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[bounceliketigger]

It is not often today that someone is willing to admit they are wrong, forget going above & beyond to rectify the problem. That is certainly not the case with our Guide!

When we signed up under F & F, we asked him if the Dining Plan was available to DVC members currently & mentioned that I had heard on this great online board that it wasn't available unitl April 1. He said no, that it was available now, he was sure. With that, we booked a trip for 7 on March 19. A few days later, after confirming the dates with everyone & that they all wanted the "Plan" I contacted MS & was promptly told the plan was not available until April 1.

I called our guide who assured me the problem could be fixed, one way or another. Long story short, after alot of effort on the guide's part and alot of patience on our part, we were given 2 options--wait until check -in to see if the plan could be put in under a cash reservation or take a comparable amount of Disney Dollars. Needless to say we're going to take the money & run!

Our guide said he'd never seen Disney make an offer like that before & I assured him that I had never seen anyone go to such lengths before to correct an honest mistake. His efforts will not go unnoticed!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

We were given 2 options via Mario's supervisor--wait until check -in to see if the plan could be put in under a cash reservation or take $650 in Disney Dollars. We weren't happy with those choices...

I may get flamed here, BUT...
Am I missing something?
Nobody made you make the ressie after you knew the dinning plan wasn't available... Right?

For the life of me I can't understand why $650 was not acceptable.
You may have got your guide in some trouble.

Flame away, but I don't agree with this at all.

Of course, that's just my opinion.

MG

 

[debloco]

I think, from the way the OP described it, that they made the room reservations first based on the information given to them from their guide stating the Dining Plan was available prior to April 1st.

Then after conferring with everyone going that they wanted to do the dining plan, the OP called MS back at a later date to add it and was told then it was not available prior to April 1st.

If that is the case, I think it's reasonable for their guide take ownership for the false information he communicated to the OP and to try and make it right.

 

[bounceliketigger]

We made the ressie when we thought the plan WAS available, otherwise we would have waited until after April 1 because everyone wanted the plan. Also, we wouldn't have made such a big deal of it and would have possibly even changed the dates except that Mario repeatedly told us we should be able to get an exception and get the plan early or that we would be given an equivalent. It was after a month of this that we were finally offered the $650, which he agreed was not equivalent to what the meal plan would save 8 people. He was more than willing to go back to talk to his supervisor again and at no point did we get the impression he would be getting into trouble. Furthermore, it seemed, via Mario that there was quite an effort going to get the plan info. put into the computer in such a way that it would "accept" the dates.

Soooooo, that's the story.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I think, from the way the OP described it, that they made the room reservations first based on the information given to them from their guide stating the Dining Plan was available prior to April 1st.

Then after conferring with everyone going that they wanted to do the dining plan, the OP called MS back at a later date to add it and was told then it was not available prior to April 1st.

Again, just my opinion-
If that is the case, than DVC should let him cancel his ressie without penalty, but to give away $1000 that could be spent on other enhancements doesn't seem right to me.

MG

 

[bounceliketigger]

Try rearranging a trip for 8, including 5 adults who work. It can be done, but it's not a pretty picture. Not to mention non-refundable airfares!

As far as $1000 on "enhancements"--I'm quite sure that Disney's QA Dept. has a budget set aside for just this sort of thing & we're not dipping into the maintenance funds.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Try rearranging a trip for 8, including 5 adults who work. It can be done, but it's not a pretty picture. Not to mention non-refundable airfares!

As far as $1000 on "enhancements"--I'm quite sure that Disney's QA Dept. has a budget set aside for just this sort of thing & we're not dipping into the maintenance funds.

As I said, it's only my opinion and I may very well be in the minority.
I just don't see where you were out $1000. I don't see where you were out $650.

And I would also agree that the money doesn't come from fees, but it must come from somewhere.

MG

 

[bounceliketigger]

C'est vrai--opinions are what makes the World go 'round, minority or majority--all are welcome.

I'd be curious as to how much the average family saves on the meal plan. I know we saved well over $600 the last time we used it for 2 adults. Now we're talking about 6, which is where we figured on being "out" money. For us the plan has quite an impact on how we enjoy the cuisine @ WDW. Because, as I'm sure you know, it costs much more than $38 / day to really enjoy what WDW has to offer. But again, I most certainly respect your opinions on this.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

C'est vrai--opinions are what makes the World go 'round, minority or majority--all are welcome.

But again, I most certainly respect your opinions on this.

Thanx, bounceliketigge. I also respect all opinions.

This is proof that folks can disagree, yet still be civil!

Mod, can we make this a sticky?!!

MG

 

[Juliet25]

As I said, it's only my opinion and I may very well be in the minority.
I just don't see where you were out $1000. I don't see where you were out $650.

And I would also agree that the money doesn't come from fees, but it must come from somewhere.

MG

I think I agree with you.

But, good for the OP! I've never heard of a company doing that much for wrong information.

 

[Muushka]

Thanx, bounceliketigge. I also respect all opinions.

This is proof that folks can disagree, yet still be civil!

Mod, can we make this a sticky?!!

MG

YES!! A wonderful example of how to disagree in a civil manner. Does not happen very often.

Make this thread a sticky (and close it before it gets yucky!)

 

[mydogdrew]

I wouldn't have given you $.02 and that's my $.02.

 

[bounceliketigger]

Well Dog, sorry you missed the part about being civil.

 

[CapeCodFam]

I may get flamed here, BUT...
Am I missing something?
Nobody made you make the ressie after you knew the dinning plan wasn't available... Right?

For the life of me I can't understand why $650 was not acceptable.
You may have got your guide in some trouble.

Flame away, but I don't agree with this at all.

Of course, that's just my opinion.

MG

Flame away.
Me too. It feels like you were badgering your guide for a month and wouldn't give up until you got something. Didn't you ask MS about it when you first the made the reservation? I'd be surprised if they said you could add it before 4/1.

Anyway, enjoy the trip home. The restaurants are really great.

 

[CHEBJO]

I see the dilemma with rearranging a trip with numerous folks involved. Sounds like you got a sweet deal for a miscommunication. Have fun, and be sure to toast to Mario while you are there!

 

[byoung]

To me the guide should have to pay.

 

[bounceliketigger]

No flaming needed. What actually happened is that he kept telling us for a month that he could take care of it some way and that we would more than likely be able to get the meal plan. Every time we spoke he would say he should have some sort of answer tomorrow, within a few days, etc. but the resolution wasn't as easily as he'd thought initially. We would have been glad to switch or even forget about it at more than one point in the process, but he kept telling us not to change anything and assuring us that Disney would make good. Meanwhile, I had 8 people on budgets breathing down my back about what was going to happen.

Sooo, here we are 2 weeks away and they offered us the money or said we could wait until check-in to see if they were able to finagle the plan so the computer would accept the dates. We elected to take the $$.

We definately got a sweet deal & will be delivering a birthday gift to Mario in person!

 

[rinkwide]

...We definately got a sweet deal & will be delivering a birthday gift to Mario in person!

I hear he likes cashmere.

 

[MiaSRN62]

wow....what a deal. Maybe I'm just not understanding this whole thing, but you're saying you made full vacation plans under the assumption (via your guide) that you'd be able to book the dining plan. So you really weren't out any money, but unable to utilize the dining plan. You still could have vacationed....just not able to take part in the dining plan, right ? So they gave you $1,000 ? My mouth is hanging open here because I never thought Disney/DVC would do anything like this ? I had a situation where my mil was placed on hospice in 2004 and given less than 6 months to live. This was during the month of April and within the 30 day mark to our HH trip (actually it was like 28 days prior). I begged MS to put my points back in my account and not in a holding account considering the emergency and they would not. They apologized profusely, but would not budge. Wish I would have encountered some of the generous people you dealt with bounceliketigger. I mean, not flaming here at all, I'm just REALLY suprised by this offer. It's like giving away $1,000 and I know how tight disney is with their money. In my humble opinion you got unusually lucky. Enjoy your trip

 

[Mi3stooges]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I'm happy for you, sad it wan't me, but I don't have that kind of luck!! Maybe $1,000 Disney dollars isn't the same value to them as us....like going to Canada or something...LOL
I met Mario on a Disney Cruise in Jan of '04 and a nice guy he is. Maybe it comes off his commission?
Have a great time!!