Premium Plan for One Night Just for the Tours, LaNouba, etc.??

[marivaid]

I debated on wether to post this or not. But after the heart ache I had to deal with I thought it might save someone else the same.

Double check all your reservations that the IPO scheduals for you. I had only booked 3 things through my IPO and found that she had booked 2 of them on the wrong dates. I had asked for Fantsmic viewing on the 22nd of September and when I called she said I had it booked for the 21st and it was unavailable so I couldn't do it. Then I asked about my Victoria and Albert's Reservation on the 24th. Could I change them to a later seating. She tells me I don't have reservations for the 24th They are for the 23rd at 6 pm. Well, I had other plans that night. She tells me I gave her all the wrong dates and this was all my fault. She can only do with what I give her.

Well, I have specific notes and times and dates and Calendars and no where do I find that i gave her those dates. Plus, if I had given her the 21st she should have been able to tell me at that point Fantasmic wasn't showing that night. Regardless after she kept accusing me of giving her all the wrong info, I was almost in tears. I told her I needed to go and I would talk to hubby but at this point I am so upset that I want to cancel the whole trip. I have been planning for MONTHS. She was rude through the whole call. when I asked about special event times she said" if you'd have read the email we sent you you should know this" I did read it and it isn't there. Yes, both times I have called and gotten a person on the phone, It has been the same woman, Yes, I take notes. Heck I can tell you what days, how many times I call, how many times the phone rings before I give up and how many rings till someone actually picks up.

Did I say I was extermly organized and anal about my vacations plans?

Lori

So sorry to hear this. It's the one thing I've been worrying about in this plan thing. Not that I don't trust Disney's CMs but I like having control over my reservations and having written confirmation of everything.

I wonder if this lady maybe is annoyed with people doing the plan for a short time ? The Platinum Plan is about the most expensive option with Disney and you (or anyone else) shouldn't be told things like "if you'd read this you'd know". Nice way to talk to guests...

Don't know about the rest of your reservations that she messed up, but can you rebook V&A yourself online?

 

[kungaloosh22]

Ugh! Lori I'm so sorry about your nightmare experience with IPO! I really hope you can get everything fixed between now and your trip.

 

[cricketgirl]

So sorry to hear this. It's the one thing I've been worrying about in this plan thing. Not that I don't trust Disney's CMs but I like having control over my reservations and having written confirmation of everything.

I wonder if this lady maybe is annoyed with people doing the plan for a short time ? The Platinum Plan is about the most expensive option with Disney and you (or anyone else) shouldn't be told things like "if you'd read this you'd know". Nice way to talk to guests...

Don't know about the rest of your reservations that she messed up, but can you rebook V&A yourself online?

I'll get everything straightened out. I am a dillegent planner and always double check everything. I just had expected more from Disney with whay we are paying for this. We are not doing a one night/one day we are doing 3 nights 4 days and another 4 days at Disney. It will get straight or I will cancel and plan a differnt vacation.
Thanks for the response.

Lori

 

[cricketgirl]

Ugh! Lori I'm so sorry about your nightmare experience with IPO! I really hope you can get everything fixed between now and your trip.

Thanks, I will.

Lori

 

[beautifultomorrow]

I debated on wether to post this or not. But after the heart ache I had to deal with I thought it might save someone else the same.

Double check all your reservations that the IPO scheduals for you. I had only booked 3 things through my IPO and found that she had booked 2 of them on the wrong dates. I had asked for Fantsmic viewing on the 22nd of September and when I called she said I had it booked for the 21st and it was unavailable so I couldn't do it. Then I asked about my Victoria and Albert's Reservation on the 24th. Could I change them to a later seating. She tells me I don't have reservations for the 24th They are for the 23rd at 6 pm. Well, I had other plans that night. She tells me I gave her all the wrong dates and this was all my fault. She can only do with what I give her.

Well, I have specific notes and times and dates and Calendars and no where do I find that i gave her those dates. Plus, if I had given her the 21st she should have been able to tell me at that point Fantasmic wasn't showing that night. Regardless after she kept accusing me of giving her all the wrong info, I was almost in tears. I told her I needed to go and I would talk to hubby but at this point I am so upset that I want to cancel the whole trip. I have been planning for MONTHS. She was rude through the whole call. when I asked about special event times she said" if you'd have read the email we sent you you should know this" I did read it and it isn't there. Yes, both times I have called and gotten a person on the phone, It has been the same woman, Yes, I take notes. Heck I can tell you what days, how many times I call, how many times the phone rings before I give up and how many rings till someone actually picks up.

Did I say I was extermly organized and anal about my vacations plans?

Lori

I am so sorry to hear about your experience with the IPO. It's bad enough that they messed up your reservations but to treat you like that is just unacceptable! I hope you can get everything straightened out. While I was checking some reservations online I looked for you and saw that Victoria and Albert's is available for 2 at 8:45 on Sept. 24. If that works for you maybe you can snatch it up.

Thanks for the reminder to us all to be diligent and double check everything -- especially if it is in someone else's hands!

 

[GetGlowing]

Lori, I hate that you were treated that way. They should be bending over backwards to serve you!

I know these calls don't always go like we'd like them to ... This is a good reminder to ask every CM to confirm what plans they're told to make. "Can you read that back to me please?"

At least there's time for cancellations and time to get everything straightened out. And Fantasmic shows can be added as the date approaches.

Here's wishing you a magical vacation!!

 

[DCDisney]

I'm so sorry! That was awful. Which resort are you staying at? It seems like there is a big variation between ipo at various resorts. At Beach Club they emailed us a form to fax back which I liked but our plat stay in the fall is for WL and I haven't heard as many positives as about BC.

I debated on wether to post this or not. But after the heart ache I had to deal with I thought it might save someone else the same.

Double check all your reservations that the IPO scheduals for you. I had only booked 3 things through my IPO and found that she had booked 2 of them on the wrong dates.


Lori

 

[cricketgirl]

I'm so sorry! That was awful. Which resort are you staying at? It seems like there is a big variation between ipo at various resorts. At Beach Club they emailed us a form to fax back which I liked but our plat stay in the fall is for WL and I haven't heard as many positives as about BC.

We are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. At least for the Platinum part. Pop century for the first 2 nights and then AKL for the next 3 nights, then Caribbean Beach Resort for the last 3 nights.

I sent an email requesting to Work with Don only since I had heard so many good things about him and as my luck would have it he is on vacation for the next 2 weeks. I'm going to send an email with what I want when and have them book everything and send me email conformations from now on.

The planner in me is freaking out. The budget person in me is going forget it and just book the whole trip for the free dinning part I got and go from there.
The romatic in me is really wanting this to be a special trip for me an my hubby. We've kinda had a rough couple years with injuries and drs and stuff.

So I'm gonna give them another chance and see what happens.

Thanks you guys for being so supportive.

Lori

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

Ok, here's our itinerary at this point:

Friday August 12:

check-in 7:30 @ WL - drive to Epcot
Backstage Magic Tour (includes lunch)
4pm drive back to WL - boat to GF?
5:30 dinner @ Victoria & Albert's
Wishes cruise from GF - meet @ marina at 9pm
boat to WL

Saturday August 13:

7am-ish - (order dinner) drive to Contemp, walk to MK?
8:10 breakfast @ Castle
10am Jetski
11am parasailing
snack? Drive to horseback
1pm horseback (checkin 12:30)
DH drop me off & drive to RP
3:00 me mani-pedi/DH Richard Petty
4:30 room service dinner
6:30pm Carriage Ride @ Fort Wilderness
7/7:30pm - bus to DTD
9pm La Nouba

Questions for those of you with more experience:

How long will it take us to get from WL to GF by boat?
How long is the Richard Petty driving experience? Trying to decide if DH should go back to WL after or just come & wait for me?
Actually, trying to determine if all transportation will work??
Is wine available at La Nouba?

 

[sarahgirl]

Cricketgirl, I feel so bad for you. That is horrible! Sometimes I think that you would do better without having to go through IPO at all, but of course somethings you absolutely need to go through them for (ex. Wishes cruise).

I have found the reservations agents that I have spoken with to be more than helpful when I have talked to them on the phone and in fact they love working with people who have the premium/platinum packages because there aren't many of us. The one CM that I spoke with had worked for recreation reservations for 12 years and had only had half a dozen people on the premium/platinum plans-- so we are definately few and far between. She didn't even know that Fultons can be used with the plans.

 

[cricketgirl]

Cricketgirl, I feel so bad for you. That is horrible! Sometimes I think that you would do better without having to go through IPO at all, but of course somethings you absolutely need to go through them for (ex. Wishes cruise).

I have found the reservations agents that I have spoken with to be more than helpful when I have talked to them on the phone and in fact they love working with people who have the premium/platinum packages because there aren't many of us. The one CM that I spoke with had worked for recreation reservations for 12 years and had only had half a dozen people on the premium/platinum plans-- so we are definately few and far between. She didn't even know that Fultons can be used with the plans.

That was what I thought. Did it on the phone so I could build a relationship and I like working with people who know me a bit instead of through email. but SInce this I want everything in writing. Heck, If I hadn't double checked I'd have missed my Victoria and Albert's Reservation that she had schedualed and they had my credit card to charge. I would have been out $250.. bucks. Yikes.
I was really looking forward to this being a great experiece so I will start over on Monday and see what I can do to fix everything.

Thanks,
Lori

 

[sarahgirl]

So it seems that all the dates have been pulled from "Inspiration: Through Walt's Eyes" tour. After calling 5-6 times a cast member finally told me that he is not able to book it on any date and it isnt sold out. Must not have been selling well.

 

[FoodLover]

Double check all your reservations that the IPO scheduals for you. I had only booked 3 things through my IPO and found that she had booked 2 of them on the wrong dates.

I will just echo this advice. Our golf lessons were booked on the wrong date by the IPO (they were booked for 2 days early, on a day when we weren't even on the Platinum Plan or for that matter, staying on Disney property at all!) We didn't discover this until we arrived at the golf course. Luckily it was off-season and the golf pro wasn't busy so he agreed to teach us that day.

I have to say, I was quite disappointed with the services of the IPO when we did our one-day Platinum Plan. I was left wondering if people who do Platinum for longer stays are treated as badly as we were. If so, what a rip-off.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[FoodLover]

So it seems that all the dates have been pulled from "Inspiration: Through Walt's Eyes" tour. After calling 5-6 times a cast member finally told me that he is not able to book it on any date and it isnt sold out. Must not have been selling well.

I don't think so. The problem is that for some reason that tour was never added to the system for Platinum Plan and so the IPO can't book it under the plan. (Yes, I know -- it's in the Platinum brochure, as I repeatedly pointed out to the IPO!)

We ran into this when we did Platinum in late January. It was a huge pain and I was only able to book that tour by raising a ruckus with the IPO. Then it turned out we were charged for the tour and had to get the IPO to remove the charge.

In any case it's not a very good tour. I wouldn't bother with jumping through hoops to get it... just pick a different tour.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[sarahgirl]

The problem is I don't want to spend a theme park ticket on any of the other days and I'm running out of things to do that don't double up.

I don't think so. The problem is that for some reason that tour was never added to the system for Platinum Plan and so the IPO can't book it under the plan. (Yes, I know -- it's in the Platinum brochure, as I repeatedly pointed out to the IPO!)

We ran into this when we did Platinum in late January. It was a huge pain and I was only able to book that tour by raising a ruckus with the IPO. Then it turned out we were charged for the tour and had to get the IPO to remove the charge.

In any case it's not a very good tour. I wouldn't bother with jumping through hoops to get it... just pick a different tour.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[Kudrah]

The idea of this fascinates me! We are going to be at WDW for a week, staying off site-- and we are seriously considering doing this for one night! I have a question-- are you only eligible for unlimited childcare if you have gotten the dining plan for the child in question? We have a 13 and 14 year old sons and a 5 year old daughter and DH and I were thinking that the 13 and 14 year olds would be ok on their own (with phones of course, checking in, etc) during the day, but we'd never let them watch our daughter for that long. Would she be able to go hang out at the resort clubs or would we have to pay the $11 an hour for her?

ETA- What I meant is that the boys would stay on their own at the condo offsite (10 min from MK) and we'd keep the 5 year old in the room with us, but since we already have park tickets etc I wouldn't want to pay to add her on the Premium/Platinum plan and buy a ticket for her. I'm guessing that since she isn't on the room reservation I couldn't get the complimentary child care, huh? Maybe I would be better off bringing our 19 year old niece along to watch her. Hmmm.

 

[beautifultomorrow]

The idea of this fascinates me! We are going to be at WDW for a week, staying off site-- and we are seriously considering doing this for one night! I have a question-- are you only eligible for unlimited childcare if you have gotten the dining plan for the child in question? We have a 13 and 14 year old sons and a 5 year old daughter and DH and I were thinking that the 13 and 14 year olds would be ok on their own (with phones of course, checking in, etc) during the day, but we'd never let them watch our daughter for that long. Would she be able to go hang out at the resort clubs or would we have to pay the $11 an hour for her?

ETA- What I meant is that the boys would stay on their own at the condo offsite (10 min from MK) and we'd keep the 5 year old in the room with us, but since we already have park tickets etc I wouldn't want to pay to add her on the Premium/Platinum plan and buy a ticket for her. I'm guessing that since she isn't on the room reservation I couldn't get the complimentary child care, huh? Maybe I would be better off bringing our 19 year old niece along to watch her. Hmmm.

Yes, I'd think you'd have to have the 5-year old on the package to be able to use child care for her, since Disney wants everyone in the room to be on the same package.

 

[cricketgirl]

Okay so I have called and called. I keep getting the same IPO. SHe's the one who screwed everything up then yelled at me. Do they only have one person working there? I have called 5 different times. I alsways get her. Some times they will say that all the IPO are helping otheres with their reservations and I hold but she always comes on. I do not want to work with her. Dang it!!!

The email I got back said they had a whole crew and listed a bunch of names but seriously I am begining to wonder. What are the odds of calling 5 times and getting the same person everytime (will I guess they would be 5 outta 5) but seriously.

What do I do? I have already lost so many days I am not sure this is really worth doing now.

Help.

Lori

 

[beautifultomorrow]

Okay so I have called and called. I keep getting the same IPO. SHe's the one who screwed everything up then yelled at me. Do they only have one person working there? I have called 5 different times. I alsways get her. Some times they will say that all the IPO are helping otheres with their reservations and I hold but she always comes on. I do not want to work with her. Dang it!!!

The email I got back said they had a whole crew and listed a bunch of names but seriously I am begining to wonder. What are the odds of calling 5 times and getting the same person everytime (will I guess they would be 5 outta 5) but seriously.

What do I do? I have already lost so many days I am not sure this is really worth doing now.

Help.

Lori

Could you do it over email? Then even if it is her you won't have to listen to her rudeness, plus everything will be in written form so you'll have a record of it.

I have a question for those of you who are having issues with IPO screwing up your reservations, are they not providing you with a PDF itinerary of the things they have booked? When I worked with Polynesian IPO and Comtemporary IPO both times they sent me PDF's of my itinerary through email. True, I mostly dealt with them over email but I would think even if you do things over the phone they should be able to email you your itinerary so you can check to make sure everything is in order.

 

[Sugarglider]

I have a question for those of you who are having issues with IPO screwing up your reservations, are they not providing you with a PDF itinerary of the things they have booked? When I worked with Polynesian IPO and Comtemporary IPO both times they sent me PDF's of my itinerary through email. True, I mostly dealt with them over email but I would think even if you do things over the phone they should be able to email you your itinerary so you can check to make sure everything is in order.

sorry I've not had them screw up - last year at Beach Club they emailed me an IPO booking form the day after I booked and it was all done by email, including an emailed confirmation. This year the Poly emailed me about 2 weeks out from the 180 day mark with the IPO booking form and I emailed it back. My 180 day mark isn't yet but I am expecting an email confirmation