Just Say No to the Sports!

[Chipmunk89]

We just got back from our trip(11/17-11/25) and i wil NEVER stay at the All Star Sports again. It is back to Pop for me. We were in the tennis (bldg 5) area. I believe the rooms were newly updated. I could smell fresh paint. But they did the room in such a hurry, that things that were glued to the walls were sliding down. Worst of all we had two boys celebrating their birthdays. Even though I faxed, and called, and told them in person this important information, they did NOTHING special for the boys. No special autographed Mickey photo, No special phone call, NOT EVEN A HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM THE CM. (Yeah, I just told her it was their birthday!!!!) When we asked for birthday pins, she said she couldn't find any. "Get them from the park, " is what she told us. Not wanting to get off to a bad start, I just smiled and went on my way. Next issue was mousekeeping. Horrible. No towel animals, just some wet pillow cases left in our room. Oh, by the way, they were NOT our pillowcases! YUK! On bright light at the Sports was Barb in the Gift Shop. She was wonderful. Thanks Barb!

Never again at the Sports. Pop here we come!!

 

[sandybobandy]

We just got back from our trip(11/17-11/25) and i wil NEVER stay at the All Star Sports again. It is back to Pop for me. We were in the tennis (bldg 5) area. I believe the rooms were newly updated. I could smell fresh paint. But they did the room in such a hurry, that things that were glued to the walls were sliding down. Worst of all we had two boys celebrating their birthdays. Even though I faxed, and called, and told them in person this important information, they did NOTHING special for the boys. No special autographed Mickey photo, No special phone call, NOT EVEN A HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM THE CM. (Yeah, I just told her it was their birthday!!!!) When we asked for birthday pins, she said she couldn't find any. "Get them from the park, " is what she told us. Not wanting to get off to a bad start, I just smiled and went on my way. Next issue was mousekeeping. Horrible. No towel animals, just some wet pillow cases left in our room. Oh, by the way, they were NOT our pillowcases! YUK! On bright light at the Sports was Barb in the Gift Shop. She was wonderful. Thanks Barb!

Never again at the Sports. Pop here we come!!

Sorry you had a bad stay buuuuut.....

Not everyone receives something special when they are celebrating birthdays or anniversaries. The only way to guarantee a special something is to order it yourself and have it delivered. Pixie Dust from Cast Members is hit and miss. Same with towel animals-they're a nice little perk, but aren't guaranteed (even when you leave a gratuity in the room).

The left over pillow cases are kinda gross though-did you contact the housekeeping manager to complain?

Glad Barb was nice and helpful to you and hope you had a nice rest of the vacation!

 

[jey]

Sorry your stay was so bad! Time to change resorts. I recommend the WL! We love it!

I don't understand why everyone believes that just because you told them about a birthday you felt that they needed to do something special for you or a family member. Disney can't do something special for everyone. Then it wouldn't be special. I agree with sandybobandy- if you want something done, do it yourself. Be happy that you have 2 healthy sons celebrating a birthday and that you could take them to Disney. Many children never even get to go any type of vacation.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When it comes to towel animals some Housekeepers can make them and some don't, so just like with WDW doing something for you're Boys Birthdays it was a 50/50 chance of getting them. Besides you need to remember that the Housekeepers also make them on their own time, which might be the reason why you and other guests might not get them.

 

[Chipmunk89]

Yeah, that's all fine and dandy, but when you tell the CM at the front desk it's their birthday! The least she could do was say "Happy Birthday!" No, I'm sorry, the least she could do is what she did...nothing.


Side note (if it matters) the boys are not brothers. They are best friends. We (the moms) took the boys for their birthdays because we want to do something special for their birthday. Both are their daddies are military members serving in Baghdad. Oh, that was in my faxed, phoned and in person information.

 

[disneydance]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience at ASSp

 

[fla4fun]

I'm sure that the time of year you visited had a lot to do with the experience. I've found that when I visit Disney at peak times (such as Thanksgiving) the CM's are very busy and I don't tend to get much in the way of spontaneous pixie dust. I also find that mousekeeping tends to slip, because they are having to clean every room, every day. There just isn't time for the extras like the towel animals. I've noticed this at every level of resort, and every resort at each level. When a hotel is booked 90-100%, you don't get as much individual attention as you do when it's only booked 60%.

If you had been traveling this week instead, when the holiday crowds have gone, I would expect your experience to be totally different.

 

[JESW]

Just so you have a different story...both of our kids celebrated their birthdays at Disney this year - dd turned 8 at the Boardwalk in January and ds turned 13 at the Grand Floridian this month. Both times we stayed concierge and both times the kids only got birthday buttons even tho it was noted on both our reservations that it was their birthdays. (The kids weren't disappointed, but in the past they got at least an autographed picture of their favorite characters) We didn't get any towel animals either trip.

Just so you know that things can be the same on the other end of things....

Jill

 

[boomhauer]

I don't understand why everyone believes that just because you told them about a birthday you felt that they needed to do something special for you or a family member. Disney can't do something special for everyone. Then it wouldn't be special. I agree with sandybobandy- if you want something done, do it yourself. Be happy that you have 2 healthy sons celebrating a birthday and that you could take them to Disney. Many children never even get to go any type of vacation.

I agree. I honestly can't imagine caring if the girl at the front desk said "Happy Birthday" to one of my kids.

 

[travelin' tigger]

Never again at the Sports. Pop here we come!!

I don't think a different resort would have made a difference - in fact, Pop is larger than ASSp. What it boils down to expecting to receive things that are really part of the magic of Disney - when it happens it's magical. But everyone has their own experiences and expectations - some good, some bad. I've stayed at ASSp 2x in the past few months and never had a bad experience...

 

[yearbook50]

You have to learn to not expect things from Disney. If you want pixie dust, make it yourself. Order a gift basket or buy something in advance to be given to your children at check in. That is exactly what my mother did for me growing up.

The disboards have a way of making people expect more than what is usual.

 

[Sleepy]

Side note (if it matters) the boys are not brothers. They are best friends. We (the moms) took the boys for their birthdays because we want to do something special for their birthday. Both are their daddies are military members serving in Baghdad. Oh, that was in my faxed, phoned and in person information.

I'm sorry the boys are missing out on having their dads around, but this still does not make a difference in how they should be treated. It is up to the remaining parent (in your case the moms) to make a child's special events "special" and I think you did a great job by taking the kids to Disney for a bday. As the child of a military member and later the spouse of a sailor who was ALWAYS gone, I know how difficult it is for the kids to be without a parent and how difficult it is to be a mom left to pick up the pieces and make things as normal or in some cases as special as possible for the kids. As long as the kids had fun, that is what matters. Deployments are always stressful. I think you just had your hopes set higher than most because of your particular family circumstances. Honestly, towel animals and a "Happy Birthday" isn't going to make or break a vacation.

Maybe in the future you should consider Shades of Green. They are a military resort and would probably be more inclined to give separated military families that extra attention you were looking for.

 

[PattiPooh]

I was going to say, I think the boards makes people expect something to happen when it just isn't the norm. I was told if you want something to happen, order it! Or, maybe slip mousekepping a tip as you see them first... so just expect something. We are going with our parents who are celebrating their 39th Wedding Anniversary. We leave tomorrow. I expect nothing. But I have called and asked for things at the different restaurants. I have to pay though. Nothing is free.

 

[Kaler131]

I agree with the OP....I would definately go back to POP next time. I have stayed at both resorts and IMO POP is so much better!

 

[Kim&Chris]

Of all the times we've been to WDW, we've never once had anything acknowledged. Hey, that's just life. The acknowledgement of birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc seems to be something that is expected now at WDW. Not sure why.

Yes, I guess it would be nice if someone said Happy Birthday to me, but I'd never let it ruin or diminish a vacation in any way.

Were the boys as upset about this as you are?

 

[alldiz]

Sorry you didn't get any extra pixie dust.....ya win some....ya lose some...

this could happen at any hotel though.....they all have bad days....
and occasional cranky CM.
Better luck next time
Kerri

 

[Chuck S]

Yeah, that's all fine and dandy, but when you tell the CM at the front desk it's their birthday! The least she could do was say "Happy Birthday!" No, I'm sorry, the least she could do is what she did...nothing.


Side note (if it matters) the boys are not brothers. They are best friends. We (the moms) took the boys for their birthdays because we want to do something special for their birthday. Both are their daddies are military members serving in Baghdad. Oh, that was in my faxed, phoned and in person information.

Perhaps it was against the CMs religious beliefs to celebrate or acknowledge birthdays. There are Christian sects that don't celebrate any "secular" type holidays, and very few religious holidays.

And it is certainly ppossible for a front desk, especially at a busy value resort, to run out of buttons. Did the boys get buttons at a park?

 

[mickeyfan2]

We just got back from our trip(11/17-11/25) and i wil NEVER stay at the All Star Sports again. It is back to Pop for me. We were in the tennis (bldg 5) area. I believe the rooms were newly updated. I could smell fresh paint. But they did the room in such a hurry, that things that were glued to the walls were sliding down. Worst of all we had two boys celebrating their birthdays. Even though I faxed, and called, and told them in person this important information, they did NOTHING special for the boys. No special autographed Mickey photo, No special phone call, NOT EVEN A HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM THE CM. (Yeah, I just told her it was their birthday!!!!) When we asked for birthday pins, she said she couldn't find any. "Get them from the park, " is what she told us. Not wanting to get off to a bad start, I just smiled and went on my way. Next issue was mousekeeping. Horrible. No towel animals, just some wet pillow cases left in our room. Oh, by the way, they were NOT our pillowcases! YUK! On bright light at the Sports was Barb in the Gift Shop. She was wonderful. Thanks Barb!

Never again at the Sports. Pop here we come!!

You paid for a room not a birthday party. If you wanted magic then you should have created it yourself.

Did you call to get the pillow cases and room fixed? If so, did they come in a timely manner and correct the problem. If you did not call then you only have yourself to blame.

 

[Tess'smom]

I think it is perfectly justified to expect a Happy Birthday from the CMs. It takes such a little bit of effort to do so. The towel animals and Birthday picture are gravy. Hopefully, the rest of the birthday boys day was special.

 

[Kim&Chris]

I think it is perfectly justified to expect a Happy Birthday from the CMs. It takes such a little bit of effort to do so. The towel animals and Birthday picture are gravy. Hopefully, the rest of the birthday boys day was special.

I disagree. The only thing a person should expect is what they paid for, which is a clean room that is ready as soon as possible. Anything above that is pixie dust, especially at the hotel level.

Hundreds of thousands of people pass through those hotels, and it would be impossible & unrealistic to expect CM's to acknowledge every birthday.

The problem with internet message boards such as these are that people who DO experience pixie dust come here and post it. Then the readers get their hopes up that the same will happen to them. All the "happy birthdays" and "congratulations" are simply hit or miss, and can't be taken personally if it doesn't happen.