Was anyone at MNSSP on Sept 16? Did you request partial compensation from guest services?

[gottalovepluto]

. I don’t know the refund etiquette.

The etiquette is to be polite to the Guest Relations CM you talk to. You feel shorted so if you’re still there go talk to Guest Relations at any of the parks. This will take time, there are often lines so be patient. If you’ve left call Disney. Might they say nope? Yup. Might they say sure well give you something? Yup. It is not wrong to ask.

Is it unprecedented to get something? No, it’s just very rare. For whatever reason Disney once in a while feels it is in their best interest to compensate when some parties go very bad.

To all those saying “Disney is setting a bad precedent”- Disney needs to protect their assets, CMs and image. In striking that balance sometimes it is prudent to issue compensation. Massive crowds of pissed off people, even wrongly so, can go south fast.

Do note- Disney keeps track of these things and it will be on your account history. This isn’t a bad thing, it just means you can’t somehow turn this into a habit or find a way to game Disney. I was at the party last year that was so bad they auto-refunded or issued one day park hoppers to everyone before the party ended. (The guest relations lines were hundreds of people deep when I left at 10pm.) I was unable to use the 1 day park hopper I was issued as an AP & no refund could be issued because I bought on Viator. The CM I spoke to at Guest Relations the next day said they’d offer me gc compensation that time only because she could see in my account history I’d never had something like this happen.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

It's weird how defensive people get about this sort of thing.

Disney has offered Rain checks in the past for events being washed out. Including many MNSSHP.

Rule of thumb is normally to speak to CM before you leave or within a few days. Be kind and you never know Disney might have some magic for you.

The policies in place often get quoted here, but we know from Disney’s own movies that these are more like guidelines than actual rules.

I doubt the OP returns with an update due to the chilly initial reception that she received.

 

[BrianL]

It has nothing to do with getting wet ... it is about that you did not get the specific things you paid for.

Like ... were parades cancelled or greatly reduced in size, were the fireworks impacted, were the Hocus Pocus shows cancelled, usually the candy is under cover now but was it impacted, did the special character meets get reduced as many are outside, were dance parties moved under cover or cancelled .... these are the extras that they paid for, not the rides or perfect weather.

Years ago I went to a party that was greatly impacted by torrential rain, so bad park was very empty before the fireworks finally went off delayed ... in a solid cloud too so they were interesting. They refunded anyone who asked.

It definitely depends on how impacted things were. I don't think a refund is warranted if things were delayed or only some stuff was cancelled, but if every unique offering was rained out completely, then yeah, I get it. I'm sure Disney uses their judgement about such things too, and while the technical rule is "non-refundable" we know they make judgement calls.

 

[Miffy]

The thing is, it's not up to us DISboarders to decide. Not only weren't we there, but most of us--perhaps all of us--aren't Guest Services CMs.

OP, if you're still reading this and you're still at WDW, go to Guest Services and tell them what happened. They may or may not compensate you in any way, but maybe they will. You won't know until you try. If I felt as strongly about this as you do, I would definitely go to Guest Services or a GET CM.

 

[HopperFan]

It definitely depends on how impacted things were. I don't think a refund is warranted if things were delayed or only some stuff was cancelled, but if every unique offering was rained out completely, then yeah, I get it. I'm sure Disney uses their judgement about such things too, and while the technical rule is "non-refundable" we know they make judgement calls.

Completely agree with you ~ the purpose of my comment was to the poster who felt the OP had issue with the rain and stated day guests get wet all the time without refunds, and why is a party ticket more important. The issue has nothing to do with guests and rain, it has to do with how much of the party elements they paid for did not happen. Disney knows what they cancelled, and the value of that particular event. OP has to discuss it with Disney because every single event & date will be different.

I've been to about 30 MNSSHP and only once did we get a refund because half the major elements did not happen. They were very willingly handing out full refunds. It was widely publicized they were offering refunds. Disney does make adjustments when they know they are valid. We also got refunds for a party at Studios that was a disaster. They gave me choice of full refund or one day tickets. I took the tickets because at that time they were worth more.

 

[disneychrista]

Too late for this now but I think the time to ask was while you were at the party.

My experience was nearly 25 years ago but we went to Very Merry and it was not only raining, there was lightening. We were able to get tickets to a different night.

 

[Mle8308]

Except that just a few parties ago it rained and there are quite a few reports (in the MNSSHP thread) of getting a $75 gc/voucher. OP, call GS and see if anything can be done.

I was there the week prior (not at the party, staying at the Poly) and I was talking to some people at the pool the next day about the party. There was a bad rainstorm and the parade was canceled and the fireworks were effected. They were there and got $75 gift cards for each ticket. Another poster also referenced the same night/storm.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Too late for this now but I think they time to ask was while you were at the party.

My experience was nearly 25 years ago but we went to Very Merry and it was not only raining, there was lightening. We were able to get tickets to a different night.

Actually, that could be a lousy time to ask if things have really gone south. I am not exaggerating when I say the guest relations line outside MK on my party night last year was hundreds of people long. I made the call to leave that night not expecting anything- no refund amount was worth the physical toll of hours in line in the pouring rain. See in the 25 years since you’ve been 2 key things have changed- party capacity and price. That leads to far more folks at Guest Relations when things go wrong.

 

[disneychrista]

Actually, that could be a lousy time to ask if things have really gone south. I am not exaggerating when I say the guest relations line outside MK on my party night last year was hundreds of people long. I made the call to leave that night not expecting anything- no refund amount was worth the physical toll of hours in line in the pouring rain. See in the 25 years since you’ve been 2 key things have changed- party capacity and price. That leads to far more folks at Guest Relations when things go wrong.

The other thing that has changed is physical tickets for the event.

If memory serves they were actually making announcements that guests could come to City Hall to exchange their tickets. I don't know if it would have even been possible to do the exchange after the fact.

 

[erinch]

Hello, OP here!
At airport headed home after an amazing solo trip! First time without family in tow— going by myself a bday present from hubby.

Ultimately, I didn’t take the time to visit GS , as I wasn’t planning to return to MK and would have had to make a special trip and cutsomething else and I had lots of other plans.

As a bit more on the circumstances, I have an AP and came in early to get my wristband, and then go to dinner at Wailulu. While on the resort launch, they grounded it at GF, along with all other boats, as the storm blew up quickly. I hightailed it on the path, and got to Wailulu moments before the skies opened with torrential thunder and lightning. So I was lucky to be at Wailulu, where I stayed for 2.5 hours. None of the boats were running, I don’t know about the monorails. The weather app said the next day that it rained 2.5 inches. So when I got back at 8:30, none of the outdoors rides were open. They finally ran the 8:15 parade at 9:30, much downsized, and no one lifting their feet more than 2 inches off the street.

I personally had bought tickets for the 14th and the 16th, as I’d never been , and don’t know when I will have time to get away at this time of year again. I’d saved the parades, and planned to watch several sets of the Dans and Rusty Cutlass. None of the CMs knew when or if they might come on —the lack of information was the most difficult to figure out what to do now. The lines for attractions that WERE open were really long. As a side note, there were several hundred people in line at the outside the park guest services and spilling out of the Main Street one when I went in. I presume for refunds, as there would not have been much to do.

Having read all your responses, I think, given that so many things were unavailable until 10, asking for a partial refund GC would have been reasonable. It wasn’t worth the trip back to MK, as I only had one more day with lots of plans. If they had said no politely, I wouldn’t have been mad. As someone said, it’s a grey area.

But I did have some pixie dust. I bought one of the little Rummy shoulder parrots. The magnet was defective and it fell off… into the still unused toilet. I fished it out, so housekeeping didn’t have to. I explained this at the gift shop, and they gave me a new one! The magnet runs strong in that second one.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Hello, OP here!
At airport headed home after an amazing solo trip! First time without family in tow— going by myself a bday present from hubby.

Ultimately, I didn’t take the time to visit GS , as I wasn’t planning to return to MK and would have had to make a special trip and cutsomething else and I had lots of other plans.

As a bit more on the circumstances, I have an AP and came in early to get my wristband, and then go to dinner at Wailulu. While on the resort launch, they grounded it at GF, along with all other boats, as the storm blew up quickly. I hightailed it on the path, and got to Wailulu moments before the skies opened with torrential thunder and lightning. So I was lucky to be at Wailulu, where I stayed for 2.5 hours. None of the boats were running, I don’t know about the monorails. The weather app said the next day that it rained 2.5 inches. So when I got back at 8:30, none of the outdoors rides were open. They finally ran the 8:15 parade at 9:30, much downsized, and no one lifting their feet more than 2 inches off the street.

I personally had bought tickets for the 14th and the 16th, as I’d never been , and don’t know when I will have time to get away at this time of year again. I’d saved the parades, and planned to watch several sets of the Dans and Rusty Cutlass. None of the CMs knew when or if they might come on —the lack of information was the most difficult to figure out what to do now. The lines for attractions that WERE open were really long. As a side note, there were several hundred people in line at the outside the park guest services and spilling out of the Main Street one when I went in. I presume for refunds, as there would not have been much to do.

Having read all your responses, I think, given that so many things were unavailable until 10, asking for a partial refund GC would have been reasonable. It wasn’t worth the trip back to MK, as I only had one more day with lots of plans. If they had said no politely, I wouldn’t have been mad. As someone said, it’s a grey area.

But I did have some pixie dust. I bought one of the little Rummy shoulder parrots. The magnet was defective and it fell off… into the still unused toilet. I fished it out, so housekeeping didn’t have to. I explained this at the gift shop, and they gave me a new one! The magnet runs strong in that second one.

Rough night!

Please let us know if you decide to give Disney a call.

 

[Miffy]

Hello, OP here!
At airport headed home after an amazing solo trip! First time without family in tow— going by myself a bday present from hubby.

Ultimately, I didn’t take the time to visit GS , as I wasn’t planning to return to MK and would have had to make a special trip and cutsomething else and I had lots of other plans.

As a bit more on the circumstances, I have an AP and came in early to get my wristband, and then go to dinner at Wailulu. While on the resort launch, they grounded it at GF, along with all other boats, as the storm blew up quickly. I hightailed it on the path, and got to Wailulu moments before the skies opened with torrential thunder and lightning. So I was lucky to be at Wailulu, where I stayed for 2.5 hours. None of the boats were running, I don’t know about the monorails. The weather app said the next day that it rained 2.5 inches. So when I got back at 8:30, none of the outdoors rides were open. They finally ran the 8:15 parade at 9:30, much downsized, and no one lifting their feet more than 2 inches off the street.

I personally had bought tickets for the 14th and the 16th, as I’d never been , and don’t know when I will have time to get away at this time of year again. I’d saved the parades, and planned to watch several sets of the Dans and Rusty Cutlass. None of the CMs knew when or if they might come on —the lack of information was the most difficult to figure out what to do now. The lines for attractions that WERE open were really long. As a side note, there were several hundred people in line at the outside the park guest services and spilling out of the Main Street one when I went in. I presume for refunds, as there would not have been much to do.

Having read all your responses, I think, given that so many things were unavailable until 10, asking for a partial refund GC would have been reasonable. It wasn’t worth the trip back to MK, as I only had one more day with lots of plans. If they had said no politely, I wouldn’t have been mad. As someone said, it’s a grey area.

But I did have some pixie dust. I bought one of the little Rummy shoulder parrots. The magnet was defective and it fell off… into the still unused toilet. I fished it out, so housekeeping didn’t have to. I explained this at the gift shop, and they gave me a new one! The magnet runs strong in that second one.

Thanks so much for posting. I hate it when the OP disappears!

 

[Debbie Jean]

Too late for this now but I think the time to ask was while you were at the party.

My experience was nearly 25 years ago but we went to Very Merry and it was not only raining, there was lightening. We were able to get tickets to a different night.

Well, no.

I didn’t mention in my previous post on compensation for the September 7th party the fiasco that was the transportation that ended the night. Pouring rain, monorail shut down, promise of buses but no buses and masses of people outside MK desperate to get anywhere. I threw 4 ponchos over me and my scooter, plowing through 4” puddles along the walking path back to GF praying the scooter didn’t stall. Talked to folks who took over 2 hours to get back to the GF after making it as far as the Contemporary and being stranded.

No one was thinking of GS or compensation. Everyone was desperate to find a way home. I stopped at GS next day but was fortunate to be able to do it easily. My point is there are boatloads of reasons folks might not stop at GS the night of the party.