Here Now & Just Back - A Place To Share Your Recent Experiences

[ENJDisneyFan]

I think it is helpful for housekeeping to take out the trash as I guess they put new bags in the trash receptacles In the room? If they don’t come to take out the trash, will they come to give you replacement bags if you call them? If this is not the case, I guess I would like to know as I will have to pack a bunch of trash bags for my longish trip.

Yes they will give you extra bags. I usually just waited until I saw a cart nearby and asked the housekeeper for whatever we needed and they were happy to provide it. I would also ask them to take our trash at that time.

 

[tjmw2727]

I saw a few people posting pics on twitter- it is crazy long! Interested to know how long it actually takes to get on to a bus...

I timed our trip on Saturday 4/18 - landed at 2, grabbed bags and traversed the airport (swa) to DME. No line for check in and waited about 5 minutes when the first bus pulled up - just missed it. First party in line now, waited another 18 minutes for the second bus, boarded and left immediately after the bus was loaded. It was a coach and we were loaded back to front skipping rows between parties. Only POP guests on bus so no additional stops and we were at Pop by 3:15.

 

[FinallyFL]

I think it is helpful for housekeeping to take out the trash as I guess they put new bags in the trash receptacles In the room? If they don’t come to take out the trash, will they come to give you replacement bags if you call them? If this is not the case, I guess I would like to know as I will have to pack a bunch of trash bags for my longish trip.

There are usually extra trash bags inside the garbage can.

 

[tjmw2727]

Here now at AoA and also questioning how long people will put up with this, it is unacceptable for the reasons above. The trash, dirty towels are piling up.

Also at AOA, so far we have had the trash and tidy every other day as promised. Old towels removed and replaced, trash emptied and coffee replaced. We also had a faulty fridge that was replaced within 20 minutes of my call.

 

[tjmw2727]

DME buses and the Cruise line buses are coach buses that are Disney themed inside snd out. They play a welcome video on the way to WDW.

Getting a regular coach bus (not sure if they show the video?) would be a disappointment for sure.

For many people their Disney trip feels like it has begun when they board their DME coach.

Our inbound ride was a generic coach bus (Dynamic I think) and we did miss that welcome video but the trip was so quick this time we didn't mind.

 

[tjmw2727]

No video and not a word from the driver. Just utter silence the whole way.

I think it is pointless for me to even try to tell Disney management how disappointing this was. I just really feel like they don’t even care anymore.

In this particular case I feel differently. With social distancing they can't fill the buses even 1/2 full sometimes. So its either wait twice the time (and people were already complaining about long waits) or hire additional buses from other companies.

However I do expect the drivers to be courteous and the buses to be clean!

 

[Elle23]

There are usually extra trash bags inside the garbage can.

I guess it depends on the hotel, but at Pop we have never had trash bags in the (very small) trash cans.

 

[dstein12]

I would have been annoyed. Luckily we got what Disney said we would get nothing more, nothing less. I personally don't see why they can't offer daily housekeeping. You don't get Covid from surfaces and they can wear PPE. It's just a cost-reducing and using Covid as an excuse. I wonder how long hotels will continue to do this. I'm afraid it could be permanent. I wonder the same thing about the airlines and their no drink service. They can hand you baggy with water and pretzels, but you can't get a soda? It makes no sense.


The housekeeping issue is not because they are afraid of Covid spread, it's because Disney laid off massive numbers of cast members. They are slowly bring back more cast members but there is just not enough housekeeping staff as of right now. This may or may not change when they start to open up more resorts. Right now they are running WDW on as least number of cast members as possible. This is one of the reason for such long bus waits as well. Yes, part of the problem is you have to social distance but their are just not enough bus drivers. The other day I spent over two 1/2 hours on hold for technical services and when I did the cast member was honest and said there is just not enough of them. She said between spring break and now Cheers season starting they are just overwhelmed. My hope is, that as crowds and capacity increase they will bring back more cast members. Let's face it cast members are what make Disney so magical. As for the airlines I agree they are ridiculous, but I have felt that way for year, well before the pandemic

 

[Elle23]

In this particular case I feel differently. With social distancing they can't fill the buses even 1/2 full sometimes. So its either wait twice the time (and people were already complaining about long waits) or hire additional buses from other companies.

However I do expect the drivers to be courteous and the buses to be clean!

I do understand and told my daughter that. It just made us sad and was a taste of what is to come with no DME....a lesser experience that lacks the Disney magic we have all come to know and love.

There are also Charter buses operating to and from the parks. My daughter and I call them ghetto buses even though they are actually nicer buses than the Disney themed ones.

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

I guess it depends on the hotel, but at Pop we have never had trash bags in the (very small) trash cans.

Just saw your post - I just posted the same thing in a new thread on resorts board! We didn't have bags either at All Star Movies (even the "very small" part lol).... No trash bags is so odd!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Just saw your post - I just posted the same thing in a new thread on resorts board! We didn't have bags either at All Star Movies (even the "very small" part lol).... No trash bags is so odd!

We did not have bags in our room at AKL Jambo, Pop, or SSR recently. I can't remember if Boardwalk had them or not...

So "taking out my own trash" would have been super entertaining for anyone watching me juggle a pile of empty cups, plates, toy packaging, and 4 million Disney receipts.

 

[lorileahb]

We did not have bags in our room at AKL Jambo, Pop, or SSR recently. I can't remember if Boardwalk had them or not...

I am a waste program manager for a large, national company. Our waste vendor is requiring we go "bagless" for our trash and recycling within the next year. It is a big initiative for them (I believe the bags interfere with some of their disposal or sorting systems), so I am assuming this is true for a lot of large companies using these large waste vendors. Of course, should never assume!!! LOL

 

[DCLMP]

II’ve stayed at Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt over the last year and none of them offer housekeeping. Universal resorts willl do a complete clean if you request it.

 

[Skippyboo]

Quick question one of my friends was saying that they are letting people fill their own mugs now. Is that true? I was last there end of January and it wasn’t the case. I’m heading to Pop on Saturday.

 

[nerdyone]

I see everyone taking the DME to their hotel. We are able to take a Lyft or Uber to the hotel, right?

 

[mantysk8coach]

Quick question one of my friends was saying that they are letting people fill their own mugs now. Is that true? I was last there end of January and it wasn’t the case. I’m heading to Pop on Saturday.

I think this is brand new as of today, my travel agent just posted about it this morning. A baby step in the right direction!

 

[Nikki1013]

Quick question one of my friends was saying that they are letting people fill their own mugs now. Is that true? I was last there end of January and it wasn’t the case. I’m heading to Pop on Saturday.

Yes, but since DME is complementary, I always use that. Next year, when DME is no more , things will be different.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Kelly014]

In this particular case I feel differently. With social distancing they can't fill the buses even 1/2 full sometimes. So its either wait twice the time (and people were already complaining about long waits) or hire additional buses from other companies.

However I do expect the drivers to be courteous and the buses to be clean!

This is a good point. Do you think they will let me wait for a DME bus if I ask My husband will think I am nuts. I just love starting our vacation this way. I have fond memories of the DME - my toddler son falling asleep on me after an early flight, trivia with my daughter, photos in front of the bus in their mickey shades, shutting said toddler son's finger in the door to the tiny bathroom he had to use while potty training...I am a sucker so I will gladly pay for for DME service in the future if they offer the Disney themed buses for an upcharge. Okay, done with my off-topic nostalgic rant!

 

[Elle23]

Do you think they will let me wait for a DME bus if I ask

The thought crossed my mind, not gonna lie!

 

[NEMouse]

Staying at CSR. Buses *to* places aren't bad, if you are at the first stop (heard family at tower say no AK bus for 30 min at 10 am but we saw 2 go through our stop). Leaving places was awful- 2 buses in 40 min at MK after park close. Similar at DS. We are done with MK as many people aren't respecting line markers and we were told by guests to move up rather than leave space. I asked a cast member to enforce as we were being spoken to for following rules and the response was 'oh well'. Mask compliance is good but crowds are above expected. Originally expected 1-2 and on our arrival day updated to 3/4 and feels like 8 for walking crowds and wait times. Found TP and Disney wait times to both be off, take the average and it's more realistic. Happy we came, got to do a lot but 6 days of having people within arm's reach is getting to me.