Magic Bubble Burst

[ReddOchtober]

This is trip two in a year staying at Saratoga Springs. As the saying goes, fool me once, your fault, fool me twice my fault. First trip our whole building was flooded from the roof and cleaning crew, the front desk and manager tried to put is in a flooded room (I have pictures), until we complained. Second trip, AC full frozen/broken in first room, second room TV not working (no upgrade at this point for our trouble having to change rooms in the middle fo the night the first time), upgraded to another room at SSR after the tvs not working. And this morning was the last straw. At the bus stop, the grounds crew decided height of transport time (prepark open) was the time to pressure wash and re-landscape The Springs terminal. Between the bus being delayed twice making us late for rope drop and the noise from weed eaters, edge trimmers, and a power washer along with the fumes aggrivating my wife’s asthma, we marched the car and drove to the park, late and annoyed. Never will I stay at SSR again. Nor would I recommend this resort to anyone ever. There is video of the crew. The pressure washer cart was places where you had to scoot between it and the bus to board.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Man that really stinks, hope things get better. I know SSR and OKW has their fans, but both those resorts are on the bottom of our families resort list, so I doubt we will ever stay at either, since there are so many other resort options available.

 

[Evita_W]

Saratoga is ok, but we definitely liked OKW a lot. But what the OP had is pathetic, the first one is unacceptable, if a room is flooded remove it from inventory until repaired. As for the AC being frozen, maintenance should have been able to fix that without you needing to move rooms, this happened midstay to us at OKW, maintenance came out and it took about 15 minutes for them to fix the AC. TV not working likewise should have been a simple fix from maintenance, no need to change rooms.

 

[Olaf Myfrenzargay]

Stayed in a Savannah view room at AKL couple of years back. Day two the tv stopped working. They sent a guy who couldn’t fix it. And I really didn’t care. That’s how good that resort was.

 

[ReddOchtober]

The AC mechanic said he couldn’t fix it that night. It was 1130isPM. TVs bothered us; we spend a bit of down time midday in the room. There was an upgrade, but the whole bus thing happened after the fact.
SSR or OKW were never on our radar until we noticed the value they offer needing a quick reservation to escape the destruction of Hurricane Laura last fall. Well, that value obviously comes with a sacrifice elsewhere. We have been on the fence about actually buying a DVC contract, but after the last three trips, that is no longer a desire.
December 2019, we were at Jambo House (full credit they did everything to make up for this). We walked out of our room to find them doing demo and construction in our hall. We were told by the desk at check in no construction would take place in our hall. So walking out to find them doing it at your door was a bit off putting. Again, the manager did all she could to make us happy, and we were. But these last two stays, idk. Maybe it is a sign to vacation elsewhere for the time being. Unfortunately, I’ve had friends and family have other incidents at other non-dvc resorts on property. I personally don’t think some of this is isolated incidents; it is an over all decline in the care taken to provide an experience for which Disney became known.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

I personally don’t think some of this is isolated incidents; it is an over all decline in the care taken to provide an experience for which Disney became known.

I totally agree with this. We have been doing 2-3 trips a year for almost 15 years and noticed a steady drop off in service, food etc. I won't even compare these days with the days back in the 70's when I went a few times, a totally night and day difference in all around service and I was only a kid back then and still remember how friendly and helpful the CMs were back then. We still run into great CM's, but not as frequent as in the past. I believe it's because WDW cuts staff and the CMs are just being overworked

 

[irazabul]

Sorry for your experience. SSR is our home resort and we generally have been satisfied there. Bus service is a tad slow, but we experienced that at other resorts too. Treehouse villas was awesome - too bad DVC changed the points and made them much more expensive.

 

[angelmav]

Having toured SSR several years ago it just reminded me of an apartment complex and I had no interest in buying when it was new. Seemed nice enough though, but those problems would really put a damper on any vacation.

 

[ReddOchtober]

Sorry for your experience. SSR is our home resort and we generally have been satisfied there. Bus service is a tad slow, but we experienced that at other resorts too. Treehouse villas was awesome - too bad DVC changed the points and made them much more expensive.

It has its charm. The grounds are wonderful, we like the refurbished rooms, I feel relaxed for the most part because it is quiet, and the pool looked nice but I’m not touching it during the pandemic.

Note on service: my parents and I would come every 5 or so years. My wife has begged for a decade and a half, we did Universal when Diagon opened. 2017 we came to WDW for my kids’ first trip and my 40th. It was really nice, we stayed at CBR in the Pirate rooms (yeah, I know, not the best rooms but the theming was really fun for a once and done). We have made 5 trips in total and one out to DL/CA since. There was been a noticeable decline in quality. Then we came last year after open, while we had issues at the resort, the CMs and grounds were great.

Fastforward to this week. I’m a nurse, I know what understaffed and over worked looks like on people’s faces even with masks and visors. It was written on every cast member. I think Disney is not hiring or bringing back people, and I think they are trying to get away with it permanently as cutting guest experience seems to be the trend.

I’ll be honest, I was apprehensive last year, but Disney seemed to have a great handle on how to keep guests safe. This week, it seems that is all for not. I never saw them cleaning vehicles ir benches, most of the hand sanitizer dispensors were empty, they aren’t monitoring much less enforcing masks or distancing. I watched guests walk right by CMs with no mask on, nothing was said multiple times. One lady ripped hers off on the land began yapping the whole ride (picked her nose and dug in her ears too while coughing, I’m seriously not making that up), and then at the end a CM asked if her granddaughter, looked age 4, had a mask, before he was half way through, she snapped at him “No”, he shrugged and walked away. If Disney had a restriction on limits to the park, it was for PR purposes only this weekend and week. And to be hones, most of my patients with COVID had no fever, so I don’t know why bother checking; it is not like they are going to tell a guest no.

I navigated myself and my family this pandemic while occasionally taking a COVID patient to receiving my vaccine without myself or my family getting it. My children attend school inperson, yadda yadda while following recommended guidelines for hand cleaning, social distancing, and mask wearing. I feel like this may have ruined that. Had I known Disney was going to roll back their precautions; we would not have come. They may as well take the signs down; it is a lie. There were lots of compliant guests, but it takes on not compliant to cause a problem. My only solice is the lady on the land likely had covid previous to this trip due to how she behaved.

Oh, and the food has not been as good anywhere compared to last fall, even Epcot. My wife and I were considering planning as side jobs since my new job doesn’t require 5am anymore. We changed our minds due to principal. I can not recommend people spend this much money as I believe the quality (and safety) is not there anymore. I feel like this going to get bad until Disney begins losing more money.

 

[jlb727]

That’s interesting. I was there at the beginning of January, and Disney was very strict about masks. Several times I saw cast members enforcing mask-wearing and even people being escorted out of the park by security at MK and HS for not wearing masks. The only place that was more lax was the pool area, but they were enforcing social distancing. We even got reprimanded at High Rock Springs pool for moving a chair to put our party all together. That being said, the cast members did seem tired and less friendly over all, even snippy, but they were enforcing rules. We visited Kennedy Space Center too and we were shocked at the lax enforcement of mask wearing and social distancing compared to Disney. It was scary how much they didn’t care over there. We’d try to social distance in a line for Atlantis, and a particular man with no mask behind us would constantly come up right next to my husband. Several cast members walked by, looked at the man and said nothing. Disney was comparatively paradise!

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

It has its charm. The grounds are wonderful, we like the refurbished rooms, I feel relaxed for the most part because it is quiet, and the pool looked nice but I’m not touching it during the pandemic.

Note on service: my parents and I would come every 5 or so years. My wife has begged for a decade and a half, we did Universal when Diagon opened. 2017 we came to WDW for my kids’ first trip and my 40th. It was really nice, we stayed at CBR in the Pirate rooms (yeah, I know, not the best rooms but the theming was really fun for a once and done). We have made 5 trips in total and one out to DL/CA since. There was been a noticeable decline in quality. Then we came last year after open, while we had issues at the resort, the CMs and grounds were great.

Fastforward to this week. I’m a nurse, I know what understaffed and over worked looks like on people’s faces even with masks and visors. It was written on every cast member. I think Disney is not hiring or bringing back people, and I think they are trying to get away with it permanently as cutting guest experience seems to be the trend.

I’ll be honest, I was apprehensive last year, but Disney seemed to have a great handle on how to keep guests safe. This week, it seems that is all for not. I never saw them cleaning vehicles ir benches, most of the hand sanitizer dispensors were empty, they aren’t monitoring much less enforcing masks or distancing. I watched guests walk right by CMs with no mask on, nothing was said multiple times. One lady ripped hers off on the land began yapping the whole ride (picked her nose and dug in her ears too while coughing, I’m seriously not making that up), and then at the end a CM asked if her granddaughter, looked age 4, had a mask, before he was half way through, she snapped at him “No”, he shrugged and walked away. If Disney had a restriction on limits to the park, it was for PR purposes only this weekend and week. And to be hones, most of my patients with COVID had no fever, so I don’t know why bother checking; it is not like they are going to tell a guest no.

I navigated myself and my family this pandemic while occasionally taking a COVID patient to receiving my vaccine without myself or my family getting it. My children attend school inperson, yadda yadda while following recommended guidelines for hand cleaning, social distancing, and mask wearing. I feel like this may have ruined that. Had I known Disney was going to roll back their precautions; we would not have come. They may as well take the signs down; it is a lie. There were lots of compliant guests, but it takes on not compliant to cause a problem. My only solice is the lady on the land likely had covid previous to this trip due to how she behaved.

Oh, and the food has not been as good anywhere compared to last fall, even Epcot. My wife and I were considering planning as side jobs since my new job doesn’t require 5am anymore. We changed our minds due to principal. I can not recommend people spend this much money as I believe the quality (and safety) is not there anymore. I feel like this going to get bad until Disney begins losing more money.

There is just only so long Disney can keep up the mask deal. They are not required in the state of Florida, so Disney doesn’t have to require masks legally. I think most of their guests are done with masks, and many, like us, are waiting to go back to the parks until the mask thing is over. We’ve been to the hotels, but not the parks. It is an overwhelming tide that Disney is trying to hold back.

 

[Evita_W]

There is just only so long Disney can keep up the mask deal. They are not required in the state of Florida, so Disney doesn’t have to require masks legally. I think most of their guests are done with masks, and many, like us, are waiting to go back to the parks until the mask thing is over. We’ve been to the hotels, but not the parks. It is an overwhelming tide that Disney is trying to hold back.

I agree that people are largely done with masks, although masks are required in the counties which Disney World is located in, which means Disney legally must still require them at the moment.

My guess is if vaccines are truly available to anyone who wants one by April that by July at the latest the mask requirements will either be phased out or eliminated completely.

But we aren't waiting for the mask thing to be over to go, we live near DLR and our theme parks are still closed, one thing it has taught us is to not let factors we can't control, such as weather, etc. stop us from going, still go and enjoy no matter what. Obviously if we are sick, don't go, but otherwise don't let rain, etc. deter us. We actually had that situation where the weather stopped us from going as planned right before the parks closed, we didn't know they were going to close at the time, but we now regret not having gone.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

I agree that people are largely done with masks, although masks are required in the counties which Disney World is located in, which means Disney legally must still require them at the moment.

My guess is if vaccines are truly available to anyone who wants one by April that by July at the latest the mask requirements will either be phased out or eliminated completely.

But we aren't waiting for the mask thing to be over to go, we live near DLR and our theme parks are still closed, one thing it has taught us is to not let factors we can't control, such as weather, etc. stop us from going, still go and enjoy no matter what. Obviously if we are sick, don't go, but otherwise don't let rain, etc. deter us. We actually had that situation where the weather stopped us from going as planned right before the parks closed, we didn't know they were going to close at the time, but we now regret not having gone.

State law supersedes counties in Florida. Basically any counties that put mask laws in place in Florida are doing it for show. This is not the case, for example, at least the last time I looked into it, in Tennessee, where the governor is saying no statewide mask mandate, but is allowing counties and cities to implement what they want. But in Florida, Desantis has said any counties/cities that try to implement a mask orders are in violation of the statewide no mask order. It is interesting because in Texas, you have the opposite of what you have in Tennessee. In Texas there is a state mask mandate, but many counties are saying we are not enforcing a mask mandate in our county. So if you live outside off the inner city in Texas, you technically have no mask mandate because county commissioners and sheriffs say no way. But that’s why the pro mask media is all over Florida. It is a true no mask state. People wearing masks there are doing so by choice.

 

[Evita_W]

State law supersedes counties in Florida. Basically any counties that put mask laws in place in Florida are doing it for show. This is not the case, for example, at least the last time I looked into it, in Tennessee, where the governor is saying no statewide mask mandate, but is allowing counties and cities to implement what they want. But in Florida, Desantis has said any counties/cities that try to implement a mask orders are in violation of the statewide no mask order. It is interesting because in Texas, you have the opposite of what you have in Tennessee. In Texas there is a state mask mandate, but many counties are saying we are not enforcing a mask mandate in our county. So if you live outside off the inner city in Texas, you technically have no mask mandate because county commissioners and sheriffs say no way. But that’s why the pro mask media is all over Florida. It is a true no mask state. People wearing masks there are doing so by choice.

I see, that is interesting and good to know, as we are heading there tomorrow. Here in California we have a state wide mandate and counties can be stricter, but a lot of counties aren't enforcing it either and even when county leaders say they want to, a lot of sheriffs are refusing because they feel that the government is overreaching and their time is better spent going after actual criminals.

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out over the next few months.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you have an issue that you don't think resort management has resolved to your satisfaction, contact Member Satisfaction (dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com) and let them know of your issue. Include your reservation number, your member ID, name and address. At least you might feel heard. I had an extremely nice chat with a team member regarding an issue I had and she and I both came up with some ideas to keep it from happening in the future.

 

[asunutgirl]

Interesting thread. My college aged daughter was at SSR this past weekend. She wanted this trip as a Christmas present. I'm not comfortable traveling but she really wanted to go and meet her bestie who goes to school in Florida. She said the resort was great, cast members were fabulous and she felt very safe. Said she all the rules being enforced.

 

[What-r-ya Goofy?]

Conducting building maintenance while a resort is open for business is going to be a double edge sword. On one hand everyone wants their resort to be pristine and well maintained , but no one likes the occasional inconvenience that comes with that. I agree that they could be more sensitive to scheduling maintenance to be performed at times when it would less inconvenient to the guests. A lot of that has to due with Disney sub-contracting work wherever possible to keep their own staffing levels low. The sub-contractors aren't trained to be Disney courteous and at times it appears that they are not being properly supervised by Disney staff either. They are told to just go do a job, and that's what they do.