I can't believe how mad i am!

[bunkkinsmom]

Ok, I know, I know, there are rules. But I have been in retail and restaurant management for over 15 years, and I know there are times when the rules need to be bent or broken for guest satisfaction.

We are snowed in, at Disney. Our train that was supposed to leave Friday night is cancelled and we can't leave until Sunday night. You might all be thinking that if you have to be snowed in, there is no place better than Disney! Yeah, I thought that too, for a few minutes.

We had to check out of Old Key West and move to a value, because OKW is just too expensive at cash rate. The concierge at OKW said that the concierge at the Value could extend my park tickets by two days for $3.20 per day! SWEET! We can't get the dining plan because it's not 48 hours in advance. Uh, what? Well whatever, no big deal. I think that's silly, but whatever.

The concierge at the value can't extend my tickets because they were purchased through the Youth in Education Series. So they are discounted tickets. Mind you, purchased through Disney, through a Disney agent, not a travel agent or another vendor. So now it's 7pm and I have been working on this at 2 different resorts for about 3 hours. The concierge at the value says I have to go to Guest Relations at a park to get it done. I check into our new room and my kids are STARVING! So I call Guest Relations instead.

They tell me they can't do it. WHAT!?!?!! What do you mean you can't do it? You're Disney! Then they say that they will be happy to issue me 2 day tickets for my entire party, at full price. I ask to speak to a manager who had to be the most condescending person I have spoken to in YEARS! He tells me no as well.

So now we are stuck at this resort with no dining plan, no car, no way to get home, and no park tickets. Try explaining to three kids under 10 that you are at Disney and can't go to the parks.

I am debating on what to do next. I'm not sure there is anything I CAN do?

 

[nmmom95]

It doesn't sound like you have a lot of options. I would just purchase the tickets. You could also go to DTD and play mini golf. I hope it works out!

 

[Art 1]

You could rent a car and drive home or stay somewhere else in Orlando. You could see about airline tickets and fly home today weather permitting. Or just stay in the room your in now, buy your own meals and hang out at the pool and lounge areas.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Unfortunately I do not have the option to purchase tickets. I have spent over $4000 on this vacation. I will stay here because I have no choice, but Disney could make this right if they wanted to. I do not feel the same way about Disney as I did 2 days ago, for sure. My satisfaction would cost them no more than saying yes. This is an exception, it is not the norm. I would love to spend more money on food in their parks for the next two days, and more souvenirs. They would actually MAKE money. In my experience, you cannot expect to give exceptional customer service by having all rules in strict black and white.

 

[ctinct]

Sorry, op, but I think you just have to suck it up and make lemonade out of lemons. Disney doesn't control the weather, so I don't see any reason they should have to give you any extra perks. Perhaps the first concierge gave you wrong info about the ticket upgrade, but then again, maybe he didn't know they were discounted tickets.

I understand that you're upset because you already spent four grand on your vacation and can't afford any more. Perhaps to save money you could take a cab and stay at an offsite hotel. Unfortunately, many of us have been in similar situations, with flight cancellations, broken down cars, sick kids, etc. while on vacation. Sounds like life to me. Sorry.

 

[aprilgail2]

Sorry, op, but I think you just have to suck it up and make lemonade out of lemons. Disney doesn't control the weather, so I don't see any reason they should have to give you any extra perks. Perhaps the first concierge gave you wrong info about the ticket upgrade, but then again, maybe he didn't know they were discounted tickets.

I understand that you're upset because you already spent four grand on your vacation and can't afford any more. Perhaps to save money you could take a cab and stay at an offsite hotel. Unfortunately, many of us have been in similar situations, with flight cancellations, broken down cars, sick kids, etc. while on vacation. Sounds like life to me. Sorry.

 

[Avalon_toon]

Unfortunately I do not have the option to purchase tickets. I have spent over $4000 on this vacation. I will stay here because I have no choice, but Disney could make this right if they wanted to. I do not feel the same way about Disney as I did 2 days ago, for sure. My satisfaction would cost them no more than saying yes. This is an exception, it is not the norm. I would love to spend more money on food in their parks for the next two days, and more souvenirs. They would actually MAKE money. In my experience, you cannot expect to give exceptional customer service by having all rules in strict black and white.

I agree with this - if you had purchased 2 extra days at the time you bought the tickets, discounted or not, you wouldn't have had to pay full price (since 'the longer you stay, the less you pay') so what harm is it NOW for Disney to extend you that same courtesy? I don't see how this helps Disney's public relations or bottom line, it just seems inflexible and guaranteed to alienate a loyal customer.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Load up your kids and go to guest relations at a park. They might be more sympathetic with you and your kids standing in front of them. If they say no, just buy the tickets.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Ok, I know, I know, there are rules. But I have been in retail and restaurant management for over 15 years, and I know there are times when the rules need to be bent or broken for guest satisfaction.

We are snowed in, at Disney. Our train that was supposed to leave Friday night is cancelled and we can't leave until Sunday night. You might all be thinking that if you have to be snowed in, there is no place better than Disney! Yeah, I thought that too, for a few minutes.

We had to check out of Old Key West and move to a value, because OKW is just too expensive at cash rate. The concierge at OKW said that the concierge at the Value could extend my park tickets by two days for $3.20 per day! SWEET! We can't get the dining plan because it's not 48 hours in advance. Uh, what? Well whatever, no big deal. I think that's silly, but whatever.

The concierge at the value can't extend my tickets because they were purchased through the Youth in Education Series. So they are discounted tickets. Mind you, purchased through Disney, through a Disney agent, not a travel agent or another vendor. So now it's 7pm and I have been working on this at 2 different resorts for about 3 hours. The concierge at the value says I have to go to Guest Relations at a park to get it done. I check into our new room and my kids are STARVING! So I call Guest Relations instead.

They tell me they can't do it. WHAT!?!?!! What do you mean you can't do it? You're Disney! Then they say that they will be happy to issue me 2 day tickets for my entire party, at full price. I ask to speak to a manager who had to be the most condescending person I have spoken to in YEARS! He tells me no as well.

So now we are stuck at this resort with no dining plan, no car, no way to get home, and no park tickets. Try explaining to three kids under 10 that you are at Disney and can't go to the parks.

I am debating on what to do next. I'm not sure there is anything I CAN do?

The kid part is easy. Tell them they've spent the last X number of days enjoying the parks. Now it's time to do o ther things. Will they be upset? Of course, but they will get over it.

Unfortunately I do not have the option to purchase tickets. I have spent over $4000 on this vacation. I will stay here because I have no choice, but Disney could make this right if they wanted to. I do not feel the same way about Disney as I did 2 days ago, for sure. My satisfaction would cost them no more than saying yes. This is an exception, it is not the norm. I would love to spend more money on food in their parks for the next two days, and more souvenirs. They would actually MAKE money. In my experience, you cannot expect to give exceptional customer service by having all rules in strict black and white.

If they do this for your family, they will have to do it for all the other folks that are "stuck" there. You're at WDW. There's plenty of things to do without entering a park.

 

[Disneyadore]

How much snow is there in Orlando?
The weather must be very bad if the trains don't run.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Load up your kids and go to guest relations at a park. They might be more sympathetic with you and your kids standing in front of them. If they say no, just buy the tickets.

That's what I would do.

Not a good situation. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes dealing with all of that. It sounds really frustrating! Try not to let it ruin the good times that you did have. Somehow, try make lemonade out of lemons.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[of the seas]

I don't think the op is looking for some "perks".

Maybe you can go resort hoping. Go to all the resorts, play in the playgrounds. Or rent a car and go check out Orlando! Go to Downtown Disney, play with legos or go see a movie!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

So sorry about your situation.

In 2008 we had to move from SSR to POP because of flight cancellations due to a hurricane. It will be okay.

We spent many vacations at WDW without going to a park everyday - usually at least 2 no park days during a week stay. We enjoy the resort, play in the game room, go to DTD, eat at a different resort; your children could play at a deluxe playground, ride the monorail - the time will fly and you will all have a great time.

The Contemporary has lots for the kids to do...then take the water launch from CR over to the Petting Zoo at Ft Wilderness. Trails End has the least expensive buffets in WDW - and it's different for the kids.

Two days with kids and no parks sounds like so much fun to me! Hope you have fun too!

 

[Traveliz]

So you would like to go to the parks but really don't have the option due to the special tickets you bought.

You really only have today and part of tomorrow.

Here is what I would do.

Swim

Do a boat, bus, monorail, ferry run.

If kids are into characters take the bus to AK and see if the characters are out front...they are often out there prior to the turnstyles.

Walk to McDs for lunch and then down to mini golf...it's not far from the values and would be fun.

Take the bus to MK tonight and then the boat/monorail over to the Poly and watch the Electrical Water Pageant and Wishes from there.

Go to DTD and play there for awhile...sit at the Lego tables for as long as you want, eat at one of the many spots there.

Have you ever eaten at ESPN - we think its fun and are not even sports fans. Take the bus to DHS and the walk or boat to the Boardwalk. Eat in the bar area of ESPN and get a booth with a tv. Ask for the game controllers and play CARS for as long as you want before, during and after dinner.

Go to Wilderness Lodge and ask for the list of Hidden Mickeys and hunt for them.

I could go on but honestly I do understand your frustration but I think there is plenty you can do and it might really be fun.

Liz

 

[PatsGirl]

BTDT ~ stuck at Disney while Logan (Boston) was shut down and couldn't get out for at least two more days. I had just returned my rental car that was dirt cheap and found out at the security checkpoint. I immediately went back to the rental car counter and asked if I could keep the car for two more days and they gave me the same rate Good, yes, but...

While I never thought to ask Disney to extend my tickets, I did have to suck up two more nights of hotels and spending expenses for two teenagers. We decided to make the most of it and stayed at the Universal Holiday Inn and spent a day at Universal. Ended up costing me about another $1000 for the two days between rental car, 6 meals, tickets to Universal, two nights hotel, etc. My credit card took a hit but we made the most of it.

I suggest you do the same thing. And about the kids being disappointed, won't they be happy swimming in the pools, playing in the arcade, seeing a movie? if you can't afford more Disney tickets? Mine would.

 

[Magic Mom]

Unfortunately I do not have the option to purchase tickets. I have spent over $4000 on this vacation. I will stay here because I have no choice, but Disney could make this right if they wanted to. I do not feel the same way about Disney as I did 2 days ago, for sure. My satisfaction would cost them no more than saying yes. This is an exception, it is not the norm. I would love to spend more money on food in their parks for the next two days, and more souvenirs. They would actually MAKE money. In my experience, you cannot expect to give exceptional customer service by having all rules in strict black and white.

In the end, your kids will probably love all the extra pool time. I get your frustration, but let it go and act excited for your kids and they will take it much better. Then spend time at the pool, head over to DTD and catch a movie, have ice cream at Ghirardelli's, have the kids silhouette's done, explore the Lego store, take a trail ride on horses or do some dockside fishing at Fort Wilderness....There is a lot you can do that will immediately take your kid's minds off of being in the park. Have fun.

 

[golfgal]

You could easily spend 2 days just exploring all the resorts-what is the issue???

I really don't understand your problem, you extended your stay at the last minute and expect Disney to give you a deal on everything-sorry, it just doesn't work that way. You could have EASILY stayed off-site for next to nothing, you didn't have to stay on Disney property.

 

[shortbun]

Yeah, you are frustrated and I understand why. BUT, I could find loads to do NOT in a park for two days down there and so can you. Just breathe and get organized. You've spent too much time banging your head against a wall; walk around the wall and go have some fun!!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

There is a small petting zoo at Ft. Wilderness that would be fun. There's a play ground too. We haven't made it there yet, but hoping to on our next stay.

 

[Va-bear]

In the end, your kids will probably love all the extra pool time. I get your frustration, but let it go and act excited for your kids and they will take it much better. Then spend time at the pool, head over to DTD and catch a movie, have ice cream at Ghirardelis, have the kids silhohoute's done, explore the Lego store, take a trail ride on horses or do some dockside fishing at Fort Wilderness....There is a lot you can do that will immediately take your kid's minds off of being in the park. Have fun.

Go have fun!!!There's TONs to do - you dont need to do a park everyday at all! When we go we only do parks on 1/2 the days, period. Pizza by the pool isnt much money and one of my kids favorite meals/activities at disney (shows we dont have to spend TONS of money, go to parks all the time, and go to fancy charachter dinners to have fun....a 10.00 pizza and a pool can be SUPER!)

Hey, you're not at work and you are in the sun! Have some icecream for me!