Scotland Meets Thread (formerly Scotland: A Brave Adventure)

[paddles]

Hi - I booked a pre-night for our family....we booked our vacation as 2 doubles instead of a quad. But we're only paying $1000 total for 2 doubles (so $500/each with breakfast) at the Balmoral.

I wonder if they ran out of the cheaper rooms when they quoted you $1000/room....that seems awfully high.

So excited - we leave for our trip in 2 weeks!!

 

[Calfan]

Hi - I booked a pre-night for our family....we booked our vacation as 2 doubles instead of a quad. But we're only paying $1000 total for 2 doubles (so $500/each with breakfast) at the Balmoral.

I wonder if they ran out of the cheaper rooms when they quoted you $1000/room....that seems awfully high.

So excited - we leave for our trip in 2 weeks!!

Ok. I went back and checked my notes, and you are right. They were quoting me $511 per night at the Balmoral, but we would have needed 2 rooms, so that would have been $1,022 per night, and we are doing 3 nights before the ABD starts. Not sure how I mixed that up, but we were still unwilling to pay that much per night. We are sub $500 per night for a family room that accomodates 4 at our alternate hotel. Apologies for the misinformation!

 

[calypso726]

I just got the same letter from ABD in today's mail, so yours will probably arrive soon. I am also disappointed. I was fine with the change to Stirling Castle but agree that the Signet Library does not sound comparable. Maybe we will be pleasantly surprised. I wonder if there is also something going on at Stirling Castle then that is conflicting us out.

Still nothing from ABD in the mail as of today.

I just called ABD and spoke to one of the agents. She said she is going to have a supervisor contact me. I basically said I was extremely disappointed about the change, that the library (which I've never heard of and I've been to Edinburgh 5 or 6 times), is not on par with Edinburgh Castle or Stirling Castle. She tried to say it was a last minute change, but I called her on that. The military tattoo is *not* in the category of a surprise. ABD would have known about that when they first booked Edinburgh Castle or did ANY research into it at all, and that when you travel with ABD you count on them doing their homework and making comparable alternative arrangements. The change in the itinerary for the tattoo is not in the realm of "unexpected." I also said that this was one of the advertised highlights of the trip (and indeed something different and special that a frequent traveler to Scotland like me was counting on) and that I would have chosen a different date had I known ahead of time. We'll see what the supervisor says.

I also called today and spoke with someone. He had to call me back to verify what exactly was happening. He basically told me that it was a last minute change to which I replied the same thing you did. The Military Tattoo takes place every year in August. I also told him that a switch from a 12th century castle to a library that was just over 200 years old simply does not compare. He told me that it was decided the experience for the group would be better in the library. I disagreed and said I could find 200 year old buildings here at home so it wasn't anything to look forward to. I will be sending them an e-mail as well since I was not given the opportunity to speak to a supervisor.

 

[Bobo912]

Still nothing from ABD in the mail as of today.



I also called today and spoke with someone. He had to call me back to verify what exactly was happening. He basically told me that it was a last minute change to which I replied the same thing you did. The Military Tattoo takes place every year in August. I also told him that a switch from a 12th century castle to a library that was just over 200 years old simply does not compare. He told me that it was decided the experience for the group would be better in the library. I disagreed and said I could find 200 year old buildings here at home so it wasn't anything to look forward to. I will be sending them an e-mail as well since I was not given the opportunity to speak to a supervisor.

I hope you get a response. After the issues I had on our most recent trip, I filled out the survey and gave my number so they could contact me, sent an email to ABD guest services, and another email to the new VP. I never got a response from anyone. Not that they could have done anything at that point, but some acknowledgment that they hadn't provided the promised services and some assurance that they would strive to do better in the future would have been nice.

 

[calypso726]

I hope you get a response. After the issues I had on our most recent trip, I filled out the survey and gave my number so they could contact me, sent an email to ABD guest services, and another email to the new VP. I never got a response from anyone. Not that they could have done anything at that point, but some acknowledgment that they hadn't provided the promised services and some assurance that they would strive to do better in the future would have been nice.

What happened on your trip? If you mind my asking.

I sent an e-mail to the general "contact us" e-mail for ABD. I also messaged them on Facebook and I e-mailed the Senior Vice President of Adventures by Disney.

Hopefully, I will get a response.

 

[Bobo912]

What happened on your trip? If you mind my asking.

I sent an e-mail to the general "contact us" e-mail for ABD. I also messaged them on Facebook and I e-mailed the Senior Vice President of Adventures by Disney.

Hopefully, I will get a response.

It's in my Peru trip report. A few things weren't quite up to par, but the main thing was that there was no one at the airport to pick us up when we arrived. It was past midnight and after nearly 2 hours at the airport, and a stressful taxi ride through some scary neighborhoods, we finally reached the hotel around 2:30AM and no one at ABD even knew that the driver left us stranded at the airport.

 

[calypso726]

It's in my Peru trip report. A few things weren't quite up to par, but the main thing was that there was no one at the airport to pick us up when we arrived. It was past midnight and after nearly 2 hours at the airport, and a stressful taxi ride through some scary neighborhoods, we finally reached the hotel around 2:30AM and no one at ABD even knew that the driver left us stranded at the airport.

OMG That would have wigged me out a bit. Wow, you would think they would at least acknowledge the "dropped ball" there and offer an apology

 

[Calfan]

What happened on your trip? If you mind my asking.

I sent an e-mail to the general "contact us" e-mail for ABD. I also messaged them on Facebook and I e-mailed the Senior Vice President of Adventures by Disney.

Hopefully, I will get a response.

If you PM or email me the email address for the ABD SVP, I will send an email as well.

 

[calypso726]

If you PM or email me the email address for the ABD SVP, I will send an email as well.

Sent you a PM

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Still nothing from ABD in the mail as of today.



I also called today and spoke with someone. He had to call me back to verify what exactly was happening. He basically told me that it was a last minute change to which I replied the same thing you did. The Military Tattoo takes place every year in August. I also told him that a switch from a 12th century castle to a library that was just over 200 years old simply does not compare. He told me that it was decided the experience for the group would be better in the library. I disagreed and said I could find 200 year old buildings here at home so it wasn't anything to look forward to. I will be sending them an e-mail as well since I was not given the opportunity to speak to a supervisor.

So glad you called, too. The guide book supposedly has Stirling Castle as the alternative (page 15 of this thread), so this "we didn't know about it" is BS. I would be fine with Stirling, but the library isn't the same. If someone doesn't call me back by Monday I will call again. I think emails and phone calls from everyone will help. I'm not happy at all. As I said, I would have done another date if I'd known, and they had to know it was going to be an issue. I'm sure Edinburgh Castle wouldn't have booked them for those dates.

 

[calypso726]

So glad you called, too. The guide book supposedly has Stirling Castle as the alternative (page 15 of this thread), so this "we didn't know about it" is BS. I would be fine with Stirling, but the library isn't the same. If someone doesn't call me back by Monday I will call again. I think emails and phone calls from everyone will help. I'm not happy at all. As I said, I would have done another date if I'd known, and they had to know it was going to be an issue. I'm sure Edinburgh Castle wouldn't have booked them for those dates.

I also e-mailed the Senior VP of ABD and part of my letter included the following:

The guided after hours tour of Edinburgh Castle with dinner was the crowning highlight of this trip. Had I known it was going to be taken off the itinerary and replaced with something that makes no sense whatsoever in terms of "Brave" or even highlights of Scotland, I would have simply chosen another date to go. Now, it is much too late to do that. Edinburgh Castle comes up as the #1 attraction for Scotland on Trip Advisor. The Signet Library isn't even listed as something to do. Under restaurants, the Pommery at the Signet Library is ranked at #894 out of 1370. How ABD can find this as a comparable substitution is beyond me. How ABD was unable to foresee that the #1 attraction in Scotland would not be available to the guests in August is simply unbelievable. I would like to suggest that some of that Disney magic be put to good use and PLEASE rectify this situation. I am not the only one unhappy about this change. There are several other travelers on the Disboards that share my sentiments.

 

[sayhello]

Not at all. $379 per room, which includes breakfast.

Thanks! That's pretty on par with a lot of the other pre-days...

So glad you called, too. The guide book supposedly has Stirling Castle as the alternative (page 15 of this thread), so this "we didn't know about it" is BS. I would be fine with Stirling, but the library isn't the same. If someone doesn't call me back by Monday I will call again. I think emails and phone calls from everyone will help. I'm not happy at all. As I said, I would have done another date if I'd known, and they had to know it was going to be an issue. I'm sure Edinburgh Castle wouldn't have booked them for those dates.

I wonder if the "last minute change" was the fact that Stirling Castle fell through, not that Edinburgh Castle was not available? I hope you guys get results!

Sayhello

 

[tufbuf]

This is what was indicated in the Scotland itinerary:


*From late July through August, the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place at Edinburgh Castle. During this time, we will host your farewell dinner reception at the historic Signet Library in Edinburgh.

 

[Dahly]

Ok. I went back and checked my notes, and you are right. They were quoting me $511 per night at the Balmoral, but we would have needed 2 rooms, so that would have been $1,022 per night, and we are doing 3 nights before the ABD starts. Not sure how I mixed that up, but we were still unwilling to pay that much per night. We are sub $500 per night for a family room that accomodates 4 at our alternate hotel. Apologies for the misinformation!

thank-you for clarifying the rates. now to decide if we want to spend $500 for one night or not or use hotel points we already have.

Dahly

 

[calypso726]

This is what was indicated in the Scotland itinerary:


*From late July through August, the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place at Edinburgh Castle. During this time, we will host your farewell dinner reception at the historic Signet Library in Edinburgh.

That may be what is says now. That was not what it said when we booked the trip in May of 2012. Prior to this change it said Stirling Castle. Prior to the Stirling Castle change there was no mention of an itinerary change. Personally, I would not have booked the trip for early August if I knew Edinburgh Castle would be out. I would have either booked late July or early September and then have a post or pre stay to see the Military Tattoo.

 

[Bobo912]

That may be what is says now. That was not what it said when we booked the trip in May of 2012. Prior to this change it said Stirling Castle. Prior to the Stirling Castle change there was no mention of an itinerary change. Personally, I would not have booked the trip for early August if I knew Edinburgh Castle would be out. I would have either booked late July or early September and then have a post or pre stay to see the Military Tattoo.

They must have updated the website recently. The PDF version of the itinerary (the link between "View Video" and "Itinerary") still says:

*From late July through August, the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place at Edinburgh Castle. During this time, we will
host your farewell dinner reception at Stirling Castle, just outside Edinburgh.

 

[paddles]

I agree the pre-nights are expensive at Balmoral, but the price is in-line with what it would cost to book the hotel directly.

For one night, I didn't want to bother having to change hotels (esp. when we're all jet-lagged). Otherwise, I'm all for saving some $$ when booking!

 

[sayhello]

For one night, I didn't want to bother having to change hotels (esp. when we're all jet-lagged). Otherwise, I'm all for saving some $$ when booking!

That's pretty much how I feel about pre-nights. When I had several pre-nights in London for Knights & Lights, I ended up booking a hotel myself (and got a fabulous deal!) And for the Med cruise add-on, I was going to have to change hotels to the ship no matter where I stayed, and DCL's pre-nights were *ridiculous*! Alaska, for one night, Athens for 2 nights, it was just easier to do it through ABD. (And it was NOWHERE near $500 a night!)

Sayhello

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

That may be what is says now. That was not what it said when we booked the trip in May of 2012. Prior to this change it said Stirling Castle. Prior to the Stirling Castle change there was no mention of an itinerary change. Personally, I would not have booked the trip for early August if I knew Edinburgh Castle would be out. I would have either booked late July or early September and then have a post or pre stay to see the Military Tattoo.

Ditto from me! I was going to point out about it being listed as Stirling before, too. Great note. I'll be sending one to ABD as well.

They must have updated the website recently. The PDF version of the itinerary (the link between "View Video" and "Itinerary") still says:

*From late July through August, the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place at Edinburgh Castle. During this time, we will
host your farewell dinner reception at Stirling Castle, just outside Edinburgh.

Thank you for the link. I knew it was also printed in the early guides some travelers received (someone had posted it on this thread)

 

[Calfan]

They must have updated the website recently. The PDF version of the itinerary (the link between "View Video" and "Itinerary") still says:

*From late July through August, the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place at Edinburgh Castle. During this time, we will
host your farewell dinner reception at Stirling Castle, just outside Edinburgh.

They have now updated the PDF version as well to refer to the Signet Library. Writing my email to Ken Potrock now...