Design a Tee: TWO HOURS WAIT??!!
Michael S. responded to my miceage article this week with a good gem of advice:
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One thing people need to be aware of is the design-a-tee sounds like a good idea (and it is -- our kids took home these unique souvenirs) however, at no point during the design/ordering process does Disney tell you that you have to come back 2 HOURS later!! Everyone around us were startled to hear this -- no helpful warning signs at all. When you think about it -- it would take some time to create these shirts -- they're silkscreened, not instantly photocopied -- however, people are on vacation, and I know by personal experience that some of us tend to leave a little common sense back home -- however, Disney knows this too -- people are out acting like tourists and proper signage would help. It's funny, Disney has signs above each sink in Magic Kingdom bathrooms that tell us (step by silly step) how to wash our hands but they can't tell us how their new shirt process works? Or maybe Brawny paid Mickey several million for this helpful PSA? Anyway, there were people returning to pick up their shirts and people simultaneously trying to order -- complete disorganized chaos. Cast members didn't know who was next in line since there are no ORDER HERE or PICK UP HERE signs (one lady barged right in front of all of us to pick up her shirt order and received service immediately). Anyway, the take home message is that people need to work this purchase into their plan -- not everyone is at DD for an entire day or evening in our case -- we were staying at Saratoga and boated over for a bit while we waited for our reservation at the Turf Club. Interested buyers need to make this stop early into their DD visit to make sure they have the time to pick up their shirts. I didn't think to ask, but my guess is that these shirts could be delivered to your hotel (like most other purchases) provided you're staying at a Disney resort.
Just thought you should know this, since you wouldn't know unless you go through the process. I think Disney deliberately does not post warning signs or doesn't allow cast members to give you a heads up by design -- once your child has gone through the whole process, proud of their accomplishment while taking the printed paper slip to the order counter -- then and only then do they tell you to return 2 hours later. It's hard to tell your kids that they can't order their shirts now. Disney's got you! Remember, shirts are not ordered until you present your slip to the cast member behind the counter. You could create different shirts all day long, but the printed receipts that you receive from the computer design screens doesn't mean a thing until presented and reviewed for accuracy and then approved for order. I'm sure if a sign indicated a 2 hour process time, Disney would lose more sales because people wouldn't even test out the design screens -- but like I said, once you've gone through the process, any parent would have a hard time denying their youngster their new creation.
One more thing -- I could tell by the cast members working that day, that they were really stressed out having to tell people about how the system works. I felt for them. Disney should give up a little profit for a better experience for everyone involved. Maybe a Disney accountant should work the design-a-tee counter for one shift to appreciate the feeling.
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