Bad Trip

[R0cky]

About the pictures.... Was there more than one person with a My Disney Experience Login associated with your Memory Maker?

We were just at The World a couple weeks ago and had the same problem. I noticed only about half of the pictures were showing up in my login. My DD went to the Tea Party with Alice at GF and when we were finding the pictures of my DD, I saw pictures on our account that I had never seen but knew they were taken (the missing pics!). Come to find out, my wife had to check a box and so did I that let me share my photos with others in our party. I talked to a Photopass CM that helped me figure out the issue. And viola! we have all our pictures in our account.

There are a lot of bugs to work out with the MDE, and the Memory Maker, but I have to say, there is a lot of good value in that system.

I hope this helps, and I am sorry your trip wasn't as magical as you hoped.

I think that is what happens sometimes, we want it to be perfect. I have fallen victim to this mindset.

 

[Millionaire2K]

But the OP was upset. I haven't done this yet, but I'm sure you feel more responsible when you are the host, as OP was. Its almost like its your home, and you feel that each mistake is a reflection on you. I'm sure there was a ton of planning involved here, and while the problems may seem minor when we are reading these from the comforts of our home, I'm sure they are major when you are there, and its just one thing after another!

Hopefully as time passes, your feelings about the trip mellow. My guess would be the kids attitudes change when they see more of the disney commercials-hopefully! As for the daughter you were hoping would look at dvc, take her back there, not with a group. The best part of dvc for me is when we can slow down, which isn't usually possible with a big group.

I'm glad you are following up with Disney-they need to know what bothered you.

I can relate to this. I'm always tasked with planning my family trip. I feel the pressure at times to make sure everything is perfect. When things go wrong it can be very stressful.

 

[tink'smom2B]

I knew when I posted this I would have plenty of people who would feel my issues were insignificent But, my daughter paid over $7000 for this trip (room, tickets, and airfare) and will not be coming back. It really bothered me that I was the host and the trip just fell apart. I really wanted a 5 star experience and sadly Disney didn't deliver. One thing I've learned from this is I will never make an advance dining reservation. No restaurant is worth a 90 minute one way trip out of my day for $900. After reading these posts, I feel like complaining to Disney is just a waste of my time. Maybe they are minor details, but having a cast member address an issue you have with "Let It Go" is not amusing to me

 

[Disneychix]

I did not realize the boat to the MK did not run until 1/2 hour before park opening the first time I stayed at WL. We were late to our early morning ADR.
I never did that again!

OP: are you DVC? Have you ever done ADRs at different resorts before or rode the busses?

 

[supersnoop]

I knew when I posted this I would have plenty of people who would feel my issues were insignificent But, my daughter paid over $7000 for this trip (room, tickets, and airfare) and will not be coming back. It really bothered me that I was the host and the trip just fell apart. I really wanted a 5 star experience and sadly Disney didn't deliver. One thing I've learned from this is I will never make an advance dining reservation. No restaurant is worth a 90 minute one way trip out of my day for $900. After reading these posts, I feel like complaining to Disney is just a waste of my time. Maybe they are minor details, but having a cast member address an issue you have with "Let It Go" is not amusing to me

People get upset when expectations don't match experience. When you start out "tired and pretty angry," your perception can make things seem worse than they are, and your mood at the time will affect how you reflect on the events. With these issues, what were your expectations? How do you expect your perception of the issue to be addressed?

On the CM being adamant with incorrect information about your annual pass, what harm did you suffer? You knew he was wrong, and you did what you were supposed to do anyway. I imagine Disney sending out a memo to front-desk employees on the topic.

On the photos, that seems to be a known issue, and it will be good to get your voice added to the many that are complaining about missing pictures.

On Bell Service and the missing hair dryer, those seem to have been resolved with a phone call.

When it comes to transportation, you won't find any sympathy. Disney doesn't provide resort-to-resort transportation. The transportation they do provide is over and above my expectations. Just try staying off-site. In this case, I think the expectation was unreasonable. If you need to be somewhere early, take a taxi.

Finally, the noise from the maintenance garage; that should have been handled immediately by the front desk staff. If they were making so much noise it woke you multiple times, they should have moved you. Make sure you have a record of the times you complained about the noise.

 

[moobar25]

I understand your disappointment that things didn't go as you planned. I am the one who plans our family trips so I know how that feels. But from what u described I don't feel that Disney ruined your trip. I think a big part of it was poor planning. ADRs need to be made with restaurant location, park hours and your resort location in mind. Otherwise you wind up using more time getting to the ADR than eating. I always use the FREE Disney transportation - but I also know it's limitations and plan accordingly.
I hope that after a while you can see that not all of these little things were caused by Disney.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I was at WL late last week (regular room), our stay was good. The only issue we had was the dining plan was only on my friend's magic band, the reservation was in her name. It could have been a misunderstanding because she told the cm to only put room charging on her band. Transportation was good, the longest wait we had was Monday at DHS returning around mid afternoon.

One thing we did notice, a lot of cm's seem to be pretty clueless. On Friday night, we asked a cm in front of the stage at DHS if the fireworks started at 9:30 or the pre-show started at 9:30 followed by the fireworks. She had no idea! She was working that area!

DHS has fireworks?

OP do write your letters, or make your calls. Disney disappointed you, they should know about it. The company can use their imagineering to address some issues that bother their guests and make the vacation experiences better.

Bobbi

 

[ton80]

Sounds like the OP stresses out to easily. WE always rent a car just to make it a lot easier to get to our adr's and off site dining (to save some $$).

 

[tink'smom2B]

I did not realize the boat to the MK did not run until 1/2 hour before park opening the first time I stayed at WL. We were late to our early morning ADR.
I never did that again!

OP: are you DVC? Have you ever done ADRs at different resorts before or rode the busses?

I am DVC but never made an ADR before the park opened. I didn't even know there was a problem until DD called me at the boat dock. I've been a DVC member for 10 years. I still don't understand why WDW would have events without transportation. Star wars weekends were the same way. You needed a car to get there for autographs. For some people, they are on here all day planning. For my family, I had to know everything. They are too busy making money I know WL boats are slow, but 90 minutes from the campground to WL is crazy. I wanted to go to BLT and show my family the fireworks, have a few drinks, enjoy. It turned into a nightmare. Screaming babies, annoying kids, angry husband. The boat captain didn't help either. He kept talking to my husband about Bay Lake trivia. DH was about to explode. We've been here 19 times! I asked CM about the transportation cards they give out sometimes and he handed me a huge stack of them (here's for your trouble) like I was annoying him. What was I supposed to do with 100 cards that are all the same? I passed them around the boat and got off. The end feeling that my whole family came away with is a Disney vacation is nothing but stressful and it won't happen for them for a long time. After reading all these posts, it looks like many others have been through this stress too. Why would you want to come back for more?

 

[tink'smom2B]

Sounds like the OP stresses out to easily. WE always rent a car just to make it a lot easier to get to our adr's and off site dining (to save some $$).

This was a Grand Gathering of 19 people. I don't think we'd all fit in a car. Plus, why would you drive a car from the Wilderness Lodge to the campground?

 

[tink'smom2B]

DHS has fireworks?

OP do write your letters, or make your calls. Disney disappointed you, they should know about it. The company can use their imagineering to address some issues that bother their guests and make the vacation experiences better.

Bobbi

Yes, Star Wars fireworks. They also changed the designated smoking areas without telling the CMs. So nobody had a clue about that. WDW employees are clueless. I got way more info from this board.

 

[Disneychix]

OP: For the early morning ADRs at MK you have to take a bus from the WL. Just an FYI for next time. I didn't know that either and learned the hard way.

 

[Nanajo1]

The correct answer is not "I don't know" but "let me check on that". This is good customer service no matter what your job.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

DHS has fireworks?

Bobbi

They are doing fireworks for Star Wars Weekends this year. They stopped the hoopla and started fireworks.

I am DVC but never made an ADR before the park opened. I didn't even know there was a problem until DD called me at the boat dock. I've been a DVC member for 10 years. I still don't understand why WDW would have events without transportation. Star wars weekends were the same way. You needed a car to get there for autographs. For some people, they are on here all day planning. For my family, I had to know everything. They are too busy making money I know WL boats are slow, but 90 minutes from the campground to WL is crazy. I wanted to go to BLT and show my family the fireworks, have a few drinks, enjoy. It turned into a nightmare. Screaming babies, annoying kids, angry husband. The boat captain didn't help either. He kept talking to my husband about Bay Lake trivia. DH was about to explode. We've been here 19 times! I asked CM about the transportation cards they give out sometimes and he handed me a huge stack of them (here's for your trouble) like I was annoying him. What was I supposed to do with 100 cards that are all the same? I passed them around the boat and got off. The end feeling that my whole family came away with is a Disney vacation is nothing but stressful and it won't happen for them for a long time. After reading all these posts, it looks like many others have been through this stress too. Why would you want to come back for more?

The bus to MK is the transportation to MK in the morning for early breakfast.

The boats do get off and unlike the buses they don't just add more boats so if something takes some time - or the boats need to wait for something like the EWP then it can take longer. Were you aware that there are 2 routes for the boats? One will go WL->CR->FW and the other is going the opposite WL->FW->CR. Hopping on the first one without knowing which is the next stop can often mean additional time on the boat. However - there also is a bus from FW to WL/VWL. Boats are enjoyable but slow. Buses may not be as fun but tend to run a bit more on schedule and don't get the delays for whatever events that can happen with the boats. And we've always found the bus service from VWL to FW and MK to be some of the best at WDW and never busy - probably because most everyone tends to head for the boats.

Overall - WDW is a complicated vacation and it takes awhile to learn all the ins and outs. Made even more so by the new MM+. I've been going to WDW since 1973 and still make bad choices - especially in the transportation area and when it goes wrong there's no doubt it's frustrating. It could be improved without a doubt but at a cost that WDW apparently does not want to make because it's been the same issues for years. Disney is also very expensive but it's also not a 5 star resort nor experience from the CM's. But I know Disney sets themselves up for those expectations with all the marketing of "Magic". It certainly doesn't hurt to let Disney know that your value and service of your vacation was not equal to your expectations.

 

[robinb]

I knew when I posted this I would have plenty of people who would feel my issues were insignificent But, my daughter paid over $7000 for this trip (room, tickets, and airfare) and will not be coming back. It really bothered me that I was the host and the trip just fell apart. I really wanted a 5 star experience and sadly Disney didn't deliver. One thing I've learned from this is I will never make an advance dining reservation. No restaurant is worth a 90 minute one way trip out of my day for $900. After reading these posts, I feel like complaining to Disney is just a waste of my time. Maybe they are minor details, but having a cast member address an issue you have with "Let It Go" is not amusing to me

I didn't think your complaints were insignificant, but more like death from a thousand small cuts.

 

[ErinC]

OP sorry for your troubles. I've been the big trip planner many times and it is stressful. Most of my family refers to me as "tour guide Barbie," so I know the stress of planning and everyone looking to you for advice. I would still let Disney know of your issues, especially with the front desk. I noticed several times on our last trip that several CM's I encountered were sarcastic and snarky which really took me back. I even told one that they needed to return to school on how to treat a "guest." I really think that was a first for me. I am easy going and don't get upset about most things, but I felt like a few CM's we encountered were not trained at all. I'm okay with you just telling me you don't know, not being sarcastic about it.
I always feel sorry for people when they post in these forums, because then you get the whole "you have nothing to be upset about" comments. Sorry your trip was not the best, I really hope your next one restores your magic.

 

[eporter66]

I know for myself, inviting people and having people come on the trip would add to my stress, because as you stated, you wanted everyone to have a 5 star experience. Having those expectations is difficult, and knowing that your family also felt they had a disappointing vacation would bother me as well. It's hard to enjoy yourself when you are worried about everyone else's vacation.

I would still write a letter if you feel there are things you want addressed, maybe nothing will happen, but if you dont write a letter then there is no possibility it would be addressed.

 

[sajetto]

This was a Grand Gathering of 19 people. I don't think we'd all fit in a car. Plus, why would you drive a car from the Wilderness Lodge to the campground?

I am not at all saying that your concerns aren't valid, however I think this could be a big part of the problem. I could NEVER travel with 19 people and try to orchestrate everything for them. It is just too stressful trying to make everyone happy. Hope your next trip is more magical.

 

[tink'smom2B]

Overall - WDW is a complicated vacation and it takes awhile to learn all the ins and outs.

How can a 1st time trip ever be magical with all there is to know? How can anyone who has never been there understand all the planning that it takes? WDW is promising *Magic* but they haven't a clue on how to deliver without a personal tour guide and planner!

 

[vicki_c]

I did not read every post, but there is transportation to the parks to get folks from their resort to pre-park opening breakfasts. It's the bus and it starts around 6:30 every morning on regular opening hours.

(And I actually think you are being kind of mean about the boat captain. It sounds like he was just trying to be nice and keep you entertained and you sound like you were just mad at the world by then. I've found the boat captains to be some of the nicest and most engaging people at Disney.)