Site Visit Experiences?

[CityGirlLost]

We went on our site visit in August and met with Bill from DFTW and the experience was horrible and I left feeling really mad.

(I just updated my planning journal and my blog about it!)

How many places did you look at?

Were you rushed through the visit at all?

 

[mebbradley]

We just had our site visit today as a matter of fact. I honestly went into the site visit a little stressed because we ran late and got there a few mins after one pm.

I honestly did not feel rushed at all. We had our meeting with Michelle and she was WONDERFUL. I literally cannot praise her enough. She knew about Disboards and was honest with me about the construction or well as honest as she could be.

We saw three different locations as well as the wedding pavilion. There was a wedding today so we went and saw the pavilion as they were cleaning up. She made sure I was comfortable with the new windows and showed me plentky of images about the construction.

I did not feel rushed at all. I'm sorry you felt that way!

 

[mebbradley]

Sorry, double post from my phone since I'm still in Disney.

 

[pima416]

I'm sorry you did not have a great experience.

I met with Michelle and she was great. The reason why I wanted to do a site visit was to see the Living Seas because I was hesitant about it and couldn't decide from the pictures. My appointment was at 9am and apparently there was a last minute corporate meeting booked at the Living Seas at 9:30am. We jumped in the SUV and headed straight to Living Seas to try to get in to see it since she knew that was the only reason I was flying down. We arrived 10 min before the meeting and I was able to see Living Seas. I am so happy that I saw it because I made the final decision to have my reception there, it is gorgeous.

After that I did want to see a couple of other places for a dessert party but I was reminded that I could only see a total of 3 places. We went over to the world showcase and saw France and decided then that we didn't need to see any other places.

All in all I felt kind of rushed in the beginning, but I think it was only because we were trying to race to Living Seas. When we got to Living Seas I didn't feel rushed at all and we went through how everything could be set up and what a few options were.

If you have the time and plan on coming back to Disney I would definitely recommend setting up another site visit with someone else. Especially if you wanted to see the Living Seas because it is so much better in person.

 

[princesswendy720]

I didn't feel rushed on our site visit, but we did not go look at every place I was considering. We only went over to the BoardWalk and saw SBP/ADH (and we looked at the Pavilion bc it was right by Francks). I went to look at the DP options and Tamu Tamu on my own. When you were there, did you ask to spefically see anything else and were denied? I'm shy, and sometimes feel uncomfortable speaking up especially when I'm not happy with the way something is going, but maybe it wasn't completely clear to him what expectations you had going in. Not saying that the sub-par experience was your fault at all, it's just sometimes with DFTW you have to be very clear with what you want or you are likely to be disappointed.

 

[donald&daisy]

I read your recap on your PJ and it did sound very disappointing. While there's nothing they can do about sites being booked on the day of your visit, I agree that they should have taken you over to the Contemporary at least. Our site visit went really great. We sat and talked for a while and after looking at pics on the computer, we actually decided that day we wanted to see LSS--really glad we did b/c DF fell in love with it.

I went in thinking we would book WP and Whitehall or similar and we ended up with LSS...later we switched to SBP sight unseen due to construction--that was a leap of faith, lol. I didn't feel rushed during our visit at all. We saw the WP, Whitehall, and other GF ballrooms, and then the LSS.

Will you go back for an in person PS? You might look again then. I would be happy to answer any questions about LSS. There is a video over on Carly's blog that shows the space well. Unfortunately, I think LSS shows 100% better in person than in pictures, so it would be hard to pick it without being there, but if you like the idea of the space and want something different than a ballroom, I would highly recommend it.

 

[sambycat]

i'm sorry you had a bad experience. it does seem like the inability to reach you last minute fed into some of the problems - which aren't your fault - but i'm guessing that DFTW gets a fair number of zealous brides who actually don't show up for things or forget to confirm things (not that you did) so i don't *think* that checking with you last minute to make 100% sure you were a "go" means that they wanted to usurp your spot and not deal with you! having been through all of this, i know how rushed things feel on the one side and how often people complain on here about how terrible it is that DFTW can't meet their timeline for info and visits! again, not your situation, but i have a tiny bit of empathy towards the CM/DFTW in that regard.

sorry you didn't get to see the venue having the event, i do appreciate that they didn't take you there though! i would not like folks checking out a site during my event! the number of people lurking around during our rehearsal at the WP was really strange!! it's too bad they or you couldn't have found a better time since you were there a week! boo!

we are one of the legion who had their reception at whitehall. yes, you could have all or part outside, but the room gives the best of both worlds due to the windows and location! but then, i like the GF well enough - i never understand when people say it is "snobby", lots of people do though - and if you've perused the boards recently, i believe the WHR has had yet another sprucing up since you visited (i think) and actually the (IMHO) very cool "crazy bird mirror" has been removed - so maybe you will like that better?

i think the advice about the ballrooms needing more decor is probably spot on, although could have been in a more encouraging way! i know i often felt in our process like there was advice one should heed given, but not so much any suggestions or ideas - i mean, the planners and DFTW teams are the ones ultimately with all the eggs (and info!) in their own basket! we had ideas about where to get married and were familiar with WDW but i KNOW there are many venues that *could* have been better, grander, more unusual - probably some that we will never even be aware of!!! it's tough making choices.

all in all, i'm sorry it wasn't a great experience! i totally understand the frustrations of this wedding machine and there were many times we felt super frustrated - angry even! - about things DFTW does/doesn't provide or offer. on the flip side, taking into account all the people they deal with and (i think) the staff that they have, they offer certain things and thats what the service they sell is. do i think its sooooo 100% great, no. but between the interwebz, disboards and lurkyloo's guide (which i'm SURE you have, yes?), we could fill in some blanks.

hang in there!!

 

[Designer Rose]

Wow, I'm sorry you had such a bad experience! We are working with Bill as well, and our visit wasn't anything like that. In fact, we've been back for a site visit three times and each time he has been extremely gracious and courteous.
That's weird that he only showed you the one room. We only saw the WP and GF, but that's only because that's all we wanted to see. And, when we visited the first time they were setting up for an event at the GF, but we were still able to go in. But, I guess if the events are actually going on they don't really want other people walking around.
And yes, the Whitehall Room recently got a huge makeover, and looks much better now.

 

[Jilian]

I didn't feel rushed on our site visit, but we did not go look at every place I was considering. We only went over to the BoardWalk and saw SBP/ADH (and we looked at the Pavilion bc it was right by Francks). I went to look at the DP options and Tamu Tamu on my own. When you were there, did you ask to spefically see anything else and were denied? I'm shy, and sometimes feel uncomfortable speaking up especially when I'm not happy with the way something is going, but maybe it wasn't completely clear to him what expectations you had going in. Not saying that the sub-par experience was your fault at all, it's just sometimes with DFTW you have to be very clear with what you want or you are likely to be disappointed.

Bolded mine. I wondered the same thing after reading your PJ. Did you ask for specific locations that you were denied?

 

[CityGirlLost]

We told Bill that we had three sites in mind. Actually I told Diane we had three sites in mind and then told Jaqui we had three sites in mine and then told Bill we had three sites in mind.

The first was the Wonders lounge- and I explained why we liked it- that it was very whimsical and very "Mickey Mouse." It's being used for the Food and Wine Festival the day of our wedding so even though we could have seen it that day, it wouldn't have mattered.

Our second choice going in was LSS. Bill clicked around on the the computer and we saw some photos (that I'd seen before) and then he didn't say anything about it until after we got back from the GF when he said there was a corporate event going on there that day. (Our appt was at 9 in the morning-- was the event going on at 9 am????) So we didn't get to see that either.

Our third choice was the Nutcracker Ballroom at the Contemporary.

After going over those three choices, I told him that we're looking for whimsical and potentially something indoor/outdoor and that was when he suggested looking at Whitehall. He never gave a reason why we couldn't see the Nutcracker ballroom and never suggested anything further.

I've recently seen photos of an atrium above Journey into the Imagination that I think would be awesome. We're having a small wedding so we don't need a giant space but I want something uniquely Disney.

In regard to Bill's message, I just checked my email (which I save like a maniac) and I have a confirmation email from Jacqui that looks like a formal thing, kind of form letter-ish from two weeks before my appointment. How many times does a girl have to confirm an appointment? I told both Diane and Jacqui that we were staying at Pop. There was no message left for me there, if it was so urgent.

(and of course I have Lurkyloo's book! It's AWESOME!)

 

[pixie921]

We told Bill that we had three sites in mind. Actually I told Diane we had three sites in mind and then told Jaqui we had three sites in mine and then told Bill we had three sites in mind.

After going over those three choices, I told him that we're looking for whimsical and potentially something indoor/outdoor and that was when he suggested looking at Whitehall. He never gave a reason why we couldn't see the Nutcracker ballroom and never suggested anything further.

But did you specifically ask him if you could go over and see Nutcracker? Or did you just expect him to offer? That could make the difference. Obviously, great customer service would be to make sure you see everything that's available, but if he wasn't offering, you probably should've asked.

Back when we thought we were having a Wishes vow renewal, we combined our site visit with our PS. Diane was our coordinator and took us on our site visit. Our main focus was Italy at Epcot but we'd planned a dessert party as well at Morocco. She took us to Italy, and afterward we asked to see the dessert party locations at Morocco and she walked us down there. I don't think she would've offered if we hadn't asked.

 

[CityGirlLost]

I think if my appointment is called a "site visit" and you ask me what sites I want to see and I give you a list of three sites, it should be pretty clear I want to see those sites. This is my first experience with DFTW but I don't think it should come down to semantic games. We went to Florida to see three rooms. Two were unavailable and a suggestion was made about another site- that doesn't mean I don't want to see the rooms I was initially interested in.

If I didn't want to see the rooms, why even bother with the hassle of getting a babysitter, rushing out and over to Francks?

I see everyone's point that I should have said "Hey, what about the Nutcracker" but have you ever been in an awkward situation where everything is just sort of surreal and weird and awkward and you're so stunned by how weird it is that you just can't say anything? No? Just me? I was stunned into silence.

 

[pixie921]

I think if my appointment is called a "site visit" and you ask me what sites I want to see and I give you a list of three sites, it should be pretty clear I want to see those sites. This is my first experience with DFTW but I don't think it should come down to semantic games. We went to Florida to see three rooms. Two were unavailable and a suggestion was made about another site- that doesn't mean I don't want to see the rooms I was initially interested in.

If I didn't want to see the rooms, why even bother with the hassle of getting a babysitter, rushing out and over to Francks?

I see everyone's point that I should have said "Hey, what about the Nutcracker" but have you ever been in an awkward situation where everything is just sort of surreal and weird and awkward and you're so stunned by how weird it is that you just can't say anything? No? Just me? I was stunned into silence.

I understand what you're saying, I guess I've just never been in the postion where I was "stunned into silence" as you put it. I guess my feeling is that if I went to all the trouble you went to as far as a babysitter and rushing around, and I was spending all that money, there's no way I wouldn't at least ask why I wasn't getting to see everything I wanted to see.

Maybe the room *was* being used, and Bill thought he mentioned it to you but didn't? I don't know ... I'm probably reaching, but that could be why he didn't take you over.

Also, and I realize you shouldn't have had to do this, but did you consider popping over to the Contemporary and at least looking at the courtyard and trying to have a peek into the ballroom yourselves? I'm not sure what your schedule was, since you said your site visit was on your last day, but the convention center is open and most of the rooms are usually unlocked if they're not in use.

I'm sorry your experience wasn't what you were hoping for, and I hope you can work with DFTW to fix it so you're happy.