Guarantee doesn"t meen guaranteed!

[lookingforward]

Call CRO. Call the Call Center you think is really the AKL switchboard. Express your need to both Cast Members. Reiterate it when you check in. Try to check in early. Be willing to wait for connecting rooms to become available. But please understand: If there are no connecting rooms available, you cannot be assigned to connecting rooms.

(yes, I'm quoting myself): Okay, I spoke with one person today who works for a well-known (but I don't think mentioned in this thread) hotel chain who said, "Everything is a request". They cannot assign you to a room situation they do not have available when (i.e. the day, or possibly the time) you check in. Things happen. They try = but they can't create a situation that doesn't exist.

We discussed connecting rooms. Examples he gave me in addition to those mentioned here are natural or medical emergencies. You may have so-called 'guaranteed' connecting rooms for weeks - but if, just before you arrive, a natural disaster (like, oh, I dunno - a hurricane or tornado) occurs that requires moving thousands of people out of their homes and into a safe area, and some of those people end up at Disney resorts, and some of them get connecting rooms either because they need them due to family size/make-up, or they just happen to get assigned to rooms which connect to other rooms... WHO should uproot those folks yet again, forcing them to move out of the connecting rooms YOU* expected?

Same thing in the case of a medical situation. Surely many of you have seen the threads about 'a virus going around' at Walt Disney World. Is it truly reasonable for an ill Guest who is too sick to travel, and so needs the room a couple of extra nights but happens to be in a connecting room to be expected to move? Would any of you even WANT that room?


*General "you" - not addressing any person in particular.

I think we all can understand that some things can not be predicted in the travel industry. It can be explained 1,000 different ways and it will still be the same message...stuff happens and connecting rooms may not always be available. What is wrong and almost cruel is when they "guarantee" connecting in writing and then don't deliver. I have three kids and when they were little it was a treat to get a second room for them so my husband and I could have some time alone. When disney makes a ressie they should fully inform the family that connecting rooms are NOT guaranteed and then allow the consumer to make the choice about what to do. It seems only fair. I have made connecting room requests and was told that it was only guaranteed when traveling with small children (which I was). It always worked out for us. If they can't really guarantee it then they should not print it. Thats called bait and switch.

 

[kaytieeldr]

When disney makes a ressie they should fully inform the family that connecting rooms are NOT guaranteed

Great. Fine. Wonderful. Let me try this one more time: TELL DISNEY. It's fine to complain here all you want, either about actual experiences or about what you're afraid might maybe possibly perhaps happen to you some day. But if people who are concerned about "guarantee" not meaning "guarantee" don't EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS DIRECTLY TO WALT DISNEY WORLD, well, they won't fix what they don't consider is broken.

So, how many of the posters in this thread so far have contacted Disney about the actual or potential issue, and what has been their response so far?

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

While our situation was acceptable enough, it was not what we asked for or were under the impression that we were going to have. My MIL came with us to WDW last month. She had a handicap accessible room at CR. Due to her needs, we had special services involved and had a "guaranteed" room next door to her, since there were no connecting rooms available. We thought that we would be exactly next door or across the hall, but instead we were around the corner with a Mousekeeper Supply Room inbetween us. It wasn't ideal on many levels, but it was ok. The worst part was the clanking of the coffee cups and noisy conversations out in the hallways early in the mornings as the Mousekeepers started their day. Luckily, we were able to help my MIL as needed, but it wasn't as convenient as we had hoped that it would have been.

 

[minnie61650]

As a mother of 4 (All grown now. My oldest is in her 30's and my youngest is 22) I often wished Disney had more options for larger families.
When the children were younger and we would go to Disney they did not have DVC or the family suites. In fact Disney did not have a Moderate until CBR opened in the late 1980's so if we wanted to stay onsite we either rented 2 rooms at a deluxe or stayed in the cabins.

I wrote to Disney many times over the years asking for more options for families so when I heard they were building the New Family Suites at All Star Music it just made me so happy!

In the late 80's I booked 2 connecting rooms at CBR for my family.
When we checked in there were no connecting rooms left but we were able to get rooms next to each other on the second floor.
Our two oldest were teens so I put them in one room and the 2 little ones who were 5 and 7 stayed with us. It worked for us because our older children were able to stay in a room without us but if they were younger DH and I would have had to split up.

Disney may say they guarantee connecting rooms but in reality Disney does not guarantee connecting rooms.

If there are 2 adults Disney can split the adults and children into two rooms that are not connecting. They try hard not to do this but it can and does happen sometimes. If however it is one adult with 5 children Disney should try harder to find connecting rooms since some of the children cannot be left in a room without an adult. But if you look at the threads posted below you will see that sometimes even Disney mixes up.


It does happen. Far too often IMHO.


From This thread Oct./2/2008

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1562324&page=62

I wouldn't plan on getting your request, just be pleasantly surprised if you do. We had requested connecting rooms, so the kids could stay in one and adults in the other, even called the week of our arrival to talk directly to the hotel, and when we checked they had us in rooms in the same building but on different floors!!! They finally did find us 2 rooms next to each other, but not connecting way back in the country section. So, a request is a request not a guarantee.

From this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1816160&page=2

People will tell you that they will guarantee connecting rooms if one room is for the kids... don't trust that! A DISer friend of mine requested connecting rooms for that very reason. She was given 2 rooms in TOTALLY SEPARATE BUILDINGS for the first night. The following day, they were able to move 1/2 of the family so they were in the same building for the remainder of the trip, but they were still on different floors. She has 3 kids ages 7-13, so sharing a single room was not an option.

Just want you to be aware that connecting rooms are not guaranteed.

From this thread;

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1145289

Just wanted to re-iterate what others have said:

We requesting connecting rooms at CBR in January--not really a busy time & we were early for check-in. They did not have us in connecting rooms. They said they could accommodate us, but it would be smoking rooms--which was our #1 request non-smoking.

We were side-by-side, so we just went outside to go next door, so it wasn't a huge deal for us. But if you definitely want to be together--I would go with a suite. You could also look into renting DVC points for a villa.

Here are a couple more threads about guests not getting connecting rooms:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1095679

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=785797&page=1&pp=15

From this thread:

http://disboards.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=13528958

One of the threads that Linda posted a link to was my experience last March. I had many conversations with the higher-ups at Guest Services and was told that even if it says "guaranteed" it is not truly "guaranteed." It just has higher priority over the "requests." Because on a given day, there might only be 25 connecting room sets opening up, but 27 "guaranteed connecting rooms for families" ressies checking in. 2 of those families are not going to get their "guarantee."

I know, I was shocked that we had to fight so hard to get put in rooms that had just been fumigated for lice (they were taken out of the inventory, but re-opened because we insisted we needed rooms.) I sort of assumed that if they didn't have the rooms for us, they'd find rooms elsewhere on Disney property. For that stay, we were sometimes 2 adults and sometimes only 1. Now we will book offsite if we need to do that again. If there are 2 of us adults, we book connecting and hope for the best. Otherwise, we'll split the kids.

My point is to make backup plans if you are depending on connecting rooms.

That is one of the main reasons if my family were young I would choose a Suite over 2 connecting rooms or I would be prepared that I may need to split the family up and sleep in a different room than DH.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If they can't really guarantee it then they should not print it. Thats called bait and switch.

It's NOT bait and switch, by the way. That's a specific consumer issue in which the retailer or business advertises a product at a low (or ridiculously low) price to get you in the store - the bait - but has none of that item in stock. They then try to sell you a similar, but much more expensive product - the switch.

That is not what Disney is doing.

Also, what many, many, many posters either don't know, or don't care to know, is that despite several experiences posted here - and Minnie 51560 can report several others that have happened to other DISers* - not getting connecting rooms is actually relatively rare.

Think about it: HOW many posts do you see from Guest stating, "We requested connecting rooms and we got connecting rooms"? Very few, except perhaps in Trip Reports. Why? Because it's SO COMMON, it's not worth mentioning.

*Minnie51560 was posting those experiences while I was writing this

 

[leighe]

Good lord - some of the attitudes on this thread are insane. Disney is a business - not an infallible deity. If I had a printed confirmation with a certain type of room GUARANTEED on it you better believe I would be upset if I didn't get exactly what I was expecting. Why shouldn't I be? Why would anyone look at a guarantee on a reservation confirmation and then just cross their fingers and hope to get what they booked? If Disney can't guarantee requests then fine, but they sure as heck shouldn't be saying that they can in writing. And yes, I realize there might be some totally freak accident that puts certain rooms or sections of a resort out of comission, but really I doubt that happens terribly often.

 

[minnie61650]

<SNIP>. And yes, I realize there might be some totally freak accident that puts certain rooms or sections of a resort out of comission, but really I doubt that happens terribly often.

Take a look at this poll:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2068447

About 1 out 4 ( about 25% at this time) who answered this poll did not get their connecting rooms.

 

[Luvamouse]

My email conformation says "guarentee" on it. We asked for connecting rooms because we are a grand gathering.

We requested nearby rooms, room blocking confirmed with Grand Gatherings 3 days before arrival-- When we arrive we get 2 adjacent-- both connecting but NOT to each other 1 room 5 rooms away and the 4th on the 1st floor while the rest were on the 3rd. Huh??

If a guest wants to extend their stay then a room has to be available - if not they'll have to move resorts. That simple. It's no different than making a reservation - if the room is reserved by someone else already they should take precendence. It's not rocket science.

But when my mom slipped on the tile floor at the Poly on their last day there and spent the day in Celebration Hospital with a head injury, having CAT scans and MRI's and all else, we were grateful that they managed to get her home the next day to her own doctors. (She did lose 2-3 months of memory after the fall, but blessedly, there have been no severe lasting effects.) My parents may have been the people in the connecting room someone reserved-- emergencies DO happen. But I agree, not often and whimsical stay extensions shouldn't get precedent over those already booked.

Boy, some of you were a bit harsh to the OP. I have been going to disney for years and was always told that the only way they can guarantee connecting rooms was if children were in the family group. And quite frankly I would not expect the average disney visitor to see "connecting rooms guar" on the ressie and KNOW that a guarantee is not "really" a guarantee.

It's not really rocket science to block out connecting rooms. I can understand that the issue of the king bed might be difficult, but connecting rooms with toddlers? If disney prints out a confirmation with a guarantee printed on the front then they should honor it. If they can't honor it they should not print it on the confirmation. I love disney as much as anyone but it always amazes me how some posters refuse to find any fault with the company, under any circumstances.

Amen!!

2 kids under the age of 2 can't stay in a room by themselves.

Disney wouldn't expect 2 kids under 2 to stay in a room by themselves. In this situation what they might expect would be 1 adult and 1 child in one room and second adult and the second child in the second room. Having 2 young children does not guarantee connecting rooms.
The point is as the OP stated, Guaranteed does NOT mean Guarantee.

But this begs the question of what guarantee really does mean. The defintion of guarantee is just what many here are discussing...

guar·an·tee

1. Something that assures a particular outcome or condition: Lack of interest is a guarantee of failure.
2. a. A promise or an assurance, especially one given in writing, that attests to the quality or durability of a product or service.
b. A pledge that something will be performed in a specified manner.
3. a. A guaranty by which one person assumes responsibility for paying another's debts or fulfilling another's responsibilities.
b. A guaranty for the execution, completion, or existence of something.
4. A guarantor.

Directly from Webster's online:

3: an assurance for the fulfillment of a condition: as a: an agreement by which one person undertakes to secure another in the possession or enjoyment of something b: an assurance of the quality of or of the length of use to be expected from a product offered for sale often with a promise of reimbursement
So what part of "Disney isn't responsible" makes sense to those defending them to their last breath??

Ah, yea, thats the point. You have it in writing and its not too difficult to write a letter or talk to management at the hotel in question. When something is "guaranteed" the consumer has the expectation that its a done deal. Of course, if a water pipe bursts or some other unusual occurance they can only do what they can do, but it seems like this guarantee is printed for many and it holds no real meaning. And this board is designed to discuss the good and the bad about disney, once a problem is identified as ongoing (as is the case with this) and not an anomoly then the "complainer" can add that to their complaint. There is power in numbers and information, even negative info.

Great. Fine. Wonderful. Let me try this one more time: TELL DISNEY. It's fine to complain here all you want, either about actual experiences or about what you're afraid might maybe possibly perhaps happen to you some day. But if people who are concerned about "guarantee" not meaning "guarantee" don't EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS DIRECTLY TO WALT DISNEY WORLD, well, they won't fix what they don't consider is broken.

So, how many of the posters in this thread so far have contacted Disney about the actual or potential issue, and what has been their response so far?

Kaytie-- we do get it. But this board is for discussion-- hence the DIS boards. I doubt the OP expected WDW to read the post and handle it from the DIS boards... And see the post above with the definition of guarantee.

 

[kelma]

Good lord - some of the attitudes on this thread are insane. Disney is a business - not an infallible deity. If I had a printed confirmation with a certain type of room GUARANTEED on it you better believe I would be upset if I didn't get exactly what I was expecting. Why shouldn't I be? Why would anyone look at a guarantee on a reservation confirmation and then just cross their fingers and hope to get what they booked? If Disney can't guarantee requests then fine, but they sure as heck shouldn't be saying that they can in writing. And yes, I realize there might be some totally freak accident that puts certain rooms or sections of a resort out of comission, but really I doubt that happens terribly often.

ITA!

 

[3girls4me05]

I wouldn't mind if this was the occasional issue but it seems to happen too often. 1 out of 4 (I think that was what this poll was showing). That is 25% and that is way too high to take into account Acts of God, illness and accidents. Disney needs to do better but they won't until we start demanding it.

 

[kelma]

I'm not going to use any word or phrase that violates DIS guidelines. "Less than ideal" is sufficient. If connecting rooms are mandatory/vital, Disney DOES offer some - granted, potentially expensive - options, including Family Suites, Fort Wilderness Cabins, Disney Vacation Club properties, and actual suites at some of the resorts.

I'm going to try this again: Complain as much as you want in this thread - BUT UNTIL PEOPLE ADDRESS DISNEY DIRECTLY ABOUT THE PROBLEM, they will not fix something they do not consider "broken".

All the posters in this thread who are upset about not having gotten connecting rooms despite being "guaranteed" and can prove that configuration was guaranteed - vs. being told, even by several CMs on the phone (who, remember, if they're in reservations have probably never even been to WDW, or at least have never stayed in a Disney resort) - should be addressing the issue with Disney.

Posters concerned with the future potential problem can write as well, but "I'm afraid this may happen to me" isn't going to get the same response, result, or action.

First, I would never expect nor want you to violate the Disboards guidelines by using an inappropriate word. Fortunately, there are loads of appropriate words that more closely express the feelings of someone who was actually forced to spend their vacation evenings away from their spouse and in a room with sleeping little ones with no one to talk to. "Vacation ruining" are 2 of them. I don't think, however, you were going for these words, I think you were intimating that not having connecting rooms in the situation I described is merely an inconvenience. My point to you is that this would, in effect, ruin the vacation we had worked so hard for. I can't imagine anyone who would find it acceptable to be stuck in a room all evening without their spouse or anyone else to talk to for an entire vacation.

Second, I completely agree that if that situation happens to you, you should complain immediately and firmly to Disney and I can't imagine that those who did go through this did not complain. That doesn't mean that they can't come on here and complain as well - just as you have the right to defend all things Disney, they have the right to tell their stories and get support and encouragement from others.

 

[kaytieeldr]

"Vacation ruining" are 2 of them. I don't think, however, you were going for these words, I think you were intimating that not having connecting rooms in the situation I described is merely an inconvenience.

"Vacation ruining" is not a word or recognized phrase. Each word on its own is valid, but even hyphenated ("vacation-ruining"), I have never seen the phrase before - and I read A LOT. And if I meant inconvenience, I would have said inconvenience.

Two or more adults, plus six or fewer children (assuming the standard hospitality industry occupancy of four guests per room) who request and expect connecting rooms, but arrive at a hotel at a time/on a day when that configuration is simply not available and so who must have each adult in a separate room with one/some of the children find themselves in a less than ideal situation.

It is disappointing; it is not what they expected - it is less than ideal. It is not a tragedy, it is not devastating, it is not the end of the world. It is less than ideal.

If not having connecting rooms will truly devastate a vacation, there ARE options. Even Disney offers options. Family Suites and Fort Wilderness Cabins hold up to six people, guaranteed to be all in one unit with all facilities accessible to all occupants. CSR and the Deluxe resorts have suites that hold a varying number of Guests. DVC properties have units with occupancy levels of between four* and twelve - again, all in one unit with all facilities available to all occupants.

Second, I completely agree that if that situation happens to you, you should complain immediately and firmly to Disney and I can't imagine that those who did go through this did not complain. That doesn't mean that they can't come on here and complain as well - just as you have the right to defend all things Disney,

Well, first, I'm not sure exactly how many of the posters (or readers) in this thread have actually experienced being "guaranteed" connecting rooms in writing then not getting them, compared to how many thread participants are afraid this might happen to them, compared to the DISers and former DISers to whom it DID happen but of whose experiences we are only aware via Minnie51560's report (and I DO believe her, and them).

The DIS has over 200,000 members right now. The vast bulk of those who requested connecting rooms - whether they were 'guaranteed' in writing or not - and got them, never did and likely never will make an issue of that fact.

Treat someone well, he'll tell two people. Treat him poorly, he'll tell everyone.

Yes, I'm aware there's a poll right now, and I'm aware of the current results. It should be noted that (a) it is not a scientific poll (b) the choice are insufficent - some DISers report mixed results but point out they can only vote once. A better poll might have been "If you have requested and been guaranteed connecting rooms in writing, what percent of the time have you gotten connecting rooms?"

Complaining immediately and firmly is fine (although 'working to resolve the problem, immediately, politely, and firmly' might get more positive results from the people who did not cause the problem but are in a position to fix it than complaining will), but PUTTING IT IN WRITING - especially when done by multiple people who've had the same negative experience - demonstrates that there is a recurring problem that Disney needs to fix.

I'm not defending Disney. I know this is a discussion board. Discuss. All you want. But until/unless every Guest who has a written guarantee for connecting rooms but arrives to find themselves without that set-up contacts Disney in writing after the trip and whether their personal situation was resolved or not - as far as Disney knows, there is no problem.

If you're all content to sit here and whine to each other about actual or perceived/potential room assignment problems, instead of doing that AND sending Disney a copy of the confirmation and proof that you did NOT get the assignment you were guaranteed - there's nothing, as far as they're concerned, that NEEDS to be fixed.
*Technically, one to twelve guests - but we're not discussing minimum levels.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Good lord - some of the attitudes on this thread are insane. Disney is a business - not an infallible deity. If I had a printed confirmation with a certain type of room GUARANTEED on it you better believe I would be upset if I didn't get exactly what I was expecting. Why shouldn't I be? Why would anyone look at a guarantee on a reservation confirmation and then just cross their fingers and hope to get what they booked? If Disney can't guarantee requests then fine, but they sure as heck shouldn't be saying that they can in writing. And yes, I realize there might be some totally freak accident that puts certain rooms or sections of a resort out of comission, but really I doubt that happens terribly often.

I agree 100% with what you said.

 

[Sammie]

Problem is what Reservations will tell you and even what it says on your confirmation is not the reality at the resort.

Reality is they are not guaranteed. The only sure fire guarantee is 2 rooms, one adult with kids. If there are 2 adults, then they know they can seperate you if they have to.

If connecting rooms are a must, be sure to make that your only request, do not request anything else.

Then hope that when you check in, someone has checked out of two rooms that connect, or you are not going to get it.

Basically what the guarantee means if they are available you will get them.

It stinks but it is the nature of the beast.

 

[kelma]

"Vacation ruining" is not a word or recognized phrase. Each word on its own is valid, but even hyphenated ("vacation-ruining"), I have never seen the phrase before - and I read A LOT. And if I meant inconvenience, I would have said inconvenience.



If not having connecting rooms will truly devastate a vacation, there ARE options. Even Disney offers options. Family Suites and Fort Wilderness Cabins hold up to six people, guaranteed to be all in one unit with all facilities accessible to all occupants. CSR and the Deluxe resorts have suites that hold a varying number of Guests. DVC properties have units with occupancy levels of between four* and twelve - again, all in one unit with all facilities available to all occupants.

Complaining immediately and firmly is fine (although 'working to resolve the problem, immediately, politely, and firmly' might get more positive results from the people who did not cause the problem but are in a position to fix it than complaining will), but PUTTING IT IN WRITING - especially when done by multiple people who've had the same negative experience - demonstrates that there is a recurring problem that Disney needs to fix.

If you're all content to sit here and whine to each other about actual or perceived/potential room assignment problems, instead of doing that AND sending Disney a copy of the confirmation and proof that you did NOT get the assignment you were guaranteed - there's nothing, as far as they're concerned, that NEEDS to be fixed.
*Technically, one to twelve guests - but we're not discussing minimum levels.

So, truly, for you, this comes down to semantics? If it is not a phrase or combination of words you have heard of before, does it then have no validity, even if it makes perfect sense? You are correct that "vacation ruining" is not a recognized phrase - however, I'm pretty certain I never said it was. Instead, "vacation ruining" although not a recognized phrase, as we've already established, was an exact description of what being separated from my husband would be. As in, "it would be a vacation ruining situation".

I'm also well aware that there are different options for larger families at Disney - all of them more costly than the 2 "guaranteed" connecting rooms we booked and were given at POP - which, by the way was a "guarantee" expressed to me by at least 6 CM's over the phone. Had ANY Disney employee told me that it was only a request like every other request we made (all of which they were quick to remind me were only requests - unlike a connecting room which was guaranteed), we would have made reservations at one of those other resorts instead.

And again with the semantics?? As much as I hate to get caught up in the word subtleties that feel very trivial to me, the definition of complain is : to express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief - which would need to be the very first step in "working" with anyone who has the power to resolve the situation - whether or not it was of their own making.

I am well and truly done with this thread. I still can't imagine how anyone could put the blame on the guest who felt it was safe to actually believe the writing on their confirmation letter or all of the verbal promises of the CM's they spoke with while planning their vacation - but no additional time on this thread will help me understand that position, so it's time for me to move on.

 

[leighe]

So, truly, for you, this comes down to semantics? If it is not a phrase or combination of words you have heard of before, does it then have no validity, even if it makes perfect sense? You are correct that "vacation ruining" is not a recognized phrase - however, I'm pretty certain I never said it was. Instead, "vacation ruining" although not a recognized phrase, as we've already established, was an exact description of what being separated from my husband would be. As in, "it would be a vacation ruining situation".

I'm also well aware that there are different options for larger families at Disney - all of them more costly than the 2 "guaranteed" connecting rooms we booked and were given at POP - which, by the way was a "guarantee" expressed to me by at least 6 CM's over the phone. Had ANY Disney employee told me that it was only a request like every other request we made (all of which they were quick to remind me were only requests - unlike a connecting room which was guaranteed), we would have made reservations at one of those other resorts instead.

And again with the semantics?? As much as I hate to get caught up in the word subtleties that feel very trivial to me, the definition of complain is : to express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief - which would need to be the very first step in "working" with anyone who has the power to resolve the situation - whether or not it was of their own making.

I am well and truly done with this thread. I still can't imagine how anyone could put the blame on the guest who felt it was safe to actually believe the writing on their confirmation letter or all of the verbal promises of the CM's they spoke with while planning their vacation - but no additional time on this thread will help me understand that position, so it's time for me to move on.

Exactly. Apparently it is ridiculous to expect that two arms of the same company would have the same policies. Honestly - how is the average Disney guest to know that CRO and the actual resort staff have virtually no communication?

 

[lookingforward]

It's NOT bait and switch, by the way. That's a specific consumer issue in which the retailer or business advertises a product at a low (or ridiculously low) price to get you in the store - the bait - but has none of that item in stock. They then try to sell you a similar, but much more expensive product - the switch.

That is not what Disney is doing.

Also, what many, many, many posters either don't know, or don't care to know, is that despite several experiences posted here - and Minnie 51560 can report several others that have happened to other DISers* - not getting connecting rooms is actually relatively rare.

Think about it: HOW many posts do you see from Guest stating, "We requested connecting rooms and we got connecting rooms"? Very few, except perhaps in Trip Reports. Why? Because it's SO COMMON, it's not worth mentioning.

*Minnie51560 was posting those experiences while I was writing this

Relax! The bait and switch declaration was a comment on the overall spirit of the promise (written) on confirmations that is impossible to actually, in reality, promise. Perhaps you would be more comfortable with false advertising (although its not really in their ads) or just unfair to the consumer. Whatever. And comments on the disboards, while relevant to all of us who love being here, does not really promise a statistical analysis of how many people do or do not get those "guaranteed" connecting rooms. Although immensely popular, I would venture a guess that most disney visitors don't even post on the disboards. They have not been lucky enough to discover these amazing boards.

I too think it would be vacation-ruining to not be able to sit with my husband in the evening and cherish the moments of the day...not in the same "tragedy" boat as, lets say, my breast cancer diagnosis but still a huge dissapointment and waste of my hard earned and limited vacation dollars. Call me crazy. I am done too.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So, truly, for you, this comes down to semantics?

No. It is SIMPLY why I did not use the terminology suggested. Either that terminology does not exist (vacation ruining) in my experience, or it is not what I meant (inconvenience). I meant "less than ideal", so I wrote "less than ideal" - yet at least one person in this thread has an issue with either my intent, or my wording, or both.

I am well and truly done with this thread. I still can't imagine how anyone could put the blame on the guest who felt it was safe to actually believe the writing on their confirmation letter

No. I'm not blaming the Guest - and despite the current (or final) results of the poll on this topic, it is not controlled, scientific, or balanced. It it (a)more likely to get responses from people who did not get the connecting rooms they were 'guaranteed' and (b) not representative of all possible options - given that a number of posts indicate that sometimes they get connecting rooms, sometimes they don't (and sometimes they get connecting rooms but didn't ask for them and don't want them).

But if a Guest has(a) written proof of 'guaranteed connecting rooms' (vs. one or six or five hundred Cast Members' verbal assurance) and (b) solid evidence that they were ultimately NOT assigned to connecting rooms despite this 'guarantee', then they can PROVE to Disney IN WRITING, with backup, that DISNEY HAS A PROBLEM.

Discuss it all you want here - but Disney is not going to fix something they don't consider a problem. Is it the Guest's fault? Of course not? Can the Guest be instrumental in getting the policy changed? Absolutely. Will the change be in favor of the Guest (guarantee means guarantee) or will it be in favor of the company (the word 'guarantee' no longer appears on anything in writing)? Who knows - but EITHER of these will resolve the situation. But again, if people aren't informing Disney in writing, with printed support, that there is a problem, as far as Disney is concerned there IS no problem - therefore, nothing TO fix.

 

[maxiesmom]

Disney is not going to fix something they don't consider a problem[/b]. Is it the Guest's fault? Of course not? Can the Guest be instrumental in getting the policy changed? Absolutely. Will the change be in favor of the Guest (guarantee means guarantee) or will it be in favor of the company (the word 'guarantee' no longer appears on anything in writing)? Who knows - but EITHER of these will resolve the situation. But again, if people aren't informing Disney in writing, with printed support, that there is a problem, as far as Disney is concerned there IS no problem - therefore, nothing TO fix.

Unfortunately that happens a lot here. People are fast to complain about how they were treated, but seemingly unwilling to do anything that may actually correct the problem. You see it time after time with regards to less than stellar housekeeping. And now this issue seems to be coming up a bit more that it used to.

It is a shame really that guaranteed for some reason does not mean guaranteed. But untill the people that run into this problem start letting Disney know, I can't see it ever getting fixed.

 

[Alexander]

Isn't a King Bed booked as a category and you pay more for it? I know you do at CBR, so I would think the same is true at POR, POFQ and CSR. If you book it and pay for it, how is that not a guarantee?

As far as connecting rooms go, that is rarely guaranteed.