Bad DCL experience... Do I need a new hobby?

[mytmouse]

This was one of the worst travel experiences of my life. I have been traveling since I was 3 months old with my parents

Who remembers what they did when they were 3 months old????

plus the scheduling for the late dinner literally conflicted with seeing the characters and having dinner.

Dinner conflicting with Dinner??????

The best is Disney gave our luggage to another woman and it was expressed checked in on Delta flight to South Carolina.

Was the luggage given to the woman or Delta??????

I had to race around the airport on Saturday and tell Delta that they were in violation of the TSA and FAA (our bags belong to no one yet they were checked in!) I have a disability in my left leg and my knee gave out so I wound up in a wheel chair before we left Orlando.

If the bags belonged to no one, WHO Cares!!!!
Are they suing Delta for the knee giving out??

Except for the adorable entertainment and a wonderful cabin attendant, I think the product was one poorly run. I am writing a letter to Disney re the numerous glitches (big to small like the fact I could not even get a piece of fruit at a tropical buffet - the staff had a "no" mentality and the customer was always wrong!).

If the staff had "no" mentality, how could the entertainment be adorable and the cabin attendant wonderful!!!!

My husband ordered chocolate covered strawberries and they came with mold on them on the day of departure and we entered the ship at noon due to my disability. They would not even take this charge off our bill!

Perhaps if they entered the ship earlier, the strawberries would not have had mold!!!!

The best was guest relations, which told me that I don't understand hospitality. For someone to actually utter those words certainly indicates the lack of training by Disney - how insulting (it doesn't matter if I have been in the industry or not - you just don't say that to someone!)

Unless of course you are this person!!!!

My daughter was injured in the kids program and they didn't page us - I think that is a pretty simple request. Yet when she was bored b/c no one interacted with her they immediately paged us!

I wonder why no one would interact with this kid!!!!

Our wait staff constantly got lost in the kitchen and we never got our food before 10pm at night let alone a refill on a glass of water. They were constantly remote and unavailable. They told us they thought Americans were fat slobs! Can you imagine! I am actually slender - but again an inappropriate expression! The best was the waitperson that told us that the staff has orgies. Who needs to know this!

This is confidental info, I am suprised they did not shoot her after telling her!!!!!!!!

Poor you! I am dumping this lousy vacation on you! I saved all of my Navigators, etc. but honestly think you need to pick a new hobby. This ship is not worth you efforts.

Bad cruise, but saved the Navigators. Glutten for punishment!!!

Staff was completely unpolished and lack professionalism! It is always nicer to be away than home, but the glitches just ruined my x0th birthday celebration at sea (I had to even ask for my celebrating pin!) and my daughter could never meet the characters b/c the lines were so long and they would be late and then the shows would start...It was like a mad dash from hell to catch our breath. All I wanted to do was sit down and every time I did I was paged that our daughter who actually loves day camp here in CT (9am to 6pm) needed to be collected.

How unthoughtful of the Staff not to use polish!!
Daughter needed to be collected, what's up with that????

There is so much more that went wrong.... I was so looking forward to this escape and we couldn't wait to end the cruise. Anyway... my two cents' worth.

Keep the change, thank you!!!!

 

[DisneyMagicTravis]

Plain and simple, I think they're full of it. I don't believe all that happened for a second.

 

[jerinknox]

1. Don't quit the hobby.

2. To the lady that wrote the letter, Please don't ever do another thing Disney.

I get so sick and tired of letters like this. It's always ME ME ME. Shut up, relax and enjoy your vacation.

 

[ashleydoc]

I was on the Magic on 5th July 2003.

I have been sitting here racking my brain for things that went wrong ,and I cant think of anything.

We celebrated a birthday and got the Birthday cake & Pin without asking and nothing forgotten,(which as our request was last october when we made our reservation is good going).

We got a gift for being second time cruisers (Castaway Club) although we had not mentioned we were second time cruisers when we made our ressie.

Our waiting staff couldnt have been more helpful,and we got to try all the different desserts each day.Dinner was always completely over on the second sitting before 10.15.

The Walt Disney theatre even showed Pirates of The Carribean at 1 minute past midnight on the day of release ,and had all the CM's dressed as pirates.

Nothing was too much trouble.

Our Cruise had a Tour of the Kitchens for the guests ,so maybe the complainer should have gone on it ,then she could have directed the staff in the right direction and also might have been lucky enough to have seen the orgies.


Most people we talked to on that cruise who had cruised before rated DCL as the Best.

I rest my case

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by DisneyMagicTravis
Plain and simple, I think they're full of it. I don't believe all that happened for a second.

This sums up my view of the letter quite nicely.

 

[ashleydoc]

Another thought as this person mentions she worked for Cunard at some time maybe she has a motive in knocking DCL

 

[musicgirl]

Dave, I don't believe it for a minute. If this is just not a complete joke this person has turned a molehill into a mountain!!! I guess their family didn't find the magic. I feel bad for them.

Maybe if you e-mail her the threads on the Page family, they might get a clue as to what keeps you and everyone else around.

Stay with it and thanks, Lorie

 

[lisak1]

I agree with this one....

"Oh well, i guess it takes all kinds. Maybe she was just peeved that she wasn't invited to the orgy?"


My thoughts exactly.

I wonder how long it took her to make up that story, and if she even went on the cruise she said she did?? It really doesn't seem plausible, any of it.

 

[ColeenD]

Her whole saga sounds like a hoax to me! No way this many bad things could happen on such a "together" cruise like our DIS cruises! Methinks I smell a rat.

 

[alexandrew]

Why is it that the ones who seem to do all the complaining cannot put 2 coherent thoughts together...she should realize that her bogus complaints would have far more credibility and impact if delivered articulately....

I would recommend Hooked on Phonics vs future DCL cruises...

 

[4cruisin]

Dave, first of all, let me give you a big thank you for all you do to help us plan and make the most of our DCL trips. Your site is fantastic and you deserve a big thumbs up for all the time you spend getting great info for the rest of us. Please do not give up your "hobby".

Secondly, and a little off topic, I cannot fathom that anyone would question Shirley's motives. She and Norm are absolutely the best, kindest and sweetest people. Because they are so kind and giving, some people just can't understand that there really are nice people out there is this crazy world of ours.

Lastly, I always thought DCL was a popular place to work because members were treated well by Disney....now I know it's because of the orgies they are allowed to have....Sheeesh

 

[lisak1]

So often, the people who post these types of reports say that the die hard fans of the product will not hear or accept any negative comments about their favorite line. ship, whatever the case may be. But, when the negative comments are constructive, well thought out, and believable, I think most of us would welcome the information, it may not have been the perfect week, and things do go wrong. People have many differing expectations of things, and what may be one person's dream vacation is someone else's nightmare.

As infrequently as my family gets to enjoy a nice vacation, it would be such a waste to spend it racking up complaints, and keeping track of each (imagined?) slight.

 

[disney6]

Dave, could you please find out when these orgies are, as my DH and I will be going without the kids this Nov.? LOL

AFTER you find this information, you can give up your hobby! (JUST KIDDING !!!!!!!!!) You KNOW we love you!!!!!!!!

 

[mostyn17]

ROFLMBO!!!!!! Truly this lady is a fool! I don't buy any of it!

Dave...keep up the good work!

I'm suprised no one else got invited to the orgies! That is why we are returning cruisers! hahahahahahahaha j/k

Sorry I had to put that in there!

Travis

 

[lisak1]

ok Travis..... I'm cruising with you in two weeks. You're going to have to fill me in, so I don't miss out!

And, why wasn't this part of the special on the Travel Channel "Secrets of DCL" special?? You'd think this would be big news, lots of repeat business!!

 

[BALAMAV]

I find this hard to believe. Sometimes misery loves company and some people like to ruin other peoples plans. I am sorta new to these boards can you please give me Dave's website. Thank you

 

[4cruisin]

On our January cruise, our assistant server was not the most attentive employee we had ever dealt with and that is putting it nicely. In turn, our server had to work even harder to keep things running smoothly at all of her stations. Our assistant server never had our drinks until about half way through our meal, basically refused to serve us coffee on our last night, never went out of his way for us, but still, we had a wonderful trip. We actually still laugh about our pal and his attitude. We tipped him slightly above the suggested amount because we figured that maybe he had some problems at home, or it was just an off week for him. Not everyone can give 110% everyday. It was obvious that the head server and server were aware of the assistant's shortcomings and tried to make up for him.

Do I blame DCL...absolutely not. Was the rest of our cruise great...yes. In fact, we booked our 3rd DCL cruise while on board.

Some people see the glass as half full, others see it as half empty. I don't think Dave's pen-pal would have enjoyed any trip she was on. How awful to go through life complaining constantly...she must be a very unhappy person and I pity her husband and children.

Nancy

 

[disney6]

BALAMAV - Dave's website - just click on this

 

[mostyn17]

lisak1, You will get a special invitation in your room that will tell you the time and place that the orgies take place!! (what a way to meet other dis members!!) hahahahahaha




I'm sorry.....this just cracks me up!!!!! Who could think of something like this and pin it on wonderful cuise! Everytime I read that letter I laugh harder!

Mold on the strawberries!! hahaha What a moron!

Travis

 

[Dreamer04]

Hi all..just wanted to add my two cents worth...

#1 Pleeeease, Dave, do not give up your hobby!! Without you, and Barb and Tony..I would be lost in planning my cruise.

#2 I believe she was expecting (demanding??) special treatment because of her knee. I saw someone suggest sending her the thread about the Page family. Excellent idea.

#3 I have spent 30 years in customer service. I am a tough customer. When service personel are rude or inattentive, I point it out. The wait staff on DCL are personable, funny, thoughtful and kind. My daughter, 5, is extremely shy and nervous around strangers, particularly ones who are trying to engage her in conversation. On our cruise, our waiter and assitant did everything they could to draw her out. Never giving up. Never getting surly because she was unresponsive to their attempts. The last day, she hugged the waiter!!! (I really wish I knew their names!) She wanted to thank him for being so nice.

#4 The kids clubs...kids fall down...all the time. If they paged her everytime there was a bruise, she'd complain. As for the other pages, her daughter probably asked for her mommy..what a freaky idea!!

After the past few days on the dis boards, to read this ungratful woman's letter was revolting to me. Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say!

p.s....could the orgies be in the Surial bath?? lol