Our Christmas trip to Disneyworld

[jerseydevil1433]

I have put this off long enough. In fairness I wanted to wait for the official Disney response to my queries. The family and I returned from our last Disney world trip on 1/2/08. Most things were as expected: the parks were great, nothing much closed or otherwise not in operation, the food was great and the people were nice. This trip was different than the multitude of other trips we’ve taken (my nearest guess is about 15 trips with my family).

We paid for a preferred room in the all star sports. We thought time vs hotel? We’ll take the time. We've stayed in the music, movies and Pop century so naturally we thought the Sports would be of the same high quality and Disney service we have come to expect. Our room in the sports was on the first floor but as close to the rear parking lot as possible. In other words as far from the bus stops as possible. Our room was dirty when we checked in and stayed that way the entire trip. We decided to overlook the small stuff and try to emphasize all of the positives…after all my sons came home from college to join us so we were all in fine spirits. SMOKING: People literally smoke in lines, in front of no smoking signs and in the little bushy rotunda outside of our hotel room…all night long, every night. I saw cast members in EPCOT speaking to guests who were smoking at the time and no where near the designated smoking area.- a little thing but somewhat annoying- especially by day 10.

The parks were PACKED! But we expected that and weren’t disappointed in the least. The really surprising thing was that due to some excellent extra magic hours and the way Disney has implemented line structure, wait times weren’t really that bad. Space Mountain took a while, but I LOVE that line. I never really got to wait in my favorite line at the tower of terror but you can’t have everything, right?


BUSES: I will never be using Disney transportation again. As you can imagine, the buses were packed and since we expected it, I really didn’t have a problem giving up my seat every trip- until about day 6. Do I really have to give up my seat EVERY trip? Seems to me, this could be handled better. Something that has convinced me to never ride Disney buses again and is a real downer seeing all over the parks: Electric wheel chairs. We were waiting in line at MGM after the park closing. The line was HUGE. It was obvious that the people who had finally reached the front of the line had been waiting for a considerable amount of time and were quite relieved when the sports bus came around the corner. At that moment, a jazzy scooter came whizzing to the front of the line- about a forty year old guy and no less than 10 people with him. The bus stops, no one is allowed on the buss until the driver reconfigures seating to accommodate the chair, leans the bus over, loads and ties off the chair and this guys entire party boards the bus. The best part was when the guy bounded from the chair to the back row of seating to be with his friends. I thought there would be violence when this happened and it came VERY close. This sort of thing was VERY common in all parks at all times. My son was hit and knocked to the ground by an unapologetic charlatan in one of these electric snowplows. The attitude displayed by these obviously physically able, but lazy people certainly wasn't anything we expected from Disney people like us. I asked a guy in the Peter Pan line how he felt about reusing everyone with that electric death machine. His response? “Waittin’ in line is for suckers….. and it’s the Jersey way”

I think Disney must have outsourced it’s work force. Cast members were unpersonable and in some cases really rude. And not just to us. We saw a LOT of it in all parks except EPCOT. Speaking of EPCOT after waiting for 3 hours in line (with reserved seating) for the Candlelight processional we went to the Beirgarten for dinner afterwards. No show, bad service and we were literally shooed out of the door because our waitress had other plans later that evening.


A few lessons learned:

1. Never stay in an “all star” resort again.
2. Rent a car- no more buses
3. Don’t complain..it won’t get you any satisfaction.


I wrote a detailed letter of our experiences to all Disney management to include the California main office. I received many messages on my machine and spoke to no one. This despite the fact that I had included my wifes and my contact information to include cell phones where we could be reached at any time. When we received the first message, I called back and left the Disney “official” a message which specified times to call and numbers to use at all hours. Guess what? They called again twice when they KNEW we wouldn’t be at the answering machine number they called, left a massage then I’m sure they promptly marked our file “resolved” This went on for considerable time until we lost interest, which is EXACTLY what they wanted.

Fine. I may return to Disney but the ONLY thing I’ll buy from them is park tickets.

Oh and BTW; Disney is aware of the MASSIVE problems involving smoking and electric wheelchair abuse, but policy reflects their disinterest.

I booked my Universal trip yesterday.



I really HATE to seem negative, but the unsuspecting need to know.

 

[uconn01001]

I have put this off long enough. In fairness I wanted to wait for the official Disney response to my queries. The family and I returned from our last Disney world trip on 1/2/08. Most things were as expected: the parks were great, nothing much closed or otherwise not in operation, the food was great and the people were nice. This trip was different than the multitude of other trips we’ve taken (my nearest guess is about 15 trips with my family).

We paid for a preferred room in the all star sports. We thought time vs hotel? We’ll take the time. We've stayed in the music, movies and Pop century so naturally we thought the Sports would be of the same high quality and Disney service we have come to expect. Our room in the sports was on the first floor but as close to the rear parking lot as possible. In other words as far from the bus stops as possible. Our room was dirty when we checked in and stayed that way the entire trip. We decided to overlook the small stuff and try to emphasize all of the positives…after all my sons came home from college to join us so we were all in fine spirits. SMOKING: People literally smoke in lines, in front of no smoking signs and in the little bushy rotunda outside of our hotel room…all night long, every night. I saw cast members in EPCOT speaking to guests who were smoking at the time and no where near the designated smoking area.- a little thing but somewhat annoying- especially by day 10.

The parks were PACKED! But we expected that and weren’t disappointed in the least. The really surprising thing was that due to some excellent extra magic hours and the way Disney has implemented line structure, wait times weren’t really that bad. Space Mountain took a while, but I LOVE that line. I never really got to wait in my favorite line at the tower of terror but you can’t have everything, right?


BUSES: I will never be using Disney transportation again. As you can imagine, the buses were packed and since we expected it, I really didn’t have a problem giving up my seat every trip- until about day 6. Do I really have to give up my seat EVERY trip? Seems to me, this could be handled better. Something that has convinced me to never ride Disney buses again and is a real downer seeing all over the parks: Electric wheel chairs. We were waiting in line at MGM after the park closing. The line was HUGE. It was obvious that the people who had finally reached the front of the line had been waiting for a considerable amount of time and were quite relieved when the sports bus came around the corner. At that moment, a jazzy scooter came whizzing to the front of the line- about a forty year old guy and no less than 10 people with him. The bus stops, no one is allowed on the buss until the driver reconfigures seating to accommodate the chair, leans the bus over, loads and ties off the chair and this guys entire party boards the bus. The best part was when the guy bounded from the chair to the back row of seating to be with his friends. I thought there would be violence when this happened and it came VERY close. This sort of thing was VERY common in all parks at all times. My son was hit and knocked to the ground by an unapologetic charlatan in one of these electric snowplows. The attitude displayed by these obviously physically able, but lazy people certainly wasn't anything we expected from Disney people like us. I asked a guy in the Peter Pan line how he felt about reusing everyone with that electric death machine. His response? “Waittin’ in line is for suckers….. and it’s the Jersey way”

I think Disney must have outsourced it’s work force. Cast members were unpersonable and in some cases really rude. And not just to us. We saw a LOT of it in all parks except EPCOT. Speaking of EPCOT after waiting for 3 hours in line (with reserved seating) for the Candlelight processional we went to the Beirgarten for dinner afterwards. No show, bad service and we were literally shooed out of the door because our waitress had other plans later that evening.


A few lessons learned:

1. Never stay in an “all star” resort again.
2. Rent a car- no more buses
3. Don’t complain..it won’t get you any satisfaction.


I wrote a detailed letter of our experiences to all Disney management to include the California main office. I received many messages on my machine and spoke to no one. This despite the fact that I had included my wifes and my contact information to include cell phones where we could be reached at any time. When we received the first message, I called back and left the Disney “official” a message which specified times to call and numbers to use at all hours. Guess what? They called again twice when they KNEW we wouldn’t be at the answering machine number they called, left a massage then I’m sure they promptly marked our file “resolved” This went on for considerable time until we lost interest, which is EXACTLY what they wanted.

Fine. I may return to Disney but the ONLY thing I’ll buy from them is park tickets.

Oh and BTW; Disney is aware of the MASSIVE problems involving smoking and electric wheelchair abuse, but policy reflects their disinterest.

I booked my Universal trip yesterday.



I really HATE to seem negative, but the unsuspecting need to know.

First off scooters go on first no matter what park you are at. The reason is that how hard do you think it would be to hook it up if the bus is already packed...You try and do it. Also he got off the scooter and sat with his friends because that is mandatory for people using scooters. You are not allowed to sit on them when the bus is moving. How do I know?, I also use them. Maybe your son walked infront of a scooter that was moving, that is very very common for people to walk infront of one thinking that the person on the scooter can stop it on a dime, which is impossible. Shall I go on with all the other thinks you have commented on that really does not need to me commented on in the first place?

 

[uconn01001]

I have CP (cerebral palzy) and I need a scooter. I am not fat or anything of that nature. You would file charges on someone that bumped into your son? Isn't that a little overboard?

 

[uconn01001]

I have put this off long enough. In fairness I wanted to wait for the official Disney response to my queries. The family and I returned from our last Disney world trip on 1/2/08. Most things were as expected: the parks were great, nothing much closed or otherwise not in operation, the food was great and the people were nice. This trip was different than the multitude of other trips we’ve taken (my nearest guess is about 15 trips with my family).

We paid for a preferred room in the all star sports. We thought time vs hotel? We’ll take the time. We've stayed in the music, movies and Pop century so naturally we thought the Sports would be of the same high quality and Disney service we have come to expect. Our room in the sports was on the first floor but as close to the rear parking lot as possible. In other words as far from the bus stops as possible. Our room was dirty when we checked in and stayed that way the entire trip. We decided to overlook the small stuff and try to emphasize all of the positives…after all my sons came home from college to join us so we were all in fine spirits. SMOKING: People literally smoke in lines, in front of no smoking signs and in the little bushy rotunda outside of our hotel room…all night long, every night. I saw cast members in EPCOT speaking to guests who were smoking at the time and no where near the designated smoking area.- a little thing but somewhat annoying- especially by day 10.

The parks were PACKED! But we expected that and weren’t disappointed in the least. The really surprising thing was that due to some excellent extra magic hours and the way Disney has implemented line structure, wait times weren’t really that bad. Space Mountain took a while, but I LOVE that line. I never really got to wait in my favorite line at the tower of terror but you can’t have everything, right?


BUSES: I will never be using Disney transportation again. As you can imagine, the buses were packed and since we expected it, I really didn’t have a problem giving up my seat every trip- until about day 6. Do I really have to give up my seat EVERY trip? Seems to me, this could be handled better. Something that has convinced me to never ride Disney buses again and is a real downer seeing all over the parks: Electric wheel chairs. We were waiting in line at MGM after the park closing. The line was HUGE. It was obvious that the people who had finally reached the front of the line had been waiting for a considerable amount of time and were quite relieved when the sports bus came around the corner. At that moment, a jazzy scooter came whizzing to the front of the line- about a forty year old guy and no less than 10 people with him. The bus stops, no one is allowed on the buss until the driver reconfigures seating to accommodate the chair, leans the bus over, loads and ties off the chair and this guys entire party boards the bus. The best part was when the guy bounded from the chair to the back row of seating to be with his friends. I thought there would be violence when this happened and it came VERY close. This sort of thing was VERY common in all parks at all times. My son was hit and knocked to the ground by an unapologetic charlatan in one of these electric snowplows. The attitude displayed by these obviously physically able, but lazy people certainly wasn't anything we expected from Disney people like us. I asked a guy in the Peter Pan line how he felt about reusing everyone with that electric death machine. His response? “Waittin’ in line is for suckers….. and it’s the Jersey way”

I think Disney must have outsourced it’s work force. Cast members were unpersonable and in some cases really rude. And not just to us. We saw a LOT of it in all parks except EPCOT. Speaking of EPCOT after waiting for 3 hours in line (with reserved seating) for the Candlelight processional we went to the Beirgarten for dinner afterwards. No show, bad service and we were literally shooed out of the door because our waitress had other plans later that evening.


A few lessons learned:

1. Never stay in an “all star” resort again.
2. Rent a car- no more buses
3. Don’t complain..it won’t get you any satisfaction.


I wrote a detailed letter of our experiences to all Disney management to include the California main office. I received many messages on my machine and spoke to no one. This despite the fact that I had included my wifes and my contact information to include cell phones where we could be reached at any time. When we received the first message, I called back and left the Disney “official” a message which specified times to call and numbers to use at all hours. Guess what? They called again twice when they KNEW we wouldn’t be at the answering machine number they called, left a massage then I’m sure they promptly marked our file “resolved” This went on for considerable time until we lost interest, which is EXACTLY what they wanted.

Fine. I may return to Disney but the ONLY thing I’ll buy from them is park tickets.

Oh and BTW; Disney is aware of the MASSIVE problems involving smoking and electric wheelchair abuse, but policy reflects their disinterest.

I booked my Universal trip yesterday.


I really HATE to seem negative, but the unsuspecting need to know.

I would also like to comment on your obvious hatred of people on electric scooter. My son is the one who has cerebral palsy and comment on your angry. We have been going to Disney at least once a year since 2000. We have encountered a few people who are angry that those who can not walk are inconviencing all others. I'm sorry you let this spoil your Disney visit and I hope that neither you nor any member of your family every have any medical reason to use a scooter. As for my son and I, we will continue to be as courteous to others as possible. We have also put up with others verbal abuse at Disney.