Odd experience with Member Services

[papertraveller]

I just called MS today to make a reservation, and the speed at which the CM read through all the options was breathtaking. It would have been difficult to follow for someone who had booked only once or twice. She spent some time on the request for CC though, and I politely declined saying I'd do it at checkin.

I can understand that they want to speed things up at the front desk, but I'm not sure just how much time that would save.

 

[disneynutz]

I just called MS today to make a reservation, and the speed at which the CM read through all the options was breathtaking. It would have been difficult to follow for someone who had booked only once or twice. She spent some time on the request for CC though, and I politely declined saying I'd do it at checkin.

I can understand that they want to speed things up at the front desk, but I'm not sure just how much time that would save.

Five minutes saved times a few thousand check ins per day is a huge savings. Disney is pulling out all of the stops to cut costs even when it causes it's Guests to lose some of the magic. I really wish that they would stop and reconsider but like most large companies they are becoming greedier not smarter.

Bill

 

[TisBit]

Five minutes saved times a few thousand check ins per day is a huge savings. Disney is pulling out all of the stops to cut costs even when it causes it's Guests to lose some of the magic. I really wish that they would stop and reconsider but like most large companies they are becoming greedier not smarter.

Bill

Actually, I wonder if it helps build the magic for some guests. If you have paid for your room, tickets and dining all in advance...at check in you don't even have to open your wallet for incidentals...wow it "feels" like you don't have to spend a dime on your vacation (hence the magic, because we all know the bills will be coming )

 

[CarolMN]

Disney has a problem with CC scams. Just a few weeks ago a member of my family called and made reservations through CRO and within a week they got a call from their CC holder questioning charges that were made all over the east coast. It was the only time they have used this particular CC recently and it had a zero balance on it. They called Disney and talked to a supervisor to report the incident and she said she would report it to security but they have no faith that it was taken care of.

I have never been asked by MS for my CC# unless I was adding the DP to our reservations and I will never put one on file. We have decided that we will not put charging privileges on our card either and will just carry our card with us. As stated earlier, I carry other cards with me so not a big deal to just carry a CC with me in the parks.

IMO, there is a greater chance of a scam if you carry and use your credit card in multiple places while you are on vacation. Each employee at each establishment has access to your card and can see the number/details and/or have the opportunity to skim it if they are dishonest.

If you have a credit card on file and charge to your room, only the person to enter the card into the system (you if you do it during online check in) will see your complete number and other details. The other employees will only see that the KTTW transaction is valid or perhaps see only the last 4 digits of the cc number (like at the front desk when you check in).

Of course, no matter how you use credit while you are at WDW, certain employees within the credit & billing departments and IT department can see everything, but IMHO, that is a very minor risk and the same we all assume when we use a cc anywhere.

Just something to think about.

 

[melmar136]

I feel better after reading this, because I too called last week to make an Aug 2012 reservation and was asked the same thing.
I hadn't been asked this before, and thought it was odd, with the dates being so far out.

 

[disneynutz]

Actually, I wonder if it helps build the magic for some guests. If you have paid for your room, tickets and dining all in advance...at check in you don't even have to open your wallet for incidentals...wow it "feels" like you don't have to spend a dime on your vacation (hence the magic, because we all know the bills will be coming )

You are correct, some people don't want to talk to CMs and to them it would feel magical. My comment was directed not only at online check in but in the numerous changes and cut backs in all areas.

Bill

 

[jamn]

I'm relieved to read this thread. I called last week and was asked to put a cc on file and said "no". Of course after getting off the phone I started stressing that my reservations would "magically" disappear because I didn't put a cc on file. Happy to know that won't happen . . .

 

[TisBit]

IMO, there is a greater chance of a scam if you carry and use your credit card in multiple places while you are on vacation. Each employee at each establishment has access to your card and can see the number/details and/or have the opportunity to skim it if they are dishonest.

If you have a credit card on file and charge to your room, only the person to enter the card into the system (you if you do it during online check in) will see your complete number and other details. The other employees will only see that the KTTW transaction is valid or perhaps see only the last 4 digits of the cc number (like at the front desk when you check in).

Of course, no matter how you use credit while you are at WDW, certain employees within the credit & billing departments and IT department can see everything, but IMHO, that is a very minor risk and the same we all assume when we use a cc anywhere.

Just something to think about.

And WDW is much more likely to be able to catch the person doing it as well. The employee several years ago that was skimming cards was easily tracked down, due to the number of her guests that had their cards skimmed...but weren't using them elsewhere. It happening occasionally may not be enough to implicate an employee (card numbers obtained in other manners...even electronically where the card never leaves a persons possession or is used at all) but once a trend starts...it is much easier to pin point a problem.

 

[LauraLea]

IMO, there is a greater chance of a scam if you carry and use your credit card in multiple places while you are on vacation. Each employee at each establishment has access to your card and can see the number/details and/or have the opportunity to skim it if they are dishonest.

If you have a credit card on file and charge to your room, only the person to enter the card into the system (you if you do it during online check in) will see your complete number and other details. The other employees will only see that the KTTW transaction is valid or perhaps see only the last 4 digits of the cc number (like at the front desk when you check in).

This is so true. In this day of easy skimming of cc #s I am amazed restaurants still have the practice of taking your credit card from you and completing the transaction out of sight. I feel much more comfortable when I can watch the person while in possession of my card, than when it is out of my sight.

Laura

 

[TisBit]

This is so true. In this day of easy skimming of cc #s I am amazed restaurants still have the practice of taking your credit card from you and completing the transaction out of sight. I feel much more comfortable when I can watch the person while in possession of my card, than when it is out of my sight.

Laura

the card being in sight or out of sight doesn't much matter. Most of the "professional" skimmers have a small device that fits over the card reader and even if it was swiped in front of you, it would be difficult to tell that it was capturing the information (actually ATMs are targeted quite often with these and people unwittingly skim their own card and PIN).

Secondly, when they use handheld devices, you now have to worry about the restaurant/stores wireless network and security system. If someone hacks into that (which happens quite often) they could capture your information as it is sent from the handheld device to the main computer for approval.

 

[ErinC]

I've kind of felt like Carol, that my info is safer if I'm using my KTTW card. One thing I'm curious about is the credit limit. Depending on which resort you stay at, the resort limits your credit. Like $700 if you are staying at a value, and like $1500 if you are at a Deluxe (which all DVC's would be). I know I've seen the amount listed on the slip you sign for charging priveledges. I'm just curious if that limit would offer you any more protection. Kinda like Disney would cut off your KTTW card if more than that amount came through. Seems like one time we went over our "limit" on the KTTW card and Disney asked us to come to the front desk to settle the account before we could continue to use our card. I think that was a trip where we bought a few pieces of art at the store so we went over the allowed amount.

 

[chunkygal]

I am glad to know you can just say no.

I still don't really understand why they need the anems and ages of everyone staying.

 

[Ksp]

[snip] Seems like one time we went over our "limit" on the KTTW card and Disney asked us to come to the front desk to settle the account before we could continue to use our card. I think that was a trip where we bought a few pieces of art at the store so we went over the allowed amount.

That's what I remember happening - we were at our credit limit and I had to visit the front desk so they could process our current charges. Then they just "re-set" our charging privileges.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

Disney has a problem with CC scams. Just a few weeks ago a member of my family called and made reservations through CRO and within a week they got a call from their CC holder questioning charges that were made all over the east coast. It was the only time they have used this particular CC recently and it had a zero balance on it. They called Disney and talked to a supervisor to report the incident and she said she would report it to security but they have no faith that it was taken care of.

I have never been asked by MS for my CC# unless I was adding the DP to our reservations and I will never put one on file. We have decided that we will not put charging privileges on our card either and will just carry our card with us. As stated earlier, I carry other cards with me so not a big deal to just carry a CC with me in the parks.

Mom just doesn't trust me not to charge The World to her card.

 

[Checkers]

Mom just doesn't trust me not to charge The World to her card.

Hey scarlet, shouldn't your location be changed?

 

[scarlet_ibis]

Hey scarlet, shouldn't your location be changed?

Always a critic...

 

[dzorn]

I am glad to know you can just say no.

I still don't really understand why they need the anems and ages of everyone staying.

That is so they can give everyone a key card to use for EMH.

Denise in MI

 

[makthompson]

when i modified our reservation I was asked and I just told them I would pay cash when i was there. They didnt say anything else about it. When I checked in I chose which credit card to use and it allowed my family to all charge on the same account without having the actual card. since we were there for 11 days i went to the front desk on our "pool days" and paid the bal so my credit card only got charged for what i wanted.

 

[StinkyPete&Jessie]

I put a CC on file when I spoke with member services but was asked again for a CC when I checked into BLT last week. I told the CM at the front desk there should already be one on file and he indicated there was no record of one. I don't mind giving member services my CC but if it is not saved to my reservation then there is no point doing it over the phone.