A Blog About Disney Stuff

We’ve been hanging out in the reopened Disney World resorts this week and there are a lot of updates!

One of the updates we’ve been really interested in learning more about is the new Virtual Chat feature for resort guests. This new option gives resort guests a whole new way to access Cast Members at the front desk while they’re staying at a Disney World resort. It’s SUPPOSED to be super quick and easy — but that’s not quite how things turned out.

What is the Virtual Chat feature?

You might recognize the Virtual Chat feature from the Disney World website. Typically, it can be used as an alternative to calling guest services when you need a quick answer. However, sometimes high-demand can hinder the system and make it so that wait times are super long to reach anyone via the chat.

The new Virtual Chat for resort guests actually uses the same “Chat with Us” feature that’s offered on the Disney site. This means that the system is already established but it ALSO means that resort guests are currently thrown into the same overwhelmed chat as everyone else during busy times.

The feature was supposed to launch with the reopening of the hotels on Monday, June 22nd. It seems, though, that it got off to a clunky start. We were unable to access Virtual Chat until June 24th! When we finally did try out the new service, things still didn’t run perfectly.

How does it work?

Here’s how our first-time use of the system worked! We tried to ask for some extra towels in our room today and ran into some long wait times. As a resort guest, you should see a new option pop up on the menu screen of your My Disney Experience app. Just click on the button that says “Chat with Us.”

From there, it will take you to a messaging window. This is where you can type your question or request. Right now, though, we were met with a few paragraphs about the overwhelming demand on the servers. That’s right — it turns out the chat actually redirects you to the same chat server that’s on the Disney website.

Of course, the Disney website chat is experiencing SUPER high volumes right now with all of the big questions people have. Unfortunately, this translates to a potentially lengthy wait in your resort chat — even just for towels.

When you do get a response, you’ll see a little red dot pup up on the “Chat with Us” button to tell you you have a new message.

When volumes aren’t overwhelming, the chat Cast Member will connect you to a Cast Member at your resort who can assist you. The system definitely still has its issues though.

Since the Virtual Chat function does not have a special channel for resort guests to directly contact THEIR front desk, it can take a looooong time to get your chat request resolved. For instance, it took us over 2 HOURS to see that little red dot appear the first time we reached out and almost 2 hours the second time we tried as well. You honestly might be better off just giving the front desk a call. 

We can see the chat being SUPER useful when lines aren’t clogged, but anytime the chat gets busy, those wait times make it feel less like a perk and more like a bust. Still, if you can’t call down to the front desk for whatever reason, it’s nice to have this option.

We’ll be trying Virtual Chat for resort guests again when the chat lines die down a little bit. For all the latest updates on changes in a reopened Disney World, keep an eye on DFB!

Click here to learn more about the Virtual Chat!

Have you tried the new Virtual Chat feature? Tell us in the comments! 

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, disney resorts, Featured, Walt Disney World, Disney World reopening, Disney World Resort hotels, disney world resort reopenings, guest services, Resort Guests, resort hotel reopenings, virtual chat, virtual chat feature

Chef Art Smith issues apology for not wearing Facemask at his restaurant

Chef Art Smith has issued an apology to guests for not wearing a mask on the opening day of his Disney Springs Restaurant Homecomin’.

Here is the apology issued on his Facebook page:

It has come to my attention that in my excitement to re-open Homecomin’ and my joy to see old friends, I dropped my guard when it came to wearing my mask on several occasions over the past five days. I am sorry. My Homecomin’ team is following strict protocols set by the CDC and Walt Disney World Resort. When I return to Disney Springs I will lead by example. We look forward to welcoming you to Homecomin’ real soon. I will be wearing my mask and you should too.

We love that he owned up to his mistake and fixed it!

Chef Art Smith can be seen now greeting guests wearing a fun chicken face mask at his restaurant Homecomin‘ in Disney Springs.

I can’t wait to have some more of that Buttermilk Fried Chicken very soon!

 

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Disney Food, Disney Springs, Walt Disney World, Chef Art Smith, Facemasks, Homecomin’

It’s been a tough year for everyone. And the Class of 2020 certainly deserves recognition for missing out on the traditional celebrations that normally coincide with graduating high school or college. To help the Class of 2020 celebrate their accomplishments, you may want to consider some of the merchandise available at Disney Springs and on shopDisney online.

At World of Disney we found Class of 2020 plush with Mickey, Minnie, and Stitch each in cap and gown regalia. The gown has theme park icons printed in a pattern on it, and a little diploma is in each character’s hand. Each one is priced at $21.99. We also found some Class of 2020 novelty socks for $14.99. The Class of 2020 mouse ears that were released in January are back in stock, too.

Will you pick up any of these items for your favorite graduate?

The post Class of 2020 Merchandise Arrives to Disney Springs with Honors appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disney Springs, Merchandise, class of 2020, class of 2020 disney, disney plush, disney socks

We know you guys have been experiencing a crazy time the last few days trying to figure out how the new Disney Park Pass reservation system works!

We’ve been trying to answer all your questions about Disney Park Pass since before it went live and we’ve even shared a step-by-step tutorial of how to use it, none of us were prepared for how glitchy it would be!

While it took A LOT of patience and sheer determination, we know many of you were eventually able to get those reservations. If you still haven’t been successful, click here to read some solutions to the most-common Disney Park Pass problems we’ve encountered!

And while certain days at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom have already filled up, Disney has shared that they “will make more space available for Annual Passholders and the public later this week.” So we should expect to see more spots open up in the coming days.

Keep in mind Disney Park Pass reservations are subject to availability and will help the theme parks manage their attendance levels better during their phased reopening. Only guests who’ve had both theme park tickets AND a hotel booking have been able to make Disney Park Pass reservations as of June 22nd. On June 26th, Annual Passholders WITHOUT a resort stay can make reservations. Then on June 28, existing ticket holders can make reservations.

As with everything, things are ALWAYS changing right now, so if Disney provides any updates about its new Disney Parks Pass system, we’ll be sure to pass them along to you!

This great tip could be the trick to getting your Disney Park Pass reservations EARLY!

Will you be making your theme park reservations on Friday? Let us know what time you’ll be getting up in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, Disney News, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, added, adding more reservations, adding more spots, annual passholders, Disney Park Pass System, Disney World, friday, glitches, june 26th, park pass, reservations, spots add