid back vacation, and letting the kids decide where we will go for the day.

We are also uncertain of my husband's job situation right now, their company is in the middle of a 60% lay-off. That was one of the main reasons I didn't book in the first place. We could not swing a trip this year if he does get laid off.

If disney continues to offer some great deals for this next winter, it will be very tempting though!

 

[marcielm]

I am still holding out hope for a winter...January deal. It works better with our schedule to go in January. We went with the free dining last fall, and it was crowded! Then again what is disney without crowds ? You couldn't get a table service meal without an ADR, which meant a strict schedule. It was fun, but I enjoy a more laid back vacation, and letting the kids decide where we will go for the day.

We are also uncertain of my husband's job situation right now, their company is in the middle of a 60% lay-off. That was one of the main reasons I didn't book in the first place. We could not swing a trip this year if he does get laid off.

If disney continues to offer some great deals for this next winter, it will be very tempting though!

I hear you. I'm anxiously waiting for the new rates for 2010 & the deals to come out afterwards. I plan to book our Spring Break trip as soon as they announce the package prices, then I'm going to adjust it with any PINs or offers that come out. We need the family suite at ASMu to fit everyone, and I don't want to chance not getting what I want!

 

[MS_mom_1965]

Just tell them what they want to hear. You are the MIL, and you want to make a reservation.

Do you have to show ID at check-in? If not, this approach would work!