Here Now - Pros and Cons (First-Timer's Perspective)

[Klayfish]

I'm sorry you feel that way, but at the same time I have to say I think you had unrealistic expectations.

The counter service restaurants are very busy at times on a sunny day. When the rains comes, they get to be a total madhouse. They have CMs walking around trying to keep everything clean. However, some guests are piggy messy. It's unrealistic to expect them to keep every table completely clean. The floors are also going to be near impossible to clean when the restaurant is wall to wall packed with people. Normally, they do a very good job. We've encountered a dirty table before, but that's because the people before us just got up and left and felt it wasn't their job to clean up after themselves.

And to say friendly CMs are the exception rather than the rule is not accurate. We've spent countless days at WDW and also have a family friend who is a long time CM. They take customer service as serious as a heart attack. Sure, there are a few "bad eggs" considering the number of CMs they have. But they are very few and far between, and from what I'm told they are rooted out pretty quickly. The vast majority of CMs go out of their way to make your experience at WDW pleasant.

 

[jhaig]

We had the same exact issues with the Poly last year regarding cleanliness. CM's were pleasant about addressing things, thankfully. I'm not hard to please but I really expected a deluxe resort to not have mold, broken doors, dirty sinks, etc.

 

[miamimi]

Managers cannot check every room every day. Without guests reporting issues there is no way to correct problems and to retrain or reiterated standards to individual housekeepers who may need a refresher.

I don't know for $600/per night or more, I think Disney should pay some extra money so that a housekeeping supervisor can check the rooms and make sure everything is in working order. I don't think that's a lot to ask. Do you?

 

[TinkLoverSam]

I don't know for $600/per night or more, I think Disney should pay some extra money so that a housekeeping supervisor can check the rooms and make sure everything is in working order. I don't think that's a lot to ask. Do you?

I'm just speaking as a former housekeeper and front desk supervisor in a 4+ star hotel

 

[miamimi]

I'm just speaking as a former housekeeper and front desk supervisor in a 4+ star hotel

I'm speaking as a frequent guest of 4+ star hotels. When I am paying for a deluxe accommodation I do expect clean rooms and unclogged drains. I don't think that's a very high expectation.

 

[loves to dive]

I'm speaking as a frequent guest of 4+ star hotels. When I am paying for a deluxe accommodation I do expect clean rooms and unclogged drains. I don't think that's a very high expectation.

While it's not an unreasonable expectation it does happen occasionally that something is going to be missed or you are going to have a bad housekeeper. I've had the same problems happen in a Four Seasons, one of the best and most expensive hotel's around. Since the DVC rooms are timeshares they aren't cleaned as often as the resort rooms, I think every four days they give clean towels and every 8 actually clean. While the place should have been cleaned between guests and the OP should not have had the issues she did, it does happen in time share situations everywhere. I've paid close to $700 a night for time shares in the Caribbean and had to clean the bathrooms before I used them.

 

[keishashadow]

Btw - If the OP booked on DVC points (their's or a rental from a member) they wouldn't get mouse keeping every night, unlike if directly thru Disney There have been posts of people who are surprised by it.

Regardless, doesn't excuse a clogged drain. However, that sort of thing really has to be reported for them to know about it and fix the issue.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We stay POR and have never had a dirty room. Now we've made it fairly messy....

 

[mom2rtk]

Btw - If the OP booked on DVC points (their's or a rental from a member) they wouldn't get mouse keeping every night, unlike if directly thru Disney There have been posts of people who are surprised by it.

Regardless, doesn't excuse a clogged drain. However, that sort of thing really has to be reported for them to know about it and fix the issue.

But it should have been clean when they checked in, right?

 

[francie57]

We just got back from a week at the Boardwalk Villa and had a great time. every cast member we saw was very friendly and whening passing cast members in the park they all said hi. My biggest complaint is the way people at the parks behave. i know there are always complaints about bathrooms being dirty and parks also. Every bathroom we went into had an attendant in there picking up. Unfortunately people behave disgustingly in the way they leave the stalls when they are done. Is it really too much to ask that they flush a toilet if the auto flush did not work or actually put the paper towel on the trash and not on the floor. Also saw numerouse people just leave trash on the ground when they dropped it. Instead of looking at it and walking away just pick it up. Our trip was wonderful and we will be going back in a few months. As I said my biggest complaint is people and the way they behave. Guess they forget how to act while on vacation or if that is the way they are at home I would not want to see their house.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I've never stayed at the Poly but I kind of don't want to because to me even the public spaces look old and worn down. Nothing about it really appeals to me.

 

[mom2rtk]

We just got back from a week at the Boardwalk Villa and had a great time. every cast member we saw was very friendly and whening passing cast members in the park they all said hi. My biggest complaint is the way people at the parks behave. i know there are always complaints about bathrooms being dirty and parks also. Every bathroom we went into had an attendant in there picking up. Unfortunately people behave disgustingly in the way they leave the stalls when they are done. Is it really too much to ask that they flush a toilet if the auto flush did not work or actually put the paper towel on the trash and not on the floor. Also saw numerouse people just leave trash on the ground when they dropped it. Instead of looking at it and walking away just pick it up. Our trip was wonderful and we will be going back in a few months. As I said my biggest complaint is people and the way they behave. Guess they forget how to act while on vacation or if that is the way they are at home I would not want to see their house.

I can't disagree with any of that. But Disney is aware of how people behave now. If their guests are messier now, they need to staff up to stay on top of that mess.

 

[keishashadow]

But it should have been clean when they checked in, right?

Absoutely 100% @ Disney or anywhere else IMO.

 

[OB1]

Very interesting from a first time adventurer. You certainly picked an amazing hotel, and I'm surprised that you encountered any issues. When you go again, if anything like this happens, you need to report to the front desk.

After probably 40 trips, I find Disney to generally be clean. HOWEVER, if a location has just been slammed, then you will get the brunt of that situations. I have heard of people saying how dirty the bathrooms were, but I have not encountered that. I'm sure if I go in after a tour group just left, it may be messy.

All in all, sounds like a good trip, and you did some good planning ahead of time. It really sounds like your kids had a great time, even though I am surprised that Disney Springs ranked ahead of the parks.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

-Castmembers: Let me start off by saying this - I did encounter some great castmembers during these last few days. But they seemed to be the exception more than the rule. By and large, the castmembers looked miserable, never said hello, and in a couple of instances were actually rude. I'm a little disappointed given Disney's reputation for "world-class" customer service.

Just one note, as someone who was just in WDW 8/10-8/21, this is exactly OPPOSITE of our party-of-6's experience. I know that this is all anecdotal and subjective, but from the hotels to restaurants to the parks to the trams, we encoutered overwhelmingly positive, cheerful, awesome CMs who really enhanced the magic for us!!

We've been going multiple times a year for 11yrs and have rarely had bad experiences with CMs except for one trip a few years back where a few stood out in a negative way.

Never experienced lack of hotel cleanliness like you describe either, having stayed in BLT, BCV, VWL, BWV, SSR and Contemporary over the years. I'd definitely share that feedback with Disney if I had had such a negative experience, though.

 

[maxiesmom]

I can't disagree with any of that. But Disney is aware of how people behave now. If their guests are messier now, they need to staff up to stay on top of that mess.

Of course. But there is no way to guarantee every room is perfect every time. People get lazy or miss stuff. No way to take the human factor out of jobs that humans do. No way to manage it out of them.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Disney is not the same company/amusement park that it was ten years ago. They have got real manic about "saving pennies" and I feel the customer service has fallen substantially. It use to be extremely rare to run across a cast member that was not superbly trained and immensely helpful. Now, they get very little training and they have reduced their staffing. It shows everywhere.

I could not possibly disagree with this more as someone who's gone multiple times a year over the last 11yrs.

Clearly, this is all subjective!!

 

[francie57]

There were people in every bathroom picking up and cleaning the stalls. There were also people all over the park sweeping up trash that was dropped. Unfortunately for the parks to be spotless Disney would have to have a cast member every 5 feet to pick up after everyone. Even before cuts that was not happening. No matter how Disney tries it will not be enough to make people happy. There is no solution but it would be a big step in solving the problem if people would just be responsible for themselves and not just be slobs

 

[Klayfish]

I could not possibly disagree with this more as someone who's gone multiple times a year over the last 11yrs.

Clearly, this is all subjective!!

I'm with you. In the past 10 years, I haven't noticed any drop off at all in the friendly nature of CMs. In fact, I notice it more now...probably because my kids are now 12, 9 and 9, so the CMs will go out of their way to interact with the kids. As I've said before, not every CM is perfect. In a cast of thousands, you're going to get one or two grumpy ones...or really good ones who may be having a really bad day for whatever reason (we've all been there). I've noticed fewer Photopass people, but not fewer CMs.

 

[AngiTN]

When we were at WDW last month, I overheard two cast members talking about their schedules. One said she'd had two weeks in a row with really low hours. Ideally for Disney, they wouldn't be discussing this in a public area, but when you depend on income from a job, and the people in charge cut your income for whatever reason, it's hard to stay happy about your job. To us the guest, that translates to a less magical guest experience. Sorry you are experiencing this, OP, because there was a time when interactions with WDW cast members were second-to-none.

If you can, try Cape May Cafe breakfast for great character interaction.

In addition, many of them are dealing with really unreasonable and rude guests.
Now, that does not mean they should let their frustrations with guests show but they are human and I am often surprised they can maintain their composure as well as they do. They are ABUSED (verbally) by many guests. I know I've witnessed it and I'm sure many others have too.

Thankfully, we have had the opposite experience from OP. 90% of the CM we encounter are wonderful and never let their frustrations show. To find one grumpy is an exception. I make a point to engage any CM I encounter in conversation, often taking a moment just to chat with them as we sit to eat while they are clearing tables, emptying trash, etc.