I would like to respond about the passing of the VWL Christmas tree and our negative experience with bell services at VWL. First of all, I would like to thank WDWstar for all your hard work. I hope you locate your tree and can't wait to find out the outcome.
We were able to participate in passing of the VWL tree #4. When we arrived at VWL on Dec. 5 at 1:00 pm, my husband went to bell services to pick up a box we left with them 10 days earlier and tree #4. He was immediately told he had to go speak to the supervisor of bell services. He had to go wait at a locked door and knocked on it several times before someone came to the door. When we dropped off our package 10 days earlier, we were given a card with the rack number and shelf number that our box would be on. When my husband spoke to the female manager of bell services, he was told that they did not keep packages for 10 days, that it would be mailed home. He gave the manager the card we had and she told him that the box was no longer there. At no time did she make an attempt to look for the box. My husband mentioned to her we also had a christmas tree that was supposed to be here to which her response was, "We don't have that either". The manager then asked what day the box was dropped off to bell services. My husband took the card back from the manager and showed her the date written on it. As she began to look through paperwork, my husband turned around and looked at the rack number he was standing in front of. Low and behold, my husband and the manager are standing in front of rack #1 and he looked on the top shelf to where our box was located. At this point, after 15 minutes of looking for a box that we knew the location, he gave up on trying to find the tree.
When bell services delivered our luggage, I mentioned to him about the tree#4 and he had this look on his face that told me I wasn't going to be getting the tree from him, so I went to guest services and they had the box waiting for me. The front desk CM's were more than happy to collect and hand out the trees. When I dropped off the tree on Dec. 7th, the CM at guest services seemed excited that we were passing the tree. She even looked on the computer and mentioned to me that the next family had already checked in.
Sorry this is so long, but I just wanted to mention that we were not the only family that experienced problems with bell services at VWL. I got a postcard from Disney wanting us to fill out a survey about the service at VWL. I filled it out yesterday but didn't read this thread until today. I did mention the problems we had with the bell services manager. It sounds like the same CM that Paula H had a problem with.
I can't wait to find out about the missing tree at VWL. I hope everyone finds their tree with no problems. If you are staying at VWL, you might be better off leaving it with guest services, and NOT bell services.
Happy Holidays!