Need to Vent

[carolmb]

We are going to WDW in 2 weeks. I had called a while back to make a ressie for Dive Quest. The gentleman helping me kept asking me if I needed to make any dinner ressies. So I made one for the California Grill on July 20th at 7pm for 9 people. All is well and hopefully we would be able to see the fireworks at MK. Last week I call DVC on an unrelated matter and I asked the CM on the phone to check all of my ressies. She said I had on for July 21st, July 22nd, July 25th and September 20th. I was a little perplexed since we will not be there in September. The CM that made the ressies for California Grill messed up and put it in for September. Now to get a ressie for the same day for 9 people to set together the new time is for 5:30pm. We are going to AK that day and now I am worried that we will have to cut our time short in the park to make our ressie. Plus I was hoping to see the fireworks so how long will we need to hang out to see the fireworks. All any of the CMs that I talked to would say is "sorry" it happens sometimes. I wish they would email your ressies after you make them so you can double check that everything is correct. I am just a little annoyed by the whole thing but I am not going to let ruin my vacation. I just needed to vent and Thanks for Listening.

 

[catne]

sorry they messed up your ressie for Cali Grille...but don't worry about trying to stretch out your meal to stay for the fireworks. You don't have to do that. Just eat at your normal speed, and keep your receipt. You'll finish eating by 7:30 probably (if you get seated right at 5:30, it's about a 2 hour meal there.) Then you can hop the monorail over to the MK for an hour or so.Then take the monorail back to the Contemporary...if you have the receipt showing you ate there that day, they will let you back in the restaurant to go watch the fireworks from that awesome deck. The fireworks view is actually better from the deck than from inside (because they do not turn off the inside restaurant lights for the fireworks)

 

[ROEDISNEY]

That's so not fair. I think when they mess up they should try and help you get something like you had.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

i think it would be nice if they did send you an email to confirm your reservations.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

They should send an email conformation so if they mess up you can see it right away and take care of it. I had email's sent to me when I was on the Platimun Plan. It was great! So it can be done by them.

 

[DISNEY1975]

We are going to WDW in 2 weeks. I had called a while back to make a ressie for Dive Quest. The gentleman helping me kept asking me if I needed to make any dinner ressies. So I made one for the California Grill on July 20th at 7pm for 9 people. All is well and hopefully we would be able to see the fireworks at MK. Last week I call DVC on an unrelated matter and I asked the CM on the phone to check all of my ressies. She said I had on for July 21st, July 22nd, July 25th and September 20th. I was a little perplexed since we will not be there in September. The CM that made the ressies for California Grill messed up and put it in for September. Now to get a ressie for the same day for 9 people to set together the new time is for 5:30pm. We are going to AK that day and now I am worried that we will have to cut our time short in the park to make our ressie. Plus I was hoping to see the fireworks so how long will we need to hang out to see the fireworks. All any of the CMs that I talked to would say is "sorry" it happens sometimes. I wish they would email your ressies after you make them so you can double check that everything is correct. I am just a little annoyed by the whole thing but I am not going to let ruin my vacation. I just needed to vent and Thanks for Listening.

Wow...when something like that is clearly their mistake, they should fix it. I understand their dilemma by not wanting to overbook and not having enough tables, but there must be something to do to get you a time closer to your original.

yes...I would vent too!

 

[acourtwdw]

First of all sorry this happened. What would happen if you show up at your scheduled time with your adr confirmation number? Would they try to seat your party or would you get turned away? Just wondering...

 

[disnut8]

First of all sorry this happened. What would happen if you show up at your scheduled time with your adr confirmation number? Would they try to seat your party or would you get turned away? Just wondering...

Since the time was already changed and in the system as 5:30 and they showed up at 9:00, it would be treated as if they missed the seating.

A mistake was made, the Cast Member had the wrong calendar up. But when I make reservations, I could have swore I was told the day of the week for the reservation too. July 20th is a Sunday, September 20th is a Saturday.

This is California Grill and it's booked for viewing the fireworks during dinner. I'm not sure how Disney could have "made this right". They can't make a table for nine magically appear at that time. Comp the meal? They could do that but how many people would then call and say their reservation was messed up (lost) and they want a free meal too?

OP - I applaud your feelings on this. It's not going to ruin your vacation. You'll have a great time and a great meal.

 

[carolmb]

Thanks for all of the support. I am glad that I had called otherwise we would of shown up for our 7pm ressie and it would not have been on the books. It just goes to show that you just cannot trust that it was taken care of you still have to follow-up.

 

[BriarRosie]

Personally, I don't think the fireworks from the California Grill are 'all that'. I've seen the fireworks from the California Grill, and while it's nice, it's not something I must do or die trying.

If I had my plans altered like that, I'd have enjoyed my dinner, walked to the Magic Kingdom, and watched the fireworks from the middle of Main Street USA. I think the fireworks look great if you're standing in Main Street right before you get to the Partners statue. Anywhere between Casey's and the Plaza Inn.

 

[kelleigh1]

Someone stated that this is "clearly there mistake", but the truth is that while OP knows they said July 20 and they know with certainty that the CM messed up, there is no way to prove that and the CM could easily just say "no, she said September, I'm sure of it", just like OP is sure she said July.

I had a similar situation happen when planning my wedding. We had booked a certain timeslot at the resort where we were getting married and our TA failed to mention that we needed to make a special deposit within 7 days to hold that reservation. So they cancelled our wedding and it wasn't until months later that it was discovered and even then, the TA didn't have the nerve to call me. She is MIL's best friend and she had MIL call me instead. I was livid. We were still able to get married on the day we'd chosen, but just not the time we wanted.

Unfortunately, this kind of thing happens. Hopefully the OP will have many magical memories from the trip and that the time change on the coveted ADR will be just a memory of the one thing that didn't quite go according to plan.

 

[Lamandpercy]

A big bonus of eating at CG before it gets dark is the view. We had good fun spotting all the WDW landmarks. The food was fabulous and I agree with you, it's an accident and it won't ruin your vacation. If you like pork, the pork tenderloin with polenta is an absolute must - I am counting the days till I can eat it again!

 

[princessjv]

This EXACT same thing happened to me last June! I kid you not...but worse - ALL of my ADR's were for August, not June as I had requested. What I would do is call back, ask for a manager on the dining line. The manager should be able to call California Grill directly and work with the restaurant manager to get you the reservation you had originally booked. It worked for me. I was able to get reservations for all of my incorrect ADR's. I did have to be a little forgiving on some of the times, but only by 1/2 hour at the very most. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[DISNEY1975]

Someone stated that this is "clearly there mistake", but the truth is that while OP knows they said July 20 and they know with certainty that the CM messed up, there is no way to prove that and the CM could easily just say "no, she said September, I'm sure of it", just like OP is sure she said July.

I had a similar situation happen when planning my wedding. We had booked a certain timeslot at the resort where we were getting married and our TA failed to mention that we needed to make a special deposit within 7 days to hold that reservation. So they cancelled our wedding and it wasn't until months later that it was discovered and even then, the TA didn't have the nerve to call me. She is MIL's best friend and she had MIL call me instead. I was livid. We were still able to get married on the day we'd chosen, but just not the time we wanted.

Unfortunately, this kind of thing happens. Hopefully the OP will have many magical memories from the trip and that the time change on the coveted ADR will be just a memory of the one thing that didn't quite go according to plan.

I think every CM can see this was a DISNEY mistake with the other booking she made. Your wedding was a one day event..no way to prove the month. Original Poster had every day around this booked and then the Cali Grill out in la la land.

Seriously, being the planner I am, the 5:30 ressie would have thrown my whole day out of whack. Would it completely ruin my vacation...no, but 5:30 is too early for MY family to eat and I wouldnt even be hungry after having a 2:30 or so lunch. I would then have to move my lunch back..and then my breakfast, which would get me out of bed earlier than expected so then I would have to go to bed earlier than expected, knowing I have to get up at the crack of dawn to eat breakfast and so on and so on!!!!

Yes, this, at minimum, deserves a very nice bottle of wine waiting on my table!! If there is a way to "nicely complain", I would call a supervisor right now.

 

[hammie59]

Yes, very annoying that happened. I agree, it would be really nice if they gave you some type of copy to confirm your reservations. I actually was thinking that after I made mine and sort of felt uneasy that I had no "proof".

 

[disneymyway]

That really stinks but here are some things to consider.

You may not get your table right away, although I think you are more likely to early in the evening, but usually you have to wait after your reservation time.

Take your time. Have a cocktail before you order - drag it out a bit and enjoy yourself. Don't let them rush you.

You can come back and show your check and go out to the catwalk to watch - it's better out there anyway because inside not all seats have really good views.

You'll have fun!

 

[carolmb]

You know my biggest problem with my ADRs getting messed up and the ressie changing to 1 1/2 hours earlier is that it cuts down on our time at AK. Now we have to leave the park at 3 - 3:30 to get ready for dinner instead of being able to stay until 5pm. I kept hoping the CM I was speaking with about the mistake would offer something. I kept telling her how disappointed I was that this happened and how hard I worked to make my plans but all she said was sorry and there was nothing else she could do. Thanks again for listening and all of the great advice. I think I might call and talk to a supervisor.

 

[skipperkim]

OP I feel your pain. I had this happen on my last vacation. CM that booked my MNSSHP put in my LTT reservation, on the day before we to go to the party. By the time I found this out, it was too late. What I have since discovered call the day after making your ADR's to confirm them. That said I too have an ADR for CG in Dec though, at 8:50. Holiday Wishes is showing 9:30 that evening. My luck everyone will be dragging their meal out so not only will I miss my birthday meal, but the fireworks too.

 

[B-Ride]

Personally, I don't think the fireworks from the California Grill are 'all that'. I've seen the fireworks from the California Grill, and while it's nice, it's not something I must do or die trying.

I agree. The fireworks from California Grill are the best they can be from outside the park, even better than the beach at the Poly because they turn up the music so you can actually hear it. But nothing beats actually watching the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom. So if you don't mind eating dinner earlier, enjoy your meal and head over to MK to watch Wishes.

That said, if you press they should fix it. An ADR is not like a reservation. It is only a guarantee to be seated before walk ins or a later reservation. They should be able to fit you in if they admit their mistake.

One other thing. I am an A type personality and I usually call back to confirm my reservations. One year I even asked them to send me an email and they did.

 

[BriarRosie]

I forgot to add that the OP has logic on her side. She said the confirmed dates were:

"She said I had on for July 21st, July 22nd, July 25th and September 20th."

All the dates listed are within the same week in July except the September 20th date. And since she's booking a party of 9, perhaps the cast member typed in the 9 for the date, not the party size. It seems logical that the cast member goofed, not the guest.

However, it's entirely possible that the time she wanted on 7/20 wasn't available when she called the first time, and once it's gone, I don't know if they could squeeze her in. I still stand by my suggestion to eat at the earlier time and watch the fireworks from the park.

But hey, what do I know? I go to California Grill for the food.