[delmarjohn]

Just had an interesting conversation with a customer service exec....seems I wasn't the only one expressing displeasure with the new program...you see I live in san diego and making plans to travel involves air transportation ,resort resevations, and on this upcoming trip cruise arrangents and blending all into a cohesive seemless action,but disney's new blind AP program has left a bad taste in my mouth.You see I have at least 40 trips under my belt and I am a big fan,but I am befuddled by the new program...I ask who makes plans blind and stands the chance of losing a deposit 120 days out ...it got stranger when I called recently and some reservation agents ,came up with same talking points...are you ready for this ..it is because of ORBITZ..ya you heard it ORBITZ ..that is why disney came up with this new program...when I talked to a higher level of customer support they were amused by the answer ,I told them I was not amused ....the way I look at it ...I am not cheap,$2300 on a cruise just for starters and $1600 for AP ,the 600 plus for a room ..for 6 nights and that is just for starters ..that doesn't include meals ,entertainment, shopping and special events...all told I would say about 7-8000 this trip alone ...not including probably 2 other trips within a year....But what really gets me is the treatmnet of the passholders and florida residents....it is these two groups that after 9/11 came to the support of disney BIG TIME,but now we are looked upon as costing disney money ...we are always complaining and telling others tips on how to enjoy there trip and see things we have learned about through out the years ....who do you think sells out the special events for the upcoming food and wine festival,who do you think tells people to go to the whispering canyon buffet , who comes no matter what,but even with all these and more we serve a bigger purpose ...how many of you have actually told others about WDW and encourage people to go and see why we love it.....most people I meet who have never been there and know I live in socal ask me why I would go to florida when I have the same thing here in CA ....I tell them disneyland is 55 acres and WDW is 45 sg miles,,,most don't know this ,I personally have told many ,many people about our experience and many ,many have gone not because of the great ad campaigns ,or the TV ads but because US FANS have told them it is great place to go and told them a little about how to go and what to expect...and most of us are telling them to stay on property to gain the full experience and how are we rewarded we are asked to make plans blindly under some BEST RATE PROGRAM...which may or may not have any benefit at all and for us passholders that would like the old system its still there but guess what it will be unveiled only if it becomes necessary if bookings aren't up to snuff....I know it seems like I am complaining but please tell me when you disrespect your base fans then what have you....A major corporation that is consumed with the bottom line and somehow has not only forgot how it got where it is,but is embarking on a policy that could damage its future ... I for one am considering cancelling this upcoming trip,and I know disney won't go out of business but it has to start somewhere,yes I know profits are important to keep the tradition going,but customer service and respect is what makes this engine go and someone is poisoning the fuel. Hopefully this program will be ditched.....and disney will return to the premier example of customer service

[bali]

I agree with all of your points. Passholder word-of-mouth advertising--especially on boards like this one--is a major campaign that Disney doesn't pay a cent for. Consistent customers of any establishment should be valued and respected--does Disney no longer see it this way?

[delmarjohn]

I hope they still see it that way,but all indications are that their attidude,is changing for when I called the response was we feel this the direction to go,but my response is that I just came back from two non-disney vacations ,one to chicago in april and another to DC in june and on both of thos estays we stayed at the HYATT and our reservations were made well in advance and we new what we would be paying also internet was complimentary and a breakfast buffet was included,now compare this to disneys best rate program ...need I say more .....OH by the way that april trip was in lieu of going to disney,why plans have to made well in advance since I am coming from san diego ,you know air and all...disney did not give me enough advanced info to make arrangements so we opted for someplace else....a tradition was broken....I will go back to disney ,but it will be on my terms not some bean counters terms.....