Okw xmas tree lost again

[Pirate Granny]

This is becoming quite flustering...the tree has been missing for five days now. How hard is it to locate a box that is 4 feet x 20 inches and 20 inches. That actually has Christmas tree on all sides of the box. SIGH.

 

[dgaston]

This is becoming quite flustering...the tree has been missing for five days now. How hard is it to locate a box that is 4 feet x 20 inches and 20 inches. That actually has Christmas tree on all sides of the box. SIGH.

The BWV tree #1 ended up in "long term storage" and I had to be quite insistent before the CM found it (3rd CM looking). It was frustrating because I knew the tree had been returned by an earlier user. Hard to manage long distance.

 

[dvcblt93]

Are you tipping Bell Services?

 

[Pirate Granny]

Since I am the coordinator and tree donor, no, I am not tipping....I'm not even staying at OKW this year...just the tree is there.

First person actually gave a phony name and a disconnected cell phone number, so box was mailed to a phantom person which had no reservation at OKW...WHO DOES THAT ??? and once finally contacted didn't want the tree... four hours of telephone calls to OKW the tree was located for the second family (who thankfully insisted to OKW that the tree was indeed there), no issues for the second, third or fourth families...now it's been lost again.

Fifth family will be leaving in two days, but there are two more families scheduled to get the tree until early January. I see two more hours of phone calls to OKW later this morning....

Just wanted to share in the DVC Christmas JOY of having a tree in your room. We had a lovely tree in Jambo house, with no issues...thank you again Harlem Girl, who should be picking up her own tree today..

 

[dvcblt93]

You tied up a cast member on the phone for over 4 hours during the busiest time of the year over a tree? Dont wanna be snarky, but its probably in the trash......

 

[dhelin]

You tied up a cast member on the phone for over 4 hours during the busiest time of the year over a tree? Dont wanna be snarky, but its probably in the trash......

not helpful

 

[bobbiwoz]

Since I am the coordinator and tree donor,
...

Just wanted to share in the DVC Christmas JOY of having a tree in your room. We had a lovely tree in Jambo house, with no issues...thank you again Harlem Girl, who should be picking up her own tree today..

We are sharing a tree this year, not donating one....and I just want to thank you for the trouble you have gone through to help share the Holiday Spirit!

We first shared a tree that was donated by others in 2003, and have participated in the tree exchange in some way ever since then. It is a wonderful feeling, having a tree. I am sad to hear how stressful it has been this year.

Bobbi

 

[Pirate Granny]

Thank you for your kind comments, and no it wasn't the Same CM for four hours rather six different calls. And I believe it's their job to locate packages that were confirmed delivered to their resort. I was trying to locate it.

And it surely didn't help that the first person gave a phony name. They (OKW) called every other resort looking for the reservation for the phony name that the first person gave. So partially those calls were the result of someone who obviously should have never signed up to participate.

Just wanted to share some Christmas cheer. If the tree is in the trash so be it, but I figure it's somewhere at HH.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We participated on a tree share at BCV several years ago and they also had trouble locating the box for us. But they also had trouble with a couple of bags transferred from OKW too. Frustrating but hopefully someone will take the time to really look. I've had a couple of back stage experiences at two other Disney Bell service areas and they do get a bit hurried and confused at times from what I've seen. At BCV we finally had luck when we went down around 11 pm when it was slow, slow, slow.

 

[dcfromva]

I hope your tree has been located!
I donated the tree for BLT this year (my first time involved with the tree exchange ). I used the pick up and drop off procedures from the previous tree exchange. As far as I can tell the only thing bell services has to go on is a list of the participating families on the outside of the box (each family crosses their name off the list as they get the tree).
I was thinking about this- In the past whenever I checked something in with bell services they gave me a check slip with a matching number on the item I checked. For future exchanges I was wondering why we don't also try to get the check slip number from the family turning the tree in and then pass it along to the next family? ( If that fails for some reason, there is always the list on the box. )
Our 3rd family said bell services at BLT had trouble locating the box based on their name, but the picture of the box helped them locate it. (I also decorated the outside of the box to help locate it). Fingers crossed-our 4th family picks up the box today.

 

[lodge]

I donated a tree and organized the exchange for it last year. I also organized the exchange for another tree donated by another DVC member. It was FRAUGHT with problems of being lost.
There are some people who do not want to spend enormous amount of time at guest services trying to locate a tree, and several had to. There are some who do not want phone calls while on vacation to try to find out what happened to a tree that they gave back and was lost. Who wants to be hassled over a tree?
The contribution envelope was also a problem- don't need to elaborate but I'm sure you can guess.
I know that the trees are a big hassle. This isn't the first year or first resort that had trouble. It's the busiest time of year, the CM's have a lot just keeping track of people's items that they ship or bring with them, add to the mix a tree that is being passed along. I wouldn't be surprised if an end to this is requested just to eliminate all the hassles. There are "pop-up" trees for sale at several stores... easy to store, easy to travel with= a whole lot less responsibility or burden for others.

 

[Pirate Granny]

I think if next year, we insist that they leave at guess services with a tag that the CM provide with a number. And put the name of the next person on the tag, that may help. Also someone mentioned that if the tree isn't handed off for the same day it may go I to long term storage, which I guess I didn't R ealize that the resorts have.

I will schedule something with the OKW Manager when I am in town in June, and see if something better couldn't be worked out.

I think this is a wonderful idea, but also agree and understand that people don't want to spend a lot of vacation time tracking down a tree.

However on the other hand, one text or note when you pick it up, and another with the tag number when you drop it off, I feel isn't too much to ask IF that is the agreement up front when they ask to participate.

Thanks all for the helpful comments. Unfortunately the tree went missing for our fifth person. Heres hoping that our sixth family (who was to pick it up today) will be luckier. I have mentioned the long term storage possibility.

My other option is friends who live close to disney. I may send them to go to OKW themselves to see if they can't assist tracking it down, since it's not vacation time for them...but it is a 30 minute drive....

 

[Pirate Granny]

Success...tree is with out sixth family

 

[bobbiwoz]

Success...tree is with out sixth family

Yeah!

 

[Meriweather]

Glad it showed up!
It is a very cute tree and we sure enjoyed having it for a week.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Glad it showed up!
It is a very cute tree and we sure enjoyed having it for a week.

As did we!

It took us a little while but hey, we were at OKW drinking beer and having fun. Better than being at home.

Painless in the grand scheme of things. Thanks for doing it, Pirate Granny. We really appreciated it. After all, you were the one that did all the work. THANK YOU!