Riverside - Never going back!!!

[goofy4tink]

Well, at BWV last Nov they put us n a roomt that wasn't just dirty but it was still inhabited!! But, the front desk computer showed it as cleaned and ready for the next guests!!! Go figure.

 

[C.Ann]

Well, at BWV last Nov they put us n a roomt that wasn't just dirty but it was still inhabited!! But, the front desk computer showed it as cleaned and ready for the next guests!!! Go figure.

-------------------

Kind of makes you wonder how many CM's get blamed for computer glitches, doesn't it?

 

[PolyAddict]

We will not be back either.

Not because our room in AB wasn't clean(it was fine).

My family convinced me to only return when we can afford the monorail hotels.

That's the only way for us to get OUR DISNEY feeling.

Hotel was fine otherwise.

Food court was awful, though.

Michele

 

[DisneyJen0504]

We were given keys and when our rooms were ready, we headed straight there. We had ajoining rooms with the other family we were traveling with. Our 8 years were playing around and all of a sudden my daughter found a pair of dirty undies under the bed!!! I was sooo disgusted! Our friends found used QTips on the floor and then we found a toy and candy. It was obvios that our room had not been cleaned well. We called Front Desk and were given new rooms. This time between the 2 rooms we found a razor blade, feminine hygeine products, crushed cheetos and tons of hair on the floors. This time we marched straight to the front desk to speak with a manager. We were personally escorted to new rooms. The manager knew as soon as he walked in that the rooms were awful. This time we found food on the floor, the toilet had been used and not flushed and there were wet washcloths and towels hanging in the shower. We asked to switch resorts immediately. We had to stay one night in Riverside and then moved to Caribbean Beach for the rest of our visit.QUOTE]

So sorry you had a bad experience. Hope the rest of the trip was magical! The same situation happened to friends of ours who stayed at POFQ. They found hair, food, and some unmentionables in not one but 2 of their rooms (they of course asked for a new room and the second one was just as dirty)
After the second dirty room they spoke with the manager and asked to be moved to another resort (they went to CSR).
Now yes this can happen anywhere but for us, hearing our friends' story of dirty rooms at POFQ ( and now your experience at POR) is the very reason we have steered clear of POR and POFQ thus far and will not give it a try. I am sure it can happen at other WDW resorts but since it hasnt happened to us at CSR or CBR we will stick with those.

 

[DMRick]

We checked out on the 24th. Our room was well cleaned (although we had had a througho cleaning for the smoke smell). My sister said her room was not cleaned as well on Monday), and my daughters rooms didn't even have the beds made the first day she was there (she got in on Saturday, so the first time to be cleaned would be Sunday..but it was clean when she checked in), let alone any cleaning. I don't know about their days off, but there was a difference between the great job the weekdays maids did and the weekend maids. I would go back in a heartbeat..but then, other than the smoke smell in a non smoking room (fault of the tenants, not the hotel) we loved the resort, and that included the food court. It's still our favorite.

 

[jenr812]

Hmmm, not sure if I should be hoping that my room is clean and free of unmentionables or hoping that it's disgusting so I can be moved to another resort?? LOL Just kiddin'

Seriously, though, I am sorry this happened to you. Hope the rest of your trip was wonderful.

 

[tnkrbell]

Im a "deluxe gal' myself but really like POR we were just there in May and had a nice stay in a newly renovated room (Magnolia) Sorry your experience was less then magical but atleast you ended up happy.

 

[Jane E.]

So sorry to hear about your bad experience. I wonder what is going on with mousekeeping at Riverside. On another post I mentioned how we had no soap or shampoo when we checked in to our room at POFQ. In addition, we had to make two phone calls to mousekeeping to get the soap. The next day our coffee was never refilled but we did get soap that day. Also, upon arrival I had to clean a wad of hair/lint in the bathroom corner. Other than that our room was fine.

You were fortunate that the manager at least walked with you to the room. He probably felt obliged because you had so many in your party. I hope they get their act together soon.

 

[katallo]

We recently were at the WL and there was an empty can of Red Bull under the bed and used soap in the bathroom when we checked in. Contacted housekeeping and they took care of it. It's really discouraging to read these posts concerning lack of staff. We were told by two restaurant workers that they cut all of the bussers awhile ago in an effort to cut costs. Many waiters and waitresses resigned because of the extra work and no increase in salary. Yet there seem to be no discount room codes and ticket prices rise each year.

 

[MandaPerry]

Hotel and food service are the hardest positions to fill. On one hand those who are being served want the best service at the lowest rate possible. The staff wants and deserves a decent wage and if we all admited it, if hotel and rest. workers made 12 to 15 dollars and hr.(which does not amount to a really a great yearly salary) there would be very few hotels most of us could afford. So trying to keep good employees, extend great service at a fair rate is something that is a bit of a catch 22. While there is never any excuse for those six dirty rooms,one can see why it happens. On top of all of that we all seem to want early check in and late check out.....managers are only human and I'm sure are as frustrated as we are. My family and I have been to Disney many times and stayed at both mods and devux hotels...there have at times been a few gliches...but we'll never stay away.

 

[kyra's mommy]

I totally agree about POR. We stayed 4/23-4/28 and then went to the AKL for three days ( which ofcourse is absolutely incredible ). POR was so dirty. For our entire stay we had a used q-tip in the corner of the bathroom with dirt and hair around it. The tiles in the shower were full of mildew and our socks would turn black from walking on the carpets. I don't want to offend any fans of this hotel but our experience was awful. We have no interest in staying there ever again. I love Disney dearly but they should remember cleanliness was one of it's original values. I hope it can renew that spirit in some of it's hotels.

 

[Hawk]

I wonder if the rooms were cleaned prior to new guest arrival. The last visit at POR we had checked out (speed check out) of our room at 10:00 am. We went to the parks before leaving for MCO and could not find our camera. We went back to the room and by chance I told my wife I would see if our key still worked on our room door. It was 1:00 pm. The door opened right up and the room had already been cleaned for the next guest. We left immedialty after searching for the camera, but were surprised that the room door key still worked. We never did find the camera. Maybe people are leaving their rooms on the last day in the morning and going back later after the room has been cleaned thinking that they do not have to leave until late in the afternoon. I know that we understand that check out is at 11:00 am, but maybe others do not.

Tim/Hawk

 

[Atotty]

Was the manager very hospitable to moving you to another hotel? Did you ask or did he offer? Did you suggest where you wanted to stay or did he tell you where you could move?

If this happens to us...I think we'll be stuck. None of the other mods will sleep 5.

We had a problem with a package getting misplaced at POR last year. The manager was very nice and offered to replace everything. He gave us what we needed for the day and told me to make a list of everything else. It showed up the next day so nothing else but the first day's neccessities had to be replaced.

 

[Polofan87]

My family had the same problem. When we arrived the room wasnt clean so we called up the desk told them its no problem as long as they could just drop off a bunch of towels. Withing minutes a lady came by and handed me the towels and when I said thanks very much in a nice manner she gave me an attitude and said psh. I thought mabey she just had a bad day or something. Later on we decided to go to the eating pavilion but it seemed that all the Cheff's that made the Pizza and stuff had it the same way. It seemed like the people over there were just very bitter.

 

[rmontgo892]

First I have to tell you that I have stayed at Riverside twice before and LOVED it both times. I really thought I would never stay anywhere else. We checked in Saturday, May 28th (my birthday). We had lunch and walked around a bit until our rooms were ready. We were given keys and when our rooms were ready, we headed straight there. We had ajoining rooms with the other family we were traveling with. Our 8 years were playing around and all of a sudden my daughter found a pair of dirty undies under the bed!!! I was sooo disgusted! Our friends found used QTips on the floor and then we found a toy and candy. It was obvios that our room had not been cleaned well. We called Front Desk and were given new rooms. This time between the 2 rooms we found a razor blade, feminine hygeine products, crushed cheetos and tons of hair on the floors. This time we marched straight to the front desk to speak with a manager. We were personally escorted to new rooms. The manager knew as soon as he walked in that the rooms were awful. This time we found food on the floor, the toilet had been used and not flushed and there were wet washcloths and towels hanging in the shower. We asked to switch resorts immediately. We had to stay one night in Riverside and then moved to Caribbean Beach for the rest of our visit.

I just wanted to share our experience. I hope this was an isolated incident....but unfortunately, we were told by a bus driver that there have been a lot of problems at Riverside lately. That's really too bad - it's a beautiful resort.

Yuck! What a bummer to say the least!

 

[Flesner]

Thanks for all of the responses. I don't mean to sound like such a bitter, angry person. I was very, very upset! I really am a nice girl!

And I'm sorry if I offended anyone with my never going back attitude...it's just a personal preference. To me (and I'm only speaking for myself) it's like getting food poison at a restaurant. I realize it could happen anywhere but if I got sick at a restaurant, I couldn't go back. Just thinking about the stress and time and ickiness of it all upsets my stomach. I'd prefer to take my chances somewhere else and hope that the odds and Gods are on my side!

The 2nd manager (Steven, just in case anyone needs to know this for future reference) was wonderful. I am writing a letter to Disney and I will most definitely mention that despite the other horrific events, Steven was great!!!!

After the 3rd set of adjoining rooms, I asked to be moved. He said he would see what he could do and asked if I had a preference. Of course, I said the Grand Floridian! He knew I was kidding. At that point, I really didn't have a preference...just 2 clean rooms in a building somewhat near each other. He called back with in 10 minutes and told us we had to stay there that night but he would send housekeeping as soon as we left and then the next day we could move to Caribbean Beach - Lake View (we only paid for Standard). Not adjoining rooms but right next to each other.

The rooms were fine....and it was probably my fault for not asking and assuming...the only problem was that there was not an elevator and we were on the 2nd floor with a stroller. We got a good workout but Princess Caya ended up loving her chariot rides when we came and went from the resort.

Again, thanks for letting me come here to complain...saves the rest of my friends and family from having to hear about it all the time. I really, really hope I didn't offend anyone. It was never my intention.

~Nikky~

 

[10drum]

Flesner,

Our secound trip to WDW in 2000, was at POR(was dixie landings), & wasn't the best either, even thought the room was clean, and resort nice, we weren't as happy there. Many people love the resort, and are offended by complaints.

It sounds as if Disney made it right, and I think they usually do.

Next time try CSR,(our favorite Moderate).

 

[disneyfan3]

Flesner,
I can't believe the nerve of some people telling you how you should feel!!! I believe it was Ann that said you should never say that you are never going back to a resort! I and I am sure many others are giving you permission to never go back to any resort that you don't want to go back to. I have had bad experiences at some disney resorts and it just depends on how bad it was that I make the decision never to go back. It isn't necessarily that the hotel won't be improved the next time I go back...it just leaves a "bad taste in my mouth" and I can't have good memories someplace that I remember the bad memories. I have stayed at the GF with wonderful memories there but one time I had a bad time but all of the other good times made up for the one bad time so I will go back. Don't worry about offending anyone. I am glad to hear the positive and the negative. There are some people on this board that are in a "disney trance" and someone can complain about their favorite resort and they would stick up for it no matter what happened. I have been going to disney since it opened and service has surely declined but you find bits and pieces now and then and the magic is still alive but you have to look harder to find it.
hope your next experience is more magical and thanks for the info!

 

[C.Ann]

Flesner,
I can't believe the nerve of some people telling you how you should feel!!! I believe it was Ann that said you should never say that you are never going back to a resort!

---------------

I believe that's me you are referring to.. Perhaps if you have calmed down by now you could go back and re-read what I posted in regards to the word "never".. You were probably too emotional to understand it the first time..

 

[disneyfan3]

Actually I wasn't emotional at all, Ann. I just get tired of people trying to give excuses of why they should try a disney hotel again when flesner clearly didn't want to go back. I believe your reasons were:
"What makes you think this can't happen at another hotel" or
"It was the weekend, they were probably understaffed" or
" Using the word 'never' isn't in my vocabulary, I am sure when you go back the problem will be corrected." Even if it is corrected, she still has a bad memory about the hotel and how can you risk that happening again? You told her to just switch hotels again. That is very time consuming and a pain!
That sounded to me like a lot of convincing for flesner to try the hotel again. I think that is why flesner said she hoped she didn't offend anyone because of posts that wouldn't just accept what she was saying. Who am I to tell her she should try a hotel again when she hated the service.
Flesner, you have nothing to apologize for and you didn't sound angry or bitter to me. It sounded to me like you would like to get what you paid for and you obviously didn't! I don't blame you for not wanting to stay at a hotel again that doesn't clean the rooms not one room but six...that is a bit much. It is hard to get rid of a memory when it was I am sure a very frustrating experience and time consuming. I don't think clean rooms are too much to ask for.
I also don't want to sound bitter toward Ann. I just didn't agree with her post. Lets all just accept everyones different experiences and maybe things will improve at disney hotels some day. I just hope more people will tell of their not so great experiences so things will improve. Nothing will change if we keep making excuses for disney.