Okay. Got an hour 'til ME comes so I'll fill y'all in.
TiW called while we were on the way to the airport, took my credit card info, and told me I'd get an email which was fine. I can check email on my iPhone. When I talked to Nicole w/TiW I told her 2 of our 6 were my sons ages 12 & 13. Everything was fine & not a word was said about dress other than casual. That would work since we were already on the way & the dressiest stuff we packed was jeans w/polo shirts and I brought a couple sweaters. So we took naps Friday and got dressed in normal clothes. I wore capri jeans, a beige cotton shirt, & a cute new sweater vest I had gotten recently. Everyone else wore jeans with long sleeves or casual pants with a tee. Nothing dressy but nothing sloppy like shorts & flip-flops. Oh! And I took my Ellie Boo with me. So we got to DHS around 5 so we could take in a few attractions we previously missed. My family ran off to do RnRC & ToT. Coincidentally, we bought a ride photo but it being kinda close to our departure opted to carry it. So now I'm carrying EB, my usual cute little girly-pack, and a bag. Yeah, I looked like a tourist but, heck, I AM a tourist.
We showed up in front of GMR just after 7 to check in as the email confirmation I got told me. First, finding who to check in with was no easy task. I had to really look. Then, judging by the rest of the guests, we were pretty under-dressed. Most ladies were pretty dressed up like dressier than Sunday clothes. I'd say 3/4 or maybe a little more were my parents' age or older. It was very apparent the event wasn't exactly intended as a family experience. All these details would've been reeaally appreciated a week previous. Ya know?
So I checked us in and wasn't all that bothered that we were underdressed or the only family with any kids (and big kids, not little ones). Everything was great. The hostess told me to have a seat or mingle close because we'd be going in at 7:30. We sat on the nearest benches that back up to the BAH facing the theater. At 7:30 an actor making like an old Hollywood high-falootin director came out and started a speil so everyone gathered around. We walked up at the back of the pack. We don't move super-fast because the FIL has bad knees. Just after we walked up and started to listen a TiW "black jacket lady" very inconspicuously approached me and said, "it's fine for your family to watch this little bit but you're going to have to leave because this is a separate ticket event.". I was so shocked I didn't know what to say. I think she was even the same lady who checked me in. I blurted out something to the effect of "I know" & "You already have my money for this". She wasn't really snippity about it but it certainly came off with airs. You know? I also mentioned that if we were under-dressed we should've been told differently and told her that we were, after all, on vacation.
So the hubby and I turned our attention back to the "host" entertainer who had the group laughing and even poked a little fun at my boys. Then it was time to go in. We lagged back a little just because we're a slow moving group and all. Ooh at all the cheek-kissin and familiar-ish greetings we saw the various guests swappin with the "black jacket" TiW ladies. It was weird, sorta. Not weird that they knew each other just weird that it was like a lot of these folks were this familiar. It's like weird as in bumping into a bunch of people you know from home while on vacation. You know?
Walking in the hubby leans in close to me and whispers "You kinda snipped at that lady out there" to which I replied "You're d*** right I did. This cost us over $900 and the fact that they can't identify their own guests is no excuse to treat them like second-hand citizens". Then he says, " Yeah. Someone approached Mom & said something too". That's when my blood started to boil. I was so mad. I turned to the hubby and said, "I wish we weren't doing this because I don't feel so happy about it and it's stupid to pay this much for something I don't want to do". Hubby said, "Me too" with no hesitation whatsoever. I spun around to ask my MIL what she thought but she blurted out, "No, not at all" before I could even finish my sentence.
By now we've walked as far as the ride load area. I approached the first CM I could identify (she wasn't a black jacket TiW lady), explained everything, and asked who I need to talk to about a refund. She went and got Nicole, one of the "black jackets", to come speak with me. I explained everything that happened to her and how we all felt at that point. She tried to talk us into going in to have a cocktail (I'm the only person even remotely likely to have a drink), apologized, etc. But at that point the magic of the event was gone for us so it wasn't an option anymore. I just thought I was mad but then she tried more ploys to get us to stay. "My staff are just trying to protect the experience for our guests". Great! How about knowing who your guests are by maybe giving them a lanyard or name badge. It's not expensive or difficult to do. Not all of us are on a first name basis or cheek-kissin level with you. "We've not had guests bring children before". If kids were a problem you should've said so. I gave you their ages over the phone. Nothing ever said age was an issue. We like to expose our boys to different experiences so cost is relative to potential benefit for them. And the fact she brought up the boys in front of them reeaally peeved me because it makes them feel like a problem which they certainly ARE NOT. "You should go in. The kids seemed to really have fun with the entertainment outside". True but I happen to be privvy to the fact that neither of them are employed or allowed to draw the money to pay for the dinner from their bank accounts. "We're so sorry. My whole staff is right here and know you are part of our event now. We wish you'd stay. We'll be so sad if you go". Damage is done. We can't get into this. I'm sure you are $900+ sorry. No thanks.
Then to add insult to injury she had a CM escort us to the gate. Now I realize the park was closed, etc. but we used our passes to get in and would like to have made our way out a little slower with all the other day guests...maybe stopping to take a pic or two. It really iced the cake to be escorted to the gate like WE did something wrong.
So you see, it was a really crappy experience from the start. I'm never one to single myself out or be the perpetual victim. That's not me at all. If other guests had been approached I would've been more understanding that they were, in fact,preserving the experience. It was obvious we were singled out because of our dress and they hadn't taken the time to identify their guests. Had they been more clear about the dress I would've either accomodated or declined when I received the phone call. Either way, I don't go to Disney to be treated like a lesser human being and I certainly will not pay over $900 for such.
And you better bet your happy a$$ that several letters and emails will be sent out by me in the next few days over this.
