VIP, Villains and Vino With Jen and Joe on the Go New TR Link and this TR is COMPLETE!

[Tracy161]

You may also be wondering in the pics below why I have a napkin on my head???

Nope

Wish me luck!!!!

Good luck!!! Hope you have good news to report later I've been messaging with a Disney pal and he's having issues this morning with the website so hopefully you are not as well.

Love, love, love the home updates! Your entryway is so colorful and absolutely beautiful! Love the flowers - how cute! And they tie things together so nicely.

 

[Wood Nymph]

It looks like the strawberry cheesecake has corn flakes sprinkled on the plate.

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Good luck!!! Hope you have good news to report later I've been messaging with a Disney pal and he's having issues this morning with the website so hopefully you are not as well.

OMG! It was a total sh** show. I'm just about to write about it and am literally posting a vlog about it now...

Love, love, love the home updates! Your entryway is so colorful and absolutely beautiful! Love the flowers - how cute! And they tie things together so nicely.

Thank you!!! After 15 years in this house, it was so nice to finally get it done!!! It looks like Jamaica in my entryway. LOL!

It looks like the strawberry cheesecake has corn flakes sprinkled on the plate.

OMG!!! That's exactly what it was and soooooo good!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

REAL LIFE PARK RESERVATION UPDATE AND VLOG!

Ok, I am going to be totally honest with everyone. Yesterday was a complete sh** show. It took me 12 hours to make park reservations for 3 resort stays, after 5 phone calls to Disney, multiple site crashes etc. At one point, I sat on hold for 2 1/2 hours only to be hung up on after trying to get transferred to IT. Planning a vacation should not be this difficult, ESPECIALLY when the place you are visiting has cut more than half of the magic IMO...I have never been so disappointed with Disney in the 47 years I have been vacationing there. It was so frustrating yesterday that I actually had a full-blown, 5-year-old tantrum, complete with tears. I know, not one of my best moments. I also ended up making 6 News Orlando. I was interviewed and the clip actually made it to tv. The link is posted on my YouTube channel in the description if anyone is interested in seeing it...

Bottom line...if this was my once in a lifetime trip, a vacation that I was only able to take every 4-5 years, I would NOT choose to go at this time...There's just too much magic missing and too many price increases for less (no fireworks, no parades, no character meets, no character meals, having to wear masks, no tours, no dessert parties, no after-hours, limited menus, etc).

In the end, I was able to secure park reservations for all my trips. Again, it should not have taken all day to do it. Disney did a very crappy job of rolling out this new reservation system...They should be ashamed of themselves. I hate saying this too, because you all know how much I adore Disney. But I'm going to be honest, especially if there's someone reading this who was thinking about planning a trip and had no idea how negative the vibe is right now.

Sorry, this was such a negative post. I promise the next one will be back to normal!!!!!! RANT OVER!!!!

 

[NancyLuvsMickey]

Unfortunately, Disney's IT department is subpar... Which is sad because their experience with MDE is some people's first impression of Disney...

We have a resort only reservation for October with no tickets or AP's attached to it and I've received two emails from Disney telling me since I have tickets, I need to make my park reservations...

Glad you finally got your park reservations made, but agree, it shouldn't have taken you 12 hours, 4 phone calls and a melt down to do it...

 

[annie170]

What a shame Disney's most loyal customers had to go through something like that! Are you going to have to go through that nonsense again for dining reservations?

With POR not set to reopen in July, where were you able to get reservations?

 

[Wood Nymph]

I heard that people with multiple reservations were having problems yesterday, especially the annual passholders. I'm sorry to hear that your day was so bad.

I waited until late afternoon to add my park reservations to our late Oct trip at the YC. I didn't have any problems, but then I only had one reservation.

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Glad you finally got your park reservations make, but agree, it shouldn't have taken you 12 hours, 4 phone calls and a melt down to do it...

It was absolutely ridiculous! Zero customer service...

What a shame Disney's most loyal customers had to go through something like that! Are you going to have to go through that nonsense again for dining reservations?

Yep.

With POR not set to reopen in July, where were you able to get reservations?

I have no clue. I can't seem to get ahold of Disney at all. Big surprise!!!

I heard that people with multiple reservations were having problems yesterday, especially the annual passholders. I'm sorry to hear that your day was so bad.

Yes. it was frustrating.

 

[missjackiemcg]

I completely agree, Jenny!! If this was my first trip or "trip of a lifetime," I would definitely rebook for a later date. While part of me is SUPER disappointed in all the things I love that won't be a part of our trip this time, the rest of me is really intrigued to be one of the first people back to WDW upon its reopening.

Glad the park pass reservations are behind us now! Hopefully that magical feeling still exists when I enter the Disney bubble. It is what I'm counting on to turn 2020 around!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

I completely agree, Jenny!! If this was my first trip or "trip of a lifetime," I would definitely rebook for a later date. While part of me is SUPER disappointed in all the things I love that won't be a part of our trip this time, the rest of me is really intrigued to be one of the first people back to WDW upon its reopening.

Glad the park pass reservations are behind us now! Hopefully that magical feeling still exists when I enter the Disney bubble. It is what I'm counting on to turn 2020 around!

I know, right!!! I am dying to see all the changes. We are going with VERY low expectations.
I was on hold with Disney for over 3 hours this morning trying to get info on where I'm being put at the end of July since POR will be closed. I finally hung up out of pure frustration AGAIN today...

 

[Terra Nova guy]

But I'm going to be honest, especially if there's someone reading this who was thinking about planning a trip and had no idea how negative the vibe is right now.

For a little while I was hoping to be able to go back to WDW sooner rather than later. But honestly with everything going on and this new reservation system, I’m happy enough to be staying away. I never thought I would say it, but a trip to my happy place has become more trouble than it’s worth.

 

[jgl130]

Long time lurker, and I love your trip reports and Vlogs!

Yesterday, I was able to make my park reservations, but have been on hold multiple times today and can't get a straight answer about adding days to my tickets.

We were originally rescheduled from our Memorial Day trip to 7/10-7/14 with three days of park hopper tickets, but when we found out the opening dates we rented DVC points to extend our trip to the 17th, since all modifications were on hold at that point.

Now we need three more days of tickets. I somehow ended up accidentally talking to IT today after a two hour hold on what I thought was the reservations number and they couldn't transfer me... I also keep getting mixed answers on if I can actually get three more days of tickets. It's like "take my money, Disney! You've lost billions since March!"

This has been a hot mess! I don't understand why they didn't do a phased park reservation system like they did for the reschedules. It doesn't seem like it would have been hard to do July this week, August next week, etc. Now you've got everyone and their brother trying to change everything (hotels, parks, dining, who knows what else...) all at the same time...

 

[Jenny Sanders]

For a little while I was hoping to be able to go back to WDW sooner rather than later. But honestly with everything going on and this new reservation system, I’m happy enough to be staying away. I never thought I would say it, but a trip to my happy place has become more trouble than it’s worth.

Jeff, this is so ridiculous. Disney should honestly be ashamed of their customer service.

Long time lurker, and I love your trip reports and Vlogs!

Thank you so very much!!!!

This has been a hot mess! I don't understand why they didn't do a phased park reservation system like they did for the reschedules. It doesn't seem like it would have been hard to do July this week, August next week, etc. Now you've got everyone and their brother trying to change everything (hotels, parks, dining, who knows what else...) all at the same time...

This has been the most frustrating thing I have been through in a long time. The CM's have been rude and unhelpful. No one seems to have the correct answers and this reservation system is a mess. I've currently been on hold with Disney for almost 6 hours at this point...

 

[disneyAndi14]

I have not been able to make my reservations yet, I am so disappointed with Disney. I haven’t been able to get through on the phone. It has been busy every time.
Definitely a s*** show! I have tickets and resort reservations and for the life of me can’t make my park reservations. I was able to make 1 day and then it quit. Sucks!!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

I have not been able to make my reservations yet, I am so disappointed with Disney. I haven’t been able to get through on the phone. It has been busy every time.
Definitely a s*** show! I have tickets and resort reservations and for the life of me can’t make my park reservations. I was able to make 1 day and then it quit. Sucks!!

I have now been on hold for over 6 hours, no joke. Just trying to get an answer to where Disney is putting me since POR won't be open. Nobody knows anything.

 

[kastoney]

Dear Famous Lady From the News,

Keep fighting the good fight but remember Disney is a small family owned business and this is new territory for them.

Be patient with their IT. They didn't know it was prone to crashing and issues. They've never done this before.

And think about that poor person on the other end of the phone when you've been on hold for 6 hours. They've been at work all day getting paid to be there. At least you could enjoy the luxury of your own home while I'm sure you had nothing better to do.

And lastly it's not Disney's fault that they decided to close the resort you have a reservation at. Just be happy to be on Disney property and enjoy the trailer they have parked for you in the Magic Kingdom Parking lot. I hear the theme park views are spectacular.

Signed,
Lady in the same boat

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Dear Famous Lady From the News,

Keep fighting the good fight but remember Disney is a small family owned business and this is new territory for them.

Be patient with their IT. They didn't know it was prone to crashing and issues. They've never done this before.

And think about that poor person on the other end of the phone when you've been on hold for 6 hours. They've been at work all day getting paid to be there. At least you could enjoy the luxury of your own home while I'm sure you had nothing better to do.

And lastly it's not Disney's fault that they decided to close the resort you have a reservation at. Just be happy to be on Disney property and enjoy the trailer they have parked for you in the Magic Kingdom Parking lot. I hear the theme park views are spectacular.

Signed,
Lady in the same boat

OMG Kari!!! This made me laugh so hard!!!! Thank you for all your help yesterday!!!! I was literally past the 6 hour hold mark when we were texting last night. You helped me out in literally 10 minutes. Everything is confirmed on MDE too. You are the BEST sister-wife EVER!!!!!

 

[Tracy161]

Just one big OMG to all of this

OMG! It was a total sh** show. I'm just about to write about it and am literally posting a vlog about it now...

It sounds like nothing short of exactly that. And maybe even that's being generous?

It looks like Jamaica in my entryway. LOL!

It totally does! Another reason I love it

Yesterday was a complete sh** show. It took me 12 hours to make park reservations for 3 resort stays, after 5 phone calls to Disney, multiple site crashes etc. At one point, I sat on hold for 2 1/2 hours only to be hung up on after trying to get transferred to IT. Planning a vacation should not be this difficult, ESPECIALLY when the place you are visiting has cut more than half of the magic IMO...I have never been so disappointed with Disney in the 47 years I have been vacationing there.

I cannot believe that! Totally disappointing And - as you said in your vlog - this is coming from someone who KNOWS Disney inside and out. Imagine the poor people who are clueless and had planned their first vacation?! How terrible.

I also ended up making 6 News Orlando.

Yippee! I really hope this gives you some more exposure and ups your subscribers! You both deserve it!

In the end, I was able to secure park reservations for all my trips. Again, it should not have taken all day to do it.

Thank goodness for that. But for real!!! This was a totally predictable situation - Disney should have been prepared for it.

 

[Jenny Sanders]

July Update...

Hi everyone! So, I wanted to give you all an update on where we are for the July Disney vacation...After yet another 3 hours on hold in the morning and 6 in the afternoon, I was FINALLY able to get more plans confirmed. I spoke to exactly 5 CM's between yesterday and Monday and only 2 were able to help me out. Disney, that's 40% which is an F if you are doing the math...It has been 2, extremely frustrating days and I still have to call for a few dining reservations...I tried doing that yesterday as well but was told that 31 days out is too soon. WHAT??? Then I asked what my window was and the CM had no clue. I asked her if I was supposed to call every day, sit on hold for 4 hours, and be told that it's still not the day until it is and she said yes. Sigh...

Anyway, on to the good news, enough of my rant, as I'm sure you're all as sick of my negativity as I am...

After all that, I'm happy to say that I was able to get all the park reservations I wanted for both July and September. Also, we were upgraded from POR/Royal Room/River View (because it will be closed in July) to the Contemporary Resort in the Garden Wing. But, let me say, I was first offered a cabin at Fort Wilderness which I declined. I haven't stayed in the cabins in 23 years and although they are spacious and nicely remodeled, they just aren't for me...

I do have dining every night reserved in DS in July. Those restaurants are: WGP, Morimoto, Paddlefish, Boathouse, and Homecomin' for lunch our arrival day. I am hoping to cancel WGP and replace it with Topolinos and add either the Plaza or Skipper Canteens on our MK day. I may also add Brown Derby on our HS day...

I hope you all have had a much easier time with the new park reservation system and your dining and resort plans than I did. I promise my next blog will be back to normal and all about our morning in MK...

Oh, and all my new changes and add ons are already in my MDE account...

 

[Jenny Sanders]

I cannot believe that! Totally disappointing And - as you said in your vlog - this is coming from someone who KNOWS Disney inside and out. Imagine the poor people who are clueless and had planned their first vacation?! How terrible.

I know, right! I would have most likely given up and canceled.

Yippee! I really hope this gives you some more exposure and ups your subscribers! You both deserve it!

Our numbers were definitely a little higher the last 2 days, so we'll see.

Thank goodness for that. But for real!!! This was a totally predictable situation - Disney should have been prepared for it.

Yes it was. Disney was obviously not prepared for it and most of the CM's had no clue...