Poor bell service at OKW

[JLitfin]

Just returned from our trip to OKW and had a great trip. The only issue I was not happy with was the bell people when we arrived at the resort. We took the Magical Express and had our bags with us from the plane. I don't usually check our bags. There were 6 of us, including 2 young girls, we had 6 bags and 3 small backpacks. We arrived at the resort around 3pm. The driver of the bus took the bags off the bus for us. Not one bell person offered to help us with our bags, (lot different than last year, they wouldn't let us touch our bags). We went inside and checked in, went very smoothly. Returned to the bell person's counter and asked if someone could transport us and our bags to our room. I couldn't believe their reply. First, they could, but we would have to wait about 20 mins. Second, we could ride the resort bus to the closest bus stop. Third, since our building was 28 we could just walk it, it's not that far. We ended up walking to our building, he was right it wasn't far, but it was just the idea, no one offered to help. Isn't that the job of the bell people, to help with our bags? Since we didn't check in our bags and have Magical Express pick them up from the airport than it was our responsibility to find our room and carry our own bags. Needless to say I was not happy.

Anyone else ever experience this type of service from the bell people?

 

[spiceycat]

I think they are cutting back on the bell services.

there was also an even better chance that they were delivering the luggage that had arrived (probably slightly before you) to their rooms.

when ever I have needed help - they were there.

but after CR managed to lose my luggage - I found it - not very trusting of bell services.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I've never had this trouble at OKW. I sincerely hope it's not a sign of things to come ? I sure hope you report this experience (or have already). This is the only way things like this can be addressed.
I once had close to an hour wait for Bell Services at BWV (2003---we ended up checking out late because of the delay---glad we didn't have an early flight), but they never told me I could just move my own bags. That is unacceptable.
I could totally understand OKW Bell Service saying you'd have to wait 20 minutes. But that was the only acceptable response from the three they offered. Like I said, I have had waits for Bell Service at several wdw resorts (DVC and non).

 

[robinb]

I'm sorry you felt had problems with the bell services at OKW. I have had the reverse problem of them grabbing my bags before I wanted them to.

Didn't they offer to help you with your bags when asked for it? It has to be hard for them to walk the fine line between looking like money grubbers jumping on every possible tip and looking like they don't care about the guests.

FWIW, I don't think 20 minutes is not that long to wait for bell services. Did they offer to take your bags and deliver them? They could have other guests who requested help in front of you. I have no idea how busy they actually were. And yes, walking to building 28 was probably faster than waiting for the bus!

How was the rest of your trip?

 

[MiaSRN62]

FWIW, I don't think 20 minutes is not that long to wait for bell services.

I totally agree Robin....it was the other two options they offered the OP that were not right. But I consider 15-20 min to be the average for waiting for Bell Service.

 

[robinb]

I totally agree Robin....it was the other two options they offered the OP that were not right. But I consider 15-20 min to be the average for waiting for Bell Service.

It's not clear that they suggested that the OP take her luggage on he bus or walk with it to her building. I think the two options were in response to her asking for a ride to her building. That's why I asked if they offered to take and deliver the luggage.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I couldn't believe their reply. First, they could, but we would have to wait about 20 mins. Second, we could ride the resort bus to the closest bus stop. Third, since our building was 28 we could just walk it, it's not that far. We ended up walking to our building, he was right it wasn't far, but it was just the idea, no one offered to help. Isn't that the job of the bell people, to help with our bags? Since we didn't check in our bags and have Magical Express pick them up from the airport than it was our responsibility to find our room and carry our own bags. Needless to say I was not happy.

Anyone else ever experience this type of service from the bell people?

I don't understand the compliant. Are you upset that they couldn't help you that moment? It has always been my experience with bell Service to drop my bags with them, and they bring my bags to the room, in order of receiving them. So if 6 families check in before me, I would be 7th in line to receive my bags.

I have never expected bell service to give me a ride to my room. I am sure they would, if I waited for them to bring my bags. I have never waited for my bags. Checked them with bell service, then we were off to find our room, and start our vacation. We always have a carry bag with bathing suits and what not, to start off in the pool while we wait for our bags.

Maybe I am not understanding you post, but I don't see anything wrong.

 

[wisbucky]

We have never had a problem at OKW with the bellhops upon arriving.

We usually always have Magical Express bring our luggage to our rooms. When we get off the bus we head to check in. As I believe most people do. Then after check in we go to the bell service desk and let them know we have checked in and would like assistance to our room since we have two carry-ons with us. They will give us a time frame of when they can get us there. Usually it has always been with in ten minutes but there have been times where we have waited up to a half hour. We could take the resort bus, which in some cases would be quicker but we like to have a bellhop come with us in case there is a problem in the room.

I think most people getting of off magical express do not have their entire luggage with them and therefore bellhop does not anticipate assisting folks with a lot of luggage right off the bat.

I know when we all go on vacation we went things to go smoothly and as quickly as possible when checking in. But sometimes we need to put ourselves in the position of the cast member and remember they are not just dealing with you. A little patience can go a long way.

 

[MrsNick]

Last time we stayed at OKW was in early 2000. We had taken Mears and did not have a car. The bellhop seemed surprised that we needed help to our room, but was helpful once we explained we needed help.

I personally would not want to be told to just hop a resort bus, especially since we are not at all familiar with the layout of OKW. I'd prefer to have bell services accompany us to our room, and also as another poster said, in case there were problems with the room. I'd prefer to have bell services' help to the room and tip appropriately rather than be told to take a hike!

I know OKW is a DVC resort and all, and you are more on your own than at a regular hotel, but I do think that assistance with bags is not an unreasonable request.

 

[MiaSRN62]

wisbucky says :I think most people getting of off magical express do not have their entire luggage with them and therefore bellhop does not anticipate assisting folks with a lot of luggage right off the bat.

I think the ME is the thing. These busses are constantly pulling up and I can tell you, the last two times we used them (ME), once for POP and once for CBR----we were told our luggage could take several hours to show up in our room.

Mrs Nick says :I personally would not want to be told to just hop a resort bus, especially since we are not at all familiar with the layout of OKW. I'd prefer to have bell services accompany us to our room, and also as another poster said, in case there were problems with the room. I'd prefer to have bell services' help to the room and tip appropriately rather than be told to take a hike!

I could be wrong, but I'm hoping the OP checks back into this thread. I'm wondering if because they couldn't or didn't want to wait the 20 min, that this is why OKW offered the other suggestions ? Initially I took it as being unacceptable, but now I'm wondering if the OP said something to them, to the effect that they couldn't wait the 20 min ? I just can't imagine any Bell service at any resort responding more quickly than 20 min to a ME busload of people all wanting their luggage delivered to their room. And there could have been a previous ME deliver guests just 45-50 min prior for all we know. They may have been backed up. I know both times I used ME they stressed we wouldn't get our luggage for several hours---I believe it's in the paperwork they send---so 20 min sounded fantastic to me. I'm thinking the other two options were given as an alternate to waiting ? Hoping that JLitFin will check back with us and clarify. Usually those OKW bellhops are very eager to help. We've often been encountered by them to help, but now with more and more people utilizing the free ME busses, they might be a bit more busy. I'm guessing the Bell Hops weren't being rude (aka "take a hike"), but rather just offering an alternate solution to the OP not wanting to wait ? Just a consideration.

 

[JLitfin]

I didn't mean to start anything here, I just wanted to state my experience. I'm usually a very patient individual, and I don't usually get upset over small issues. I never said anything out of the way, except ask them if we could have someone help us to our room with our bags. I was ok with a 20 min wait, that wasn't the issue. I got the feeling from their responses that they didn't want to go out of their way to help. They never offered to deliver our bags, they just said we could ride the bus or walk it. We walked to building 28 and carried our bags with us, which I thought was unacceptable.

Our ME bus deliver us to the resort around 3pm. We were the only ones that got off this bus. We were second in line for checking in, there were 3 agents checking in people. At this moment there wasn't many people waiting. As we walked to our room I saw lots of carts loaded with bags, they were busy delivering them to individual rooms. That's ok, just thought they should also have a bell person helping people as they check in with their bags who didn't use the ME bag delivery. Most of the time we don't even use bell service but since we didn't have a car and OKW is a large resort we thought it would be nice to have help with our bags. Everyone at OKW was great and friendly, we had a wonderful trip and can't wait to return.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I didn't mean to start anything here, I just wanted to state my experience. I'm usually a very patient individual, and I don't usually get upset over small issues. I never said anything out of the way, except ask them if we could have someone help us to our room with our bags. I was ok with a 20 min wait, that wasn't the issue.

Everyone at OKW was great and friendly, we had a wonderful trip and can't wait to return.

Jean,
You didn't start anything.....we totally understand this was your experience and you asked if any of us had a similar experience at OKW. The majority stated "no"....myself among them. You stated you carried your bags to bldg 28---but also said you were "ok" with the 20 min wait. You could have left the bags there and gone on over to your room and waited for the bags to get there. We did this when we stayed at BWV. We left our bags with a bell hop, went up to our room and waited maybe 25 min for our bags to arrive upon checking in. There was no reason you had to carry your own bags at OKW. I just feel OKW offers that as an option to those who do not prefer to wait for them. But if they spoke rudely to you, then that is not right (though your above quote says everyone was nice and friendly).

Considering you were on the ME bus where it clearly states luggage could take several hours to arrive in your room, I (personally), would have had no problem with 20 min. But that's just me. They did sound like they were busy based on the fact that you stated you saw "lots" of carts with bags. So I'm guessing you just chose to walk to your room and not wait the 20 min for the bags ?

I'm glad u enjoyed your stay overall at OKW Thanks for sharing your experience

 

[JLitfin]

They never offered to deliver our bags for us. They said it would take 20mins to show us to our room. I choose to walk instead of us waiting 20mins for a cart to return. So we left and carried our bags. We took the ME service but didn't check our bags with the airline, so we had them upon arrival at the resort. I would of check them in with the bell service and had them deliver them to our room, but this was never offered to us.

Just wanted to explain a little better.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

They never offered to deliver our bags for us. They said it would take 20mins to show us to our room. I choose to walk instead of us waiting 20mins for a cart to return. So we left and carried our bags. We took the ME service but didn't check our bags with the airline, so we had them upon arrival at the resort. I would of check them in with the bell service and had them deliver them to our room, but this was never offered to us.

Just wanted to explain a little better.

I don't think they have to offer. You walk up to bell service, you state you would like your bags brought to your room. They fill out a slip, tag your luggage, and give you an ETA. Why would you wait for them to offer?

Also, I don't think it is bell services job to show you to your room. You get a map of the resort when you check in, and they have an internal bus system if the walk is too long. JMO

 

[MrsNick]

Bellhop
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A bellhop (also bellboy or bellman) is a hotel porter, who helps patrons with their luggage while checking in or out.

The job's name is derived from the fact that the hotel's front desk would ring a bell to summon an available employee, who would "hop" (jump) to attention at the desk in order to receive instructions.

Historically, this employee traditionally was a boy or adolescent male who may have been otherwise unskilled but able to carry luggage; hence the term bellboy.

Often (s)he wears a uniform, like certain other page boys or doormen.

In many countries such as the United States, it customary to tip such an employee for his or her service.

This position can also be held by a woman today, with the progression of equality in the workplace. The term "bellhop" is much less gender specific than "bellman" or "bellboy".

Duties that are often included in this job are opening the front door, moving luggage, valeting cars, calling cabs, giving directions, basic concierge work, and responding to any need of the guest.

The above definition from Wikipedia indicates that a bellhop would indeed be able to assist the OP with any need. Since Disney terms the group "Bell Services" I don't know if the Disney definition of this term means that "Bell Services" performs a scaled back version of what a "Bellhop" would. I just think that one area that Disney does do better than many other venues is by providing very good service. Of course, in our culture today, many rules and customs have been relaxed, so maybe I'm behind the times, but I don't think the OP was looking for anything over the top, especially if going by the traditional role that a Bellhop plays.

 

[springandmac]

 

[MiaSRN62]

JLitfin said : They never offered to deliver our bags for us. They said it would take 20mins to show us to our room. I choose to walk instead of us waiting 20mins

Jean,
I appreciate you coming back to explain further.
I take it as this. If they said it would take "20 min to SHOW us to our room", then that meant, it would take them that amount of time to get your luggage on a cart and take you, along with your bags to your room. Respectfully, Jean, I'm not sure where/how you don't see that they did offer to deliver your bags ? Did they state they'd only give you a luggage cart and let you push it over yourself to bldg 28 ? But that's not what you state in the above quote. I might be missing something here. Did you complain to the management at the resort if they were rude or dismissive to you ?

MrsNick says uties that are often included in this job are opening the front door, moving luggage, valeting cars, calling cabs, giving directions, basic concierge work, and responding to any need of the guest.

And I feel OKW did offer this service. The OP, admittedly, chose not to wait. Even when we stayed at BWV, we had to go up to the Bell Hop desk and ask for assistance. Did OKW say they wouldn't actually accompany you and your luggage to your room or am I losing something in translation here ?

 

[castleri]

We had just the opposite experience last September - We only had a couple of carryon pieces when we arrived at OKW on ME = the rest was brought later. After checking in and determining where the room was we went to the bell desk and asked if someone could take us to our building - no problem - one of the bell people excorted us to a cart, drove us to the building carried in the two small bags and asked if everything else was okay after he had done a quick look around. We of course tipped him as he left. That was in September before they started downsizing and outsourcing some of the bell valet jobs. I wonder if that is part of the problem. At SSR in December I had to leave my bags with bell services when the room wasn't ready and I needed to return the rental car. I asked if they could be delivered later and was told I had to be there when they brought them which is totally different than with ME baggage delivery. I also heard a bus driver at OKW tell someone that he really wasn't supposed to let them on with all their luggage but did anyway when they were trying to get to the HH from their room at OKW. Maybe in the OP's case they had to have someone man the desk and there was no one available because they were taking other luggage from earlier ME busses or people to their rooms. This was the first time we used them as we had always had a rental car before so just drove to the building and took care of our own luggage. I love having the ME people pick up my bags and deliver them to the room-will never pick them up myself again.

 

[robinb]

I don't think they have to offer. You walk up to bell service, you state you would like your bags brought to your room. They fill out a slip, tag your luggage, and give you an ETA. Why would you wait for them to offer?

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the bell services to offer to take your bags and deliver them for you as part of a conversation like the OP's. I'm the kind of person to ask for what I want so I would have suggested it myself if I didn't want to walk with my bags. But, not everyone is so direct.

 

[byoung]

I've never had this trouble at OKW. I sincerely hope it's not a sign of things to come ? I sure hope you report this experience (or have already). This is the only way things like this can be addressed.
I once had close to an hour wait for Bell Services at BWV (2003---we ended up checking out late because of the delay---glad we didn't have an early flight), but they never told me I could just move my own bags. That is unacceptable.
I could totally understand OKW Bell Service saying you'd have to wait 20 minutes. But that was the only acceptable response from the three they offered. Like I said, I have had waits for Bell Service at several wdw resorts (DVC and non).

I agree.