It Pays to Just Ask when Disappointed (at the Poly)....

[LoveKermit]

Just back from the Poly! It was totally great. I had requested 3rd floor Tokelau. When we arrived the place was nuts! Our CM told us they had been overbooked. She gave us Rapa Nui, parking lot side, first floor. She acknowledged that we had a request but that this was what we were assigned.

We were celebrating my DH's graduation from law school and we were splurging big-time. We were very disappointed. So back to the GCH.....

We found a different CM open this time (who seemed to have more experience). We told him that we had just checked in and had been looking forward to this vacation and we were quite disappointed with our room. We asked if he thought he could do anything--even just move us across the hall, not facing the parking lot.

He got on the phone (and I heard him say he wanted to help us because we were so nice) and a lady on the other end worked some magic. After some further confusion, we found that we were put into 3rd floor Tokelau, facing TTC. We were the 2nd room from the end, which our bellhop told us was a water view. We went to the top of the stairs outside each night in our jammies to watch fireworks. It was absolutely awesome!

As we said our thank-yous, he told us he appreciated that we just came up and asked. We didn't make a big scene and we would have been fine had he not been able to do anything.

Just a piece of advice.....

 

[maxiesmom]

Good for you!

It just goes to show that when you ask someone to do something for you nicely, they are more apt to want to. Why is that so hard for so many people to understand.

How did you find your room? Were there any other issues? After all of the posts knocking the Poly lately, I'm curious as to what kind of experience you had.

 

[cara loves the poly]

Good for you!

It just goes to show that when you ask someone to do something for you nicely, they are more apt to want to. Why is that so hard for so many people to understand.

How did you find your room? Were there any other issues? After all of the posts knocking the Poly lately, I'm curious as to what kind of experience you had.

there have been a lot of posts raving about the poly too!

 

[global_mom]

We have a saying in the South that "you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar". I am always amazed by the guests who yell and scream to try and get their way. You made a reasonable request and the magic kicked in. Many guests could learn a good lesson from your experience.

We LOVE 3rd floor Tokelau and always request it. I hope that you had a great vacation and congrats to your new Law School grad!!!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Thanks for this post! I am staying at the Poly for the 1st time in September, and I fully expect that I will get a super lousy view, since I always get the boonies, parking lot, or dumpster view anywhere I stay. If I get the dreaded Rapa Nui parking lot (there were 2 other posts recently about people getting this exact same location), I may try to be polite as possible and beg for something else! I am just soooo tired of always getting a "bad" room - yes, I should pay for better views but it's not in the budget - but even a plain old average room that just looks at landscaping would be nice for once!

 

[LoveKermit]

Something I forgot to add....

First, they tried to sell us on that room by telling us that the room was already for us. There were people apparently waiting until 5:00 to get into their rooms (and get their luggage who knows when). Funny thing, that Tokelau room was ready too.

We think they assign those "less desirable" rooms hoping that people will just take what they get, especially with their own sob story of overbooking (due to GF & AKL remodels). But what we did, by checking in around noon, is bump someone else into that room. While I know that's wrong, we've been on the receiving end of that too by checking in too late.

I'll add other things later to this thread about how great the Poly was.

 

[rcraw45425]

For some reason the Poly check in is always a chore. We arrived in October '04, checked in at WL and had a great stay, were advised by CRO to call Poly the night before our check in and tell them we would be over eary on Friday morning since we were already onsite. I did that, they said to come right over, our room was ready. Guess what time we got into our room (which btw had soaking wet carpet due to an emergency champooing to make it "extra nice" for us)? 5:15 pm. We had 5:30 dinner ressies at 'Ohana before the Halloween Party and had to sit in the lobby all afernoon since "it'll just be 15 more minutes". Hah, it took getting the manager involved to get our room. Never again at that resort, my family refuses.

 

[dis-happy]

Glad you had a wonderful trip! I'm always amazed when people aren't nice to the person they are hoping will be able to help them.

 

[chickenskin]

You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Customer service staff will always be more willing to help you if you approach them in a civil manner rather than like a charging pit bull.

 

[skipperkim]

We have a saying in the South that "you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar". I am always amazed by the guests who yell and scream to try and get their way. You made a reasonable request and the magic kicked in. Many guests could learn a good lesson from your experience.

We LOVE 3rd floor Tokelau and always request it. I hope that you had a great vacation and congrats to your new Law School grad!!!

Actually, I use chocolate. I give it to the CM when we are being waited on whether I'm changing the room or not. I always am allowed to change my room. Chocolate, it must be the same in every language.

 

[bytheblood]

That is so wonderful! I am so glad to hear that he returned your kindness with kindness.

 

[GoofyBaby]

Just back from the Poly! It was totally great. I had requested 3rd floor Tokelau. When we arrived the place was nuts! Our CM told us they had been overbooked. She gave us Rapa Nui, parking lot side, first floor. She acknowledged that we had a request but that this was what we were assigned.

We were celebrating my DH's graduation from law school and we were splurging big-time. We were very disappointed. So back to the GCH.....

We found a different CM open this time (who seemed to have more experience). We told him that we had just checked in and had been looking forward to this vacation and we were quite disappointed with our room. We asked if he thought he could do anything--even just move us across the hall, not facing the parking lot.

He got on the phone (and I heard him say he wanted to help us because we were so nice) and a lady on the other end worked some magic. After some further confusion, we found that we were put into 3rd floor Tokelau, facing TTC. We were the 2nd room from the end, which our bellhop told us was a water view. We went to the top of the stairs outside each night in our jammies to watch fireworks. It was absolutely awesome!

As we said our thank-yous, he told us he appreciated that we just came up and asked. We didn't make a big scene and we would have been fine had he not been able to do anything.

Just a piece of advice.....

That's the exact same room we had in May! Wasn't it great? We got the lagoon, MK Ferry and Monorail view for a garden view price! I loved it!

 

[Poly Pal]

Specific rooms are assigned in advance. So rooms for some guest will be ready when they check-in and others will have to wait.

This past trip we had absolutely no wait for check-in at 12 noon. Other times we've been, there have been lines, but no where near the chaos that is the All Stars check-in. Maybe Magical Express dumps alot of guests at the resorts at the same time?

We had a 1st floor room in Rapa Nui parking lot side 2 weeks ago. It was actually very nice (and I've had alot of "views" at the Polynesian!) My wife wants to request Rapa Nui (aka "Ratatouille" according to my 9 year old) next trip!

 

[dclfun]

Well, for those of us needing an accessible room at the Poly, the ONLY building is Rapa Nui. I will no longer book there as I feel it's unfair- no MK, lagoon, or concierge available if you travel in a wheelchair. For those who dread being in that building, I know why. It's the most inconvenient to the GCH ( although I am often reminded I'm close to the TTC, the reason I would pay for a deluxe resort is to avoid the TTC) and I always feel like a second-class citizen. We had booked a concierge room there last year only to find out that there are no accessible rooms in concierge. We were told we could stay in Rapa Nui with a room key to concierge- to me it would totally spoil the experience and I'm sure people would wonder why we were in the lounge if we didn't "belong" in the right building...sigh. No more Poly for us until they decide to do the right thing and include accessible rooms in ALL room types, not necessarily all buildings, but all room types/views/level of service.---Kathy

 

[dclfun]

I forgot to say to the OP, I'm glad you were moved to Tokelau. Before I was disabled we stayed there and I loved the location. Also congrats to the law school graduate- what a huge accomplishment!!!---Kathy

 

[Poly Pal]

Rapa Nui is really no more "inconvenient" to the GCH than is Tahiti. And to be fair, Rapa Nui is right next to Tokelau. We are talking about differences in walking times to the GCH in terms of seconds, not even minutes. So for those staying GV at the Polynesian, there is no reason to "dread" staying in Rapa Nui. Every longhouse has its advantages!

 

[raven69david]

What a nice outcome to your problem. I'm glad you got a great CM that was able to get you the room you requested.

It just goes to show you, if you ask nicely, you will have a better chance of getting what you want. If you're a jerk and go and start screaming at someone, the less likely you are to be assisted. In dealing with customer service, it is difficult to assist someone who thinks that by yelling they will get what they are demanding - like acting like a big baby will eventually get them what they want.

 

[yasmina]

What a nice outcome to your problem. I'm glad you got a great CM that was able to get you the room you requested.

It just goes to show you, if you ask nicely, you will have a better chance of getting what you want. If you're a jerk and go and start screaming at someone, the less likely you are to be assisted. In dealing with customer service, it is difficult to assist someone who thinks that by yelling they will get what they are demanding - like acting like a big baby will eventually get them what they want.

ITA! I think bullying has become a real problem in our society, not just in schools. Some people seem to think that if they just verbally abuse someone, they'll get what they want.

As often as I can, I make requests with kindness, and the magic words "please" and "thank you". They can make all the difference. I often thank people who are frequently overlooked - the bagger at the supermarket, the custodian who cleans my classroom at night (sometimes I'll leave a bag of chocolate with a big thank you note on it specifying that it's for them), the lady who does all the copying at Central Admin. for the whole district (when I send my orders up, I will send some snacks along), and so on.

The world would be a much better place if everyone were nicer to each other!

 

[mickey2minnie1]

Something I forgot to add....

First, they tried to sell us on that room by telling us that the room was already for us. There were people apparently waiting until 5:00 to get into their rooms (and get their luggage who knows when). Funny thing, that Tokelau room was ready too.

We think they assign those "less desirable" rooms hoping that people will just take what they get, especially with their own sob story of overbooking (due to GF & AKL remodels). But what we did, by checking in around noon, is bump someone else into that room. While I know that's wrong, we've been on the receiving end of that too by checking in too late.

I'll add other things later to this thread about how great the Poly was.

I will be checking in at 8:30 pm. Does that mean I will get the chosen room, lol??????

 

[bab31]

not necessarly..could mean an upgrade for you....

We checked in around 7:30 pm
we were upgraded at CSR because they didnt have a nonsmoking king room available that we booked thru AAA. They originally wanted to put us in a standard room for half price that night. and move us in the am or put us in the last king room smoking- I had just taken the last of my prescription that morning for a sinus infection. They kindly upgraded us to a double suite.- not king beds but double the space. two seperate sink area and tubs - Was nice - I pulled one of the small in tables next to the sink and put all my makeup, perfume etc there. Didnt have to worry about being in my husbands way or vice versa.