Disney Store Deals and a Customer Service Plug

 photo ©DisneyStore

So, my girls and I have fallen in love with the new dolls from "It's a Small World" that can be found at DisneyStore.com. And since Christmas is coming, I decided to take advantage of a $10 off $50 purchase coupon I got from my Disney Rewards Visa, as well as a free shipping with Disney Parks purchase (I also bought a new autograph book for my youngest) and get a couple of these pretties for my girls. Then, this morning, I got an email alerting me to a 3-day sale on various toys (check out those deals HERE)--including the dolls I had just purchased.

Without a specific agenda (except, well, complaining about my dumb luck), I tweeted this:

Bought dolls yesterday @DisneyStore (used a coupon & got free shipping) but today they are on sale.  :-/ #kickingmyself #hatewastingmoney

Guess what?! I got a response from Disney Store:

@ValerieBGibbs I am sorry for the inconvenience, Valerie. Please contact Guest Services at (800) 328-0368 and we will happily assist. ^MN

So, I did just what they said, and guess what?! I will be getting a credit for a future purchase for the price difference! The moral of the story? It never hurts to ask for a refund when an item goes on sale. Many stores advertise that they do this, but even if it's not common knowledge, it certainly doesn't hurt to try.

I have long sung the praises of the stellar customer service that Disney provides, both in the parks and elsewhere, and this is just one more example. And, yes, I did tweet my appreciation back to them. :-)

Disney Legend Robert Sherman Passes

Disney has lost a legend, as songwriter Robert Sherman died March 5 in London. Born in Manhattan in 1925, the more reclusive of the famous sibling writing team lived out his later years "across the pond," where he had relocated after the death of his beloved wife. His son Jeffrey posted this to Facebook on March 5: "My Dad, Robert B. Sherman, passed away tonight in London. He went peacefully after months of truly valiantly fending off death. He loved life and his dear heart finally slowed to a stop when he could fight no more."

It's virtually impossible to be even remotely aware of Disney films, television productions, or Disney theme parks without experiencing the brilliant work of Robert Sherman. Likewise, one cannot catalogue Robert Sherman's accomplishments without mention of his brother, Richard Sherman. Though the relationship was at times tumultuous, together the Sherman Brothers penned more than 200 songs for at least 27 films and dozens of television productions--not to mention the music that saturates the Disney Parks. With a career spanning five decades, the brothers won a host of musical awards and continue to be recognized for their contributions to film, television, and theatre. Here are just a few of my personal favorite Sherman Brothers tunes:

• "It's a Small World" (Interesting side note: this song was originally written as a slow ballad.)


• "One Little Spark" (Journey into Imagination)


• "Feed the Birds" (Mary Poppins)


• "There's a Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow" (Carousel of Progress)


• "I Wanna Be Like You" (The Jungle Book)

For more insight into the music and life of Robert Sherman, I highly recommend the documentary, The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story.