Originally Posted By Bolna <<I don't intend to be down on the Poly, it used to be #1 on my wish list. If I were to win the lottery or marry money you can bet your bippy I'd book a trip ASAP. >> I absolutely understand your feeling. The same applies for me and the Disneyland Hotel at DLP. And my Poly trip was during the stay 7 nights for the price of four and get a gift card on top promotion.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>> If by service you mean the lack of 24h room service, you are right, that isn't there. But for me it wasn't an issue (I can see that it might be for others). Otherwise I encountered a lot of lovely cast members there. I am not saying that your experience wasn't as bad as you say, but wanted to point out that others can have perfectly wonderful stays there. <<< If it were only that. I don't really want to derail the thread, but I think it is useful to point out the issues: 1. When we checked in, the cast member didn't look me in the eye and did not answer my questions. We booked a non smoking deluxe Savannah View room and when we got to the room it was a smoking room. I called the front desk, they apologised and said they had another for us. So we marched back (tired and jet lagging), but long story short, I got chewed out by the manager saying they couldn't guarantee a non smoking room, and when I explained we called, he gave me a hard time when finally another cast member came off break and thankfully it was the one I spoke with. The kids were crying and an hour after the initial check in, we finally got to the room. The room was dusty and the floor was filthy under the bed. Also the bathroom was not as clean as it could have been. Half the light bulbs were burnt out. It took 7 hours for our luggage to get to our room. Given we arrived at 6pm, that was way in excess of what they stated on the times (given that it arrived just before 1am, feeling like 6am UK time). Ok, this may have been an airport or Magical Express issue, but still. Buses were a nightmare - breaking down, and often an hour from leaving the room to getting to the park gate (except DAK). Then we bought a Pal Mickey, which did not work properly. We had three exchanges. On the last one, the cast member agreed to look for a working one, when doing so, she was told off by her lead and told to go and serve someone else. She then said we could keep ours or have a refund. In the Mara, Sarah cut her jeans and leg on a broken chair. To be fair, they did give us a credit to replace them. Though she muttered they no longer check things over the way they used to due to cut backs on casting. Our wake up call did not work a few times, and our key card malfunctioned several times too. The pool opened later than posted most mornings (I had a bad back and wanted a swim before going to the parks). The cast member just shrugged. While not one thing is awful, add them all up (particularly the bus problems), coupled with the fact that we had better experiences previously at POR, and afterwards at DLP and the Grand Californian, it really put a sour taste in the mouth.
Originally Posted By Bolna Dave, I am really sorry that you had such a bad stay and I think all your points are very valid. It would have made me angry as well. However, as I said, I only had really good service (especially in 2010 a very nice and engaging CM at check in and a wonderful housekeeper). One thing that I loved was when we came back to the hotel while it was pouring rain outside, there were two cast members at the entrance distributing pool towels to all the guests who entered the hotel dripping wet. I thought that was a nice touch! I usually went for a swim in the pool at 7am most days and met the guy cleaning the pool the first day and he told me to go ahead and use the pool. Most waits for busses were between 5-10 minutes. Well, we just had very different experiences, but I wished it would be otherwise and yours were as good as mine.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thanks Bolna. That was just an unlucky trip in many ways. Loads of AA's were broken, problems with meals etc. After spending so much time and money, I wondered if I would ever do any Disney again. Thankfully I had great times at DLP and DLR within 18 months of that 2007 trip. And it wasn't all bad. WE had some fantastic experiences due to a number of LPers, a great time when a cast member of Star Tours kindly ran a non moving simulator so my son could experience it in english (it was at the time where Paris did not have a height restriction and had ridden it many times, but was too short in WDW), and seeing Marie Osmond do the Candlelight Processional was great.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper There have been some structual changes to management positions since I worked as a Cast Member (many moons ago). They had to do with flattening the Organization Chart which eliminated a lot of lower/middle management positions like Leads and so forth. I have to wonder if some of those decisions affected the guest experience more than anticipated. The Leads were very instrumental in making sure that I was giving a consistent guest experience at the attraction. They were the ones that sort of held my feet to the fire, if you will, to make sure I maintained attention to detail. I could certainly see that loss of front level supervision as critical to a lot of the types of troubles Dave cites in his post. (That said though...I've been in much finer hotels than Disney hotels and "under the bed" is notorious for housekeeper shortcuts. I've gotten to the point that I just don't look anymore.)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It is not like I am new to hotels Wahoo, as you know, I think that is what it made hurt more. I have stayed in budget hotels with better service.
Originally Posted By 3disneylocations Would love to stay @ the Poly... I lived in Hawaii while in the service and when I visited (pool hopping) noticed that WDI must have gone to the islands while disigning the resort 'cause right down to the trash cans, the place SCREAMED Hawaii. The Pool Bar is awesome as well.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I wasn't trying to defend Disney at all. On the contrary...I think you made a lot of valid points (and points I've heard others make). I haven't stayed on property for quite some time because I don't see the value in it (particularly as a Florida resident). Just had that one comment about dirtiness under the bed. It is a prevalent problem that many chains are now addressing but putting in a more "platform style" bed so that things CAN'T end up under there.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***We booked a non smoking deluxe Savannah View room and when we got to the room it was a smoking room. I called the front desk, they apologised and said they had another for us. So we marched back (tired and jet lagging), but long story short, I got chewed out by the manager saying they couldn't guarantee a non smoking room, and when I explained we called, he gave me a hard time when finally another cast member came off break and thankfully it was the one I spoke with. The kids were crying and an hour after the initial check in, we finally got to the room. The room was dusty and the floor was filthy under the bed. Also the bathroom was not as clean as it could have been. Half the light bulbs were burnt out*** You might have written about this in detail before and I probably missed it, but now is the first time I've read about and carefully considered this particular down-side to your famously difficult trip... Reading it now, I'm gathering that you guys might have encountered some very bad customer service employees who stuck you with an unclean room in revenge for your audacity (how DARE you complain about a smoking room!?). I don't normally say this in terms of my former employment, but as a former cast member of WDW I do want to apologize to you guys for having had to deal with such an unpleasant and unprofessional situation! I took great pride in being a CM in WDW, and most everyone I worked with did so too! The fact that you had to deal with unprofessional employees really is terrible, and I feel badly for all of you and ashamed of those sub-par cast members! Not to sound TOO much like a Disney commercial, but please do understand that most Disney employees DO take pride in their work, and DO care about all of our guests, and the fact that you encountered sub-standard employees is disheartening for all of us who work hard for the Disney company and try to make the guest experience the best it can be! I am sincerely sorry to read about this! (even though I haven't worked there in over 10 years!)
Originally Posted By Mr X ***That said though...I've been in much finer hotels than Disney hotels and "under the bed" is notorious for housekeeper shortcuts. I've gotten to the point that I just don't look anymore*** ***Just had that one comment about dirtiness under the bed. It is a prevalent problem that many chains are now addressing but putting in a more "platform style" bed so that things CAN'T end up under there*** That's a fair point for any hotel chain... I was residing in (I say "residing" because I was there for three weeks) an extremely "up-level" Japanese hotel once upon a time, and when we were trying to plug in our playstation there was trouble with the TV... Well, the maintenance guy came in and pulled the TV out of the wall and a CLOUD of filth spewed forth. I don't mean just dust, I mean FILTH. And he didn't even acknowledge it. He just sort of looked around, fixed the plug, and left. It was WAY disgusting. And the "supposed" level of this hotel was supposedly well beyond Disney standards (not THAT particular day, it wasn't!). So I get what you're saying Wahoo.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>I am sincerely sorry to read about this! (even though I haven't worked there in over 10 years!)<<< But that is the point X, you were with them 10 years ago. The company is not what it once was. And that has been the point of a number of my posts. I wrote a gentle letter of complaint (when the cast member could not find the hotel manager). It was never responded to. It is not what I expect. Just like at Disneyland Paris we stayed at the Hotel New York (4* - $300 a night). The telephone was broken, moldy milk was delivered by room service, bell services would not deliver our bags the car for the port, TV didn't work etc. And this was the 2nd stay like that, it is struck off. Frankly, unless in California or Tokyo, it has chased me off of wanting to stay on site.
Originally Posted By Mr X That in no way diminishes my apologetic feelings towards the Baloos, though...that's a whole different story and I'm very sorry it happened! ***when I visited (pool hopping)*** Pool hopping? Seriously? What's wrong with you!?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo But I appreciate the comments X. I have had poor experiences at many different brands. However, I have found the service at places like Alton Towers, Europa Park and Phantasialand Hotels to exceed Disney (especially Marriott, and Crowne Plaza)
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 dave sorry to hear about the shoddy service you received. I can say that I've never had anything but great service in all my visits to WDW. Sure there may have been the occasional waiting for a chicken sandwich at a counter service, but nothing that would have ruined my trip. But if you want to know where to get the best service, go to an all inclusive resort in Mexico. Tip the waiter or bartender by the pool a five, you will be the first group served again.
Originally Posted By KatieKate123 I def want to stay at wilderness lodge, animal kingdom or poly. I was really mad when I lost my job b/c I was planning on upgrading to one of those for this trip if my husband couldn't make it.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Dave... a few comments about your experiences, which I’m sure, were very frustrating. The delay in getting luggage to your room is TYPICAL with Magical Express if you have a flight arriving late in the day and has happened to me at both Saratoga Springs and the Boardwalk. If you use ME you MUST pack a day bag with a day's worth of clothes and toiletries and carry it with you. It is one of the reasons I have stopped using Magical Express. Your bus issues (except for the breakdown) are primarily the result of the hotel's location. The AKL is huge and it can easily take 5-10 minutes to walk from your room to the bus stop. We'll imagine you wait 15 minutes for the bus (which is quicker than their stated time frame of up to 20 minutes). It is ALWAYS going to take at least 20 minutes to get to the MK... more during busy times. This totals 45 minutes or more. It would take the same time driving your own car except for the 15 minutes waiting for the bus. It is a primary reason the AKL is the least popular of the Deluxe resorts even though it is a beautiful resort. I'm sure the problem with the room was frustrating but it is understandable. When you get the confirmation of your reservation from the hotel it explicitly states "smoking preference is noted but not guaranteed". You USUALLY get what you want but may not during a busy time, especially if you are checking in late in the evening. I'm sure what happened is when you pushed the point they gave you a room that had been taken out of service for additional cleaning. It was probably the only available non-smoking room in the resort. ALL of those items would have been frustrating, but most of them cannot be attributed to poor service by the hotel. Sorry it all happened on one trip.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I would want to stay at the recently renovated TreeHouses(DVC only) and I do mean only since nobody will ever be able to book a stay unless you are actually point holders and SS is your home resort. I also think it would be fun to stay at the Wilderness Campgrounds during Thanksgiving Week to experience the Native American Week to see all the tents and the in-ground cooking turkeys I guess. I have stayed at all the Resorts mentioned so far and would like to highly recommend the new Bay LAke Towers. Incredible views from every angle. If you are wishing and dreaming add this to your magical someday list. I will be returning on July 20th for a 3rd stay at this resort. Really love this place...And remeber DVC reserves a portion of rooms for ordinary vacation guests. It can be booked as a hotel stay for non-members. Although pricey.. Mr.X you mentioned the military resort: Shades of Green.org. We will also be staying at this location and it compares to the Grand F with recent updates. I also want to mention they offer a once a year stay for any military families besides the Lifers or retired career military. This is new and information is available on the website I believe. This resort is also available to Dept.of Defense Civilian families. I still think the POP Century is a lot of fun too and it is a favorite!
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I wrote a gentle letter of complaint (when the cast member could not find the hotel manager). It was never responded to*** That, too, is wrong and embarrassing! I can't apologize forever, but I CAN say that is wrong of the Disney company to say the least (I know for a fact that phone calls are returned without question from the TDR call center, with either a reply OR an offer of compensation or both!).
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I'm sure the problem with the room was frustrating but it is understandable. When you get the confirmation of your reservation from the hotel it explicitly states "smoking preference is noted but not guaranteed". You USUALLY get what you want but may not during a busy time, especially if you are checking in late in the evening. I'm sure what happened is when you pushed the point they gave you a room that had been taken out of service for additional cleaning. It was probably the only available non-smoking room in the resort*** Christ Jerry, how much do they pay to to spout that crap!? If I didn't know any better, I'd think you worked for the place or something! Seriously, dude!! What compels you to spout the company line in these cases!? OBVIOUSLY they were wrong, a first class business would take care of it post haste. No? What kind of establishments to YOU frequent!?
Originally Posted By Mr X ***when I visited (pool hopping)*** Pool hopping? Seriously? What's wrong with you!? *still waiting for an answer from THIS genius.
