Has anyone here ever had to fire their coordinator?

[Summer-Caitlin]

I'm sorry to hear you are so stressed You are right though there is a section in the intimate planning contract asking if you want to make dinner reservations through them. Plus my coordinator offered to do this for me.
I declined as I do not relinquish my planning streak easily and booked all my dining myself. I think the Yachtsman would be really nice, however you had your heart set on Spoodles and it is only one TS. I really hope this gets sorted out for you. I have had a few minor problems with communications with my coordinator, but I always follow up (or hassle) whichever you prefer to call it. This way I know everything is on schedule and I have an email copy of everything.
Your Coordinator to should just admit this was their oversight instead of trying to push the blame, that is probably the most aggravating thing. They must have strings they can pull, or offer something better at no extra charge?

 

[hiwaygal]

I could not agree more! A group of us got together to discuss our upcoming DFTW weddings a few months ago and share our ideas- what we found is that there was a big discrepency in a lot of the information we were told- from what menus we could have, starting ceremonies later, photography options, fees . . . it is ridiculous! Why is it that one EM will give you one answer and another EM will give you another?!?! The biggest problem I had was my EM telling me one thing while the SM told me something completely different!!!! Sorry fot the rant. I am aggrevated for you!

Here's what Kept me sane thru all the problems- I knew the wedding would be great. I didn't have to worry about a caterer not showing up or a florist closing and we loose all are money. Even with all the frustrations, you don't have a lot of the worries a wedding anywhere else would have (for examples, watch episodes of bridezillas).

I hope everything works out and with the steps you have taken I am sure it will. Please keep is updated! We are wishing you the best!

I agree with you on so many points here...

The different information is not just a problem in DFTW though (unfortunately) it's ALL over Disney! If you've read some of the threads on the Resort board, the TPaS board or the Restaurants board, you'll notice that everyone gets different information from different CM's on a daily basis. Now, that fact does not EXCUSE the inconsistencies in any way. It just perhaps "explains" that the problem isn't just in this one department. And we won't even get into the differences in what we hear from each other here. Sometimes it seems like it can be a "bad" thing to share so much...what one bride got (for whatever reason) isn't necessarily what another bride will get.

My WP did arrange for our wedding dinner. There is (or was) a section on the intimate planning sheet that asks where and when you want to have dinner. I wonder if the "problems" start when there are more guests. I didn't have any guests, so an ADR for 2 was very simple.

You are also right, Steph, that in the end I really have only heard one or two brides who were disappointed with their wedding after the fact. Considering the number of weddings DFTW does, that's got to be a pretty good indication that they've got something right, know what I mean?

Kruggie...I know you are frustrated...contact Mr. Ralls (if you haven't already). I am also pretty confident that in the end, it will all work out and your wedding will be as magical as you have dreamed!!

 

[Tinkerbelle14]

What I found worked best for intimates was to book the wedding with the coordinator and do everything else yourself. The coordinator doesn't need to know that you are booking events and the managers at the restaurant or where ever else you are going after do not need to know that you are not trusting your coordinator to do things for you. I lucked out though and had a great coordinator in Tanis, so I could've booked things with her!

 

[prprincess]

My wedding coordinater was fired a month AFTER my wedding.

During the time that we were planning our wedding with her she was hot and cold. Sometimes very responsive, other times you could never get her on the phone or to reply to your emails. As a bride, of course, it's frustrating. Especially since you are spending so much money and planning something so important from afar.

Things got so bad with her that I'd contacted another planner and requested that she take over our wedding. She claimed that she couldn't, but even my photographer, who was aware of the situation, complained to a few people at Disney and nothing happened. Finally I contacted whoever the planners' manager was at the time, and he assured me that my planner would come through for me on our wedding day with no problems.

The wedding day came and went, and our planner made alot of stupid little mistakes...no big deal. But she did leave us hanging for our dessert party and never showed up...never even called to tell us that she wasn't going to show up.

After all was said and done, I sent a complaint letter to the planners' manager again, who called me to tell me that this particular planner had been fired due to several brides and grooms complaining about her. He also gave us some free hotel room nights at the Beach Club to make up for it.

I'm sorry to hear that this type of stuff still happens.

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

what really confuses me about all these em/sm that seem to never get back with you or screw things up is that.......why are they so bad???

Dont they keep files with emails, contract, etc....I know if I was a SM/EM I would document everything, even 1 minute calls.
Most of the time you deal with 1-2 people, so why do things seem to get so messed up??

I think if its a big problem, DFTW needs to re-evaluate their system...i could see a few every now & then but it seems there are alot of people who seem to have concerns about wrong info/contracts, no emails, no phone calls, etc

 

[Kruggie]

Heck, I'll take a few extra nights at the BC! heee hee!
I sent an email to my coordinators manager, she emailed me back a day later saying she would investigate, that was Wednesday. I have heard nothing from her since.

I also called the Yachtsman myself, the manager there was wonderful. I explained the situation to him and he said he would hold our tables as long as we needed....Still I have to run, hurry up and eat, to make it to our illuminations dessert party.

I haven't even called my other vendors yet to see if they can move all of their plans back 1/2 hour to accomodate this jerks screw up.

I am still in limbo basically.

 

[Maggimus]

I dont know if this would work but maybe you could go ahead and get a copy of their menu and have everyone already choose what they want to eat that night and fax it to the restaurant with the reservation. Someone maybe could call once you are on your way there and they could go ahead and prepare everything-- that might make things run a little faster?

Just a suggestion? They may not even be able to do it-- just trying to help you out!

 

[aprincess72]

what really confuses me about all these em/sm that seem to never get back with you or screw things up is that.......why are they so bad???

Dont they keep files with emails, contract, etc....I know if I was a SM/EM I would document everything, even 1 minute calls.
Most of the time you deal with 1-2 people, so why do things seem to get so messed up??

I think if its a big problem, DFTW needs to re-evaluate their system...i could see a few every now & then but it seems there are alot of people who seem to have concerns about wrong info/contracts, no emails, no phone calls, etc

This can't possibly be the norm. I have not one complaint about my WP or EM. They have been super responsive and excellent to deal with. It's been a truly enjoyable experience working with them!

 

[Kruggie]

Well, I love the idea of pre ordering! Thanks Maggimus! I shall attempt this! Brilliant idea!

As far as my formal complaints go. I am still seeing red. I sent another email off on Monday evening detailing my disgust with the lack of response, and the fact that I regret my decision to do a disney wedding at this point (which is true sadly) and if I had to do it over again, and had monies not been invested by myself and others, I most certainly would back out. I told them that if one of my vendors can not accomodate my new time change, I would be backing out and I am withholding final payment until I hear from my vendors.

I got a response that basically apologizes for SPOODLES error. I was also offered a free charter van for my guests, as for I only have one booked and my other guest were going to walk to epcot....she was kind enough to comp me a van for my other guests which doesnt really suit me anyway being that my mom will be using an ECV and it would be easier for them to walk over anyway.

I emailed them back and thanked them for the kind offer,and then declined it. I also reminded them that the cost of the van is a bit under half of what I now have to spend extra on dinner, but the thought was nice. I also left them know that I did not appreciate the blame being placed on spoodles when I know for certain it was there mistake, and I left them know exactly how I know this, and I left them know that by laying the blame where it doesnt belong, certainly does not build my trust nor their character.

I am still disgusted.

 

[Maggimus]

Well, I love the idea of pre ordering! Thanks Maggimus! I shall attempt this! Brilliant idea!

Glad I could try and offer up a helpful idea Hope things work out-- im following your story so keep us posted!

 

[WDW72]

Have not heard anything lately. Was going on?

 

[DisBride2007]

As far as my formal complaints go. I am still seeing red. I sent another email off on Monday evening detailing my disgust with the lack of response, and the fact that I regret my decision to do a disney wedding at this point (which is true sadly) and if I had to do it over again, and had monies not been invested by myself and others, I most certainly would back out. I told them that if one of my vendors can not accomodate my new time change, I would be backing out and I am withholding final payment until I hear from my vendors.

I had a situation like this when we were planning our wedding. Our coordinator did not screw anything up as badly as this, but we had a major issue with her, and it basically made it so I didn't want to have a Disney wedding anymore (a whole month before the wedding), which was so sad. I think you handled this situation properly. GL!

 

[DisneyFairy19]

WOW... I would be freaking out... So sorry to hear about that... Good Luck Hope all goes well for you

 

[Bkee13]

Yikes. I hope everything gets straightened out for you! Glad you're standing your ground and not letting them pawn the blame away!