Not Gonna Lie......not the best week

[marikujawa]

We've stayed at Disney resorts since 1984, more than once a year since we became DVC members. In all that time, we have made various requests of housekeeping, including when we would like our room serviced, confirming trash and towel service, asking for additional towels or toiletries, asking housekeepers to return at a later time if it was inconvenient, etc. Sometimes we did so over the phone, other times with our housekeeper. In all those visits, I have never once encountered a housekeeper who did not have the language skills to accommodate our request. According to some posts i've seen here, maybe we were incredibly lucky. In any event, i would have mustered up whatever communication skills were necessary (including pointing to the dirty floor and making mopping motions) to indicate that my floors were dirty and needed cleaning lol.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

My 3 kids are now n their 20's and we are all in the same room still- I asked if they wanted separate rooms and they didn't because they don't see each other all the time anymore. I was kind of surprised by this- so you never know! But I am springing for a pricey room at BWI to accomplish this, because there was no way I was going to crowd all of us in a standard deluxe 5 person room even if we technically could. The cost was about 20% less than 2 rooms. I am praying for some room-only discounts to show up soon!

My eldest son went there for a conference in grad school- met a wonderful academic over there who ended up being a long-distance advisor. He loved the people and being into computers, games and anime, the culture was familiar to him. The only downside is that he forgot to pack his suits- and there was NO WAY my 6'2' son was going to find anything to fit on short notice. So in all the conference pics he's that underdressed American, haha!

Now, because of his job & his security clearance, he hates overseas travel, it just creates a bit of extra trouble for him. But he still loves Disney so that's why we're going to WDW instead of abroad. We'll set aside lots of time to visit the Japan Pavilion!

No matter how they try, the deluxe resorts at Disney are never going to match up to luxury hotels elsewhere. They're never going to be 5 star. Maybe a weak 4 star. Service is really what differentiates the two levels. It's hard for that big of a hotel to really operate at that level- too much standardization to hold down the costs. The GF is a Disney copy of the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego and/or the Breakers in Palm Beach, which is why I won't stay at the GF after having been at the Hotel Del and the Breakers. No way will it ever measure up to those truly 5 star resorts. Although it costs about the same. Disney is giving us other perks that those hotels don't have, and so service has to go or the cost would be astronomical. I guess I have made my peace with that.

I want separate rooms...the kids don't care! lol

After our last trip all together in 2015 by day 4 I was done sharing space with the kids. I'm the type of person that needs their own quiet time, even if it's just 20-30 minutes in the morning and evening. After our family trip to Dominican Republic in 2017, and us sharing a family suite, I said never again. Anything more than a night or two and separate rooms are required. One for the parentals and one for the kids.

So anymore vacations, especially Disney, will have to be two rooms or 2 bedroom villa. My kids don't mind sharing a room together. Sometimes I get up in the morning and DD is in DS's room asleep.

 

[QueenElinor]

I want separate rooms...the kids don't care! lol

After our last trip all together in 2015 by day 4 I was done sharing space with the kids. I'm the type of person that needs their own quiet time, even if it's just 20-30 minutes in the morning and evening. After our family trip to Dominican Republic in 2017, and us sharing a family suite, I said never again. Anything more than a night or two and separate rooms are required. One for the parentals and one for the kids.

So anymore vacations, especially Disney, will have to be two rooms or 2 bedroom villa. My kids don't mind sharing a room together. Sometimes I get up in the morning and DD is in DS's room asleep.

We used to take a nanny, so two or even three bedroom villas (we used to trade with DVC because we had a ski condo) were pretty much the norm for a long time. Boy, am I glad those days are over. it was like traveling with an entourage! we had so much stuff we left luggage at the airport twice . They are pretty much grown up now and stay up later than I do, lol, and generally pretty quiet so it's nice to not feel like every trip is such a raucous expedition now!

 

[SarahC97]

I wrote an email to guest services last week after we returned to let them know about a few of the problems we encountered. I got a call back today and had about a 45 minute discussion. They seem to really care about what I encountered and seemed as if they wanted to try to resolve the issues in the long term. I was very happy that they cared enough to call and talk about it, so I'd encourage everyone to do this -- otherwise how can they know?

 

[LA Poolboy]

The Disney Magic has been on the decline on our visits for quite some time. When we first starting making regular visits about 15 years ago I would remark how everything always looked brand new and freshly painted like it was the first day the park/resort was open. That is no longer the case. I used to be amazed at how the CMs went out of their way to make sure we had a great time and answered questions with great precision. Now it seems they just group up and talk among themselves and I literally have to be rude and interrupt their conversations to ask questions. It is unfortunate, but I am hooked and can't seem to kick the habit of going to WDW.

 

[maxiesmom]

The Disney Magic has been on the decline on our visits for quite some time. When we first starting making regular visits about 15 years ago I would remark how everything always looked brand new and freshly painted like it was the first day the park/resort was open. That is no longer the case. I used to be amazed at how the CMs went out of their way to make sure we had a great time and answered questions with great precision. Now it seems they just group up and talk among themselves and I literally have to be rude and interrupt their conversations to ask questions. It is unfortunate, but I am hooked and can't seem to kick the habit of going to WDW.

I'm sorry you had that experience. I had exactly the opposite when I went in October. I found the CMs to be super helpful and always willing to help. And housekeeping at the Swan and Dolphin resorts were always very happy when we saw them. Quick with a smile and to laugh.

 

[SaintsManiac]

The Disney Magic has been on the decline on our visits for quite some time. When we first starting making regular visits about 15 years ago I would remark how everything always looked brand new and freshly painted like it was the first day the park/resort was open. That is no longer the case. I used to be amazed at how the CMs went out of their way to make sure we had a great time and answered questions with great precision. Now it seems they just group up and talk among themselves and I literally have to be rude and interrupt their conversations to ask questions. It is unfortunate, but I am hooked and can't seem to kick the habit of going to WDW.

Do you think it's something you notice because of how long you've been going? Are you starting to look for the problems?

I'm not being snarky. I am genuinely curious. I don't have as many trips under my belt and most people on these boards. I did go 3 times in the past 12 months and while I experienced a few less than magical moments I can say the majority of our time was wonderful.

 

[snappy]

I imagine it’s the changes from 10-15 years ago, coupled with which level of resorts you stay at, deluxe vs. value and moderates. Could be impacted too by when you travel, high traffic times like holidays, festivals, free dining etc.
I miss the special interactions with CM’s when our kids were young. I have some pictures of spontaneous interactions back in the 2002 -2003 era at the parks. I don’t witness this stuff as much anymore. Maybe it happens at the paid events but I don’t do many of those anymore so I wouldn’t know.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I imagine it’s the changes from 10-15 years ago, coupled with which level of resorts you stay at, deluxe vs. value and moderates. Could be impacted too by when you travel, high traffic times like holidays, festivals, free dining etc.
I miss the special interactions with CM’s when our kids were young. I have some pictures of spontaneous interactions back in the 2002 -2003 era at the parks. I don’t witness these stuff anymore. Maybe it happens at the paid events but I don’t do those so I wouldn’t know.

Did WDW on my honeymoon 10 years ago. Had wonderful CM interactions then and 2 months ago. They did not happen at paid events.

Guess I just don't understand what people are expecting.

 

[snappy]

Glad your recent and earlier experiences were wonderful.

 

[Farro]

CMs were great last trip. We have a couple photos when we asked them to take our picture and they jumped in and made it a selfie with us!

Very fun.

 

[snappy]

Our experiences years ago:

At the old wonders of life building now used for the Food and wine festival center, goofy clowned around and grabbed both our 3 year old and 5 year old and held son upside down while I took a few pictures. One of my all time favorite photos.

In the park during what I think they called year of a million dreams, on several occasions,our youngest was given two special Tink pins, one to keep and one for her to give to another guest.

A CM took photos of mom and me with a Polaroid camera (so instant!) and placed in a special birthday card while waiting for our table at Cali grill on my birthday.

Unbelievable interaction with teenage mutant ninja turtles back when our son and my best friend and her son were together there and they were were Gaga over those guys.

Lots of others but all of these were 12-25 years ago.

 

[Farro]

Our experiences years ago:

At the old wonders of life building now used for the Food and wine festival center, goofy clowned around and grabbed both our 3 year old and 5 year old and held son upside down while I took a few pictures. One of my all time favorites.

In the park during what I think they called year of a million dreams, on several occasions,our youngest was given two special Tink pins, one to keep and one for her to give to another guest.

A CM took photos of mom and me with a Polaroid camera (so instant!) and placed in a special birthday card while waiting for our table on my birthday.

Unbelievable interaction with teenage mutant ninja turtles back when our son and my best friend and her son were together there and they were were Gaga over those guys.

Lots of others but all of these were 12-25 years ago.

And then I can post more great interactions with CMs from our trip from last year. Makes no difference.

Some people have great CM interactions, some don't.

Just because someone has a great time doesn't mean everyone will.

Just because someone posts that CM interaction is now lacking because that was their experience doesn't make it the norm.

 

[snappy]

I have had good experiences when we sprang for dine with an animal specialist lunch at Sanaa (our youngest daughter was a volunteer at our local zoo at the time so it was perfect) when they first started those (and Sanaa is our favorite restaurant onsite anyway), also the Epcot behind the seeds tours when same daughter was 5-6 years old, and the wild Africa trek maybe 4 years ago. These were all highly trained and mature CM’s. I recommend all of those paid experiences. Good discounts for those experiences for either AP holders or DVC members, can’t remember which.

 

[Farro]

I've never had to pay extra for a good CM experience.

Tit for tat.

 

[snappy]

All of the CM’s on our wild Africa trek not only were true animal specialists with advanced degrees but where they really impressed me was the way they made certain a young adult male with his parents who was mentally challenged in our group had the same special experience as the rest of us. And they did it without batting an eye. It was truly touching.

 

[maxiesmom]

I am a big believer in that the more you go looking for the magic the less you will find it.

 

[Brett Wyman]

For me the Disney magic is there 95% of the time. But man I encountered a bad or poorly trained CM at the Pineapple Lanai this last week. The poor girl was clearly ill, and maybe her management was as fault, but she shouldn’t have been at work much less serving food. She sniffled constantly, wiping her nose on the back of her hand frequently. My stomach was turning as she poured my kids Dolewhip swirl. I just said, “No thanks I’ve change my mind.” They had Mickey bars from Capt Cooks instead.

 

[snappy]

Quick thinking! Pays to be observant!
And Mickey bars are nothing to sneeze at in their own right!

 

[maxiesmom]

For me the Disney magic is there 95% of the time. But man I encountered a bad or poorly trained CM at the Pineapple Lanai this last week. The poor girl was clearly ill, and maybe her management was as fault, but she shouldn’t have been at work much less serving food. She sniffled constantly, wiping her nose on the back of her hand frequently. My stomach was turning as she poured my kids Dolewhip swirl. I just said, “No thanks I’ve change my mind.” They had Mickey bars from Capt Cooks instead.

Gross!!