Condesending attitude by boat driver at POR

[thymed]

I am hopping mad this evening. I have been staying at POR for 7 days, it is our last night and I had decided to book tickets to La Nouba downtown. I called and a Cast Member helped me pick the seats and told me that the tickets ($200) HAD to be picked up at the Ticket office by 5 pm No exceptions. We flew so had to depend on resort transportation. I asked the cast member about that she said, "Just ask the boat captain to drop you off at the Westside rather than Marketplace. They will do that if you are going to see the show." We left the park at 2 pm to get back to the hotel and be ready to go early. Got to the boat dock at POR by 3:40. The boat arrived and I asked the captain if he would drop us at the Westside as we were going to La Nouba and needed to pick up our tickets before 5. He looked down his nose at me and said, "I will drop you at the Marketplace and you can walk or catch the shuttle." I told him that the cast member who sold us the tickets had said that the boats will make this drop off on the westend if you ask. I also had my husband check the day before (right after we made the reservation, he took the boat to French Quarter and asked the boat captain about dropping off at Westside and was told it could be done with no problem). The boat captain tonight would not even answer me, after he made his you will walk comment. He drove us downtown, after stopping at French Quarter. When we arrived at the Marketplace, I asked him, will you take us over to Westend ?" and he said, "No you'll get off here and take the shuttle."
We made it to the box office with 10 minutes to spare which is a little too close for comfort for me.
I would have left even earlier had I been told I had to shuttle from one side of downtown disney to the other. I really think 1 hour to get anywhere on property should be sufficent. But what really frosts me is the young man's nasty attitude and demeanor. I am not used to being talked to in that manner nor did I appreciate the snide grin on his face when he dropped us off at Marketplace. I have all his information and plan to write letters until I get some satisfaction. I have written many letters of gratitude, but this young man needs to be taught how to treat guests.

 

[stemikger]

You should definitely write the letter. I don't know if it is a sign of the times but on my last trip this past August, I noticed this on more then one occassion.

First let me say that most CMs are wonderful, but I two bad experiences at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. One was when I asked the women who was working in one of the stands near shark reef where it was and she got real sarcastic with me and told me it is right in front of me in a very condisencing tone.

The other was at Blizzard Beach where I asked a guy with a security vest where the mens room was. He looked like he wanted to kill me for asking him and basically just pointed and walked away with a pissed off look on his face.

There is no execuse for the way you were treated. I know they have to deal with a lot of people, but if they are working at Disney and if they can't be Friendly and make people feel like they are on a magical vacation, they should not be working there.

 

[Marthasor]

That's awful! You should definitely write to Disney. That's really unacceptable. Even if he couldn't drop you off for some reason, he could have told you in a kinder way and perhaps come up with some ideas as to how to get to your destination faster. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. We had such a great experience with the boat drivers when we stayed at BWI - I just can't imagine being treated like that. Let us know if you receive a response!

 

[chickenskin]

Write a letter? Heck the next morning I would've been at the boat dock or front desk looking for a supervisor. If taking you there was not procedure and the other CM was wrong, the least he could've done was be nice about it.

 

[kapoof]

that is terrible, when 2 others cm's told you it could be done! i'm glad you made it for your show atleast, but yes i would call or write, i bet your not the first one to complain about this cm. i'm sure with his bad attitude he has had a few already!

 

[Deb & Bill]

There was a long time where they weren't using the Westside boat dock at all and even now it is very infrequent. Why didn't you just walk over from the Marketplace instead of waiting for a bus?

 

[Tissa]

I think the OP is just upset over the attitude and tone of the CM. Honestly I think it's getting harder and harder to employ people(pay stinks) and they are willing to hire warm bodies instead of cast members. Now I know there a lots of good ones out there but it only takes one to ruin your day.

I agree with the other poster that said they would have been at the boat dock the next day looking for a supervisor. Don't wait until you get home to complain, voice you dissatisfaction when it happens.

OP Sorry this guy was a jerk, and I'm glad you made it to the show in time.

 

[tinkamom]

I think I had this guys twin at the Marketplace dock. I pleasantly asked how long until the next boat to pleasure Island or the West side and he seemed very annoyed that I asked and told me it would be only a couple of minutes. Well over a half hour later there was still no boat! We must have just missed one....I would have walked if I knew that! Thats why I asked! He was not very pleasant and I just got the feeling that he purposely misled us. Every other CM we dealt with was nice.

 

[ironz]

too bad the boat driver was unkind, but the CM who told you the boats go to Westside was wrong. I learned about the 2-boat/shuttle system on my last visit. (which also included getting forced onto busses because the boats stopped for awhile due to a rainstorm)

not to defend the boat guy for his tone, but I can imagine it would get aggravating when guests keep asking for something that they can't do, based on incorrect info from another CM they don't work directly with.

 

[boomhauer]

not to defend the boat guy for his tone, but I can imagine it would get aggravating when guests keep asking for something that they can't do, based on incorrect info from another CM they don't work directly with.

Anyone who deals with the public gets aggrivated from time to time. It's our job and we either need to deal with it, or find another job.

Like others have said, it may be policy but there's a right and wrong way to go about it. He went about it the wrong way.

 

[skipperkim]

While I've had CM's go out of their way for me, I never expect them to. I know at one point the Westside landing was closed. I think a better option for the CM was to tell you that he may not be allowed to deviate from his course. I know they have a schedule to keep and would have to get permission from a superior to change it. It is something that can be done, but not an easy task. Now the CM from the resort that told you they could had no business advising you of this plan. They do not have the same management staff and passing the buck from one to the other is not a wise idea. As you experienced, what happens when one does.

 

[DebbieB]

We flew so had to depend on resort transportation.

One of the reasons I always rent a car. I don't want to be held hostage by the WDW transportation system.

 

[branv]

Now the CM from the resort that told you they could had no business advising you of this plan. They do not have the same management staff and passing the buck from one to the other is not a wise idea. As you experienced, what happens when one does.

If you re-read her post, she had confirmation not just from the CM at the resort, but her husband had confirmation from an actual boat captain the day before.

I also had my husband check the day before (right after we made the reservation, he took the boat to French Quarter and asked the boat captain about dropping off at Westside and was told it could be done with no problem). The boat captain tonight would not even answer me, after he made his you will walk comment.

To the OP: sorry for your treatment. I usually get great or good service, but I've definitely experienced the eye roll no matter how nice or apologetic I am to be bothering them. There are just some CM's that are going to make it incredibly clear that they hate their job. Hopefully, they move on to something else that makes them happier, but unfortunately, even innocent guests are going to get zinged until they do.

I simply don't understand making excuses for a CM treating a guest badly b/c they've had a bad day, or someone was just rude to them, they're tired, or whatever. Try making that excuse for a bad guest and you'll be told there's NEVER any excuse, no matter how badly your day, week or year has gone. If you don't like dealing with the public, in all their forms, get another job! But it's hardly only at WDW...for goodness sakes, I can't remember the last time I was greeted or thanked at a register...usually I'm even saying "hello" and "thank you" with nary a response! It is disconcerting to realize that I, the customer, am actually treating them better than they are treating me.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) The boats have a predetermined route.
2) They do not make a stop for Cirque's dock.
3) You have to take the second shuttle from the Marketplace.
4) I wasn't there, so I cannot make comments on the Captain's demeanor.
. . . it could have been bad
. . . it could have been taken the wrong way, based upon your disappointment
. . . it could have been a little of both

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Just to clarify, when everyone on this thread uses the term "shuttle", are you referring to the shuttle bus? Not a shuttle boat?

I ask because, during our trip in July, we made several visits to DTD and there were boats operating between the Westside dock and the Marketplace dock, we took the boat from the Marketplace and hopped off at HOB a couple of times. At the Marketplace dock, there were three lines, one for the Westside, one for POR/POFQ and I can't recall the third, but it may have been for SSR.

Since this is the first time in a long while that we've gotten to take a boat from one end of DTD to the other, I was surprised to find them operating this summer. It sounds like they have stopped already, and that erratic service must make it very difficult for most CMs to know how to advise guests regarding the boat schedules. They seem to be very unpredictable!

To the OP: so sorry to hear how you were treated, there is no excuse for such rudeness. Even if the captain could not accommodate your request, he could have responded with less attitude and been more helpful.

 

[Sammie]

First off, rude behavior is never acceptable. However sometimes and I know I am guilty of this also, that when we don't hear what we want to hear, then we label it rude because we become upset.

The person you should be upset with is the person on the phone that gave you "wrong" information, not the boat driver that was doing his job.

Also when pressed for time at Disney, I always call a cab if I don't have a car especially if it involves going to Downtown Disney.

I simply don't understand making excuses for a CM treating a guest badly b/c they've had a bad day, or someone was just rude to them, they're tired, or whatever

You were there and know for sure the CM treated this guest badly?

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm sorry you had a snarky boat captain, and that he seemed to take pleasure in not helping you. I would have been livid!

Yes an hour should be more than enough time to get anywhere on Disney property, but sometimes it is cutting it close. I would recommend always keeping an extra $20 in your pocket in case you get behind and need to take a taxi.

To the person who thinks that anyone working with the public should always be Mary Sunshine. Yes, we should. But sometimes your attitude slips. It happens. We are all human. And none of us are perfect. Patience and understanding on everyones part would go a long way.

 

[DisneyTabby]

When we went last November at POFQ we were waiting about 20 minutes for a boat to downtown Disney and two boats in a row were going back to POR and when I asked the boat captain why it was taking so long to get downtown he said " if you don't want to wait take a bus!" vey rudely and walked away. The next morning we did report this to the manager on duty and she said it wasn't her first complaint about some of the boat captains but ours was a guy in his 40s. The other ones we had the rest of the week were very nice. There's always a few in the bunch!

 

[Feralpeg]

Sorry to hear you had a problem. The boat driver should have been more tactful. You did get bad information. The boats only run to the West Side certain times of day. There just isn't enough traffic to the West Side until evening to make the stop worthwhile.

You really could have walked to the West Side much faster than waiting for a bus after getting off the boat. Personally, I'd have skipped the boat ride altogether and just caught the bus to DTD. In the long run, it probably would have been faster.

 

[LoriZH]

First off, rude behavior is never acceptable. However sometimes and I know I am guilty of this also, that when we don't hear what we want to hear, then we label it rude because we become upset.

The person you should be upset with is the person on the phone that gave you "wrong" information, not the boat driver that was doing his job.

Also when pressed for time at Disney, I always call a cab if I don't have a car especially if it involves going to Downtown Disney.



You were there and know for sure the CM treated this guest badly?

No, but if you read the OP's post, they said so themselves!

To the OP, I am sorry you had to be the brunt of a CM's uncalled attitude towards you! I too would have been there the very next morning, not only call him out, but the CM who told you they would do it and the other boat Captain who said they do it. It's completely UNCALLED for no matter how many times you asked, you would have NOT asked if you were not given that information and he should have been sympathetic to your situation. He could have politely said sorry they gave you the wrong information or said he didn't have time or whatever, but to tell you blatenly what you are going to do is just ignorant and I would have told him. Sometimes I think we bow down to these people because we feel hostage to the situation. He needs another job working far away from public. Also, PLEASE IGNORE all the other comments from the people who are sticking up for this fool, hopefully someday they too will get that attitude from someone in customer service and believe me they will be the first ones to complain about it.