New Fears About My WDW Vacation

[WildernessBride]

Hi everyone,

I have been reading a lot of the recent posts lately on a variety of topics related to WDW vacations and I must admit, I am getting a little nervous. Is it just me, but it seems like there are a lot of customer service issues lately coming up such as the whole 40% off code fiasco, being down graded and having them say you owe more at check in. I have never had anything but positives when dealing with WDW and I am fearing that this is the new wave of WDW customer service. I don't mean to be negative at all, my family and I will be returning to WL in June/July of 2008, so these posts haven't stopped me from wanting to return, but they do make me nervous that I may encounter problems....anyone else feel this way and are there any steps to ensure that the likelihood of encountering a problem is low??? Or am I just a nervous nellie????? Just curious as to what others out there are feeling.

Thanks

 

[jenleahs]

I agree.....i just posted about now having two reservation numbers for my Dec 19-30 trip to Poly. i am nervous as well and i have no codes attached to that trip at all. I just did a trip to Poly Oct 27-Nov 3 and between that trip and this one coming up I have had HUGE hassles in dealing with WDW travel

 

[LukenDC]

I suspect that people are more likely to post when they have problems. We generally do not hear about the vacations that go off without a hitch. All of my Disney vacations have been wonderful.

The key to a successful vacation, whether it is to Disney or Timbuktu, is to be well organized. Carefully review and keep all of your documentation. When you speak with a reservations agent, make a note of their name and the time and date of the conversation. If you have a problem during vacation, report it immediately and do not allow problems to fester.

Consider using a Disney specialist travel agency that can deal with any problems and save you the hassle.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

I am about to have my 3rd trip to WDW this year, and have had no problems (knock on wood). I think when you are dealing with such a huge resort as this, problems are bound to arise in a small percentage of travelers. I just hope that WDW is dealing with these problems in a manner to which we have all grown accustomed. Also, this board has thousands of posters. Unfortunaletly, negative posts seem to get more attention than positive ones. If I were you, I wouldn't worry. If Disney didn't create magical vacations on a regular basis, then this board wouldn't be so popular! I'd worry more about creating a self-fufilling profecy than a botched ressie!

Have a wonderful time in June!

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

You have to remember that people are always more likely to post their problems rather than their problem-free experiences.

WDW annual attendence is approximately 45 million visitors. Even if a thousand people post a problem on the DIS (and I think that's a wild overestimation), you're seeing negative experiences from .002% of the guests. Even if you etimated 10,000 complaints, that would only be .02%.

I'm not saying that I've never had an unfortunate vacation experience at WDW, but I certainly don't expect that to be the outcome!

Truly, I have had way more magical moments. I would even say I can count on having at least one magical moment per trip!

 

[WildernessBride]

I am about to have my 3rd trip to WDW this year, and have had no problems (knock on wood). I think when you are dealing with such a huge resort as this, problems are bound to arise in a small percentage of travelers. I just hope that WDW is dealing with these problems in a manner to which we have all grown accustomed. Also, this board has thousands of posters. Unfortunaletly, negative posts seem to get more attention than positive ones. If I were you, I wouldn't worry. If Disney didn't create magical vacations on a regular basis, then this board wouldn't be so popular! I'd worry more about creating a self-fufilling profecy than a botched ressie!

Have a wonderful time in June!

Great advice....I think you are absolutely right, the bad experiences are the ones that get the most attention while the happy ones are kind of just accepted as the way it should be. I will be positive and not worry about the negative and plan, plan, plan, plan so that I can say at least I will have done all I could to help ensure a great vacation!! I did use a TA for this one from Small World Vacations and she has been awesome, I feel a lot of comfort knowing I have her expertise and help on my side too!!!

Thanks for the reply!!!

 

[DVC Mike]

I suspect that people are more likely to post when they have problems. We generally do not hear about the vacations that go off without a hitch. All of my Disney vacations have been wonderful.

I agree!

We have no idea if the "bad" reviews that people post are reflective of the average WDW experience. I think not. Disney gets high ratings in the customer service area. Are they perfect? Absolutely not. Guests experience problems and bad situations from time to time. Based upon the number of guests that go to WDW, I don't think the bad experiences reflect what the average vistor will experience.

 

[eliza61]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. We just returned from a magical vacation last weeks. we had one small snafu that was quickly taken care of and the rest of the trip was great.

 

[jenleahs]

For me, there have been tons of issues that have occured with my trip and, it is my right as a consumer to say so, have left a bad taste in my mouth.

I don't mean to be 'rude' but what is so bad about people posting negative sentiments and being worried over a trip?

I mean I see people posting on these boards about ways to maximize the DDP, using refillable mugs to save a few bucks, etc. with tons of happy, cheerful responses.

But, here (for example) people are being less than 'kind' and basically brushing off the question when others post about thousands (10K for me) of dollars spent on a trip that they have concerns about. So, yeah, for 10K I think I have a right to ask questions and be concerned....

With that said, I have had 'magical' moments...been to WDW over 20+ times and keep going back. My little one, not even 4 yet, is just as addicted and this upcoming trip will be her 5th already!

 

[disnut8]

Think about it this way. You go to Chili's and have a great server, a nice dinner, and the wine was perfect for the meal. You leave a nice tip and leave. But you never say anything directly to the server or the host or the manager.

On the other hand, you go to Chili's, the server is a can short of a six pack, your dinner is overcooked, your wine was not at the right temperature. You don't leave a tip, you complain to the server about the meal, you send the wine back three times, you ask to speak to a manager, and then on the way out when the host says they will see you next time, you snarl "I'm never coming back here again".

That's typical human behavior. We gripe all the time but we never praise. That's the way our bosses are, aren't they?

 

[UrsulasShadow]

For me, there have been tons of issues that have occured with my trip and, it is my right as a consumer to say so, have left a bad taste in my mouth.

I don't mean to be 'rude' but what is so bad about people posting negative sentiments and being worried over a trip?

I mean I see people posting on these boards about ways to maximize the DDP, using refillable mugs to save a few bucks, etc. with tons of happy, cheerful responses.

But, here (for example) people are being less than 'kind' and basically brushing off the question when others post about thousands (10K for me) of dollars spent on a trip that they have concerns about. So, yeah, for 10K I think I have a right to ask questions and be concerned....

With that said, I have had 'magical' moments...been to WDW over 20+ times and keep going back. My little one, not even 4 yet, is just as addicted and this upcoming trip will be her 5th already!

I don't think anyone is being unkind, nor brushing off the question. They are simply answering it, saying that you are more likely to hear about the bad than the good.

This is a good thing, btw. The way to continue success as a company is to constantly strive to correct the things that go wrong. If we all just walk around, "Oh, la dee dah, I got the wrong room...oh, well, at least I'm at WDW, and everything else is marvelous, so I'll ignore it"...well, how is anything ever going to improve? How will anyone know that there was a problem? We should complain, and firmly, when things go wrong, so the company will understand that problems are NOT acceptable, and should be addressed. If we let each other know when there IS a problem, we are making others aware that things can POTENTIALLY go wrong, and to be vigilant. Don't lose sleep over it, just be vigilant, protect your investment.

I was going to add a little story about the Patriots...after every stellar, winning game, the players still expect to get reamed out by Belichick for the mistakes they made. This is what makes them a stellar, winning team...accepting NO mistakes. Go, Pats!

 

[LowesChevy]

People are more likely to report a negative experience over a great one. My reaction to the problems with the 40% booking code problems, is that it sounds to good to be true. While I am sure they only offer a certain amount of rooms at the given discount, if the rooms fill up before you arrive, then the resort is left to downgrade you. It stinks, but they probably rely on people not showing, like airlines do.

We like to get an early flight when we go, arrive around 12-2 PM. We usually always receive the rooms or building we requested, of course we usually pay full boat too. If we hit a minor snag, we stay positive because we work hard all year and save money to travel a few times a year. We keep all of our Disney stuff in a folder and mark the dates will we make payments, keep track of all invoices-as proof of the reservation and price to stay organized.

It is really unfortunate when people have a bad experience. I hate it when we get stuck somewhere or not get what we requested. Sometimes people have crazy expectations, but we are never totally satisfied until we get into our room.

 

[cara loves the poly]

No worries! You will have a great time, everything will be fine!

 

[drew64]

I would not worry for a couple of reasons

Yes, problems do occur as they can anywhere.

Out of the millions who visit WDW every year, those posting on these boards are an extremely small percentage.

Also, as has been said, people are 10 times mor elikely to post negative rather than positive experiences, so the percentages get skewed.

People tend to exagerate issues in the telling - not always intentionally, but they do. I for years had a job where I oversaw agents on phone sanswering calls. Every time someone called me to complain abotu the wait time they said they had been holding for 20 minutes. This despite the monitor I could see showing the longest hold time was 6 minutes. People exagerate and when the story is told they are always the most patient, virtuous person on earth and had the CM from H--- who just wouldn't listen.

Go and enjoy yourself and don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[WildernessBride]

I would not worry for a couple of reasons

Go and enjoy yourself and don't sweat the small stuff

Words to live by!!!

 

[Tam1067]

People who post on these boards (and other similar sites) often do so when they have a problem. Readers tend to remember the negatives.

I was SO worried about staying at the Polynesian our first time there and even again on our second visit (which was this July), about eating at various restaurants on property, and really about everything. I'm glad I ignored everyone who complained.

There are always people with problems, and there are always people who have a great time. Prepare as much as you can, and relax about everything else.

 

[chickenskin]

I've worked in resort hotels in Colorado, Idaho, and New Jersey, things happen at hotels around the world, from res. problems to snotty staff. I'm not giving Disney a free pass on anything, but with travel anywhere there is the chance for problems. Somebody else posted that we hear sooo much about the bad experiences and yet so little of the great ones yet they do occur. Maybe we've been lucky, but aside from some bad service at one restaurant, all of our trips have been outstanding. The best thing is to be prepared especially having all documentation at check in, beyond that just have fun. For some reason we've all come to expect everything at Disney to be absolutely perfect, nothing in this world is perfect.

 

[Dawn68PA]

Both of our trips were perfect. That's why I want to go back again and again.

 

[klmall]

I agree.....i just posted about now having two reservation numbers for my Dec 19-30 trip to Poly. i am nervous as well and i have no codes attached to that trip at all. I just did a trip to Poly Oct 27-Nov 3 and between that trip and this one coming up I have had HUGE hassles in dealing with WDW travel

I'm not really nervous but it's almost to the point where I expect something small to go wrong!

And to echo your two numbers issue, we originally had to have 2 different reservation numbers for our upcoming stay because the original CM I was dealing with couldn't figure out any other way to have us keep it all under one number and the cheaper price when the pricing seasons changed (Value then Holiday). Later I called back and had a supervisor combine the 2 reservations. Well, the WDW site still shows both of our reservation numbers when I enter the single number (hope I'm explaining this correctly) and shows both of them as CANCELLED!

I know that the problem lies in their records showing the two reservations as "linked". The supervisor cancelled one of the two numbers but these are still linked thus when one was cancelled both pop up on the website as cancelled.

Good news is that I've called back several times and while they can't seem to fix it we supposedly have our room, dates etc. I am definitely bringing the e-mails as well as confirmation from the Concierge staff when we arrive in a few weeks!

 

[SkcMom]

Is it just me, but it seems like there are a lot of customer service issues lately coming up such as the whole 40% off code fiasco, being down graded and having them say you owe more at check in.
Thanks

Can anyone point me in the direction of which posts the OP is referring too? I have not been on the DIS in awhile. I have a trip to CBR with the 40% off code in just a few weeks. This post is making me NERVOUS! Thanks!