No Fantasmic, No SpectroMagic !!!

[rrsafety]

Bad news for people hoping to enjoy Disney this coming week.

My story:

Okay, I've been planning my trip for about 14 months and had it all set, then last week I learned that my reservations for the Fantasmic dinner package are no good because they moved the show up a half hour and added an 8pm show. Fine, I move my reservations back an hour so I can go to the 8pm show.

Now I learn that they have cancelled the 8pm show and now I'm struggling to find a Fantsamic dinner pakage for the 6:30 pm show and looks like I'll be eating "dinner" at 3:50pm. If they had just left it at 7:00 everything would have been fine, but they had to screw around with it.

And NOW I've learned that they have cancelled Spectromagic for the week I'm at Disney, the SAME week they cancelled all of Fantasmic.

For months I have planned on going to Spectromagic on Tuesday because that is when Disnes SAID it was going to be. I looked at their schedule and I had everything planned perfectly flying, now Spectromagi won't be shown the entire week I'm there and my four year old daughter (first time at Disney) will be incredibly disappointed because WE PLANNED OUR TRIP ACCORDING TO WHAT DISNEY SAID.

I'm leaving tomorrow and this has put me in a really bad mood because this trip is costing alot of money and Disney doesn't give a flying eff a about the way they treat their customers.

 

[jennymouse]

It will only ruin your vacation if you let it. It's just the price we have to pay for going at a no crowds, value prices, and cool weather time of year. This is the time of year Disney does most of thier renovations and rehabs which makes perfect sense. There is so much else to see and do at Disney, it would be a shame to let the cancellation of a parade and show ruin your vacation. The first time I took my DGD it was so crowded that we were unable to see Spectro & Fantasmic and still had a truly awsome time. Go and have fun.

 

[n2mm]

Don't always believe everything you hear or read. According to the employees' website this morning. There are still a few of these scheduled for next week--I wasn't sure of your exact dates. So before you count them out, still check on the day of the event to see if it is scheduled. I did read that Fantasmic was going to be refurbished, so I guess this week is the week. But spec looks good.

SPECTROMAGIC
January 6, 10, 13, 20, 24 -- 6:30pm
January 17 -- 8pm & 10pm
January 27, 31 -- 7pm


FANTASMIC!
January 25 -- 6:30pm & 8pm
January 31 -- 6:30pm & 8pm
February 1-6, 8-15, 18-29 -- 7pm

 

[rrsafety]

I totally disagree with you.

Customer service is customer service NO MATTER WHEN YOU GO.

Last week I checked the calendar THAT DISNEY MADE PUBLIC. SpectroMagic was listed for the night of January 27.

I didn't put that calendar together. It wasn't a bunch of January-offseason- Disney attendees that made that calendar, put it online, and hoped against hope that maybe it would come true. It was Disney's calendar.

And it is beyond me why ANY paying customer thinks it is alright to be told something by Disney while making one's vacation plans and then sit back and not care when those promises are broken.

 

[n2mm]

Yes I was correct that Fantasmic is being refurbed that week:

Backlot Tour will be closed for refurbishment Sunday, January 4 through Thursday, April 1 reopening on Friday, April 2, 2004.

Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage will not be performed Monday, February 2 through Friday, February 6, 2004 due to refurbishment of the Theater of the Stars stage. Performances are scheduled to resume on Saturday, February 7, 2004.

Fantasmic! will be be closed for refurbishment Monday, January 26 through Friday, January 30, 2004 reopening on Saturday, January 31.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by rrsafety
I totally disagree with you.

Customer service is customer service NO MATTER WHEN YOU GO.

Last week I checked the calendar THAT DISNEY MADE PUBLIC. SpectroMagic was listed for the night of January 27.

And SpectroMagic is STILL listed for the night of January 27, so you're fine. Computers and websites are not perfect things, and occasionally there are glitches in them that delete or scramble information. But according to the INTERNAL CAST CALENDAR (the calendar from which they cast all the shows and parades), SpectroMagic is being done on the 27th, barring unforseen circumstances.

OK?

 

[rrsafety]

So which one is more accurate and how do we find out (tel. number maybe)?

The WDW calendar had listed Spectro for months for Jan 27 and someone went in an removed it yesterday from the calendar (by accident? maybe).

Also, the WDW had listed this entire week a 6:30 and 8 show of Fantasmic on Sunday, and somebody went in and deleted the 8 show for Sunday on WDW calendar (another accident, maybe?)

Seems unlikely that the calendar would be correct for weeks or months and then someone just started to erase things willy-nilly if it weren't true.

But I guess I've seen stranger things.

 

[LauraR]

I can totally understand your frustration with the last minute changes. How can people plan things and make PS's when schedules are changed at the last minute? Seems like they should add things if necessary, but not take things away. I understand that they have to do refurbishment sometime, but in that case they should compensate by offering more of something else that is similar. Sure, you may be going in the off season, but you're still paying just as much. I hope that it turns out they do have Spectromagic on Jan. 27---it would be pretty bad if they didn't have it all week.

 

[MsLefty]

I can understand your frustration. My family just returned form our 5 night trip last night. This was our first time going and I had so much planned to do that we went in knowing ahead of time we wouldn't get it all done. Let me tell you... we got it all done and more! As for your Fantasmic dinner, perhaps you won't need it. The theater wasn't full when we were there on the 19th (which was a holiday). If you feel more comfortable getting a guaranteed seat, just consider it a late lunch and grab something light after the show. As for Spectromagic, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you! Good luck!

 

[Dad of 3]

rrsafety,
I truly hope that your vacation plans work out and you get to see the events that you had planned to do. I am with you 100%, planned refurbs after they say there will be a show is no way to treat customers. We put in the effort to plan to get the most of our hard earned money.

Also, please report back, if the January 27 SpectroMagic parade actually occurs. The public "official" WDW Calendar is becoming very unreliable. Events are disappearing, but we keep hearing that the WDW "employee" calendar still has them scheduled. It will be interesting to see what happens, and for your sake, I hope there is a parade.

Good Luck,
Dad of 3

 

[jennymouse]

Originally posted by rrsafety
I totally disagree with you.

Customer service is customer service NO MATTER WHEN YOU GO.

Last week I checked the calendar THAT DISNEY MADE PUBLIC. SpectroMagic was listed for the night of January 27.

I didn't put that calendar together. It wasn't a bunch of January-offseason- Disney attendees that made that calendar, put it online, and hoped against hope that maybe it would come true. It was Disney's calendar.

And it is beyond me why ANY paying customer thinks it is alright to be told something by Disney while making one's vacation plans and then sit back and not care when those promises are broken.

Sorry, I was just trying to make you feel better. No need to shout. I hope you have a wonderful time.

 

[rrsafety]

Originally posted by MsLefty
IAs for your Fantasmic dinner, perhaps you won't need it. The theater wasn't full when we were there on the 19th (which was a holiday). If you feel more comfortable getting a guaranteed seat, just consider it a late lunch and grab something light after the show.

Ordinarily I wouldn't have planned a dinner package for this time of year, but Sunday is the last day Fantasmic is playing for the next entire week (it is on a SCHEDULED refurbishment).

That means that everyone at Disney that week all have to go at the same time on Sunday night. That is why I'm concerned about it and why I made my Priority Seating reservation over two months ago only to have the change the number and timing of the shows twice in the last two weeks requiring me to change my PS twice in the last two weeks and ending up with a 3:50 dinner instead of the the 5:30 dinner I had scheduled two months ago.

 

[MsLefty]

Originally posted by rrsafety
Ordinarily I wouldn't have planned a dinner package for this time of year, but Sunday is the last day Fantasmic is playing for the next entire week (it is on a SCHEDULED refurbishment).

Ahh... I see your point. In that case, your best option is to just go with the flow and make the best out of it. I found that sticking to our gameplan would've work against us, as the lines were not as bad as indicated in all the travel books. Try to be flexible and not let the mishaps get to you. I completely understand your frustration at Disney for changing their schedule but what's done is done. Try to have a good time despite missing some of your most desired attractions. Who knows... you might end up squeezing something in that you end up enjoying more!

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

I understand your frustration. I'm a huge planner and plan my dinners around the park I am visiting or around the shows I am seeing, and I know how it feels when things get switched and I am sitting atop the Contemporary dining at the CG and no fireworks.... And after all that hard work of planning!

I just figured that is the small price I must pay for low crowds. WDW must have those extras on a nightly basis at the busier times of the year because they must give people something to offset the traffic jams on the attractions. This way, some will leave the attractions to see the shows or skits or such. But I do believe, once they post them, they should keep their promise. But then again... Hoop de Doo was just canceled one night coming up here in late Jan or early Feb, because of lack of attendance. Can we expect them to put on the show for just a couple families? I don't know... good question.

Anyway, don't get your hopes up too high, even if Disney is planning to have the parade or show, because the weather is a factor as well. I planned to see Spectro in Dec a couple years back and due to rain it was canceled a couple of minutes before showtime. So don't ruin your trip over a missed parade or show. It's not worth it. If it happens to rain, and the parade is cancelled, then try again the next time. Try to go w/ the flow a bit, even w/ all of the planning, cuz something is sure to go wrong. My DH and I went a 6 years ago and it rained 10 out of our 11 days. Needless to say, all parades and shows were canceled. So we hung out at the resort and made the best of it. And that is one of our most favorite trips to WDW. It made us hunker down and spend some quality time together.

Hope this helps take off the edge a bit. Hopefully you will have perfect weather and a wonderful time. I'll send Pixie Dust your way. I am sure your DD will enjoy her first trip to Disney.

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

While I do agree that you are getting the raw end of Disney's "All schedules are subject to change" policy, and I certainly respect your right to be PO'd about and voice your displeasure,.... I suspect that your 4 year old daughter is like all other 4 year olds who have never been to Disney, will be far more disappointed that her parent is in a bad mood then the fact that she may not be seeing a parade.

 

[rrsafety]

Let me clear....I'm perfectly prepared for cancellations due to weather and planned refurbishments. I've been to Disney a number of times and I've seen and experienced it all...

However, poor customer service shouldn't be accepted and folks should speak up when treated poorly. I dare say that even five months ago the Disney management could predict within 5 percentage points either way the number of people who would be in the Magic Kingdom at 6pm on January 27, 2004.

These businesses are not "blind" to trends and historical data so they know how many folks they are likely to have. It isn't as if this is Disney's first January ever being open!

The question still remains as to why the would cancel SpectroMagic on very short notice on a week where Fantasmic was closed....that fact that I can "deal with it" does not make it a proper way to treat customers.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by rrsafety
The question still remains as to why the would cancel SpectroMagic on very short notice on a week where Fantasmic was closed....that fact that I can "deal with it" does not make it a proper way to treat customers.

But the point is they HAVEN'T cancelled it! SpectroMagic is scheduled for 7pm on January 27. Certainly things can change at the last minute (hence the phrase "subject to change without notice" on virtually everything you read), and there's always a chance of rain or something, but the simple fact is that the parade IS scheduled to happen. Why did it not show up on-line? I have no idea. I've never understood how webites work!

 

[momof2inPA]

I would stress a bit about the schedule changes, too, but everything will work out great. If you want to skip the early Fantasmic dinner, you could just line up as soon as they let you. They don't make you stand for long. Then when you are seated in the stands, grab some hot dogs and beer. You'll get a great seat and be able to relax before the show. Their hot dogs are pretty good, too. Boy your four year old a souvenir while you're waiting, and she'll be happy to hang out.

We went to Fantasmic on the day before a Tower of Terror refurbishment on Columbus Day weekend. MGM was packed, but there was no problem getting a great seat for the show.

 

[DebbieB]

It's a no win situation for Disney. People complain that the hours aren't posted far enough ahead, but if they do post them early and have to make changes people are upset.

Always check the hours on the time sheets when you arrive at the parks. I've had many experiences where times changed and we only found out when we got there, even the World Update at check-in didn't have the changes. Most of the times it was for the better - like a late Spectromagic added. One time the park closed earlier than scheduled, the time for Spectro was moved up and in the end there was a storm and it was cancelled totally!

 

[Mamu]

rrsafety I sending you some <font color=gold>Pixie Dust</font> That all your vacation plans from now on go smoothly.

I feel your pain and know how hard you've planned to make this a Magical Trip.

All you need to do is look into the eyes of your child the day you enter the MK and believe me nothing else will matter. There will be enough magic in those eyes, to last a lifetime.

We are heading down on our 7 trip in 10 years, and there are so many things I haven't done or seen. Last year was the first time we finally got to see Spectromagic. There just aren't enough hours in the day to see everything.

My thoughts will be with you. Relax and just let the Magic happen.