Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<please don't be so quick to label someone as a 'troll' until you know for certain that they are one. I'm sure you wouldn't want anyone doing that to you.>> I wouldn't be making claims without being able to back them up, so no one is going to be labeling me a troll.
Originally Posted By SuperDry I don't think it's a troll per se. That is, I believe that the OP is trying to gather information about what he's posting, believes that what he's posting is true, and is not here just to stir up trouble. However, it did seem that the OP meant as much to be sure that he "spread the word" as to solicit information.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones I don't think it's a troll. I'd just like to hear about specific people who were involved in this kind of situation. It sounds interesting.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Yes, I would like to hear specifics. Disney is known for being a hard negotiator when it comes to legal actions, but I have never heard of them rescinding a valid offer. Maybe it is a case of people misunderstanding what Disney is offering. I could see Disney responding to a written complaint by saying something like "Please return to WDW and we will make every effort to provide you with the level of service you expect" and the complainer thinking that means a 10-day all-expenses-paid vacation for 4.
Originally Posted By birdsNworms To those faithful posters who were displeased -- or perhaps troubled -- by my absence from this thread over the weekend, I was engaged in real world concerns. This is not a knock against those who see this site as their lifeline, their bit of control in a chaotic world, as I understand the fan mind-set and would not follow LaughingPlace if not for the dedication of many regular contributors here. It is good to doubt, but better to question. And, yes, there is a difference. To doubt is to dismiss, to question is to search for an answer. The inclination of the overwhelming majority of LPers to doubt the veracity of the underlying issue that drew out the thread is a testament to the strength and dedication of Disney's fan community. However, the posting was made as a general inquiry. And who, if not for the folks here, would be better informed to comment on the subject? You are doubting the post though. Going as far as to immediately label the poster a "troll". You are not questioning whether this activity goes on. It does. Disney will admit that if in couched terms like the oft-cited "due to a guest misunderstanding." If that is upsetting to this community, if you feel that is the basis for lighting a match to the message, it speaks quite poorly of what constitutes something you claim to be a 'discussion' board. I would also suggest several posters actually re-read the original post as it appears clear they read what they 'wanted' it to read. What would allow them to quickly dismiss it. To the Witches, I thank you for your serious, reflective reply. For the remainder of those who have posted here absent any real comment on the overriding issue -- a corporate bait n' switch in the raw predicated on the goodwill of guests, I would suggest that if it is a real dialogue you want to have it is best not to attack the messenger but to employ a mature stroke in addressing the writing of that poster. I can see why you have invoked the so-called "Spirit"... Weird that a poster who offers a remarkably informed and balanced view of both the front of the house and the backstage machinations of TWDC is regularly vilified by some members of the community here. Especially since it seems this site can sometimes be sorely void of adult dialogue in the Spirit's absence. In the end though, there is no need to strike in defense of Mickey & Co. I am a fan. Like you. For placing this thread at the top of the active list for the weekend, just under the Fantasyland counterpunch Disney has planned to Universal's Potterland, you are thanked. Although, sadly, it suggests how devoid LP can be when such a strong voice as Spirit of '74's goes AWOL. Regardless, I will read. And be grateful for the zeal and amused by the corporate cuddling. Of course, Mickey and Minnie and their cadre of friends are costumed, low-wage cast...And Bob Iger is not the least bit cuddly. See Dick Cook, 1970-2009.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Again, I would be very interested to hear the details of a situation you are aware of. So far we have been told nothing. I'm not about to say it could not happen. I am just not aware of it happening. Perhaps you could enlighten us rather than dismissing us for wanting details.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***The inclination of the overwhelming majority of LPers to doubt the veracity of the underlying issue that drew out the thread is a testament to the strength and dedication of Disney's fan community*** Ridiculous. There are plenty of jaded and cynical posters here, myself included, and if there were any merit to your accusations we'd certainly have no problem saying so. As it stands, you've done nothing but put forth a fiction with no supporting evidence. If you have some, by all means offer it up. Otherwise it does seem as though you've got no more motive than to stir the pot in a new place (troll behavior). Also, the backhanded compliments are another clue. We're not idiots, pal.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< The inclination of the overwhelming majority of LPers to doubt the veracity of the underlying issue that drew out the thread is a testament to the strength and dedication of Disney's fan community >>> Yet, given the perfect opportunity to clarify your position such as by providing specifics, you choose not to do so.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< To those faithful posters who were displeased -- or perhaps troubled -- by my absence from this thread over the weekend, I was engaged in real world concerns. This is not a knock against those who see this site as their lifeline, their bit of control in a chaotic world, as I understand the fan mind-set and would not follow LaughingPlace if not for the dedication of many regular contributors here. >>> In Mr X's terms, this is perhaps a back-handed compliment. Had your original post been made during normal business hours, perhaps your comment above would have merit. But, despite the very businesslike topic of your post, you made it on a Saturday. It doesn't seem at all unreasonable to expect that you would be closely following a thread such as this that you started yourself.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I'm sure that occasionally Disney does offer some sort of "come back and we'll do something nice for you, because we screwed something up on this trip" things occasionally, but I would be pretty surprised if they did it with any regularity. For Disney, guest satisfaction is pretty important. However, I don't think that there are many incidents that they can't handle on the spot with some sort of immediate solution. For example, a friend of mine's family made reservations several years ago at the All Star Sports, but Disney lost the reservation somewhere in the system. They had brought along all their paperwork (luckily), and upon seeing this, Disney offered them a rather generous solution: staying at the Polynesian instead (either for the same price as Sports, or for free, I don't recall). Either way, the situation was dealt with immediately. From my understanding of the way Disney operates its Guest Relations, they tend to offer immediate solutions that can be used on the same trip. Obviously, if they screwed up majorly, it would be difficult to fix any one thing (or combination of things) on that trip to make up for it, and they would need to offer a solution that might extend into something for a future trip. But WDW is home to over 30,000 hotel rooms and thousands of guests in the parks daily. If anybody would know how to make their guests happy, it would be WDW. They have enough practice that just about anything is common place, as there is a huge range of guests there every day. Allergies, mobility issues, or dirty rooms, they are just part of an ordinary day. Disney is a corporation that deals with these type of things every day. If they do screw something up (which will happen with any company that large), they will need to fix it. But screwing up so bad that they would even consider giving away a free return trip just seems so implausibly rare that this thread makes no sense to me. I'm not saying that it doesn't happen, or that I don't believe you. Just that without any sources (or even anecdotal stories, however unreliable they may be), I have a hard time taking this as fact. The first thing any researcher does is check some sources for information. Right now, I haven't heard of anything concrete (including numbers other than 'lots' and 'frequent'), so I'm very skeptical of what you're talking about. If you show me some documented cases where this happened, I think we would have a much more interesting discussion thread.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I'm sure that occasionally Disney does offer some sort of "come back and we'll do something nice for you, because we screwed something up on this trip" things occasionally, but I would be pretty surprised if they did it with any regularity.*** They can and do offer up "consolation prizes" of all sorts depending on the situation; from a fresh new ice cream on the house to a kid who dropped theirs, to a private, behind the scenes meeting with Mickey and/or other characters, to a complimentary extra day on the passport or a free night at the hotel (I'm guessing on the hotel thing, no direct knowledge), and of course if all else fails they will occasionally offer up a refund. But this claim goes beyond that. To imply that the Disney legal team handles legal matters by offering up a fabulous free replacement vacation (only to renege later) is silly. Seriously, think about it. Why would Disney legal be offering something so complicated (a free vacation implies things beyond the parks, including airfare and ground transportation, spending and food money, all that sort of stuff)? Most issues would be much more easily solved with a modest cash settlement in exchange for a promise not to pursue the matter further. It makes no sense. This fictional "issue" is bunk.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***For example, a friend of mine's family made reservations several years ago at the All Star Sports, but Disney lost the reservation somewhere in the system. They had brought along all their paperwork (luckily), and upon seeing this, Disney offered them a rather generous solution: staying at the Polynesian instead (either for the same price as Sports, or for free, I don't recall). Either way, the situation was dealt with immediately.*** I heard that they will even offer up a free pizza delivery in the middle of the night if a customer were savvy enough to complain about a lack of food options and even show them on their own website where it says "24 hour service".
Originally Posted By grlweatswchpstx low-wage cast<< I work for entertainment and by no means make low wages. And I find it humorous how you subvert us but at the same time don't post a single example, when that is all many of our posts asked for. I view this company as what it is, a business, to make money. I have interest in it, and like to discuss it but I find it offensive that you think this is my "lifeline". So your reason for posting on this board was to ridicule and insult us? Because that's all it seems, especially when we ask for an example of *some* kind and you ignore it completely and just go on to insult people. Really, offer something of substance and we will readily take you seriously..
Originally Posted By wahooskipper The guy wrote War and Peace to ask a question that could have been asked in three sentences. He is either a politician or a lawyer....or both. Do some real research dude.
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie While we're researching this, I'd like to know if anyone out there has gone to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival and woken up the next morning in a bathtub full of ice with a note to call 911 because their kidneys had been stolen.
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 I've been reading this entire post and just didn't feel the need to post, now Minnie you made me laugh so hard I just had to say it.
Originally Posted By u k fan birdsNworms, for someone who obviously has a good grasp of the English language you seem to be having some issues with getting your point across. I am unsure whether you are saying a) You suspect this is happening and are looking to us to verify it. or b) You have some evidence of this (even anecdotal) and are looking to inform us. If the answer is b) you must understand why we are sceptical at best without seeing the proof you have. Even a link to Wikipedia or another discussion board would be something. It would still be hearsay, but at least it would show a background to your post other than simply to rag on the mouse. You are presenting your post as 100% fact, but are unable to substantiate your claim to us. Until you can confirm the background and intention of your post (and provide any supporting evidence) you can surely see why people are jumping to conclusions!!!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 sorry- short of your scattergun approach to all posters here save my friend spirit - you have presented nothing. To call other responses and responders less than mature adults at this point causes me even more concern over the content - (btw , all of which is missing in this diatribe). I did not get to an executive position in a major corporation by knee jerk reacting to musings about the evils ( or the good side for that matter) of anything without having facts to support those leanings. So until you provide more of a base from which to draw that judgement my friend- I suggest you stop pretending you are one of the few here who resides and works in the 'real world' instead of the fantasyland of LP. Most of us are AWOL for significant periods of times for family as well as business issues - LP simply a diversion from reality ( no different than Disney itself is). So if you are done scolding us Dad...give us something from which to make a judgement or return to your 'real world'. We have had others here in the past try and position themselves involving lawsuits that were current - one in the last year. If you view this as an attack - so be it - this is not the warm cuddly place you are trying to paint it. And as X tells you just above this - if you think this site is nothing but corporate apologists - you just haven't spent enough time reading...far more critics than apologists. If I saw a bait and switch I would call it so - what some of the most trusted posters here are telling you is that we haven't. If you have an example, please lay it out.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <But this claim goes beyond that. To imply that the Disney legal team handles legal matters by offering up a fabulous free replacement vacation (only to renege later) is silly. < alright - X and I on exactly the same page on a Monday AM-- I'm buying lottery tickets this week. My guess here is what we have is/as likely a comprehension problem - or a lack of agreement on what constitutes a 'fair' settlement. Gee that never happens in the 'real world' does it ? To put forth the envisionment that somehow the mission statement of the Disney legal team is to be dishonest in all dealings really is silly. I would love to see the amounts paid out each year to what they know are basically borderline to bogus claims, as there is a cost to negative press as well.
