Please check your reservation and all your perks before you go

My experience - overall we had a great time with the family - but one thing left a bad taste in my mouth.

Here is the letter we wrote to Debbie Bellavia-Hart, Director, Guest Experience Service.

Email address: WDW.Guest.Communications@disneyworld.com

To Debbie Bellavia-Hart,

I am writing this letter to register a complaint with hopes that you improve your staffs' communication and knowledge both on your reservation line and the hotel desk staff at the Grand Floridian resort.

I attempted to verify all information prior, accurately, and feel slighted as I still missed out on perks that we could have taken advantage of while we there.

I was on the phone for 60 mins with your guest services line hoping to get a resolution to a particular issue. Possibly even get the "vouchers" I found out about only after we got home.

Issues:
  • We were not made aware of this "package" - nor perks
    - even when I specifically asked about any

  • We did not receive our "benefit" "voucher" "packet" at the hotel.
I only found out about the itemized list of perks once I received the reservation invoice / confirmation in the regular mail, AFTER we returned home from our trip.

When I called reservations after we returned, I spoke with Scarlet and was transferred to some lady in guest services. (forgot her name, sounded older and was knowledgeable but abrupt)
On the phone after checking with 'someone', she said, "since you received an email with a link describing what was to be included there is nothing we can do."

During the reservation process we were not told of this email or of a link that we should be looking out for.

To make things a bit worse - I asked about perks, discounts, fast-pass, parking etc.. for resort holders and annual pass-holders prior to visiting and at the hotel:

I asked this:
  • During the call for the reservation
  • Before we arrived - I called the hotel and spoke with a desk person
  • After arriving - In the room I called the front desk

    At the hotel I specifically asked about perks, benefits, discounts - not one representative told me anything about this packet and that it had Disney Interactive vouchers, souvenir vouchers, even game arcade pts etc. (which I purchased while I was there) etc.
At the hotel when we arrived, we started talking to one guy, his computer went down and then they moved us over to someone else, maybe something got lost in the transition??

At the hotel I was handed my keys to the world and a pack that had a map in it and some flyers. I did not get any "pack" with vouchers.

BTW on the phone with guest services, the lady I spoke with gave me the wrong email address. When I asked how I can register a complaint to help improve this for others, she specifically and insistently told me it was WWW.guest.communications.disneyworld.com. Suspect of this, to make sure, I tested it with her on the phone. I got an email delivery failure as I expected. When I explained that I was a "tech guy" and questioned that I never saw and email address begin with WWW she basically told me that it is WWW "we use it all the time". When I continued to question it again, she put me on hold to check something, by that time I hung up 60 mins later and found the correct email address from a Google search.

I hope you take this information and use it to improve the quality of your services.

Kind Regards,

--------------------------

Please make sure you check everything you get with your Disney pack and don't trust those to know everything you should be getting.
 

momof1princess

Well-Known Member
That does stink...if it makes you feel any better we never use anything from our "packet" anyway. I know that's not the point you're making, though.
 

cssmgt

New Member
Original Poster
LOL - thanks for your support and your understanding. :) We did go to Disney Interactive though (there were 2 vouchers for that I found out) - so that burned a little, we played mini-golf (2 free vouchers) and did eat at Planet Hollywood, ($15 discount coupon). There was also a Planet Hollywood souvenir voucher - I also bought points in the arcade - (100 free point voucher) so all in all yes it does stink I did not get a chance to use them.

I think the issue was that we booked it the same week we arrived, so the so called "packet" should have been given to us at the desk when we checked in (normally is mailed) - but wasn't and we did not know better to ask for it. This email we got after we booked was a confirmation email, no one thought to click the link to see an itemized list of "perks". And when specifically asked about "perks" to both the reservation line and on site - basically we got our mugs. So we thought - that was that.
 

momof1princess

Well-Known Member
I think the issue with the "other guy" was that you posted the same thing in more than one area. We kinda frown on that around here. Just a heads up.
 

jkl2000

Well-Known Member
This is different from the "packet" issue, but Disney sure doesn't let you see much information about the package you've booked online (when you're logged into your account). I ONLY know that our package includes Disney Quest passes because of something we received in the mail - there are no details like that viewable online. Nor are there any details about the flight tickets I purchased - I have to log into the airline's site to see that info. It seems like my account on the Disney site should at least reflect that purchase.
 

cssmgt

New Member
Original Poster
Agreed jk12000 - or even better - when you specifically "ask" about something that is supposed to be included in your pack, the representatives (you would assume) - should know the answers.

The whole issue for me - is that since we booked and left the same week we never received the packet in the mail and it was supposed to be given to us at the front desk. This is where the system broke down.

Then when asked - they either misinterpret the questions or simply did not know. That is a training issue.

Front Desk: "It's a Magical day at Disney how can I help you Mr. XXXX"

Me: "Hi - this is room #### - I was thinking, we just checked in and wanted to know what other "perks" do you get for being a resort member?" For example - Universal Orlando - allows resort members to go through the fast-pass-like lines at their parks - you just have to show the hotel key - there are also discounts and other things I have received off of admission an shops, parking, do you have anything like that?"

Front Desk: "No, well you get your refillable mugs and if you are an annual pass holder with the parking option, you get free parking"

Me: "OK thanks"
 

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
LOL - thanks for your support and your understanding. :) We did go to Disney Interactive though (there were 2 vouchers for that I found out) - so that burned a little, we played mini-golf (2 free vouchers) and did eat at Planet Hollywood, ($15 discount coupon). There was also a Planet Hollywood souvenir voucher - I also bought points in the arcade - (100 free point voucher) so all in all yes it does stink I did not get a chance to use them.

I think the issue was that we booked it the same week we arrived, so the so called "packet" should have been given to us at the desk when we checked in (normally is mailed) - but wasn't and we did not know better to ask for it. This email we got after we booked was a confirmation email, no one thought to click the link to see an itemized list of "perks". And when specifically asked about "perks" to both the reservation line and on site - basically we got our mugs. So we thought - that was that.

That is exactly what happened. The packet typically gets mailed out between 30-40 days prior to arrival. When you book inside that window the packet is supposed to be sent to the resort, but it only seems to happen if you specifically request it. Otherwise most people find it in their mailbox a few days after they get home. The concierge should have been able to get you a new packet inside of a day or two.
 

cssmgt

New Member
Original Poster
Just for reference - we booked a complete package - with meal plan etc. It has been verified that a packet was supposed to be given to us - we received the itemized list of all the vouchers in the mail after our vacation - We received a call today from a Guest Services rep - who basically said (paraphrasing) - "yeah, I am sorry we screwed up and you missed out on those perks and that you spent additional money on what could have been discounted or free, but too bad we are not going to do anything for you" - WTH?

I don't care about them doing anything for me, what I do want is for this to not happen again to anyone else and for Disney to train their people to be aware of situations like this - however whether this sort of situation gets acknowledge and addressed in some sort of training program remains to be seen.
 

cssmgt

New Member
Original Poster
UPDATE: Got a call from Guest Services - they are sending me a $100 voucher that expires in 1 year to be used at any of the Disney parks for the inconvenience. However they were sure to point out, that the reason I did not get the "pack" was because I booked and arrived the same week. Which is clearly opposite of what I was told by the first guest services rep. I was told that the pack should have been at the front desk. Sheesh - I'd be happy with simply owning up and admitting they screwed up. Accountability is so hard to come by these days. They also mentioned (several times) that there was nothing in that pack that I paid for with my reservation. Again, quite the opposite - as I paid for things that were free and discounted in the pack. Don't let them push your around stick to what you believe is right.
 

ThatBrunette

Well-Known Member
NERD ALERT! I use a spreadsheet to keep track of my questions and answers for trip planning. It has date, time called, operator name (CM name for Disney), question, answer and extra advice columns.

I started this a few years ago for a family cruise because I noticed my SIL and I had different 'facts'. I had to make special requests for my MIL so, I ended up calling the cruise line multiple times as my MIL remembered all her needs. :)

I started calling and asking the same questions to different operators. If I got a conflicting answer, I would ask for clarification.

I know, it's too late for you to use this information. You are correct, it shouldn't happen to another guest.
 

ArielLover

Active Member
I do not think it is a perk of staying at the resort and that language may be what confused them. The perk you are speaking of are part of vacation package not for staying at the resort. I know it is a fine point and some basic questions from the cast member would have cleared it up. When I book my package - I did not have any problems finding what was included for perks online. I always boo way in advance so I never have issues with them arriving.
 

stevehousse

Well-Known Member
When we made our reservation and put a deposit down, we recieved mail from them a few days later stating everything included in our vacation package specifically mentioning all those things you said you didn't get!
 

jkl2000

Well-Known Member
When we made our reservation and put a deposit down, we recieved mail from them a few days later stating everything included in our vacation package specifically mentioning all those things you said you didn't get!

I got this too - my package includes some kind of discount on a guided fishing trip - anyone know what kind of discount you get?
 

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