screwed at garden grill

[kaytieeldr]

and as usual people on these boards are getting their knickers in a twist feeling like someone got something for nothing...

Oh, wow. Seriously? You think my knickers in a twist because I feel a 40% or 50% refund would have been reasonable but I think Disney was wrong to refund 100% since meals were eaten - with no apparent complaints about the actual food, by the way, and a character encountered?

Hell no. That's my opinion. But your interpretation? Yeah, now I'm angry.

 

[Nancyg56]

Oh, wow. Seriously? You think my knickers in a twist because I feel a 40% or 50% refund would have been reasonable but I think Disney was wrong to refund 100% since meals were eaten - with no apparent complaints about the actual food, by the way, and a character encountered?

Hell no. That's my opinion. But your interpretation? Yeah, now I'm angry.

I get to decide how I would handle the OP's situation, and you get to decide how to handle it. In the end, Disney does what they feel is right, and they decided that the OP did not get even a percentage of what she signed on for.

I guarantee you, if I had been warned, I would not even want a penny turned or rebated had I decided to stay, but I sure would have been pretty unhappy had there been no choice for me. I would have been given my money back or my DDP credit before we left....and I never would have had to get upset or nasty. For me, it is the lack of choice that would have been upsetting and that is where I take issue with the OP getting what she paid for. She did nto. She ate a meal expecting characters to be present. That is what she paid for. If GG was running so far behind they could not meet that expectation, they needed to address that but chose not to do so. That is bad practice. Honestly, that was nto the GG first rodeo. They know what time the characters must leave and they know how long it takes for their rotation. WHat GG did was choose to ignore that and continue business as usual even though they were way too late to honor the part of the meal people are really paying for....characters coming to the table.

 

[Lisa F]

Oh, wow. Seriously? You think my knickers in a twist because I feel a 40% or 50% refund would have been reasonable but I think Disney was wrong to refund 100% since meals were eaten - with no apparent complaints about the actual food, by the way, and a character encountered?

Hell no. That's my opinion. But your interpretation? Yeah, now I'm angry.

Yes, I don't know why you are arguing that disney did the WRONG thing (yes the emphasis is mine). They didn't do the WRONG thing. They may have done something that in your opinion generous, but it is not "wrong."

I'm sorry you're so angry now. If you had said "wow that's very generous, I would have been happy with only 50% back" that is one thing. But to "criticize Disney" as being wrong for issuing a full refund instead of the percentage that you deem appropriate based on... what? i don't know... does sound a little like you have your knickers in a twist. Like, why do you even care? I care about big picture items. I empathize with the OP (in a case where Disney really was wrong) because it might happen to me. I am happy to hear that Disney made it right with them because crap happens and it adds a level of comfort to me dropping what is an ENORMOUS amount of money on a vacation if I know that even with all of the budget cutbacks etc that Disney is inclined to make it right if they screw up. Those are the things I care about. Disney "overdoing it" (not that they did in my opinion) to make up for a screw up is not even on the list of things I care about, except it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside about basically letting them vacuum out the contents of my bank account. I certainly would not take time out of my day to quibble about the amount of someone else's compensation... unless I felt it was low and token... and then I might once again empathize... but to argue it's too high? What does it matter to you?

 

[DVCcurious]

Okay, but I don't think they should have issued a full refund.

You did get dinner (and one character). Not criticizing you, but Disney.

op here

I told the mgr at the front desk I'd like an $80 gift card to use at the park gift shop. I didn't expect any money refunded. We did eat and we got Pluto, so I was trying to find a compromise.

We arrived at 7:40 for our 8:10 reservation. Had they told us at 7:40 when we checked in "you won't be seated until 8:40 and there's a chance you won't see all 4 characters and the characters may leave 15 minutes after you're seated" there is NO WAY we would have stayed.

I mean this is EPCOT....there's like 15 better restaurants than garden grill available. The whole point of going to Garden Grill for us is to see the 4 characters, and preferably more than once each.

Last night we did crystal palace. 8:45 reservation, seated at 8:45, Piglet at 9:00,Pooh Tigger and Eyeore between 9:30 and 9:45.

So we saw all 4 within an hour. Sure the spacing could've been better (1 character in 45 minutes, then 3 within 15) but that's ok.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm surprised they let you check in 30 minutes early. I'm also surprised you were seated on time at the Crystal Palace, I have never been that luck at over 6 meals there.

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm surprised they let you check in 30 minutes early. I'm also surprised you were seated on time at the Crystal Palace, I have never been that luck at over 6 meals there.

I have checked in early in a lot of restaurants, but that never meant I would be seated in time. The only places that did not allow early check in were LTT and ohana

 

[Lisa F]

not to put words in the OP's mouth but I don't think they are basically upset about the late seating, except that that amount of time was the margin between having the experience they wanted, expected and paid for. If I had little kids who were devastated by not seeing the characters and I knew I had been SO close yet so far, it would have been on my list of complaints too. By itself no, it is not reason for compensation... there are no guarantees. It's just a frustration I'm sure we can all understand.

 

[Misha72683]

Okay, but I don't think they should have issued a full refund.

You did get dinner (and one character). Not criticizing you, but Disney.

They didn't get what they paid for though. They paid for and planned for characters. I know that if it was me, my kids would be heartbroken and I would have to deal with that, so yes, I'd want a refund because now I had disapointed children because I didn't give them what was promised, through no fault of my own. They weren't warned there would be no characters, tehy ate their dinner expecting characters only to be told they had gone home. The restaurant screwed up and should be accountable.

 

[TheRealDrDisney]

Regarding the refund, my standard has always been - would the vendor (Disney in this case) accept a partial payment if I said - "I only want to see one character"? If they said, "sure - that would be a 20% savings from your check". Then - yes, a 20% refund is all that is due.

If, however, the scenario is that they say - "the payment is all or nothing, there are no partial credits available" - then guess what - the refund is all or nothing as well.

Sauce for the goose and all that...

 

[maxiesmom]

Regarding the refund, my standard has always been - would the vendor (Disney in this case) accept a partial payment if I said - "I only want to see one character"? If they said, "sure - that would be a 20% savings from your check". Then - yes, a 20% refund is all that is due.

If, however, the scenario is that they say - "the payment is all or nothing, there are no partial credits available" - then guess what - the refund is all or nothing as well.

Sauce for the goose and all that...

But it is not "sauce for the goose". The OP didn't ask where the characters were, and then not eat anything. Don't get me wrong I'm thrilled for them that they got a full refund. But in no way is that what sounds reasonable. Disney went above and beyond and good that they did!

 

[kaytieeldr]

op here

I told the mgr at the front desk I'd like an $80 gift card to use at the park gift shop. I didn't expect any money refunded. We did eat and we got Pluto, so I was trying to find a compromise.

This is a very reasonable compromise and I even think cash makes sense. Disney was overly generous and you're entirely right.

y didn't get what they paid for though. They paid for and planned for characters

The planned and paid for a meal with characters. They got the meal with a character.

But it is not "sauce for the goose". The OP didn't ask where the characters were, and then not eat anything. Don't get me wrong I'm thrilled for them that they got a full refund. But in no way is that what sounds reasonable. Disney went above and beyond and good that they did!

Good but too much.

 

[Mainemama]

We had a late breakfast time (10:30), and in fact were the last table out (which was kind of cool). Our server was really on the ball, and kept checking who had seen us, and he made sure everyone came to our table. This is meant to reassure those that asked about breakfast. I do think it is smart to watch for yourself, too. So, we saw all the characters, but ALMOST missed our food! About 20 minutes after our first course was served, our waiter casked if we needed seconds on anything. When we looked puzzled and asked for firsts, he was off like a flash... Apparently the kitchen was closing!

 

[goofy4prez]

not to put words in the OP's mouth but I don't think they are basically upset about the late seating, except that that amount of time was the margin between having the experience they wanted, expected and paid for. If I had little kids who were devastated by not seeing the characters and I knew I had been SO close yet so far, it would have been on my list of complaints too. By itself no, it is not reason for compensation... there are no guarantees. It's just a frustration I'm sure we can all understand.

I know this is extreme but let me present it this way... What if they had the characters but the restaurant after 10 minutes being seated, those in the restaurant were told by their server they were all out food, but hey, they did have the characters... Since they had the characters and they did have a chance to get something at the buffet table in those 10 minutes then all is good... After all there are no guarantees. It's just a frustration I'm sure we can all understand... IMHO, there is no difference... All the characters and all the food go together. Not flaming you at all... I appreciate different opinions and I appreciate yours, I just happen to disagree with it in this case.

 

[Nancyg56]

We had a late breakfast time (10:30), and in fact were the last table out (which was kind of cool). Our server was really on the ball, and kept checking who had seen us, and he made sure everyone came to our table. This is meant to reassure those that asked about breakfast. I do think it is smart to watch for yourself, too. So, we saw all the characters, but ALMOST missed our food! About 20 minutes after our first course was served, our waiter casked if we needed seconds on anything. When we looked puzzled and asked for firsts, he was off like a flash... Apparently the kitchen was closing!

The op was between a rock and a hard place. The restaurant was way behind seating, and the characters have a deadline, they needed to leave. How could the op know that? No one bothered to tell her that the characters had to exit by s certain time

 

[Lisa F]

I know this is extreme but let me present it this way... What if they had the characters but the restaurant after 10 minutes being seated, those in the restaurant were told by their server they were all out food, but hey, they did have the characters... Since they had the characters and they did have a chance to get something at the buffet table in those 10 minutes then all is good... After all there are no guarantees. It's just a frustration I'm sure we can all understand... IMHO, there is no difference... All the characters and all the food go together. Not flaming you at all... I appreciate different opinions and I appreciate yours, I just happen to disagree with it in this case.

I was specifically talking about having to wait for an ADR, which the OP was frustrated about and which some people latched onto. If you read my other posts you see I agree 100% with the OP for being disappointed in his overall experience and agree 100% with Disney for refunding their money.

I'm just saying in general for reservations having to wait past your ADR is not a reason to be upset by itself. But in this specific case it became something to add to the list of complaints because that is the margin of time by which they missed the characters. You don't disagree with me, just misunderstood.

 

[Lisa F]

But it is not "sauce for the goose". The OP didn't ask where the characters were, and then not eat anything. Don't get me wrong I'm thrilled for them that they got a full refund. But in no way is that what sounds reasonable. Disney went above and beyond and good that they did!

That's because that's not the way character meals work. You kind of book it and pay big money with the assumption that you sit down and eat and the characters come when they come. It should NOT be the customer's responsibility to ensure that they are going to get what they paid for before they start any part of the experience. I'm sorry, but that is completely ridiculous. If they are having staffing issues and they KNOW this then it is on the restaurant to say "we are running behind and by the time we seat you, chip and dale and mickey are going to need to go to bed for the night. Do you still want to eat here or can we offer you an ADR at a different time?" They didn't do that. For what they charge, *I* should NOT be responsible for making sure I am going to get what I paid for before I put one thing in my mouth!

 

[goofy4prez]

I was specifically talking about having to wait for an ADR. If you read my other posts you see I agree 100% with the OP for being disappointed in his overall experience and agree 100% with Disney for refunding their money. I'm just saying in general for reservations having to wait past your ADR is not a reason to be upset by itself. But I'm sure in their case it made it even worse because that is the margin of time by which they missed the characters. You don't disagree with me, just misunderstood.

Fair enough. I went back and reread... Actually, I really disagreed with another post that wasn't yours and you like many (myself included) disagree with them.

 

[tj6285]

OK this has made me very nervous since my DD and I have a late breakfast reservation (11:30) at 'O'Hana in June. All she wants to do is see Stitch! I booked late to be at park early and then leave for a bit to get out of the heat. Now I'm second guessing my decision.

 

[Lisa F]

OK this has made me very nervous since my DD and I have a late breakfast reservation (11:30) at 'O'Hana in June. All she wants to do is see Stitch! I booked late to be at park early and then leave for a bit to get out of the heat. Now I'm second guessing my decision.

While there is more chance of that happening at the tail end of a meal period than right in the middle, honestly this is not the experience that most people have. We booked a late Ohana breakfast on our last trip and were one fo the last couple of tables and we got to see everyone and stitch even came back around a second time before taking off.

 

[Nancyg56]

That's because that's not the way character meals work. You kind of book it and pay big money with the assumption that you sit down and eat and the characters come when they come. It should NOT be the customer's responsibility to ensure that they are going to get what they paid for before they start any part of the experience. I'm sorry, but that is completely ridiculous. If they are having staffing issues and they KNOW this then it is on the restaurant to say "we are running behind and by the time we seat you, chip and dale and mickey are going to need to go to bed for the night. Do you still want to eat here or can we offer you an ADR at a different time?" They didn't do that. For what they charge, I shouldn't be responsible I am going to get what I paid for before I put one thing in my mouth!

Let's take this away from Disney and bring it to any other venue. I book a dinners show, pay big dollars for dinner and the show. The venue has two settings, and the first runs late. We are seated 30 to 40 minutes late and our food is served. The curtain rises, the first line is recited, curtain closes. Ooooops! The actors union specifies that they must exit and off they go. What am I entitled? I came for the show. I was not told I would not get to see said show. I want a refund, but I ate the meal believing I was going to also see the show, and would never have stayed if I knew.

This is no different, but it's not Disney. I love the place but I feel they owed the guests a chance to make an informed decision. I would feel the same way in a dinner show as in GG.