Disney is different now

[Love Tink]

That got a wow...just wow response? Because i was honest and just don't believe completely something a stranger on a message board says?

Cheese and rice, people.

Here's how my thought process goes.

Random person posts something on the Internet. Her room was filthy. I feel slightly bad that she had issues on her trip, but I don't give too much thought to it. Wasn't there, didn't see what happened, etc. That's pretty much how I run my life. So I go onto a public message board and say that the story might be a lie...something like, "I don't know them from Adam and unless I was there, saw them walk into a filthy room...you know? I have no idea if it was them that spilled on the phone."

If, two weeks later, a different random person posts the same situation at the same resort. Now, I'm wondering if there's a housekeeping problem. I decide that I probably won't make a reservation there as I think once is just probably random bad luck, but the same situation twice starts to not just be random.

And then, if three weeks later, another random person posts the same problem. I agree that Disney is having serious problems at that resort, at the very least, and keep my eyes open to see if other people are reporting similar problems at other resorts. I would then agree that Disney is, at the very least, having some major housekeeping issues.

You left part of your "thought process" out (the part we all observed). So I added it for you.

 

[Disney/Universal Fan]

[And honestly, I didn't mind the FP system except for the effect it had on rides that usually had little to no line. I mean, since when do you have to wait 60 minutes to get in the Haunted Mansion or Small World? Those were usually rides I would go on when other lines were too long; now there are no rides like that that you can just jump on.[/QUOTE]

We made a quick one-day trip to Disney yesterday (we live close by) and we walked to It's a Small World, waited 15 minutes for Haunted Mansion, and walked on to Pirates. So to say that there are no rides that you can just jump on is not true for everyone. By the way, every cast member we encountered was as happy and friendly as ever, from the time we entered the parking lot until we left at the end of the evening.

 

[Mad Hattered]

How many recent examples of people posting on the internet about the status of some of the Disney resorts before it becomes possible that it actually happens?

Another recent review on Trip Advisor for CBR

“Dirty Dirty Dirty”
2 of 5 starsReviewed 3 weeks ago
The room was dirty. The bathroom had hair and dirt in all the corners of the room. Around the bottom of the commode was all kinds of stuff? It had not been cleaned in a long time. The mirror above the sink had the toothpaste splatter all over it from several previous guest. We were there for a week & it was the same all week. We also stayed there 2 years ago, it was the same dirty hotel. I did not want to stay there this time but got out voted. I will stay at another place even if I have to stay by myself. I took pics but i don't know where to add them. Eeek!

Stayed February 2014, traveled with friends

 

[Disney/Universal Fan]

I hear ya. But really, I've been on here since 1999 and it was happening then too. I guess it's human nature. I've always said, I think Disney is a fantastic and very magical place. Do things get screwed up though, even there? Yep. Do I think ALL of WDW is going to a piece of crap? no. I DO think it's a little different from my first trip compared to my last(not in a good way). I'm hoping it's not a trend. Overall, I think WDW is still a wonderful vacation. I just refuse to drink the Kool-Aid.

eta: Hey, I just really looked at your user name...we have a Taylor too!



YES!! I agree 100% with everything you said. Thank you!

I actually take quite a few things people write on these boards with a grain of salt. Just like you said you have been on here since 1999, and your information states that you joined in April of 2007. Some posters just like to embellish things, but I am sure you will come up with some sort of an excuse for the discrepancy.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I actually take quite a few things people write on these boards with a grain of salt. Just like you said you have been on here since 1999, and your information states that you joined in April of 2007. Some posters just like to embellish things, but I am sure you will come up with some sort of an excuse for the discrepancy.

I think you will be proven wrong about the date discrepancy. Just sayin'.

 

[Bullseye]

Nasty. Hair and dust is one thing...bodily fluids is on a whole other level. What in the world happened in that room?!?!?

The same things that happen in peoples homes! Like many hotel chains Disney is moving to sheets only which are laundered regularly in lieu of bedspreads.

Jeez I'm a supposed Disney hater but even I wouldn't take time out of my vacation to go on the DIS and argue with people about the current state of the parks. Since they're so awesome, what the heck are you wasting your time for here??

Since they're so awful, why would you waste your time here bashing them instead of going camping, skiing, fishing, or something else?

How many recent examples of people posting on the internet about the status of some of the Disney resorts before it becomes possible that it actually happens?

Another recent review on Trip Advisor for CBR

“Dirty Dirty Dirty”
2 of 5 starsReviewed 3 weeks ago
The room was dirty. The bathroom had hair and dirt in all the corners of the room. Around the bottom of the commode was all kinds of stuff? It had not been cleaned in a long time. The mirror above the sink had the toothpaste splatter all over it from several previous guest. We were there for a week & it was the same all week. We also stayed there 2 years ago, it was the same dirty hotel. I did not want to stay there this time but got out voted. I will stay at another place even if I have to stay by myself. I took pics but i don't know where to add them. Eeek!

Stayed February 2014, traveled with friends

How have your rooms been Hatter? Generally when I have an issue at a WDW room, they rectify it pretty quickly.

 

[morethananyonex]

Since they're so awful, why would you spend your time here bashing them instead of going camping, skiing, or something else?

What are you even talking about? Who did I say was awful? A person here or Disney? Either way, I never said either were awful. All I said was I supposedly hate Disney (I don't by the way), and even I wouldn't spend vacation time telling people on here how much everyone loves FP+.

I'm not seeing where I bashed anyone or anything, but whatever floats your boat.

 

[Mad Hattered]

My rooms have been fine, but then I haven't stayed there since 2012. Last year we split a week between Bonnet Creek and Royal Pacific. I can say those rooms had absolutely no issues.

 

[Bullseye]

What are you even talking about? Who did I say was awful? A person here or Disney? Either way, I never said either were awful. All I said was I supposedly hate Disney (I don't by the way), and even I wouldn't spend vacation time telling people on here how much everyone loves FP+.

I'm not seeing where I bashed anyone or anything, but whatever floats your boat.

We'll gosh I was just quoting you why "if the parks were so awesome, what the heck are you wasting your time for here?" And then I turned it around and asked you if they are so terrible, why are you wasting your time here for?

 

[morethananyonex]

We'll gosh I was just quoting you why "if the parks were so awesome, what the heck are you wasting your time for here?" And then I turned it around and asked you if they are so terrible, why are you wasting your time here for?

I never said they were terrible? I said if I was in Disney like the poster I was addressing I wouldn't be wasting my time arguing with people on the DIS, especially if I felt the parks were so spectacular right now.

I'm not in Disney right now, not really missing out on anything super awesome to respond to you, so don't worry about me .

 

[Davey Jones II]

We had 2 resort stays on our trip and I asked for cards both times. I was told they didn't have the cards so it was no longer an option.

But... our RFID cards took a few tries to get them working so we could get into our resort room last year. So it's not just the bands. The bands, though, are hit and miss. Some work better than others, some scanners work better than others, and sometimes it seems like the system just isn't cooperating.

Yes, but if the cards malfunctioned, they were always quick and easy to replace. Is that the case with MBs? From everything I've read, it seems that you're stuck with the one they mail to you. So if it's faulty, guess what? That damn thing might screw up repeatedly during your vacation, causing a major headache. Where's the "magic" in that?

 

[NMAmy]

Color me impressed you had time to talk to every single guest there today and still make your FP+ times.

Yeah, they missed talking to me. I've heard a lot of other guests complaining about the ridiculous lines--especially the FP return lines snaking around outside the rides mainly because the stupid bands aren't working which holds everyone up.

 

[JanaDee]

Yeah, they missed talking to me. I've heard a lot of other guests complaining about the ridiculous lines--especially the FP return lines snaking around outside the rides mainly because the stupid bands aren't working which holds everyone up.

Oh, I know there are plenty of people grumbling there about FP+. That poster would never admit it, though.

WDW is perfect, where it is always rainbows and sunshine and nothing ever goes wrong, doncha ya know?!

 

[bcrook]

We made a quick one-day trip to Disney yesterday (we live close by) and we walked to It's a Small World, waited 15 minutes for Haunted Mansion, and walked on to Pirates. So to say that there are no rides that you can just jump on is not true for everyone. By the way, every cast member we encountered was as happy and friendly as ever, from the time we entered the parking lot until we left at the end of the evening.

Are you suggesting that small world and pirates are walk ons all the time? That the standby times are not longer now for those rides? That people don't need to consider the likelihood of longer lines on these rides?

 

[redrosesix]

Yes, but if the cards malfunctioned, they were always quick and easy to replace. Is that the case with MBs? From everything I've read, it seems that you're stuck with the one they mail to you. So if it's faulty, guess what? That damn thing might screw up repeatedly during your vacation, causing a major headache. Where's the "magic" in that?

Yup, and in the case of the cards that's exactly what they did. We had an issue with paper tickets (hate those) one year and they were also easily replaced.

I have no idea what would happen if somebody needed a MB replaced. We were told at TL that they find a bunch in the lagoon every day -- and I believe it... the waves pulled the elastic right out of my hair one day. We also found 2 in bathrooms in the parks and 3 on the ground at our resort (but that's in 10 days). I have no idea what those people did after they lost theirs (I assume the ones lost at the resorts would get back to them).

 

[Son of Gadsden]

Sorry to hear your trip didn't turn out as well as you'd hoped.

We had a similar experience in December. We've never had a "bad" trip to WDW, but it was definitely our worst.

We too had issues with our resort, CSR.

Noticed the CM issue as well. Though we ran into mostly great CMs, we ran into two or three that weren't very helpful or polite, which was a first.

I had credit/debit card issues that were not Disney's fault, but I wasn't sure if they were or not at the time. So, I had to go to guest service desks multiple times, each time to find someone who didn't speak much english. I'm all for diversity and all, but can we please get english folks at the help desk? The CMs couldnt even understand the question, much less figure out the answer.

We had a magic band issue, as well. Magic bands, for the most part, had no issues for us, other than that one. However, we knew about that issue months before our trip. Our UT tickets weren't linking. I went to guest relations at DTD just like the CM told me on the phone. When I got there and got in the line, there was a very condescending CM walking down the line asking questions. She would suggest we go over to the left side of the room rather than the desk and see if they can answer my questions. I said, "No thanks. I know where I need to go for my issue." She responded with a condescending "Well, how do you know I can't help you if you don't tell me what the problem is?" Then looked past me, smiled, laughed and said "Like, people, everyone just says they know where they're going, and half the time I can help them!" I'm not a complainer, it wasn't that bad. I shrugged it off and continued on my way. Her tone just struck me as out of character for CMs and rude.

When we entered the park for the Christmas party, We just walked in the entrance as usual. We were told by a merchant past the archways where we were buying ears that "You guys don't have wristbands? You need to make sure you head over to the guest services desk and get some wristbands." So we head over there to get wristbands. When we get there and tell them our issue, they treated us like we jumped the gates or something, even though I had the Christmas party tickets in my hand. They went back and reviewed camera footage or something for like twenty minutes. Then they came back and gave us wristbands. Seriously? For two people without wristbands, go through all that? They asked why we didn't have any multiple times, and I repeatedly responded that I didn't see anyone giving out wristbands at the entrance.

None of it was a big deal, once again. Disney is always fun, never had a bad trip. But the last one was our least favorite.

 

[redrosesix]

[And honestly, I didn't mind the FP system except for the effect it had on rides that usually had little to no line. I mean, since when do you have to wait 60 minutes to get in the Haunted Mansion or Small World? Those were usually rides I would go on when other lines were too long; now there are no rides like that that you can just jump on.

We made a quick one-day trip to Disney yesterday (we live close by) and we walked to It's a Small World, waited 15 minutes for Haunted Mansion, and walked on to Pirates. So to say that there are no rides that you can just jump on is not true for everyone. By the way, every cast member we encountered was as happy and friendly as ever, from the time we entered the parking lot until we left at the end of the evening.[/QUOTE]

It's awesome you had a great day -- but I think the new system is really geared toward lower crowd level days. Yesterday would have been what? a 4-6? When crowd levels get higher you get the issues with FP return lines having priority over SB, and the SB line just doesn't move.

We didn't have any issues with CMs in the parks either -- but we had our FPs chosen in advance. It was at the resorts that the front desk CMs and Concierge CMs were getting the most frustrated, and probably because they really shouldn't have to deal with FP+ issues. I'm sure they'd like to get back to checking people in and helping them set up ADRs and tee times.

That said, I think the only way to fix these issues is to build capacity. FP+ in and of itself is not the problem -- it's the ride capacity,wifi and scanners/MBs that make the current system problematic. If all of those were improved, I think both the guests and the CMs would be a lot happier.

 

[3Gsandme]

Port Orleans Room Review on Trip Advisor from 2 weeks ago. Someone up there needs to realize that this stuff DOES happen. I just copied and pasted their review so don't call me out for grammar or spelling...

“Dirty rooms”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 2 weeks ago
We have stayed at this resort two prior times and had a great experience. On feb of 2014 we arrived a we're told our rooms were not ready, but they would text when ready. We decided to go to the park and later we received a text w our room numbers (we had two rooms). Using the magic bands we didn't have to go to the front desk. We arrived at the rooms late and tired. We unloaded and went into the room and found vomit on a chair, blood and urine on the toilet, hair, trash under the bed. We called housekeeping and since it was Super Bowl Sunday about 20 min later a housekeeper showed up w just a trash bag. We told her the rooms needed a full cleaning. After 30 more minutes another housekeeper showed up w towels and trash bags no cleaning products. I sent my wife to the front desk to be the "good cop" before I needed to get involved. We had push back on the rooms being dirty and were told they didn't have any other rooms. After some "extensive discussion" they finally gave in and moved us to the animal kingdom resort. No one ever appologized at riverside ( this would have made a huge difference in our experience). Apparently they have decided to let this resort run down and not matained to the disney standard. Animal kingdom resort lived up to the Disney standard and is well worth spending the extra money for. They gave us a $75 credit for a $5,000 vacation.

Was this directed at me? I said those things do happen, so if you're not addressing me, I apologize. That situation is beyond gross. Gross enough that it makes me skeptical. LOL! I can't help it. But, really, it must have been really bad for them to just upgrade them that far.

 

[mom2rtk]

It's awesome you had a great day -- but I think the new system is really geared toward lower crowd level days. Yesterday would have been what? a 4-6? When crowd levels get higher you get the issues with FP return lines having priority over SB, and the SB line just doesn't move.

Not to worry. If the line and tech problems continue, Disney will have even more of those optimal low-crowd days.

 

[2Tiggies]

Not to worry. If the line and tech problems continue, Disney will have even more of those optimal low-crowd days.