Bad FW experience

[DisCamper]

Well I debated about telling this forum about my bad FW experience, But there it gos. It started at check in I check in and the CM said our site was not ready that was ok. I when to the bike barn to pickup my cart. So far everything is going well. After doing the cart check in a CM brought out an old cart. So I ask to get one of the new carts. The CM said they had none available. I look over and there was 65 new carts sitting there. After deep conversation with the CM. I was on my way in my old cart. Well this great old cart died just in front of the 1500 loop. So after walking back to the bike barn to get a new cart the CM still told me I can’t have a new cart, but I could pick from the carts in the back. Well I ask to see a supervisor well after waiting 15mins. I got a new cart. Well back to site check in. I called to see which loop we where staying in. The CM told me I can’t give you the site # but it is the 1800 loop. Now with my new cart I drove thought the 1800 I think all but 6 sites where open and clean so I called. They told me still no site available. So waiting until 1:00 I called aging and they gave us our site#. I drove our new RV unit to our site. Well our new unit would not fit on the with the slide out. Called agin they told me that was the only site available. Told them I wanted site 1809 it was open. After waiting for 45mins and talking to a supervisor we got on our site. I worked at FW for two summers and never talk to that may supervisors and if we treated guest that way I would have lost my job.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Wow! What a bummer of a way to start a vacation, especially a Disney one.
I hope the rest of the trip goes well.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Well I debated about telling this forum about my bad FW experience, But there it gos. It started at check in I check in and the CM said our site was not ready that was ok. I when to the bike barn to pickup my cart. So far everything is going well. After doing the cart check in a CM brought out an old cart. So I ask to get one of the new carts. The CM said they had none available. I look over and there was 65 new carts sitting there. After deep conversation with the CM. I was on my way in my old cart. Well this great old cart died just in front of the 1500 loop. So after walking back to the bike barn to get a new cart the CM still told me I can’t have a new cart, but I could pick from the carts in the back. Well I ask to see a supervisor well after waiting 15mins. I got a new cart. Well back to site check in. I called to see which loop we where staying in. The CM told me I can’t give you the site # but it is the 1800 loop. Now with my new cart I drove thought the 1800 I think all but 6 sites where open and clean so I called. They told me still no site available. So waiting until 1:00 I called aging and they gave us our site#. I drove our new RV unit to our site. Well our new unit would not fit on the with the slide out. Called agin they told me that was the only site available. Told them I wanted site 1809 it was open. After waiting for 45mins and talking to a supervisor we got on our site. I worked at FW for two summers and never talk to that may supervisors and if we treated guest that way I would have lost my job.

We had a similar problem with a CM (wish I had gotten her name)
during Christmas. There was no way that I could get our truck and trailer into the site they assigned us. When we went back up to the front desk, waited in line and expalined the problem I got a heavy sigh and and "I'll be right back"
after 5 minutes behind the door I got an abrupt explanation of the new site number and nothing else. It was more in line with the service I would anticipate at Wal mart than Disney. Fortunately I didnt let it bother me, it just wasnt up to the Disney standard.

Scott

 

[akamom]

Oh that's horrible! Not a very nice way to kick off a vacation!

 

[dopeyprincesses]

Sorry to hear about your experience....didn't sound very Disney to me

 

[FloridaTeacher]

That really stinks , but alas there is hope!

During our Oct. trip we arrived at our assigned site and realized we couldn't back our 37 ft. motorhome into it. We walked around a bit, found a site we could get into, then called the front desk. After explaining our dilemma and telling them we did find a site we could get into, they immediately assigned it to us over the phone.

Don't let one bad experience ruin your opinion - think of all the great experiences the Fort and WDW have to offer. Glad everything FINALLY worked out.

Happy Camping!

 

[rapriebe]

Occassionally I have experienced similar problems at checkin at FW. It's the luck of the draw with the CMs at the front desk. Most times they are great and will work with ya but sometimes it is very fustrating. I would really be ticked if I went back to my loop and saw lots of sites available and then had to wait until 1:00 to get my site. Nothing worse then just sitting around waiting to get to your site especially when there are vacancies.

 

[CCIntrigue]

I agree, that's a horrible way to start off your vacation! Ours in December started off with getting lost on the Disney property and encountering a hateful gate person at MGM. Had a great vacation anyway, but will never forget him. In all our years of going to Disney, he's the first unpleasant person we've encountered.

Rapriebe, congratulations on your upcoming retirement! DH and I took early retirement in 03 due to corporate downsizing and have loved every minute of it. Just wish we could afford to winter in FW!

 

[Colson39]

Well, I hope at least the rest of your trip went super smooth? May I ask what time you arrived? It sounds like you got there pretty early in the day, I've found that if you arrive too early sometimes you don't get the best amenities or have to wait around a while

 

[CottontailCurl]

The CM said they had none available. I look over and there was 65 new carts sitting there...... Now with my new cart I drove thought the 1800 I think all but 6 sites where open and clean so I called. They told me still no site available.

Oh no!! I'm sorry you had a bad check in with your new trailer!! I hope the talk with the supervisor helped make things better. Other than those things, how did you like your new tt?

About the carts, we need to get John Stossel to investigate why this happens. Someone mentioned in the picture of the day thread that they've asked to rent a cart before, was told there were none available but the corral was full. Give me a break!!

And, tell us about working at the Fort - how did you like it?

 

[DisCamper]

We loved the new TT all the room this unit has and it is much better than our old little MH. We had a great time after the 1st day. Prevost motor coaches were having is annual getaway they took up all the 1600 & 1700 loops and as we were leaving they were going to fill up 1800. There were so many great looking million dollar motor coaches there. Well I hope this bad experience was just a goof and not becoming the norm.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Oh no!! I'm sorry you had a bad check in with your new trailer!! I hope the talk with the supervisor helped make things better. Other than those things, how did you like your new tt?

About the carts, we need to get John Stossel to investigate why this happens. Someone mentioned in the picture of the day thread that they've asked to rent a cart before, was told there were none available but the corral was full. Give me a break!!

And, tell us about working at the Fort - how did you like it?

Perhaps in a former life, the CM was a supply officer in the Army. I have seen some that wanted to hold onto everything because they were afraid the stuff would get damaged and they might get into trouble. The logic is, if you keep it locked up, it can't get ruined.

 

[HeatherPage]

Same thing happened to us in January, it was our first time to the Fort in our new camper (first one we've ever owned), got there around 11:00 and was told site not available yet but they told us the loop we were in. There looked to be plenty of vacant sites so we called back to check in and was told his records showed they weren't available or people hadn't checked out yet (wt?) We were also told they could not send anyone to the loop to verify if they were vacant so we had to wait until 1:00 p.m. By then EVERYONE was trying to get into their sites (and my husband not being very experienced backing in the trailer yet) made for a very frustrating time. Maybe it's just some old codger up at the check-in post whose a stickler for not checking in until 1:00 whether a site is available or not?

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Same thing happened to us in January, it was our first time to the Fort in our new camper (first one we've ever owned), got there around 11:00 and was told site not available yet but they told us the loop we were in. There looked to be plenty of vacant sites so we called back to check in and was told his records showed they weren't available or people hadn't checked out yet (wt?) We were also told they could not send anyone to the loop to verify if they were vacant so we had to wait until 1:00 p.m. By then EVERYONE was trying to get into their sites (and my husband not being very experienced backing in the trailer yet) made for a very frustrating time. Maybe it's just some old codger up at the check-in post whose a stickler for not checking in until 1:00 whether a site is available or not?

I wonder if perhaps the CM is sent out with a group of sites to clean. The work takes several hours and then the computer isnt updated until they get back.
I have also thought that they may delay arrivals until after 1 PM for whatever reason.
lately we have been getting to FW around 2-4 PM and getting right into our site.

Scott

 

[Disney Campers]

Well the fort has got a less of my money in the past year or two, that waiting til 1pm when sites are vacant must be a new Disney Policy, As far as the bike barn I think all bike barn cast members are required to read a book - "101 Ways to say no"

The fort fills to capacity very frequently, hence no need to lure or retain customers by providing signature Disney Service. Will I still go to the Fort? yes just not as often

 

[The Bad Witch]

well this bums me out...I'd better not get any grief when I go in December, I'd hate to start out my Dis vacation opening a can of whoop a$$ on FW LOL!

 

[CCIntrigue]

In December we arrived at the fort at 8:30 am and were let onto our site immediately. We were pleasantly surprised!

 

[Vickie46]

I wouldn't let this ruin my trip.. just move on..

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Technically, check in at the fort is 1pm. While we have gotten our site early, there is no guarantee and I accept that. Instead of getting upset, we make the most of the situation - park the camper in the overflow lot as instructed, take the bus to the Settlement, hop a boat to WL, have lunch, sometimes take a bus to DTD. Until the guy cleaning off the spots informs the front desk that a site has been prepped, as far as the Outpost knows it is still unavailable.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

well this bums me out...I'd better not get any grief when I go in December, I'd hate to start out my Dis vacation opening a can of whoop a$$ on FW LOL!

Mom taught me a long time ago that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, I think the CM's get worn out from listening to surly guests, its amazing how a smile and some politeness can get you what you want.