Exchanging Pixie Dust

[onenursebrandy]

Prior to our last visit, DH had to have spinal surgery. Since vacation was already paid for, we opted to go ahead with doctors permission. He was walking okay, but still recovering. He was left at the resort most days while the kids and I enjoyed the parks. The food court at Sports was under construction so they were bussing to sister resorts for meals...one day my DH was there after buses stopped, and cast member gave him directions on how to WALK back. He had no way of knowing transportation between resorts was going to stop, and he ended up walking about a mile back. Needless to say I was LIVID. I spoke to front desk and let them know my concerns, they asked me "what I wanted to make it right". I did not want anything, but an apology and an explanation as to why a guest who was OBVIOUSLY LIMPING would have been told to WALK back. If it is worth noting....hubs only used 2 of his 6 day admissions...and less than half of his dining credits, they all expired of course without use!!!

Apparently, it made its way to management, because we received a letter after we came home from the manager that requested us to return....and stay 3 nights on Disney.

We have since bought a camper, and will return to stay at Ft Wilderness. My question is: Is there a possibility I may exchange my pixie dust for a couple of nights at the fort, or maybe a Hoop De Doo, or La Nouba? Or am I being presumptuous to even ask...what would you do in the same situation?

 

[ErinsMommy]

IMO I would be very thankful of the pixie dust you did get and either turn it down if it's not something you'll use or go ahead and use it.

 

[Jennytoon]

I would not ask for something that is of significantly more value. But I think it's perfectly acceptable to ask for something of similar value.

For instance, let's say you wanted to come back and stay at POFQ instead of All Stars -- I would think two nights at POFQ is roughly equivalent rack rate to three nights at All Stars, and I wouldn't hesitate to say I was happy to visit Disney again but wanted to try a different resort, and would they be able to apply it to two nights at POFQ instead.

I don't know how many of you there are, and therefore what the cost would be relative to HDDR or La Nouba, but I assume you have that information and I don't think it's presumptuous to ask for an equivalent exchange. After all, it was the CM not asking why your husband was limping that got you this pixie dust in the first place.

 

[onenursebrandy]

I would not ask for something that is of significantly more value. But I think it's perfectly acceptable to ask for something of similar value.

Our Ft. Wilderness rate is cheaper than the rack rate at the All Stars resorts...but I wasn't sure if the "campground" was the same as the "hotel" resorts. That's why I suggested another show/attraction we would use. We are a party of 4...so all of my suggestions have about the same monetary value as a 3 night stay.

I love Disney, and was shocked more than anything when DH told me what happened. I really didn't WANT anything but an explanation....and I am grateful for the gesture of the free nights, but don't know what to do with them!!!!

 

[dallastxcpa]

You said you had a camper. Did you mean you wanted to stay at Fort Wilderness in your camper instead of the AS resort? I think that would be a reasonable request. However, from a business stand point they maybe completely different lines of business and the answer may be no but it never hurts to ask.

 

[JJZMgailey]

I would almost save the 3 nights for a different visit so you can really enjoy another vacation from it!

 

[onenursebrandy]

You said you had a camper. Did you mean you wanted to stay at Fort Wilderness in your camper instead of the AS resort? I think that would be a reasonable request. However, from a business stand point they maybe completely different lines of business and the answer may be no but it never hurts to ask.

yes....I originally typed it incorrectly. I corrected it....guess I wasn't quick enough!!!

 

[Jennasis]

I would be shocked if they'd let you exchange their generous offer for something else. Just save it for another time when you can use it.

What type of spine surgery did your DH have? Been there, done that. Two microdiscectomies. One in April 2010 and a Disney trip followed in October. Had another discectomy this past December. Part of my recovery motivation was getting better for our upcoming trip!

 

[ArwenMarie]

I would ask, it can't hurt.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Let's be frank...it sucks your husbands back problems stopped him from enjoy his vacation to the fullest...I hope it works out!

 

[lauradis]

I would save it for later or do a split stay, between the two resorts.

How is your husband doing now?

 

[BrokeMack]

Did your husband mention to the cast member that he couldn't walk? The manager at Sports tried to fix a situation that arguably wasn't even his peoples' fault. This bargaining seems in poor taste to me.

 

[maxiesmom]

I would save the three nights, or ask if they can be used at the campground. I think asking for tickets to a show is asking for something totally different than what you were given, and not something I would do.

 

[maxiesmom]

By the way, I now make it a practice to always keep money for a taxi ride on me while at WDW. You are not the first person I know who struggled with getting from one resort to another. The resorts all have taxi stands, and it would have been simple to hop in one and get back to your resort. You never know when that taxi money will come in handy!

 

[Aerinha]

Did your husband mention to the cast member that he couldn't walk? The manager at Sports tried to fix a situation that arguably wasn't even his peoples' fault. This bargaining seems in poor taste to me.

It was just thinking the same thing. As an adult it was on him to say he couldn't walk that far and ask for an alternative (which might have been him paying for a cab) not expect them to read his mind and pick up that he had a limp.

 

[maxiesmom]

It was just thinking the same thing. As an adult it was on him to say he couldn't walk that far and ask for an alternative (which might have been him paying for a cab) not expect them to read his mind and pick up that he had a limp.

That is a good point. I walk with a limp a lot due to knee problems, and I don't even know I'm limping. And I do manage to limp around WDW just fine. If someone needs assistance, they need to speak up and explain what assistance they need and why.

Not that it matters now, but no way are the All Stars a mile apart either. They are all connected by their parking lots. Google Maps puts it more at 1000 feet. Just to keep things clear, in case another poster reads that and thinks the resorts are much farther apart than they really are. At any rate, the OP did get compensation for the bad experience.

 

[larryz]

This will sound extreme, but taking a major vacation so soon after back surgery doesn't strike me as a sound recovery strategy. Sure, if everything goes exactly right, it might have been fine, but, as OP found out, when something goes wrong, it greatly complicates the situation.

Like the resort construction for example -- if the food court had been available, this thread wouldn't even exist.

But take a moment and play out the possibilities -- imagine if there had been an emergency on the flight going down...would your DH have been able to quickly get out of his seat and then wriggle through the over-the-wing exit and get down off the wing (or jump onto the emergency slide from one of the main door exits)?

Just that scenario alone would have given me second thoughts. I'd say wait until your DH's back is completely healed and then take them up on their generous compensation offer in the resort.

 

[cakebaker]

I know if it were me, I'd feel uncomfortable in asking to change the compensation. It was rather generous compensation and I'd feel like I was going over the top to ask to change it. Regardless, I think the split stay is a great idea or wait until another time to use it.

It's unfortunate the situation occurred. I'm sure had your husband explained his situation, the CM would've come up with an alternate suggestion. I'm not sure you can expect CM's to inquire about why you're limping. That's pretty invasive to your privacy. May I ask why he didn't tell the CM that walking was not a good option?

 

[onenursebrandy]

Thanks...I appreciate your responses. Hubs still has back issues, his issues are congenital and surgery improved his function a great deal. We did not travel by plane...and were followed closely by his doc, and would have canceled vacation had there been any risk to his recovery.

To be clear, he was not upset, nor did he ask for any alternate means of transportation. My issue was providing transportation to another resort because of construction, then basically "stranding" guests there...which was compounded by his recent surgery. At the very least I would expect they notify guests when transporting that busses will stop running at XX time. I would have requested the same explanation/apology if it had been my then 17yo daughter.

My letter will most likely stay in its envelope....I do not have a sense of entitlement, or feel that the incident warranted a free stay. I was curious what others would do in the same situation. Perhaps we will be able to use it on another trip!

 

[cakebaker]

You were posting at the same time I was, so thanks for the explanation. I can understand being upset about not being informed about the bus schedules. They really should have made that clear.