We’ve been having a lot of issues with credit cards lately. Here’s what we need to do: if you have a card with a chip and you have a “chip reader”, the chip reader must be used. If the card declines, the screen will NOT read declined, so you must look at the slip closely. It will print a longer than normal slip and at the very bottom it will say “declined”. For Gift Cards, sometimes the balance on the card will not cover the sale, so you must check to see if there is a balance due. Also, if a card is DECLINED, never accept it, even if a guest says there is money on it and they call their bank, because their bank is usually a “friend” on the other line. DO NOT accept a declined card. Don’t forget that every slip must have these things written: tickets purchased, ID #, and room #.

WATER PARKS – CLOSURES
With it being the winter season, you must advise your guests that purchase ANY ticket that includes a water park that if the temperatures DROP BELOW 70, there is a possibility that they will close. Have them check the weather forecast and remind them that the tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE and they are buying them at their own risk. We CANNOT refund water parks that are purchased as part of a combo ticket! Also, DON’T FORGET TO TELL YOUR GUESTS THAT TYPHOON LAGOON IS NOW CLOSED AND ONLY BLIZZARD BEACH IS OPEN.

LEGOLAND CLOSED TUES & WED
Legoland is back to being CLOSED on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. As with all parks, check your calendars daily!

ORLANDO EYE CLOSED 1/4 – 1/13
Don’t forget that the Orlando Eye will be closed for scheduled maintenance from 1/4 – 1/13. Madame Toussads and the SeaLife Aquarium will be open as normal.

OUTTA CONTROL MAGIC SHOW AT WONDERWORKS CLOSED 1/11-1/18
They are closed to refinish their floors and will re-open for shows starting 1/19.

SET GOALS FOR THIS YEAR!

DISNEY CONVENTION TICKETS
Please make sure you are checking your Convention Tickets in inventory for the print dates. If they were printed PRIOR to April of 2015, minus them out of your inventory and send them to the office in your deposit envelope. Those tickets are expired. No other pre-activated tickets expire, including the Water Parks and DisneyQuest, so no need to send them in.

ROTATE TICKETS – SELL THE OLDEST FIRST
Along the same lines, please make sure you are looking that the PRINT dates on your pre-activated Disney tickets and you’re selling the OLDEST ones first. Always leave them on TOP. This should be done for Convention tickets, DisneyQuest and Water Parks.

NO CLOSING DESKS EARLY
Our desks have published hours at many of the hotels and resorts. While you can TELL your guests to come ½ hour before the closing time, you must continue to service them until the closing time. We are getting reports from Vistana that some of you are closing ½ hour early so you can leave on time. You cannot do this.

ALL HOTELS OPEN AT 7 AM
All locations open at 7 am. The only exceptions are some of the gifting desks and vacation home clubhouses. Please be ON TIME and be at your hotel at 7 am.

GIFTING TEAM MEETING 1/13
There is a MANDATORY Gifting Team meeting on Wednesday, 1/13 at 3:30. Location TBD. Please check with Cindy if you have any questions.

CODES CHANGING
We will be changing many of the location codes over the next week. Please call the office the DAY BEFORE your shift to see if your location has been changed.

READING GAZETTE IS MANDATORY
With a staff of 90 people, it is very important that you read all of the communications we put out – especially the Gazette and When to Work messages. This is the ONLY way we have to communicate to each of you important information in a timely manner. Please be sure to read all of this information.

SEND ALL GUESTS TO OPC’S FIRST
We are still getting complaints at some of our hotels and resorts that they are not getting all guests sent to the OPC first. Again, Vistana is the one complaining the most. If you have a guest approach your desk, please make sure they’ve first had a chance to talk to the OPC.

SMOKE IN DESIGNATED AREAS ONLY
You are NEVER to smoke in guest’s view, including in front of the hotel or behind the desk. This includes E-Cigarettes. This looks very unprofessional and will not be tolerated. Smoke breaks must be taken in a designated area out of guest’s view.

APPRECIATION PARTY 1/31
Everyone should have received the E-Vite for our 25th Anniversary Appreciation Party at the DP Center for Performing Arts. This will be a very special event and we would like to see as many of you as possible there. However, if you would like to stay back and work, we do have locations that will need to be covered – particularly the Vistana locations. Please let Cindy or Rick S. know if you would like to work. Thanks!

UPCOMING EVENTS IN ORLANDO
http://blog.tickpick.com/upcoming-events-in-orlando/. Here are some of the highlights: Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus, 1/14 – 1/18; Paul Anka, 1/14; Macklemore &Ryan Lewis, 1/20; WWE Royal Rumble, 1/24.

INCENTIVES
Orlando Magic Monthly – Sell 15 – Get 2 Terrace Level Game tickets; Sell 30 – Get 4 Chase Club Level Game tickets.

Employee Notes: Happy Birthday to David on 1/10, Diane on 1/12, Carlos on 1/15, and Rick S. on 1/14! Congrats to Maribel for 1 year on 1/14 and Jon F. for 7 years on 1/12!