Just back--the good, the bad, the ugly

[dizneeluvr]

Hi!
Before I start, I'd like to remind those of you who don't know us...that we are positive posters. We LOVE Disney, LOVE DVC. So I am posting this trip report mainly to share some observations and disappointments with people who won't say, "boy I bet you wish you hadn't spent all that money on DVC" like I might hear from friends who don't know that this was hopefully a fluke-bad trip with little to no magic anywhere!

I'll start with the Good first! We arrived at VWL on Saturday, Jan 24th. We checked in around noon ...got our room around 3 ish. It was a dedicated studio at the very end of the third floor (3653). You could see the service parking lot but was easily ignored. The room was clean. A call to maintenance about a broken soap holder in the tub was returned later that night with an offer to move us (we declined--assume it was a no-charge move but don't know) and a fix the next morning. Standing on our balcony we were able to watch a large amount of the new Wishes firework show from the MK on two occasions (more on that in the bad column). Boat transpo to and from MK was phenomenal. Best ever. At closing there was boat after boat coming in to get everyone back! Kudos to WL for addressing that flaw.

Now the bad. Not sure if it was the plane or the room or some other unknown...but I developed horrible aches/fever/cough thing the morning after we arrived (and I NEVER get sick). Stuck it out (thanks to tylenol) and did MGM and AK that day and the next. Unfortunately, my "trooper status" quickly melted when our 5 yo dd developed the same thing on Tuesday while at the Magic Kingdom. Our normally happy, sweet little girl felt like garbage and only popped her head off our shoulder if she heard Mickey or Minnie's voice.
I spent ALL of Wednesday in the room with her as by now she had a high fever, etc... A call to our doc back in Missouri resulted in an expensive grouping of prescriptions sent to us at the resort. I called down to the front desk (in tears) to ask them to send it up as she was too sick to bring down there. They sent it up. I ordered room service for myself (again chocked up because I am one who needs my Disney fix in winter and I felt so bad for my daughter) as there was no food. got that. And one other request for motrin from the mercantile. In all that time--not one CM who came up made any attempt to spread a little much-needed magic. Even a cheap little balloon would have made a huge difference for my daughter (and me). But nothing. (A reflection on WL, not DVC).

Now the Ugly: For the first time in 5 years...there was no "disney magic" everywhere I looked. Sure, the illnesses didn't help...but I was willing to overlook that (wanted to overlook that) because we needed THAT FEELING that has made Disney so special for us. The characters were rushed--almost rude at times. We went to Chef Mickey's for dinner that first night and were blown off by two characters for the 60+ minutes we were there. A person next to us (their table ignored as well) complained. I didn't say anything until I heard the manager getting testy with the person and then I chimed in that we were there even longer than they were and that Mickey had NOT come, nor had Goofy. The glare I got was amazing! It was like that time after time. The worse coming at Liberty Tavern. We finally got our little one out again and these characters would come by the table and she'd scoot down from her seat to give them a hug and they'd be gone before she got to them. The sadness in her eyes was heartbreaking!!!! And our girls are well behaved kids who adore the characters and always talk to them and kiss them.
We witnessed sharp CM's throughout the parks on different occasions--very few smiles. And when we checked IN to WL the CM said "welcome home". My husband smiled and asked him how he knew...the guys says, "We say it to ALL our guests not just vacation club" with what I picked up as an attitude.
The Cinderella show in front of the castle was cancelled one day because of weather but they didn't announce it until the second it was to start although it was obvious they had made the decision sooner.

There are many more examples of the lack of magic we experienced. I have never left Disney without tears in my eyes until this trip. I was ready for the trip to be over. I'm glad that it wasn't our first trip, or even our second. In a few days I hope to be able to shrug it off as a bad week for Disney. But I will say they were not standing "Walt Tall" this week...not by a long shot!

Thanks for listening!

Laura

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

I am so sorry, that you where ill and 'No Magic" either.

 

[Judique]

I am sorry you had a bad trip. Next time will be better!

 

[lurontravel]

Sorry your trip was so rough. I am very disappointed that WDW did not make it a magical trip for you. THat is the sole reason I go all of the time (we live w/in 3 hrs. driving time). I tell everyone what a great place WDW always is. Very pleasant, happy, helpful, polite, and well groomed cast members and environment everytime we go. I hope that this is just a fluke week, not the new norm, or I will have to think again about where to spend my long weekends and short vacations.
Pixie Dust to you and your family!

 

[Deemarch]

dixneeluvr...And sometimes when you are sick, nothing looks good. All of the little annoyances stand out. Don't be discouraged, you'll have a great one next time.

I hope you and DD are fine. I spent one vacation at POLY years ago with a sick DS2.5. Ended up in an emergency room with seizures...Couldn't wait to go back and "undo" that one.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Are you and your daughter feeling better now? I hope so, but it's a major shame that your vacation was spoiled with illness, and lack of MAGIC!

Bobbi

 

[jade1]

I think its the sickness. We went over new years and 2 of 7 of us got very sick also, stayed in 2 days and toughed out the rest. They dont even remember 1/2 of what we did when we look at the pictures but the rest of us had a great time. It will be much better next time.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think your illness blinded you to any possible magic. You may have been exposed to something at home, but choose to blame it on Disney. Your daughter was probably exposed to you, but you blame it on Disney.

It sounds like the front desk and mercantile did you a great favor by bringing meds and OTCs to you in your room. That's not something everyone gets for free. I hoped you tipped them accordingly.

We were at VWL from 1/1 to1/12 and had a wonderful time. We loved the fact that all the CMs told us Welcome Home ( especially when we drove up to the guard shack). I guess I think it's neat that they welcome everyone home. We found the CMs at VWL the best of all the resorts so far and we thought the others were great, too.

We had a similar experience at 1900 Park Faire with the characters not coming to our table, but I didn't look for the tears in my son's eyes. I just checked with someone about making sure the characters came to our table. We waited a bit, but they came. Maybe you weren't feeling well enough to be out for dinner (same with your daughter).

Bottom line, if you wanted balloons, you should have asked for balloons. There are many, many guests at VWL and WL for them to single you out. Maybe since you felt ill, you weren't quite as welcoming either.

Give it another try. We loved our stay there and will do it again, maybe next Jan again.

 

[jodifla]

You make some interesting points. I'm sorry your family became ill, but I don't understand possibly blaming the room. It's flu & cold season...I also don't understand expecting them to send up get-well balloons. It would be nice, of course, but it seems that you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

I think all of our standards for Disney are really high, so it's magnified when things don't go well. But characters should be particularly held to high standards, and I don't understand the manager's reaction at all. You should expect better at a character meal.

We just got back and had a really great time, even considering my husband was under the weather the whole week with sinus infection and headaches. But we had low expectations ... we just wanted to get away from work and have some fun with DS, 2.

I do think that the CMs on the whole weren't as friendly as in the past. It seems as though there's a lot of upheaval at Disney these days, and it's showing in the CMs.

Here's hoping your next trip is more magical!

 

[DisneyMeMa]

I'm glad to hear you are all feeling better, but sorry to hear your trip was not up to par.

We had one of those less than magical trips last June. Without DVC I doubt we would have returned to WDW, at least for a very long time. Fortunately, we followed through with a previously planned trip for 12/03. The December trip to VWL was delightful, with a little pixie dust - and a little goes a very long way with us.

I hope your next trip also has some magic.

 

[PalVal]

I just returned from 6 days at WLV myself - arriving 1/25. My sister and her son were both sick within one day of arrival. I was the only healthy one. They both coughed all night and had low grade fevers. None of us got any sleep. We tried to do the parks but within an hour of arrival, we had to go back to the room. I felt the magic, but they certainly didn't. I've been to Disney many times, but this was the first time I came home disappointed. I think a lot of people catch colds, etc., from the plane. There is nothing worse than being sick on vacation. We took my nephew to the doctors within an hour of arriving home and he had a double ear infection! He never complained about his ears - go figure!

I still love the atmosphere at the lodge, but the only thing I noticed, was the staff at Whispering Canyon were a little over the top with the yelling. It was still fun, but they took it to a new level. I noticed they were training quite a few people in both the store and restaurants at WL. They had red ribbons attached to their name tags. Maybe you got someone who was "earning their ears". Hope all is well now.

 

[MJTinNH]

Sorry you and your daughter were unwell for your trip. I hope you both are much better now. I am sure your next trip will be better!

 

[Cora]

Two years ago our friends were at WDW (for the first time with the kids) and the first two days their diabetic son came down with a virus (any type of illness for a diabetic is exagerated so it was the worst). Their daughter was fine so they split up and made the best of it. We were meeting them down there 4 days later. She called me the first nite to say how awful their son was and did I have any suggestions. I didn't but as soon as I got off the phone I called the Poly and explained the situation and asked if anything could be done...just a phone call from Mickey, Minnie, Goofy would have been great. A CM arrived at their room with balloons and get well wishes. I think maybe a clandestine phone call may have pushed things along.

I hope you are feeling better...I've seen many kids and adults get hit with this flu this year and it's the worst I've ever heard!
Cora

 

[DisneyPhD]

It's a small world after all... we stayed in the exact same room at the beginning of January 1-3 (although the soap holder was fine when we left it). It's nice to know that you could see Wishes from there. We were never in the room at the time and I always wondered what if any you could see. (FYI we could see Fantasy in the Sky from the 4th floor at BCV). It was a very quiet room to have but that walk (the length of a football field) got old real fast. Some pixie dust would have been great to get from one end of that hall to the other.
My guess is that you got sick from the plane. We had several trips in the late 1990's where one, the other or both of us had a low grade fever within 2 days of arriving. I hope you are doing better now.

 

[Sammie]

First all to the OP, I am sorry you were sick and your child also. I would imagine it was the flu and very possibly you could have picked it up before you even left home. I hope you are both feeling better.

For future guests some observations about the situation of the OP. These comments are not directed at the OP, but just my reflection on the situation.

I for one think this desire to have the "Welcome Home" greeting is way overblown. I would imagine resorts such as WL and BC where not all guests are DVC makes it hard for the front desk to keep it straight as to who gets the Welcome Home and who doesn't. Considering many people have complained about the lack of the Welcome Home, which I find very petty, WL decided the easy way was just to say Welcome Home to everyone. I just can't see where this should matter to anyone. The front desk CM should not have been rude about it, but frankly he is probably sick to death of that Welcome Home greeting and those that gripe when they don't get it.

As to the staff doing anything special for being sick, I am sure they don't even give it a thought. Millions of people come to Disney World each year, many get sick or hurt. As long as they did what was asked of them they did their job. If a person was in Chicago at a Holiday Inn and was sick I doubt they would expect balloons if they were sick while there. The Internet in my opinion has made many think that everyone gets treated the same. We all know it does not happen that way. Unrealistic expectations seem to be out of control on Disney trips.

Mostly I think that Disney and its employees are under tremendous stress right now from demanding guests and the situation going on with Michael Eisner and Roy Disney. We can only hope it gets better with time.

If you want to read more about the Eisner/Disney situation go to www.savedisney.com.

 

[Granny]

Laura...very sorry to hear about your experiences at WDW on this last trip.

I'm sure that you bent over backwards to give the CM's the benefit of the doubt but it appears that they just weren't in a very magical behavior mode. When we all look forward to our trips so much, it does magnify the disappointment when we feel like we are getting less than the best efforts of the employees.

I know you will be heading back, and you will have many more great trips to make this one a distant and unpleasant memory.

Thanks for taking the time to share your observations, and sorry to hear that you had the really bad luck to run into a number of CM's who don't "get it".

 

[perdidobay]

I'm so sorry you and DD got sick. Nothing is worse that getting sick and not being able to enjoy a vacation you've invested time and money on.

As far as the dinner I would have been mad too at the characters not coming to see your DD, after all, most of what you are paying for at these meals is that oppertunity, right?
The manager was wrong to not recifiy the situtation.

As to getting some "magic" at WL, I assume when I go on a DVC stay, that I will not get any extras from the staff( balloons, etc) unless I specifically ask and am willing to pay.

I hope your next trip brings back the "magic"

 

[Lexxiefern]

I am very sorry you had an unpleasant stay When your child gets sick, that is the worst. I hope you are both feeling better. I had alot of CM's on my October trip that were very "unmagical" and most of them were downright rude. But we have been back twice since then (december and january) and it was 100% better. I am sure your next trip will also.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Laura ~
Thanks for taking time to post a TR. Sorry to hear you and your dd were so sick. This has happened to us on a couple of occassions during our wdw vacations and I know what a downer it can be.
While I don't find it suprising that balloons weren't brought up to your room, I do find your character meal experience to be less than satisfactory, in not only the "magic" department, but how 'bout that's what we pay for with a character meal department ? Getting to meet and interact with the characters for pics and autographs should be a given. I'm very suprised at the manager's reaction to you and I wouldn't hesitate to write a letter to the Liberty Tree Tavern. We were once treated pretty rudely (or at least less than a "guest" would expect to be treated) at Tony's in the MK. My dh and I went there around 3:30 pm just wanting cappuccinos and dessert with our 3 kids and were told, quite abruptly I thought, that since we were there for dessert alone we could walk ourselves right down to the Main Street Bakery for dessert
Left a very bad taste in my mouth for Tony's and I haven't been there since. But your situation was different----you were entitled to time/interaction with the characters.
As far as the "welcome home"-----I knew they did this with every guest staying there because we got the "welcome" every day of our 4 night stay in '98 at WL and we weren't Members at that time. While I don't get upset if I don't get the "welcome" at one of the DVC resorts, it does certainly make a difference if they do. Sort of puts a smile on your face and sets Disney apart from any other hotel out there, ya know ? We own at an offsite timeshare also, and while they don't do "welcome home" there, we 90% of the time get a wave or a tip of the hat from the guard at the gate. I just think it's that something special that CM's can do that doesn't take all that much effort on their part, yet the effects are memorable for a guest/Member on the receiving end. I think this is how you feel too---you didn't expect the sarcasm. Too bad if the CM's are sick to death of it.....I feel it's all part of the their job and it's not difficult to do ? DVC sure did their best to sell us the magic before we became Members, so why shouldn't they uphold it, now that we are ? I don't think you complained about not getting a "welcome", but rather the attitude the CM gave you when you dh inquired about how they knew you were Members and I don't blame you.
So sorry this trip was a little bit of a dud. Hope your next trip has a little more pixie dust in it

 

[disneychick05]

I am always disappointed when I hear things like this about Disney. However I'm sure your next trip will make up for it. We were at WL in April. I was actually pretty upset with the CM that checked us in. He made several mistakes including sending us to a room that was not yet cleaned and had tip money for mousekeeping laying on the table. I know EXACTLY how you feel about the characters not acknowledging your DD. At the Crystal Palace breakfast Tigger skipped our table walking past our DS-19 months old at the time. He was so excited to see Tigger and when he passed our table I was shocked as well a heart-broken to see my little boy's disappointment. The teenage girls at the next table were in short dresses and skirts and Tigger was happily spending a lot of time with them. I did tell our server what happened and Tigger eventually came back out just to see our DS. You should find a way to make Disney aware of your un-magical stay as far as the resort and parks are concerned...it may make a difference for someone in the future.