Today I was absolutely humiliated at Animal Kingdom Lodge. To start, I suffer from Panic Disorder. It started about 3 years ago, where I can get panic attacks for no reason, or other things can trigger them. Thursday afternoon the kids got off the bus and we drove 18 hours straight to Disney. We did this to gain an extra day at there. Along with my wife and two kids is my mother in law and father. Going into the trip my biggest fear was my father and mother in law to witness one of my panic attacks. Or have one in public.
Completely exhausted we get to the front desk to check in around 10:30am. The clerk at the front desk offered to try and get the room prepared early for us, so we went to the pool to wait. About 5 hours goes by and it's now 3pm and it's still not ready. So we figure we will immediately wait list Boma at 5, eat dinner, then head to Epcot. So my wife leaves to head to the grocery store since we have a 2BR and assumed the room would absolutely be ready by 4. It's a bummer that we didn't get to go to the parks in the morning since we waited at the pool all day, but it is what it is. Can't really get mad about not getting in early.
So we go to the front desk, and they say the room is ready, and just need a manager to sign off on it. Wife arrives with ice cream and other frozen items... No where to put them. But clearly the manager must be rushing to approve our room, so we wait.... 35 minutes. Again we go to the front desk, at this point I am enraged. No managers anywhere to be found. I asked for a single name, they couldn't give me one. It's possible the room was ready at 11am and we were just waiting on the manager all day. We offered to waive the approval and take the room in as is condition. It's now 4:45, children freezing in their bathing suits, a 75 year old father that had been up over 40 hours straight. Boom, massive panic attack. In the middle of the lobby, right in front of my wife, kids, father, and mother in law. And dozens of other people. I collapsed on the ground crying and shaking, then when I felt the possibility of vomit coming I ran outside and continued to have my panic attack on the balcony in front of the elevators. Finally at 5pm the room is ready and after 15 minutes and shaking and crying in front of people, covered in snot, we make our way to our room. And guess what, door wont open. So I continue to cry in the hallway as people walk by for about 5-10 minutes as we wait for them to unlock it.
So it's about 5:20.... We miss our Boma reservation and requeue us. As I write this, it's now 7pm and the wait is estimated at 30 minutes. My entire family is starving since we have withheld eating all because of Boma at 5. My father loves Boma but can't stay awake anymore. It's too late to go to the parks. This entire day is destroyed, hopefully not the trip.
I have never been more humiliated in my life. I don't want to this to sound bad. But as a 42 year old man, the last people on earth you want to see you hysterically crying is your father and the mother of the woman you married. I'm front of my kids is hard as well. But to be laying on the floor shaking and crying in a crowded lobby. To make things worse, Animal Kingdom Lobby is one of my most favorite places in Disney. Especially during Christmas. But for anyone that suffers from panic attacks will know, I am scared that this lobby will now start triggering them.
We have a family that hasn't eaten in 11 hours. I just updated the app and my wait for a Boma table went from 35 to 55 minutes! Good thing we have up.. How different the day would have been if they just allowed us in our room before 5:15... Just wanted to vent for my own mental health. I imagine the cause is likely due to staff shortages. Gotta get that stock price higher!
Completely exhausted we get to the front desk to check in around 10:30am. The clerk at the front desk offered to try and get the room prepared early for us, so we went to the pool to wait. About 5 hours goes by and it's now 3pm and it's still not ready. So we figure we will immediately wait list Boma at 5, eat dinner, then head to Epcot. So my wife leaves to head to the grocery store since we have a 2BR and assumed the room would absolutely be ready by 4. It's a bummer that we didn't get to go to the parks in the morning since we waited at the pool all day, but it is what it is. Can't really get mad about not getting in early.
So we go to the front desk, and they say the room is ready, and just need a manager to sign off on it. Wife arrives with ice cream and other frozen items... No where to put them. But clearly the manager must be rushing to approve our room, so we wait.... 35 minutes. Again we go to the front desk, at this point I am enraged. No managers anywhere to be found. I asked for a single name, they couldn't give me one. It's possible the room was ready at 11am and we were just waiting on the manager all day. We offered to waive the approval and take the room in as is condition. It's now 4:45, children freezing in their bathing suits, a 75 year old father that had been up over 40 hours straight. Boom, massive panic attack. In the middle of the lobby, right in front of my wife, kids, father, and mother in law. And dozens of other people. I collapsed on the ground crying and shaking, then when I felt the possibility of vomit coming I ran outside and continued to have my panic attack on the balcony in front of the elevators. Finally at 5pm the room is ready and after 15 minutes and shaking and crying in front of people, covered in snot, we make our way to our room. And guess what, door wont open. So I continue to cry in the hallway as people walk by for about 5-10 minutes as we wait for them to unlock it.
So it's about 5:20.... We miss our Boma reservation and requeue us. As I write this, it's now 7pm and the wait is estimated at 30 minutes. My entire family is starving since we have withheld eating all because of Boma at 5. My father loves Boma but can't stay awake anymore. It's too late to go to the parks. This entire day is destroyed, hopefully not the trip.
I have never been more humiliated in my life. I don't want to this to sound bad. But as a 42 year old man, the last people on earth you want to see you hysterically crying is your father and the mother of the woman you married. I'm front of my kids is hard as well. But to be laying on the floor shaking and crying in a crowded lobby. To make things worse, Animal Kingdom Lobby is one of my most favorite places in Disney. Especially during Christmas. But for anyone that suffers from panic attacks will know, I am scared that this lobby will now start triggering them.
We have a family that hasn't eaten in 11 hours. I just updated the app and my wait for a Boma table went from 35 to 55 minutes! Good thing we have up.. How different the day would have been if they just allowed us in our room before 5:15... Just wanted to vent for my own mental health. I imagine the cause is likely due to staff shortages. Gotta get that stock price higher!
