Luck with requests and CSR?

[maxiesmom]

Fwiw, I have never been directed to bell services at any Disney resort. Nor have they told me exactly how to get to my room, they simply draw an arrow and an X. And I've stayed at 10 different Disney resorts. I don't get complaining about a room being far away when they moved you to a spot you requested. Granted the food in the mouth and the attitude were not acceptable. But complaining they give you a room that is a bit of a walk away when you ask to be placed there makes no sense.

Also I just stayed at CSR last month. They must have taken care of the temperature of the food court, as I too get cold easily and it wasn't a problem at all.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

Fwiw, I have never been directed to bell services at any Disney resort. Nor have they told me exactly how to get to my room, they simply draw an arrow and an X. And I've stayed at 10 different Disney resorts. I don't get complaining about a room being far away when they moved you to a spot you requested. Granted the food in the mouth and the attitude were not acceptable. But complaining they give you a room that is a bit of a walk away when you ask to be placed there makes no sense.

Also I just stayed at CSR last month. They must have taken care of the temperature of the food court, as I too get cold easily and it wasn't a problem at all.

FYI - I have almost always been directed to bell services at the 7 Disney resorts I've stayed at. I've stayed at POR several times, and they always ask me if we need help with our luggage and direct us to bell services. We typically use ME and have them take care of our luggage, but even when we just have our carry-ons with us, they ask if we need assistance.

The point of my post wasn't to complain about the room I requested being too far away. One of the points of my post was to mention that the resort is huge and that I was irritated that the CM didn't direct us to bell services to assist in getting our bags to our room. After originally getting settled into our room, I was pleased with the location (except for the worry of noise at the pool). We were directly between 2 different bus stops and that became useful during the trip.

 

[maxiesmom]

Ive stayed at POR multiple times. Never been directed to bell services. Must be luck ofthe CM draw.

 

[nkereina]

Usually a casitas request is hard to get. They give convention attendees preference in casitas since it's the closest section to the conference center. The last two times we have stayed at CSR, we were told there was no room in casitas for us and we've been put in cabanas both times. If you request cabanas or ranchos, I'd say your chances are good you'd get it. You can also book business class and be guaranteed a room in cabanas along with a few extra amenities.

 

[KrazeeK120]

One bad cast member will leave me not wanting to stay at a resort ever again, especially when I have never had a negative check-in experience at any other resort. Every time I think about our first experience at CSR, I think of her and it makes me upset, and that's more than enough of a reason to not stay at a specific resort again. I had other issues with some cast members there, but that is the one that I think of whenever I think of CSR. It started my vacation off on wrong foot.

I absolutely do believe it is the check-in person's responsibility to direct me to bell services. In fact, this is the only WDW resort I can recall that did NOT direct me there. The fact that my DD13 and I were both carrying multiple bags, she should have noticed that and directed me to bell services. I did not realize the room was that far away or I would have asked for her to direct me to bell services. The fact that she worked at this resort, she should have known how big it was and that I possibly needed assistance.

How was I supposed to know when she gave me the room that it was a pool-view room? She told me what building it was located in and how to get to that building, she had no idea the exact location of the room, and she did not direct me to the exact room, just the building.

If someone is going to ask about a resort, and the rooms are in desperate need of some TLC, I'm going to mention that in my post. And since it appears the OP will be staying there before your 12-18 month renovation prediction, the rooms will be even more dingy and dated than they were when I stayed there over a year ago.

Considering cast members were walking around the pool area, they should have noticed the ground was sticky. It is not my responsibility to complain about that.

I have never been in a Disney eatery that was so cold I was shivering and had goosebumps. Usually I am completely comfortable in Disney restaurants, in fact, typically I enjoy the temperature in a Disney restaurant. I have never gone to sit outside because I was shivering before even getting my food.

I've never been directed to luggage assistance at any hotel anywhere (including Disney - and I've stayed on property 6 times). That's not a front desk responsibility. However, if asked, I'm sure they would have happily given you this information. And once again, you said you requested Ranchos. That's the furthest away section from the front desk. I have to admit I'm a bit confused that you knew which section you wanted, but had no idea it would be decent walk to get there.

I didn't say you were supposed to know it was a pool view room. I said the person who assigned that room had no idea you didn't want a pool view room because you didn't tell them that. So to complain about the room view when you didn't specify what you wanted (or in this case, didn't want) is a bit unfair, in my opinion.

I think many people are aware that CSR needs some TLC, which is why renovations are starting this month. And I'm unsure what you mean by "prediction." A "prediction" is an educated guess about something. I'm not making an educated guess. Renovations ARE happening at CSR. This is a fact, not my opinion.

The cast members may not have walked on the sticky spot. Who knows? And apparently it didn't bother anyone enough to complain about it, so it must not have been that big of a deal.

You're pretty lucky if you'd never been in a Disney restaurant that was beyond cold. That seems more the norm than the exception. One in particular I can think of was back in 2009 at Cape May. I really wished I'd had a sweatshirt with me and it was August. I was freezing. Many restaurants are cold, but that one in particular was bad. And that's at a completely different resort. The "cold restaurant" problem is not limited to CSR.

I also think it's a bit unfair to be dismissive of a resort because of a single bad cast member. I can virtually guarantee you there is at least 1 (and probably more than that) at every resort because that's true of every workplace across the world. There are bad apples everywhere. If I let a single bad interaction with an employee keep me away from a place...I'd probably have very few places left to go by now.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

I've never been directed to luggage assistance at any hotel anywhere (including Disney - and I've stayed on property 6 times). That's not a front desk responsibility. However, if asked, I'm sure they would have happily given you this information. And once again, you said you requested Ranchos. That's the furthest away section from the front desk. I have to admit I'm a bit confused that you knew which section you wanted, but had no idea it would be decent walk to get there.

I didn't say you were supposed to know it was a pool view room. I said the person who assigned that room had no idea you didn't want a pool view room because you didn't tell them that. So to complain about the room view when you didn't specify what you wanted (or in this case, didn't want) is a bit unfair, in my opinion.

I think many people are aware that CSR needs some TLC, which is why renovations are starting this month. And I'm unsure what you mean by "prediction." A "prediction" is an educated guess about something. I'm not making an educated guess. Renovations ARE happening at CSR. This is a fact, not my opinion.

The cast members may not have walked on the sticky spot. Who knows? And apparently it didn't bother anyone enough to complain about it, so it must not have been that big of a deal.

You're pretty lucky if you'd never been in a Disney restaurant that was beyond cold. That seems more the norm than the exception. One in particular I can think of was back in 2009 at Cape May. I really wished I'd had a sweatshirt with me and it was August. I was freezing. Many restaurants are cold, but that one in particular was bad. And that's at a completely different resort. The "cold restaurant" problem is not limited to CSR.

I also think it's a bit unfair to be dismissive of a resort because of a single bad cast member. I can virtually guarantee you there is at least 1 (and probably more than that) at every resort because that's true of every workplace across the world. There are bad apples everywhere. If I let a single bad interaction with an employee keep me away from a place...I'd probably have very few places left to go by now.

I have been directed to bell services many times at several Disney resorts, and other non-Disney resorts. In fact, I can't think of a single time when I have stayed overnight anywhere and wasn't asked if I needed assistance with my luggage. I don't know why that is such an unbelievable thing. When two people have several bags when arriving at a resort, IMO (that's right, MY OPINION) a good CM would direct them to bell services. I was not complaining about how far away my room was. I was expecting my room to be a hike, I researched it and knew that it was a good distance from the lobby. My complaint was that the CM should have directed me to bell services. Geez. I was more exhausted that morning than I realized and good customer service isn't too much to ask for.

The OP asked about people's experiences with requests, and I gave that to her. I also gave her my opinion of the resort as a whole. I did not like CSR. The OP didn't appear to like it much her first visit either. I didn't turn around and request a resort she specifically stated she didn't want to stay at, even though the PO resorts are my favorites.

Apparently I have been lucky in my dining at WDW because I have never once felt the need to leave a restaurant or food court area because I was that cold. I like indoors being cold when I'm in Florida, I expect it, but I don't expect to be shivering so much I can't hold a tray of food.

You can think it's unfair all you want if I want to dislike an entire resort because of one bad CM, that is your prerogative.

Are the renovations currently happening at CSR? Could it be possible they will be delayed? Do all Disney renovations adhere to a strict schedule and never go astray? Will the entire resort be renovated before the OP's stay next August?

 

[Roxyfire]

You can think it's unfair all you want if I want to dislike an entire resort because of one bad CM, that is your prerogative.

I think you and the other poster are at an impasse in regards to the opinion of the resort. It sounds as if the CM tried to find you a room in the area you requested. I would take that as a positive if it were me. I would also be frustrated if it were a longer walk than expected but she did fulfill the change as you asked. There is still a human element and for any number of reasons she may not have thought to direct you. I will take your story and keep it in mind for the future because it is something to note, even if to save myself some trouble at a larger resort.

Are the renovations currently happening at CSR? Could it be possible they will be delayed? Do all Disney renovations adhere to a strict schedule and never go astray? Will the entire resort be renovated before the OP's stay next August?

1) They are slated to start within a couple weeks.

2) No, in fact these have been put off for a while. Just as in any other business, someone could decide at the last minute the timing is not right but based on what I've read it seems pretty set now.

3) No, they will take 18 to 24 months.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I have been directed to bell services many times at several Disney resorts, and other non-Disney resorts. In fact, I can't think of a single time when I have stayed overnight anywhere and wasn't asked if I needed assistance with my luggage. I don't know why that is such an unbelievable thing. When two people have several bags when arriving at a resort, IMO (that's right, MY OPINION) a good CM would direct them to bell services. I was not complaining about how far away my room was. I was expecting my room to be a hike, I researched it and knew that it was a good distance from the lobby. My complaint was that the CM should have directed me to bell services. Geez. I was more exhausted that morning than I realized and good customer service isn't too much to ask for.

The OP asked about people's experiences with requests, and I gave that to her. I also gave her my opinion of the resort as a whole. I did not like CSR. The OP didn't appear to like it much her first visit either. I didn't turn around and request a resort she specifically stated she didn't want to stay at, even though the PO resorts are my favorites.

Apparently I have been lucky in my dining at WDW because I have never once felt the need to leave a restaurant or food court area because I was that cold. I like indoors being cold when I'm in Florida, I expect it, but I don't expect to be shivering so much I can't hold a tray of food.

You can think it's unfair all you want if I want to dislike an entire resort because of one bad CM, that is your prerogative.

Are the renovations currently happening at CSR? Could it be possible they will be delayed? Do all Disney renovations adhere to a strict schedule and never go astray? Will the entire resort be renovated before the OP's stay next August?

Since you knew your room would be a hike, why didn't you just ask for luggage assistance? I really believe they would have been more than happy to provide this service upon request.

And while I've never been offered luggage assistance, I don't find it hard to believe that you (and others) have. All I'm saying is that it's not an automatic front desk responsibility, nor does it make the cast member or resort "bad" for not doing so.

It seems like a lot of folks these days really adhere to "the customer is always right" mentality. We all need to take accountability for our own needs and situations. If you need luggage assistance, ask for it. If you want a specific type of room, ask for it.

I just don't want OP to dismiss this resort because one person is reporting a bad interaction with a cast member there. I can almost guarantee that someone, somewhere has had a negative experience at every single Disney resort, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't stay on property.