just back from Poly

[jillhou]

Boy = was it hot!!!! We really picked a hot week to be there, but had fun at a fairly relaxed pace. Didn't go 90 to nothing once during the week!

Poly looked lovely as usual = grounds were beautiful.

Pool was crowded off and on although the quiet pool never seemed to be too crowded.

Was a bit disappointed in how busy the parks were for Extra Magic Hours! There were still frequently 30-40 minute waits for the most popular attractions and no fastpasses are used during EMH, so found that the EMH's were not as helpful as they had been in the past.

Enjoyed the Pirates and Princess Party. Was fun and even my 19 yr olds that were with me enjoyed running and getting the 'booty' for their little goodie bags!

Only bad thing that we experienced was a bit personal and maybe I overreacted, but I really don't think so. Went to Citricos at the GF for dinner. Asked about dress code from the Poly concierge and she indicated business casual. So we all put on pants and collared shirts and went to eat. I was wearing a black and straw visor. Now - I was wearign it for a variety of reasons. I have recently gone through cancer treatment and my hair is not totally grown back in. I am very slow at getting the hair on the top and front of my head to grow back in. The visor kinda covers the flaws in my hair at the moment and is much cooler than wearing a wig in this heat. Anyway, was told I would have to remove my visor to coincide with the dress code. I kindly said that we would go eat elsewhere and the hostess was a bit miffed it seemed. I got my boys and started to leave. My DH stayed behind and tried to explain that my reluctance to take off my visor was due to chemotherapy treatment, but she evidently didn't that was good enough.

The deal was, she said, that the dress code is clearly displayed = no hats allowed. That is true....it also said ' business casual' was required, but men were going in wearing shorts and uncollared shirts and I know this isn't business casual. I don't mind them enforcing the dress code, but they were not. If they are going to require business casual and no hats, then they need to require that of everyone. Anyway....only negative, so no big deal!

Had a good time and I am sure we will try to go back !!!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Not that they'll care, but I would absolutley write Disney about that.

You might just get someone who went through chemo or loved someone that did. If it were me, I'd fire that girl. Justlikethat. What the hell is she, the visor police? And, crap, even cops make exceptions every now and then.

What were you supposed to do, get a note from your doctor (or mommy) saying, "Please allow Jill to wear her visor as she has not been well" so that you could get a GAC card that would allow you to eat a flippin dinner?! Ug. This kind of burns my butter.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Poly, I like it there, too. I hope the rest of your trip went well, too. Any special magic we could hear?

I also hope that your treatments are successful and you are cancer-free for the long haul.

 

[LukenDC]

My DH stayed behind and tried to explain that my reluctance to take off my visor was due to chemotherapy treatment, but she evidently didn't that was good enough.

The hostess was way out of line and you should have asked to speak to a manager.

 

[jillhou]

Your comments made me laugh! 'burns my butter' - that is a good one!

Everything at Disney is a bit of magic, isn't it??

Really enjoyed the Pirates and Princess Party! The Parade was really good as were the special fireworks....they seemed bigger than Wishes. The 'Captain Jack' they have at the end of the parade was GREAT! He REALLY enjoyed his part and played it extremely well!

When we arrived in our room, we had a towel Mickey on our bed! Was really cute!

Had heard mixed reviews about the Laugh Floor at MK, but we enjoyed it. Be sure and take your phone so you can text in a joke! Wish we had known that was how it worked and we would have thought of some appropriate jokes to send in. As it was, my boys all sent jokes in and got back cute replies and pics on their phones! Some of them were even used. My one son kept sending in jokes using other names....Shakira from Venezuela was the one that got the most jokes used! He is a funny kid ( at 19) HA! DON'T send in ' how do you make a hanky (or tissue) dance? you put a little boogie in it!' - we heard that one in SEVERAL shows! They really like to use that one!

Anyway = glad we went and a good time was had by all! Had a great waiter at Akershaus for lunch.....interacted well with my 3 boys (13, 16 and 19) who like to eat with the princesses! what kids!

Hope everyone has as agood of a time as we did!

 

[missypie]

When you went to EMH and it was so crowded, was that morning, evening or both?

Regarding the visor: First, OMG! How DARE they turn you away!!! This reminds me of when were were at the Galleria Borghese in Rome, which doesn't allow strollers, bags or anything else to be carried into the galleries. An older man was pulling his oxygen tank behind him...the employee would not let him in!!!!

Second, what about Sikh men in turbans, Muslum women in headscarves, etc? Do Orthodox Jewish guys know not to go to those restaurants because they'd have to remove their hats? My "bet" is that if the head covering looks like it is for religious reasons, they let them in.

What if you had been wearing one of those turbans that lots of ladies wear during chemo....would that have passed? One of DDs friends has alopecia...in 6th and 7th grade she was pretty much bald...the school allowed her to wear a hat depsite the no hat rule...she wore a cute little crochetted skull cap most of the time....would Disney have made that little girl take off her skull cap at the restaurant?

Your story is disturbing and I'm sorry it happened to you.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

The hostess was way out of line and you should have asked to speak to a manager.

That's the easiest option by far. It straightens out the employee who doesn't completely understand the concept of common sense in customer service and gets you seated without a problem. Although the CM was out of line, probably a simple misunderstanding of policy, the manager would have happily seated the OP's party without an argument.

 

[grimley1968]

I would like to be a fly on the wall when the manager of Citrico's reads the complaint letter that I hope the OP sends. If I were the manager, I'd fire that hostess faster than she could say "But what does 'having class' mean?"

That's incredibly bad behavior by a CM, when Disney CM's are normally known for making little bits of magic happen. The hostess should have gone for a manager right at that time, if there was any question of whether to follow the letter of a rule, or allow common sense to prevail and bend what should be a flexible rule.

I'm glad to hear the Poly is as awesome as ever, and I'm glad you enjoyed your vacation besides that one terrible incident.

 

[DBFLUKE]

I am in total disgust with that restaurant. If I were you I would call the manager of the restaurant & hotel. Medical issues are not to be questioned. There are exceptions to the rules when it comes to disabilities. I'm sure your hat would fall under that category. I hope that this thread makes it way to someone important @ Disney. Please call them so this never happens to someone else. ( what if it was a child? That could of totally ruined thier vacation. )
We will be staying @ the Poly next week.
Hope everything works out for you

 

[castleview]

When you went to EMH and it was so crowded, was that morning, evening or both?

We just got back from the BWV. I could only speak for one morning EMH at AK. It worked well for us. But the evening EMH at MK were insane and MGM was quite crowded too.

 

[missypie]

Isn't it interesting that the hostess didn't change her mind once she was told the reason for the visor? I can see her intitially telling you to take off the visor....I mean, hostesses can't be expected to be able to tell the difference between a bad hair day and a medical issue. But when told, almost everyone would appologize profusely and say of course you can come in. I guess there are some personality types who are "extreme rule followers" - think of Dwight on "The Office." I guess that 's one way to think about it...you ran into the female version of Dwight!

 

[PamNC]

I'm glad you had a good trip! You know, that makes me mad about Citricos. We went to Artist Pointe and wore shorts and t-s with no problem. Same thing at CA Grille. Who do they think they are really? I guess the reason it struck a nerve is because we've been to Citricos twice, and both times we had horrible experiences. I won't get into detail now, but I don't think it's a friendly place. I downright felt slighted.

Welcome Home.

PamNC

 

[jillhou]

Thank you all for your kind words....we ended up eating at Ohana's and had a nice meal = so all was not lost by any means!!

EMH was not bad in the mornings at all. The evenings were still crowded. I think it was a combination of the heat and it being right before school starts and lots of folks were taking that last little trip!

 

[CoolPool]

Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. I'm speechless that the hostess would make a point of not letting you wear a visor. AHGH. I feel like writing a letter myself on behalf of cancer survivors.


PA: missypie: its a moot point about orthodox jews wearing hats at Citricos; if they are type to wear black hats then they wouldn't set food in the joint anyway. Zero chance to receive or give offense. Same would be true for observant muslims. Sometimes its not constructive to bring religious differences into the discussion about a medical and emotional insensitivity. x does not equal y. My opinion and I'm off my soapbox.

 

[Cool-Beans]

The hostess was way out of line and you should have asked to speak to a manager.

The OP did the same thing I would do, the same thing a lot of people would have done. Not everyone wants to fight or bother with the manager.

And a lot of people who are ill get very tired of all the problems that come with their illness. They hate dealing with them and do whatever is easiest to just be done with it.

I'm sure you weren't chastising the OP for not calling the manager! Just pointing out that I think her response was normal, common and perfectly acceptable...as is sharing her disappointment with her DIS pals.

Really enjoyed the Pirates and Princess Party! The Parade was really good as were the special fireworks....they seemed bigger than Wishes. The 'Captain Jack' they have at the end of the parade was GREAT! He REALLY enjoyed his part and played it extremely well!

When we arrived in our room, we had a towel Mickey on our bed! Was really cute!

Thanks for the PPP review! I haven't been. But, crap. Now I have to go and see those fireworks.

I have had many a towel animal greet me in my room, but NEVER a Mickey! Very cool!

Glad you had a nice trip (with the exception of Little Miss Visor Enforcer.)

 

[grannyminnie]

To the OP....please complain to somebody besides us about how you were treated in Citrico's!! I'll make us feel better!

 

[missypie]

To the OP....please complain to somebody besides us about how you were treated in Citrico's!! I'll make us feel better!

I think you should, too. Management really needs this type of information so they can better train their staff. Think of it this way: If you managed a restaurant and your hostess did that, wouldn't you want to know?

 

[jillhou]

I have written a letter today - to Guest Services - and hopefully, they will pass it on to all the appropriate parties.

And to the poster who said that sometimes, you just don't want to deal with the problem anymore = you are right. I don't always WANT to have to explain my health situation to anyone or everyone! It is an emotional thing and when you are with your family, trying to make everything seem happy and normal, you don't want to make a scene!

To the poster who asked about what was magical....I cannot believe I forgot to mention this and I think I will write a letter about this, too!

We LOVE to do the drawing at the end of the animation tour. We will do it several times in a row if the crowds are not too bad. There is a WONDERFUL CM who works there and he is 100x better than all the rest combined! His name is Timmy (Britt, I think) and he is just amazing. So kind and considerate. He makes the CMs outside let as many in the room as possible and will run around the room helping out the little ones who need some extra attention and if it is a special day or trip for you, he will give his drawing to you. He was working during the evening EMH and we did 3 classes in a row with him! Several of us did! The first class was really full - but he kept packing them in and giving out lap desks and finding places to sit! By the 1 am class, there were not as many of us, but he was still soooo happy and full of energy. ANytime you go, I would ask if Timmy is working that day and at what time he will be doing the drawing...worth coming back and drawing with him. He also does more of the characters than anyone else. One girl only draws Stitch it seems. We were in her class 3 times and every time she did Stitch - didn't give the class any choice either. GO DRAW WITH TIMMY!!!!!

 

[sjlupin]

I guess that 's one way to think about it...you ran into the female version of Dwight!

HAHA! This cracked me up. I just LOVE The Office and Dwight slays me!!!

Jillhou - so sorry you had this unfortunate experience and I am glad it didn't ruin your trip! We are heading to the Poly in January, and we can't wait!

 

[Cool-Beans]

And to the poster who said that sometimes, you just don't want to deal with the problem anymore = you are right. I don't always WANT to have to explain my health situation to anyone or everyone! It is an emotional thing and when you are with your family, trying to make everything seem happy and normal, you don't want to make a scene!

Of course. First, you have to think about it. Then you have to talk about it. Then you have to get The Look.

Many people in the same situation would have just gone somewhere else.

And if that "hostess" didn't like the fact that you were going somewhere else, too bad for her. Add in the fact that your husband explained it and she still couldn't see her Visor Nazi way past making an exception...and I'm just really, really glad you're writing the letter. Not that I'm sure Disney will care, but you might get the right person.

 

[BCV23]

I'm sorry to hear of your experience at Citricos. She was wrong as well as incredibly insensitive as the WDW dress code says no hats permitted on gentlemen. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the dress code.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/dining/diningDetail?id=CitricosDiningPage

Glad to hear the Polynesian was magical as always. It's great to hear your sons enjoy the princesses and all the fun things at WDW despite being in the very cool years. My guys always enjoyed the magic too.

Congratulations on the completion of your treatments!