The Redemption of Disney, Reformation of TheBetsy

This post was initially called “Hey Disney, WTF?” And “Disney Redemption” but I cut somewhere in the middle and compromised. Sometimes after the worst experiences hit their peaks, comes the best.

First a confession. I never thought of myself as a “Disney” person.

Having grown up 20 mins outside of Disneyland, I was brought up on a pretty steady diet of Walty-D: from taking family friends and guests there to school trips- to TheBetsy, Disney was not a biggie. Not a biggie at all.

In college I did make a trip to Florida’s bigger version, but still I was left with the same feeling: contrived, expensive, not worth it. Long lines, expensive food and bad ice cream.

Then I had kids.

Having completing my first trip to Disney with children I can tell you I am reformed.

Redeemed.

Rejoiced.

Can I hear a “Praise Goofy!”

Amen.

Disney does destination vacations, especially with kids, better than any other alternative. They are so big, yet detail oriented, they can accommodate any size, shape, creed, allergy, handicap and do it with ease.

We started off, DisneyW and I on some very shaky ground. Very. I was not the happiest of campers in the happiest place on Earth. Far from it.

The Magic Express Can Kiss My Ass. The bus that is supposed to pick you up, was 2 hours late. With excited little kids, 2 + hours in line is not cool. Not cool at all. As for the excuse of being “slammed” by the zaftig cast member in charge. I didn’t buy it (and still don’t.) We book through computers, and through computers you know when we arrive, and in what numbers. Heads up Zaftig lady, your foot soldiers need better info, as lame excuses like this only entice the mob. Which you did. Nice. Exasperated parents and tired, hungry kids banding together to fight you- that’s what you got. And not a good first impression of Disney World.

Disney dining Reservations Can Bite Me. Then changing my reservation, because I was going to miss our 5:15pm Biergarten (Oompah bands! And 2 1/2 hours later, Beer! Beer! What Clean diet?) as our not-so-Magical-definitely-not-Express was 2+ hours late was painful. After being informed that my reservations will be held for 20 mins, which after I walked the “reservationist” through no-way-in-hell-we’re-gonna-make-this breakdown I still got… bumpkus. “Oh but they’ll hold your reservations for 20 mins.”

(WTF?)- I invoked the “supervisor” request. Unable to contact the Biergarten directly (!) to tell them to hold my reservation for the 40 min, which blows my mind so entirely. Disney dining can’t call the restaurants DIRECTLY. This is not good. I was put on hold and then was shuttle-cocked to what I can only guess is Disney dining reservation rescue. They managed to call ahead and move the reservation. This took the entire bus ride, or 40 mins, to complete.

Oh and I missed the twins finally figuring out, with squeals of delight natch, that we had surprised them with their first trip to Disney.

Nice.

My Keys Don’t Work. Nice.

After the Not-s0-Magic Not-Really-Express dropped us off at the beautiful Disney Yacht Club (it really is gorgeous) our keys didn’t work. Really. At this point I was thinking short of a heathen sacrifice we were doomed. Disney and I were not meant to be. I also did a revolutionary thing: I attempted to file a formal complaint through the front desk manager.

Enough is freakin’ enough.

The Redemption of Disney. That “formal complaint” was my first glimpse at the Disney World Business Machine wheels in motion. First the apologies (to be expected,) Then came 10 Fast Passes (which I had little idea of the power of “the Fast Pass,” but soon did) delivered to our room and, from what I glean, a special notation in our file that said “Don’t mess with these people” because after this we got special treatment. Or so I would like to think. Because after that, our trip was great. I also say, the delivered cookie and milk tray they delivered to our room, with chocolate “tuxedoed” strawberries – was a nice touch.

Each instance those first few hours (the bus, dinning reservations, uncut keys) was unique and unrelated, but to me, the new Disney visitor, it the prelude to the whole. By the time the door key wouldn’t work for the 5th time, I was expecting more delays, constraints, disappointment in the days to come. That front desk clerk effectively nipped that in the bud.

They made amends, they made my family and I more than whole and they did it in a very timely manner. From my past with crisis communications, that is exactly how it’s suppose to be done.

Disney redeems, I am reformed.

Praise Goofy!