Inquiry from newspaper reporter

[charlespbg]

Hi, I was given permission by Pete Werner to post to the message boards for a story I'm working on.

My name is Charles Passy and I'm a writer based in Florida. I'm doing a story for the New York Times' Sunday travel section that looks at customer service at Disney parks and resorts. It's tied to the 50th anniversary celebration.

I'm particularly trying to gauge if customer service has improved or declined in recent years at Disney parks and resorts (in Florida and California). I'm a longtime Disney World passholder myself and recently had a rather bizarre and problem-riddled stay at the Saratoga Springs Resort. But I also had some marvelous experiences at the parks during that visit.

I'm curious if others have interesting stories to tell -- good or bad -- about recent visits to the parks and resorts.

I can be reached via email through this board or you're welcome to post here. Let me know if you're interested in speaking to me and we can arrange a time for a phone interview.

Thanks!

P.S. If you would like to verify my credentials before we speak, I'd be happy to put you in touch with my Times editors or provide email links to my stories.

 

[spiceycat]

It has in some cases declined.

WDW doesn't pay alot. So other companies are coming to WDW for trained personnel.

I have had problems lately with front desk personnel not understanding English. I know that WDW is trying to make foreign feel more comfortable - but I think they need a line for English only please!!!

You do realize that a year or so ago - the DVC resorts changed their policy. First come now gets the best room.

go ask on the DVC boards. SSR is a DVC resort.

SSR is a big resort and going to become much bigger. DVC is putting their best at SSR. but some of these people didn't want to go there. So it is hard to give your best when your heart is some place else.

 

[mrp4352]

I have noticed a few little things - trash not getting picked up very quickly, the occasional 'rough day' castmember. But I have also seen many things that prove to me the Pixie Dust is still alive and flowing.

One of the threads (I'm sorry, I don't have a clue as to which one it was) had somebody mention that they wondered if maybe we (disboard fans) are a little 'too close' to the magic, so if there's a tiny scratch we see it and react. But if we didn't go quite so often, it wouldn't have been something we would have even noticed. Not a bad line of reasoning, by my way of thinking. I just wish I could give proper credit for it.

I know on my last trip, Pixie Dust flowed freely. From the castmember that noticed from my drivers license it was my birthday, to the wonderful Mousekeepers in my room (despite the mess a 7 month old baby can leave, we still had superior rooms and towel creations), the the boat captain on the river from PO-R to DtD who made us laugh despite exhaustion and the heat - we had a fantastic trip.

We could also tell a huge difference in customer service on the one day we went to the "other" theme park - the clock-watchers there were bored and showed it...

Hope this helps!
Michelle