How far in advance to email the hotel to ask for *extras* and how is best to do this?

[RoseBug]

We have just been talking about this, and have just read Claire's report about the extras in her room, and other people have mentioned that sometimes they do a bit extra etc.

My husband has just told me that before we went in 2009 he had emailed the hotel (NY) and explained that the trip had very nearly been cancelled as I had given birth 4 months earlier and I was (and still am 2.5years later) suffering from complications, that it was a treat for my 30th birthday and to celebrate the birth of our DD and could they do anything to make it extra special, or suggest things he could pay for in advance to make it special. And he heard nothing back, and had nothing at all when we got there.

This trip is for our DD's 3rd birthday, it will be the only holiday she has for a long while as my extended maternity leave crippled us financially. She is really just starting to be amazed and awe-struck by the magic of Disney and anything even slightly special (you should have seen her face last night when we let her in her room, with her new Disney Princess bedding and a few Princess accessories!) and we would love for her just to be spoiled.

I have asked in a previous thread and was told we can pay for things in the rooms. I need to call about our reservation - is it best to ask on the phone if any magic can happen, or to email? How far in advance should I email and ask if they can help make things magical (and offer to pay) and is there any *trick* to how you request (as hubby had offered to pay in his previous email, and got no response).

It is amazing the difference between googling this for DLP and the US resorts, maybe it is because the Americans do go all out for *cheese* (magic?) rather than the Europeans? I would hope in a few years we can get her to WDW, although my Uncle (who lives in the US) is dropping hints about taking her to Disneyland California in a few years!

Thanks guys
xxx

 

[theprincessofpink]

well if its any help (prob not) ive just returned from a week at npb and requested special extras at time of booking january and then phoned the hotel directly to have a chat about it before we left...i discussed exactly what i would like the cost of these items and the fact i was more than happy to have them added to my bill. i also explained this trip was very special to us as dd had heart surgery just before christmas and it was her dream to go back to dlrp.

on arrival there were no extras and we had a room with various problems..when i queried with reception i was told they couldnt move me as hotel was full and they were too busy to do any extras......

i think it very much depends on hotel, clare got fantastic treatment at the cheyenne as hers was a special trip whereas we got nothing so if i was you i would email and phone, keep your fingers crossed but be aware it might not happen.

sorry i know that sounds really depressing but that was my experience

 

[DLPdaft]

if i was you i would email and phone, keep your fingers crossed but be aware it might not happen.

I have to say, I think thats the right attitude when it comes to extras at DLP .

 

[RoseBug]

Thank you! We are staying at Cheyenne too, s hopefully they will be abit more helpful than NY.

We have a back up plan - I will put a wee pack together of stuff (will take my inspiration from the WDW florist post - the Princess package, letter from Fairy Godmother, birthday sash on the door possibly) and sneak up to the room before hubby and DD - just to make sure everything is perfect for her!

 

[RoseBug]

Sorry, who do I email/phone?

Thanks

 

[Ware Bears]

The email address is dlp.guest.communication@disney.com and the telephone number is 00 33 1 60 45 62 00

 

[wbl2745]

I'm amazed what I'm reading about the attitude of the CMs at DLP. When my disabled daughter graduated from high school, we went to Disneyland in California and stayed at the Grand Californian Hotel. This was quite a few years before we purchased DVC. I told them about DD's situation and when we got there there was a plate of chocolate covered strawberries with congratulations written in chocolate. We also got a call from Mickey to my daughter congratulating her. At a recent trip to WDW when their computer reservation system was down and my brother's room had not been made up when he was given access, they gave him $500 in Disney dollars and gave me $200 since it was a DVC reservation on my account.

Is there an import duty in France on Disney pixie dust?

 

[hildasmuriel]

Is there an import duty in France on Disney pixie dust?

I don't think this can be stated often enough - there is a whole world of difference between what is perceived as good customer service in the US and what is standard in most of Europe. It is like comparing apples to oranges and you will find the mainland European shaking their head in wonder at any complaint about it. Any visitor expecting US style hospitality is going to be disappointed. I feel it is better to know and accept that before I go, rather than think I can change attitudes.

OP - I really hope your little girl enjoys a magical holiday. From your description of her, she is at that lovely stage where every little treat is amazing to her, so it sounds like the sheer joy of a Disney holiday is going to enchant her even if you don't manage to add extra touches. If she hasn't had a holiday in a long time then any hotel room will excite her, even if there are no balloons there. She will be ------>

 

[chrisf1961]

I don't think this can be stated often enough - there is a whole world of difference between what is perceived as good customer service in the US and what is standard in most of Europe. It is like comparing apples to oranges and you will find the mainland European shaking their head in wonder at any complaint about it. Any visitor expecting US style hospitality is going to be disappointed. I feel it is better to know and accept that before I go, rather than think I can change attitudes.

OP - I really hope your little girl enjoys a magical holiday. From your description of her, she is at that lovely stage where every little treat is amazing to her, so it sounds like the sheer joy of a Disney holiday is going to enchant her even if you don't manage to add extra touches. If she hasn't had a holiday in a long time then any hotel room will excite her, even if there are no balloons there. She will be ------>

Hi Hilda not spoken before hello
The way i see it is this...customer service in Disney because of what Disney is and how hi it has placed itself way up there HAS AND I SAY HAS to be top notch no matter which country the park is in. I personally would give my right arm to work for them and to provide exceptional service. This isnt provided in Paris and thats wrong ......people pay good hard earned money to take their kids to DLP and in a some i say some cases dont get provided with good service.. that is WRONG ....
Disneys management need to take a good hard look at the complaints they recieve and ACT upon the ones that keep re occuring ie SCRUMS HOTELS TOILETS ETC .....For any business to be sucessfull IT HAS to listen to its customers .........Ive seen a couple of posts recently where things have happened to people and myself and Sam cannot get our heads round how these
people have not even recieved a basic apology.....absolutely disgraceful....

Yes it is a magical place a place where dreams come true but it needs to take a leaf out of the USA parks book and provide SUPER SERVICE..

If i personally was in charge of Paris ..each and every day i would remind the staff on entering the park ...in a mini meeting that REMEMBER YOU ARE WORKING IN THE GREATEST PLACE ON EARTH ,be proud you work here go out there enjoy the day and make these people who come here feel so damned special....if they dont want to do this and from what ive seen on some of my visits ... and i dont give a moneys what nationality they are theres the DOOR ......

Please dont think wrong of me by saying this ...IM PASSIONATE like most people about Paris, like my wife, but its a pity that some of staff who work there arnt ......

Myself and Sam have chatted a lot the last day or so over this and she has the same thought process of myself that sheer inconsistancy causes so many problems at the park. It gripes me as im sure it does many others that people recieve upgrades,ie wine,choccies etc on their arrival,whilst others recieve nothing. Disney management at the park make a rod for their own back on that,all they have to do is to introduce a structure where certain things are provided or sold to customers on requests for special occasions and not just pick at randam certain people to receive such things. I know you havent commented on this Hilda its just something again im bloody annoyed about!
Anyhow we are away to the park soon,infact in 9 days i think lol im going to enjoy myself,along with my wife and daughter and son ...if anyones going soon ENJOY THE MAGIC !

 

[ukstitch]

I feel that DLP are in a fairly unique position for Disney resorts across the world, because their visitors come from so many different countries and also cultures.

I'm sure Disneyland Paris are trying very hard to listen to all their visitors, but I suspect that visitors from different countries / cultures are asking for different things, complaining about different things etc...

E.g. imagine the resorts asked people what food they'd like in a new restaurant:

- DLR/WDW would get most of their visitors saying "American food please"
- Hong Kong: "Chinese food please"
- Tokyo: "Japanese food please"

but Paris, you're going to get a much wider range of requests:

- French visitors would say "French food"
- Italian visitors : "Italian food"
- British visitors : "British food"
- Spanish visitors : "Spanish food"
- German visitors : "German food"
etc...

Now - given all these different voices, do they try to please everybody (and let the quality of the food drop because they're trying to serve so many different dishes in one restaurant", or do they choose one food and specialise in that - disappointing all the other voices. It becomes much harder to make decisions and to please the majority when there is no clear majority.

That's still no excuse for some things like dirty toilets etc that are basics regardless of your background, but for many other things, I'm sure DLP is trying very hard to please as many people as they can based upon all the different voices and opinions they're hearing.

 

[A Small World]

.

OP - I really hope your little girl enjoys a magical holiday. From your description of her, she is at that lovely stage where every little treat is amazing to her, so it sounds like the sheer joy of a Disney holiday is going to enchant her even if you don't manage to add extra touches. If she hasn't had a holiday in a long time then any hotel room will excite her, even if there are no balloons there. She will be ------>

I agree with this -She is going to be so excited about being there, so many things to see and do that even if there are no extra magic touches there she will still be so excited.
She wont know that some people get balloons in their room or chocolates on their pillow so wont be disappointed.
Seeing her face when she sees everything for the first time is going to be the most magical experience you get and you dont have to pay for that/order it in advance etc.
Just make sure your camera is charged and you have spare batteries/memory cards or whatever it needs and enjoy watching her discover the magic for herself

 

[annatinker]

Hi Rosebug,
When we went last yea, having read about the not so great customer service and arranging things, i did it myself. i got things from the disney store and a necklace from Tesco and Character pyjamas from Asda & picture mugs from trupint, and the Parade soundtrack from amazon, i even got a buzz lightyear shaped chocolate from home bargains! I then wrapped them all up and nipped to the room first and left them on the pillow, then each day did the same so they had a surprise waiting ever time we returned from the park. I am going to do the same again, and maybe do little notes as if mickey etc have left the gifts this time, i am going to have a good read of the creative forum for more ideas.
Your daughter will love it no matter what and is lucky that you want to add extra magic and i am sure you will succeed and have an amazing time

 

[Lisa_C]

When I took my then just 5 year old for her first "big trip" I bought a Minnie Mouse outfit from the Disney Store and got it gift boxed (with pixie dust, stickers and lovely Mickey tissue paper) and put it on her bed before she came into the room. Attached was a note from Minnie saying she couldn't wait to mett her, along with an invitation to Cafe Mickey. Turns out that we were REALLY lucky and got Princess Minnie in Auberge that night, so she was really stunned when Minnie pointed to her and rushed over (we had told the CM about the present and she made sure Minnie knew ) the CM also told her that tomorrow Mickey would be waiting in Cafe Mickey for her as Minnie wasn't sure if she had the right dress to wear, so that covered us when Minnie didn't appear! She had a major op too last year, and when we finally had the all clear, I took her back in November and this time around we had chocolates (GROSS!) water and vouchers for a breakfast at Cafe Mickey! Was wonderful! This trip I need to be a magician to top that!!!