COCKROACH at value hotel

[movid]

We just got back and had a great experience at the World (our first) but I have to say that I FREAKED when we finally arrived in Florida from Seattle. We had our four little girls (it was 10pm) and we found cockroaches in our room at "All Star Music." I had a horrible experience with the room assigner when I called to ask for a room in a different building. I WAS NOT PAYING to sleep with BUGS!! She was rude and told me too bad and that they didn't have any other rooms! I told her I was marching up
to the desk and that if they didn't have a new room for us immediately I would start telling everyone in that hotel about the cockroaches! By the time I got there the manager (who the room assigner said was too busy to talk to me) had already found us another room across the street (still at Music) It was super loud until 1am due to kid partying in the streets (not near the pool-- we were in broadway--). I was in tears. One of my children is very, very asthmatic and we had to walk past the smoking section to get to the busses and food court -- it was just awful. The next day my husband complained and the manager (who was really nice and understanding) paid for a character meal. He felt bad for us and was quite nice. We had many great experiences and some really great cast members treat us wonderfully. I wouldn't recommend "All Star Music" though. The mousekeeper (who I tipped $5) didn't ever leave animals for us and really did only the minimum. The dust on the entertainment center was so bad I took a picture after I drew a mickey head with my finger in the dust. I'll post that soon. I liked the bus system, it was easy. I liked the food court too. The pool was nice. We LOVED the World but hated All Star Music! I wish I had stayed at Pop Century.

 

[thesupersmartguy]

I'm sorry you had a bad first impression of Disney's resorts. I had the same thing at Caribbean Beach when we stopped there for a night. I'm glad it was not my entire trip, or else it would not have a very nice one.

 

[KatMark]

I'm sorry this happened to you at the resort. Unfortunately, this can happen at any resort. However, it should have been handled in a much better fashion than what you had to deal with originally.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I am sorry you had to go through that because no one ever should.

Also when it comes to not getting towel animals tipping does not increase your chances. Some housekeepers like to make them and other don't, so it's totally random if you get them.

 

[plutolovr]

What you call cockroaches were probably Palmetto Bugs, very common in Florida. Not pleasant, but a fact of life.

I never expect towel animals, not all mousekeepers know how to make them.

 

[Good Disney Fairy]

Bugs yike, but I have been to WDW 10+ times staying from Deluxes to Values and I have never received a towel animal and neither have any of my friends that we have been with. Sometimes we have as many as 3 rooms at a time for a week and not once has a towel animal appeared in our room. Yeah I think it would be neat to get one but it certainly is not something I expect.

Good Disney Fairy

 

[ticktock]

How many roaches and were they big or small?

One or two adult roaches is not a big deal. It is LIFE in Florida. There will be roaches in ALL the hotels. If you see lots of LITTLE roaches that is a problem. The big ones northerners get their knickers in a knot about are usually Palmetto bugs which don't live inside, they just come in to escape too much rain or cold ect.

So unless there were little bitty german roaches swarming all over your first room you just screwed yourself out of a good room by not understanding the local fauna. That's why the room assigner didn't hop to get you a new room. Everyone in the office was laughing up their sleeve at you. Sorry, but true.

 

[ticktock]

Due to their large size and slow development, large infestations of these insects are not common within houses. However, during certain times of the year, these cockroaches may move inside a house from outside. In cold weather these cockroaches may move indoors, seeking warmer temperatures and food

Found this quote about palmetto bugs. Like I said seeing one or two of these doesn't equal an infestation like with german roaches. It's just like finding any other bug that happened to wander into your house.

I always have to laugh when someone from up north visits me and sees a palmetto bug. Because they get sooo big they always think "Oh dear you're invaded by bugs!" NO. Palmetto bugs are not a problem and if I see them in the house I just shoo them out. I FREAK OUT if I see a LITTLE roach in my house because I think it's a german roach and if there's one of those *******s there's a thousand

 

[connie1042]

When we were first married, we lived in San Diego. We are from Minnesota. I remember at night when I would go get a class of water and turn on the light, I always saw bugs scurry out of site. the would come and bomb our apartment every 6 weeks. It was just part of living there. It's like seeing those little lizards or whatever they are in Florida. It comes with the territory.

 

[Disneyadore]

Sorry just a little question off topic. Can I buy a spray dose of pesticide for these bugs?

I'm not afraid of then just like them out of my room.

 

[Matt71]

Palmetto Bug

Cockroach

 

[christa112]

eeewwww!!!! Nasty!!!!!


OP thank your lucky stars you weren't down there when the Lovebugs are our in full force!!!! Talk about disgusting, they are everywhere and on everything.

Palmetto Bug

Cockroach

 

[thatgirl23]

What time of year are the lovebugs out?

 

[parkers*momma]

I've been there the past three Sept. and always get to experience the nasty Love bugs. Our worst was the year before last, I think it was the second week of the month.

They don't bite or anything just GROSS!

 

[cg.x.5]

I'm sorry your vacation started out so badly. Unfortunately, you ran into 2 problems that are very difficult to avoid. 1. Florida, (and most of the south for that matter,) have bugs. Its part of the trade off for the great weather. If I saw one or two, they probably would have to die, but that would be O.K. (Ya"ll can shoo them if you want). 2. Most people are very particular about there housemates, some are not. And some of these people some come to Disney and probably bring a hitchhiker or two. While Im sure Disney has a pest control schedule, they can't spray every room every time it is turned over. (Just imagine the respiratory difficulties, and other health problems that would cause.)

Please understand, that even in the most Deluxe of resorts, you may have an occasional unwelcomed visitor, and be prepared to greet them with a great big shoe!

And finally, try to find the humor, remember Mickey is a MOUSE!


Can't wait to see Mickey again

 

[aubriee]

What time of year are the lovebugs out?

September and May

:

Please understand, that even in the most Deluxe of resorts, you may have an occasional unwelcomed visitor, and be prepared to greet them with a great big shoe!

And finally, try to find the humor, remember Mickey is a MOUSE!


Can't wait to see Mickey again

True, we saw those huge palmetto bugs in our room at AKL a few years ago. I'm from the south, know they're around here, but still almost freaked.

 

[wdwnomad]

One of my children is very, very asthmatic and we had to walk past the smoking section to get to the busses and food court -- it was just awful. .

You did not have to walk by the smoking section. The resort map that you were given is not only for smokers so they can find the smoking section but for non smokers to avoid if need be. There were ways to go around the smoking section. It might have added an extra minute to do it but going through it was your own fault.

 

[RMulieri]

Sorry your trip was not what you expected it to be.By now you know that it was quite unfortunate there were bugs in your room, but it is Florida and it comes with the territory.Disney is usually pretty good with pest control, but no one place can eradicate all critters.I have had palmetto bugs and little lizards in my rooms before.As for the towel animals, sorry they are not a guaranteed thing, Mousekeepers do them sometimes if they can and have time.Tipping is no guarantee you will get them.

 

[Sammy]

... I wish I had stayed at Pop Century....

Just as an FYI....at POP, one of the smoking areas is right outside the back main doors of Classic Hall, so you are walking past it every time you walk into the main building.

And FWIW, we have stayed at Disney several times, and we've had a few "visitors" no matter the level of resort.

 

[maxiesmom]

OP--What you experienced can happen at any Disney resort, not just at the Music. Big bugs are a fact of life in Florida, it doesn't mean that a resort is dirty, it just means the bugs like the resort too. And they don't just show up at the Value resorts. I'm sorry you were unaware of that, but threatening to make a spectical of yourself in the check in area was not the way to go about getting a different room.

Towel animals are not a service that you are paying for, sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. They are nice to get, but not something that you were owed that you didn't receive. And just switching resorts won't guarantee you will get them either. I have stayed at Deluxe resorts before and not had a single towel animal made.

I don't meant to sound harsh, but if you make a return trip to Disney and do stay at the Pop, the same things could happen. I would hate for you to have a similar experience and then think that Disney is just dirty and unmagical.

Whatever resort you choose, do look at the map. That way you can avoid the smoking areas, and not have to worry about an asthma attack. I have asthma, so I know how scary an attack can be! But the smoking areas are easy enough to avoid, if you see where they are ahead of time.