new blog: Disney’s Happy Haunts Capitalize – a Room for 1 More event recap

[LeahZ]

http://www.disunplugged.com/2011/10...s-capitalize-–-a-room-for-1-more-event-recap/

 

[pittsburghmarc]

Thanks for the report Chris. This is total BS. I thought for sure the story would end with you getting escorted to the attraction for a group ride. But not even that.

$570 for a banquet dinner for 2 (only 1 drink please ), atmosphere, and waiting in line. I have forwarded this link with my comments to Tom, Meg and others. Enough is enough.

 

[Joshua_me]

Wow... How disappointing !

We *were* majorly bummed that we were not able to attend this event, but after reading this blog - not so much.

Almost feel like we dodged a bullet.

To see the same merchandise for sale in the park the next day would have been the ultimate smack.

Grim, grinning ghosts came out to capitalize, indeed...

 

[lttlmc3]

Yikes! How awful! Hopefully, someone at Disney reads your blog. Wonder if you can ask for your money back!

 

[Cherinva]

Wow...doesn't sound like you got your moneys worth at all. What a shame.

 

[OKW Lover]

Wow. After all the years that Disney has been running events like this you would have thought they had learned how to handle the crowds at registration and merchandise pickup. Val & I attended several Disneyanna Conventions in the 90's and that part was always a horror show. They got better over the years, but apparently that knowledge has seeped away.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I had heard a little about what a fiasco the HM event was, but I had no idea it was that bad until I read Chris's blog. I can't believe it didn't involve a trip to HM at all...and all that money basically for dinner and standing in line???? Only Disney could have the nerve to charge $285 a person and then try to sell you a $40 picture package and not even include soda with dinner.

 

[slapwhitey]

The funny thing about it all is that at the end of the night we were kind of on the fence as to whether we thought it was worth it or not. We agreed the cost was a bit much but did get to purchase and see some neat things. It wasn't until we saw the exact merchandise on Main Street the next day that it really upset us. We could wrap our heads around the idea of paying a bit of a premium to buy special merchandise only available at this event. To later find out that this merchandise maybe wasn't so special was a big disappointment. We had never been to a "merchandise" event in the past so maybe this is typical but I thought it was a bit of a smack up side the head.

 

[Joshua_me]

Only Disney could have the nerve to charge $285 a person and then try to sell you a $40 picture package and not even include soda with dinner.

^ Mmm hmm...

And really, for special (expensive) events like that,complimentary beer and wine (at least) ought to be offered with your meal - even if it IS in the MK

I've seen plenty of corporate events where alcohol was served in the park.

This is just Disney being as cheap and petty as possible.

(Sorry for the snarky attitude, I guess I'm still a little miffed at Kevin's review of the GFC, and what they are trying to pull over there...)

It's very hard to love "The Mouse" sometimes....

 

[WaltD4Me]

^ Mmm hmm...

And really, for special (expensive) events like that,complimentary beer and wine (at least) ought to be offered with your meal - even if it IS in the MK

I've seen plenty of corporate events where alcohol was served in the park.

This is just Disney being as cheap and petty as possible.

(Sorry for the snarky attitude, I guess I'm still a little miffed at Kevin's review of the GFC, and what they are trying to pull over there...)

It's very hard to love "The Mouse" sometimes....

Oh silly. The Haunted Mansion event wasn't in MK at the Haunted Mansion. It was held at the Contemporary. Pretty sure they allow alcohol there.

I must be having a blonde moment because I have no idea what GFC is???

I'm miffed about the 40th Anniversary fiasco though and I wasn't even there.

Exactly when did Disney become such out of touch bumblers???

 

[Joshua_me]

Oh silly. The Haunted Mansion event wasn't in MK at the Haunted Mansion. It was held at the Contemporary. Pretty sure they allow alcohol there.

I must be having a blonde moment because I have no idea what GFC is???

I'm miffed about the 40th Anniversary fiasco though and I wasn't even there.

Exactly when did Disney become such out of touch bumblers???

Oh - I thought the dinner was held at the Liberty Tree Tavern. Did I get my wires crossed on that one ?

And, GFC = Grand Floridian Cafe. I remember when the food there was SO good and the prices were reasonable. (Guess those days are gone, huh ?)

Plus - I don't think Disney is a bunch of "out of touch bumblers" I just think they don't give a flying Goofy sometimes.

It's a feeling I get over and over again - they do the very barest minimum they can to get away with it.

It just upsets me because the parks are as important to you as they are to me (and most likely to everyone else reading this) and I can remember a time not so long ago when the norm was to go above and beyond "the call of duty".

I haven't felt that way in sometime.

The spirit still exsists in Anaheim, but here in FL... *sigh*

I just don't know sometimes.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Oh - I thought the dinner was held at the Liberty Tree Tavern. Did I get my wires crossed on that one ?

And, GFC = Grand Floridian Cafe. I remember when the food there was SO good and the prices were reasonable. (Guess those days are gone, huh ?)

Plus - I don't think Disney is a bunch of "out of touch bumblers" I just think they don't give a flying Goofy sometimes.

It's a feeling I get over and over again - they do the very barest minimum they can to get away with it.

It just upsets me because the parks are as important to you as they are to me (and most likely to everyone else reading this) and I can remember a time not so long ago when the norm was to go above and beyond "the call of duty".

I haven't felt that way in sometime.

The spirit still exsists in Anaheim, but here in FL... *sigh*

I just don't know sometimes.

I know what you mean. I've been having the same thoughts lately. *sigh*

I said out of touch bumblers because of the 40th...they seemed clueless as to the fan appeal...especially because last I checked Disney was all about making money, but they put out an LE pin...of 1,500 and made 10 dozen cupcakes??? Really? Imagine if the pin was open edition and they made ALOT more cupcakes? Cha-ching...as it was Disney didn't seem to expect anyone to show up and wound selling limited stuff to alot of ebay pigs for them to make money off of. They may not have given a flying Goofy about the 40th, but since when does Disney miss an opportunity to sell us stuff?

GFC...I got the G. F. part, but I got the word "concourse" stuck in my head for some reason. Duh!

I would also apply "bumbling" to the Avatar annoucement, but that is another thread.

ETA: I went back and read the blog again...it doesn't say specifically but it sounded like the dinner was held at the Contemporary, but I'm not 100% sure, maybe it was Liberty Tree?

 

[lugnut33]

The spirit still exsists in Anaheim, but here in FL... *sigh*

I just don't know sometimes.

Funny, I was thinking the same thing.

 

[DSNYDREAMER]

The dinner was in the ballroom of the Contemporary. This is where the entire event was held. We were given tickets to attend MNNSHP after the event, that was our only access to the MK in connection to this event.

 

[chrisw127]

Sorry you had such a bad experience and paid so much for it. I was there that weekend and briefly considered going--glad I didn't do it.

Hopefully if they do it again, they'll be better organized.

 

[Joshua_me]

The dinner was in the ballroom of the Contemporary. This is where the entire event was held. We were given tickets to attend MNNSHP after the event, that was our only access to the MK in connection to this event.

Ahhh....

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I don't know how I got the LTT part mixed in there...

And in the ballroom, were you still charged extra for soda's ?

 

[DSNYDREAMER]

We were given one free drink coupon each that we could use for alcohol or soda. I used mine for soda and paid $4 for the second one! The provided water, coffee and tea at the table for free.

 

[lugnut33]

Ricky Brigante from Inside the Magic podcast said it was about $100 overpriced.

 

[Joshua_me]

We were given one free drink coupon each that we could use for alcohol or soda. I used mine for soda and paid $4 for the second one! The provided water, coffee and tea at the table for free.

How outrageous !

To be charged $4 for a soda after spending so much to attend a special event.....

I'm telling you, fellow DISers.... It's hard to believe that they give a "flying goofy" about us anymore....

*sigh*