For all, here is the complete write up. Hopefully no one ever encounters any of these (especially not ALL of the in one trip)
We recently returned from our stay 12/17-12/23 and in the 7 times I have been to Disney, I have never been as disappointed as I was now. Every day we faced a new issue that put a damper on our trip and kept thinking it was a fluke, things would get better and each time it wasn't true. While we were prepared for large crowds and long lines, we were not prepared for the poor attitudes of Disney cast members. The issues need to be addressed to create better customer interactions.
We booked sedan transfer through our Disney package. Never heard a thing from the company (Transtar). When I called one day to upgrade our dining plan, the person on the phone took flight info for transportation. At this time our birthday celebrations were added to our room reservation and what dining reservations we already had. The week before we left, I called back to add the celebration to our newly booked dining reservations and at this time was assured it was also noted on room reservation. Every time I spoke to someone on the phone I was told to be sure to go to guest check in to receive our birthday buttons. As a result I didn't do online check in. On December 15 I called Transtar directly at approximately 11:30 am to find out about transportation. They said they had info picking us up from airport at noon. I told them our flight left San Antonio at noon, we weren't arriving until 3:35. She double checked flight number and changed to correct time. For departure day she had us being picked up at 1:30 pm for our flight leaving at 3:55 pm. I expressed concern leaving that late with holiday crowds, so she said I could change it to anytime and I had it for noon. Later that day while I was at work my phone rang and I was called from Transtar to get info. I told them I had called and spoke to someone a bit earlier. They wanted to double check and had NONE of the times we had just set, so I had to take time out of my work day to do this again. Concerned I decided to call back from airport before departure. When I called on 12/17 they assured me the times were still correct for both arrival and departure days BUT followed it with an arrogant exclamation of "I'M the one who called Disney and told them THEY gave us the wrong info!" Beginning now, there would be an issue pretty much every day despite our optimistic attitudes that this was a fluke and things would get better.
12/17/16
Upon arriving at All-Star Music resort at right around 4 pm mom picked up her
ECV and sat off to the side with our 4 suitcases and I went in the winding line to check in. I was helped by a lady in a dressier uniform than the rest of the cast members, I believe the name was Colette. I explained mom had an ECV and also smokes so if possible a first floor room close to the designated smoking area would be best. I was robotically told, "All our standard rooms are equidistant from a designated smoking area." I was taken aback by the tone, but pushed it aside. She never mentioned birthday celebration or buttons so I asked about them, to which I was robotically told, "They aren't listed on here. You must have changed your reservation." Again, I was shocked at the tone but moved on. All of the next conversation seemed as if she was annoyed with dealing with us. She asked who was celebrating, I said mom and I and pointed to mom on the ECV. She told me she needed her magic band too. I went and got it and when I returned there were 2 birthday buttons and all was said was "There are your buttons. I put you on the first floor BECAUSE of the ECV." And that was it....we left to room. Which was on the back side of building 4 as far from a designated smoking area as we could get.
12/18/16
We went to tour resorts on the monorail loop and see their Christmas decorations. En route from Contemporary to Polynesian the monorail stopped because 2 trains in front were having technical difficulties. We decided to skip Polynesian because of monorail issues and we had reservations for brunch at 1900 Park Faire. Once we finally arrived at Polynesian we sat in the station for a good 10 minutes with the doors open in the heat before leaving. In hindsight we would have had time to see decor.
After brunch we went to board monorail to attend Christmas party at Magic Kingdom. Car we were loaded into already had one ECV loaded in the middle so we had to squeeze in behind them as we were told to do by cast member. He did ask where we were getting out and we said magic kingdom. Arrived at station and that ECV in front of us wasn't getting out here and no one came to help us. We tried calling out to cast members and no one stoped. Finally people behind us wanting to board got ahold of someone who took on the task of unloading and then reloading
ECVs. All of this done as if it was an inconvenience to the cast member. This would only be the beginning of transportation issues that day.
Left party at 11 pm and went to bus stop. We weren't sure where the ECV loading lane was for our stop so we were looking towards the front. I look up and cast member Allen is just standing there pointing opposite direction and not saying anything. I turn mom around and we go to back where I see clipped ropes. I start to unclip to move her up and look up to see Allen again now just standing and pointing opposite direction. I look around and ask if he wants her to snake through line with ECV and he replies only with "Yep." There is one other ECV in front of us and not even a bus full of people. Bus pulls up, he loads ECV in front of line, lets all others on bus and stops at us and bus leaves. He says nothing and we don't see him again for the 23 minutes we waited for the next bus. We could and should have been loaded on the first bus. Allen didn't care, didn't say anything and definitely didn't apologize.
12/19/16
After being out late for the Christmas party, we decided to sleep in a bit. Mom woke before me and took her ECV to make the trek to the smoking area while I slept. That didn't work as housekeeping was conversing outside by loudly yelling in Spanish. Not simple directions, but entire long conversations. In between one woman's voice that was doing most of the yelling in Spanish was also loudly yelling good morning in English constantly. This was at 9am, which is not exactly late in the morning.
We had lunch reservations at Be Our Guest. Once we checked in and were seated, we waited a LONG time for food to arrive. When it got there I looked at cart and noticed it didn't look right. Waitress went to set it down and I called attention to it. She then compared receipts and said "You're right Mamas, I'll fix it." So she sets down my mom's half of the food and asks me "What was it you had, Mamas?" My name on my button is Samantha, which was also name on receipt, and I don't mind being called Princess or other Disney inspired names, but I am not "Mamas" and do not appreciate being referred to as such. We asked to speak to a manager and soon a young man (Pedro I think) came to our table and expressed how sorry he was and offered compensation. Although we just wanted the cast member's lack of checking order and calling me "Mamas" seen to, he went above and beyond to make amends. He is to be commended for his performance as he was the only cast member we addressed concerns to that actually showed any emotion or care.
12/20/16
Well, on the 60 day mark I woke up extremely early to secure Fastpasses for Frozen Ever After for this day. The ride was broken 9am-3:30 pm. We went for our fast pass time at 3:30 and was told wait for fast pass was over an hour but fast pass was now good for any attraction all day. We went on with our day and returned after dinner around 6:30. We waited in fast pass line for 30 minutes and were at last turn before loading when ride broke down again. Not wanting to quit so close, we waited an hour and a half until ride started working long enough for them to send one boat off and broke down again. We took the 2 paper fast passes and left. I refused to try again the next day (our last at Epcot) so we used them for Soarin.
12/21/16
Began day at Animal Kingdom then left to Hollywood Studios. Bus arrived and sounded horrible and making a rattling noise before it shut off. Drive went to start and it was making click noises like it wouldn't but finally did. Then when he went to lower ECV ramp and it wouldn't go all the way down. After a good 5 minutes of trying and help from other drivers, it finally did and we loaded, but then took time because it wouldn't fold up. He opened doors for other guests and said " I'll try to get you to studios but no promises."
Later at Hollywood Studios we went to the Buzz & Woody Meet. We didn't see any specific entrance for ECVs and cast member at door was chatting with Green Army Man and didn't even acknowledge us so we got in line and moved a couple feet. She then came in and said ECV had to be parked outside and mom had to stand in line (posted time 45 minutes). I told her mom couldn't stand longer than 20 minutes. Her rude and annoyed response was, "Well she can either park and wait in line or sit outside and wait for you to finish." I did meet them, but mom watched through window.
12/22/16
We had reservations for Akershus and the young lady working as Belle simply didn't appear to want to be there. She didn't say much and rushed us through signing frame mat and pictures. We were sat right near the photo area and noticed that she was fast with all guests and as soon as she was finished with a group would sit on a leather bench across from the photo area and chat with the same male cast member. Truthfully she sat and chatted more than interacted. Very out of character.
12/23/16
We went to get breakfast and bring back to our room. Housekeeping was already out and working. Mom was in ECV and I was carrying full tray of food. We could see 2 maintenance men talking up where a housekeeping cart and laundry cart were blocking our way. They looked directly at us then left between the 2 carts without moving them. As we got close I was preparing to set tray of food on ground when a housekeeping gentlemen happened to come out with sheets, saw us, and moved the carts. Directly on the other side about a foot away were the 2 maintenance men still talking. They stood on either side of the sidewalk still talking so we could pass through and as we passed one said to the other, "That ****ing thing." I am not making it up. My mom and I both clearly heard it.
We went up front to where Transtar transportation would pick us up around 11:30 to wait for our noon transport. I remembered that the last time we had booked transfers through Disney, they had called when they were leaving to get us. Never heard anything and at 12:15 I called Transtar where I was rudely told, "I have you being picked up at 1:30". I told her no I spoke to 3 people before we left getting this straight and it was to be noon. She put me on hold and then said she could have someone there in 20 minutes. Instead of leaving at noon as we had made and double checked plans for, we left at 12:45.
All in all a very disappointing trip. While none of these issues separately is a huge problem, when they keep happening every single day despite having a positive outlook, it really breaks your heart. We arrived on a Saturday and after Monday I was already wondering if there was anyway to cancel the rest of the week, be refunded the money and take an early flight home. I was more excited to leave Disney on Friday than the time leading up to the trip. Disney really needs to revisit its customer relations standards with housekeeping, transportation and management cast members. Others we encountered were their usual cheerful, helpful selves. This was supposed to be a week celebrating our birthdays and Christmas but it ended up being a stressful week of heartbreak that we found ourselves questioning why we even bothered.
as you realize it's just "that" kind of visit. 
