Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Hope you read the trip report for the CARSLAND Opening Day at Paradise Pier Problems I experienced . Call me crazy but I booked a return trip for the Fourth of July at the Disneyland Hotel (including last minute flights on Southwest )( as in expensive!). So read on cause you are not going to believe this!!! I arrived on Monday departed Thursday for the Fourth of July. I also had an extra room for my niece and her 2 children for Tuesday arrival and departing on Wed. the 4th. I went to the front desk to check them in . Then ran up to the room to check the location, etc. It smelled like bugspray so I turned on the A. C. to air out the stuffy room and went to sit by the pool to wait for their arrival. They arrived safely went up to the room with them to show them the switch for the special nighttime Castler effect on the headboard...Upon entering they looked at each other and made a comment that somebody must have been smoking weed in the room. I had just signed a $250 non smoking clause on check-in so I thought I should call downstairs. (I am 60 years old and never smelled marijuana ; growing up in a small town in the midwest ) That got a good laugh from my native California relatives! When I called they asked me to wait in the room for the housekeeper currently in a meeting right now but will be there within 40 minutes! I really do not want to wait in the room so I went downstairs to switch rooms. The cast member guaranteed me I would not have to wait in line and they would know the problem and reason for new keys. Of course they didn't and I had to relay the info again. So we had to switch rooms but realized that we had left 2 jackets in the closet. So we called downstairs and was told to wait at the original room to enter. The housekeeping manager met us and her key would not work. We had to wait for security. Their key would not work. So then we had to wait for maintenance. Upon entry the housekeeper agreed the room smelled like marijuana and my niece gave her a strange look As if to say I can't believe you just admitted to knowing that smell ...I think she then realized her mistake! Anyway we enjoyed the new pool and Carsland but I expected at least a phone call that night at my room or my niece's room but NOTHING . Next morning still NOTHING. Went downstairs to file a complaint again when I checked out verifying all information would be relayed to the Hotel Manager with my phone #s. Today is Saturday still NOTHING. Not even a SORRY for the inconvenience... Seriously I am printing up a copy of my CARSLAND Paradise Pier Hotel Trip Report and this Disneyland Hotel trip report to mail to the Disneyland Resort . Stay tuned!!!
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub P.S. We probably wasted 2 hours of our vacation time with the phone calls , waiting in line at the front desk, and then waiting for the housekeeping and security and maintenance mechanic. Plus being slightly irritated through-out the day and at night when I was trying to go to sleep...and still thinking about this days later. All of the different people involved did not feel responsible about reporting any problem to management that maybe this customer deserves a phone call to make sure I had a Magical Day...
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Is the MAGIC shallow ? I am starting to feel it is not heartfelt. Sorry MickeyMouse.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Is there a legal term for Hotel/Customer Expectations and responsibilities? I am expected to pay for all lodging and damages incurred. Agreed, but is it too old fashion to think that means at least one night of a peaceful sleep without added aggravation on their behalf? At this point I am very frustrated and confused and saddened to make me question ever staying on Disney property again for fear of feeling "taken advantage of".
Originally Posted By DyGDisney Well a couple of things. I don't think it's odd at all for your housekeeper to recognize the smell of marijuana. You admitted yourself that your relatives thought it funny that you didn't know the smell. I have never smoked marijuana, but I could certainly tell if someone was smoking it around me. Secondly... Unfortunately, I would never expect a call from any hotel management apologizing for an inconvenience. They probably field multiple complaints every day, and for the most part they consider them minor issues. We had problems checking into the Grand Californian a few years back. It was past check-in time and we had to wait 45 minutes because they "didn't know" if our room was ready. Apparently they have 2 ways to check, and one said it was ready but the other said it wasn't. At one point I told them I'd run up and check myself because we were tired of waiting after our 7 hour drive, but they said no, housekeeping had to check. It was frustrating, but I didn't expect any compensation nor did I receive any. I also didn't let it ruin my trip, and I hope you didn't let your problems ruin yours either.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>and still thinking about this days later.<< Well...here we go. You've clearly been completely put out and upset by this, and I'm sorry for that. But if this were me, I'd shrug it off and think no big deal. Yeah, a bit irritating you have to change rooms. I've had to do that before at a Disney hotel. Inconvenient, sure. It certainly didn't spoil my trip or the "magic" or anything else. Why worry or ruminate on this "days later?" How is it Disney's fault that you're still upset by this "days later?" I think there were a couple of instances of bad service here, especially the "in a meeting for forty minutes" response. But I don't think you'll be getting a call back and, IMO, you aren't really entitled to one. As for the housekeeper knowing what marijuana smells like...really? I know what it smells like, which means...what? There's no way to determine what kind of person someone is by whether or not they know what pot smells like. Our last three Presidents know what it smells like.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I doubt very many people who've attended college since the late 60's don't know what it smells like! As for the service, you have to accept that in hotels "stuff happens". Once when we checked into our WDW room at the Wilderness Lodge we discovered that our room had clearly not been cleaned after the prior guest checked out. Bed was unmade, towels on the bathroom floor, etc. I called the front desk and asked for another room. I was told the hotel was fully booked and that just wouldn't be possible right then. They said they would send housekeeping up to take care of it. After waiting about 45 minutes I called housekeeping and talked to the head of housekeeping. I explained our situation saying we needed someone to clean the room right away. We had dinner reservations and I didn't want to miss them. I also wanted to be able to freshen up after our long trip, and did not want to do so in a dirty bathroom. She said she had no staff available right then but would come up herself and take care of it. Five minutes later she was at our door. We never received any type of follow up call from the front desk or offer of any type of discount. I never expected either one. We had a problem; it was taken care of. What more could anyone possibly ask for?
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub That was just meant as an amusing aside... Please do not forget that you agree to pay a $250.00 fee for the smell of smoke. I did not say anybody in my family was smoking it and we were trying to get away with anything ... So it is no big deal to waste what was definitely over 2 hours of vacation time going back and forth on the elevators walking across property to lobby a couple times waiting on hold on telephones. Also this is in addition to receiving that GrandCalifornian Hotel treatment at check-in so many times . It is just become expected the room will not be ready and the lobby will be full of people with their luggage waiting. You do realize that hotels are gradually shifting check-in times from 3 to 4 to 5 and changing check-out times to noon from 11. I am certain they would try to change it to 10a.m. if at all possible but not to worry because housekeeping usually talks loudly up and down the hallways to wake everybody up. They really want you out of the room early. So yes I would not have a problem with these things happening except it has not been just a once or twice upon a time. At WDW i have learned to accept lower expectations.Therefor I usually stay at a VALUE resort and actually love the POP Century and have stayed there so many times it is almost home. At Disneyland you do not have that option of lowering expectations along with the value you place on your money and time. I suppose this started for me when the Grand Californian Hotel opened and many times the fire alarms would go off in the dead of night. I wonder if any cast member knows what that feels like to be in a dead sleep after traveling across the country. And then having ear splitting alarms blaring and lazer- like lightening alerts going off and on in the hotel room. And then trying to spend the day in the theme parks with a worse than migraine headache. And no mention of a sorry from the front desk whatsoever. So yeah I have had a lifetime of special magical treatment at Disney and haven't complain. Until now. This insert is placed in the rooms. Let me remind you all I did speak to lots of cast members on the phones and reported immediately and again at departure. If you owned property and you ignored any small problem what would be the odds your little business would survive? HOW DID WE DO? It was a pleasure serving you! Dear Guest: Thank you for visiting the Disneyland Resort and choosing to stay at the DL Hotel. We hope you will take a few minutes to help us understand how to better serve you by completing this quick survey. You may leave it in your room or return it to the front desk. If there is anything that needs immediate attention,please notify us. It is extremely important to us that you have a completely magical experience! We hope you will visit us again soon. Best Wishes, The Cast of the Disneyland Hotel
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub road trip, sorry when i graduated from high school the very worst thing was one person caught sniffing glue in the restroom and none of my friends could figure out why somebody would do that. We also only had one black person in the entire graduating class. I know sounds strange and unbelievable . i have my personal standards I do not smoke or drink and usually avoid situations unless it is a wedding. Again i know that is strange. All of my fun time is only when i go to Disney. Other than that I do not spend much wasteful money and i have never belonged to a church so don't be assuming anything else. i just live in my own little world with my family and friends and mickey Mouse. Sincerely
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Also remember Disneyland is desperately trying to set their standards high enough to be considered a resort destination worldwide. i guarantee you in the midwest most of the wealthy and upper middle class executives i know would never consider any Disney vacation unless the wife and nanny were going with the children!
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I did have a blast on both visits . Opening day was not very crowded if you know how to ignore crowds and the July Fourth was very not crowded... in comparison to all the Halloween and Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve crowds I have experienced.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I made no judgment about you not smoking pot (or drinking)... that is certainly a valid (and healthier) choice. I just said that I thought most people today were familiar with what pot smelled like whether they had ever personally smoked it or not, and feel that it is unfair to assume someone has personally used it just because they know what it smells like. I also feel the WDW hotels are a much better value than the DL hotels (though I've never stayed at the GCH). As far as I'm concerned DL hotels are priced like WDW Deluxe Resorts and give you WDW Moderate Resort service. Of course WDW also has many more rooms to fill than DL does, so they probably HAVE to offer better service!
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Good point about WDW. I was referring to a different comment and yours at the same time . Sorry for the confusion. I guess i was just interested in hearing different people's opinions and it does help me realize in retrospect I have fun at Dsney no matter what. I should include a disclaimer along with my complaining that I added 100 points to my DVC and now have points at the Bay Lake Tower and the Wilderness Lodge. Insane!!!Yes I am Something to laugh about
Originally Posted By DyGDisney >>>At Disneyland you do not have that option of lowering expectations along with the value you place on your money and time.<<< We have stopped staying on property all together. It's far too expensive, and we can get just as nice a room for 1/3 of the price. Since you have DVC, however, I guess it's different.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub i have DVC but seem to give the points to my children and grandchildren! So I stay at Value Resorts(WDW) and on Harbor after a lifetime of magical treatment at DL. I just chose Resort prop this time for the early morn advantage at Carsland...and it was worth it! Everytime I return to the Best Western Park PLace on Harbor they know my name and have all my info ready for check-in and they remember my preferences for room location. Now that is excellent customer service! I always write an email to thank them for better friendlier staff than their competition across the street. I notice Disney cast members try to avoid eye contact always. Never from any level of worker at the BW Park PLace.
Originally Posted By DyGDisney We've had great service from outside hotels as well, even hotels we win for ridiculously low prices on Priceline. Not sure why, but we don't have 1 place in particular where we stay near DL. I would love to stay at the Disneyland Hotel again, just once, now that it's been redone. But it's so expensive I don't know that we ever will.
Originally Posted By KCCHIEF I.....swear....I do not know what pot smells like.......yes, I am being serious....
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I can believe you. Why did I think it smelled like a bugspray is what i want to know. Anybody?
Originally Posted By YumaJohn Yeeeaaahhh..... Sorry about that. I forgot how bad the ventilation is in the old towers and really thought it would dissipate before anyone noticed. won't happen again.
