Originally Posted By Kimrue I just called WDW trying to find out information on specific merchandise from a store in Epcot...it was like an act of congress and I STILL have no answer. I was calling out of slight curiosity but because of the run around I was getting from cast members on the phone, it became a mission to find the answer! My frustration was with the cast members...first of all, can people who answer phones for WDW be considered cast members? One of the 'cm' patched me through to the wrong place, another cm told me the store was CLOSED today...ummm..huh? I said to her the store INSIDE the park is closed today? Her answer to me was ummm...well...I'm just a switchboard person...HOW UNPROFFESSIONAL!!! Are these telephone operators required to know ANYTHING about the parks or Disney for that matter? Who are these people? I literally made six phone calls to find out if Der Teddybar still carries those engel puppen dolls and I have no answer! After SIX PHONE CALLS!! I asked her to patch me through to the store, and she 'couldn't'...I asked her what if she wanted to contact them? She had no answer! One operator patched me through to mail order merchandise...which happens to be closed on the weekends. It seems the telephone operators like to pass the buck to get off the phone. A lot of them sounded like young kids who didn't want to be bothered. I know it may sound silly, but a simple yes or no answer and nobody could help me??? Whoever hires the telephone operators really needs to step it up a bit. I think I personally know more about the parks then these people did. Oh well, I haven't been to this site in a very VERY long time...but I thought if anyone knew the answer, it would be one of you. Thanks
Originally Posted By 2PrincessMom I'm sorry to hear that you had such a hard time. I called back in March to find a toy for my youngest daughter's birthday. I had seen it in the toy store in DownTown Disney when we were there in summer. (Of courrse, I should have bought it IN the summer when we were there.) All I had was the main Disney number. The main number operator gave me another number of merchandising (I think) and they were able to connect me to the store no problem. The people there were very courteous and helpful. Maybe it was just an "off" day?
Originally Posted By -em Well the only correct answer to that question is Mail Order and yes they are closed on the weekends. Most stores do not have a direct number and if they do they are for internal use only. The WDW system for parks and resorts is not designed for outside phone calls. The stores are not able to sell/hold/track any of their merch via phone so the operators are told not to direct calls to them because the probability that a) someone would actually answer the phone is drastically low because the phones are not staffed and even leaving messages can be spotty because usually there is just one manager covering a large area and they have other things that come first. Also realize that WDW has thousands of phone extensions, names and locations that they have to search through, one area may have 40 numbers and only one will actually get a human occasionally. -em
Originally Posted By mousermerf Yes, they still sell the dolls as of a few days ago. I used to navigate the phone system regularly, it seems it hasn't changed. Sometimes a little logic is needed and lots of reps never make the intuitive step. Can't get a hold of the store? There's a restaurant 50 feet away, call it and see if they'll walk across the courtyard or know the answer. Simple solutions like this often slip their minds but work the best.
Originally Posted By DOGWITKEYS em took the words right out of my mouth. Also, I can't think of the number right now, but your best best is too call world of disney in downtown disney.They are the main shopping destination of the whole property and they have the number of the inventory people. Tell them you want the number of the place where you can track down a specific item and they will no what you are talking about. I have a copy of the # lying around here somewhere, If I find it I will post it. Jon
Originally Posted By -em wod's number is 407-824-1451 but I doubt theyll be able to help with epcot- their info is 99 percent internal fpr WOD- most of the times they direct calls to mail order for anything else..
Originally Posted By Kimrue Thanks for the info. I realize WDW is huge, but I still find it strange that 6 people couldn't answer a simple merchandise question...glad I came here you were all very helpful.thanks
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: My sisters and I totally agree with you, Kimrue, duckling. Even when calling the World of Disney Store, directly, we find that there are many more uninformed cast members working there who don't seem particularly interested in helping you hunt down whatever it is you're looking for. Along with that, the way some of them word things comes across as being very unprofessional. We look at it as a sign of the times because it's not just Disney that seems to forget how to properly train their employees. It's just about everywhere these days that you find increasingly incompetent help.
Originally Posted By Kimrue I finally got a well-informed cast member on the phone and I'm slightly bummed...they don't have the Disney dresses for the Engel puppen dolls anymore! They were pricey, but they were very well made, but I suppose they stopped making them because of the 'my disney girl' outfits. DRAT!! Word to the wise...don't EVER put off buying something you REALLY REALLY WANT at WDW!! For about 8 years I've been putting off buying the Engel puppen "alice in wonderland" until 'next time' well...next time is here and I can't get it!!! AAARRGGGHHHH...I know I may seem wacky, but I'm an avid doll collector (yes an adult that likes dolls, kooky I know.)and I'm so totally mad at myself...so all you Disney fans, don't debate, just treat yourself, because now I have bigtime remorse for not getting it the last time I went! Oh well, I'll still treat myself to one of the German dressed dolls in Sept. I guess. They are so pretty, anyone who hasn't should go check them out!! Yes, Orduu, you are absolutely correct. My family and I own our own business and I called to speak to my husband and the young girl answering the phone really ticked me off...When she answered the phone I said, "hi, can I speak to "d"" and she said..."ummmmmmm, I can't find him...." LAZY!! I told her that perhaps she should get up from her desk and have a look around, or perhaps use her intercom! I guess it is everywhere, very sad.
Originally Posted By sharon2 ^^^No, not kooky at all. I have a very nice sized Barbie collection. Yes, even Tour Guide Barbie!!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Kimrue - did you try and contact their HQ ? <a href="http://www.engel-puppen.com/dolls.asp" target="_blank">http://www.engel-puppen.com/dolls.asp</a> they have on line shops and hundreds of outfits - maybe, just maybe they'd be able to help. I hope you can get the outfit you want !
Originally Posted By vbdad55 also if you are on ebay - open a search for engel puppen alice and you never know. I have been buying back toys from my childhood on ebay that exact way
Originally Posted By Kimrue Thanks so much. I used the link you provided and emailed them! We'll have to see. I'll post if I hear anything. I love those dolls...they still have them there and I will treat myself to one of the traditional dolls they have there on my next trip. They are so cute! I wish they would bring back the German made Disney dresses, they are WAY better quality then the "my disney girl" doll dresses...they are so cheapy looking, but I'm sure that is why they stopped offering them in the German pavilion. Why buy a quality doll outfit when you can buy a cheapy one for a lot less????
Originally Posted By Disneyland55 >>>^^^No, not kooky at all. I have a very nice sized Barbie collection. Yes, even Tour Guide Barbie!!<<< Permanecer sentados por favor
Originally Posted By nats 31 Some time in the 80s my son took a picture in a store in the studios and when we got home the plastic frame was broken. i called the main number and they connected me to the store and they sent me a new frame. I had it in about 1 week. Service in the world is not as good as it used to be.
Originally Posted By Kimrue One of the owners got back to me from the Engel Puppen store in Germany and they said due to licensing they cannot make or sell a Disney dress. He said the buyers for WDW discontinued the line, not them...BUMMER!!! Oh well, I was very impressed with Engel puppen though.
