Wrote to Guest Services and Disney Paralegal Answers!

[Niagara2]

And....about something as simple as losing a Pal Mickey! What has this world, or should I say WDW come to. I wrote to guest services as we had lost our Pal Mickey at WDW on Buzz Lightyear. My youngest left it on the ride and with the excitement of WDW didn't realize it for a few minutes. When we went back it was gone and lost and found never got it. I had posted on this board about it and I thought a string or something that attaches to you would be a good idea so that you can hold him up to your ear or a family member ear to hear him without detaching Pal Mickey from your belt. So, I wrote to guest services, not asking for anything, not complaining about anything, just giving them our experience and our idea to hopefully have less kids disappointed if they lose a Pal Mickey. This is the reply I received:

Thank you for taking the time to express your feelings about your recent visit to our WDW resort. We were pleased to learn that your visit at the WDW was enjoyable.
There is a portion of your email which contains what appears to be a suggestion in the nature of a creative idea. Unfortunately, our company's long established policy does not allow us to accept for review any ideas or suggestions not solicited by us. The intention of this policy is to avoid misunderstandings when projects are created internally which might be similar to submissions made to us from outside the company.

We recognize that this policy is sometimes a difficult one when someone like yourself, with all the best intentions, would simply like us to consider your creative thoughts. Experience has taught us, though, that if we abandon our policy for one person, we would soon have no policy at all. Therefore as required, since your transmission was submitted electronically, we have deleted your transmission without retaining any copies.

We hope that you will understand our policy, and be assured of our thanks for your interest in writing to us. We value your patronage and look forward to many future opportunities to serve and entertain you in our "Magical" Kingdom.

Sincerely, Sharon A. Mecca - Paralegal

OK guys, I promise, If a see a string or pull tab on Pal Mickey in the future I will not sue WDW for a creative idea....I will only be happy that one less child loses a Pal Mickey! Also - wonder if anyone even knows that guests are losing Pal Mickey's as they even deleted my letter!

 

[WDWorBUST]

I am so sorry about your lost Mickey....and it is frustrating that another child will lose theirs when it seems like I simple fix. However all the ridiculous lawsuits I have seen against Disney I can understand their policy. It's just unfortunate that our society is what has basically caused this - of course it's also our society today that is the reason that you didn't get your Pal Mickey back. And the good people still outweigh the bad people....and there has never been a time that you would have 100% got your Mickey back - but the odds have been better in the past. So hopefully one of their creative geniuses will come up with the idea all on their own to improve Pal Mickey. He sounds like a really neat toy....but not worth the expense for the very reason you stated. It's too easy to leave him behind. Hope you still had a magical vacation.

 

[KellyJ]

I wonder how specific an email has to be in order to fall into the "creative idea" spectrum?

For example, if the email had said "I wish there was some way to attach the Pal Mickey so he wouldn't be left behind"... is that a "creative idea" that would be deleted? or would it need to specifically mention ways this could be accomplished?

I'm sorry... my brain is working overtime this morning and I was just curious!

Kelly

 

[undertheradar]

I would print the email and send it to Burbank, CA. I would address it to Mr. Eisner and request that it be given immediate attention.
After all, a company that sells bottle holders for water bottles that it sells could certainly profit from selling a "leash" for a $50.00 toy.
When you send your letter, be sure to include your title of WDW Vet/LPM(lost Pal Mickey)-IMPRESSIVE1

 

[grinningghost]

Sorry, but that response was out of line. Yes, ridiculous lawsuits have made the whole world suspicious of every little thing, but the wording was just callous if you ask me.

I'm getting a little tired of the "company line" Disney has been giving everyone on these boards - myself included. I might be wrong, but it seems to me that they have a standard answer for everything. And if your question or comment doesn't exactly fit what they have in their "answer treasure chest", they pull out the next closest thing.

 

[wdwguide]

I have a whole collection of those in my file cabinet. I usually just keep resubmitting the same thing over and over again, with a slightly different choice of words until it goes through. Then they usually ask for my phone number, which I decline to give them so that I get a paper copy of an official response that I can refer to if any further communication is necessary (can't do that with a phone call).

 

[Selket]

I don't quite see how them deleting your email after reading it protects them from getting sued if, for example, they started putting a leash on the mickey. Couldn't the person that read the email just run and tell someone "hey...put a leash in mickey?" On the other hand I don't know if it is an original enough of an idea (although it is a very common sense one!) to be able to sue. I'm glad I'm not a lawyer. Interesting!

 

[Terry S]

I received the exact same letter after sending them an e-mail suggestion a heros character breakfast for boys.

 

[zulaya]

I also have received the same snotty and insulting e-mail from paralegals.

When you read the statement on the Disney website when you make a submission it states something on the order of "All submissions become the property of Walt Disney World". I fully understand that when I make a submission - like the heroes breakfast for boys - and don't expect credit nor do I plan to sue.

You'd think that since the disclaimer is there we wouldn't get these insulting e-mails from paralegals.

Whenever I send things in the future, I always state something along the lines that I don't want credit and fully state I never will ask for it. I just want a more enjoyable experience for my family!!!

Sorry for the rant and rave, but it seriously makes mes MAD when I only want to offer a suggestion to make my experience and others' experience more meaningful.

As if the common man can't have a good suggestion...what a crock.

 

[caveat lector]

Disclaimer: I do NOT think lawyers as a group are all bad.

Litigious people
Ambulence chasing lawyers
Greedy agents (primarily sports).....
are significantly diminishing the potentional enjoyment that those of us, with "common sense," have access to(sorry about the clumsy sentence structure).

The hot coffee that burned someone.
Someone got fat from eating fast food.
Someone hurt their back after riding a thrill ride (with clearly posted warning signs).
A man is paid $250M to play a game.
An actor getting $20M for less than a years work.
Someone suing because they thought Mickey Mouse would be a good idea.

Though your intentions seem very sincere, I doubt that other crooks out there would end there correspondence with, "if you use my idea, I will sue you later."

By posting in this forum, hopefully it has helped several people avoid any hardships.

 

[AirForceRocks]

I also have received the same snotty and insulting e-mail from paralegals.

You're kidding, right? Or do you really consider that letter to be snotty and insulting?

Sorry, but I just don't see it. Impersonal, sure, but snotty and insulting?

 

[WebmasterPete]

It is really unfortunate, but I do understand why Disney does this. They are constantly being sued by people who claim that Disney stole their ideas. They are currently battling a lawsuit from the family of a man that claims he originally pitched the idea for Epcot to them. Of course, they lost the suit about the Wide World of Sports (someone claimed they pitched the idea to Disney). It's usually better, on issues like this, to suggest to them that they come up with a way to prevent this from happening, without actually giving them suggestions. This is a 'customer service' grey area that would be hard for any company to manage. I'm just sorry your son lost his Pal Mickey.

Pete

 

[JBurke]

Hey I am a paralegal...I bet I could write a snotty letter like that.
Disney...want to hire me?
HAHAHAHA.

Sorry you got such a bad response.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Originally posted by WebmasterPete
It is really unfortunate, but I do understand why Disney does this. They are constantly being sued by people who claim that Disney stole their ideas. B]

I'd like to agree with you. But until I check the entire post and make sure no one else has, I prefer my agreement to remain personal intellectual property.

Dang, am I bored today....

 

[DrTomorrow]

Pat_Elliott,

And we're all overjoyed that you can be bored, if even for a few minutes.

Kungalooshes for Kimberly and Amy,
Erick

 

[ls1222]

I, too received this email when I inquired about the number of people allowed in each room. I mentioned that Disney was building another "value resort" that accomodates only 4 and families larger than 4 really don't have alot of "inexpensive options". Why not have more resorts for larger families? I guess they didnt want me to take credit for their next resort!! LOL

 

[disneyag]

It's not just Disney. Write letters to any large corporation and see what kind of response you get. A few years ago, I wrote Victoria's Secret about their lack of maternity underwear. I was pregnant and sick of all the really ugly maternity underwear that existed. I suggested they design a line for women like me who bought their stuff regularly. I received a similar response to the OP. I think it's a way for ANY large company to protect their interests in these litigious days.

I am also married to a lawyer and you wouldn't believe the ridiculous suits that his firm has to defend their clients against.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

On a trip a few years ago a CM told me about and I also read about a group of guys that successfully sued Disney about the Sports Complex. Seems that they had 'suggested' such and idea and then, years later when Disney came up with the area they sued. If it is scary for us poor people who have nothing to be sued for think of how scary it is for corporations such as Disney.

Wonder how much of each ticket is money they need to pay for their lawyers and fighting their many lawsuits?

Wonder if I could sue them for their use of sidewalks? Surely they are not the first to think of them? LOL

Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[undertheradar]

Bottom line, lawyers have killed freedom! I just read a post on theme parks thread advising use of the "leash", how original?
I just want kids not to cry and adults not to act like kids! If you agree, type whistle for your response.

 

[Dznefreek]

I would print the email and send it to Burbank, CA. I would address it to Mr. Eisner and request that it be given immediate attention.

It will not help. It has Eisner's blessing.

This is the standard Disney response to anything that makes a suggestion to them on attraction ideas, marketing ideas, ride concepts, etc.