Another move by Disney negatively impacting guests (re: Caribbean Beach)

[Tonyz]

She right away offered a room discount to stay and extra fast pass.

See that's awesome, and great to hear. Disney's guest service almost always ends up doing the right thing. But I'll be honest, I don't even think Disney needs to be doing that much. I guess I'm just surprised - unique situations aside - anyone would cancel a Carribean Beach stay because they have to eat at food trucks instead of the food court.

You should be giving Disney extra money now that you don't have the risk of even accidentally eating at Shutters!

 

[MrInfinity]

I will say part of the challenge is that POR is sold out at that time otherwise I think it would have been an easier situation ... though, of course, if they had notified people earlier maybe POR wouldn't have been sold out at that time.

Well, then I would just go w it. Other swapouts that would be the next closest like AOA, SSR will get more expensive. If it's anything like the Poly pool closing, then the room price at CBR will drop and they could get some savings. If they are regulars at this resort, then the temporary offerings might be an interesting change. Never know. What was it exactly about the quick service there that they needed to make the trip feasible for their kid? The menu looks pretty typical.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

So I had sent a note to some of the Disney executives complaining about this - and really, about how the guests were being treated after the fact more than the actual closure - specifically the situation my friend is in

Today I got a call from George Kalogridis' office (not him, but a person on his staff) about it and that they want to reach out to my friend and see if they can remedy their situation - so I am thinking they heard the complaints!

I just provided him her information as she would like to speak with him so hopefully a good resolution can be found

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Well, then I would just go w it. Other swapouts that would be the next closest like AOA, SSR will get more expensive. If it's anything like the Poly pool closing, then the room price at CBR will drop and they could get some savings. If they are regulars at this resort, then the temporary offerings might be an interesting change. Never know. What was it exactly about the quick service there that they needed to make the trip feasible for their kid? The menu looks pretty typical.

I think it is more just the very limited menu that they were told would be available (they were told it was cold "to go" food offerings) and that just wouldn't work with the number of food aversions her daughter has.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

So I had sent a note to some of the Disney executives complaining about this - and really, about how the guests were being treated after the fact more than the actual closure - specifically the situation my friend is in

Today I got a call from George Kalogridis' office (not him, but a person on his staff) about it and that they want to reach out to my friend and see if they can remedy their situation - so I am thinking they heard the complaints!

I just provided him her information as she would like to speak with him so hopefully a good resolution can be found

Good for you., Phil! Hope your friend and her family end up happy in the end (whatever that means for them)! Now THAT would be the Disney I know, and LOVE!!!

 

[rteetz]

So do they call everyone staying at the resort? (And I'm really asking, I hope it doesn't come across as snarky) If only deluxes are available does Disney foot the bill? I mean that would be amazing service and acceptable/expected in certain situations. But I just don't think the temporary closing of Shutters and Old Port Royal (or whatever the quick service is called) demands that kind of change.

Disney normally sends a letter not always a call. The letter will detail what's going to be closed during your stay and if you have questions or concerns to call.

 

[Sean91]

So I had sent a note to some of the Disney executives complaining about this - and really, about how the guests were being treated after the fact more than the actual closure - specifically the situation my friend is in

Today I got a call from George Kalogridis' office (not him, but a person on his staff) about it and that they want to reach out to my friend and see if they can remedy their situation - so I am thinking they heard the complaints!

I just provided him her information as she would like to speak with him so hopefully a good resolution can be found

This can only be a good thing.

The topic at hand, I understand that these things have to happen at some point but I would be upset if it was during my stay. I would be fine if it was Shutters or the QS but losing both would very much diminish my enjoyment of the resort... If you stay at some random much cheaper offsite hotel you will usually find that they have some sort of dining available. The fact that the dining options at CBR where a bit lacking in the first place does not really diminish the inconvenience.

 

[GreatLakes]

If food trucks will be there with hot options I'm not sure I see the problem. I would prefer a rotating food truck to the fixed options at most of the moderate resorts.

These are very big projects. It might not have been known at the onset that they were going to remove all hot food options. These projects have lots of changes between design and implementation. The OP's friend has an out of the ordinary situation since most people can just find something different to eat and if Disney, or anyone else for that matter, tried to account for every un-ordinary situation during planning nothing would ever get done.

 

[Tonyz]

Well said, GreatLakes. As long as the food trucks have stuff for people with allergies I fail to see why anyone would be so upset that they would cancel their trip. If they don't have allergery-free food then that's a different story.

 

[freediverdude]

I know for me, the food truck situation would make it so I couldn't or wouldn't want to stay there- not because of the food, which yes might even be better, but because there wouldn't be a comfortable place to sit and eat the food. Especially in Florida weather, you need an air conditioned or sheltered place to sit and eat. And I wouldn't want to cart it back to my room to eat on the bed.

 

[LSLS]

I personally wouldn't stay. First, nothing says food trucks that I have seen, just simply that breakfast and dinner will be available in Centertown (no mention of lunch), and that the island markets will have grab and go stuff. And if they are leaving parts of Centertown open while shutting down the food places and shopping, just how much room is going to be to get food/eat (by the way, the shopping options would be almost as big as food with the number of times we forget/run out of things like sun screen)? Lets also not forget this is not a resort like POFQ. You are talking potentially 2000 or so rooms trying to get those limited food items (especially for breakfast). I'd be marching straight off-site if I was there and my options were suck it up or pay more to go to a hotel where I will get all of my amenities.

 

[jeffbear]

Bottom line ... even with Disney's magic permit wand, getting planning and permits and contracts settled for major construction projects takes significant time. So they knew full well what was coming down the pike for impacted resorts a long, long time before an announcement was made. I think it's the timing that bothers me as much as anything else. They just didn't leave enough time for customers to adjust.

 

[Tonyz]

Well isn't the construction supposed to take almost two years? Seems like they've provided plenty of time for most people. I have a trip in September coming up that I haven't booked yet and I'm planning on staying at The Poly. If they announce today that Kona and Ohana will be closed when I'm there, I would think I was given enough time to make arrangement. Yeah if you're within six months your plans might have to be change a little bit, but the majority of people staying within the next two years will have had plenty of time to make arrangements.

I think the bigger sin here is that it's going to take two years for a Carribean Beach refurb. That is insanity!

 

[rteetz]

Well isn't the construction supposed to take almost two years? Seems like they've provided plenty of time for most people. I have a trip in September coming up that I haven't booked yet and I'm planning on staying at The Poly. If they announce today that Kona and Ohana will be closed when I'm there, I would think I was given enough time to make arrangement. Yeah if you're within six months your plans might have to be change a little bit, but the majority of people staying within the next two years will have had plenty of time to make arrangements.

I think the bigger sin here is that it's going to take two years for a Carribean Beach refurb. That is insanity!

Overall construction yes. The dining options will not take two years. They are tearing down a section of CBR and building a DVC tower.

 

[Tonyz]

Another tower? Coronado is getting a massive tower too. I was excited at first but then I started thinking about how it's gonna mess up the whole feel of the place. The low-rise buildings and spread out area around the main building are so relaxing and have a great atmosphere to them. The themeing is so great, but it seems like the tower will completely ruin it and throw off that relaxed vibe. I've never been to Carribean Beach, but I assume it would be a similar thing.

 

[LSLS]

Well isn't the construction supposed to take almost two years? Seems like they've provided plenty of time for most people. I have a trip in September coming up that I haven't booked yet and I'm planning on staying at The Poly. If they announce today that Kona and Ohana will be closed when I'm there, I would think I was given enough time to make arrangement. Yeah if you're within six months your plans might have to be change a little bit, but the majority of people staying within the next two years will have had plenty of time to make arrangements.

I think the bigger sin here is that it's going to take two years for a Carribean Beach refurb. That is insanity!

Dining is supposed to be done at the end of 2017. I mean, I get it doesn't impact you, but you are talking around 60 days notice as they approach some of the busiest times. The issue has really come up because there aren't other moderates available as May/June/July are busy times. And keep in mind the 60 day mark is pretty important for people staying on site. As for your statement on if Kona and Ohana were closed, sure, you would be fine. You have a short walk to the Grand Floridian. Or you could go eat at the quick service. It's tough when there aren't other options (other than "Hey, we will have some stuff there, don't worry."). I get why people are upset, especially in certain situations.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Well said, GreatLakes. As long as the food trucks have stuff for people with allergies I fail to see why anyone would be so upset that they would cancel their trip. If they don't have allergery-free food then that's a different story.

Yeah, right. Save for years for a once in a lifetime family vacation. The on site restaurant.... A Roach Coach.
Classy

MG

 

[Redcon1]

This reminds me of the Cindy's Castle dinner debacle a few weeks ago.

I'm starting to believe Disney just doesn't care about how inconvenienced their customers are anymore.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Just an update but they did contact my friend and they apologized for not being more helpful when she first contacted them. They said after talking to me they better understood her situation and they have agreed to move her to a different location for no increased cost

 

[TheMaxRebo]

This reminds me of the Cindy's Castle dinner debacle a few weeks ago.

I'm starting to believe Disney just doesn't care about how inconvenienced their customers are anymore.

That was exactly what it reminded me of - and why I contacted them again about this as after that they told me "they learned their lesson and it wouldn't happen again" ... but seems like they are back to rolling out something without thinking of impact to guests and then having to do damage control