Warning!

[LindaR]

I just thought I'd share an incident that happened yesterday and hope that it may serve as a warning/lesson learned. I know that I will NEVER do this again.

Last week, the Vacation Planning Office at DL offered to reserve our Fantasmic premium view seats for us. They would make the call first thing on 26 Feb (for 2 tickets for the 26 March show) and call me later to let me know that we got seats. I agreed. The lady asked for some info. I let her know that I really only wanted the premium seating because I have some spinal problems and can't stand for very long and must have back support when I am seated. I also told her that we were interested in the 9pm show only. She asked if I had a preferance for area and I said that balcony was first choice and the riverside seating was second choice.

Yesterday, around noon I received a phone call letting me know that we got balcony tickets for the 10:30 show! I told the lady that 10:30 was NEVER an option and she looked and said, "Oh, I see that you said you only wanted the 9pm show. I wonder why he got you tickets for the 10:30 show." I told her that she needed to check into the error and let me know how it was going to be corrected. She became very defensive and said that it wasn't HER fault and it wasn't HER job. She then said that she could put us in the VIP area. There are no seats in that area, but I could stand to watch Fantasmic. No, I cannot STAND for that long!

Anyway, the lesson I learned was to handle things myself. I usually do because I am a control freak, but I thought it would be nice to not have to get up early on Sunday just to make a phone call.

I'm disappointed in the way Disney handles issues and the lack of customer service skills. Too bad that they have let the "magic" disappear over the last few years.

 

[DESERTREDHEAD]

Thats a shame they handled it that way! The right thing to do would have not been very hard for that person. Did you get to speak to a supervisor? Did you keep the 10:30 spots? Maybe after you are there, someone will trade you?

 

[blackjackdelta]

Never had that problem. They have always been very professional. You need to contact the supervisor and give them the name of the person you had a problem with. They love to hear from you.

Jack

 

[GreenGirl8]

TAKE THE VIP AREA!!! TAKE IT. They are AMAZING views. Best you could possibly get. Dead center, very close, nobody infront of you. You don't have to get there very early AT ALL. It is the PERFECT spot. You can sit and wait/watch the show. Just with no actual chairs. It is WAY better than balcony! I have watched the show from there a few times...it is GREAT.

 

[LindaR]

GreenGirl8, I did not take the VIP area because there are no chairs. I cannot sit on a curb or anything without back support.

Update: I DID speak with Guest Communications late yesterday. DD17 and I have seats in the riverside section for the 9pm show and they supposedly will give me a refund when we check into our hotel..........so their mistake is not costing me.

The 10:30 show was refunded immediately on Sunday.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Their mistake should never cost you. Use the right approach and they will change what they can. Have a great time.

Jack

 

[GreenGirl8]

Glad everything worked out for you.

 

[darph nader]

I learned a long time ago ,ALWAYS GET NAMES. I could'nt tell if you talked to same person both times or not. Names,time of day and date of first call. Just a suggestion.

 

[zakerdog]

The same thing happened to me last year, I had requested 10:30 balcony seats and they booked me into the 9:00 show. When they called I explained that I could not go to the 9 show, we had made other reservations and only the 10:30 would work. They were able to get me seats in the Riverside section, but they never offered an reinbursements. The riverside seating was very good but I kept looking back at the balcony throughout the show wishing I was up there.

This year I made the phone call myself, got the balcony for the time I want and am very excited about going the end of March.

 

[kelmac284]

Hi this is a bit off topic but do you still call just 30 days out or can you call before that? I would like to get balcony for my mom and my girls and I for June and I know it is busy then so was wondering what the deal was.

Thanks!

 

[LindaR]

Yep, 30 days out.........sorta!

Example: I wanted tickets for the 26 March show. 30 days prior would have been 24 February........their policy states that I could only call for tickets on the 26 February.

You want the show on 10 August, call 10 July....see what I'm saying?

 

[LindaR]

Zakerdog, what are your trip dates? We will be there 25 Mar til 29 Mar. We're actually going to SoCal to look at some colleges for dd17.

Last time we were at DL was 9 years ago. They did not have "riverside" seating at that time, only the balcony. You also could not call ahead to obtain tickets. When the park opened, you rushed to Blue Bayou (actually, around the corner) and the first people in line got the tickets. I did that and thankfully got the last 2 tickets for the 9pm show. My daughter was very tired by the time the show came. She ate her dessert, drank some hot chocolate and promptly fell sound asleep! Everyone was giggling at her and trying to wake her up but she was totally out. Our running joke is about how much I had to PAY for her nap! I even had a CM offer to carry her to the car.

So, my daughter has never seen Fantasmic. When we go to WDW, she's never had a desire to watch it there (I'm not sure *I* have the stamina for this) so this was a special request of hers. She "promised" not to fall asleep during the show this time!