refund for Fantasmic reservation - update

[halfmonkey]

I wasn't able to find any information from a search so I was wondering if anyone can tell me if DL will provide a refund for the Fantasmic reservation if you're not able to go because of a child illness?

 

[QueenDoOver]

I can't answer that specifically, but I believe the policy is no refunds. I will say, the tours all say no refunds also. My experience when I arrived 15 minutes late for my tour ( a mistake and I was in tears with my two children in tow), was that they gladly refunded my money and actually provided special parade seating and fast passes. Talk about a magical moment. I would definetly ask about it if it happens.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I wasn't able to find any information from a search so I was wondering if anyone can tell me if DL will provide a refund for the Fantasmic reservation if you're not able to go because of a child illness?

The are no refunds or exchanges for the F! Dessert package. The only way you will get a refund for the F! Dessert package is due to the show being canceled due to rain or the show cannot go. I have not experienced the show being canceled due to rain, but I read that you can get your money back by the show being cancel.

 

[halfmonkey]

The are no refunds or exchanges for the F! Dessert package. The only way you will get a refund for the F! Dessert package is due to the show being canceled due to rain or the show cannot go. I have not experienced the show being canceled due to rain, but I read that you can get your money back by the show being cancel.

Curious to know if you've personally had experience with DL denying a F! refund request or are you simply clarifying their policy?

IMO, it seems silly to offer a dessert package but not allow for a refund should something come up. I mean I can guarantee that any child in question wouldn't want to cancel a pre-planned trip to DL but to force someone out of losing money because of a sick child is quite lame.

 

[skiingfast]

IMO, it seems silly to offer a dessert package but not allow for a refund should something come up. I mean I can guarantee that any child in question wouldn't want to cancel a pre-planned trip to DL but to force someone out of losing money because of a sick child is quite lame.

Many places have cancelation policies that will charge you if you make late changes or flat out cancel. This is because they want to be able to serve customers who will actually come. They don't want to deny true customers because somone else made a reservation and didn't show up.

If you think it is lame because you can't cacel because of a sick child. Do you think it would be worse if you had to produce a evidence from a doctor that you child was to sick to attend to get a refund?

Not something I would do but if you are really worried, buy insurance.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

NO experience, but really, my rule is always Ask. The worst that happens is that they say No Refund, and you're still out your money, same as right now. But maybe they can do something for you even if they can't offer a full refund or give you tickets to another night.
GL and tell us how it goes!

AJ

 

[halfmonkey]

Many places have cancelation policies that will charge you if you make late changes or flat out cancel. This is because they want to be able to serve customers who will actually come. They don't want to deny true customers because somone else made a reservation and didn't show up.

I can understand that but on the other side of the coin there are also many companies that factor customer service in and allow for a refund/cancelation period such as 24, 48, ot 72 hours prior to reservation time. There are also other companies, such as Nordstrom that will provide a refund, no questions asked no matter when an item was purchased. So to offer a window of refund is not a big deal. This still allows the willing customer to reserve a spot but should something come up, it still allows them an opportunity to cancel/re-schedule. This is better customer service.
If you think it is lame because you can't cacel because of a sick child. Do you think it would be worse if you had to produce a evidence from a doctor that you child was to sick to attend to get a refund?

I don't follow your logic as this seems completely not relevant to the conversation. When you cancel a hotel reservation to Las Vegas within their refund window, do they ask you for proof of the reason why your're canceling? No. If you cancel, you cancel. If I tell them my child is sick, he's sick. Plain and simple. I've have never dealt with any company that require dme to provide proof of my statement for any reason and I can't see myself dealing with any such ciompany in the future.
Not something I would do but if you are really worried, buy insurance.

...buy insurance? Buy insurance for what? A dessert reservation package? I'd like to see you find a carrier willing to write such a policy as this is just plain silly.

In all seriousness, DL is great about customer service as their policy is to basically not say no (to a certain extent) but to not be able to odify/refund/cancel a reservation is just plain silly when the overall establishment is all about customer service. In essence, they're basically saying we don't care if you're in the hospital, if you made a reservation to F!, you need to be there.

Either way, I'll be calling DL to see what they say. Maybe my son will feel better by this weekend but he's already puked 3 times as of 11am this morning.

 

[DizNee Luver]

I believe no refund policy is in place for F! & the tours is because they are limited seating/people. People will call 8am 60 days out to secure one of the F! seats. If they allowed refunds for illness, no shows, changed our minds, etc.....they'd have a hard time keeping the seats filled. Kinda like buying a concert ticket......once they have the seat sold.....it's up to the buyer to come.

Its unfortunate, but Disney can't control anything but selling the seats & putting on the show. They will refund if the show isn't able to run.

Getting a sick kid or becoming sick yourself is a nightmare when traveling. No one wants that to happen but Disney can't control that.

Please don't think I'm being "cold" on the issue.....just trying to explain from their side. I would personally be devistated to pay out money & then have something happen where we wouldn't be able to go....but it wouldn't be Disney's fault.

I hope you're asking.....just in case & you're not there now & dealing with a sick kid!!

 

[halfmonkey]

I believe no refund policy is in place for F! & the tours is because they are limited seating/people. People will call 8am 60 days out to secure one of the F! seats. If they allowed refunds for illness, no shows, changed our minds, etc.....they'd have a hard time keeping the seats filled. Kinda like buying a concert ticket......once they have the seat sold.....it's up to the buyer to come.

Its unfortunate, but Disney can't control anything but selling the seats & putting on the show. They will refund if the show isn't able to run.

Getting a sick kid or becoming sick yourself is a nightmare when traveling. No one wants that to happen but Disney can't control that.

Please don't think I'm being "cold" on the issue.....just trying to explain from their side. I would personally be devistated to pay out money & then have something happen where we wouldn't be able to go....but it wouldn't be Disney's fault.

I hope you're asking.....just in case & you're not there now & dealing with a sick kid!!

We're not there now but we're supposed to be there this weekend. We'll see how it goes.

I can understand from a business pov how they want to sell the tixs and not deal with the noghtmare of people canceling and then having to refill the seats but imo, I don't believe DL would have any problem re-filling those seats if people canceled. Maybe put in place a policy like you have to cancel within 24 or 48 hours or something like that but imo, saying that you can't cancel a resevration even if you're in the hospital is just plain silly. It's not like they'll have to jump through major hoops when people make and cancel resevrations. All kinds of companies process refund as easy as asking if you have the credit card that you used to put the credit back and swipe and you're done. I'm sure they can come up with a system that will allow for cancelations and re-bookings.

It is what it is but I will still say that it's silly. Like I said, it's not like I want to cancel and disappont my kids on purpose. One kids is fine and one is sick. How do you think the healthy kid feels about not being able to go?

 

[princesszelda]

I would just call and see what they say.

 

[DizNee Luver]

We're not there now but we're supposed to be there this weekend. We'll see how it goes.

I can understand from a business pov how they want to sell the tixs and not deal with the noghtmare of people canceling and then having to refill the seats but imo, I don't believe DL would have any problem re-filling those seats if people canceled. Maybe put in place a policy like you have to cancel within 24 or 48 hours or something like that but imo, saying that you can't cancel a resevration even if you're in the hospital is just plain silly. It's not like they'll have to jump through major hoops when people make and cancel resevrations. All kinds of companies process refund as easy as asking if you have the credit card that you used to put the credit back and swipe and you're done. I'm sure they can come up with a system that will allow for cancelations and re-bookings.

It is what it is but I will still say that it's silly. Like I said, it's not like I want to cancel and disappont my kids on purpose. One kids is fine and one is sick. How do you think the healthy kid feels about not being able to go?

Believe me, I agree that cancellations/refunds would be easy enough to do......I also agree they'd fill those seats....but I'm guessing they're just trying to streamline things & not have to worry about it.

I hope your kiddo feels well enough to go!!

 

[Eeee-va]

I hope your son feels better quickly! I hope you don't even HAVE to ask Disney (I hope your kid is better!). But if it comes up, I'm glad you will ask them, and hopefully they will be understanding.

This is not remotely Fantasmic! related and it was many years ago, but my mom had booked a package with AAA. It had Magic Morning (may have been called something different at the time; you got breakfast too!) and I guess you had to use it a specific morning. But the night before, my brother and I both got violently ill, and we weren't able to get to Disneyland to use the Magic Morning. I was quite upset, but my mom was able to get them to let us in for another Magic Morning instead. I think it helps if you are able to be there in person, but there are some good people that will do what they can for you.

 

[disneychrista]

They try to be as accomidating as they can. You will be more likely to get a refund if you call NOW and ask vs waiting until the day you arrive/should arrive.

 

[halfmonkey]

So we ended up making it to the show. My son ended up getting better but then my other son ended up getting a fever on Friday night so it turned out to be a game time decision. I also got major allergies and my wife wasn't feeling really great Friday night so we thought for sure we were going to have to cancel.

I did call Disney on Thursday and asked them about canceling and they did say that their policy is not to cancel but if someone is sick, then someone is sick and they'll see what they can do. This is what they told me on Thursday as we were calling to ask but never officially canceled. The person I spoke to ultimately gave me his name and the name of his manager and said that if we do need to cancel, call back and they'll see what they can do. I guess thinking back, technically I didn't want to cancel but would have wanted to re-schedule.

Either way, it worked out and the kids loved the show and we did too. The reserved seating was awesome but I must comment to say that I wish they would assign seats earlier than beginning at 8pm. I was the first in line because our kids were sleeping at the time so there wasn't anything else to do but chill and wait. Once they woke up, we got popcorn for our older son and my wife took the little one on Winnie the Pooh and the Disneyland Train around the park, while my DS4(to be on 8/24) hung out me and happily ate his popcorn. I was also also able to record the show on our camcorder so it worked out well.

As an added bonus, we stayed seated after the show and was able to catch the fireworks show too.

In a couple of weeks, we're going back to watch WOC for the first time too. We have reservations at Ariels and I hope to be the first in line for our "reserved standing" passes.

Thanks for all the well wishes.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm so glad it worked out for you!

I was going to say that - although this is not a Fantasmic package - I once had to cancel a hotel/ticket package from the Walt Disney Travel Company (they have an office located in Downtown Disney)and they did not refund my full amount. I had just lost my job, had no money, and it made no difference. They kept a portion of the money I paid, no matter what, and if I had cancelled even closer to my arrival dates, they would have kept almost the whole amount. Without insurance, they were not going to give me a full refund. I begged, I pleaded, I explained that I lost my job - it didn't matter. When policies are in place at Disney, customer service or no, they will generally adhere to them.

The key is that every so often you will get a Cast Member who will go to the next level and ask a manager or supervisor, and get a final opinion. They are not required to do that, of course, but some of them will go that extra mile. Many of the CM's, however, are very 'by the book' and will not bend.

But I'm glad it didn't have to get to that point for you.

 

[maelstrom]

Rules can always be bent. My grandparents and aunt & uncle had a trip planned to WDW, and had tickets for MVMCP. Unfortunately, my uncle passed away a couple of months before the trip. The trip was obviously cancelled and Disney refunded everyone's MVMCP tickets.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Halfmonkey, I'm so happy to hear you all made the show (and enjoyed it)! I like the extra fireworks seats you had, too.

AJ