In 2003, we won the Kellogg's Bobblehead Sweepstakes. When we were in the detail planning stages, I explained that although the trip was awarded for 4, there were 5 of us (we'd have 3 DDs along) and the CM was thrilled to get us the GF for our "prize nights". Having visited before, we were THRILLED, esp since the sweepstakes details included a "moderate resort". We had already planned a trip for that time frame and when getting our deposits back, a lot of them came back in checks, so we just converted those to traveller's checks to put on the room at check-in for our dining/incidentals. I was couth enough to get $100 denominations so I wouldn't be signing twenties for hours.
We arrived at the GF and had a terrible time getting bell service. I got to the check in desk and the CM was "high-falootin'" (as my grandma would say) and became slow as molasses in winter when he saw I was NOT using a credit card, but the traveller's checks. I kept looking at my watch (we had ADRs and I had a rental car to return) and he just moved slower and slower. SO aggravating. It took over an hour to check in (and we were 2nd in line). We wound up having to rebook the ADR and instead of having a few hours at Epcot beforehand, wound up having NO time at Epcot at all. I was ROYALLY peeved at spending $60 on a single day ticket for us to pay for an over-priced meal at Coral Reef with no time to enjoy the park.
Aside here (story I told him and his manager before I left the front desk): My family used to own an upscale European gift shop. We had a customer one day walk in with dirty boots and overalls, unkempt, with a bandana in the back pocket, the whole thing. We were ALL about customer service, so we welcomed and waited on him as we would anyone who walked through our door. He made his selections and we wrapped them up. He asked if he could step behind our cash wrap for a moment, which we let him and he hiked up his pants leg to pull a huge roll of hundred dollar bills from his boot. He became one of our best customers and later told my parents how much he appreciated that we treated him well. I hardly recognized him whenever he came in in a business suit!
I don't care what I "look" like to the person behind the desk or if he/she thinks that I'm "worthy" to stay in their resort, but the people at the GF treated us like crap every time I went to the front desk or bell stand. I grew up in Europe and can snob with the best of them, but find the whole attitude annoying. Mousekeeping was dicey, rooms were no great shakes and it was a hike to the pool/quick service. Christmas decor was lovely, but certainly easy enough to spend a few hours visiting rather than having to deal with noses stuck in the air. The monorail was handy for Epcot/MK, but getting anywhere else was a bus NIGHTMARE.
I wouldn't stay there again.
