Just back, a few thoughts...

[Kanda]

Hi, we're just got back last night from FW. We had a few disappointments, but all in all, it was a great week. The crowds were the most we've experienced, the weather was perfect. We are tent campers and when we first arrived to check in, we were given the great news that we'd been upgraded to a preferred site, that means you won't be charged for sewer and cable. Great I say, but we don't have a toilet or a tv??? We didn't want to be setting up our tent on a long piece of concrete. We wanted to be in 1500 or 2000, just like we requested last year when we made the reservation. The lady told us it was first come, first serve. WHAT??? Why do you accept reservations we asked? Well, she said, we take reservations, but then it's first come first served. That makes no sense to us, so we ask to wait and check in on Sunday when we could get in one of the tent loops. She said we will have some available tomorrow, but you can't check in then because you don't have a reservation to check in on Sunday. My DH is at the end of his rope by now and said "just refund our money, we'll go get a hotel". Oh sir, we can't refund your money. So, you're telling us we can't get a campsite, we can't check in tomorrow and we can't get our money back? Yes sir that's correct. At that time, my DH drove off. We headed over to the 1400 loop and looked at the site we'd been assigned. Right between two huge bus type campers (I don't know what they're called). We rode over to the 1500 loop and counted 2 empty spots, they we rode over to the 2000 loop and counted 6 empty spots. I called the front desk and asked if we could set up in 1502, she said "sure" I'll note the change on your reservation. See how easy that was!! We got all worked up for nothing... Luckily, we loved our new location and were very glad we didn't have to be the Upgraged Campers.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

As wonderful as the concept of Disney is...a retarded CM can surely make for a bad vacation, cant they. Why wouldnt they have known about and offered one of the 8 empty partial hook ups to begin with????? Jeeeez...stupid peole make me need alcohol!!!

 

[stacktester]

As wonderful as the concept of Disney is...a retarded CM can surely make for a bad vacation, cant they. Why wouldnt they have known about and offered one of the 8 empty partial hook ups to begin with????? Jeeeez...stupid peole make me need alcohol!!!

Alright that's it. I'm selling my business and I'm applying for a job at the check-in. They need some people up there with some brains for sure. Unfortunately most CM's are college interns nowadays. You got very few adults who have a clue today. Not blasting our youth, but some jobs at WDW weren't meant to be handled by kids.

Wait a minute. Did I say they needed someone with brains? Oh well I guess I better stay put.

 

[des1954]

Alright that's it. I'm selling my business and I'm applying for a job at the check-in. They need some people up there with some brains for sure. Unfortunately most CM's are college interns nowadays. You got very few adults who have a clue today. Not blasting our youth, but some jobs at WDW weren't meant to be handled by kids.

Wait a minute. Did I say they needed someone with brains? Oh well I guess I better stay put.

Donnie - Sad to say that if you have a "brain" they won't hire you for hourly jobs. It just doesn't fit in to the corporate scheme of needing follower's and not thinker's for the hourly positions.

Now - if you hold a doctorate degree in decisive, defensive domino playing, they will hire you into a job paying $100k + a year - even if your degree has nothing to do with the job you're applying for!!

Oh...I guess that's corporate America in general!

 

[John VN]

FW check-in 101

When you get to the Outpost to check-in, your site is in the computer and so are everybody else's site who will be checking-in that day, so the empty sites you see when you check out the other loops might have someone else's name on the computer but they have not checked in yet. When you notify the Outpost that the site is empty and they check the computer and see that the person has not yet arrived you get the site because you got there first.

Makes sense to me.

Please don't disparage the Cm's, it's not a nice thing to do.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Well...I wouldnt want to NOT be nice!!! Or disparaging!!! That would be way out of my persona!! I call 'em like I see 'em....and if it looks like a mouse, and sounds like a mouse........

 

[JPG]

FW check-in 101

When you get to the Outpost to check-in, your site is in the computer and so are everybody else's site who will be checking-in that day, so the empty sites you see when you check out the other loops might have someone else's name on the computer but they have not checked in yet. When you notify the Outpost that the site is empty and they check the computer and see that the person has not yet arrived you get the site because you got there first.

Makes sense to me.

Please don't disparage the Cm's, it's not a nice thing to do.

Spoken like a "TRUE" FW veteran! Just that simple. It ain't complicated.

 

[Gatordad]

Alright that's it. I'm selling my business and I'm applying for a job at the check-in. They need some people up there with some brains for sure. Unfortunately most CM's are college interns nowadays. You got very few adults who have a clue today. Not blasting our youth, but some jobs at WDW weren't meant to be handled by kids.

Wait a minute. Did I say they needed someone with brains? Oh well I guess I better stay put.

That's because it's hard to find people smart enough and willing to work for what Disney pays. Considering what you pay to stay there, they ought to find people with some sort of logical thinking gene in their noggin. The last time we checked in, we had this Asian fellow that was clueless..... Of course the best person at the fort not named Sundee is my good friend, Missy who works the guard shack. (also a big Gators fan), I guess that's why I like her so much.

 

[stacktester]

FW check-in 101

When you get to the Outpost to check-in, your site is in the computer and so are everybody else's site who will be checking-in that day, so the empty sites you see when you check out the other loops might have someone else's name on the computer but they have not checked in yet. When you notify the Outpost that the site is empty and they check the computer and see that the person has not yet arrived you get the site because you got there first.

Makes sense to me.

Please don't disparage the Cm's, it's not a nice thing to do.

Somebody please send me a dictionary so I understand this person. Disparage??? We're just dumb people here. I'm going over to the U.K. Board and see if this rings a bell.

If I get there 1st and my site ain't what I like then if something else is available I'm moving period.

 

[clkelley]

FW check-in 101

When you get to the Outpost to check-in, your site is in the computer and so are everybody else's site who will be checking-in that day, so the empty sites you see when you check out the other loops might have someone else's name on the computer but they have not checked in yet. When you notify the Outpost that the site is empty and they check the computer and see that the person has not yet arrived you get the site because you got there first.

Makes sense to me.

Please don't disparage the Cm's, it's not a nice thing to do.

That's actually a good thing about the Fort. You can actually do that. Over at the resorts (the Poly for example) if they give you a crappy room location, you can't exactly wander around the Poly to see if there's a better empty room available elsewhere

 

[Kanda]

Maybe I should make a few more clarifications... The lady told us there were no other options period. We asked "are we the very last ones to arrive today, can't you give someone else this great upgrade?" She made a call and said, I'm sorry but there's absolutely nothing we can do, all the sites are full. We said, are they full with people, or just names? Can we re-arrange the names? It seems to us that even someone in a pop up would be better served on that 1400 loop. She made another call, and still the answer was no campsite, no refund, no checking in a day later. I realize that every site had a name assigned to it, but it does look like when you reserve a "tent" site, they would save a "tent" site for you. Why would they ask what kind of site you needed if they are just going to put you wherever is convenient for them at the time of check in? It wasn't a bad trip, no CM is being criticized here, just wondering about improving policies I guess?

 

[Colson39]

FW check-in 101

When you get to the Outpost to check-in, your site is in the computer and so are everybody else's site who will be checking-in that day, so the empty sites you see when you check out the other loops might have someone else's name on the computer but they have not checked in yet. When you notify the Outpost that the site is empty and they check the computer and see that the person has not yet arrived you get the site because you got there first.

Makes sense to me.

Please don't disparage the Cm's, it's not a nice thing to do.

Perfectly put! A little patience goes a long way

 

[BigDaddyRog]

So does a little common sense and customer service.

 

[Gatordad]

usually you get that at disney, you sure pay enough for it.

 

[Colson39]

Sorry, I can't blame a cast member that has a screen full of campsites with names in them for not knowing which aren't empty. I'm sure a better system could be put in place, but for now, that's how it is.

We've never had a problem switching campsites when we've needed to, we just help them by letting them know which one's are open. Yea, you have to go a bit out of your way, but I don't worry about stuff like that

 

[Mmketeer]

Hi, we're just got back last night from FW. We had a few disappointments, but all in all, it was a great week. The crowds were the most we've experienced, the weather was perfect. We are tent campers and when we first arrived to check in, we were given the great news that we'd been upgraded to a preferred site, that means you won't be charged for sewer and cable. Great I say, but we don't have a toilet or a tv??? We didn't want to be setting up our tent on a long piece of concrete. We wanted to be in 1500 or 2000, just like we requested last year when we made the reservation. The lady told us it was first come, first serve. WHAT??? Why do you accept reservations we asked? Well, she said, we take reservations, but then it's first come first served. That makes no sense to us, so we ask to wait and check in on Sunday when we could get in one of the tent loops. She said we will have some available tomorrow, but you can't check in then because you don't have a reservation to check in on Sunday. My DH is at the end of his rope by now and said "just refund our money, we'll go get a hotel". Oh sir, we can't refund your money. So, you're telling us we can't get a campsite, we can't check in tomorrow and we can't get our money back? Yes sir that's correct. At that time, my DH drove off. We headed over to the 1400 loop and looked at the site we'd been assigned. Right between two huge bus type campers (I don't know what they're called). We rode over to the 1500 loop and counted 2 empty spots, they we rode over to the 2000 loop and counted 6 empty spots. I called the front desk and asked if we could set up in 1502, she said "sure" I'll note the change on your reservation. See how easy that was!! We got all worked up for nothing... Luckily, we loved our new location and were very glad we didn't have to be the Upgraged Campers.

Wow, that was great customer service you got at check-in. NOT! That's actually pretty crazy that they gave you a premium site and you were tenter's. Some one in site assignments didn't do their job in my opinion and I'd been upset too.
Geeze, seems like an easy fix to me. If I'd seen the reservation while you were in front of me, I'd say their's something strange here with your reservation information that I don't understand and I need to get some clearification from my leader to help me figure this out. Please just excuse me for one moment. I'd excuse myself and immeditaly get my suprevisor to upgrade someone else that was checking in that day with a pop up camper or travel trailer just like you suggested. Easy as that. The supervisors get paid alot more than minimum wage and get full benfits with 401k they should be smart enough to fix a problem when it's brought to their attention. Besides, what type of equipment a guest is checking in with along with the size of the vehicle etc should be on the reservation notes which the resorts are suppose to get 5 days prior to your arrival date from DRC. The information is all there for them to see.
Even though it seem to all work out for you, the stress you had to go through at the start of your vacation was uncalled for. Personally, I think the customer service is slipping with the front desk agents, I did not have a good check in at the Port last April either. The agent at the front desk specifcally said 'I don't know' and didn't follow it up with an I'll find out, which is supoose to be Traditions 101. That was the icing on the cake for me. Though the rest of our interaction with the castmembers at different areas of Disney was perfect. I would write a guest compliant letter on your situation, cause' it was rediculous.

 

[Colson39]

Hopefully next time it is really that easy, unfortunately not every situation will be 100% perfect all the time I hope the next person that comes across this situation will fare a lot better.

Perhaps it was just a new cast member that didn't realize how everything worked yet, there are so many variables. I do have to say, that it is the norm that people normally have no problem switching out their campsites.

 

[Gatordad]

Wow, that was great customer service you got at check-in. NOT! That's actually pretty crazy that they gave you a premium site and you were tenter's. Some one in site assignments didn't do their job in my opinion and I'd been upset too.
Geeze, seems like an easy fix to me. If I'd seen the reservation while you were in front of me, I'd say their's something strange here with your reservation information that I don't understand and I need to get some clearification from my leader to help me figure this out. Please just excuse me for one moment. I'd excuse myself and immeditaly get my suprevisor to upgrade someone else that was checking in that day with a pop up camper or travel trailer just like you suggested. Easy as that. The supervisors get paid alot more than minimum wage and get full benfits with 401k they should be smart enough to fix a problem when it's brought to their attention. Besides, what type of equipment a guest is checking in with along with the size of the vehicle etc should be on the reservation notes which the resorts are suppose to get 5 days prior to your arrival date from DRC. The information is all there for them to see.
Even though it seem to all work out for you, the stress you had to go through at the start of your vacation was uncalled for. Personally, I think the customer service is slipping with the front desk agents, I did not have a good check in at the Port last April either. The agent at the front desk specifcally said 'I don't know' and didn't follow it up with an I'll find out, which is supoose to be Traditions 101. That was the icing on the cake for me. Though the rest of our interaction with the castmembers at different areas of Disney was perfect. I would write a guest compliant letter on your situation, cause' it was rediculous.

That would require independent thought and logic. Something that must be hard to find. You shouldn't have to go make your own campsite, that's crap.

 

[Colson39]

What's strange is that it's been that way for a long time, I do have to say I'm surprised they haven't changed how they do campsite assignments yet.

 

[Mmketeer]

That would require independent thought and logic. Something that must be hard to find. You shouldn't have to go make your own campsite, that's crap.

I couldn't agree with you more.