Need help for accident at MK last night....any help/suggestions on where to turn?

[Madi100]

Originally posted by 39CINDERELLA
HI SHANNON, I AGREE WITH ALL THAT THIS WAS AN AWFUL THING TO HAPPEN AND THEN BE TREATED LIKE YOU ARE THE PROBLEM NOT THE VICTIM. I HAVE BEEN ON THAT SIDE BEFORE WITH DISNEY, 1st LET ME EXPLAIN MY SITUATION-I AM A LEAGALLY BLIND PERSON SO PEOPLE DO NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A HADICAP BECAUSE I AM NOT IN A WHEELCHAIR. I HAD SOME VERY RUDE CM'S LAST YEAR SO MY HUSBAND CONTACTED WDW CORP. OFC'S AND WE WERE REIMBURSED 3 OF OUR DAYS AND THAT WAS IT AFTER HE FOUGHT WITH THEM FOR WEEKS. THEY DID APOLOGIZE AND REASSURED ME THAT THIS WOULD NOT ACCURE AGAIN WITH MY GUEST WITH DISABILITIES CARD THEY GIVE YOU AT GUEST RELATIONS THAT SPECIFIES YOUR NEEDS OF ASSISTANCE ie: HELP ON RIDE, ALTERNATE ENTRANCE etc.. FINE SO WE TRIED IT AGAIN THIS YEAR IN APRIL AND I WAS ONCE AGAIN TREATED VERY RUDLEY BY A CERTAIN CM THAT TAKES PHOTO'S WITH YOU AND THE CHARACTERS IN THE MK TT AREA, AFTER I HAD MY PHOTO TAKEN THE CM THAT WAS GUIDING ME OUT OF ROOM (LET ME SAY WAS EXTREMELY NICE AND HELPFUL) WAS IN FRONT OF ME AND I ACCIDENLY BUMPED INTO THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND SHE CAME RIGHT OUT AND SAID IN A VERY LOUD TONE "WHAT IS SHE BLIND OR SOMETHING", I WAS SO EMBARRASSED BY THE ? OF HER THAT I JUST WANTED TO RUN OUT OF ROOM. THE CM THAT WAS HELPING ME COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW RUDE THE PHOTOG,WAS , SHE APOLOGIZED TO ME A FEW TIMES. WELL ME AND THE CM TOLD MY HUSBAND WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED HE WAS FURIOUS TO SAY THE LEAST. WE FINISHED OUR DAY MK IT WAS LATE THEN MY HUSBAND WENT TO CITY HALL AND COMPLAINED TO THE MGR. FOR AN HOUR AND HALF I STOOD OUTSIDE WITH MY TODDLER WAITED FOR HIM HE CAME OUT AND SAID THE MGR. WAS GOING TO GIVE US 5 ONE DAY PASSES TO MAKE UP FOR THE DAY, PRETTY MUCH THROWING A DOG A BONE. WE WERE LEAVING THE NEXT MORNING TO DRIVE HOME TO OHIO. TO MAKE THIS LONG STORY LONGER I AM SERIOUSLY LOOKING INTO THE ADA ORG. AND MY ATTORNEY TO SUE THIS TIME!!!!! ONE YEAR I WAS WILLING TO OVERLOOK BUT NOT THIS TIMNE NOT THE WAY SHE SPOKE OF ME WITH A LINE OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT ME, AND NOT WITH THE LACK OF COMPASSION FROM WDW. THANKS FOR LISTENING, LORI

Lori, I'm sorry that you had to go through that. Since you did not share the details of the first experience, all we have to go by is from what you said. I am overweight. Not so much that it really effects me at WDW, but enough that when fat jokes are made, I can put myself in the shoes of the person who is being made fun of. Thankfully, I've lost a lot of weight, but I understand that those little comments can hurt. In fact, last time we went to WDW, we were going to go parasailing. The weight limit is 350. When the person on the phone told me this he said it woudn't be a problem "unless you are very very large people". Well, y DH weighs 220. That leaves me with 130. As much as I'd love to say that was me, it's not. I was bothered by what he said. It even made me a little mad. Had I wanted to, I probably could have called and gotten him in trouble. However, I chalked it up to the fact that some people just don't always think before they talk. I would never, ever, ever even think about suing Disney over that comment. If I would have called and complained, I would have only expected that that employee was talked to. I would not have even accepted free parasailing, free Disney passes, whatever.

So, I think that is Disney gave you twice free tickets for WDW because of that one comment, you should think that they really care about making you happy.

 

[Baloo]

Disney has MARKETED itself for years as the happiest place on earth,where magic lives,be our guest etc etc. A place in this sometimes cold,ugly world where ALL PEOPLE no matter how you look or what's wrong with you physically or mentally,how rich or poor you are ,how young or old you might be that you can come to WDW and ESCAPE reality and walk into MAGIC!

I've seen over the years the quality of "guest care" go down.Disney is becoming a company that the bottom line is everything instead of how they treat their guests. Pack 'em in the parks and resorts who cares if we have enough employees to clean up after them and the quality employee...friendly and courteous... that use to be ABOVE and beyond at WDW!

People NEED to let WDW know how they've been treated that made them feel uncomfortable.Humans can be mean but IMHO if Disney is going to push "the magic lives " thing ( which the logo is this year) the need to STAND behind what the advertise.

There are those who take advantage of things,but do ya all realize, free tickets don't cost Disney a dime!!! If ya start talking lawyer and law suit,that's what scares Disney!

I dunno the whole "state of Disney" makes me sick right now.

I still enjoy WDW although our last trip we took a couple days at IOA away from our usually ALL Disney trip.Something I never thought this die hard Disney freak would do!

I just hope the customer service IMPROVES before the magic is so damaged it takes years to revive!

 

[dpuck1998]

Looks like its time to think about moving this to another board again. Perhaps a message from the OP would help get things back on track.

 

[mickeyfan2]

We were at the MK on May 16, 2004 and were leaving Liberty Square, crossing the bridge into the hub (a little before Wishes would start), when we saw your sister and her family. We saw them trying to clean up the stroller. There was a checked Mickey homemade cushion on the stroller. I commented to my DH that they would never get it clean, but I did not realize that so much had spilled on them.

Here is an address and email address that you could try.

WDW Guest Communications
Post Office Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

WDW.Guest.Communications@Disney.com

Good Luck.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Please don't anyone encourage meritless lawsuits against Disney (or any) company, it only increases the price of a ticket. The price of the company's liability insurance and the exorbitant unnecessary defensive legal fees incurred will only be passed onto their customers and that means me.

Accidents happen. I don't think there is a systemic popcorn grease issue that needs to be resolved by the court system.

 

[ShadowWind]

This is nothing new. Disney has always been a bit on the nasty side when it comes to accidents, as they probably see each one as a potential lawsuit. When I was about 12, I was at the Contemporary with my parents and I fell on the stairs that goes from the 2nd to 1st floor (between the two escalators). Many may not remember, but before the Contemporary redesign, there was a carpet that had an interlocking pattern that could appear to be one continuous ramp rather than a staircase. I knew it wasn't and was careful all the way down, but when I got to what I thought was the last step, I stepped out, my foot slipped off the real last step and I fell on my face. I hurt my leg pretty bad and after 20 minutes of trying to tell someone I needed help, they finally called the EMT's from Disney's fire department. Meanwhile, while the EMT's were nice and took care of me, a Disney suit walks over and he goes "Are we gonna have to amputate?" My father was pissed. Our family has never been the suing type, but it's comments like that that push people into such things. We didn't sue of course, but could see how some could be driven to do so. A little kindness would have went a long way, rather than scorn, like we were trying to pull something.

One interesting point, I said to the EMT, "Do you work for Disney?" and he said, "No, we work for the Reedy Creek Improvement District." "Oh, so the county works for Disney?" He grinned.

I didn't get anything for my trouble, except not being able to walk for 2 days of the vacation. I didn't really expect anything, but a token would have been nice, even if it was a simple souvenir, rather than the smart comment from a supposed manager and representative of the company.

 

[DizBelle]

Originally posted by Madi100
Lori, I'm sorry that you had to go through that. Since you did not share the details of the first experience, all we have to go by is from what you said. I am overweight. Not so much that it really effects me at WDW, but enough that when fat jokes are made, I can put myself in the shoes of the person who is being made fun of. Thankfully, I've lost a lot of weight, but I understand that those little comments can hurt. In fact, last time we went to WDW, we were going to go parasailing. The weight limit is 350. When the person on the phone told me this he said it woudn't be a problem "unless you are very very large people". Well, y DH weighs 220. That leaves me with 130. As much as I'd love to say that was me, it's not. I was bothered by what he said. It even made me a little mad. Had I wanted to, I probably could have called and gotten him in trouble. However, I chalked it up to the fact that some people just don't always think before they talk. I would never, ever, ever even think about suing Disney over that comment. If I would have called and complained, I would have only expected that that employee was talked to. I would not have even accepted free parasailing, free Disney passes, whatever.

So, I think that is Disney gave you twice free tickets for WDW because of that one comment, you should think that they really care about making you happy.

I don't understand what he said that would have bothered you? Weight is a legitimate safety concern in parasailing so it is his obligation to bring it up when you are considering participating. It would be negligent otherwise.

 

[DizBelle]

Originally posted by Baloo
There are those who take advantage of things,but do ya all realize, free tickets don't cost Disney a dime!!!

Of course they cost Disney money. If they give you a free ticket, then you won't be buying one. That is money that Disney is losing.

 

[Madi100]

Originally posted by lfontaine
I don't understand what he said that would have bothered you? Weight is a legitimate safety concern in parasailing so it is his obligation to bring it up when you are considering participating. It would be negligent otherwise.

I undestand that weight is an issue. I knew there was a weight limit going into. There are a coule different weight limits posted throughout the web. With one, I would have been fine. The other I wasn't. I wasn't upset that they were putting a weight limit on it, I was bothered by the fact that he said unless we were very very large people we would be fine. He laughed as he said it. Well, we weren't fine. Our combined weight was too much. He could have told me the weight limit without the added comment. The point I was trying to make is that sometimes people make comments and there aren't always thinking before they talk.

 

[PhotobearSam]

Shannon...Anything new to add...

 

[alliecats]

Originally posted by Madi100
I undestand that weight is an issue. I knew there was a weight limit going into. There are a coule different weight limits posted throughout the web. With one, I would have been fine. The other I wasn't. I wasn't upset that they were putting a weight limit on it, I was bothered by the fact that he said unless we were very very large people we would be fine. He laughed as he said it. Well, we weren't fine. Our combined weight was too much. He could have told me the weight limit without the added comment. The point I was trying to make is that sometimes people make comments and there aren't always thinking before they talk.

I totally agree with you! That was a crappy, unprofessional, and insensitive way to put it! It would be negligient not to tell you of the weight limit but I don't think anyone can legitimately argue that he chose a professional way to phrase it. Whatta jerk!

 

[DizBelle]

Is there any update to this story?

 

[dpuck1998]

anything new?

 

[DebbieB]

Maybe he got confused on the weight issue and was thinking 350 per person, aren't parasails usually for one person? 350 for a couple isn't that much.

 

[miste76]

I've gotten the feeling from my own experience and from this thread that Disney may have a policy that doesn't allow their CM's to give any apologies.
Last summer, as I was waiting for the stars and motorcars parade (MGM), I was literally rammed into by a mobile ice cart. (The Silver ones - I don't remember if it had icecream, soda or anything else in it... ) Two CM's were pushing their carts and joking around... There were a lot of people sitting on the ground waiting for the parade (including my sister and I) and the cart rammed right into my back. I'm sure you can imagine how heavy these carts are and I can tell you, although I was not seriously injured from this... I was uncomfortable for the rest of the day. I can't imagine what would have happened if it was my little sister (13), an elderly individual or very young child.
Well, those CM's didn't apologize. After asking another CM who I should talk to, I was referred to an office at the front of the park. I didn't get an apology there either. I was offered VIP seating for fantasmic. (We didn't even stay for the show b/c the seats were so bad.) All I really wanted was a simple APOLOGY, why is that so hard for WDW?
I thought this was just a one time experience... now I'm thinking that it's part of their policy???? Makes me very sad.

 

[DizBelle]

Originally posted by miste76
All I really wanted was a simple APOLOGY, why is that so hard for WDW?
I thought this was just a one time experience... now I'm thinking that it's part of their policy???? Makes me very sad.

One word - liability. In this lawsuit hungry society, an apology is an admission that they did something wrong which would work against them in a lawsuit. They are just trying to protect themselves. Sad, but true. And I can't say that I blame them.

You have to agree that Disney is pretty much synonymous with money. Most people would jump at the chance to sue Disney for any reason they can make up.

If people didn't sue over anything and everything just to try and get something they didn't deserve, we could return to common courtesy. As it is now, common courtesy can get your screwed in court.

 

[miste76]

I understand what you're saying about our sue-happy culture... but at the same time... something has to change concerning the way they handled my problem and these other problems that have been listed on this thread!!! IMO: You can not - not apologize for such obvious CM caused accidents as these were.

 

[MermaidsMom]

Recent studies have shown that when Doctors apologize for their mistakes that people tend not to sue them. In the past they were advised NOT to apologize, but now the insurance companies are telling them to say they are sorry for their mistakes because most people are reasonable and only want someone to say that they are sorry! I really think that Disney should re-visit this policy with their legal staff because most people would be happy with a sincere apology and maybe a drink coupon, or park pass, etc. rather than all of these bad feelings. I personally had a minor problem last year when iron stained water dripped all over my t-shirt at the security gate as I waited for my family. I was told by security to go to city hall and tell them get a shirt voucher to replace it. When I did this, the guy behind the counter acted like I was some sort of con artist or something! I wasn't mad when I went in there, but I was when I came out! It wasn't a big deal at all, but his attitude was awful.

 

[Soupermom]

Bumping for an update????

 

[Puffy2]

Do not let your sister leave without contacting the manager of the hotel and asking to speak with management from the Magic Kingdom.

First of all, are you certain that no one apologized for such gross negligence?

I'd be hopping mad. And your sister should be too.

This was not a "small accident" - they could have been seriously hurt and to be handed a few "vouchers" for clothing and NOT be given an apology or a ride back to the hotel is unexcusable. What kind of medical attention did they offer your sister or her children? Any oil in the eyes?


First your sister needs to decide what compensation she wants (replacement stoller (that stroller is ruined - she'll never get the oil and smell out) , compensation for clothing ruined, some sort of compensation for a ruined evening, AND an apology).

Write these things down.

Then clearly and briefly explain to the hotel manager what occured - pointing out that your family loves Disney and usually finds their theme parks and hotels enjoyable and of great quality but that what happened to you (your sister) and the treatment you (your sister) received is unexcusable.
Then tell him/her what you expect to be done about it. They can either make your sister happy or her attorney happy and that is exactly the way I would word it. Note that the hotel manager isn't responsible (this happened at the MK, correct?) and when speaking to him/her your sister should state that she knows that- the hotel manager will just put you in touch with the "powers that be".

The time for being "nice" passed when the MK management failed to extend an appropriate apology and action.