cabin swamps?

[krismom]

We just returned from a week at the Fort and wanted to pass along some tips / thoughts...

The Bad news:
~ We were placed in loop 2800 (cabin 2866) even though I requested the 2100 loop. The cabin was ready at 12:00 noon, so we took it.
~ The Cabin had deep, murky swamp water on either side of it. This caused there to be many bugs and mosquitoes- you had to run from the front door to the golf cart to avoid getting eaten alive.
~ I requested to switch cabins to a "drier" area and was told there was nothing available-
~There are no quick service / counter service restaurants anywhere at Fort Wilderness. We tried to use our CS credits for a muffin and a cup of tea and was told we had to go to Wilderness ROaring Forks to do that. This was frustrating since there was clearly a "to go" area set up in Trail's End for such a purpose.
~ I (stupidly) lost the key to the golf cart on our third day. We had a medical emergency in Epcot and I dumped my bag searching for the nebulizer and I think that's when I lost it.... I was disappointed that even though I was fully prepared to pay the lost key charge ($15.00)- no one at the front desk or the Bike Barn was willing to help me. I had to take the bus to the cabin that night- wait for the Bike barn to open the next morning- get to it by bus (with 3 kids)- then take the bus back to the settlement depot to get the golf cart. I know it was my mistake- but I was hoping for a little more understanding or kindness-
~ We got no love from our mousekeeper- I left the tip envelopes every day and we still had to call to get more towels and they made up the bed with the sheets that I had pulled off and put in the shower! (yes, my son had an accident- I cleaned the mattress and assumed they'd remake the bed with clean sheets! No towel animals or even a thank you except a blank envelope she left for the next days tip!

The Good News:
~ Loved Fort Wilderness! We strung Mickey lights on the front of the cabin and it helped to find in the dark...and put pirate flags on the golf cart
~ Loved having the cart- worth the $$ in convenience
~ GReat sweet tea at Trail's End!
~The Meadow pool was wonderful! I was nervous it would be disappointing after staying at the Poly last year- but the kids loved it!
~ The weather! Only a few afternoon thunderstorms- never needed the ponchos!
~ Busses, boats were only a few minutes wait.
~ Loved the pirate and Princess party! The fireworks alone were worth the admission!
All in all- I don't know if we'd do the cabins again... there are 6 of us in the family and connecting rooms may be easier. Maybe when the kids are older and not in strollers...

Thanks for all the advice and help you guys have given me in the planning stages! we opted not to do the bounce back... and I'm already regretting it!

 

[Colson39]

- You don't always get the loop you requested, it's pretty much hit or miss, especially if you are there early. I wish it wasn't that way though, but then everyone would be reserving the same sites...lol

- Wow, I've never even seen a cabin near the water, I'm surprised there was so much water around you, although, there was A LOT of rain just before the weekend, and the Fort can flood in those instances. Sounds like that's what happened, and that stinks that you couldn't change cabins

- There really never have been any "counter" service type restaurants in the Fort, although it would be nice if they had one. The main reason is probably because food service is not nearly as much of a concern at the Fort since a lot of people bring their own food/do their own cooking.

-No one helped you get a new golf cart key? That's horrible Was it because they can only give you keys when the bike barn is open? I'm really surprised that you couldn't get a new key, unless it's because they can't do it when the bike barn is open. Still though, there should be some way to take care of it.

- Mousekeeping is normally really good, but it's just like any maid type service, sometimes you get a bad one. I wouldn't have left any tip until he/she had already proven that they deserve one. The towel animals are kind of up to the whim of the mousekeeper, sounds like you got a bad one

- Glad to hear you decorated your golf cart, lots of fun!

- The sweet tea is oh so good.

- Yea, the Meadow pool might not be the most themed pool in Disney, but it's great for what it is.

- Glad to hear you had good weather! Last Thursday there was tons of rain in the Fort from reports we go, which is probably why it was so flooded.

- Glad to hear the boats are running smoothly, we had some reports at the beginning of the summer about long waits for the boats, but they were modifying a lot of the schedules, glad to hear it's been worked out.

 

[kimluvswdw]

I can't believe that mousekeeping made the bed with the dirty sheets from the shower, that is just nasty. There would have been no tip money from me for the rest of the trip. I make people earn their tips. Some people think it is a given and don't give a good quality of work.

Glad to hear you had things you liked about it too. Hopefully it will make up for some of the bad things.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

The fort is on a reclaimed cypress swamp. Notice how the sites are elevated. If there is alot of rain, the areas in between sites flood out. That will also bring out the bugs. The mosquito truck normally does a good job of controlling them, but it isn't the answer to everything. Never count on getting a loop you requested. They do try, but Disney is the first to say they cannot guarantee loop requests. It seems that lately people requesting loops are under the impression that it is a done deal and are then disappointed when it doesn't happen. I assume the key issue was due to the hour and the bike barn being closed. Stuff like that can happen. I would have complained right away about the issue with mousekeeping. Towel animals are a nice extra that some staff do, but not all. Again, it seems like more people are expecting that as minimum service. I wouldn't let it ruin my vacation.

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

Note for the future: all disney rental carts take the same key.

On our last trip someone left the key in the ignition switch and some Well meaning kids (re parked) all of the carts around the settlement area and the all bus stops. They didn't take the carts just moved them all to a BETTER parking spot. It was a very interesting evening when everyones golfcart was in the wrong place. I watched the disaster/fun from the rockers on Crocketts tavern porch

Jeff

 

[des1954]

Wow! I can't believe how bad your "Mouse-keeper" was! I would definitely write a letter to the manager of the Fort & let them know what happened, the days you stayed there, and what cabin you were in. At the cost of the cabins, they should send someone to tuck you in at night!

In the future... don't leave any housekeeping tips until the morning of your last day. Average tip for the cabins run $10.00/day for 4 people.

As far as remaking the bed with the dirty sheets you put in the shower... I would have been on the phone right then demanding that someone come immediately to remake the bed with clean sheets. You can also ask a manager for compensation for your inconvenience. They will give you items such as free counter service meal, free desert, free breakfast at T.E. for your entire party...etc.

Never tolerate shoddy treatment from Disney! Their managers are quick to fix a problem if they know about it. After all,,, they want your repeat business & they don't want you spreading their "dirty laundry" (pardon the pun) to all your friends!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

The problem with holding back on tips until the end of your stay is that you may not have the same CM throughout your vacation.

 

[des1954]

HOWDY, Ft Wildernessguy!!

I just KNEW someone would come back and post about the change in CM's during someone's stay!!!

The tips are supposed to be pooled & split, so it is not supposed to matter.(heavy on the "supposed"!)

Now, think of this in another way...the loop attendants are the same wage scale as housekeeping, but how do you tip a loop attendant? I've seen some sites left in a total pig filthy mess (raw sewage included), so you can't say the loop attendants have an easier time of it. Plus, loop attendants have the lovely task of encouraging and helping the late person get packed up and out of the site before they are charged for another day. (All with a smile on their face!)

Tips are inteded as a reward for good service provided, and should never be expected (even though they are expected). (JMHO)

 

[Gatordad]

for $289 a night in those cabins, you shouldn't have to leave a tip to get good svc.

 

[dizneydiva2005]

While at Ft. Wilderness last week I found out you can use a counter service at the pool's snack shop. NOT sure it's worth it, but you can get a personal pizza or a big chef salad plus a drink and snack. That's what I was told by the guy that works there.

Our outlet wasn't working at the cabin so we couldn't charge our cart. I called down the bike barn the next morning and had them deliver a new one to my cabin. They did and it was quick! Next time have them bring a new key to you instead of dragging the kids down there.

Lots of water- don't remind me of my trip. It rained everynight for 3 nights totally ruined our Princess and Pirate party, and 2 campfire movies. A little swamp water next to my cabin- I would have taken that over the hours and hours of rain when we were there. Now doesn't that make you feel better??

mousekeeping is hit or miss- I have ran into NOT getting service - when I called down I was told I requested no service. I never did and have had that happen 3 times over the years. This past trip it was 4 pm and no service, I called and was told I had requested no service. I told them, not true and I wanted service. She asked if we left the magnet on the door- there wasn't even a magnet in our cabin. They did come right over and clean it. I've learned the tricks

Did you get fresh soaps everyday???? We never did. I figured it was a new policy or something. But other resorts tell me they did get them everyday.

Were loops 2700 and Bobcat still closed for remodeling? Were any loops closed???

Thanks!

 

[Justntime]

Ok this is starting to concern me. For the price I am paying it better be right or they will hear from me.

I am pretty easy to please but I do expect to get what I pay for and I am paying $275 a night.

 

[krismom]

Wow- see that's what bothers me about the customer service thing... everyone has a different experience! We were told we could only use snack credits at the Meadows snack bar by an older surly CM, we were told I'd have to get myself to the Bike Barn to replace the key (probably because there was a fee, but I would have still paid whoever dropped it off!) and our Mousekeeper (although probably a language barrier issue- thought the "kids took off the sheets to play" when I asked why the he#* she was putting peed on sheets back on the murphy bed!
I'm glad you had better experiences (minus the rain!) but they need some consistency with guest relations-

Ps anyone know who to contact to send this thread to?

 

[Colson39]

Ok this is starting to concern me. For the price I am paying it better be right or they will hear from me.

I am pretty easy to please but I do expect to get what I pay for and I am paying $275 a night.

Don't worry, for the most part this is not the norm, the majority of people won't have a problem, unfortunately stuff like this does happen, but stuff like this happens everywhere.

 

[dizneydiva2005]

Wow- see that's what bothers me about the customer service thing... everyone has a different experience! We were told we could only use snack credits at the Meadows snack bar by an older surly CM, we were told I'd have to get myself to the Bike Barn to replace the key (probably because there was a fee, but I would have still paid whoever dropped it off!) and our Mousekeeper (although probably a language barrier issue- thought the "kids took off the sheets to play" when I asked why the he#* she was putting peed on sheets back on the murphy bed!
I'm glad you had better experiences (minus the rain!) but they need some consistency with guest relations-

Ps anyone know who to contact to send this thread to?

about the golf cart- the fee part can't be it because we were given a 1/2 day credit and decided to keep it the other 1/2 so we had to pay $25 to keep the cart. She came down with a new one- and just said stop by the bike barn to pay the $25 when you get a chance today.

The cm who worked the snack shop said you could use the counter service there for the pizza or salad. Not worth it IMO but I thought that was handy info.

So I have to ask again did you get soap everyday?? We're any of the loops closed off for remodeling still?

 

[CottontailCurl]

Hey, The contact info is below. Do you remember the housekeeper's name? Mousekeeping is something that doesn't always happen (my family stayed in WL in 3 rooms in a row, our room was Mousekept like crazy, but my parents and sister's weren't; we had a Mousekeeper whose wing ended at our room, I guess the one on the other side of the hall just wasn't into it). Some do, and some don't. But they should at least give you basic housekeeping and I hope you'll write a detailed letter about yours so they can re-train her, because that is nizasty. Gag. x1000. ick.

I hope the rest of the good stuff that happened outweighs the bad.


http://allearsnet.com/pl/contact.htm

Walt Disney World Guest Relations
P.O. Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

This is the universal address! For example, if you want to write to the General Manager of All Star Music, or any other resort, address the envelope to the person and use the P.O. Box 10000 address.

Walt Disney World Guest Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

 

[doughcwjt]

We too are just back from a WONDERFUL weeks stay at the cabins. This was our first stay in the cabins and we LOVED them! I was not sure I would be happy there, but this was one of our best stays at WDW.

We were also in the 2800 loop and it was fine..... cabin 2807 and not too much water around. The only problem with bugs was one night at the camp fire. Mousekeeping was terrific. She was always around the area when we were leaving in the morning and would ask if we were ready for her to clean. We had plenty of towels, towel animals and new soaps (body and facial) everyday, plus a new bottle of shampoo. We left a tip 2 different times.

The 2700 loop and another loop maybe 2100? were closed for refurbishment. The pools were fine and though my husband wished for a CS option for meals, I did ask Cliff, the CM at the Meadow Pool Snackbar if we could use the CS credits there and was also told yes, so it was an option. We did go over to Roaring Forks for breakfast and it worked out fine.

The golf cart is a MUST have and added to the fun of the trip. We all loved riding around in the cart and it was great to have it waiting for us when we came off the boats or buses. It was very convenient..... I worried that we would lose the key to the cart and had a scare once, but it turned up in my husband's pocket - go figure. I was getting ready for him to blame me!

We went with friends and they had the cabin next to us which worked out great.... we were just saying we wished we were still there!! It was so RELAXING!!!

 

[jason_rving]

IMHO tipping for a hotel room/cabin is nuts in the first place.

 

[Colson39]

IMHO tipping for a hotel room/cabin is nuts in the first place.

Well it's our way of saying thank you to the people that normally do the menial hard work job and don't get the $280 bucks a night in their pocket