Anyone else not feeling the magic with their guide?

[ginkyoo]

I know we don't really talk to them all that much after the initial sale but I don't get that same sparkle from my guide as you generally do with every other cast member.

Buying into and adding on to DVC is such a major purchase that I would hope he'd be more friendly.

More to commiserate, I wonder if others have felt the same way...

 

[Muushka]

I understand what you are saying. My guide sounds like your guide. Make the sale, see ya. Sadly.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

I know how you feel. Went from monday for friday last week without hearing from our guide. He said he was off a couple of days mid-week. I gather that is his usual "weekend" as he said he was working sat/sun. Gave hime the credit card number to start our AKV add-on and haven't heard from him since. No calls , no message, no charge showing up on our statement online. Definitely not "feeling the love."

Still looking forward to AKV anyway !

 

[senecabeach]

I have never had that problem with my guide and I purchased in '03.
I have called periodically to ask questions, with same day responses...and yes...even as late as 9 pm and when he's off the clock.
During a stressful year in 05 waiting for an add on..he contacted me at least monthly giving me support, guidance and even suggested getting on a resellers list too and see what comes up first. Yes, he cares about me and my DVC experience.
He's just "wonderful" He is professional, dedicated and a true example of what Disney represents.
Too bad he's not my financial planner

 

[Christopher5927]

Does anyone's guide actually call them? Ours has called once only, and that was after I emailed member services to say we had not received something that we should have. I may have picked him up wrongly, but at our 'signing' meeting at SSR I thought that he had implied that he would call us quite regularly. We have, however, just been member since 2005.

 

[Saratoga Filly]

I've heard from my guide afew times with out asking her any questions. Every time we've taken a trip to Disney since purchasing DVC last March, she has left us a message welcoming us home. She contacted us about AKV going on sale. We just added on at SSR . I contacted her on Monday, she had all the paperwork drawn up by Wednesday. Not bad for a guide who works part-time now and is up to her elbows in paperwork for those who are adding on with AKV. We have yet to meet her....we will be signing our paperwork when we go down there next week, so we'll actually get to meet the guide who gives us great service and a little pixie dust.......

 

[Disney Ron]

To put it simply, I can't stand our guide!!!

 

[rinkwide]

Mine's so bad he couldn't guide his way through the Jungle Cruise.

 

[MarylandMommy]

My family went down on Spring '05 and I was always interested in DVC. So, my oldest son (6 years old) and I made an appointment to see SSR. My son, by the way, loved the play area for him and wanted to know when he could go back! Anyway, I love Disney and thought, this is sooooooo for us.
I got a guide I hated. He was so slick and "salemanie" that I didn't buy, didn't want to buy, and didn't want to hear anything more about it!!!! I said something like, "so, these maitenance fees, they can never go up, right?". He said (almost yelled) , "Why of course they could, who told you that!". He told me he had made the mistake of bragging to his friends and family about his DVC ownership and how they were all impressed and wanted to come (like a selling factor would be to impress people!). He told me that if we didn't sign up in Disney World, we probably wouldn't sign up at all. He told me we could get the dining plan anytime we wanted (which wasn't true at the time). I felt "icky" talking to him. He must of felt I was not going to buy, so he hustled me out. He ushered me out without giving me our promised "fast passes", so I had to ask someone to find him and waited until he reappeared. He acted like I was crazy to want the fast passes.
Anyway, we decided to rent points for our Nov. 2006 trip. After renting points from a wonderful owner, I thought, this was craze, I want to be an owner.! I called and they said already had a guide. I said no way. I don't want him and I wanted to talk to someone else. I asked to talk with the managaer (I guess they don't like you to switch). The manager asked what the problem was and I told her I didn't like the guy and wanted to deal with someone else. I did get another guide and I really like him and would deal with him anyday of the week. He called me before my trip to say he hoped we have a wonderful time. Nice!

 

[MickeyCrazed]

deleted

 

[MickeyCrazed]

Mine's so bad he couldn't guide his way through the Jungle Cruise.

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

Mine left, and I got a "welcome" voice mail from some new person, who I didn't like the sound of, so I never called back. We aren't people who respond well to pushy, and we'd made that relationship with our old guide very clear, and it was going great. Now we don't have that anymore, I dont' want to call.

BTW, never heard from the new person again....not even a post card. Used to get stuff from our old guide with his name on it all the time...emails, etc. Now, nothing.

 

[CarolA]

Maybe it's just me, but this is a business relationship not a friendship. I expect and receive professional treatment. I don't really want one of those guides where they see I am at Disney and call. (Folks they aren't calling because they love you, they view you as a CUSTOMER LOL)

The only mailings I get are the Disney initaited and I am fine with that too.

 

[Starr W.]

Personally I don't want to get mail or stuff from our guide. What matters to me is that when I called to ask about doing an add-on, he called back the same day. After we mulled it over, I called back on Saturday afternoon. I knew from his voicemail that he was leaving at 4pm. I figured he would call back on Monday, no he called back before he left for the day. He's not pushy and has some good advice.

 

[tfc3rid]

Your vacation guide is a real estate salesperson working for Disney. Some of them may care enough to catch up with you or discuss things with you but with over 100,000 members, it is close to impossible.

That being said, I spoke with my guide for the first time imn over 5 years yesterday when I purchased an add-on and before I even discussed the transaction he was very hospitable.

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

Maybe I wasn't clear in my post. I do NOT want a lovey relationship. I want a professional one where my guide can give me the educated details. We had worked with our old guide to get the relationship to the point that he understood not to hard "sell" us with any selling techniques, and not to push us. He responded professionally and courteously and gave us accurate information. This new person is very "salesy" and pushy already. I get LOTS of calls like that from other TS companies and don't need them from Disney, where I already own.

And actually, it isn't just me feeling this way...my DH heard her voice mail and said he would NOT buy from anyone that would "sell" like that in an introductory voice mail...and obviously, our former guide didn't share any personal information with the new person before he left. It's disappointing, but I guess we are too small in the DVC pond to matter to anyone.

Guess that addon I wanted to do will have to wait a while...DH isn't wanting to spend the money with this person.... So I'll have to wait until he feels like calling and requesting another person....and that might be...like...years....

 

[tfc3rid]

why not just call again now and ask for another guide?? What's the big deal in that?? I've had about 6 different 'guides' since I first purchased DVC in 2000.

I have to say the guide I spoke with yesterday was not trying to hard sell me. I told him first and foremost that home resort doesn't mean anything to me and thatI am looking for the best deal. He got me the best deal...

 

[Muushka]

Maybe I wasn't clear in my post. I do NOT want a lovey relationship. I want a professional one where my guide can give me the educated details. We had worked with our old guide to get the relationship to the point that he understood not to hard "sell" us with any selling techniques, and not to push us. He responded professionally and courteously and gave us accurate information. This new person is very "salesy" and pushy already. I get LOTS of calls like that from other TS companies and don't need them from Disney, where I already own.

And actually, it isn't just me feeling this way...my DH heard her voice mail and said he would NOT buy from anyone that would "sell" like that in an introductory voice mail...and obviously, our former guide didn't share any personal information with the new person before he left. It's disappointing, but I guess we are too small in the DVC pond to matter to anyone.

Guess that addon I wanted to do will have to wait a while...DH isn't wanting to spend the money with this person.... So I'll have to wait until he feels like calling and requesting another person....and that might be...like...years....

Oh, yes, I did misunderstand your post! Sorry.

 

[DVC Grammy]

As some might remember, we, too, are not thrilled with our guide.
Having been a realtor for many years, I just don't "get" his attitude (he's so laid-back he's nearly comatose!). It took him from last Monday morning until Thursday afternoon to call back, knowing we only needed him to send out the forms for our AKV add-on (no, he wasn't "off" any of those days). It wasn't until after my DH inquired about a change in guides (we were very pleased with the one who was a stand-in for our regular one when we bought our first add-on), that our original guide called back. Coincidence? I think not!
We're not looking for a friend either; how about someone who seems to care about his career?
BTW, the call last Thursday was the only second time we actually spoke to him since the end of '97. He's not even friendly enough to qualify as an acquaintance!

 

[dumbo71]

I know we don't really talk to them all that much after the initial sale but I don't get that same sparkle from my guide as you generally do with every other cast member.

Buying into and adding on to DVC is such a major purchase that I would hope he'd be more friendly.

More to commiserate, I wonder if others have felt the same way...

Maybe I'm different than most but I'm not looking for a friend or Mr./Mrs. nice guy. What I am looking for is a guide that is competent, knowledgeable and honest.

I have that in my guide Doug Rapp. I'm not looking for anything more than the business relationship that exists.