So disappointed at Disney

[mousehockey37]

Here is what is actually posted on the Disney website:

My Disney Girl’s Perfectly Princess Tea Party
This fantasy-come-true showers young princesses with the royal treatment—plus a special visit from a Disney Princess.


Royal Revelry
Young princesses and princes are regaled with music, dancing, storytelling and more at this unforgettable, courtly tea.

"Rose Petal," a magical rose from Aurora's garden, has come alive to host the party, leading a special princess parade, storytelling and sing-alongs. At this stately celebration, Princess Aurora herself may also make an appearance, so be sure to bring your cameras and autograph books!

Encouraged to dress as their favorite Disney Princess, young royals sip apple juice “tea” and feast on heart-cut peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, ham and cheese sandwiches, grapes and Princess Cake.

Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the price reflects the individual cost per Guest for both one child and one adult. Additional children and adults are also welcome to attend at an extra individual charge per Guest. Adults can enjoy an extensive selection of traditional and herbal teas and dine upon a selection of cheeses, tea sandwiches (such as egg salad and chicken salad sandwiches), grapes and lavosh.

Regal Gifts
Each young partygoer receives exciting gifts as keepsakes of this storybook morning.

Princesses receive:

• A special 18-inch My Disney Girl doll dressed in a Princess Aurora gown plus accessories
• A princess tiara
• A silver princess bracelet
• A princess necklace
• A fresh rose
• A special princess scrapbook page "Best Friend" certificate for their new My Disney Girl doll

Each young prince who attends will receive a princely sword and shield, a plush Disney bear and a “Best Friend” certificate.

Reservations Advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made up to 180 days prior to your visit. To make a reservation, please call (407) WDW-MYTEA or (407) 939-6983.

My Disney Girl's Perfectly Princess Tea Party is held on select days at 10:30 am. Please note: An adult and child must be present to attend the event.


To me, this means that the event is NOT something that can be booked online, ergo, no booking info is online (like the other dining). This seems to be a matter of persistence.

It's offered on select days... what does that mean? Someone's little princess is gonna be let down. If you can't make the event happen, start looking for other ways to do something else.

Sadly, this is a reminder of the "me, me, me" mentality of our society today. Yes, the event is offered. No, nobody has any idea as to why they aren't booking for February. How about asking for managers, then their managers, then their managers.... Escalate the issue if it's so important. Do not forget that when you deal with the phone CM's that you're dealing more than likely with someone in a call center that ISN'T EVEN IN FLORIDA!!!

 

[Jafar30]

While it is disappointing that no one from Disney can give a straight answer, I hope this isn't the event that would make or break your trip.

 

[Andtototoo]

Sadly, this is a reminder of the "me, me, me" mentality of our society today. Yes, the event is offered. No, nobody has any idea as to why they aren't booking for February. How about asking for managers, then their managers, then their managers.... Escalate the issue if it's so important. Do not forget that when you deal with the phone CM's that you're dealing more than likely with someone in a call center that ISN'T EVEN IN FLORIDA!!!

. It is not the customer's job to call back repeatedly. It is not the customer's job to escalate. It is not the customer's job to remember that the staff is apparently allowed to be incompetent and that the customer is supposed to be grateful to have access to these wonderful events that they pay huge amounts of money for. That is the kind of attitude that has led to poor customer service at Disney these days.

And frankly, how is the staff's physical location in any way relevant to purchasing a ticket over the phone or online? The staff is not hand delivering the item to the hotel in person upon purchase. All they are responsible for knowing information and entering data into a form and hitting submit -- their physical location is irrelevant.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It is not the customer's job to remember that the staff is apparently allowed to be incompetent work with and provide only the information to which they have access, while bearing the full brunt of the wrath of customers.

Fixed it for you.

 

[mousehockey37]

. It is not the customer's job to call back repeatedly. It is not the customer's job to escalate. It is not the customer's job to remember that the staff is apparently allowed to be incompetent and that the customer is supposed to be grateful to have access to these wonderful events that they pay huge amounts of money for. That is the kind of attitude that has led to poor customer service at Disney these days.

And frankly, how is the staff's physical location in any way relevant to purchasing a ticket over the phone or online? The staff is not hand delivering the item to the hotel in person upon purchase. All they are responsible for knowing information and entering data into a form and hitting submit -- their physical location is irrelevant.

It IS the customer's job to do those things, IMHO. Should they not, change will never happen. Escalating this issue past CS level may get an answer. If the on duty manager can't get it done, call at a different time or get someone higher up. Disney is no different than any other company in that regard.

The staff location is relevant. A lot of people, when they call in, are under the assumption that they're talking with someone that's in the park or somewhere close to it. This "distance" is not helping with all the misinformation that is out there (see the person that was told something by 4 different CM's). Sure, you can get transferred to someone in the parks depending on what your issue is, but it may take awhile.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

I agree with point it gets to the me mentality and entitlement issues our society has.
Isn't February a slow time that this might not be offered as much as in busy times.
This post came from DIL to MIL to here. From the post it appears this was something very important to them. I'm sure some of the facts might be off some.
Yes, the CMs should find answer if they don't know the answer. Yes, a manager should find out too. But it's not worth ruining a vacation over because you can't go.
If the princess is super young is she going to really remember or is it more about mom and grandma wanting her to go and be able to say she went.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm just not following the "entitlement" issue here.

Disney offers an event. OP wants to book it. And they are frustrated that it isn't appearing in the system at the typical time to be booked.

How is that entitlement?

 

[maxiesmom]

OP, if you haven't already done so, I would call and try to book it yourself and see what they say. Maybe the event is not being offered the dates you need it, maybe it was and is already sold out. O maybe it won't be offered at all, as it is only done on "select" days. Also send off an e-mail and tell them you want to book but can't. I have always had the best luck with getting problems solved when I e-mail them.

 

[mom2rtk]

They really ought to rework the tea party and make it Frozen themed. Can you imagine the demand?

 

[Lynne M]

I don't believe that it's just a case of the manager not bothering, or not caring to put the dates in the system. That has the sound of a blow-off answer from a CM who has no idea why the event isn't available for booking, and is giving a vague answer that will hopefully satisfy the caller so she can move on to the next call.

Something else is going on. If, as kaytieeldr said, the afternoon tea is not appearing after 12/15 as well, I suspect they're at least considering a refurb of the tea room, and haven't made a firm decision yet, and are holding off on taking bookings until the decision is finalized so they don't have to call a bunch of guests up and tell them the event that they've promised their little princesses is cancelled.

That puts the phone CMs in a bad spot, because they are not clued in to these management level discussions, and so they have nothing to tell the OP's daughter-in-law when she wants to know why she can't book the tea party. OP, I know you would have liked some follow-up, but had the CM called around and found out that the bookings were on hold pending some management decision - she likely wouldn't have been allowed to tell your daughter in law anyway.

All I can suggest is that you send an e-mail to guest relations and see if they have any further information.

 

[Lynne M]

They really ought to rework the tea party and make it Frozen themed. Can you imagine the demand?

And maybe that's exactly what they're doing.

 

[mom2rtk]

And maybe that's exactly what they're doing.

Honestly, I'm surprised they didn't do that already. It would require a pretty substantial makeover though. Rose Petal really is the star of that show and it's a lot more than just a tea party. There are songs and storytelling. It could be fun with a Frozen theme. I know it's been in its current state for a long time. We did it for the first time in 2008. We had friends do it in 2007.

 

[TLSnell1981]

They really ought to rework the tea party and make it Frozen themed. Can you imagine the demand?

It sells quite well as is. Why fix it, if it's not broken?

 

[mom2rtk]

It sells quite well as is. Why fix it, if it's not broken?

It was just a thought.

The 2 times we went it did not sell out, but that's been a few years, so maybe it does now.

 

[Disneychick75]

It sells quite well as is. Why fix it, if it's not broken?

Because it's Disney and they're infamous for taking something not broken and then breaking it.

 

[TLSnell1981]

It was just a thought.

The 2 times we went it did not sell out, but that's been a few years, so maybe it does now.

We've taken , over the last 15 years and it was always full. Maybe, it was due to a busy time of the year?

We added a earlier this year. I hope, this doesn't go away.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Ye

Because it's Disney and they're infamous for taking something not broken and then breaking it.

Yeah, I was thinking the same...

 

[mom2rtk]

We've taken , over the last 15 years and it was always full. Maybe, it was due to a busy time of the year?

We added a earlier this year. I hope, this doesn't go away.

Ah. I don't blame you. I have taken my only princess. Twice. And the potential for grand princesses is so far away I'll probably have to roll into the tea party in a wheelchair.

 

[NewRVLady]

Lynne your comments are thoughtful and really seem to be what is going on & why the poor CM doesn't haves clue

 

[Angelrose]

It's my daughter in law's decision. She has emailed customer service and called numerous times with always the same result. " Nobody knows nothing." They just say the manager of the GF has not put in the information. I wouldn't know how to email the GF manager anyway.

My daughter in law has given up on that particular tea and we are going to book the Garden Tea Room for that day and just buy her the doll. I think it will be cheaper and she will still have her mom and grandmom with her on her special day.