New Check In Time for Fantasmic-- 8:00pm

[heathpack]

Sorry it this has been posted before-- I tried to search but did not come up with anything...

We did the Fantasmic dessert/reserved seating package last Friday, Aug 22, 2008 and the check in time has changed from 7pm to 8pm.

We were told when we made our reservation 2 days prior that check-in time was 7pm. We were again told this when we picked up our tickets at Disneyland Hotel the day of the show. But when we showed up at 7pm, there was no check-in kiosk in sight! After about 5 minutes of milling about aimlessly (with 6-8 other confused patrons), a Disney employee showed up and told us the check-in time had been changed to 8pm.

So we all stood there for an hour (while the folks who had not ponied up for the reserved seats ironically sat comfortably on the sidewalk). Finally we were able to check in at 8pm. Return time was 8:30pm for the 9pm show, so this did not leave us time to do anything so we milled about some more. We tried to get to Big Thunder Mt to use some fast passes, but the traffic dudes were shunting folks into Adventureland and there was no time to make it around and back by 8:30. To add insult to injury, BTM then broke down after the show and we never did get to ride. My six-year-old niece cried. (But then again, that last part wasn't really so uncommon on this particular trip!)

Disney's incorrect information was a complete hassle and waste of our time. I was about as irritated as I could be. But the show was great, we had front row seats, and I actually thought it was worth the expense when all was said and done. Amazing what a big box of desserts and some pretty lights will do...

So ye all be warned... At least until Disney changes it again-- there's a new (very inconvienent) check in time for Fantasmic...

H

 

[avalon451]

You know, this WAS reported way back in June or something like that, and I'm extremely annoyed to hear that DL reservations is STILL telling people that check in is 7 p.m.! When they first made the switch, several people reported here that angry F! attendees had been told 7 p.m. on the phone, then 8 p.m. at the kiosk, with a similar experience to yours. You'd think that they would have gotten the news straight with the reservations people, 2 months later! That's truly awful!

So sorry to hear of your inconvenience! Although I know what you mean about feeling better about it after seeing the show. We sure enjoyed it ourselves... those dessert boxes were yummy!

 

[heathpack]

Oh my, that makes it all the more annoying now doesn't it?!

H

 

[quest4dl]

Yup! I was one of the people in early June who experienced the conflicting information about the check in time. A 7pm check in time was printed on our tickets and the Grand Californian CM insisted this was the correct time although I had already read about the new 8pm check in starting on the boards.

I e-mailed Disney about this issue after I returned and this was their response: "We apologize for any inconvenience you experienced as a result of the misinformation you received regarding the check-in time for Fantastmic! Premium Viewing. It is our goal to create magical memories and exceed the expectations of our Guests during each and every visit. Please be assured that we have shared your comments with our leadership team, along with the appropriate management, as feedback such as yours is taken very seriously."

Obviously my feedback was not taken all that seriously! I would e-mail Disney and you are welcome to use the quote from their response.

 

[Corpsebride]

So, where do you buy the tickets for the F! preferred seating? I checked the DL website and there isnt any info. What am I missing?

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

You can call their reservations line at (714) 781-4400. You'll need to give them your credit card, and you can make reservations a month in advance. So, if the show is on June 28, then you would probably want to call May 28 (although now that balcony no longer is available, I'm not sure that it is still important to call early).

Thanks for the update, Heathpack.

 

[Corpsebride]

Thank you MaryJo!

 

[heathpack]

Yup! I was one of the people in early June who experienced the conflicting information about the check in time. A 7pm check in time was printed on our tickets and the Grand Californian CM insisted this was the correct time although I had already read about the new 8pm check in starting on the boards.

I e-mailed Disney about this issue after I returned and this was their response: "We apologize for any inconvenience you experienced as a result of the misinformation you received regarding the check-in time for Fantastmic! Premium Viewing. It is our goal to create magical memories and exceed the expectations of our Guests during each and every visit. Please be assured that we have shared your comments with our leadership team, along with the appropriate management, as feedback such as yours is taken very seriously."

Obviously my feedback was not taken all that seriously! I would e-mail Disney and you are welcome to use the quote from their response.

Will do. I've pasted the letter I'll send below. But I don't know where to send it. Can you post the email address that you used? Thanks!

August 28, 2008

XYZ Department
123 Address
Disneyland, CA

To Whom it May Concern,

I would like to call your attention to a matter involving my family’s experience with our Fantasmic! Premium Viewing reservation on Friday, August 22, 2008. We made this reservation about 1 week prior to the show via the Disneyland Resort’s Vacation Planning Service and picked up our tickets at the Disneyland Hotel front desk the morning of the show. On both occasions, we were told that the check in time for the show was 7:00pm. When we arrived to check in, however, we (and approximately 8-10 other park guests) were advised by the cast member in the park that the check-in time had been changed to 8:00pm. We had little option at that point but to stand and wait 1 hour to check in. By the time we checked in at 8:00 pm, foot traffic control measures had begun and it was not realistic to attempt to leave this area of the park.

Although I imagine that guests have a variety of reasons for purchasing Fantasmic! Premium Viewing tickets, for our family the primary motivator was the desire to save time by being able to check-in quickly and then have a 90 minute window in which to continue touring the park. Instead, we devoted 1 hour to standing in line for the Fantasmic! check-in and then another 30 minutes to milling about in New Orleans Square (which we had already visited earlier that day).

To make matters worse, when we arrived home we learned from an acquaintance that her family had the exact same experience in early June 2008. Apparently the Fantasmic! Premium Viewing check-in time was actually changed nearly three months ago, yet Disneyland Resort’s Vacation Planning Service and the Disneyland Hotel’s front desk staff continues to give guests incorrect, outdated information. Our acquaintance sent a letter to this same email address and received this reply: "We apologize for any inconvenience you experienced as a result of the misinformation you received regarding the check-in time for Fantasmic! Premium Viewing. It is our goal to create magical memories and exceed the expectations of our Guests during each and every visit. Please be assured that we have shared your comments with our leadership team, along with the appropriate management, as feedback such as yours is taken very seriously." As is evident, however, the problem persists and has not been adequately addressed.

I would like to take this opportunity to mention that we actually had a very nice time at the show and once we were over the extreme irritation over the check-in miscommunication, we greatly enjoyed ourselves. We have been to both Disneyland and Disney World many times, are considering a Disney Vacation Club purchase, and will likely book an Adventures by Disney tour next summer. We are usually quite pleased with the quality and efficiency of our Disney experience and are willing to pay a premium for service that in our perception typically exceeds expectations. However, our Fantasmic! Premium Viewing experience was a clear departure from the norm, made all the worse by the knowledge that your company was made aware of this issue months ago and has yet to correct the problem.

Thank-you in advance for your attention to this matter.

Kind regards,

Heathpack

 

[avalon451]

Very well-worded. I certainly hope they pay attention this time.

 

[jkh1978]

Do I have to call 30 days exactly in advance?

The one poster said about balcony no longer available... so how does that make it easier? Confused...

 

[avalon451]

jkh, here's a thread I have bookmarked with all kinds of information and opinions on F! reserved seating. Go back to the beginning and read the thread and it explains everything, with pictures. But keep in mind it's the later check-in time, now. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1815941&page=4

 

[jkh1978]

I think thats the wrong link

 

[quest4dl]

This is the address I received my reply from: dlresort@disneyonline.com

Originally I went to the disney website and used the customer feedback link. I just tried looking for the page and am having trouble finding it. Not the best designed website!

 

[Jozymouse]

hi!

The cast member I spoke told me that checkin was 8pm. We're planning to get in line at around 7:15-30 to try to get good seats. We're going on Sept 1 and I CANT WAIT!!!!!!!!

 

[avalon451]

I think thats the wrong link

Ack, you're right- editing it to fix. That must have been left over from an earlier post. Here it is again: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1815941&page=4

sorry!