This post is VERY LONG --- Once you read it, you will know why.
We just finished the 1200 mile drive home today, arriving in CT about 3PM. We have done the drive about 10 times now, so its sorta routine. One overnight on the way down, one on the way back. We were nervously watching the weather reports the last few days as it seemed like there may be a Nor'Easter in New England this weekend. Luckily, it was all hype -- no show, just cold.
Now, back to the TR:
Friday - December 17th - Day 7
Today was the dreaded "split-stay-moving-day", as we were moving from BLT to POR. Just don't have enough points for those Friday nights. When I grow up, I want enough points to never have to do a weekend move again!!!
As you may recall, the reception was at the Napa Room at the Contemporary, and since we had a 1 BDR (full size fridge), we had taken my daughters bridal bouquet, the top tier of the cake, and the castle white-chocolate cake top with us and put them in the fridge until we moved on Friday (see post #38 for the cakes pieces I describe).
We had reserved Boma for breakfast this morning for me my DW, DS, the bride and the groom @9:00AM. Didnt want to go too early since we were at the
MVMCP on Thursday night, but didnt want to go too late either since we had to load up the car and check-out by 11:00AM. The day started normally and we loaded a few things in the car before we went to the GF to pick up the bride and groom then to Boma. We left a few bags in the room and the special stuff in the fridge. I knew there was a problem when we were walking back to our room at BLT at about 10:40 or so and I saw two boxes in the hallway that should have been in our room the boxes that the flowers had come in that we were going to use to pack up the wedding items. Also in the hallway was the bag cover for my daughters dress, which she was picking up to bring back to the GF with her. I began to panic and ran into the room, threw open the fridge, and ------------- it was cleaned out ----------- no bouquet, no cake top, no top tier --------------- plus my wifes cell phone and charger which were charging on the counter were gone. It seems that the mousekeeping staff had decided that 11:00 doesnt always mean 11:00 and they cleaned the room.
I searched for someone in the hallway and found another person (not our mousekeeper) and explained the situation. She certainly did not display any sense of urgency or concern, but rather said that they had cleaned the room and told me to call downstairs. My wife was doing that as I went downstairs to the lobby and the groom continued to search the hallways for a signs of life. After about 15 minutes or so, three more people came to the room and we explained the entire situation again. We had left the room about 8:10, came back about 10:40AM How someone could think that we would leave those items behind, along with the cell phone, dress bag, boxes and a few other things was (and still is) beyond me. The three people went away, saying they would look for the mousekeeper and check to see if they could find the items.
By this time my daughter is calling her wedding planner who was fabulous. She said she would come over to BLT which she did (a lot faster than any of the mousekeeping staff seemed to move). After another 15-20 minutes, there was a knock on the door and two different people show up, holding a bouquet and two damaged boxes. Apparently, the items had been thrown in the garbage. When I asked about the cell phone and the other two smaller boxes that were in the fridge, you would have thought I was asking to have the sun rise in the west. We chatted and they went away. After another 15-20 minutes with no more sign of help, I called down to mousekeeping again relayed the story again --- and was told that they would get the Mousekeeping manager and that he would come up to the room. By now it is after 12. He finally called did not come to the room --- and I explained the entire situation yet again. In the time between my call and his call, we noticed that the two rhinestone cuffs that were on the base of the bouquet were missing. Now, these cuffs could not just fall off. They were very well attached. I mentioned this to the Manager and he said they would check on the phone and the cuffs.
Finally, he called back still did not come to the room -- and he said that the phone and charger were at Lost & Found and that one of his staff would bring them up to me. No sign of the cuffs. The wedding planner was also going to follow-up with the whole situation from her end. Another knock on the door, yet a different staff member with the phone and charger no cuffs and she knew nothing about them.
Not only were we appalled that they would dispose of these items ---- before check-out time--- but I was also extremely disappointed in the reaction of the entire staff. I did not sense that they understood how important this was and what had occurred. I never got the sense that anyone was taking charge and would figure this out. Even when they brought the items up, they seemed ok that they had found it. A few Im sorrys, but nothing more. I think it was especially telling that the manager never came to the room. I suppose I could have forced him to come up, but I dont know what that would have accomplished.
Now, the wedding planner has arranged to have a new set of cuffs sent to my daughter (small consolation she wants the ones from her wedding day), to have the top tier remade for them when they go back to WDW in June, and to have a new castle top also. Problem is, Disney will not ship them to her here do to health and liability issues.
We are all still seething a bit, and I will be writing a formal letter to guest satisfaction this week.
On a brighter note, I will have more pix soon. I did not personally take very many, so I have to retrieve them from others. I promise ------
mac_tlc
Most of housekeeping is outsourced now. 
I would arrange to have them frozen and shipped home that way. I know Fed Ex does frozen boxes, and I think UPS does as well. You will need a styro cooler box to ship them in.
