TAX GUY
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2014
OK, to try and answer some questions and clear the air....
No, we were not trying to buy points. When I called it was because I was looking at the layout of the rooms (on this site, because I was finally getting excited for our trip and wanted to have an idea what to expect). That's when I saw there wasn't a second sleeping surface in one of the area's (where we planned on the 2 boys to sleep). My wife thought there was a pull out chair (twin bed) in addition to the pull out sofa. That's when I called CS to ask what options we had. I was then told we could request an air mattress (free of charge) or something else, like a cot or roll away bed, but there would probably be a fee. I said an air mattress should be fine. CS entered the request in the reservation. Then was asked if there was anything else, that's when I asked about a room with a view other than the parking lot. That request was also entered. CS then did advise these are only requests and no guarantees, of which I acknowledged and knew. It was then, I talked about the box fans. Didn't know if I should ask for them now or during check in, like we did at our last visit 3 years ago (at the Grand Floridian). CS said w could do either, request with the reservation or at check in. I opted for with the reservation since we were making requests already. I was unaware these items are NOT provided, even when asked or requested. Had CS mentioned that, even if it was presented as "we can ask, but these are typically NOT an option", then I would have had less of an expectation (or actually none at all). I was also willing to pay any up charge if it applied. With all that said, when we arrived I wasn't upset that these things weren't in the room, just figured I could ask now that we were there. So, I called the front desk and once again, was told the items would be sent right up. Great. Never knew they were forbidden or couldn't be provided, and wasn't told any different when I called the desk. So, still under the impression these items and requests were OK, we asked for another fan since our original was for multiple and we received one. Before the end of the night, we had fans, so it all worked out just fine. I was just surprised because Disney is usually right on top of EVERYTHING. So with this delay (that's all it was, a delay, because we did get what we asked for).
Regarding the extra sleep surface. When the air mattress was flat the next morning, we said we'd ask to see if there was a cot or something. If there was a fee for it, we'd pay it so he could have a comfortable nights sleep. When we stopped at bell services that morning to ask if there was a cot, we were told yes, they have them available and it's usually a first come, first served. I was also told there would be no extra charge for a cot. I asked if we could be on that list if one became available, and was then told yes, and that there are some available so they would send one right up. Again, the surprise was when we returned to not see it, after being told they have them, they are available and they were bringing one. When we then returned to bell services to ask about the cot again, they said they would send it up right away. I then asked if we needed to be in the room to "accept" it, and was told no, they would bring it in for us. OK, great. After dinner, there was a roll away twin size bed in our room. The extra bedding was actually already in the room (in the front closet in a bag labeled "extra bedding"). Again, wasn't the end of the world, just another delay. He was able to sleep comfortably that night and the rest of our stay. Just surprised again as Disney is usually on top of everything.
As for the towels. Again, not a major issue other than surprised. Shame on me for not reading the notice sooner to see that they were scheduled to be changed out the next day after the request was made. Didn't seem to be an issue being done a day sooner than posted, other than they didn't replace all the towels, just half of them. Who knows, maybe the confusion was because we had a lock off and they thought only one room needed or asked for new towels? Perhaps. They did get more after they brought the original 4 when we asked. So again, no major issue other than not really knowing the details (2 rooms instead of 1). Edit to add: we had plenty of towels for all of us. We had asked for replacement towels, not MORE or extra towels. The notice of the efforts to conserve water and energy is where I saw they would replace towels, scheduled the day AFTER we asked. When replacing the towels, they replaced 4 of the 8.
This in no way ruined our trip. It just didn't feel like it was up to Disney standards and what we have grown used to. All our prior stays as DVC members at Bay Lake Towers and the Floridian have been wonderful and up the traditional Disney standard. Same applies to the stays we had before becoming DVC members, at Port Orleans, Animal Kingdom Lodge and even All Star Sports! This stay was just a little different from those standards. All of this is really just first world problems and not an issue in the bigger the picture. I just wanted to share it so others aren't lead to believe everything Disney is always magical and there can be little hiccups along the way. That's all. We still enjoyed our stay, the parks the grounds. Everything except the weather! It was way too hot and humid for my thick New England blood!
I hope to stay at as many different resorts as possible, so I can see what each has to offer in regards to location and set up. Some will be better than others, based on our tastes and current conditions, construction and upgrades/updates. The one thing I would think stays consistent no matter which resort or location, is the level of service and commitment from staff. They have always been second to none, and I absolutely love that about them.
No, we were not trying to buy points. When I called it was because I was looking at the layout of the rooms (on this site, because I was finally getting excited for our trip and wanted to have an idea what to expect). That's when I saw there wasn't a second sleeping surface in one of the area's (where we planned on the 2 boys to sleep). My wife thought there was a pull out chair (twin bed) in addition to the pull out sofa. That's when I called CS to ask what options we had. I was then told we could request an air mattress (free of charge) or something else, like a cot or roll away bed, but there would probably be a fee. I said an air mattress should be fine. CS entered the request in the reservation. Then was asked if there was anything else, that's when I asked about a room with a view other than the parking lot. That request was also entered. CS then did advise these are only requests and no guarantees, of which I acknowledged and knew. It was then, I talked about the box fans. Didn't know if I should ask for them now or during check in, like we did at our last visit 3 years ago (at the Grand Floridian). CS said w could do either, request with the reservation or at check in. I opted for with the reservation since we were making requests already. I was unaware these items are NOT provided, even when asked or requested. Had CS mentioned that, even if it was presented as "we can ask, but these are typically NOT an option", then I would have had less of an expectation (or actually none at all). I was also willing to pay any up charge if it applied. With all that said, when we arrived I wasn't upset that these things weren't in the room, just figured I could ask now that we were there. So, I called the front desk and once again, was told the items would be sent right up. Great. Never knew they were forbidden or couldn't be provided, and wasn't told any different when I called the desk. So, still under the impression these items and requests were OK, we asked for another fan since our original was for multiple and we received one. Before the end of the night, we had fans, so it all worked out just fine. I was just surprised because Disney is usually right on top of EVERYTHING. So with this delay (that's all it was, a delay, because we did get what we asked for).
Regarding the extra sleep surface. When the air mattress was flat the next morning, we said we'd ask to see if there was a cot or something. If there was a fee for it, we'd pay it so he could have a comfortable nights sleep. When we stopped at bell services that morning to ask if there was a cot, we were told yes, they have them available and it's usually a first come, first served. I was also told there would be no extra charge for a cot. I asked if we could be on that list if one became available, and was then told yes, and that there are some available so they would send one right up. Again, the surprise was when we returned to not see it, after being told they have them, they are available and they were bringing one. When we then returned to bell services to ask about the cot again, they said they would send it up right away. I then asked if we needed to be in the room to "accept" it, and was told no, they would bring it in for us. OK, great. After dinner, there was a roll away twin size bed in our room. The extra bedding was actually already in the room (in the front closet in a bag labeled "extra bedding"). Again, wasn't the end of the world, just another delay. He was able to sleep comfortably that night and the rest of our stay. Just surprised again as Disney is usually on top of everything.
As for the towels. Again, not a major issue other than surprised. Shame on me for not reading the notice sooner to see that they were scheduled to be changed out the next day after the request was made. Didn't seem to be an issue being done a day sooner than posted, other than they didn't replace all the towels, just half of them. Who knows, maybe the confusion was because we had a lock off and they thought only one room needed or asked for new towels? Perhaps. They did get more after they brought the original 4 when we asked. So again, no major issue other than not really knowing the details (2 rooms instead of 1). Edit to add: we had plenty of towels for all of us. We had asked for replacement towels, not MORE or extra towels. The notice of the efforts to conserve water and energy is where I saw they would replace towels, scheduled the day AFTER we asked. When replacing the towels, they replaced 4 of the 8.
This in no way ruined our trip. It just didn't feel like it was up to Disney standards and what we have grown used to. All our prior stays as DVC members at Bay Lake Towers and the Floridian have been wonderful and up the traditional Disney standard. Same applies to the stays we had before becoming DVC members, at Port Orleans, Animal Kingdom Lodge and even All Star Sports! This stay was just a little different from those standards. All of this is really just first world problems and not an issue in the bigger the picture. I just wanted to share it so others aren't lead to believe everything Disney is always magical and there can be little hiccups along the way. That's all. We still enjoyed our stay, the parks the grounds. Everything except the weather! It was way too hot and humid for my thick New England blood!
I hope to stay at as many different resorts as possible, so I can see what each has to offer in regards to location and set up. Some will be better than others, based on our tastes and current conditions, construction and upgrades/updates. The one thing I would think stays consistent no matter which resort or location, is the level of service and commitment from staff. They have always been second to none, and I absolutely love that about them.
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