Bad Disney - Lost Magic

[Colson39]

Hey Colson39 - have you ever considered running for political office?

lol, I hear ya! I'm a bit long winded at times, I love to write, so sometimes it just flows out of me.

Just as in "real" life, I'm actually more of a keep to myself kind of person, until you get me to talking about Disney. Then I just can't shut up! (as is obvious on these boards...lol).

There has just been a rash of negativity lately, at least it seems like (I've been reading these boards for a lot longer than I've been posting). I'm at work 99% of the time when I post on these forums, and the last thing I need when I'm at work is negativity...lol!

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

I think that discussion/debate good or bad is healthy regarding Fort wilderness. Criticism is healthy for any organizaton as long as its polite and constructive.


Scott

Notice my post doesnt say "whining" or "complaining".

What I think is good is that eventually, no matter what the issue the debate tends to reshape the issue and often reveals something other than what the OP was. The truth usually has a way of sneaking out.
Its actually pretty easy to read between the lines on a lot of the posts about problems, I have seen a lot of times at WDW, when something that I felt was very minor was turned into a federal case. I am a firm believer that how people handle adversity and problems can give you a glimpse into their world, personally, I think that FW is the best in the business, I also believe that it could be better. I dont want to see WDW resting on past success. All of this is hard when you factor in that FW is sold out SOOOO far ahead most of the time, kinda hard to argue that it needs imrovement when they sell all of the product that they have. What I do see is an oppurtunity for WDW to tap into the baby boomers market as they arrive in the world of RV travel. I honestly believe that the market would support another resort or a significantly larger FW. When people like me are willing to burn 100 gals of fuel EACH WAY to travel there it speaks for the market. I have also had people around here tell me that they wanted to go but couldnt get ressies, some people will give up at that point and just go somewhere else.
I think most of us share a passion for FW in one way or another or we wouldnt spend our valuable time here discussing it.

Scott

 

[Colson39]

Notice my post doesnt say "whining" or "complaining".

What I think is good is that eventually, no matter what the issue the debate tends to reshape the issue and often reveals something other than what the OP was. The truth usually has a way of sneaking out.
Its actually pretty easy to read between the lines on a lot of the posts about problems, I have seen a lot of times at WDW, when something that I felt was very minor was turned into a federal case. I am a firm believer that how people handle adversity and problems can give you a glimpse into their world, personally, I think that FW is the best in the business, I also believe that it could be better. I dont want to see WDW resting on past success. All of this is hard when you factor in that FW is sold out SOOOO far ahead most of the time, kinda hard to argue that it needs imrovement when they sell all of the product that they have. What I do see is an oppurtunity for WDW to tap into the baby boomers market as they arrive in the world of RV travel. I honestly believe that the market would support another resort or a significantly larger FW. When people like me are willing to burn 100 gals of fuel EACH WAY to travel there it speaks for the market. I have also had people around here tell me that they wanted to go but couldnt get ressies, some people will give up at that point and just go somewhere else.
I think most of us share a passion for FW in one way or another or we wouldnt spend our valuable time here discussing it.

Scott

I too agree that FW could easily enlarge it's capacity and still be just as full, although I just don't see that happening anytime in the near future. You also are correct, that the baby boomers market is coming of age, and more and ore of them are looking for place to stay in their RV's.

Yea, just as I mentioned, people are free to post whatever they like on this message board, that's what it's here for. It's just how you post that will determine the response. I also agree that how people deal with their problems can give you a glimpse into their world, absolutely. That's why I mentioned that this post, compared to other posts, has had more of a "positive" debate, compared to certain other recent posts where people did nothing but question the validity of the original posters claim.

I don't want Disney to rest on it's laurels with the Fort, that is for sure. There is always room for improvement. For instance, I would like to be able to drive my golf cart almost all the way to the Wilderness Lodge again (well, there was no Lodge back then, at least when I used to do it, just the jogging trail), that would great!

Oh yea, and can we get more than one checker board in the Meadows Trading Posts, it's always full when I show up!

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

I too agree that FW could easily enlarge it's capacity and still be just as full, although I just don't see that happening anytime in the near future. You also are correct, that the baby boomers market is coming of age, and more and ore of them are looking for place to stay in their RV's.

Yea, just as I mentioned, people are free to post whatever they like on this message board, that's what it's here for. It's just how you post that will determine the response. I also agree that how people deal with their problems can give you a glimpse into their world, absolutely. That's why I mentioned that this post, compared to other posts, has had more of a "positive" debate, compared to certain other recent posts where people did nothing but question the validity of the original posters claim.

I don't want Disney to rest on it's laurels with the Fort, that is for sure. There is always room for improvement. For instance, I would like to be able to drive my golf cart almost all the way to the Wilderness Lodge again (well, there was no Lodge back then, at least when I used to do it, just the jogging trail), that would great!

Oh yea, and can we get more than one checker board in the Meadows Trading Posts, it's always full when I show up!

theres always the one at the Cracker barrel on 192.

 

[AuburnJen92]

clkelley, can you post the fax number? i have heard that it is wonderful advice when you are at the regular resorts (like if you have a birthday, anniversary request, etc.), but i didn't realize you could also do this at FW. I would LOVE to have that number, thanks.

 

[tim5055]

clkelley, can you post the fax number? i have heard that it is wonderful advice when you are at the regular resorts (like if you have a birthday, anniversary request, etc.), but i didn't realize you could also do this at FW. I would LOVE to have that number, thanks.

Fort Wilderness Phone Numbers

Reception Outpost 407-824-2900
Reception Outpost Fax 407-824-3508

When faxing requests, remember to keep it friendly, non-demanding as well as not asking for a "free" upgrade. Don't reserve a full hook up site and then fax a request for the 200 loop (preferred).

Also, make sure what ou are asking for is avaialble; asking for a partial hook up pet site won't get you anything - it dosn't exist.

Due to the numbers of requests I have heard that they only really look at the first item on your fax, so if the most important thing is to be near a bus stop, put that first.

Adding a description of your camping unit at the end of your fax never hurts, something like:

For information my camping unit is a 35 foot fifth wheel. I have two slides on the drivers/street side and a 10 foot awning on the passenger side. I tow with an F-250 long bed pick up with a length of 24 feet, so my entire rig is in excess of 60 feet when set up.

 

[stacktester]

Tim you always give good advice. If you show after giving them that kind of info and they put you in some little spot then yes shame on the cm at FW. I would think that they would look at all info provided and make sure the right kind of spot is given.

I remember getting the same exact spot in 05. We were there in March and June on site 912. I asked the girl at check in if this was a coincidence or if they had where I stayed last time. She said coincidence. I would think that they should keep info of your stay in a database and if that site worked well before then give it again if it's available. I know that site was great for us. Oh well that's just wishful thinking lol.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Thanks so much. I just printed your notes and will put it in the motorhome for safe keeping. We are going to try to go in late April and have ressies for a week in June already. Thanks again...

 

[aLitlGoofy]

The front desk suggested connecting the sites back to back from the 700 to 800 loops. Could we walk thru from one campsite to another? Is the 500 to 600 back to back close?

On our last trip, we couldn't get our whole family in the same loop. So they put our campers "back to back" in the 800 loop and the 700 loop. It was approx. 25 yards through the woods but there wasn't an actual path. I recommend a flashlight at night. It worked for us.

 

[4daubers]

Approximately 2 weeks prior to our last FW trip (July 2002), I faxed a letter requesting a specific loop, side by side sites and added our RV size. When we checked in, the CM thanked us for the fax, said it helped the process and we got exactly what we asked for.

Silly me, I made 7:15 AM Cinderella breakfast reservations for the next morning. I followed the instructions to call for transportation to take us to MK for the breakfast and called the front desk at 6:00 AM to request transportation...only to be told there was no transportation available until 7:30. I kept explaining we had to be at the castle by 7:15. The CM was nice but kept saying there was nothing that could be done. I called back, asked to speak to a supervisor. I explained my dillema and without any hesitation the supervisor said not to worry, transportation would be arranged. Imagine our delight when a limo pulled up to our site and took us straigth to the gates for our early morning breakfast with Cindy. We had a 5 year old first timer with us...it made for a great memory and we'll always appreciate the supervisor's help.

It shouldn't have to happen and the original reservation shouldn't have been revised without consent but I recommend calling back and requesting to speak to a supervisor...you never know...it might work.

 

[NEUBER]

After Several Phone Calls, E-mail & Fax Transmissions, The Problem Has Been Solved!
They Have Been Assigned A Perferred Site Near The Campfire Program.
We Have Been Pre-assigned To An Adjoining Site.

Disney Travel Called Our Home To Verify The Resolution.

The Magic Of Disney!

 

[cerdafied7]

glad to hear that!

 

[proudmomof4]

Tim you always give good advice. If you show after giving them that kind of info and they put you in some little spot then yes shame on the cm at FW. I would think that they would look at all info provided and make sure the right kind of spot is given.

I remember getting the same exact spot in 05. We were there in March and June on site 912. I asked the girl at check in if this was a coincidence or if they had where I stayed last time. She said coincidence. I would think that they should keep info of your stay in a database and if that site worked well before then give it again if it's available. I know that site was great for us. Oh well that's just wishful thinking lol.

They do keep your past stay info. I have had the same site in the 2000 loop 5 times and when I asked why I keep getting this site they told me they could see I had been there before and figured they would give me the same site each time. Now we stay in preferred loops so I hope I will keep getting site 1436, it also helps that I have a very unique last name so they can always find me in their system.

 

[proudmomof4]

I worked at DRC for a year, and we were told we needed to put everything in writing regarding the camper - 5th wheel, size, etc...even though I didn't know what much of it meant, our trainer went over that very well.

However...there are agents I've talked with on the phone that didn't know much about a lot of things! If they don't sound like they are adding all the notes, call back and get someone who will.

I worked there too, in the Tampa office, and I agree, we were told in training the importance of putting all info about the camper in comments as well the sizes of tents and screen rooms. Fortunately for me, since I was a camper, I could understand all of the reasons for getting the information. From what I understand now, things are nowhere near the same as they used to be as far as quality of CRO cast members or training and a lot of cast members have never been to FW or any of the resorts, especially with some of the calls being answered out of Salt Lake CIty.

As far as the cast members sounding busy and frustrated, I heard that CRO cast members now have sales goals and if they don't make their quota they are disciplined, it didn't used to be that way when I was there but I left 7 years ago and lots of things have changed. I am not saying it's right but that's the way it seems a lot of businesses have gone, hopefully it will circle back around to providing quality customer service.

 

[Colson39]

After Several Phone Calls, E-mail & Fax Transmissions, The Problem Has Been Solved!
They Have Been Assigned A Perferred Site Near The Campfire Program.
We Have Been Pre-assigned To An Adjoining Site.

Disney Travel Called Our Home To Verify The Resolution.

The Magic Of Disney!

See, this is what I like to hear. This poster showed what the problem was, and what he did to try to correct it. After perseverernce, he was able to correct the problem, and posted here accordingly to let us know that all was good.

It doesn't always end up this way, but it's nice to see an OP come back in the thread and state that his problem was solved! Disney isn't perfect, but when it works, it makes us all happy!

Congrats! I'm very happy you guys got what you wanted, and I'm sure your trip will be all the better for it. Enjoy Disney and the Fort while the rest of us are jealous that we're not waking up to cool Fort Wilderness mornings!

 

[auntie]

After Several Phone Calls, E-mail & Fax Transmissions, The Problem Has Been Solved!
They Have Been Assigned A Perferred Site Near The Campfire Program.
We Have Been Pre-assigned To An Adjoining Site.

Disney Travel Called Our Home To Verify The Resolution.

The Magic Of Disney!

That's GREAT news! ..I'm so glad it worked out for you. Enjoy your trip..and remember we are all looking forward to reading about it when you return.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

After Several Phone Calls, E-mail & Fax Transmissions, The Problem Has Been Solved!
They Have Been Assigned A Perferred Site Near The Campfire Program.
We Have Been Pre-assigned To An Adjoining Site.

Disney Travel Called Our Home To Verify The Resolution.

The Magic Of Disney!

Wonderfull!!! Dream do come true!! It DISNEY!! I hope you have an exciting trip and everything works out for you!!!

 

[graciejane]

Glad to hear your problems were resolved. Have a wonderful trip!!!!!

 

[NEUBER]

Everything worked out. We had a wonderful time. Fort Wilderness assigned us adjoining sites for our entire stay in the 1400 loop near the campfire program. We were even able to add additional days to extended our vacation. Disney handled the cast member error to our satisfaction.

 

[fla.boy]

hearing this makes me a little nervous we made reservations for july. i have a30 fifth wheel with a slide when we received our confirmation they had us down as a 20 tt. so i called and they said they changed it but never sent a new confirmation showing the change, is there away to check your reservations online