Howard Johnson Express Inn-Do not stay here!b

[Eeyoreluver]

I just had to come here and gripe. My DD left today to go and start her college program at Disney World. She checks in tomorrow so we flew her out today so she would be rested. We booked her a room at Howard Johnson Express Inn - Kissimmee Suites. She arrived at the hotel and they were very rude to her. She had 3 suitcases and they were going to put her on the second floor. She asked to be put on the bottom floor. They did this,but they put her on the other side at the very end. They don't have a snack machine and she had not eatten since about 6:00 this morning. She got to her room about 2:30 this afternoon. On the website it says they have a shuttle that takes you to Disney World, which it does. Once a day. So she ordered a pizza and then took a taxi to DownTown Disney. When she left they told her the shuttle would pick her up at 9:50. She called the hotel to verify where she was to meet them. They told her and she went there and waited. She called us and told us she had to call them again because they hadn't come. They forgot about her. She was told they would be there in 10 minutes and if the shuttle didn't come to call them back. She waited it never came. So she called back this time they tell her she is at the wrong place so she missed the shuttle. They now will not come and get her. She told them she was where they told her to be and they said she misunderstood. Now, she has to pay a taxi to take her back too. She is so unhappy and miserable. She has waited 4 months to go and she was so excited. I will update on the room and how things are after she leaves. Sorry this is so long, but this is her first time to be this far away from us. So, I came here to vent and to inform others. I will contact the Howard Johnson main office too. Thanks for hearing me out.

 

[swilshire]

Well, at least she's getting a taste of life in the real world without her parents to take care of things for her.

It probably won't help, but I would send a detailed letter or email to the hotel with a copy to the corporate office. Maybe they'll at least make some attempt to make it right.

Hope she enjoys her time there.

Sheila

 

[CarolA]

A couple of things....

She should have kept the second floor room As a solo female traveler the second floor room is (A) quieter and (B) safer!!!! (and B is very important!)

I feel sorry for her, but this is a risk of the off site shuttles. Folks post on here all the time that the shuttles at off site hotels are not reliable and have VERY limited schedules. Always call to check before you book!!! Actually having them go to DTD is ever rarer!

I think the only thing HJ owes you is possibly a refund for the return taxi fare (and an apology) Not having a vending machine is not an issue for them. I am currently staying at a very nice hotel in Birmingham... One coke machine for the whole hotel and no vending of snacks.

I hope the rest of her stay goes better!

 

[Eeyoreluver]

CarolA-I did not think about the upstairs room being safer. I have read the posts about other hotels, but I guess not noticed all the trouble others had with shuttles. We have always stayed on site, except one time when we stayed in a house and had our car. They did not pick her up at DTD, she had to take a bus to Epcot and they were supposed to pick her up there. As far as a refund, we hadn't even thought about that. I haven't talked to her today yet, so I assume the room was okay. And vending machines I guess we just thought all hotels had them all the ones we have stayed at had them.
Sheila-Yes, you are right she now gets a taste of the real world without parents to handle everything.
When my DS went 2 years ago to work, it was much easier. Anyway, I am still so glad she gets the experience to work at Disney. A job there has to be better than anywhere else. Afterall, it is the happiest place on earth.

 

[CarolA]

I travel a lot and if I am in a hotel with outside entry I have always heard that upstairs is safer. That way someone can't sit in thier car and jump out right as you open the door!!! (And it happens!) I am not one who refuses all outside entry hotels, but I do pay more attention there... (That said, the worst time I ever had was a Hilton in Little Rock where the front desk GAVE my room number to a drunk who stood in the hall beating on my door!)

 

[spiceycat]

I am so sorry!!!

sounds like the new is just about gone for her. See how much she will appreciate you.

I though Disney boarded the college kids in one of those condos in LBV????

Oh by the way - she needs to learn to walk and I mean walk.

the post office is close to Cypress pointe.

this place was close to Sheraton Vistana.

I picked up a poor person (who is a CM at disney on the college plan) having to walk from this place to the Post office.....I generally don't pick up strangers - but we both forgot it was a holiday and I offer him a ride back...

Carol - where are you!!!

I am having a friend come over tonight - we will probably go out to eat - want to come.....

of course Birmingham doesn't have the nice places to eat that Atlanta does. and I am on a budget so it will be a cheap place.....

 

[caa1000]

I just had to come here and gripe. My DD left today to go and start her college program at Disney World. She checks in tomorrow so we flew her out today so she would be rested. We booked her a room at Howard Johnson Express Inn - Kissimmee Suites. She arrived at the hotel and they were very rude to her. She had 3 suitcases and they were going to put her on the second floor. She asked to be put on the bottom floor. They did this,but they put her on the other side at the very end. They don't have a snack machine and she had not eatten since about 6:00 this morning. She got to her room about 2:30 this afternoon. On the website it says they have a shuttle that takes you to Disney World, which it does. Once a day. So she ordered a pizza and then took a taxi to DownTown Disney. When she left they told her the shuttle would pick her up at 9:50. She called the hotel to verify where she was to meet them. They told her and she went there and waited. She called us and told us she had to call them again because they hadn't come. They forgot about her. She was told they would be there in 10 minutes and if the shuttle didn't come to call them back. She waited it never came. So she called back this time they tell her she is at the wrong place so she missed the shuttle. They now will not come and get her. She told them she was where they told her to be and they said she misunderstood. Now, she has to pay a taxi to take her back too. She is so unhappy and miserable. She has waited 4 months to go and she was so excited. I will update on the room and how things are after she leaves. Sorry this is so long, but this is her first time to be this far away from us. So, I came here to vent and to inform others. I will contact the Howard Johnson main office too. Thanks for hearing me out.

Well, I read this post and I could think that your daughter was told to wait at the wrong place or was an excuse to not get to the destination. Some times the shuttles are not reliable. If your daughter knows how to use the public transportation, I recomend that she uses the LYNX public bus. The hotel that she stays, has to be close to a LYNX bus stop. Either route 55 or 56 goes into the Disney's Transportation and ticket center, which is the monorail station and because she is cast member, chances are that she can get a ride to the Disney Cast Center or use a Disney transportation bus to Downtown Disney, but chances are that she can take a special shuttle from the cast members building to her job site. But again, if you are secure that she can handle the public transportation alternative, instead of the hotel shuttle.

 

[kilee]

That is one of the biggest downfalls of the wdw area hotels. The shuttle's are usually spotty at best. As for the room assignments-- I'm not sure why they had a hard time accomodating her-- however, the best thing to remember is nothing is guaranteed w/ where you will get your room---other than you'll get a room.

Personally, I have found some of the "budget" hotels in the area to be lacking in the customer service department. Which really is a shame. I don't think they care because they know people will stay for the great price.

I hope your dd has a great first day tomorrow.

 

[Eeyoreluver]

I promised I would come back. As far as I know, the room was fine and the checkout went without any problems. She is now checked in with Disney and loves her apartment. Disney of course has transpartation for their cast members, so now she will no longer have a problem with that. I talked to her this morning and she is excited once again, she was yesterday after she got to checkin too.
kilee-I too am surprised at the lack of customer service today. We had our own business and that was very important to us. We had customers tell us they received the best service from us. That being said I truly hope our DD gives great customer service at her job location. By the way she is in Magic Kingdom, right where she wanted to be.
Thanks again for letting me vent. I hope others won't have to experience the same problems my DD did. I know I learned alot from this experience too.
Happy again!

 

[disneymom3]

Glad to hear DDs time is looking up! Does she have roommates or what? Thanks for sharing the info. I think those shuttles are often a lot less than advertised. I know our first stay in the area we had considered hotel shuttles figuring it might be "easier" but then when we saw their very inconvenient schedule realized that easy was far from the case!

 

[safetymom]

She will have a great time in the College program. The apts. they live in are great and they have great transportation to get her back and forth.

My daughter did the CP twice and loved it.

 

[CarolA]

I am so sorry!!!

sounds like the new is just about gone for her. See how much she will appreciate you.

I though Disney boarded the college kids in one of those condos in LBV????

Oh by the way - she needs to learn to walk and I mean walk.

the post office is close to Cypress pointe.

this place was close to Sheraton Vistana.

I picked up a poor person (who is a CM at disney on the college plan) having to walk from this place to the Post office.....I generally don't pick up strangers - but we both forgot it was a holiday and I offer him a ride back...

Carol - where are you!!!

I am having a friend come over tonight - we will probably go out to eat - want to come.....

of course Birmingham doesn't have the nice places to eat that Atlanta does. and I am on a budget so it will be a cheap place.....

Sorry, I missed your invite. I leave tonight. I will drop you a PM next time I am here. (I am working downtown!)

 

[Eeyoreluver]

disneymom3-Yes, she has one roommate. She got a one bedroom apartment. They have 4 bedroom apartments too, but she got the one bedroom. She wanted one with more people in it, but she is happy she has the one she got. They are totally different, but they get along very well.

safetymom-Thanks for letting me know your DD enjoyed it enough to go back twice. I'm hoping my DD feels the same, she has always love Disney. We were not able to take the kids until she was 16 and my DS was 18. They still had a blast though.
As they say, you are never to old for Disney's magic.

 

[spiceycat]

I am going in March....

so where is your daughter in MK and can we say hello!!!!

people either hate the HoJo or like them - I don't think anyone loves them.

 

[Eeyoreluver]

spiceycat-When are you going in March? My Mom and I are going March 3rd thru the 6th. My DD will be working at Pecos Bill in Frontierland. She has auburn,the color is natural, hair very long, but it will probably have to be pulled up. Her name is Krystal.
As far as HoJo goes, I guess you know my vote.
I will get my DD fix and Disney fix at the same time.

 

[spiceycat]

March 3 - 10 - staying offsite for most of the trip!!!

will that be the name on her ID tag - or will WDW change it?

 

[Eeyoreluver]

spiceycat-I am not sure about the nametag, I assumed they would put that on her nametag.
We may not be flying in. We may have to drive. Long story, but our flight reservations got changed by the airline. We are not happy.
That being said we should still be there at the same time. You will get to stay longer, slightly jealous here.
At least we will be there.