reservation rant! (long)

[Lthouseprincess]

Let me start by in the end they fixed it, but it took almost 2 hours and I am really crabby


So I called dining this morning to make x-mas eve reservations at Chef Mickey’s for dinner. I told them that we are checking in on 12/12 and out on 12/26. I made the reservation with no problems. About a ½ hour later we decided to do breakfast at Chef Mickey’s on X-mas morning. I called back and was told that no such program existed that you can only make them 180 days out. I told her a ½ hour ago I just made them for x-mas eve. At first she argued with me that I did not. After insisting she pull it up she finally admitted that the person who made them made a mistake. But she still told me that we can’t make reservations until 180. I asked her to please check with a supervisor because I think she was wrong. After being on hold 7 minutes she comes back and says I will try and then goes through they motions and says sorry, you can’t make these until 6/28. Is there anything further she could help me with. So I hang up and call back and speak with some one else. She tells me that you can only make them 10 days out from the day you check in. Since we are checking in on 12/12 we can only book up to 12/22. In order to book on 12/25 today I would have to be checking in 12/15. I said but we are there on 12/15, we are there the whole time. She tells me that if I want to make the x-mas day reservation I have to check in on 12/12, check out 12/15 and recheck in on 12/15 and then I can make these reservations today. I was a little frustrated. I asked to speak to a manager. I waited on hold for 22 minutes, (no Disney music either) and hung up. I call to change my room reservation. After giving all my info the woman, she is quite for about 3 minutes, I have no clue why and then she comes back and explains that she can’t do that because I already have a reservation for that time. I told her I know I just want to check out and then back in. She said I can’t do that because I already have a room for that time frame and you can’t make the reservation in the same name. She said to put in the second half of my stay in another name. So I put in the name of the other Adult I am traveling with, She said I can’t do that since she is staying with, put it in another name. I said there is just the two of us. She said I would have to put the room in another name than the 2 of us. So I said, you are asking me to put it under a fake name. She says no, just another name of a person not in the room with us. I am getting pretty mad right now and explain that there is just the 2 of us and we can’t check out and then back in and she said no not at the same resort. So I asked to speak with a manger, again on hold for 12 minutes with no hold music. So I hang up and call back. As soon as they answer I tell her that I am very upset right now and I want to talk to a manager. She goes through pulling up all my history.. And then says what can I help you with. I said, honestly I want to speak with a manger; I do not want to explain this over again. In less than a minute I have this nice man named Gavin. I explain this all to him and he laughs and say I can’t believe they told you to check out and then back in again! He gets a person from dining on the phone and in less than 2 minutes I have my x-mas day reservations. In the end I am happy but I can’t believe this took almost 2 hours!!!

 

[Alltiggeredout]

I can't see what their problem was,we check-in on 13thDec and i booked our xmas day dinner 2days ago.

 

[annieb727]

that's just CRAZINESS! sorry you had to deal with it, but glad you got what you wanted! xmas at WDW sounds AWESOME!

 

[madalex]

When people ask whether staying on the concierge level of any deluxe hotel is worth it, I will direct them to this thread. One of the benefits of staying concierge is that the IPO will make all your ADRs for you. I always have them do that and, as a result, never have to put up with any of this type of nonsense.

 

[webshark3]

When people ask whether staying on the concierge level of any deluxe hotel is worth it, I will direct them to this thread. One of the benefits of staying concierge is that the IPO will make all your ADRs for you. I always have them do that and, as a result, never have to put up with any of this type of nonsense.

Yes, my butler and chauffeur also highly recommend the concierge level to me for when I'm traveling....

I've tried to price up the concierge level for my family. At those prices, I'd expect that it would be worth it. Some of us have no choice but to do the dirty work ourselves.

 

[hmp2z]

When people ask whether staying on the concierge level of any deluxe hotel is worth it, I will direct them to this thread. One of the benefits of staying concierge is that the IPO will make all your ADRs for you. I always have them do that and, as a result, never have to put up with any of this type of nonsense.

Not true; we have had HUGE problems with IPO making our reservations. Sometimes they just flat-out don't make them, even though they say they will. By the time you get through to follow up, there are no reservations available! (This is for those high-demand places). Sometimes they make reservations on a phantom system so that, though you might show up at a restaurant with a printout showing your reservation date, time, confirmation #, etc., the restaurant refuses to honor these reservations made by IPO.

We always stay concierge, and no longer do we allow them to make our reservations for us. They always mess them up in some way or another. I hate IPO.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

When people ask whether staying on the concierge level of any deluxe hotel is worth it, I will direct them to this thread. One of the benefits of staying concierge is that the IPO will make all your ADRs for you. I always have them do that and, as a result, never have to put up with any of this type of nonsense.

We've stayed conceirge on prior trips and I still make all the arrangements myself. I don't trust anyone with my trip details. As someone else stated, I had problems in the past with ADR's that were supposed to be made that weren't but thank goodness those were the days before Disney dining so I was able to get into the restaurant.

Conceirge prices also have really gone through the roof. I'd sooner stay non-concierge and make more trips.

 

[madalex]

Not true; we have had HUGE problems with IPO making our reservations. Sometimes they just flat-out don't make them, even though they say they will. By the time you get through to follow up, there are no reservations available! (This is for those high-demand places). Sometimes they make reservations on a phantom system so that, though you might show up at a restaurant with a printout showing your reservation date, time, confirmation #, etc., the restaurant refuses to honor these reservations made by IPO.

I have stayed concierge a dozen times over the last 10 years and have never had any of the types of problems which you describe. For my last several trips, I have sent the IPO an e-mail with my requests and received confirmation of my ADRs the next day. When I have later needed to make changes, such changes have been just as easily accomplished. The process has been smooth and painless and takes significantly less of my time than would be the case if I were trying to do all of this myself. I am sorry your experience as not been as pleasant.

 

[madalex]

Yes, my butler and chauffeur also highly recommend the concierge level to me for when I'm traveling....

I've tried to price up the concierge level for my family. At those prices, I'd expect that it would be worth it. Some of us have no choice but to do the dirty work ourselves.

I don't think you read my original post very closely - people frequently come to this site and ask whether staying on the concierge level is worth the cost. Obviously those people feel it is in their price range, but they are just not sure they want to pay the extra money. My response to this thread is that it is well worth that extra money to avoid the hassle which the OP described.

 

[webshark3]

I don't think you read my original post very closely - people frequently come to this site and ask whether staying on the concierge level is worth the cost. Obviously those people feel it is in their price range, but they are just not sure they want to pay the extra money. My response to this thread is that it is well worth that extra money to avoid the hassle which the OP described.

Don't get me wrong. I read your post right. I was 1) joking around, and 2) agreeing that it should be worth it for the money spent.

 

[disneyag]

Just an FYI, if you book your trip with a DU agent, they can make the annoying phone calls for you, too, and it doesn't cost a dime. Sorry for your trouble. Sounds like the person you had on the phone was a loon!

 

[maxiesmom]

Just an FYI, if you book your trip with a DU agent, they can make the annoying phone calls for you, too, and it doesn't cost a dime. Sorry for your trouble. Sounds like the person you had on the phone was a loon!

That is why I love using Dreams Unlimited, no messing around calling for my dining ressies!

 

[mickeycrazzes]

Not all cm's are created equal. I find that if I'm not getting aywhere hang up call right back. I've been told so many incorrect things by cm's. There human. On the bright side I've always eventually been able to find a cm that can help.

 

[YCFAN]

I have stayed concierge a dozen times over the last 10 years and have never had any of the types of problems which you describe. For my last several trips, I have sent the IPO an e-mail with my requests and received confirmation of my ADRs the next day. When I have later needed to make changes, such changes have been just as easily accomplished. The process has been smooth and painless and takes significantly less of my time than would be the case if I were trying to do all of this myself. I am sorry your experience as not been as pleasant.

Ditto. The concierge CMs at the Epcot resorts are great.


I'm sorry the OP had all this trouble over something that should have been a simple task. It certainly explains why opinions vary so widely. It all depends on the CM that's helping you.

 

[Mater_Man]

I don't see why you are so mad...The CM was completely right in telling you that you could only book out until the 22nd of December. You check in on the 12th, and can book 10 days out since you are a WDW guest. Doesnt matter if 180 days is now December 15th, that doesnt mean anything, unless December 15th was your check in day. They were just doing their job. As far as telling you to check in and out, that was wrong.
Just because you will be there until the 25th does not mean that you get to book out until the 25th..it is still only 180 plus 10 from the Date of check in. If every person used the rationale that they would be there anyway, to book it, then people would be booking 191,192,193 or more days out from their check in. Now that CM who made those reservations, will be written up for booking out of the dates they should have, all because the OP doesn't like the rules...That's not fair either.