POR- nightmare (8/26-29)

[AuroraBelleCindy]

We stayed at POR 8/26-8/31. We checked in around 2:00 and while the line was long we got checked in quickly within about 10-15 minutes. Our CM was very nice and he said that it is not normally that busy but because of free dining 2000 people were checking in that day at POR. How many of those were just re-checking in who's to say. Our stop was the West Depot and we never had to wait long for a bus and only had to stand once GOING to the parks. Coming back was a different story - the buses were always crowded no matter what time of day it was it didn't matter. I tried to make light of it at first but it was my sister's first trip and she didn't have a good first impression. Sometimes we chose to wait for an empty bus and try to get a seat but sometimes you just want to get going and are tired of waiting. I don't mind standing a bit but it gets old when you are tired and have been walking all day and you're holding on trying not to fall on people. One night we went to DTD from the Poly to catch a bus back to POR and what a mistake that was. We waited 2 hours for a bus. We got dropped off at Pleasure Island because the bus driver was told to go there instead of the Marketplace because it was a nightmare. Empty bus after empty bus passed us by. I'm assuming they were dropping people off and then going back to the parks to pick more people up but why not pick people up and drop them off when they're going that way anyway? I don't think the problem is POR because when we finally did get a bus the driver pointed out the AllStars bus line and that was a mile long too. The problem is the bus system in general. Disney advertises their bus system as a perk to stay on-site and that was no perk in my opinion. I will definitely rent a car next time.

 

[AuroraBelleCindy]

I would also like to add that I couldn't speak more highly of the bus drivers at WDW - from the driver that got out and stood by the door to greet people as they boarded the bus to the driver who entertained us on the way to DTD (which was really appreciated as we were standing and it made the time fly by lol). I think the drivers do a wonderful job - maybe the bus thing was just a fluke lol

 

[kaytieeldr]

One night we went to DTD from the Poly to catch a bus back to POR and what a mistake that was. We waited 2 hours for a bus.

It won't do this poster any good now, but while the standard advice is to use Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island as the bus transfer point between resorts, it actually makes much more sense that if a park is still open, take a bus from the resort where you are, to that park, and then switch to the bus going to your destination.

I think we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss anything negative we hear or see on these boards because I have seen quite a few examples of these same complaints.

Please be advised that I am not dismissing anything. I am merely asking where people who feel Disney should have added staff at 7 AM on a Sunday morning when they did not need to add staff at 7 AM on any previous morning, Sunday or otherwise, that month, propose Disney should have gotten that staff? "Well, they just should" doesn't offer any suggestions.
If the same issue occurred at ANY other hotel I frequented, ONCE, I would ask the same question. If it happened every week, I would simply find a hotel with better service.

And since you quoted maxiesmom's response to Dani Dani Dani - that response is not 'excusing' Disney but merely explaining that much of the first poster's complaints were not under the control of the hotel. While the latter is obviously welcome to choose to stay or not stay at any hotel for any reason/s of her choice, NO hotel has control over the Magical Express driver getting lost (I always have the ME number with me; after an hour with no resort stops, I'd have called - proactive). I don't know what/where "BFE" is, but I don't think I want to know, either. And, truly, NO hotel, Disney-owned or not, can be considered responsible for the complaints of its Guests about other Guests. Those are not valid reasons to boycott a resort.

Buses full? Well, if the resort is full, it's likely the buses will be full.

On the other hand: Three CMs at 1 PM on a Wednesday and 2.5 hours to check in? Inexcusable. Rude CMs? Ditto. No directions to the room? Ditto ditto. No map of the resort with the room circled? See above dittos.



And, for the record, I don't know Sammie. Any opinions we may have in common are absolute coincidence.

 

[bavaria]

Sorry the OP considered this a nightmare trip, hope she never experiences a true nightmare. and very glad she was able to move and enjoyed CSR.

Honestly, this is what puts me off. I am not a one sided defender or apologist, but alarmist thread titles and posts tend to make me discount the post, or at least see it in a tainted light.

I originally opened the thread when it was first posted, expecting to see some horror story about the resort itself (I believe that bytheblood alluded to something similar several pages ago)

Instead, it is a post about the bus service, albeit it to/from the resort, and a long check in line. I have stayed at WDW hundreds of times, and yes, they do have very long check in lines. I have been in line for more than an hour during low season, behind a convention group, or tour group. I have also chosen NOT to stand in line but to return later.

This to me was not a nightmare, but an unpleasant experience. I'm sorry that the OP experienced it, and hope that they really do not actually experience a nightmare travel experience in future.

And no, I don't know Kaytie or Sammie; we just happen to agree on a lot of points.

 

[bavaria]

Not to get preachy, but if you want to know anxiety prior to and during a trip, take a surf trip to Central America, or camping in Mexico, alone. Let me tell you these trips have made me much more tolerant of what might happen while traveling. Absolutely nothing Disney throws at me could ruffle my feathers anymore.

Confession time. I stood in tiny Dabolim military airport in the midst of my epic 36 hour journey across India and Europe, enduring flight cancellations, diversions, lost luggage, 40 degree celcius heat, etc and what came into my head was how the members of this website consider a lost seat assignment on an aircraft a major crisis. It does put things into perspective!

 

[safetymom]

I think this thread has run its course. It isn't about trip planning anymore.