disappointed in movies

[rhughesdisney]

I called the guest services at the all star movies and got a rude cast member. I know that I called to early explaining that our trip wasn't until november but that we were coming to celebrate my daughter's first b-day at their resort, I asked if there was any way that we could get an autographed picture or something sent to our room for her and the cm replied check when you check in. I then asked her if it would be possible to get cards for my ohter 2 daughters so they wouldn't feel too left out and the cm said that only one card per room!! When did this policy start??? We stayed at the contemporary 2 years ago and I called guest services before hand and asked for autographed cards and they sent balloons and autographed books and cards all free of charge and it was so magical!! Is this because we are choosing to stay at the value and not a deluxe?? I am wondering now if we should upgrade to a mod or a deluxe for better service. My husband says that it was probably just who was working that day and to not wory about it!

 

[Vlahakis2001]

I am assuming just a nasty CM.

 

[Texian@WDW]

I'm wondering, what kind of cards do you want your DDs to get and are these cards and autographed picture things you are purchasing to be delivered? I've never heard of Disney autographed pictures given free for b-days.

After reading these boards, you will find that it is a priviledge to receive anything free from WDW (cupcake, upgraded room, etc.). I wouldn't put too much faith in receiving free cards. Although, they would probably deliver cards that you purchase and ask them to deliver.

 

[tdsryan]

I would chalk this up to the fact that ASMo is a VERY busy resort in the middle of the busy summer season. While I don't condone nastiness from this CM, you have to admit that calling the front desk/Guest Services desk of the hotel about this kind of request when your trip doesn't take place for another 4 months might be a case of "over-planning"? Don't be so quick to strike this up as a case of lower service standards at the value resorts.

Perhaps a call to CRO to have this noted on your reservation might be a better course of action?

 

[disneyjunkie]

Sounds like you got a CM who was having a bad day, however that's no reason to be rude.

If your trip isn't until November, I don't think the resort will have any info about your reservation yet.

You can call CRO and have it noted on your reservation that you are celebrating your daughter's birthday. They may do something and they may not, you never know.

If getting the cards and ballons are really important to you, you can just order them. Disney florist and Gifts of a Lifetime will both deliver to the resort. This way you know for sure you'll get what you want.

There are threads about people staying in deluxe resorts and not having anything special done for birthdays even after having them noted on the reservation.

 

[rhughesdisney]

The kind of card I was asking for was an autographed picture of a character, this is done free of charge and we have had it done several times! I know that I am over planning and even said that to the cm when I called and just stated to her that I was curious. It is noted on our reservation that we are celebrating a birthday and the cm who toke our reservation was wonderful and put her name and the date and everything on it. i was just curious if there is a big difference in the treatment of guests staying at a value compared to a mod or a deluxe? We have stayed at all 3 types and for us except for the cards for the kids we liked the service at the movies better than the contemporary last time! Anyone else?

 

[LadyLt]

I am having a lot of trouble with this issue. Why did you call four months in advance to talk about this? Were you expecting them to make a note and remember it for four months?

Reservations are not received by the resort until four days before your arrival. They have no place to store such information. The three different All Star resorts have almost 2,000 rooms each, so a total of 6,000 rooms. One phone center answers all phone calls for those resorts. I feel that the Cast Member was probably very busy taking care of business for the multi thousand people who are actually there. But this is also going to be true of any of the Disney resorts..... value, moderate, or deluxe.

The Cast Member told you to wait until check in and ask. That seems like a reasonable request to me. Am I the one out of line?

 

[cindyfan]

You need to understand how busy these CMs are, especially at this time of year.
I don't mean to offend you.....but to call this early about a "free" card to be sent to the room is a bit unreasonable.

The resort doesn't even have any record of your reservation until 4-5 days before arrival. Her response to check on it when you check in is probably the best thing.
And I have to admit......even though we all get really excited about "First" birthdays, your daughter really doesn't have a clue what is going on! The autographed card seems to be more for you and your other girls to help with the celebration.

I'm sorry, but I just don't see in your post what the CM did that was that rude.

I would be more concerned about CMs spending their time with the guests that are there now........
AND spending time arranging more important things like for guests with disabilities.
Having a family member needing a wheel chair or needing refrigeration for medicine or making sure oxygen tanks and breathing machines can be hooked up!

Maybe your "rude" CM just has her priorities in order and is busy doing things like that.

All Star Movies is a wonderful resort. When we stayed there, all the CMs were great and very attentive to the guests that were there.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by rhughesdisney
The kind of card I was asking for was an autographed picture of a character, this is done free of charge and we have had it done several times! I know that I am over planning and even said that to the cm when I called and just stated to her that I was curious. It is noted on our reservation that we are celebrating a birthday and the cm who toke our reservation was wonderful and put her name and the date and everything on it. i was just curious if there is a big difference in the treatment of guests staying at a value compared to a mod or a deluxe? We have stayed at all 3 types and for us except for the cards for the kids we liked the service at the movies better than the contemporary last time! Anyone else?

You may get it, you may not. There's no way to be 100% sure you will get the free card. If you do a search, you will see that it is pretty hit or miss. The type of resort you stay at really doesn't make a difference.

I've only stayed at All Star Sports, but every CM I came across was very friendly and helpful.

 

[tdsryan]

An example I like to give was that my wife and I stayed at the BWI for our honeymoon. We sprang for a week in one of the rose garden suites (over $600 a night at the time). It was noted on our reservation that we were in our honeymoon. We got NOTHING from Disney, not even a congratulations from the front desk clerk. Not that I expected anything, but my wife was a little disappointed.

On the other side of the coin, last year, we stayed in the Tower Club at the CR. We happened to be staying there during our 1 year anniversary. We came back from the park to find balloons, a signed picture of Mickey and Minnie, and a cake that said "Happy Anniversary". Once again, I was not expecting anything, and I am still not sure how they knew, as it wasn't noted on my reservation!

As far as freebies from Disney, it's a toss-up. My advice is that if you NEED something, provide it yourself. Having your reservation noted, then expecting something can lead to disappointment.

 

[rhughesdisney]

Gee I said that I was just curious like I know alot of people are! I know that the cm was busy but still a friendly voice is better than a rude one. I do not expect them to do anything for free at all and I have used the wdw florist in the past all I wanted to do was ask a question. I am sorry if I offended anyone by being an excied over planning mother but that is how I am. All I really want to know is there a big difference in service between the different categories of resorts? And yes I know that you are paying more but was just wondering?

 

[>>^..^<<]

I have stayed moderate and deluxe (one of these days we will try the allstars ~ my DD likes the Dalmatiions at movies

From what I have read on these boards...

Whether you are staying at Allstars or the GF Concierge you can encounter problems but for the most part guests at all resorts have great treatment from the CM's and magical holidays.

Your post today says you are disappointed in movies ~ yet it is 4 months ahead of your trip and the CM you spoke to probably had no authority to promise signed photos for 3 children this far ahead but still she should not have made you feel badly.

These photos requests are usually done at check in or a few days before arrival and they are not guaranteed you have been lucky to receive them everytime you requested them so far.

I hope you have a great trip with your kids and at the least ~ the Birthday Girl ~ gets her card ~ I am not sure about complimentary balloons for allstars resorts ~ maybe this is where they differ from the Contemporary and other deluxes as I have only heard of people getting birthday balloons at these resorts.

Anyone know for sure?

Have a fun trip

>>^..^<<

 

[*Fantasia*]

Originally posted by rhughesdisney
Gee I said that I was just curious like I know alot of people are! I know that the cm was busy but still a friendly voice is better than a rude one. I do not expect them to do anything for free at all and I have used the wdw florist in the past all I wanted to do was ask a question. I am sorry if I offended anyone by being an excied over planning mother but that is how I am. All I really want to know is there a big difference in service between the different categories of resorts? And yes I know that you are paying more but was just wondering?

I'm glad you do not expect them to do anything for free. We don't want you to get your hopes high and then to find out it is only a dissapointement for you and the gurls.

I guess I can relate to some of the posts here. It is almost asking "Can you make sure that the iron/board will be in my room?" It is a waaay bit too early to request these things and it may be true that the CM is just overwhelmingly busy with the guest and trying to give them 100% of his attention. Don't take it too personally, it is only a CM who is having a busy day giving customer service to someone who is standing at the counter, but it's no excuse for the CM to sound rude on the phone.

I am sure there are other ways to make the child's birthday be a special one.

 

[chell]

Originally posted by rhughesdisney
Gee I said that I was just curious like I know alot of people are! I know that the cm was busy but still a friendly voice is better than a rude one. I do not expect them to do anything for free at all and I have used the wdw florist in the past all I wanted to do was ask a question. I am sorry if I offended anyone by being an excied over planning mother but that is how I am. All I really want to know is there a big difference in service between the different categories of resorts? And yes I know that you are paying more but was just wondering?

In my opinion you didn't do anything wrong by calling or by posting your question here. So, you are excited about your trip and want to make sure things go as planned. There is nothing wrong with that.

When you check-in mention it to the CM then. That is what I did for my husband at the All Star Movies. When we got back from the parks on his birthday there was a signed card waiting for him on the bed.

 

[safetymom]

I would suggest you call them when you are 4 days away from going. By then your reservation will be in the system. But also ask them at check in about it.

In the meantime I would go back to anticipating your vacation and don't worry about the cards until then.

You will have a great vacation at AS. Just remember that it is a request and you will be fine. If they don't do it I am sure you can think of other ways to help celebrate your daughters birthday.

 

[Teris]

When we checked into the Poly last Oct, I mentioned that the trip was for my younger DD's birthday, instead of having a party at home. They told us to make sure to go to guest services and get her a Birthday pin to wear. I thought that was kewl, and we did what the CM said. DD got lots of attention, and a phone call at guest services at the MK from Goofy to tell her Happy Birthday. The our second night, when we got back to our room after dinner,, there was a knock at the door,, and a balloon was delivered with an autographed card. That was unexpected, and very sweet.

I think perhaps, based on my limited expirence on this,, that mentioning it upon check in is probably good enough to let them know about a child's bday? We didn't know they would do anything, so that made it extra special. But I guess when you read on these boards about amazing surprises and you get excited, and get your hopes built up, you want to make sure that special excitment happens for you and your family too.

Just remember being there is magic in itself,, and you can't enjoy if you are worrying about finding the magic. It just happens. Hope you all have great trips

 

[wdwobsessed]

I agree with the other posters that the CM's response really should not cause you alarm .. however .. if you are used to the Deluxe resorts and apprehensive about staying at a Value I can so totally understand you.

What I'm going to say will probably be very unpopular. This is only MY experience and others could differ.

My family saw a definite difference in service and the way guests were treated at the AllStars as compared to the Deluxe resorts we have stayed in. AllStars was "fine" and the service was better than at a lot of non disney places ... but did not compare to our other experiences.

I'm not talking about anything really tangible. Just "attitude" I guess. We find that the CM's at the deluxes are much nicer and more relaxed than the ones we dealt with at the ASMovies. I guess we like that smoochy service and didn't get it at AS.

Like I said - was not horrible - just no where near as good at the deluxes.

wdwo

 

[MrsPete]

I might be in the minority here, but I don't think you have any reason to be disappointed in AS Movies.

Value, moderate, or deluxe, the resort's job is to provide you with the room for which you paid. They owe you courteous service at check-in, a clean room, and any amenities that were promised (pool, jacuzzis, game rooms, food courts, transportation, etc.). That's all they owe you.

If a special card -- or cards -- is really important to you, you should order them from the florist or bring them along yourself. The resort MIGHT provide them, but they've done nothing wrong if they do not.

 

[KDawnLily]

The All Star Resort will be great.
I have stayed at both Deluxe and Value resorts and I much prefer the Value resort.
My ex and I were Honeymooning at the Poly and the service there wasn't memorable at all. Nothing sticks out in my mind about any one CM there but at the all star I have about 6 stories just from our last 7 day trip in Feb.
We were upgraded to preferred room free of charge by a sweet CM trying to accomodate a speacial room request.
We were given balloons with our luggage when it was delivered to our room-
My DS lost 3 hats at WDW that trip and a great CM at the guest services checked for his hats every day. We only got one back but there was a new pin on the hat that said his name.
Very Good Service.
We are also going in November and staying at the All Star Movies.
And We know that..
Everything will be wonderfully Disney.

 

[married2grumpy]

I have stayed at all 3 types of resorts and thought the service was the best at the moderate so far. CBR housekeeping and CM's were the friendliest. That was the first time in 4 trips we had gotten towel animals and we looked forward to talking to our house keeper each morning. We were celebrating our anniversary which was noted on our ressie but we didn't get any thing sent to our room. That was fine with us.

We stayed at the Poly for our anniversary and they did send us a certificate saying we celebrated our anniversary at Disney and a single rose. It was a nice gesture. It didn't make our trip though. Otherwise, I can't remeber anything that was done for us there that made us say "Wow". Average service in my opinion but an awesome resort.

ASMO was a great resort. They CM's were friendly enough. Do I remember anyone going out of their way for us...no but they were not rude. For the price the values are great.

In all, I expect better service and better trained CM's at a deluxe or even a moderate because you pay more. It doesn't give anyone the right to be rude but as other posters mentioned, the birthday cards you were asking about 4 months in advance probably seemed trivial to a busy CM.

Enjoy your trip and create your own magic. Ask for the pictures but don't depend on them. Have a back up plan. It would be ashame to not receive them and have that put a damper on your trip or leave you feeling disappointed.