Originally Posted By Crazy4WDW I've only been lucky enought to stay at AKL once. We arrived really late that trip, after midnight. We had only booked a standard room. Being extremely tired, I never really looked at the room, just washed up and headed off to bed. When I got up in the morning it seemed really dark. LOL. We had gotten a room that was under the thatched room that faced the front of the resort. Only one single glass door for the small balcony. It was similar to holding a refrigerator box and trying to look through it! LOL! Needless to say the front desk was more than happy to move me to a brighter room. The kids were calling it the batcave. LOL!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 The AKL is a wonderful resort to stay at, it's one of my favorites. I actually find the housekeeping to be quite good there vs. some of the other resorts. Just the fact that the rooms are five years old now and have had NO rehab yet and I'll still stay there says something. Especially, since many guests are pigs or will allow their brats to damage the furnishings and many CMs either don't care about cleaning properly and/or weren't trained to. My biggest complaint with Disney Mousekeeping overall is that, on average, many CMs make the rooms appear clean but don't actually clean them. Kind of like the facades cameras tape in movies and TVs, they trick you into believing you are seeing the whole picture when you're not. But stay at AKL, it's well worth it.
Originally Posted By jkayjs Spirit I believe we were at AKL at the same time in Spring '05 as I found out after the fact. We really enjoyed it. Now WL is still my fave but I did like AKL and I didn't have any problems with our room. Wow am I the only one that finds it disturbing that mousekeeping allowed anyone to take a tour of a suite/room that was occupied? I'm sure it was nice to see but so much for security. If they'ld do that to the head of the company what can an ordinary guest expect. Maybe it's late and I'm just tired or maybe it's because I see the aftermath of random violance but I find this disturbing on so many levels.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Yes. I believe we were, jkayjs. I actually stayed at AKL twice last year, so sometimes it's hard to keep track. My fave remains WL too (just by a hair over AKL). BTW, all the rooms at WL have now been fully rehabbed, so it would be a great time to stay there. And, no, you aren't the only one who finds that disturbing ... but being the realist here, I also don't find it at all surprising.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "12345678910 I'm fine dan.. thank you.. " Lol - I like that one pixie, I think I should use that in World Events sometimes. May I? ;-)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "And, no, you aren't the only one who finds that disturbing ... but being the realist here, I also don't find it at all surprising." I spend probably 50 - 100 nights a year in hotels for work, and often if I work in the hotel room in the mornings, as I walk down the corridors, I find rooms wide open as the cleaners pop in and out - with people's luggage in there. I have seen this from 3 star to 5 star, and even the 7 stars in Dubai. The truth is, if things need to be secure, lock them away.
Originally Posted By disneydad109 I am sure folks are sick of hearing this, but last Dec when my family and I were at the GF the hall door to our room would not lock for the 1st three days we were there.The staff was nice and sent a gift basket to say they were sorry, it would have meant more if they had closed the door behind them.I spoke to the the gm at the gf and he said nothing was taken so what was is the problem.
Originally Posted By danyoung >My biggest complaint with Disney Mousekeeping overall is that, on average, many CMs make the rooms appear clean but don't actually clean them.< Interesting. So do you go in with a chemical kit and check to make sure? For me, if it looks clean, then that's already cleaner than my home, so I don't need anything more!
Originally Posted By pixiedust1 <<Interesting. So do you go in with a chemical kit and check to make sure? For me, if it looks clean, then that's already cleaner than my home, so I don't need anything more!>> Call Gil from CSI.. we could dust for prints... use some luminal to test for blood spatter... LOL... you know if you nicked yourself shaving... I know I've moved dust around before... I guess I sort of understand what Spirit is saying...
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Interesting. So do you go in with a chemical kit and check to make sure?<< That's a little extreme. Although I would be very nervous to bring one of those black-light devices into the rooms. I agreed with '74's point. On cursuory glance a room might be clean, but look at the fixtures and vanity, look at the backside of the shower curtain, take the bedspread off; there is a good chance one might find something that isn't clean on the surface. It is hit and miss. I stay most often at the Polynesian and I had often read prior to the refurb many complaints that I myself never encountered.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys My biggest gripe is the lack of fitted sheets in all the resorts. Seems like the flat sheets they use are too small and never tucked in properly. After a few hours in bed, coupled with a little tossing and turning, the bottom sheet becomes untucked and balled up. We have resorted to bringing our own fitted sheets to solve this problem. As far as the GF, my wife and I were also treated rudely at the front desk. We got a room at the Yacht Club and checked out the next day. Personally, I like the YC better anyway. I think the GF is way over rated. Maybe it was my imagination, but when we checked out and told them we were going to the YC, it seemed to really annoy the person at the front desk, who happened to be the same person who was rude to us.
Originally Posted By ChiMike ^^ I agree, with the others too. GF is way over-rated. Although personally I have never had any staff be rude to me there. Regardless, it is low on my list of places to stay. With Contemp and Polynesian so close it's easy to skip the place.
Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1 We have always stayed at the GF and love it. I only had one dealing with the front desk as we always stay concierge and I forgot to ask them my question. Needless to say I don't go near the front desk anymore. We would really love to stay at the YC. We went there for dinner one evening and it just seems so nice over there and the location is fabulous. The pool is just heaven. As much as we love the GF, I think it's time for a change.
Originally Posted By disneydad109 We have also have always been big GF fans and never stayed elsewhere but over the last few trips it seems the bloom is faded.I like concierge level and the food is always great but the staff is bad and getting worse. I just can not see spending the money to be treated like dirt.Lets hope that the AKL does not let us down.I just feel so uneasy over this trip and that something I never worried about before.Please WDW get it right this time.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>I just can not see spending the money to be treated like dirt.<< I can't either. For what that costs at the GF I would have spoken with someone right off the bat. I normally don't complain at WDW, but when I'm at a fine restaurant or high-priced resort (Disney or non) I will not allow my money & time be disrespected. >>Lets hope that the AKL does not let us down.I just feel so uneasy over this trip and that something I never worried about before.<< I've stayed there 2 times and visited much more, I would say you'll have a great time. Even if they cost the same I would rather spend a night at AKL. The best part is that you can stay at AKL for 3 nights for the price of what you were paying at GF. Have fun.
Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1 DisneyDad, I completely understand. The last time we were at the GF was in 2004 and a lot can change in a few years. After reading the posts, I am hoping that the GF will still be the same for us as in the past as my parents and my great nephew/brother will be going with us. This will be their first time to WDW and I want it to be a great experience for them. *Fingers Crossed* I have heard very good things about AKL and I am sure you will have a great time. >>I normally don't complain at WDW, but when I'm at a fine restaurant or high-priced resort (Disney or non) I will not allow my money & time be disrespected<< I totally agree.
Originally Posted By Crazy4WDW If you don't get any satisfaction complaint to the general manager, who would you go to next in the Disney resort archive? I'd like to know so that if I ever encounter a problem, I would know who to contact.
Originally Posted By danyoung >My biggest gripe is the lack of fitted sheets in all the resorts.< I thought I was the only one with that problem! And you hit it on the head - their small size doesn't allow you to tuck 'em in. I'm a bigtime tosser & turner, and I've had to get out of bed in the middle of the night to re-align the sheets. Very uncool!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I spoke to the the gm at the gf and he said nothing was taken so what was is the problem.>> My first answer would have been: 'your attitude.'
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Interesting. So do you go in with a chemical kit and check to make sure? For me, if it looks clean, then that's already cleaner than my home, so I don't need anything more!>> Well, you live in Texas, so you likely sleep in a barn with livestock! (THIS IS A JOKE PEOPLE!) But just looking clean simply isn't good enough for me. It shouldn't be to anyone. Illness can be spread from any number of things in an improperly cleaned hotel room. I don't ever want a towel animal. I want a clean, properly maintained room. Just what I paid for.
