Hope this falls in the right area...

[BrokeforDisney]

As there isn't a clearly defined area for this type of post. Please move if necessary! and accept my apologies in advance!

Anyway, on to the reason...

While planning my vacation in 2009 during the spring/summer, I learned of the new dining plan hierarchy, and the changes to the plans. As anyone who has checked into them knows, the plans HAVE changed a good bit. I voiced a concern to a CM during the summer, and she explained I should email "Guest Communications" on my beef. My concern was that the midgrade dining package is the ONLY package that doesn't come with the free Resort Refillable Mug. It just happened to be the plan I was going for. I was a touch steamed to find out the cheaper plan did include it as did the Deluxe plan. So I wrote "Guest Communications" a lil letter. It reads :

Kudos to the one who thought of the new quick service plan...It's a great idea, unfortunately it doesn't fit our wants and needs at this time.

My Name is (my name here), I have a Grand Gathering of 8, visiting DisneyWorld in April of 2009 with a Magic Your Way plus Dining in the All-star Movies Resort. I spoke with your Cast members, and my Travel agent; Both explained to me that the Magic Your way plus dining (referred to as Basic) plan, is the only plan of the three, that does NOT include the resort refillable beverage mugs.

I would like to say, that we decided on the basic plan, without the knowledge of the mugs at all. It was due to budgeting. The deluxe plan was WAY out of our budget lines. The Quick-service only plan, did not allow us to partake in any table service restaurants. Which we REALLY enjoyed in 2007 during our last trip, it just made "that much more" of the "magic" of our trip.. We went with the same Plus Dining plan then as well. Now we find, in addition to $200 more total (for each family of 4) than the quick service only plan price, and the loss of appetizers (understandable), and the addition of gratuities (understandable also), we cannot aquire the mugs as well. This only reflects the plan we chose. At first thought, I would have considered the addition of mugs, in place of appetizers and the additional gratuities as a consulation offer.

I strongly feel this is a marketing error. I'm not a complainer, and I share my opinion with only the best intentions. I only feel like the plan that should not come with the mugs would naturally be the quick service only plan. Deluxe dining was the only meal plan that came with the mugs in 2007, and I understand the addition of the new optional plan to help budgeted families like myself include meals within the confines of the total "Disney Package". However I feel like because we chose a "middle of the road" plan, we are being penalized. It just doesn't make any sense to offer the "bonus" resort refillable mugs to the "inexpensive" plan, & the most "expensive" plan, but not the mid-grade plan.

Please rethink this with my, (and many others, I'm sure that will not take the time to explain their feeling on this) opinions. Offer the mugs as a bonus to ALL plans, or at best, offer it to the Mid-grade (Basic) plan and Deluxe Dining guests, and not the Quick-Service plan. It just makes better marketing, and fiscal (for the consumer) sense.

Hoping you reconsider this option,
Thank you for your time, and Mickey Ear ,

My Name Was Here
omit@no email.com
XXX-XXX-XXXX

My question is this : Do you agree with me? If so can you help with the Free Mug Crusade, maybe together we can all stop being thirsty!!! ( )

the email address given to me by the CM was :

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

Thanks for listening to me!

 

[noahdove]

Wow, I didn't even know that the refillable mug was on the plan.

 

[karliebug]

Please be sure to post and let us know their response. I thought it was odd also that it was included with quick service, but not basic dining.

 

[colonialtinker]

I think its a very well written letter.
I do agree with you, I thought it was odd that you get the mug with the quick service and not the basic plan.

 

[BrokeforDisney]

Actually I got an automated response....but haven't heard from anyone about it at all.

WDW Guest Communications
to me

show details Aug 13


Reply


Thank you for contacting us at the Walt Disney World® Resort during The
Year of a Million Dreams!

Listening to your feedback is an important way that we sustain and
enhance the magic, and we thank you for taking the time to write to us.
We appreciate your comments and will make sure that they receive proper
attention.

A member of our Executive Correspondence Team looks forward to
responding to you in the near future.

Sincerely,

Executive Offices
Walt Disney World® Resort

I will write again, but would love to have some help...alone one voice is hardly heard!

 

[BrokeforDisney]

And the update would be : NO UPDATE, still no communication from our favorite people.I think its futile and I've been hung out to dry . Has anyone else had any luck...or even attempted to launch a FREE MUG campaign on their own?

Or was I just "blowing hot bandwidth" emailing, and posting anything about it?

 

[mom2meiko]

i would join the crusade but we aren't actually interested in the dining plan - it doesn't seem to really be a benefit for us.

good luck though! i hope you get the answer/resolution you are looking for. it seems like a silly thing for them to take off of just one plan.

 

[Carriemel]

Patience is the key. It took them over a week to get back to me, and by the time they did, my question was answered at the park itself. And to be honest, the answer they gave me in the email really wasn't the info I was looking for at all...

 

[nathan_nick_kate]

hmmm, interesting. I never looked at this when i booked my dining plan. Im going to go check now and see if it was included

Kary

 

[nathan_nick_kate]

i guess your right. That seems pretty silly they would include it. Maybe because the middle one is the most popular they figure they will lose money?

kary

 

[BrokeforDisney]

Well, 1 month and 25 days left til we go, It's been 6 Months since first email to Cust Relations...then now 3 months since second email. Guess I'll give up ...after all we ended up with the free dining plan anyway. It just would be nice to know for future reference for myself and others. I'll make sure to stop by Guest Relations and let them know how happy I am with my vacation, yet a bit confused and let down that no one returned a comment from Disney themselves about it. (Maybe I'll get a sympathy pin or mouse ears for the trouble!...hahaha just kiddin')

 

[noahdove]

I didn't know this about the mugs...I guess I will ponder the idea before I make a concern out of it.

 

[emjester1]

Hi, I am a newer member here but wanted to post about this. I also sent an email to Disney on Feb. 19. I was encouraged to send an email about this by a reservations CM. The address I used was the same one listed by the previous poster.

To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Erin xxxxxxx and I have a Grand Gathering party of 8 staying at the Pop Century Resort in April 2009. I would like to voice a complaint I discovered that I share with many other 2009 Walt Disney World guests. My family had our first trip to Walt Disney World last May and had a fantastic experience! Because it was our first trip, we chose the Deluxe Dining Plan to achieve the full character dining experience. The plan more than met our dining needs! One of the features of that plan that we enjoyed as an extra perk was the vouchers for a free refillable mug to be used at our resort. They were a nice souviner and provided us with drinks while at our resort.

Because of finances, we hadn't planned on returning so soon, but we received a wonderful PIN email deal through WDTC and decided to come again April, 2009. We're celebrating three birthdays and an anniversary around the time our our trip. We're bringing my parents along for the trip, as well, and are so excited about sharing the Disney Magic with them, as this will be their first Walt Disney World vacation. The email PIN that we are booked through included free dining for our children traveling with us, which made it possible for us to come back this year. While we are very grateful for this promotion, we were disappointed to learn that our package did not include the free refillable mug this trip, because we have the regular dining plan as part of our package.

I understand the marketing behind including the mug with the Deluxe Dining plan as an extra incentive for people choosing between the Dining plan and the Deluxe Dining plan. Obviously, the Deluxe plan provides Disney with additional revenue. However, I was disheartened to learn that the mug is included with the Quick Service plan, which is a step down from the Dining plan we have chosen. I simply don't understand Disney's logic to offer extra incentives to those choosing the least expensive plan; while denying those same incentives to those guests paying more for the Dining plan.

This has been discussed on many message boards that I routinely visit for Disney news and reports and many other Walt Disney World guests share this concern and frustration. I feel Disney should reconsider and offer the free refillable mugs to guests on all Dining plans. I think Disney is sending the wrong message to your Disney Dining guests that we are somehow less valued because of our package choice.

I have raved over and over about Disney's customer service and your exceptional treatment of your guests. I hope that you will take this request into consideration.

Sincerely, Erin xxxxxxx

I just got the following personal reply on 3/10:

Dear Ms. xxxxxxxx,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort.

We're glad you had such a memorable time in May. However, we are truly
sorry for your disappointment with the differences in the features of
the Disney Dining Plans. When we receive comments from Guests, such as
yours, they are shared with various areas of our organization. This
allows us to identify what we are doing right, and what we can do
better. You may be assured that your observations have been shared and
taken seriously.

If you should wish to discuss your comments further, or provide us with
additional details, you may call me at 407-560-3415. If I am not
immediately available when you call, please leave your telephone number
and an indication of the best time to reach you.

Ms. xxxxxx, thank you again for taking the time to share your honest
and constructive feedback. We hope your April visit is an enjoyable one.


Sincerely,

Janelle A Mastrionni
Executive Offices
Walt Disney World® Resort

/ww