Shades of Green

[FirstNo]

Lunchmom,
I think that a letter to the general manager is in order. We have been in contact with him and he is nothing but helpful. Not sure what he can do at this point, but he does need to be aware of it. If you would like his name and address I would be glad to PM it to you. I'm sorry that these things affected your trip, but glad you had a good time at the parks.

And I second that notion. Complaining here is great; it helps give others something to watch out for on their trips and, maybe, helps put things in perspective for the person who had the bad trip to hear others' opinions.

That stated, you MUST complain to the hotel management. Things will never improve if management does not know there are problems and their bread and butter (that would be you, the guest) isn't happy. Jim McCrindle is the GM. I was always told when I worked there that he read each and every guest comment card (I had no reason to believe it was untrue having received many a good comment card with comments from Jim himself on it). Let him know the bad things AND the good things. Those people or things that made your trip great deserved to be recognized just as much as those that were a disappointment or a frustration.

 

[aec]

Lunchmomd -

I am sorry to hear about your terrible experience. I am glad that you were able to enjoy the parks in spite of it. I agree with the other posters that you should complain to the manager. If he doesn't know he can't try to prevent this kind of thing from happening in the future. Sounds like he's got a big problem with his staff. poorly trained? overworked? under compensated? all of the above? I just hope that we don't need to interact with the front desk other than check-in!

 

[Cbarr]

We just returned from staying a week at SOG on Dec 4th. Positive experience all around! Friendly staff, beautiful grounds, quiet rooms, clean and efficient housekeeping (one day our room was only empty for 2 hours and during that small timeframe our room was cleaned). I will always stay at SOG! And from what I've heard the majority of people staying there feel the same.

 

[HollyJoy]

We just got back today from SOG. The hotel is beautiful, and the staff there are so very friendly. The cleaning staff would even smile and say hello as we passed them in the hallway. The only staff I found to be rather blah, were those in the giftshop. However, they weren't rude. We ate a quick sandwhich in this small bar like place (cannot for the life of me think of the name right now), and the guy serving us was extremely friendly. Had dinner in the Sports Bar one night and the food was good, and the price even better. Rooms were clean and staff prompt. Upon our arrival, we didn't have a bathmat in our room. I called, and it was there w/in 10 minutes. High marks! My only complaint was that we were in one of the furthest rooms from the lobby! (strange since my FIL is in a wheelchair...) So it was a looooooonnnng walk to the lobby, bus stop and parking garage. I know, wahhh, right? Well after a long day in the parks when your legs and feet are hurting, that walk is a killer! I'd request a room close to the lobby or parking garage to get you closer to the bus. The bus stop below the lobby entrance. Never needed to walk to the Poly. Buses came every 15 min., and were on time; never crowded. Bus drivers were even friendly!!

lunchmom... I think you need to write a letter. It seems as though the manager you spoke with was the problem. I'm sorry you had such a horrible experience there at SOG. So different from ours.

 

[HollyJoy]

Hi, I was at SOG from 11/29-12/4, I has none of the problems that some have had. Our room was always cleaned early and if you needed more shampoo, soap, or extra coffee bags, you could always get extra. I guess it just depends on what room you're in, because I never heard any pipes. Yes, depending on what section your in you can have a long walk, but if you stay in one of the huge disney resorts you have a longer walk. The only problem that I had, which someone mentioned is the front desk. When we checked in they were not very friendly. But hopefully if enough people complain, or they just need more training(trying to be nice), they can be more friendlier or get someone who is! Is SOG perfect no, but none of the others are either. But it is a beautiful and wonderful resort which I personally love and will go back again!!

To add to this, my FIL liked the shampoo so much, he contacted one of the mangagers and asked him what it was. Not much longer after that conversation, the mangager brought up two huge bottles of it for him to keep! LOL

 

[aec]

Thanks everyone. I feel better now. Sounds like lunchmomd's experience was not the norm.

I was considering walking to the POLY b/c the resort monorail starts running before the express and it might give us a head start getting to MK at opening. Otherwise we'll just take the bus to TTC for MK. I am planning to drive to the other parks in our rental car.

 

[Disney_1derland]

Thanks everyone. I feel better now. Sounds like lunchmomd's experience was not the norm.

I was considering walking to the POLY b/c the resort monorail starts running before the express and it might give us a head start getting to MK at opening. Otherwise we'll just take the bus to TTC for MK. I am planning to drive to the other parks in our rental car.

In our experience this would be faster especially on EMH mornings. One morning it took us one hour to get to MK by taking the bus to TTC then the monorail (resort only because express wasn't yet running) to MK. The next EMH we walked to the Poly and caught the monorail. Even with the 15 minute walk we got there in only 30 minutes.

 

[aec]

Thanks. I heard that the bus to TTC is every 15 minutes. Does it run on a specific schedule like depart SOG on the quarter hour? Does it leave the TTC to return to SOG at a specific time or do you just wait until one comes.

 

[Disney_1derland]

When we were there the bus left SOG on the hour/quarter/half and was at the TTC in between then. When it is really busy they had two busses doing the TTC route so there was always one there. We never waited more than 5 minutes though the bus drivers do usually wait a few minutes and keep exactly to their schedules whenever possible.

 

[HollyJoy]

The bus comes starting at 7:30 on early entry days, and 8am on regular mornings... the schedule read every 15 minutes.

 

[llij]

We just got back from our 4th or 5th stay at SOG (I can't remember the exact number of times!!) Anyways, we've stayed in both the old and new sections now and like both of them. Our room on this last trip was 4110 in the new section and it was right around the corner from the parking garage which was so convenient for us since we used our car a lot.

We also stayed at the YC on this trip and while I loved, loved, loved the YC, I actually would pick SOG over the YC on another trip. Eeek! I can't believe that I would do that, but the location of SOG, the cost, the size of the rooms and the value that you receive can't be beat.

On another note, I had to laugh at the comments about the pipes b/c we had those noisy pipes too! My dad said that it was a water pressure and air in the pipe problem. It was our alarm clock!

lunchmom, I'm sorry to hear about the poor treatment you received. Please write to SOG and let them know what you told us so they can make sure that it doesn't happen again.

 

[Barbday62]

We were there in August and they kept the 15 minute schedule almost always including E-night which was 1am when we got back on the bus. I never tried the other route but route A is conviente and consistent. (Its only about a 5 minute bus ride to TTC then you have to walk over to the TTC choices I.E. Monorail or Boat to finish the trip to MK)

 

[TSirgey]

If you were renting a van, but staying at SOG, would you drive to the parks every day, or take the busses.

We have 4 adults and three children with us (4,4,2)

 

[Disney_1derland]

TSirgey, I would probably take the busses to TTC for Epcot and MK but drive to AK, MGM and DtD. It would be more time efficient since those busses do take some time and can get crowded.

 

[Brytsun]

Hi, I was at SOG from 11/29-12/4, I has none of the problems that some have had. Our room was always cleaned early and if you needed more shampoo, soap, or extra coffee bags, you could always get extra. I guess it just depends on what room you're in, because I never heard any pipes. Yes, depending on what section your in you can have a long walk, but if you stay in one of the huge disney resorts you have a longer walk. The only problem that I had, which someone mentioned is the front desk. When we checked in they were not very friendly. But hopefully if enough people complain, or they just need more training(trying to be nice), they can be more friendlier or get someone who is! Is SOG perfect no, but none of the others are either. But it is a beautiful and wonderful resort which I personally<a onMouseOver="window.status='' ; return true;" onMouseWOut="window.status='';" oncontextmenu="window.status=''; return true;" onclick="location.href='http://www.enhancemysearch.com/admin/results.php?q=Love&id=31';return false;" href="" TITLE="More Info..."> love </a>and will go back again!!

Which room or wing were you in? I'll be there 12/19-12/29.
Thanks!!

 

[firenurse]

Has anyone heard what kind of ticket prices SOG will be offering with the new ticket change??
Thanks so much, trying to plan a early 2005 trip

 

[caseywirth]

Which room or wing were you in? I'll be there 12/19-12/29.
Thanks!!

We were in room 316.

 

[TSirgey]

Has anyone heard what kind of ticket prices SOG will be offering with the new ticket change??
Thanks so much, trying to plan a early 2005 trip

Everthing I have heard/read indicates that SOG and Disney need to meet to discuss the new ticket options. We probably will not know until January. I'm dying to see how it effects SOG ticket prices. It's already a deal for me compared to the hopper (since we are getting a 7 day pass). It can only get better!

 

[sammi6]

Can anyone tell me about the gift shop? What kind of Disney Merchandise do they carry if any and if they have snacks and drinks? Thank You.

 

[Disney_1derland]

Can anyone tell me about the gift shop? What kind of Disney Merchandise do they carry if any and if they have snacks and drinks? Thank You.

Lots of Tshirts, Stuffed Animals, Coloring Books, Odds and ends, lots of disney stuff. Yes they have snacks and drinks. Think convenience store, it's a lot like that

They have really cute pin lanyards, or did when we were there.