17 Days of Wishes Come to Life- A Sept. 08 WDW and DCL Adventure 3/27 new link posted

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

NO! Don't leave us hanging!

 

[Figment's Friend]

Those fireworks were beautiful, Jay! Actually, Disney has made me a snob when it comes to fireworks as a whole. We went to Ft. Lauderdale Beach for their firework display this past 4th of July and I couldn't believe all the people oowing and aweing over nothing! That's what Disney does to you!

I'm afraid of what's coming......

 

[SkyGirl]

I changed into my pajamas, washed my face, brushed my teeth and headed into the bedroom...as I turned back the covers........

TO BE CONTINUED...**WARNING: My next installment is NOT full of pixie dust and happiness. In fact, it is full of quite the opposite.**

Oh no!!!! I can think of two things that I've found under the covers of a hotel bed here in Florida -- a big dead cockroach ... and a thong!!!!

I'm just freaking out waiting to hear! And after the big time cleaning??

But I sure am happy to hear how great the fireworks were! How amazing to see!

 

[MousekaMaddi]

u left us hanging...............maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan
i hate that..




hurry back!!

 

[MouseTriper]

We did have so much fun! I am glad you are loving the pictures. Later on in the trip report, I will have a special installment highlighting the photo challenge you gave me! I had so much fun doing that!

Yeah!!! I can't wait to see the pictures from the photo challenge Jay. Heck, you know I can't wait to see ALL your pictures!!!!

How amazing that you were able to see those fireworks!!! How cool will that be if those end up being the NEW fireworks show next year or whenever they change Wishes!!!

Ohh noooo......I have a feeling what is coming next!!!!

 

[jaycns]

Day 1...the not so nice side of things

We left off last time with me being too tired to put away the final suitcase I had emptied out. I was just plum tuckered out after being up almost the entire night before driving or helping keep dh awake while he drove. Our day had been spent exploring DTD and the WL and I was just too spent to do anything else. My teeth were brushed, my pajamas were on and my face was all squeaky clean.All I was expecting to find when I pulled back the covers was my sleeping dh. Instead as I pulled back the covers I saw this.

That's right folks, the bed that my dh was already asleep in had a beautiful urine and/or some curdled dairy product and/or some other organic 'spill' stain on the bedspread (yes, I sniffed it and while it was faint, a nasty odor was still there)! I was disgusted BUT I was also unbelievably tired so I peeled the nasty bedspread and the blanket underneath off while cursing Walt's mousekeepers under my breath, ripped the bedspread off of the other bed to make sure it too was not disgusting and figured I would disinfect everyone in the morning and go down and have it made right AFTER I got a little bit of sleep. I really was *that* tired. And dh was totally tired as well, he didn't even wake up as I wrestled the bedding while saying some very nonmagical things.

This might be a good time to mention what our sleeping arrangements were. Dh and I were in one bed, Goofy and Stitch were sharing the other bed, our Little Prince was in a pack and play and Aladdin was sleeping on the couch (he was so tired that night that he fell asleep before folding it out so I just tucked a sheet and blanket around him and left him where he was).

As I lay there disgusted by literally too tired to do anything about it, I remembered to be thankful that at least Aladdin was not sleeping in the bedroom. Had he been in the bedroom, I would have had to wake him to move him because of his allergy/asthma issues.

So...how on earth could we have a soiled bedspread on our bed when we were supposed to have gotten a VIP cleaning? We had requested it when booking, tripled checked that it was noted with the IPO, the front desk manager himself had assured us that it was being done upon check in. I totally believed that it had been done. My belief in it having happened was so strong that I didn't really check when we got there. I just assumed that if they told me it was done, then it was. In my defense, it's hard to tell if a bedspread is fresh by looking at it anyway. It's hard to tell if curtains have been cleaned, upholstery vacuumed and if the tops of wardrobes and other tall objects have been dusted without asking to borrow a step ladder. Thus, even though my son's health depended on it happening, I really didn't double check it. **bad mom, I know**

As I lay there trying to fall asleep (but freezing my butt off due to the fact I had only left the sheet on the bed) I figured it would be better to get up and grab the extra blanket out of the closet then to try and sleep while I was cold. Back to the sitting room I go only to then remember that I had covered Aladdin with the extra blanket. When I go over to see if he is too hot (thus meaning I can steal his blanket ) I hear him breathing a little funny. I sort of roll him over a little bit and hope that it was just some funky little mini snore of sorts and go back into the bedroom to find a sweatshirt to throw over my pajamas before I double check on him. Before I even got both arms in the sweatshirt, Aladdin was coming to find me and his inhaler. My baby boy (okay he is 12 years old, but he will always be my baby) couldn't breathe. I helped him out and made sure he was getting air easily and after about 30 minutes, I had him lay down next to his dad holding his inhaler so that dh could help him if he needed it.

While he did that, I checked out the area he had been sleeping in and found TONS of dust on almost every "hidden" surface (the back ledge of the couch behind the cushions, the tops of the curtains, the sliding door track, the hanging lamp top edge...all of it was dusty. Did I mention that dust/dust mites are one of his major allergy/asthma attack triggers? Did I also mention that he was taken to the hospital by ambulance from a hotel and that we had to take him in to an urgent treatment center during a stay at the Contemporary resort for breathing treatments? For Aladdin, resort/hotel rooms are his biggest health challenge. Even if I had failed to mention it here, I most certainly did make it crystal clear to at least 5 different Disney employees. The extended exposure to allergens and/or irritants really throws his system into a tailspin.

Instead of sleep which I desperately craved, I was checking the room and doing a quick spot clean of the dust (I could not have him in a dusty room no matter how tired I was and I didn't want to call mousekeeping in which would wake all of my tired men). While I was checking his sleeping area, I found more disgusting "leftovers". The bottom of the curtain had a wonderful crusty brown something on it.

With that discovery I thought it best to take a better look around. I was seething mad and sleep was not coming at this point. On the bed skirt of the bed I had just crawled out of I found another crusty, gloppy stain. I am hoping it was chocolate.

If that all wasn't enough, I found two more DISGUSTING "deposits" when I really looked closely in the sink/bathroom area. The first shot is of some nasty substance on the outside rim of our sink (in a hard to see area but still one that should be wiped down if the sink had really been cleaned).

And last, but not least in the disgusting department look at the wonderful bubbles of goo left on the bathroom floor (I don't even want to imagine what they were made of).

I would have been horrified to find that combination of filth in any hotel/motel/resort room. Nobody should ever check in to a room with that sort of filth lurking about. The dust on some of the "unseen" areas I cleaned off was an inch thick (I am not exaggerating). I was beyond horrified though that Disney had neglected to provide the VIP cleaning that was a medical NEED. The one that the front desk manager had assured me was happening as we checked in. The one that if not done, had in the past led to very scary situations for my son.

I was livid at this point and grabbed my camera to snap the pictures you see above. I then moved Aladdin back to the area that I had throughly cleaned (at least dust wise), woke dh to get up and sit in the living room area with him and huffed off to the front desk.

Seriously, they had endangered my son's life by assuring me that they had completed a special through allergy VIP cleaning. I wasn't sure I trusted myself to behave nicely at that point. Would I regain my humanity before I descended upon the unsuspecting front desk staff?

YES, after the long walk to the lobby I was still disgusted, upset, tired and the mama bear "mess with my child and I will make you wish you hadn't" streak was about two miles wide but I had managed to stop shaking with anger. I was disgusted that any guest room (VIP cleaned or not) would have so many grossly disturbing deposits/dust/unclean areas in it (FYI, VIP cleaned rooms are supposed to have a mousekeeping manager check them and sign off that they are completed correctly). And I was not going to take "sorry but we cannot help you" for an answer but I was at least calm enough that I was no longer shaking with anger.

The first CM I saw was a sweet older woman who wanted nothing more than to say good evening and ask me what she could do to help. I let her greet me but I could not bring myself to smile in return. Instead I calmly but firmly said I wanted to talk to the highest ranking member of management that was in the resort at this time. She tried to ask me what was wrong and if she could do anything to help and I told her that while I knew the situation I was dealing with was not her fault, I knew that she could do nothing to remedy it either and as a very unhappy guest, I was in need of someone who could help me with a serious housekeeping issue turned into a health issue. Well, I think the health part got her and she called out a manager who in turn called out another manager. After seeing the pictures and researching that I did indeed have a VIP cleaning noted on our reservation they couldn't have been nicer. However, the answers they had for me were unsatisfactory. They offered to move us in to two unconnected studios in the WLV. I pointed out that we were staying at the concierge level and were in a deluxe room and we were not willing to trade our suite for two unconnected/non concierge rooms. He then offered me a honeymoon suite and one regular room (on another floor). Again, not going to work and my family was already asleep as it was almost 1:30 AM by this time. I told him I didn't want to move being as I had already cleaned the room well enough that my son could sleep through the night. What I wanted was a refund for the night and I wanted housekeeping to throughly clean the room the way they were supposed to before we arrived as soon as we were ready for them the next morning.

He assured me it would be done. I left feeling okay about the situation. FAR from happy. Almost appeased. But at least I knew that I had done all I could that night (I also got them to bring me three clean blankets to use that night).

Looking back I am still very upset about the entire situation and still very proud of myself for not yelling or losing my temper in any visible way. I know I looked like one unhappy guest (which I was) but I kept the anger/disgust in check as I dealt with the situation. I would have been upset without the whole health issue attached. But when Disney (or any other company) tells me that they have taken care of a medically required need and they have not...it really makes me very angry. My son's health (or any other guest with a medical necessary request that they have guaranteed they will fulfill) is important. Too important for sloppy mistakes or communication break downs. That is why they have the manager double check of those rooms. To ensure it is done and done correctly.

As a side note, they never removed the full charges for that night as they assured me they would. I did get a 40% refund for the night...I have written a letter to guest communications about it and hope to hear back from them and have the situation addressed completely. Both from the standpoint of hopefully a further refund and also (and more importantly) discussing how the chances of this happening in the future can be minimized.

I didn't want to add such a dose of unhappiness to my own trip report so I will let it go now just like I did on the trip. Once the issue was rectified (more on that in day 2's installment), I made myself just let the issue go, knowing I could take it further once I got home. Time away on vacation with my family at the happiest place on earth (even despite this incident) was too precious to squander away with upset or anger.

To be continued...

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Oh my goodness!!!! That's absolutely horrifying. I'm glad you got a hold of the manager and had it (for the most part) straightened out. You handled it very calmy in my opinion. That's just horrible how DISNEY (of ALL companies) put a CHILD'S health in danger at one of their hotels. Especially when the family is paying more just to have that extra security. AGH!!!!!! Those conditions wouldn't surprise me at some hotels offsite (don't even get me STARTED on the condition of the motel we stayed at in July, ack!) but Disney. I hope you get fully compensated plus some.

 

[MouseTriper]

Oh my gosh Jay...that is completely disgusting and very upsetting. I can not believe they reassured you the VIP cleaning had been completed and then you find all that nasty, gross "stuff"...let alone all the dust that could harm your son. I would have done the same thing as you.....in fact, remember we had some of the EXACT same problems last September when my Mom and I took my little one and stayed at Port Orleans, Riverside. Some VERY nasty stuff. We refused to wait til morning and made management get Mousekeeping up there ASAP..however we did not have any sleeping members at that time.

Anyway..I am sorry you had to deal with all of that. I sure hope Aladdin did not continue to suffer in that hotel room.

 

[hill6]

I will get flamed for my answer but here goes. I believe that you were responsible for making sure that your room had that type of cleaning when you arrived. I have allergy issues as well and the first thing I always do is a sweep of the room.

Yes the situation is gross but you need to make sure that you took care of your son first before going exploring. Also your DH should have been looking as well.

 

[tommygirl79]

Jay!!!!!! After taking some time "off" from reading trip reports and the DIS in general, imagine my surprise when I popped over to the TR board and your report was first on the list!!!!! Yea!!!!!!!!!! I read your trip report last year post by post and it was awesome! Now I'm ready for some more!!!

Since I had been gone, I had no clue that you were even pregnant, let alone had another "prince" for this trip!!! He is adorable (LOVE the pics with Buzz Lightyear!) I also adore the pictures of Aladdin with him - you can tell he adores him!!!

So sorry to hear about all the issues with the room - I can imagine how unnerving that would be after you made completely clear to them the need for it...but I can't wait to hear more about the much more "pixie-dust" times of your trip!!!

So psyched for more chapters!!!!

 

[starrzone]

Oh YUCK... that is completely disgusting! I would have been horrified to find "surprises" like that at ANY hotel, but when you are paying for the level of service of a Deluxe Disney hotel concierge level, you really expect a whole lot more (and NOT to be lied to). More importantly, though, is the health issue...your poor "baby"! I can only hope that there were no more incidents during the rest of the trip!

As for the "Should haves"...you were tired, your men were tired, and you had 100% faith that Disney had done what they said they would. There is NO way that any of us can say that we would get down on our hands and knees and check under the sink for gunk, or to run our fingers along headboards checking for inches of dust, when we've just arrived at Disney and are ready to go exploring! While the situation isn't one that should be taken lightly, I think it says a lot that you were willing to "let it go" while you were on the trip. You sound like the ideal customer, the way you handled everything with the CMs! Can't wait to hear about all your adventures...we've barely even started!

 

[jaycns]

I had been assured by management that it was being done, I TRUSTED them and took them at their word. Obviously, I should not have done that. That was my bad. I admitted that. In fact my original words were " My belief in it having happened was so strong that I didn't really check when we got there. I just assumed that if they told me it was done, then it was. In my defense, it's hard to tell if a bedspread is fresh by looking at it anyway. It's hard to tell if curtains have been cleaned, upholstery vacuumed and if the tops of wardrobes and other tall objects have been dusted without asking to borrow a step ladder. Thus, even though my son's health depended on it happening, I really didn't double check it. **bad mom, I know**"

Until you looked very closely in very odd places, everything looked great. And had I not gotten down on my hands and knees and checked the room for my son I would not have found the gross stains on the edges of the backs of curtains, the bottom of the bed skirt or behind the bathroom door on the floor.

I take no argument with the fact that we should have asked for that step ladder and in the future WILL ask for that and have a mousekeeping manager accompany us through the room so that we know what they say has been done has been done. However, that was not something I thought needed. I thought I could place trust in a reputable establishment to have done what they promised me (knowing it was done for a medical need) was done. Disney offers a special VIP Cleaning for those with allergy/breathing/immunity issues. I simply took advantage of what was offered. At other resorts and high end hotels I do clean it myself because they don't have such programs in place and I am nervous that what needs to be done might be overlooked...but Disney had an option available that perfectly fits my son's medical needs. I thought it was a no brainer to take advantage of it.

I look at it this way, if I go into a restaurant with a child with a food allergy and I research what is in the food, make sure the chef/servers are aware of our allergy concerns and have the chef stop by our table and tell us that he is sending a "____ free" dessert to our table and it appears to be "______ free" (you cannot always see the separate ingredients in every dish)then I would trust them and allow my child to eat it (as I think the majority of parents would). I look at Disney's responsibility being the same in either case. If you assure me a dish is allergen free (after I explain the seriousness, request it to be so, etc) I would expect it to be so. I was assured the room had undergone the needed cleaning for the same reason...and I expected it to be done because I was told by management that it was taken care of.

Lastly, since I already admitted that I knew I messed up by not going to knee crawling, step ladder getting lengths AFTER the issue took place (it didn't occur to me not to trust them before it happened), I don't see why you posted that. I am sure I feel more defensive than necessary since it is my actions and those of my husband you commented on. To me it read as if you were saying that dh and I should have put our son above going out and having fun ourselves. That comment is very hurtful because it is totally untrue. We didn't put ourselves first. Since I found out I was pregnant with my oldest son, my needs or wants have never come before those of my chidlren. We were not being careless with his health. We simply couldn't phantom Disney telling us a health issue was taken care of and it not being done. To do more than a cursory look around never occurred to me or dh. And as I well admitted in my first post, that did make me a bad mom...but it was NOT for ignoring doing something my child needed, it was for being too trusting that it was already done. I take full responsibility for parenting and looking out for the well being of all of my children. That is DEFIANTLY not Disney's responsibility. However, if they assure me that they have taken steps to ensure the continued health of one of my children I do consider it there responsibility to have done it.

Sorry to go on so long and really, I am not flaming you or "mad". I just feel like I needed to clarify the situation. Also, I am fully aware that I could be reading something into your post that was not there and if I did, I am truly sorry for having responded to what I read your intentions to be vs. what they really were.

I will get flamed for my answer but here goes. I believe that you were responsible for making sure that your room had that type of cleaning when you arrived. I have allergy issues as well and the first thing I always do is a sweep of the room.

Yes the situation is gross but you need to make sure that you took care of your son first before going exploring. Also your DH should have been looking as well.

 

[RachelTori]

Jay,

I, too, thought hill6's tone sounded harsh and judgmental. All that really matters though is the way it made you feel.

When I read your post about the issues you had with your room, I was stunned that Disney would have been so negligent, especially after they assured you the room was getting the deep cleaning. You showed great restraint in how you handled the situation. I'm glad you have already written to Disney. There is no excuse for what happened; and besides assuring that it never will again, they need to make the rest of the $$$ restitution to you.

 

[momoftriplets]

First off.......

You're a good mom, Jay.

I would have totally trusted that the room had been cleaned, too. Who wouldn't. You had, what, 3 people tell you it had been done?

Secondly....... Oh. My. Gosh!!!!! Ewwwww!!!!!!!!!

My DS has respiratory issues, too. Not nearly as bad as Aladdin, but, still, something to think about. I never even knew that WDW had that sort of cleaning servive available. I may have to check into that *next time*.

So cool about the fireworks. I haven't had a chance to check the video, but I will (once I get home). A "taste test" of sorts for fireworks, huh?

Anticipating the next installment......

Hugs - Barb

 

[momrek06]

Right after we snapped this picture we were led up to the seventh floor for check in at the club level. The Wilderness Lodge refers to it's club (or concierge) level as the Old Faithful Club. The front desk manager himself came over to take us up and as he led us up he assured me that our special VIP cleaning need (Aladdin frequently has severe allergy and asthma issues when staying at resorts) was being seen to and that our room would not be ready just yet as they wanted to make sure they got it right for us.

JAY: Just found your trippie and just finished reading everything.....then after reading your last post I went back to re-read what you said in your first post.

So you and your family waited while they indeed did the VIP cleaning.....well what the heck did they actually do while they were in your room while your family waited.... I am so sorry you had to experience all that LACK of mousekeeping.... And only the 40% off...update us on the letter if you do hear back from them....send them the pictures you have posted here....they certainly don't lie!!!

My family have stayed 3x at WL and never encountered this at all. 2x was Club Level. We absolutely love WL but this certainly would put a big damper on the trip. Ohhh and I would have been sooo much like you marching down to the front desk.

Your boys are growing up so much!!!! The Little Prince is a beauty. Does he have blonde hair, Jay?? And I love Stitch's NBC shirt!!!! Aladdin is getting so tall like his Dad!!! I love the smiles on the boys as they pose for all the pictures!!!

 

[Illini4ever]

Um yeah, that is so not cool about the room. You handled the situation really well. I'm afraid I would have gone down snapping my fingers and acting a fool, and probably wouldn't have gotten anywhere.

Oh and for those that don't know, JAY IS A WONDERFUL MOTHER! She dotes on her boys like you wouldn't believe. You went through all the channels to guarantee that the room was properly cleaned, so in no way was it your fault.

I'm looking forward to hearing about Day 2, and seeing more pictures of your beautiful family.

 

[Figment's Friend]

I was burning up inside just from reading about the infested room! There is no excuse, not when it's a medical-related issue I feel so bad for you and Aladdin, having to go through that on your first night at Disney World. I hope he didn't have to suffer anymore after that night. I would have put my trust into Disney 100% myself (or anywhere that offered the special cleaning) I really cannot believe that happened I hope things get better from here

You'll have to let us know when (and if ) Guest Services responds to you. I also can't believe they only refunded you 40%........I'm so angry right now!!

 

[SkyGirl]

You are a great Mom, Jay!! And you have four beautiful boys to prove it, and I don't mean in the outside sense, I mean inside, they are just beautiful. (although on the outside they are pretty okay, too!!) You have many fans and friends who read your trip reports because of your personality and what shines through your pictures.

Of course you're going to trust that the cleaning was done after being reassured that it was!! And anyone who tells you differently, has either had the bad experience you've had, or they're lying to trying and make you feel badly and try and make you question yourself. Which is a load of crap.

I have some terrible health issues (we even have to travel with a cold mist humidifier) and have to check the room, however, had I had that VIP cleaning, I would have believed it to be clean. Also, the service at Disney is usually so good, that you put more trust in them than maybe another place. I feel bad that Disney broke that trust with you and that now you'll have to check, but in not checking in the first place, makes you a trusting person and that's a wonderful thing. You keep your word and you expect others to do the same thing.

Can't wait for more of your TR!

 

[hjohnson6]

I am getting heebee geebees just thinking about your room Jay. The urine on the bedspread would have sent me way over the edge. YUCK! I think the mousekeeping was playing cards instead of completing your VIP cleaning.

 

[29apr00]

Oh my goodness!! Your pictures of WL are just beautiful! But i can't believe the condition of your room!! EEEEWWWW!!! I can't even think about what would have happened if you had turned the light off before you climbed into that bed!! And poor Aladdin!! How horrible for him!! I sure hope mousekeepeing got the room properly cleaned for day #2 and that customer service will refund you the remaining portion of your room night!