No tents allowed in premium sites

[bama_ed]

1) Funny thing.
2) We were just talking about that a couple of weeks ago.
3) Of course, talks were with line managers and not staff managers.
. . . these were not policy talks
. . . these were ad hoc conversations at breaks or during down-times
. . . so, they have no importance and may not ever happen
4) But, the thought was outlawing ALL non-WDW motorized park transport.
. . . camper-owner private golf carts, gators, etc *
. . . locally rented off-site golf carts (eg. Kenny's)
5) With the popularity of the campground, vehicles are causing hazards.
. . . kids under 16 driving carelessly, and not controlling the vehicle
. . . excessive speed of off-site-rentals and camper-owned vehicles
. . . parking in unauthorized areas
. . . driving on grass or other areas off the roadways
6) Plus, we assume, WDW wants the rental profits.

* Some had vocal opposition to scooters, but doubt that would happen,
but only Lamont Cranston and Tom Morrow know for sure.

I want to throw my opinion out there too (it's worth what you paid for it): this is simply another case of Disney having a rule at the Fort, people flagrantly disregard the rule, and EVERYONE is (possibly) penalized because the rule is not enforced when needed. Everyone else shouldn't lose the ability to use the motorized vehicles because a portion of the users are bad eggs.

I know I'm pushing the Stone of Sisyphus up the hill here but any and all CMs working at the Fort should enforce the rules concerning golf carts. As you said it's a matter of personal safety. I've witnessed more than one accident due to excess speed, underage drivers, etc. It was really bad before they blocked golf carts from going over the bridge between the Meadow Trading Post and pool.

Fort CMs may be reluctant to address these situations but their management chain has to back them in doing so and follow through if the behavior is not corrected. I can imagine a few belligerent blowhards will try to bluff their way out of it with loud talk but it can still be done with the usual WDW tact and politeness. I bet within a year of firm and consistent enforcement that guests will learn that the Fort means business and these incidents would dwindle in number.

I apologize for going too far off-topic.

Bama ED

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Fort CMs may be reluctant to address these situations but their management chain has to back them in doing so and follow through if the behavior is not corrected . . .

1) Won't happen, Ed.
2) The managers DO NOT back-up the CM's when we criticize guests. *
3) If they did, the guest might go over his/her head to upper management.
4) The goal if lower level managers is to not have complaints go above them.
5) It must be known to all that the manager's OFFICIAL motto is
. . . "I will make the guest's vacation their best vacation ever."
. . . does not leave much room for criticizing guests.


* I have witnessed far too many instances where a CM told a guest they
can't-do-this or can't-do-that. afterward, a manager came down hard on
the CM. This type of behavior really halts the CM's from making guests
adhere to the rules. If managers do not want to enforce the rules, how
can CM's expect to try to enforce them, then get overruled by a manager?

In my case, I saw a young kid riding a skateboard in the WL lobby. He
bumped several people and almost knocked a lady to the ground. I told
the kid "No skateboarding in the lobby!" A manager came over and
told me to NEVER stop a kid from doing that. He said the lobby is big
enough for the skaters and the walkers! If I tried to stop a kid again,
I would get a write-up! Now, like many other CM's, we tend to look the
other way - be it right or wrong. When it comes to FW, do you really
think managers don't witness careless golf cart handling? And, how many
managers go after the driver of the cart?

 

[bama_ed]

1) Won't happen, Ed.
2) The managers DO NOT back-up the CM's when we criticize guests. *
3) If they did, the guest might go over his/her head to upper management.
4) The goal if lower level managers is to not have complaints go above them.
5) It must be known to all that the manager's OFFICIAL motto is
. . . "I will make the guest's vacation their best vacation ever."
. . . does not leave much room for criticizing guests.


* I have witnessed far too many instances where a CM told a guest they
can't-do-this or can't-do-that. afterward, a manager came down hard on
the CM. This type of behavior really halts the CM's from making guests
adhere to the rules. If managers do not want to enforce the rules, how
can CM's expect to try to enforce them, then get overruled by a manager?

In my case, I saw a young kid riding a skateboard in the WL lobby. He
bumped several people and almost knocked a lady to the ground. I told
the kid "No skateboarding in the lobby!" A manager came over and
told me to NEVER stop a kid from doing that. He said the lobby is big
enough for the skaters and the walkers! If I tried to stop a kid again,
I would get a write-up! Now, like many other CM's, we tend to look the
other way - be it right or wrong. When it comes to FW, do you really
think managers don't witness careless golf cart handling? And, how many
managers go after the driver of the cart?

I was afraid of that which is why I conditioned it the way I did. The desire to make any guest's stay a magical one is a noble goal. However, if the spineless management chain doesn't put guest safety above the guest's personal satisfaction, then we get this screwy system we have now.

See, this is the reason why I get on my soapbox and rail against the spineless dweebs in management and I hail the front line Cast Members. The CM is put in a no-win situation. If he sees a flagrant violation and does nothing about it, something could happen and someone (an accident/insurance investigator) would ask, "you saw this - why didn't you stop it?". So he's thrown under the bus. If he does something about it, as you say, he's chastised and if it gets out (the guest squawks or makes some noise), again he's thrown under the bus.

This is plain evidence of a lack of truthfulness and transparency in WDW management. They say one thing but they do another. It's only Ed's opinion but they are a bunch of losers. I work for a Fortune 10 company and have been close to upper management (heck everyone's above my pay grade but due to my specialized job I come in contact with some pretty high up leaders). I've been in leadership chains of "see no evil, hear no evil". I got out of those jobs and I like my present leadership chain who at least will listen to reason. They don't always act on my feedback but at least they listen.

Which is why I will continue to call it like it is. Not that they give one rat's rear end about what I think.

To get us back on topic, I can understand the "no tent" policy to some degree on the Premiums but they should at least let the current embedded base of reservations go through before they do any enforcement at all. But that may be too reasonable a position.

Thanks for your feedback too, Scupper. I enjoy your insight tremendously and thanks for sharing it with us.

Bama Ed

 

[bigblock396]

Totally agree with BamaEd and RustyScupper. There is so much blatent disregard for the rules but they should be strongly enforced when safety is a concern. Drunks and under age kids should immediately be removed from driving golf carts and their cart should be parked for the remainder of their trip. This is a safety issue.

With regards to the tent policy... Will it be enforced ... 99% of the time it will be ignored. I think it was put in place so they could enforce it when you have that occasional camper who tries to put several tents on a premium site and encroaches on their neighbor's site or extends out into the grassy public areas. Let's face it, you will always have rule breakers or those that try to cram more than 10 people on a site. This rule is the only way to enforce the policy to those "entitled" people who think the rules don't apply to them. I've seen some people brag on forums about how much camping equipment they have put on their site and how much space they took up - totally ignorant. This rule will apply to them.

Added - I hope alot of people don't get too concerned about the rumor on tents. Has anything official been posted on Disney's website - No. Are there signs posted at checkin - Doubt it. Has anybody been told to remove their tent - Doubt it. I'm sure there are alot of proposed rules that never happen so I wouldn't worry about this one.

 

[serenitygr]

Just a question for RustyScupper-- after reading through this thread, I feel bad for how difficult it makes it for those of you that work there, and have to make the decision "should you enforce a rule, or shouldn't you". And I really don't want to ever put someone in THAT situation! Now this is a "what if" question - so many people seem to recommend just proceeding as we planned- go to Disney this Christmas, put up our tent and be sure we arent' encroaching on anyone else's site, and have a wonderful time. That sounds like the best plan. But just in case you guys there are supposed to enforce this rule- and someone comes and tells me premium sites cant' have tents- how should I proceed? I don't want the cast member to get in trouble with the "higher ups" yet when we made this reservation almost a year ago, it was very clear that we had a tent and it was allowed- in fact encouraged. So who WOULD I complain to, or talk to?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . . just in case you guys there are supposed to enforce this rule- and someone comes and tells me premium sites cant' have tents- how should I proceed? . . .

1) Sorry, but I have no answer for the question.
2) I am too low on the WDW food chain to make such a decision. *
3) You are pretty much on your own if they forbid you.
4) IF they do, ask for the resort General Manager.
5) The General Manager controls WL and FW.
6) I guess I would show my original ressie and say I should be allowed my tent.

* When I retired as a CEO, I told the wife it is time to do something
nice for people, without the stress. So, I work for Disney, volunteer
at Give Kids The World and Kiwanis.

 

[articfox676]

All of this talk reminds me of the change with decorations not being outside of your site and you may have to remove them.

Judging from the last couple holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween) there are plenty of decorations and far beyond the site foot print.

I agree the rule has to be there for safety enforcement.

 

[retired and happy]

The site footprint extends to half way to the next site, not just to the limit of the concrete and/or cocina. Therefore you can have decorations off of the pavement and still be "legal".