inspired by $1200/night GF, have you ever had CMs...(long)

[Rozzie]

make a comment about how much money you are spending...granted our rate was excellent at this last trip to poly ($209) and we compensated and spent the saved money in the parks. well I would freq. go down to the front desk and check out our charges, make sure we had not gone over our limit, etc., well like I went down there 3 times in our 7 night stay. well anyway, I had a really matter of fact CM at poly make all kinds of comments about "she wished she had that much money to spend", "i wouldn't know how to spend that much money with christmas coming up.." Boy talk about a downer...I would just tell her I had been in school for 5 years and have saved like a hawk so we would have money to burn...then I would politely say thank you and walk away. I would glance back and she was rolling her eyes, in a very vivid manner. i mean this is a deluxe resort, they should expect large amt's of money passing hands. I didn't let it spoil the magic, i didn't get her name, and don't want to write a letter, just vent...

just curious if anyone, CM, etc. ever put you on a guilt trip.

oh, this also happened at CRO, or whatever it is this week, booked our nov trip back to poly and booked at AAA till codes come out, and CM made comment about "have you won the lottery?" "boy this is going to be a lot, I hope you get a raise..."

maybe I deep down inside still feel weird when I spend money, (just know have some cash, recent grad you know...)

 

[wdw4us2]

I think I would either write a letter or email the resort manager. I can't believe that Disney allows this kind of behavior.

I would just be sure to state that your intention with bringing this matter to their attention is so that no one else feels as uncomfortable as you did because of the CM's behavior.

I've never had a CM make a statement to me, even when staying in concierge. Someone needs to know about this. The last thing you should feel while on vacation is guilty about the money you're spending!

 

[Basictrainer]

make a comment about how much money you are spending...granted our rate was excellent at this last trip to poly ($209) and we compensated and spent the saved money in the parks. well I would freq. go down to the front desk and check out our charges, make sure we had not gone over our limit, etc., well like I went down there 3 times in our 7 night stay. well anyway, I had a really matter of fact CM at poly make all kinds of comments about "she wished she had that much money to spend", "i wouldn't know how to spend that much money with christmas coming up.." Boy talk about a downer...I would just tell her I had been in school for 5 years and have saved like a hawk so we would have money to burn...then I would politely say thank you and walk away. I would glance back and she was rolling her eyes, in a very vivid manner. i mean this is a deluxe resort, they should expect large amt's of money passing hands. I didn't let it spoil the magic, i didn't get her name, and don't want to write a letter, just vent...

just curious if anyone, CM, etc. ever put you on a guilt trip.

oh, this also happened at CRO, or whatever it is this week, booked our nov trip back to poly and booked at AAA till codes come out, and CM made comment about "have you won the lottery?" "boy this is going to be a lot, I hope you get a raise..."

maybe I deep down inside still feel weird when I spend money, (just know have some cash, recent grad you know...)

Reminds me of "Downer Debbie" from SaturdayNiteLive !

Those CMs need to be reported! I'm sure their managers would love to hear this stuff about them!

 

[Blondie]

Sounds like those CM's need a class in customer service. That is pitiful! It's none of their business what you are paying to stay there, and they certainly shouldn't be making comments like that.

 

[lmhall2000]

I've had a very arrogant CM at AK (like that's really the Taj Mahal?) turning his nose at our asking for a manager's discount after the CM on the phone had told me to go and ask....but I do get that attitude from family members..."Must be nice to take a Disney trip when you want....blah blah..." But, it's all about priorities and what you value...I don't value shoes...I own four pair...I don't put value on clothing...I like quality but always buy atleast 50% off never pay rack...I put full synthetic oil in our cars and keep them atleast 10 years...when the comments get really challenging...I simply say, "I'd rather put $1000 towards an upgraded vacation than in getting 500 channels on a glass tube that I plant my rear in front of." I still have dial-up....but I'll splurge and stay at a Deluxe for a week.

Each to their own...just don't tell me it must be nice to afford XYZ when your luxuries exceed my own.

Tara

 

[2ofUs]

You could just smile and say "Hey, you might be surprised how much you can save up if you're willing to live on PB&Js & water for 6 months!"

Seriously, those are poor comments for them to make, but I imagine it is tough for people to be in a position to see 'extreme' vacation money being spent as an everyday occurance, especially if they are making close to minimum wage.

My job requires that I process and distribute quarterly and year-end bonus checks to 30 people. Sometimes those checks are HUGE, and I mean BIG HUGE. Can I tell you how depressing it is to hand someone a check totalling MORE than DH and my combined yearly income after taxes, only to have that person sort of frown and say "hum, I thought it was going to be more than this."

I know he certainly didn't mean it to sound demeaning to me, he was just making an observation outloud without putting it in perspective first. But that was more than 5 years ago and the moment still lingers in my memory. So, maybe that's what happens in these circumstances. Perhaps the CM was truly wishing they could have such a dream vacation?

We have stayed cheaply off-premise, inexpensively at All Star and paid a chunck at AKL concierge. Each trip was special and each time we planned, budgeted, scrimped and saved to be able to pay for our pleasure BEFORE we left home. There is great comfort in knowing a trip is PAID before you take it rather than to deal with credit card debt when we return.

In all honesty, I have observed large families in expensive restaurants or at deluxe resorts and wondered how on earth people can afford these trips (knowing how much I had paid for ours). They must be spending THOUSANDS of dollars! But you know what, it's none of my business, so I go into my montra: "They are here having fun and I am too, so who cares about the money?"

I'd love to be able to go to Europe someday (maybe I could if I stopped going to WDW) but until I can afford that, I travel to WDW and pretend I am in France or Morocco or Africa or Germany. Where else can I ride on a Segway? How could I ever afford to take enough time off work for an African Safari? What is the probability that I will ever get to ride in a spaceship to Mars? And don't get me started on Castles and princesses!

So, let's keep planning and spending and enjoy the ride! We count the cost before we go -- and then we visit the mice.

 

[pooh6890]

All I can say is it's a good thing that has NOT happened to me....they would get an earful! What business is it of theirs how much money you spend? It's your vacation and you have every right to do what you please. You should have let her have it.

 

[Alaska Catdog]

We stayed at 3 different resorts (AKL, CR, BWV). We were on full concierge at the first two. We had no problem at AKL the service was great. We loved it and felt it was worth the price. I can't say the same about the 14th floor at CR. We were there about a month ago, right around the time the contracts were being discussed. Several times, while checking out the lounge I got to overhear CM's talking about their financial woes and how unfair their contracts were. Because of the recent contract negotiations I think CM's have been thinking a lot about their own compensation and perhaps some are concluding that they are not being paid enough. It would go to follow that some of the younger, less discreet and immature CM's may have projected anger about their current work situations on people who are spending their hard saved money on vacation. As DH says, everyone is a mixture of motivations. We are used to CM's putting our needs in front of their own. Disney perpetuates that, but it is not realistic. Although I would have enjoyed my stay at the CR much more if I did'nt have to listen to the CM's discuss their jobs (instead of helping me) I have to understand that union negotiations can create instability and spotlight disatisfaction in a job. I did not complain but I will never, ever spend so much to stay there again. We are returning in February and saving a schload of money staying at PORFQ. I've only heard great things about it and I'm happy to spend the extra cash bringing my family up for christmas. Disney loses when value judgements are made by cms and guests are guilted about spending money. I would think that Disney's goal is to lull you into a mood to spend spend spend spend spend. It doesn't make good business sense to discourage spending. I am sure that the GM would like to know about this.

 

[Rhonna]

And the quick comeback would be: "You should be thanking people like me who spend our money here and are keeping you in your job!"

(Of course, I myself NEVER think of the quick reply at the time - only later, lol!)

 

[caribbeanme]

I can imagine it would be hard to work for WDW when you're not making as much as you deserve. But the worse thing about it is that our "reckless" spending is what they depend on. The more they mention it, the more likely you are to tighten the purse strings. I would send a letter to the manager-- maybe it was an off day for the CM, but a gentle reminder to all resort CMs that it's to their benefit to keep us irrational people spending wouldn't hurt...

 

[mjslvswdw1]

I had a little bit different experience in October...DH and I were married in an intimate FTW at Sunset Pointe, at the Poly. We could have spent more, rather we decided to pay cash and not have a huge chunk of cash on our credit cards. We stayed at the AKL in a Savanna view. I had sent a check to cover all of the wedding incidentals(i.e. floral, cake, photos, etc.), and spending money. I had every meal down to the penny, mainly because I love to plan. Anywho, I checked our bill probably 4 times over our wedding and honeymoon. My main concern was making sure everyone had charged the appropiate amount and to make sure we didn't go over, because we were having so much fun shopping and eating! The 3rd time I went down the CM said..."didn't you check this a day ago! Maybe you should slow down the spending!" I was kinda of shocked and blew it off... The last time I checked it he rolled his eyes when he saw me...I didn't end up with him...Thank God. I was upset about it...a) we could afford it b) it was none of his business and c) I complained. I was quite put off by his attitude and I called the management and wrote his name down and mentioned it in a survey.
I will say that other then that all of the CM's went out of their way to make us feel special and treat us with Disney magic on our special stay.

Melissa

 

[2ofUs]

Melissa - Congratulations on your marriage! Sorry to hear you had to have that kind of problem though, one doesn't need any further stress during their wedding/honeymoon. Hope everything else was as beautiful as you planned. I, too, am a 'planner' (some people call us control freaks, but they just don't understand do they? )

By the way, it is only fair to warn you of what can happen when weddings/honeymoons are too well planned. My daughter was married October 3rd, spent 10 days in Playa del Carmen (they let me plan their honeymoon), and we just found out yesterday that she is now 7 weeks pregnant! They figured it must have been that last 'special' night at the resort! See, now THAT part I hadn't planned - but I can't say I'm not happy about it anyway! I'll be a grandmother again in July 2005

 

[mjslvswdw1]

Congrats 2ofus! Our wedding was everything we dreamed and more...that was the only glitch we had. I wish we could report that we too are preggers, but alas we aren't yet.

Enjoy being a Grandma!! Think of all the magical memories at WDW with the new addition!

Melissa

 

[webray]

We have had castmembers mention the amount of money we spend also. Seems to be happening more and more each day. disney really needs to put some quality control on who they are hiring.

 

[Sammie]

Believe me Disney Management would not want this to happen either. And if you had taken the time to report it to them, this person would have been reprimanded. That won't happen now.

As to quality control on hiring, they have it. The problem is there are not enough quality people to hire anymore. It is a huge problem everywhere. The only other option is to have you stand in line at check in for hours because the only people working are the ones that understand quality in a job. Or to hire what is available and hope for the best.

It's sad but it is the way of things now.