Poly. Woes

[d-r]

By Florida statute, the hotel is responsible for a maximum of $500. Contacting a lawyer isn't going to help you here, since the legal limit on the hotel's obligation is $500.

Fortunately for your situation, that should cover the deductable on your home owner's policy to turn it in for the remaining $500. If it doesn't cover your deductable of course you'd be better to cover it out of pocket.

It is unfortunate that the item was lost, but you did leave it in your room when you checked out in the first place. Accepting 50% of the responsibility for the loss doesn't seem that innappropriate to me - it is a moot point though, because the legal limit on damages is $500.

DR

 

[Mouse Man]

Originally posted by d-r

It is unfortunate that the item was lost, but you did leave it in your room when you checked out in the first place. Accepting 50% of the responsibility for the loss doesn't seem that innappropriate to me - it is a moot point though, because the legal limit on damages is $500.

DR

I disagree. The Polynesian told them that they had their property in their possession. It's not like they couldn't find the camera in the first place. The POLYNESIAN LOST IT! I would want more than 50% too. If I left my camera in the room and nobody claimed to have it, I would accept the 50% as my loss. However, the Polynesian said they had it. It's a different story.

 

[PamNC]

How horrible!! I'm so sorry about your experience and sorry that it makes you feel like you won't stay on property again. I don't blame you though - I think the Poly handled this very very poorly. Unsatisfactory. I would certainly continue to let higher-ups (who I don't really know) at WDW know about this. I'm shocked at this whole scenario. And, you're right, you should certainly get more from a deluxe resort.

PamNC

 

[KNWVIKING]

... I won't comment about the problems you encountered while at Poly because there really isn't anything new I could add. What I will offer though is this: Poly is a great resort,great theme,location,amenities,etc. For every negative trip like yours I'm sure there are at least 100 great stories. If you never go back to Poly,aren't you just hurting yourself. Your pride may want to say "I'll show them", but in the big scheme of things,is anyone one at Poly going to realize you're "showing them" ? You could be cheating yourself out of a great vacation.

I manage a GMC service department. A transient customer with an 8 year old Suburban that had given him great service,never let him down,came into our shop. While our tech was working on the truck I struck up a conversation with the man,who informed me that because a GM service rep was rude to him 8 years ago he was no longer going to purchase GM products,even though for 40+ years that's all he'd owned. Instead he was going to purchase a product that I could show him on paper wouldn't pull his trailer properly. Who is he hurting ?

 

[StrwLady]

I'm sorry to hear you had a bad time at the Poly. I hope a soultion can be worked out regarding the camera.

On my first stay at the Poly we encountered some problems. Because of my asthma (and how it flares up in Orlando) I rent an ECV from Walker Mobility every trip. When we check in we are told by the front desk CM that she sees on the reservation that we have an ECV in the back waiting for us. Since we were heading to the room first I decided to get the ECV once we headed out to the park and this was fine. So a hour or so later I go to the front desk to get my ECV but it can not be found. The did receive it cus it was logged as receive the night before. My friend and 2 kids waited in the lobby for well over an hour while they looked for it. The they told me it was no where to be found. I called Walker and there were completely out of ECV's so the first CM I was working with intended on getting a ECV from a part brought over. Again we waited. Finally we realized it wasn't worth heading to the park at this time. By time we got there wed have to turn around. The CM I was working with assured me they would have an ECV in the morning. Later I get a call from the front desk manager and he was overly helpful. I explained that we were very upset with the situation. Not only did we lose a half a day at the parks we had 2 4 year olds that were extremely disappointed. To compensate us for our lost time we were credited half a nights room rate. We were sent a very nice fruit basket and they paid Walker my rental cost. The manager then proceeded to make calls all night to get me a ECV. He did find a company but the cart was in such a dilapidated state I refused it. Fortunately Walker had a cancellation and got me a cart shortly after. So while we had problems I feel we were compensated. After that our stay was great and so was stay a few months later.

 

[pwoodham]

While our tech was working on the truck I struck up a conversation with the man,who informed me that because a GM service rep was rude to him 8 years ago he was no longer going to purchase GM products,even though for 40+ years that's all he'd owned. Instead he was going to purchase a product that I could show him on paper wouldn't pull his trailer properly. Who is he hurting ?

Unfortunately, the only power we "little guys" have is our pocketbook. I think the man not buying from GM is doing so on principle, and good for him. Bad experience at the Poly? Vote with your $$. It's all they'll hear. Based on the reports I've read on this board, we won't be staying at the Poly anytime in the foreseeable future, it's getting a bad reputation. It may be wonderfully themed, but so are many other resorts. There's alot of choices, even on-property. I think going somewhere else next time is wise and prudent.

 

[RNMOM]

I just wanted to jump in here and say how impressed with housekeeping that you did find your camera in your room. It would have been very easy for any number of them to walk off with it.

However, the front desk staff is another matter. They had posession and acknowledged that. I also feel this is a police matter. Perhaps it would wake up the manager if the police show up.

 

[KNWVIKING]

...I understand the point about the pocket book and priciples, but in the end the customer will have an inferior product because an employee 8 years earlier pissed him off.He's wasting his money. He's only hurting himself.

Maybe Poly is going down hill, I don't know. But if I go to a great restaurant and get one bad meal or a loosy waiter I'll give them the benifit of the doubt and give them another try. If I kept crossing WDW resorts off my list of places to stay every time I read a bad report on the boards then I think I'd be staying off property.

 

[DG-12]

After having followed this post for the past couple of days- here's what I think...
I don't think the point is even over the $500. The point is WDW markets a product "the MAGIC." All of their commercials and ads seem to imply that a WDW vacation is something more, there's a quality of being at WDW that you can't seem to put your finger on. We all go to WDW to capture some of this magic (I mean, I could have someone rip off my camera in the real world any day). We all plan and plan and we discuss resorts and meals and all of it is really about where in the world captures the WDW spirit for us. The way the Poly handled this doesn't lead me to believe that there is any "magic." I mean, I always expect Disney to do the right thing, to go above and beyond- why? Because that is what Disney does and that is why Disney is still around, and that is what they market isn't it? But the point here is that when the camera incident happened it ruined the whole "MAGIC" for the entire family. Isn't that what we are all really after, the illusion WDW sells us? I do think that the Poly should replace the camera, wouldn't that be the Disney thing to do? I also can understand why the family would never stay there again, I wouldn't either. I know that this is an extreme case and there are others who could tell wonderful Poly tales but if it were me I would buy into the magic someplace else too. That is all just MHO.
Dana

 

[pwoodham]

KNWVIKING,

If there are really no alternatives, you are correct. In this particular case, there are lots of wonderful alternatives that will do the job!!

 

[Limmer]

Mouse Man, I have to disagree, the OP lost the camera. I would be happy that the resort is going to pay for half of my careless action. If it had "walked away" from the room they would have just been out $1000, now a tleast they are only out $500.

 

[Gillian]

That water shut off thing would have made me more mad than the camera! What if you were in a hurry to get somewhere? or were a single parent with a toddler or baby and had to cart everyone over to another building to clean up?

As far the camera, I am always leaving things places, and I know it's my fault. In this case, I know I would be upset with the front desk staff, since they did have it, but I would also take part of the blame myself. Still, they could pay more. The law doesn't say you CAN'T pay more than $500, right?

 

[Tluvs2talk]

I would be upset too, but at least you are being compensated for half. We stayed at Hampton Inn in Jacksonville last year and were broken into. We were only gone 30 minutes so whoever broke in was looking. They used a crowbar and pried the door open. When we came back to the room all our clothes had been dumped on the bed. The thief took cash I had in my duffle bag and a Seiko watch. All in all about $400.00 worth. We called the front office and the police. It took the Manager 2 hours to respond to us, she was home at the time. They did reimbuse our room charge but said they were not liable for a break in. I even sent a copy of the police report and a letter to the home office asking to be compensated in some way. I NEVER even received a response from the home office, just another note from their insurance company saying they were not liable. The funny thing is I always leave the tv on and put a DO NOT DISTURB sign up when I am not in the room, this time they were watching and waiting for us to leave. They also broke into 8 rooms at the Motel 6 next door. I still want to know what security was doing when all of this was happening.

 

[joepoe]

Originally posted by DG-12
After having followed this post for the past couple of days- here's what I think...
But the point here is that when the camera incident happened it ruined the whole "MAGIC" for the entire family. Isn't that what we are all really after, the illusion WDW sells us? I do think that the Poly should replace the camera, wouldn't that be the Disney thing to do?
Dana

Not flaming, but just my opinion:
I would be more ticked off at myself for forgetting a $1,000 camera than I would be at Disney. The fact that someone turned it in is great, but they would not necessarily know it was worth a thousand bucks, so they wouldn't necessarily put it in a safe as opposed to a cardboard box with all the stray hats and sunglesses and mittens. Take what they give you, chalk it up as a lesson learned and move on.

 

[DancingBear]

Whether they know it's worth $1,000 or not, they definitely knew it wasn't a straw hat. The management admitted that procedures weren't followed.

As another attorney who is NOT licensed in FL, I think jest.org gave a pretty good analysis. Once they said they had the camera and would hold it for pickup by the friend, they had a greater care obligation than with regard to usual items just left in the room. The only thing I would add is that if you make a claim through your homeowner's insurance your insurance company may fight the battle for you with Disney's insurers and at least get a better settlement.

 

[DG-12]

Joepoe-
Do you honestly think they looked at the camera and thought it was an item that shouldn't be locked up? Straw Hat v. Camera?
I would agree with you completely IF the Poly had not said they had the camera in their possession... Once the Poly said they had the camera I feel like they were responsible. I got completely aggravated because on the one hand I don't think the frustration and aggravation are worth what they are going to get back- take the $500 and run. On the Other Hand- I feel like Disney always sells itself as more than the average corporation and in this case it isn't so-And one of the main reasons I go to WDW is for that feeling...
Dana

 

[diznee25]

After reading this thread for the past day, I decided to put myself in the same situation and here's what I came up with. Remember this is just my opinion so everyone go easy on me.
If I was stupid enough to leave an expensive item behind, then I would take all the blame, not putting any on Disney. That's not to say that Disney is slightly responsible, but that's why they're forking out the maximum, which is $500. It's sad to think this would give the Polyneisan a bad rep. These kinds situations probably happen at all the Disney resorts. (And hotels outside of Disney as well.) Staying off property isn't going to make your chances better. It's possible to leave stuff behind at any hotel and never have that item recovered. Any other other hotel will probably just fork out the maximum as well.

Given the fact that the Polyneisan is a deluxe resort doesn't mean you should cut out all deluxe resorts as well. Try a different one! If you happen to not like an attraction in Magic Kingdom does that mean you'll never go there again. NO. You'll probably return to MK and just skip the ride you don't like.

One more thing: Disney does sell out to be fun and most magical place you could ever visit! Just because I leave behind an expensive item doesn't mean Disney is any less magical, it just means I was stupid and careless. I learn from my mistake and move on! Remember this was just my OPINION! Just like all of you shared yours.

Diznee25
WDW Christmas Bride Dec. 2003

 

[MelissathePooh]

I'm not saying that what happened doesn't suck, but everyone who is saying that they should pay more because it is the right thing to do - well that doesn't make much sense to me. Think about the number of people at WDW who leave things in their room every day - there has to be a limit as to what the resort is liable for - the same way there is a limit on dozens of things in your homeowners policy - because it happens all the time. If they paid out everytime for the full loss they would bankrupt.

Secondly - depending on what type of item was lost - just because you paid a certain amount for it at a given time in no way means that item is worth that same amount now - depreciation has to be factored in the value. Unless the receipt you have for a lost item is from less than a year ago - you must factor in depreciation. I don't know the specifics for the camera in this case, but in general this is the rule.

There is a limit on these things for a reason.

 

[fklhou]

I am sorry for your horrible expierence. Notwithstanding whether the law limits the liability of Disney to either $500 or $1000, Disney should do their best to make this up to you. Again, to me this is part of the magic of Disney and if Disney does not do the right thing, then I would be hesistant about ever staying on Disney property if I were you.

I am also a lawyer and under the effect of the law. However, sometimes it is important to do what is right and in this case in my opinion Disney should make you whole of the matter as a matter of principle.

As noted in other posts, send a full letter listing your problems and send it to Disney as soon as possible. There is a good list of addresses for Disney and WDW on the Rumors Board. You need to get to someone who is more worried about the magic than what is covered under the law. Getting a Florida licensed attorney is the next step if Disney refuses to do what is right.

 

[Kimkimba]

I may get slammed.

You can't expect anything to be "magical," you can only hope for the best. I'm one who thinks that we make our own magic. Life is too short, why dwell on what is done and said.
Last night we met with our realtor, who hopefully is going to sell our too small townhouse (15 years here for me), and put us in something a little larger. Totally different guy, middle-age, non-pressuring (really, you're a salesman?). Spent almost 2 hours with us. Made me feel awesome - hopeful. I know he'll get us into something that we can afford and that we like.
A year ago this man's 22 year old son was in a bad car accident. Docs gave him 24 to 48 hours. The man asked God to give him a second chance with his son. The pension he had lost, the jobs he had lost......nothing mattered. His son now lives with him - 85% mentally, almost 100% physically......and the father couldn't ask for anything more - he has it all - a wife of 31 years, 2 great sons. People thought he would sue the driver of the car - why would he do that when he has everything he could ever ask for? Who cares that he can't keep up with the Jones's.
Looking at another extreme, my dear step-FIL who drives the $90,000 Mercedes, and lives in a 3/4 million $ house, didn't feel too well a few weeks ago. Today they are draining fluid from his lungs - tomorrow they will start the chemo; he has pancreatic cancer. With most likely not more than a few months of life left, he knows what's important. It's not the cars or the house or any of the fancy dinners or the trips, it's the people who are there for you........in sickness and in health.
Sorry to be so sad.........I think I've overplanned our trip when I look at things.