How would you handle this?

Tricializ

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jun 3, 2004
Messages
169
Just got back from the fort. Had a nice trip, as usual. Did encounter 2 things though which were upsetting a bit.
The first is the biggie. We were assigned site 102. When we pulled in, it was dark out (trouble on the road on the way down) and there were orange construction cones and plywood set up in the street in front of our site One very loud crack while running over plywood and we were in. Found out that a water pipe had burst or something like that and they had to repair it. Ok fine. It was hard to get in but didn't think much of it. This was Monday night. Tuesday, the construction crew was there during the day laying down sand, jack-hammering cement etc. It was bothersome because you couldn't really be outside due to the dust and noise, but what were they supposed to do? Wednesday, we come home from the parks for our afternoon rest and picnic and there are the tractors again along with hot blacktop being laid and steamrolled down. So, we couldn't eat outside again and the kids had to go back inside. Still, though i figure, "well this should be done now". The next day, same thing except now they were cutting the cement which left cement dust in literal piles all over our campsite and all over my motorhome and was so loud and dusty that, once again, not able to enjoy our site. This was what drove me to make a call to the front desk to lodge a complaint. I was told that they would have the manager call me right back. That was at 1:30PM and at 6:30 PM still no phone call. So, while using the ATM, I stopped by the front desk where the manager offered to move us. That wasn't really an option as you all know (at least the campers) how much effort that involves in terms of packing up, unpacking, etc. The thing that upset me was that..
1. They knew there was going to be an issue with this site before we checked in since the construction cones were already there.
2. They couldn't bother to call me back.
3. The manager never even said, "sorry". They were really defensive and rather snotty. The manager said, "Well, what is it you want?" ( I guess a fair question...just the tone made me uncomfortable) I answered, "I don't even know. I am just disappointed." And that was it. The only choice I had was to move or quit complaining. The construction went on every day except for Saturday and we left Sunday.

So, what would you do, if anything?

Oh, by the way, the 2nd issue that was just gross was on one of the busses, we were sitting in the back and noticed a whole bunch of cockroaches crawling all over the place back there. Eek! So, word to the wise....watch where you sit and shake out your bags when you get home. bleh.

Again, we had a typically nice time but I would have to say that some of the magic was missing since even January.

Thoughts?
Tricia
 
I would have to say that this is truly one of those "hindsight is 20/20" situations. You get to Disney and see construction. Looking back ( and knowing the length of time the construction is going to take), you should have gone and requested another campsite right away. BUT, naturally, you didn't realize the length of time the construction project was going to take, so you waited. Finally, you have enough and go to the manager-well, he's probably thinking-move or shut-up. You don't want to move and wouldn't it just be wonderful if the manager would have just been nice about the whole thing (sorry, and by the way, take a bunch of fastpasses or have a dinner on us-something little to make your day a bit brighter, right?). Didn't happen, so what do you do? I would chalk it up to experience, and next time go to the front desk right away and straighten the whole situation out.

Kathy
 
I would have made them comp my stay, remember this is vacation you should not have to put up with that especially at Disney. I'm sure that they had no problem taking your money and Disneys sure not broke they have more money then they know what to do with!!!!! Sometimes you need to keep them in line. You are the customer!!!!!!!
 
I believe that is the same site they were working on when we were there (5/26-6/3). There was a pop-up there during the weekend. We noticed that the maintenance people were over there working and then a day or two later, the pop-up was gone and the orange cones were there. The site was still empty and being worked on when we left Sunday morning.
 

I'm sure that they had no problem taking your money and Disneys sure not broke they have more money then they know what to do with!!!!! Sometimes you need to keep them in line. You are the customer!!!!!!!

We were riding a bus back from a park the other day and the driver said that WDW just spent 17 Million on this tracking system for the buses that controls the signs, where and when they go next and the route they have to take. He also said after a year it still doesn't work right. I wish they had taken that money and got my River Country back up to at least a nice themed pool. At least that would be of some use. The Meadows pool has been packed all week.
 
We encountered a problem when we made our reservations. We were given an email address and phone number to contact. The lady we spoke to was very understanding and helpful. I'll have to look the email address up and post later, but the phone # is (407) 939 7657.
 
By all means contact Guest Services. State your case and let them know that you were disappointed in the service you received. I have done this in the past and was satisfied with the response I received. Disney makes money because people keep coming to enjoy the magic. Like any business they need to know how they are doing and how to improve. It is cheaper to keep a customer than to try to get new customers.
 
they've been working on that site since before memorial day...... I wouldn't have pulled in at all.
 
Yea, I wouldn't have pulled into the site to begin with, but as others have said, you also had no idea how long it would last.

Contact guest services and see what they will do, but in the end, the only real thing the manager could have offered to you is to move. Chances are he didn't even have authorization to give you a refund of any kind, I think that all goes through guest services.

As others have said, I would just chalk this one up to experience :(
 
they've been working on that site since before memorial day...... I wouldn't have pulled in at all.

Yes, hindsight is 20/20. We had just driven 1200 miles and had our trailer tire blow in Tennessee which ripped the axle off. It was a horrible trip down and I was just happy to get to Disney. It was also late. While I wouldn't ask for a comp of my stay, I do think that they could have expressed true concern and, seriously, a simple, 'I'm so sorry" would have been nice. Oh well. I think I will contact guest services.
Tricia
 
wow that does suck. Hopefully you had fun anyway. The problem with customer service in general, Disney in particular, is that with the proliferation of retail in Florida, and everywhere really, you have people in customer facing positions that shouldn't be there because standards are lower. Remember in Disney when you could drop a candy wrapper and it would be picked up in less than a minute? I know it sucks, but unfortunately, people get hired anyway. The only way things will change, is if people start not using places that give bad service like my local wal-mart. Then maybe corporations will understand that I work too hard for my money to give it to a jerk. Ok, I'm putting the soap box away. Hopefully your next trip will be without incident.
 
I have no problem with the Wal-Mart corporation in general

It's just that they put them every 2 miles or so, and they can't find people willing to work for what they will pay them, and still have a clue. I now pretty much always go to Target.

They are a model of capitalistic effeciency, and for that Wal-mart should be applauded.
 
We were at the Fort during the Ironman Triathlon. Speeding golf carts were not the problem that weekend, but all speeding bicycles and runners were. I had a hard time trying to cross the street to the CS on Saturday because of the Ironman participants training. I heard that a 4 year old girl was knocked down on a sidewalk by one of the participants that was running on the sidewalk, and he did not even stop to see if the girl was alright. You had to make reservations at the Trails End for breakfast the line for carry out was out the door. I was in line that was curved around the inside of the door and a man just came from the next room and got in front of me. I had had enough of the Ironman at this point. On Sunday the day of the race the Bus schedule was all changed, all buses were leaving from the outpost, only one bus route for the campground buses. Boat service was halted until 9am that day. We were not given a map of the change until I went to the front desk and complained. I had ask on Friday and told that there were no changes to the bus service, just that they would be running a 5 min. late. We were unable to get the truck out of our loop because they closed the exit for the Ironman race.

When they planned this event they did not think about the guest that were not there for the race. They had a race with 2000 + participants and there spectators all at the campground. We had planned are trip in Mid May thinking it would not be crowded. The first part of the week was fine short lines for the rides and never having to wait on the boat or bus because the line was so long. But Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were a nightmare. I had to wait in a line for the Boat to Magic Kingdom that was past the boat house at the Marina on Saturday to go to the night parade. I thought I would have plenty of time to get there. I was at the boat dock at 7:20. It took me an hour before I got to Magic Kingdom.

The magic was not there for us at the end of the week. The race planners made sure of that. I complained to the front desk, they then gave us one free night because of the race. This is only a few of the things that happened on that weekend.

Word of warning never plan a trip during one of these races. The Magic in lost.
 
Now that's something I never thought I would hear, speeding bikes and runners causing chaos throughout the Fort :)
 
That's because they were chasing the smoking peacocks with All star mugs.
 
Kind of takes the pressure off you as a golf cart driver, doesn't it, Colson?
 
Oh, by the way, the 2nd issue that was just gross was on one of the busses, we were sitting in the back and noticed a whole bunch of cockroaches crawling all over the place back there. Eek! So, word to the wise....watch where you sit and shake out your bags when you get home. bleh.

Ewww!!! Now all I can picture is a bunch of palmetto bugs erupting out of a bus seat in the back like the scarab scene in The Mummy!!!
 














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