Let's all take a deep breath....and have fun

[over50visits]

My premise is that in exchange for my fare, Disney owes me a cruise, entertainment, food, and stops at the advertised destinations, weather permitting.

If they cannot provide that because of a hurricane, then I believe they should refund part or all of my fare, even though they are not at fault.

Beyond that, they do not owe me a discount, shipboard credits, rebooking at my original rate, lodging, or future cruise discounts. They do not owe me compensation for travel expenses.

YET...they did go the extra distance. My hat is off to Disney for all they offered, and for the CMs who must be handling truly thousands of calls from disappointed cruisers, some of whom want Disney to fix everything.

I am sailing next week. We booked during the hurricane season to take advantage of the low rates. If there is a storm, we may lose money and Disney will lose money. Who should we all "blame" for our woes? Mother nature alone!

Thank you Disney for making the best you could of a terrible week. Maybe in leisurely hindsight you didn't do everything perfectly, but you cared and tried.

Let's all take a deep breath, realize life isn't perfect, but it sure is a lot better for some of us because of Disney.

Now, this is a wonderful discussion board. I always wind down at night with it, because I like to hear about Palo's, staterooms, shows, excurions, what to wear. It's fun.

I wonder how our Castaway Cat is. I hope the first person to spot her on CC lets us all know:

 

[ksjayhawks]

Very well stated!

 

[gshoemate]

Thanks for the reality check. I was upset when I found out that our cruise leaving on Thursday is now leaving from Ft. Lauderdale. I'm not sure who I was upset with. No one called us, I just happen to see it on the DCL website after 10:00 when DCL closed and I just wanted to talk to a person for reassurance. But now that DH and I have talked through everything and it doesn't matter if we are on the boat and it is going out to sea or if we are on the boat and waiting for other passenger's, we will be happy just to be on the boat.

 

[mrsnesbit]

try this number it stays open later
18667245325

 

[jenlovesdisney]

Good post. Why is it Disney's fault that YOU (not you specifically, but you in general) booked during tornado season. Do other businesses have to pay for mother nature?? They most definitely took the high road and gave a lot of stuff!

 

[WDWLVR]

Thanks to the OP for starting this thread. Good advice indeed about taking a deep breath and having fun.

The wonderful thing about a site like this is that you can get lots and lots of information. Sometimes you know what's going on before others who don't have this site.

The bad things is that you have that information. In the past couple of days I've witnessed the following:

* People wanting updates on CC when the hurricane hadn't even finished hitting Florida yet. Yes we are all concerned, but I know that DCL needs time to look things over.

* People getting upset because they didn't get the exact same "deal" as someone else. We saw this before when they had to cancel the Magic due to Norwalk. Yes in a perfect world everyone would be happy. Everyone is different and their situations are different. I'm sure the customer service CM's are doing their best. Yes maybe someone offered something to one person that someone else didn't offer to someone else. It isn't the end of the world. I get frustrated when I hear some people talk about "wanting the best deal" or "I'm waiting to see what they are going to give me". I can't remember who it was - not someone on the 10 day cruise - asking "did you get any compensation?" What! As if 3 extra days of cruising and food as well as help with reservations and transportation isn't enough.

Please remember two things.

1) Disney is in the business of making money and they lost a lot of money during this past week. Between the parks being closed and all the juggling needed for the cruises (just think of all the extra gas to get the busses down to Ft. Lauderdale - that is just one small part.

2) Remember too that the DCL cast members you are dealing with are for the most part Florida residents as well. While you might be worried about having to stand in line a little longer, they might be worried about fixing their home that is torn apart.

So please take the advise. Take a deep breath! Count your blessings - we all have them. Have fun - especially if you are currently on the Magic as it is a great place to have fun!

 

[over50visits]

I remember a couple of lessons for life I learned from my father:

"Never begrudge someone else receiving a good deal." Instead of asking why you don't get the same, be happy for them.

"Never profit from someone else's misery."

I'm happy some others got a discount for future cruises or other compensation. Disney does not owe the same to me. And I am sad that DCL had such a bad time with the weather. They don't owe me a sack of offers to make up for a hurricane.

And yes, perhaps some of these CMs are staying hotels because their homes are still damaged from the first storm!

We sail in 11 days. Zip-a-dee-doo-dah!

 

[jrabbit]

Originally posted by over50visits
My premise is that in exchange for my fare, Disney owes me a cruise, entertainment, food, and stops at the advertised destinations, weather permitting.

EXACTLY!!

If they cannot provide that because of a hurricane, then I believe they should refund part or all of my fare, even though they are not at fault.

If they have to cut your trip short, sure a refund is in order, but what happens if they have to extend your tip like last weeks cruise? Do you have to pay more or do you get a free bonus? I think we would all agree that DCL should refund some $$ for shortened cruises and not make us pay for extended ones.

Beyond that, they do not owe me a discount, shipboard credits, rebooking at my original rate, lodging, or future cruise discounts. They do not owe me compensation for travel expenses.

It's a good thing I reread this point - I missed the DO NOT OWE (I read it as THEY OWE ME...) So I agree )

YET...they did go the extra distance. My hat is off to Disney for all they offered, and for the CMs who must be handling truly thousands of calls from disappointed cruisers, some of whom want Disney to fix everything.

Amen

I am sailing next week. We booked during the hurricane season to take advantage of the low rates. If there is a storm, we may lose money and Disney will lose money. Who should we all "blame" for our woes? Mother nature alone!

Since you and others book during huricanne season to take advantage of the lower rates, it follows that DCL does not owe you a replacement cruise at the same price. That is the risk you take. If DCL had to "make up" the cruise to you because of huricannes, then this would be the most expensive time of the year to travel - since DCL would constantly be giving 2 for 1 cruises!!

Thank you Disney for making the best you could of a terrible week. Maybe in leisurely hindsight you didn't do everything perfectly, but you cared and tried.

Let's all take a deep breath, realize life isn't perfect, but it sure is a lot better for some of us because of Disney.

Now, this is a wonderful discussion board. I always wind down at night with it, because I like to hear about Palo's, staterooms, shows, excurions, what to wear. It's fun.

Well Said!!

 

[figment52]

Originally posted by WDWLVR
.....

2) Remember too that the DCL cast members you are dealing with are for the most part Florida residents as well. While you might be worried about having to stand in line a little longer, they might be worried about fixing their home that is torn apart.

This has not been said enough on this board. Maybe not many could just up and relocate to southern FL to check in passsengers bacause they had issues with their own family and homes. My hat is off to them for all they were able to do.

Thanks to the OP for this thread.

 

[Kalypso]

I heartily agree with all of you!! I am a CM - I work here in Burbank for ABC - and I was booked to sail on the 9/9 Wonder. On top of everything that's gone on weather-wise and relocation-wise? My DBF's mother ended up in the hospital yesterday morning so there was just no way we could get on the ship. I called DCL expecting the worst - mostly because I am a CM and didn't expect they'd be able to help me since the ship was going to sail! The CM I dealt with? Went out of her WAY to reschedule us for the 9/30 Wonder - which was the only one available to me -and I was able to talk to Debbie yesterday afternoon and reschedule the whole REAS package we bought with no problems at all.

I am proud to work for this company and I just get prouder every day and I'm not ashamed to say it!!

 

[jlawall]

I agree....let's all enjoy our addiction to Disney while not forgetting the pain of those who lost their vacation due to crazy weather...........IT CAN ONLY GET BETTER!!!

 

[kcashner]

DD has been worried about the cat from day 1....please post when someone knows. It's a sweet kitty......

 

[Twinave]

My family and I, along with over 100 Disers are going on the 10/2 Magic trip. Most of us have cruised before, and some of us have had our plans changed because of a hurricane. I have always felt that Disney did above and beyond what was required. And I have always felt that my safety and of course the saftey of the ship was more important than if a cruiser was going to miss a certain port. This is the nature of cruising.
I live in FL, and althought I have not been personally affected by the recent storms, I have had my share.

No matter what our 10/2 trip brings, we will have fun, enjoy, and book again.

Twinave

P.S. Also worried about the Castaway Cat!

 

[rae519]

Just to "bug" you, Ave!!

We happen to think it was unsafe for Disney to offer such spectacular incentives when the Governor of Florida declared a state of emergency/evaculation, when airports and ports were closed, when hotels and shelters were filled?

We cancelled early because we felt it was our only option and at that time I said I just wanted a refund - having insurance, I was guaranteed it. But what is bothersome is that some other cancelled cruisers have been able to reschedule their cruises without paying the difference for the "prevailing cost" of the cruise. That is where the fairness ends.

So, maybe we aren't whiners, moan and groaners, maybe we are just people asking for across the board equality from Disney when dealing with us. We aren't asking for the sun, moon and stars - just to be treated the same as other cruisers who were forced to cancel.

Just my two cents,
Rae