They stopped giving the lanyards!

[allears]

Change is the way of the world, programs change. They are giving away just what they did before the laynards; Stateroom gifts, reception, seperate check in (which you don't have to use) and the ability to book resservations 90 days out.

Our last cruise in 9/06 was our first one after the laynard program began. We thought it was cool and appreicated it, but on our previous 5 sailings, we didn't get laynards, they weren't doing that.

I am sure Disney will come up with something new and fun.

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

I don't expect to get anything BUT I was really looking forward to FINALLY getting lanyards and pins. It'll be our 6th cruise. We always checked in through the conceirge line and no one ever offered them to us. I never heard about them until we were onboard this last time.

So, I didn't feel like it was owed to me, but I was still looking forward to it. I will be happy just to be back on board.

 

[pgfour]

So I guess we should pack ours from last year and take them with us since we won't receive a new set. . .

 

[Cin929]

Just off the Nov. 3rd cruise and we did not get the lanyard at check in. I was kind of upset. My DS9 bought a pin at the airport and I told him to hold off for the lanyard since we would be receiving one. We ended up buying everyone lanyards, but we did get the stateroom gifts.

 

[jajomo0118]

Wow, I stand corrected...so, the only thing is you don't get the pins and lanyards at check in -- you still get something. I know it's a dissapointment, but at least Disney does acknowledge your repeat business!

I'm glad to know the stateroom gift still exists!!

Bon Voyage!

I have the same thoughts. I do believe that there should be some tangible loyalty cruiser gift, and as far as we all know, that will still be in place the next time we cruise. Perhaps there is a plan to give you something else at check-in, so they ceased orders on the lanyards and their vendor for the new item hasn't brought in the new replacement. Maybe there won't be a replacement gift at the time of check-in.

In addition to Luckymomoftwo's comment, here are my other thoughts.....

• Please don't flame me for this, but as Luckymomoftwo pointed out, there are MANY faithful repeat cruisers (2+ cruises under their belt). Just how many identical lanyards does one need? (I know the pins were a great bonus as well) I think it doesn't seem like a bad idea that they're POTENTIALLY considering a replacement. Even if they don't, we can still be thankful for the gift left for us in the stateroom.
• I think most of us can agree that their loyalty program needs to be revamped. In fact someone recently opened up a poll thread regarding this very topic. So the discontinuation of lanyards may be a small step in that direction! A girl can be hopeful, right?!!!

Finally, just an idea to throw out there....

For SEVERAL months, those on our Sept '08 Double Dip cruise Meets thread have planned to have our own DIS lanyards manufactured with our thread name of "Double Dip Delight" included on it. This idea came from a cruiser of the TransAtlantic who said they had setup their own DIS Meets lanyards for that cruise. A handful of people will be chipping in to a fund to buy them for everyone so we can all have a momento to take home that's very special to OUR specific cruise AND so we can spot the DISers onboard. So if you have an active Meets thread with several DISers who can financially contribute, take control and give everyone a lanyard to take home afterall!

.....Its really not about I feel I'm owed a free gift...It just sucks cause no one knows that your a repeat customer now. If I had a problem or was lost If I seen some one with a CC lanyard then I could ask a question and feel comfortable with the expert and most of the time very very friendly reply..... ...So now I don't get to do that for some other crusier....

 

[inkkognito]

If I had a problem or was lost If I seen some one with a CC lanyard then I could ask a question and feel comfortable with the expert and most of the time very very friendly reply..... ...So now I don't get to do that for some other crusier....

Take a risk and ask someone randomly anyway. With the number of DCL repeaters, on some cruises your odds of getting a repeater are 50 percent or better.

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

.....Its really not about I feel I'm owed a free gift...It just sucks cause no one knows that your a repeat customer now. If I had a problem or was lost If I seen some one with a CC lanyard then I could ask a question and feel comfortable with the expert and most of the time very very friendly reply..... ...So now I don't get to do that for some other crusier....

I see your point...yes, that part about it does stink. Let's just hope that if they truly are coming out with some other free gift upon check-in, it's something bigger and better like maybe a T-shirt with the Castaway Club logo on it!! Now, THAT would be cool!

 

[jajomo0118]

Yep....thats how I think most of us who will be repeat customers next time feel like. We are a part of the "club" just no one knows...because many people have numerous ones they think its no big deal.... Like I said it will in no way stop me from cruising w/DCL but i sure would have liked to have one...thats all...

 

[Buckeye Gal]

.....Its really not about I feel I'm owed a free gift...It just sucks cause no one knows that your a repeat customer now. If I had a problem or was lost If I seen some one with a CC lanyard then I could ask a question and feel comfortable with the expert and most of the time very very friendly reply..... ...So now I don't get to do that for some other crusier....

Absolutely a valid point you're ensuring gets across! You want to return the favor that someone else likely did for you. That's a good thing! Just keep looking for those "eyes in the headlights" look, and I'm sure you'll be able to offer some guidance for someone.

It's probably just time to have a new promotion so frequent repeat cruisers don't keep getting the same thing. I love the idea of special t-shirts or maybe even hats/visors!

 

[PoohJen]

Everybody seems to be upset about not getting FREE lanyards & trading pins...this was a nice added gift that DCL never really HAD to do in the first place. What about the repeat guest gift you still get in your stateroom? ...I am just posting MY opinion.

likewise, just posting our opinions that we are sad not to get the lanyard/pins. Not taking anything for granted, and certainly not suicidal. Just 'gee that's a shame' sad.

The suddenness sounds to me like they ran out (esp. giving out lanyards w/o the pins)?

 

[disneyfan19712006]

I am sad my son and husband will not get lanyards next month when we go. I have one from June. It was a surprise I was not expecting. Have the stateroom gifts changed yet. We last recieved the little tote bag with the two mesh bags inside.

 

[deb123453]

For SEVERAL months, those on our Sept '08 Double Dip cruise Meets thread have planned to have our own DIS lanyards manufactured with our thread name of "Double Dip Delight" included on it. This idea came from a cruiser of the TransAtlantic who said they had setup their own DIS Meets lanyards for that cruise. A handful of people will be chipping in to a fund to buy them for everyone so we can all have a momento to take home that's very special to OUR specific cruise AND so we can spot the DISers onboard. So if you have an active Meets thread with several DISers who can financially contribute, take control and give everyone a lanyard to take home afterall!

i must be really tired i was reading this and then thought oh no i joined the wrong meet. and then of course realized that the 08 was the year not the day. you had me worried for a minute there. i think i have been working to hard and must need a disney vacation.
on this topic next year would be only are 2nd cruise so i was really looking forward to some gifts. at least on our meet we do have the lanyards and fishextender gifts

 

[Buckeye Gal]

i must be really tired i was reading this and then thought oh no i joined the wrong meet. and then of course realized that the 08 was the year not the day. you had me worried for a minute there. i think i have been working to hard and must need a disney vacation.
on this topic next year would be only are 2nd cruise so i was really looking forward to some gifts. at least on our meet we do have the lanyards and fishextender gifts

You and DD indeed need a Disney vacation!! I'm sure we'll still get some DCL gifts, too!

 

[nokidz]

my spouse and I were looking forward to the lanyards.

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

wow, i am a lil'surpise..because its almost like a "dcl 's tradition".
[ the first type of pins were mickey at the helm..and sorta compliments
pin trading @ wdw].

the other reason, we were given extras on the 11-dayer wonder last
sept. , also they gave out pins sets, & special trading pins...mickey
inside the famous shape...and potc skull pins..esp. during the partys.

based on the promotional values..i'm a lil'surprised. [ we sorta fallen
into the tradition of collecting the pins...from one cruise to another.
on our last cruise, there were alot of pirates' laynard pins on the crew's
laynards. ]

kind like the hidden mickeys..making disney , DISNEY.

 

[CraftyMouse]

Like I said in my previous post, if you are upset about this then send DCL an email. It's very easy to do and the only way that they are going to know the effect of their decision.

I have not received a response to my email yet. I did receive and email saying they needed to do more research and would get back to me. We'll see what happens.

 

[spacerangerqueen]

.....Its really not about I feel I'm owed a free gift...It just sucks cause no one knows that your a repeat customer now. If I had a problem or was lost If I seen some one with a CC lanyard then I could ask a question and feel comfortable with the expert and most of the time very very friendly reply..... ...So now I don't get to do that for some other crusier....

Well most people will still wear there KTTW on some kind of lanyard around their neck and I beleive they still print the cards for CC members on a completly different stock (different color different character) than the first timers. So there is still a way to identify repeat cruisers.

 

[scm]

"It's very easy to do and the only way that they are going to know the effect of their decision."
Actually I was interested to hear, when I discussed this on the Castaway phone line, that they were well aware of the reaction and did read comments posted on sites like this. To what effect ......who knows?

 

[tyedye]

Like I said in my previous post, if you are upset about this then send DCL an email. It's very easy to do and the only way that they are going to know the effect of their decision.

I have not received a response to my email yet. I did receive and email saying they needed to do more research and would get back to me. We'll see what happens.

I sent an email as well. I received a standard message saying they received my email and would get back to me. I have not heard anything since that, this was on Saturday.

We were on the 1st cruise to not receive the lanyards/pins on the Wonder 11/4. The lanyards they sold at Mickeys Mates were $8 and the fabric felt kinda thin. I didn't want my boys running around without a secure way to carry their card so I bought the little dryboxes for $5 each. Had I known they would not be handing out the lanyards I would have bought some at WalMart or someplace.

I think the most disappointing thing about them stopping the lanyards and pins was that we were told that they had not decided what new item to replace it with it yet. So they do plan on replacing the lanyards with something yet we were one of the ones who did not receive the lanyard or the new item, that is what I am disappointed about.

 

[Stepht5]

I don't expect to get anything BUT I was really looking forward to FINALLY getting lanyards and pins. It'll be our 6th cruise. We always checked in through the conceirge line and no one ever offered them to us. I never heard about them until we were onboard this last time.

So, I didn't feel like it was owed to me, but I was still looking forward to it. I will be happy just to be back on board.

I asked about them! LOL! I had read the DIS before our last cruise so, I knew they were available.